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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/640-0.txt b/640-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f8358f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/640-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11711 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Yellow Fairy Book, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Yellow Fairy Book + +Author: Various + +Editor: Andrew Lang + +Release Date: August, 1996 [Etext #640] +Last Updated: December 16, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger and Charles Keller for Tina + + + + + +THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK + +By Various + +Edited By Andrew Lang + + + +Dedication + +TO + +JOAN, TODDLES, AND TINY + + Books Yellow, Red, and Green and Blue, + All true, or just as good as true, + And here’s the Yellow Book for YOU! + + Hard is the path from A to Z, + And puzzling to a curly head, + Yet leads to Books--Green, Blue, and Red. + + For every child should understand + That letters from the first were planned + To guide us into Fairy Land + + So labour at your Alphabet, + For by that learning shall you get + To lands where Fairies may be met. + + And going where this pathway goes, + You too, at last, may find, who knows? + The Garden of the Singing Rose. + + + + +PREFACE + +The Editor thinks that children will readily forgive him for publishing +another Fairy Book. We have had the Blue, the Red, the Green, and here +is the Yellow. If children are pleased, and they are so kind as to say +that they are pleased, the Editor does not care very much for what other +people may say. Now, there is one gentleman who seems to think that it +is not quite right to print so many fairy tales, with pictures, and to +publish them in red and blue covers. He is named Mr. G. Laurence Gomme, +and he is president of a learned body called the Folk Lore Society. Once +a year he makes his address to his subjects, of whom the Editor is one, +and Mr. Joseph Jacobs (who has published many delightful fairy tales +with pretty pictures)(1) is another. Fancy, then, the dismay of Mr. +Jacobs, and of the Editor, when they heard their president say that he +did not think it very nice in them to publish fairy books, above all, +red, green, and blue fairy books! They said that they did not see any +harm in it, and they were ready to ‘put themselves on their country,’ +and be tried by a jury of children. And, indeed, they still see no harm +in what they have done; nay, like Father William in the poem, they are +ready ‘to do it again and again.’ + + +(1) You may buy them from Mr. Nutt, in the Strand. + + +Where is the harm? The truth is that the Folk Lore Society--made up of +the most clever, learned, and beautiful men and women of the country--is +fond of studying the history and geography of Fairy Land. This is +contained in very old tales, such as country people tell, and savages: + + ‘Little Sioux and little Crow, + Little frosty Eskimo.’ + + +These people are thought to know most about fairyland and its +inhabitants. But, in the Yellow Fairy Book, and the rest, are many tales +by persons who are neither savages nor rustics, such as Madame D’Aulnoy +and Herr Hans Christian Andersen. The Folk Lore Society, or its +president, say that THEIR tales are not so true as the rest, and should +not be published with the rest. But WE say that all the stories which +are pleasant to read are quite true enough for us; so here they are, +with pictures by Mr. Ford, and we do not think that either the pictures +or the stories are likely to mislead children. + +As to whether there are really any fairies or not, that is a difficult +question. Professor Huxley thinks there are none. The Editor never saw +any himself, but he knows several people who have seen them--in the +Highlands--and heard their music. If ever you are in Nether Lochaber, +go to the Fairy Hill, and you may hear the music yourself, as grown-up +people have done, but you must goon a fine day. Again, if there are +really no fairies, why do people believe in them, all over the world? The +ancient Greeks believed, so did the old Egyptians, and the Hindoos, and +the Red Indians, and is it likely, if there are no fairies, that so +many different peoples would have seen and heard them? The Rev. Mr. +Baring-Gould saw several fairies when he was a boy, and was travelling +in the land of the Troubadours. For these reasons, the Editor thinks +that there are certainly fairies, but they never do anyone any +harm; and, in England, they have been frightened away by smoke and +schoolmasters. As to Giants, they have died out, but real Dwarfs are +common in the forests of Africa. Probably a good many stories not +perfectly true have been told about fairies, but such stories have also +been told about Napoleon, Claverhouse, Julius Caesar, and Joan of Arc, +all of whom certainly existed. A wise child will, therefore, remember +that, if he grows up and becomes a member of the Folk Lore Society, ALL +the tales in this book were not offered to him as absolutely truthful, +but were printed merely for his entertainment. The exact facts he can +learn later, or he can leave them alone. + + +There are Russian, German, French, Icelandic, Red Indian, and other +stories here. They were translated by Miss Cheape, Miss Alma, and Miss +Thyra Alleyne, Miss Sellar, Mr. Craigie (he did the Icelandic tales), +Miss Blackley, Mrs. Dent, and Mrs. Lang, but the Red Indian stories +are copied from English versions published by the Smithsonian Bureau of +Ethnology, in America. Mr. Ford did the pictures, and it is hoped that +children will find the book not less pleasing than those which have +already been submitted to their consideration. The Editor cannot say +‘good-bye’ without advising them, as they pursue their studies, to read +The Rose and the Ring, by the late Mr. Thackeray, with pictures by +the author. This book he thinks quite indispensable in every child’s +library, and parents should be urged to purchase it at the first +opportunity, as without it no education is complete. + + A. LANG. + + +CONTENTS + + The Cat and the Mouse in Partnership + The Six Swans + The Dragon of the North + Story of the Emperor’s New Clothes + The Golden Crab + The Iron Stove + The Dragon and his Grandmother + The Donkey Cabbage + The Little Green Frog + The Seven-headed Serpent + The Grateful Beasts + The Giants and the Herd-boy + The Invisible Prince + The Crow + How Six Men travelled through the Wide World + The Wizard King + The Nixy + The Glass Mountain + Alphege, or the Green Monkey + Fairer-than-a-Fairy + The Three Brothers + The Boy and the Wolves, or the Broken Promise + The Glass Axe + The Dead Wife + In the Land of Souls + The White Duck + The Witch and her Servants + The Magic Ring + The Flower Queen’s Daughter + The Flying Ship + The Snow-daughter and the Fire-son + The Story of King Frost + The Death of the Sun-hero + The Witch + The Hazel-nut Child + The Story of Big Klaus and Little Klaus + Prince Ring + The Swineherd + How to tell a True Princess + The Blue Mountains + The Tinder-box + The Witch in the Stone Boat + Thumbelina + The Nightingale + Hermod and Hadvor + The Steadfast Tin-soldier + Blockhead Hans + A Story about a Darning-needle + + + + + +THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK + + + + +THE CAT AND THE MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP + +A cat had made acquaintance with a mouse, and had spoken so much of +the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at last the Mouse +consented to live in the same house with her, and to go shares in the +housekeeping. ‘But we must provide for the winter or else we shall +suffer hunger,’ said the Cat. ‘You, little Mouse, cannot venture +everywhere in case you run at last into a trap.’ This good counsel was +followed, and a little pot of fat was bought. But they did not know +where to put it. At length, after long consultation, the Cat said, ‘I +know of no place where it could be better put than in the church. No one +will trouble to take it away from there. We will hide it in a corner, +and we won’t touch it till we are in want.’ So the little pot was placed +in safety; but it was not long before the Cat had a great longing for +it, and said to the Mouse, ‘I wanted to tell you, little Mouse, that my +cousin has a little son, white with brown spots, and she wants me to be +godmother to it. Let me go out to-day, and do you take care of the house +alone.’ + +‘Yes, go certainly,’ replied the Mouse, ‘and when you eat anything +good, think of me; I should very much like a drop of the red christening +wine.’ + +But it was all untrue. The Cat had no cousin, and had not been asked to +be godmother. She went straight to the church, slunk to the little pot +of fat, began to lick it, and licked the top off. Then she took a walk +on the roofs of the town, looked at the view, stretched herself out in +the sun, and licked her lips whenever she thought of the little pot of +fat. As soon as it was evening she went home again. + +‘Ah, here you are again!’ said the Mouse; ‘you must certainly have had +an enjoyable day.’ + +‘It went off very well,’ answered the Cat. + +‘What was the child’s name?’ asked the Mouse. + +‘Top Off,’ said the Cat drily. + +‘Topoff!’ echoed the Mouse, ‘it is indeed a wonderful and curious name. +Is it in your family?’ + +‘What is there odd about it?’ said the Cat. ‘It is not worse than +Breadthief, as your godchild is called.’ + +Not long after this another great longing came over the Cat. She said to +the Mouse, ‘You must again be kind enough to look after the house alone, +for I have been asked a second time to stand godmother, and as this +child has a white ring round its neck, I cannot refuse.’ + +The kind Mouse agreed, but the Cat slunk under the town wall to the +church, and ate up half of the pot of fat. ‘Nothing tastes better,’ said +she, ‘than what one eats by oneself,’ and she was very much pleased with +her day’s work. When she came home the Mouse asked, ‘What was this child +called?’ + +‘Half Gone,’ answered the Cat. + +‘Halfgone! what a name! I have never heard it in my life. I don’t +believe it is in the calendar.’ + +Soon the Cat’s mouth began to water once more after her licking +business. ‘All good things in threes,’ she said to the Mouse; ‘I have +again to stand godmother. The child is quite black, and has very white +paws, but not a single white hair on its body. This only happens once in +two years, so you will let me go out?’ + +‘Topoff! Halfgone!’ repeated the Mouse, ‘they are such curious names; +they make me very thoughtful.’ + +‘Oh, you sit at home in your dark grey coat and your long tail,’ said +the Cat, ‘and you get fanciful. That comes of not going out in the day.’ + +The Mouse had a good cleaning out while the Cat was gone, and made the +house tidy; but the greedy Cat ate the fat every bit up. + +‘When it is all gone one can be at rest,’ she said to herself, and at +night she came home sleek and satisfied. The Mouse asked at once after +the third child’s name. + +‘It won’t please you any better,’ said the Cat, ‘he was called Clean +Gone.’ + +‘Cleangone!’ repeated the Mouse. ‘I do not believe that name has been +printed any more than the others. Cleangone! What can it mean?’ She +shook her head, curled herself up, and went to sleep. + +From this time on no one asked the Cat to stand godmother; but when +the winter came and there was nothing to be got outside, the Mouse +remembered their provision and said, ‘Come, Cat, we will go to our pot +of fat which we have stored away; it will taste very good.’ + +‘Yes, indeed,’ answered the Cat; ‘it will taste as good to you as if +you stretched your thin tongue out of the window.’ + +They started off, and when they reached it they found the pot in its +place, but quite empty! + +‘Ah,’ said the Mouse,’ ‘now I know what has happened! It has all come +out! You are a true friend to me! You have eaten it all when you stood +godmother; first the top off, then half of it gone, then----’ + +‘Will you be quiet!’ screamed the Cat. ‘Another word and I will eat you +up.’ + +‘Clean-gone’ was already on the poor Mouse’s tongue, and scarcely was it +out than the Cat made a spring at her, seized and swallowed her. + +You see that is the way of the world. + + + + +THE SIX SWANS + +A king was once hunting in a great wood, and he hunted the game so +eagerly that none of his courtiers could follow him. When evening came +on he stood still and looked round him, and he saw that he had quite +lost himself. He sought a way out, but could find none. Then he saw an +old woman with a shaking head coming towards him; but she was a witch. + +‘Good woman,’ he said to her, ‘can you not show me the way out of the +wood?’ + +‘Oh, certainly, Sir King,’ she replied, ‘I can quite well do that, but +on one condition, which if you do not fulfil you will never get out of +the wood, and will die of hunger.’ + +‘What is the condition?’ asked the King. + +‘I have a daughter,’ said the old woman, ‘who is so beautiful that she +has not her equal in the world, and is well fitted to be your wife; if +you will make her lady-queen I will show you the way out of the wood.’ + +The King in his anguish of mind consented, and the old woman led him +to her little house where her daughter was sitting by the fire. She +received the King as if she were expecting him, and he saw that she was +certainly very beautiful; but she did not please him, and he could not +look at her without a secret feeling of horror. As soon as he had lifted +the maiden on to his horse the old woman showed him the way, and the +King reached his palace, where the wedding was celebrated. + +The King had already been married once, and had by his first wife seven +children, six boys and one girl, whom he loved more than anything in the +world. And now, because he was afraid that their stepmother might not +treat them well and might do them harm, he put them in a lonely castle +that stood in the middle of a wood. It lay so hidden, and the way to it +was so hard to find, that he himself could not have found it out had +not a wise-woman given him a reel of thread which possessed a marvellous +property: when he threw it before him it unwound itself and showed him +the way. But the King went so often to his dear children that the Queen +was offended at his absence. She grew curious, and wanted to know what +he had to do quite alone in the wood. She gave his servants a great deal +of money, and they betrayed the secret to her, and also told her of the +reel which alone could point out the way. She had no rest now till she +had found out where the King guarded the reel, and then she made some +little white shirts, and, as she had learnt from her witch-mother, sewed +an enchantment in each of them. + +And when the King had ridden off she took the little shirts and went +into the wood, and the reel showed her the way. The children, who saw +someone coming in the distance, thought it was their dear father coming +to them, and sprang to meet him very joyfully. Then she threw over each +one a little shirt, which when it had touched their bodies changed them +into swans, and they flew away over the forest. The Queen went home +quite satisfied, and thought she had got rid of her step-children; but +the girl had not run to meet her with her brothers, and she knew nothing +of her. + +The next day the King came to visit his children, but he found no one +but the girl. + +‘Where are your brothers?’ asked the King. + +‘Alas! dear father,’ she answered, ‘they have gone away and left me all +alone.’ And she told him that looking out of her little window she had +seen her brothers flying over the wood in the shape of swans, and she +showed him the feathers which they had let fall in the yard, and which +she had collected. The King mourned, but he did not think that the Queen +had done the wicked deed, and as he was afraid the maiden would also be +taken from him, he wanted to take her with him. But she was afraid of +the stepmother, and begged the King to let her stay just one night +more in the castle in the wood. The poor maiden thought, ‘My home is no +longer here; I will go and seek my brothers.’ And when night came she +fled away into the forest. She ran all through the night and the next +day, till she could go no farther for weariness. Then she saw a little +hut, went in, and found a room with six little beds. She was afraid to +lie down on one, so she crept under one of them, lay on the hard floor, +and was going to spend the night there. But when the sun had set she +heard a noise, and saw six swans flying in at the window. They stood on +the floor and blew at one another, and blew all their feathers off, and +their swan-skin came off like a shirt. Then the maiden recognised her +brothers, and overjoyed she crept out from under the bed. Her brothers +were not less delighted than she to see their little sister again, but +their joy did not last long. + +‘You cannot stay here,’ they said to her. ‘This is a den of robbers; if +they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’ + +‘Could you not protect me?’ asked the little sister. + +‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a +quarter of an hour every evening. For this time we regain our human +forms, but then we are changed into swans again.’ + +Then the little sister cried and said, ‘Can you not be freed?’ + +‘Oh, no,’ they said, ‘the conditions are too hard. You must not speak or +laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of +star-flowers. If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour +is vain.’ And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour +came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans. + +But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should +cost her her life. She left the hut, went into the forest, climbed +a tree, and spent the night there. The next morning she went out, +collected star-flowers, and began to sew. She could speak to no one, and +she had no wish to laugh, so she sat there, looking only at her work. + +When she had lived there some time, it happened that the King of the +country was hunting in the forest, and his hunters came to the tree on +which the maiden sat. They called to her and said ‘Who are you?’ + +But she gave no answer. + +‘Come down to us,’ they said, ‘we will do you no harm.’ + +But she shook her head silently. As they pressed her further with +questions, she threw them the golden chain from her neck. But they did +not leave off, and she threw them her girdle, and when this was no use, +her garters, and then her dress. The huntsmen would not leave her alone, +but climbed the tree, lifted the maiden down, and led her to the King. +The King asked, ‘Who are you? What are you doing up that tree?’ + +But she answered nothing. + +He asked her in all the languages he knew, but she remained as dumb as +a fish. Because she was so beautiful, however, the King’s heart was +touched, and he was seized with a great love for her. He wrapped her up +in his cloak, placed her before him on his horse, and brought her to his +castle. There he had her dressed in rich clothes, and her beauty shone +out as bright as day, but not a word could be drawn from her. He set her +at table by his side, and her modest ways and behaviour pleased him +so much that he said, ‘I will marry this maiden and none other in the +world,’ and after some days he married her. But the King had a wicked +mother who was displeased with the marriage, and said wicked things of +the young Queen. ‘Who knows who this girl is?’ she said; ‘she cannot +speak, and is not worthy of a king.’ + +After a year, when the Queen had her first child, the old mother took +it away from her. Then she went to the King and said that the Queen had +killed it. The King would not believe it, and would not allow any harm +to be done her. But she sat quietly sewing at the shirts and troubling +herself about nothing. The next time she had a child the wicked mother +did the same thing, but the King could not make up his mind to believe +her. He said, ‘She is too sweet and good to do such a thing as that. +If she were not dumb and could defend herself, her innocence would be +proved.’ But when the third child was taken away, and the Queen was +again accused, and could not utter a word in her own defence, the King +was obliged to give her over to the law, which decreed that she must +be burnt to death. When the day came on which the sentence was to be +executed, it was the last day of the six years in which she must not +speak or laugh, and now she had freed her dear brothers from the power +of the enchantment. The six shirts were done; there was only the left +sleeve wanting to the last. + +When she was led to the stake, she laid the shirts on her arm, and as +she stood on the pile and the fire was about to be lighted, she looked +around her and saw six swans flying through the air. Then she knew +that her release was at hand and her heart danced for joy. The swans +fluttered round her, and hovered low so that she could throw the shirts +over them. When they had touched them the swan-skins fell off, and her +brothers stood before her living, well and beautiful. Only the youngest +had a swan’s wing instead of his left arm. They embraced and kissed +each other, and the Queen went to the King, who was standing by in great +astonishment, and began to speak to him, saying, ‘Dearest husband, now +I can speak and tell you openly that I am innocent and have been falsely +accused.’ + +She told him of the old woman’s deceit, and how she had taken the three +children away and hidden them. Then they were fetched, to the great joy +of the King, and the wicked mother came to no good end. + +But the King and the Queen with their six brothers lived many years in +happiness and peace. + + + + +THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH(2) + +(2) ‘Der Norlands Drache,’ from Esthnische Mahrchen. Kreutzwald. + +Very long ago, as old people have told me, there lived a terrible +monster, who came out of the North, and laid waste whole tracts +of country, devouring both men and beasts; and this monster was so +destructive that it was feared that unless help came no living creature +would be left on the face of the earth. It had a body like an ox, and +legs like a frog, two short fore-legs, and two long ones behind, and +besides that it had a tail like a serpent, ten fathoms in length. When +it moved it jumped like a frog, and with every spring it covered half a +mile of ground. Fortunately its habit, was to remain for several years +in the same place, and not to move on till the whole neighbourhood was +eaten up. Nothing could hunt it, because its whole body was covered with +scales, which were harder than stone or metal; its two great eyes shone +by night, and even by day, like the brightest lamps, and anyone who had +the ill luck to look into those eyes became as it were bewitched, and +was obliged to rush of his own accord into the monster’s jaws. In this +way the Dragon was able to feed upon both men and beasts without the +least trouble to itself, as it needed not to move from the spot where it +was lying. All the neighbouring kings had offered rich rewards to +anyone who should be able to destroy the monster, either by force +or enchantment, and many had tried their luck, but all had miserably +failed. Once a great forest in which the Dragon lay had been set on +fire; the forest was burnt down, but the fire did not do the monster the +least harm. However, there was a tradition amongst the wise men of the +country that the Dragon might be overcome by one who possessed King +Solomon’s signet-ring, upon which a secret writing was engraved. This +inscription would enable anyone who was wise enough to interpret it to +find out how the Dragon could be destroyed. Only no one knew where the +ring was hidden, nor was there any sorcerer or learned man to be found +who would be able to explain the inscription. + +At last a young man, with a good heart and plenty of courage, set out to +search for the ring. He took his way towards the sunrising, because he +knew that all the wisdom of old time comes from the East. After some +years he met with a famous Eastern magician, and asked for his advice in +the matter. The magician answered: + +‘Mortal men have but little wisdom, and can give you no help, but the +birds of the air would be better guides to you if you could learn their +language. I can help you to understand it if you will stay with me a few +days.’ + +The youth thankfully accepted the magician’s offer, and said, ‘I cannot +now offer you any reward for your kindness, but should my undertaking +succeed your trouble shall be richly repaid.’ + +Then the magician brewed a powerful potion out of nine sorts of herbs +which he had gathered himself all alone by moonlight, and he gave the +youth nine spoonfuls of it daily for three days, which made him able to +understand the language of birds. + +At parting the magician said to him. ‘If you ever find Solomon’s ring +and get possession of it, then come back to me, that I may explain the +inscription on the ring to you, for there is no one else in the world +who can do this.’ + +From that time the youth never felt lonely as he walked along; he always +had company, because he understood the language of birds; and in this +way he learned many things which mere human knowledge could never have +taught him. But time went on, and he heard nothing about the ring. It +happened one evening, when he was hot and tired with walking, and had +sat down under a tree in a forest to eat his supper, that he saw two +gaily-plumaged birds, that were strange to him, sitting at the top of +the tree talking to one another about him. The first bird said: + +‘I know that wandering fool under the tree there, who has come so far +without finding what he seeks. He is trying to find King Solomon’s lost +ring.’ + +The other bird answered, ‘He will have to seek help from the +Witch-maiden,(3) who will doubtless be able to put him on the right +track. If she has not got the ring herself, she knows well enough who +has it.’ + +(3) Hollenmadchen. + + +‘But where is he to find the Witch-maiden?’ said the first bird. ‘She +has no settled dwelling, but is here to-day and gone to-morrow. He might +as well try to catch the wind.’ + +The other replied, ‘I do not know, certainly, where she is at present, +but in three nights from now she will come to the spring to wash her +face, as she does every month when the moon is full, in order that +she may never grow old nor wrinkled, but may always keep the bloom of +youth.’ + +‘Well,’ said the first bird, ‘the spring is not far from here. Shall we +go and see how it is she does it?’ + +‘Willingly, if you like,’ said the other. + +The youth immediately resolved to follow the birds to the spring, only +two things made him uneasy: first, lest he might be asleep when the +birds went, and secondly, lest he might lose sight of them, since he had +not wings to carry him along so swiftly. He was too tired to keep awake +all night, yet his anxiety prevented him from sleeping soundly, and when +with the earliest dawn he looked up to the tree-top, he was glad to +see his feathered companions still asleep with their heads under their +wings. He ate his breakfast, and waited until the birds should start, +but they did not leave the place all day. They hopped about from one +tree to another looking for food, all day long until the evening, when +they went back to their old perch to sleep. The next day the same thing +happened, but on the third morning one bird said to the other, ‘To-day +we must go to the spring to see the Witch-maiden wash her face.’ They +remained on the tree till noon; then they flew away and went towards the +south. The young man’s heart beat with anxiety lest he should lose sight +of his guides, but he managed to keep the birds in view until they again +perched upon a tree. The young man ran after them until he was quite +exhausted and out of breath, and after three short rests the birds at +length reached a small open space in the forest, on the edge of which +they placed themselves on the top of a high tree. When the youth had +overtaken them, he saw that there was a clear spring in the middle of +the space. He sat down at the foot of the tree upon which the birds +were perched, and listened attentively to what they were saying to each +other. + +‘The sun is not down yet,’ said the first bird; ‘we must wait yet awhile +till the moon rises and the maiden comes to the spring. Do you think she +will see that young man sitting under the tree?’ + +‘Nothing is likely to escape her eyes, certainly not a young man, said +the other bird. ‘Will the youth have the sense not to let himself be +caught in her toils?’ + +‘We will wait,’ said the first bird, ‘and see how they get on together.’ + +The evening light had quite faded, and the full moon was already shining +down upon the forest, when the young man heard a slight rustling sound. +After a few moments there came out of the forest a maiden, gliding over +the grass so lightly that her feet seemed scarcely to touch the ground, +and stood beside the spring. The youth could not turn away his eyes +from the maiden, for he had never in his life seen a woman so beautiful. +Without seeming to notice anything, she went to the spring, looked up +to the full moon, then knelt down and bathed her face nine times, then +looked up to the moon again and walked nine times round the well, and as +she walked she sang this song: + + ‘Full-faced moon with light unshaded, + Let my beauty ne’er be faded. + Never let my cheek grow pale! + While the moon is waning nightly, + May the maiden bloom more brightly, + May her freshness never fail!’ + +Then she dried her face with her long hair, and was about to go away, +when her eye suddenly fell upon the spot where the young man was +sitting, and she turned towards the tree. The youth rose and stood +waiting. Then the maiden said, ‘You ought to have a heavy punishment +because you have presumed to watch my secret doings in the moonlight. +But I will forgive you this time, because you are a stranger and knew no +better. But you must tell me truly who you are and how you came to this +place, where no mortal has ever set foot before.’ + +The youth answered humbly: ‘Forgive me, beautiful maiden, if I have +unintentionally offended you. I chanced to come here after long +wandering, and found a good place to sleep under this tree. At your +coming I did not know what to do, but stayed where I was, because I +thought my silent watching could not offend you.’ + +The maiden answered kindly, ‘Come and spend this night with us. You will +sleep better on a pillow than on damp moss.’ + +The youth hesitated for a little, but presently he heard the birds +saying from the top of the tree, ‘Go where she calls you, but take care +to give no blood, or you will sell your soul.’ So the youth went with +her, and soon they reached a beautiful garden, where stood a splendid +house, which glittered in the moonlight as if it was all built out of +gold and silver. When the youth entered he found many splendid chambers, +each one finer than the last. Hundreds of tapers burnt upon golden +candlesticks, and shed a light like the brightest day. At length they +reached a chamber where a table was spread with the most costly dishes. +At the table were placed two chairs, one of silver, the other of gold. +The maiden seated herself upon the golden chair, and offered the silver +one to her companion. They were served by maidens dressed in white, +whose feet made no sound as they moved about, and not a word was spoken +during the meal. Afterwards the youth and the Witch-maiden conversed +pleasantly together, until a woman, dressed in red, came in to remind +them that it was bedtime. The youth was now shown into another room, +containing a silken bed with down cushions, where he slept delightfully, +yet he seemed to hear a voice near his bed which repeated to him, +‘Remember to give no blood!’ + +The next morning the maiden asked him whether he would not like to +stay with her always in this beautiful place, and as he did not answer +immediately, she continued: ‘You see how I always remain young and +beautiful, and I am under no one’s orders, but can do just what I like, +so that I have never thought of marrying before. But from the moment I +saw you I took a fancy to you, so if you agree, we might be married and +might live together like princes, because I have great riches.’ + +The youth could not but be tempted with the beautiful maiden’s offer, +but he remembered how the birds had called her the witch, and their +warning always sounded in his ears. Therefore he answered cautiously, +‘Do not be angry, dear maiden, if I do not decide immediately on this +important matter. Give me a few days to consider before we come to an +understanding.’ + +‘Why not?’ answered the maiden. ‘Take some weeks to consider if you +like, and take counsel with your own heart.’ And to make the time +pass pleasantly, she took the youth over every part of her beautiful +dwelling, and showed him all her splendid treasures. But these treasures +were all produced by enchantment, for the maiden could make anything she +wished appear by the help of King Solomon’s signet ring; only none of +these things remained fixed; they passed away like the wind without +leaving a trace behind. But the youth did not know this; he thought they +were all real. + +One day the maiden took him into a secret chamber, where a little gold +box was standing on a silver table. Pointing to the box, she said, ‘Here +is my greatest treasure, whose like is not to be found in the whole +world. It is a precious gold ring. When you marry me, I will give you +this ring as a marriage gift, and it will make you the happiest of +mortal men. But in order that our love may last for ever, you must give +me for the ring three drops of blood from the little finger of your left +hand.’ + +When the youth heard these words a cold shudder ran over him, for he +remembered that his soul was at stake. He was cunning enough, however, +to conceal his feelings and to make no direct answer, but he only asked +the maiden, as if carelessly, what was remarkable about the ring? + +She answered, ‘No mortal is able entirely to understand the power +of this ring, because no one thoroughly understands the secret signs +engraved upon it. But even with my half-knowledge I can work great +wonders. If I put the ring upon the little finger of my left hand, then +I can fly like a bird through the air wherever I wish to go. If I put +it on the third finger of my left hand I am invisible, and I can see +everything that passes around me, though no one can see me. If I put the +ring upon the middle finger of my left hand, then neither fire nor water +nor any sharp weapon can hurt me. If I put it on the forefinger of my +left hand, then I can with its help produce whatever I wish. I can in a +single moment build houses or anything I desire. Finally, as long as I +wear the ring on the thumb of my left hand, that hand is so strong that +it can break down rocks and walls. Besides these, the ring has other +secret signs which, as I said, no one can understand. No doubt it +contains secrets of great importance. The ring formerly belonged to King +Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived. +But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it +is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’ + +When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of +the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts. +He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not +quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into +the box. A few days after they were again speaking of the magic ring, +and the youth said, ‘I do not think it possible that the ring can have +all the power you say it has.’ + +Then the maiden opened the box and took the ring out, and it glittered +as she held it like the clearest sunbeam. She put it on the middle +finger of her left hand, and told the youth to take a knife and try as +hard as he could to cut her with it, for he would not be able to hurt +her. He was unwilling at first, but the maiden insisted. Then he tried, +at first only in play, and then seriously, to strike her with the knife, +but an invisible wall of iron seemed to be between them, and the maiden +stood before him laughing and unhurt. Then she put the ring on her third +finger, and in an instant she had vanished from his eyes. Presently she +was beside him again laughing, and holding the ring between her fingers. + +‘Do let me try,’ said the youth, ‘whether I can do these wonderful +things.’ + +The maiden, suspecting no treachery, gave him the magic ring. + +The youth pretended to have forgotten what to do, and asked what finger +he must put the ring on so that no sharp weapon could hurt him?’ + +‘Oh, the middle finger of your left hand,’ the maiden answered, +laughing. + +She took the knife and tried to strike the youth, and he even tried to +cut himself with it, but found it impossible. Then he asked the maiden +to show him how to split stones and rocks with the help of the ring. So +she led him into a courtyard where stood a great boulder-stone. ‘Now,’ +she said, ‘put the ring upon the thumb of your left hand, and you will +see how strong that hand has become. The youth did so, and found to his +astonishment that with a single blow of his fist the stone flew into a +thousand pieces. Then the youth bethought him that he who does not use +his luck when he has it is a fool, and that this was a chance which once +lost might never return. So while they stood laughing at the shattered +stone he placed the ring, as if in play, upon the third finger of his +left hand. + +‘Now,’ said the maiden, ‘you are invisible to me until you take the ring +off again.’ + +But the youth had no mind to do that; on the contrary, he went farther +off, then put the ring on the little finger of his left hand, and soared +into the air like a bird. + +When the maiden saw him flying away she thought at first that he was +still in play, and cried, ‘Come back, friend, for now you see I have +told you the truth.’ But the young man never came back. + +Then the maiden saw she was deceived, and bitterly repented that she had +ever trusted him with the ring. + +The young man never halted in his flight until he reached the dwelling +of the wise magician who had taught him the speech of birds. The +magician was delighted to find that his search had been successful, +and at once set to work to interpret the secret signs engraved upon the +ring, but it took him seven weeks to make them out clearly. Then he gave +the youth the following instructions how to overcome the Dragon of the +North: ‘You must have an iron horse cast, which must have little wheels +under each foot. You must also be armed with a spear two fathoms long, +which you will be able to wield by means of the magic ring upon your +left thumb. The spear must be as thick in the middle as a large tree, +and both its ends must be sharp. In the middle of the spear you must +have two strong chains ten fathoms in length. As soon as the Dragon has +made himself fast to the spear, which you must thrust through his jaws, +you must spring quickly from the iron horse and fasten the ends of the +chains firmly to the ground with iron stakes, so that he cannot get away +from them. After two or three days the monster’s strength will be so +far exhausted that you will be able to come near him. Then you can put +Solomon’s ring upon your left thumb and give him the finishing stroke, +but keep the ring on your third finger until you have come close to him, +so that the monster cannot see you, else he might strike you dead with +his long tail. But when all is done, take care you do not lose the ring, +and that no one takes it from you by cunning.’ + +The young man thanked the magician for his directions, and promised, +should they succeed, to reward him. But the magician answered, ‘I have +profited so much by the wisdom the ring has taught me that I desire no +other reward.’ Then they parted, and the youth quickly flew home through +the air. After remaining in his own home for some weeks, he heard people +say that the terrible Dragon of the North was not far off, and might +shortly be expected in the country. The King announced publicly that +he would give his daughter in marriage, as well as a large part of his +kingdom, to whosoever should free the country from the monster. The +youth then went to the King and told him that he had good hopes of +subduing the Dragon, if the King would grant him all he desired for the +purpose. The King willingly agreed, and the iron horse, the great spear, +and the chains were all prepared as the youth requested. When all was +ready, it was found that the iron horse was so heavy that a hundred men +could not move it from the spot, so the youth found there was nothing +for it but to move it with his own strength by means of the magic ring. +The Dragon was now so near that in a couple of springs he would be over +the frontier. The youth now began to consider how he should act, for if +he had to push the iron horse from behind he could not ride upon it as +the sorcerer had said he must. But a raven unexpectedly gave him this +advice: ‘Ride upon the horse, and push the spear against the ground, +as if you were pushing off a boat from the land.’ The youth did so, and +found that in this way he could easily move forwards. The Dragon had his +monstrous jaws wide open, all ready for his expected prey. A few paces +nearer, and man and horse would have been swallowed up by them! The +youth trembled with horror, and his blood ran cold, yet he did not lose +his courage; but, holding the iron spear upright in his hand, he brought +it down with all his might right through the monster’s lower jaw. Then +quick as lightning he sprang from his horse before the Dragon had time +to shut his mouth. A fearful clap like thunder, which could be heard for +miles around, now warned him that the Dragon’s jaws had closed upon +the spear. When the youth turned round he saw the point of the spear +sticking up high above the Dragon’s upper jaw, and knew that the other +end must be fastened firmly to the ground; but the Dragon had got his +teeth fixed in the iron horse, which was now useless. The youth now +hastened to fasten down the chains to the ground by means of the +enormous iron pegs which he had provided. The death struggle of the +monster lasted three days and three nights; in his writhing he beat his +tail so violently against the ground, that at ten miles’ distance the +earth trembled as if with an earthquake. When he at length lost power to +move his tail, the youth with the help of the ring took up a stone which +twenty ordinary men could not have moved, and beat the Dragon so hard +about the head with it that very soon the monster lay lifeless before +him. + +You can fancy how great was the rejoicing when the news was spread +abroad that the terrible monster was dead. His conqueror was received +into the city with as much pomp as if he had been the mightiest of +kings. The old King did not need to urge his daughter to marry the +slayer of the Dragon; he found her already willing to bestow her hand +upon this hero, who had done all alone what whole armies had tried in +vain to do. In a few days a magnificent wedding was celebrated, at which +the rejoicings lasted four whole weeks, for all the neighbouring kings +had met together to thank the man who had freed the world from their +common enemy. But everyone forgot amid the general joy that they ought +to have buried the Dragon’s monstrous body, for it began now to have +such a bad smell that no one could live in the neighbourhood, and +before long the whole air was poisoned, and a pestilence broke out +which destroyed many hundreds of people. In this distress, the King’s +son-in-law resolved to seek help once more from the Eastern magician, to +whom he at once travelled through the air like a bird by the help of +the ring. But there is a proverb which says that ill-gotten gains never +prosper, and the Prince found that the stolen ring brought him ill-luck +after all. The Witch-maiden had never rested night nor day until she had +found out where the ring was. As soon as she had discovered by means of +magical arts that the Prince in the form of a bird was on his way to the +Eastern magician, she changed herself into an eagle and watched in the +air until the bird she was waiting for came in sight, for she knew him +at once by the ring which was hung round his neck by a ribbon. Then the +eagle pounced upon the bird, and the moment she seized him in her talons +she tore the ring from his neck before the man in bird’s shape had time +to prevent her. Then the eagle flew down to the earth with her prey, and +the two stood face to face once more in human form. + +‘Now, villain, you are in my power!’ cried the Witch-maiden. ‘I favoured +you with my love, and you repaid me with treachery and theft. You stole +my most precious jewel from me, and do you expect to live happily as the +King’s son-in-law? Now the tables are turned; you are in my power, and I +will be revenged on you for your crimes.’ + +‘Forgive me! forgive me!’ cried the Prince; ‘I know too well how deeply +I have wronged you, and most heartily do I repent it.’ + +The maiden answered, ‘Your prayers and your repentance come too late, +and if I were to spare you everyone would think me a fool. You have +doubly wronged me; first you scorned my love, and then you stole my +ring, and you must bear the punishment.’ + +With these words she put the ring upon her left thumb, lifted the young +man with one hand, and walked away with him under her arm. This time +she did not take him to a splendid palace, but to a deep cave in a rock, +where there were chains hanging from the wall. The maiden now chained +the young man’s hands and feet so that he could not escape; then she +said in an angry voice, ‘Here you shall remain chained up until you die. +I will bring you every day enough food to prevent you dying of hunger, +but you need never hope for freedom any more.’ With these words she left +him. + +The old King and his daughter waited anxiously for many weeks for the +Prince’s return, but no news of him arrived. The King’s daughter often +dreamed that her husband was going through some great suffering: she +therefore begged her father to summon all the enchanters and magicians, +that they might try to find out where the Prince was and how he could +be set free. But the magicians, with all their arts, could find out +nothing, except that he was still living and undergoing great suffering; +but none could tell where he was to be found. At last a celebrated +magician from Finland was brought before the King, who had found out +that the King’s son-in-law was imprisoned in the East, not by men, but +by some more powerful being. The King now sent messengers to the East to +look for his son-in-law, and they by good luck met with the old magician +who had interpreted the signs on King Solomon’s ring, and thus was +possessed of more wisdom than anyone else in the world. The magician +soon found out what he wished to know, and pointed out the place where +the Prince was imprisoned, but said: ‘He is kept there by enchantment, +and cannot be set free without my help. I will therefore go with you +myself.’ + +So they all set out, guided by birds, and after some days came to the +cave where the unfortunate Prince had been chained up for nearly seven +years. He recognised the magician immediately, but the old man did not +know him, he had grown so thin. However, he undid the chains by the +help of magic, and took care of the Prince until he recovered and became +strong enough to travel. When he reached home he found that the old King +had died that morning, so that he was now raised to the throne. And now +after his long suffering came prosperity, which lasted to the end of his +life; but he never got back the magic ring, nor has it ever again been +seen by mortal eyes. + +Now, if YOU had been the Prince, would you not rather have stayed with +the pretty witch-maiden? + + + + +STORY OF THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES(4) + +(4) Andersen. + +Many years ago there lived an Emperor who was so fond of new clothes +that he spent all his money on them in order to be beautifully dressed. +He did not care about his soldiers, he did not care about the theatre; +he only liked to go out walking to show off his new clothes. He had a +coat for every hour of the day; and just as they say of a king, ‘He is +in the council-chamber,’ they always said here, ‘The Emperor is in the +wardrobe.’ + +In the great city in which he lived there was always something going on; +every day many strangers came there. One day two impostors arrived +who gave themselves out as weavers, and said that they knew how to +manufacture the most beautiful cloth imaginable. Not only were the +texture and pattern uncommonly beautiful, but the clothes which were +made of the stuff possessed this wonderful property that they were +invisible to anyone who was not fit for his office, or who was +unpardonably stupid. + +‘Those must indeed be splendid clothes,’ thought the Emperor. ‘If I +had them on I could find out which men in my kingdom are unfit for the +offices they hold; I could distinguish the wise from the stupid! Yes, +this cloth must be woven for me at once.’ And he gave both the impostors +much money, so that they might begin their work. + +They placed two weaving-looms, and began to do as if they were working, +but they had not the least thing on the looms. They also demanded the +finest silk and the best gold, which they put in their pockets, and +worked at the empty looms till late into the night. + +‘I should like very much to know how far they have got on with the +cloth,’ thought the Emperor. But he remembered when he thought about it +that whoever was stupid or not fit for his office would not be able +to see it. Now he certainly believed that he had nothing to fear for +himself, but he wanted first to send somebody else in order to see how +he stood with regard to his office. Everybody in the whole town knew +what a wonderful power the cloth had, and they were all curious to see +how bad or how stupid their neighbour was. + +‘I will send my old and honoured minister to the weavers,’ thought +the Emperor. ‘He can judge best what the cloth is like, for he has +intellect, and no one understands his office better than he.’ + +Now the good old minister went into the hall where the two impostors sat +working at the empty weaving-looms. ‘Dear me!’ thought the old minister, +opening his eyes wide, ‘I can see nothing!’ But he did not say so. + +Both the impostors begged him to be so kind as to step closer, and asked +him if it were not a beautiful texture and lovely colours. They pointed +to the empty loom, and the poor old minister went forward rubbing his +eyes; but he could see nothing, for there was nothing there. + +‘Dear, dear!’ thought he, ‘can I be stupid? I have never thought that, +and nobody must know it! Can I be not fit for my office? No, I must +certainly not say that I cannot see the cloth!’ + +‘Have you nothing to say about it?’ asked one of the men who was +weaving. + +‘Oh, it is lovely, most lovely!’ answered the old minister, looking +through his spectacles. ‘What a texture! What colours! Yes, I will tell +the Emperor that it pleases me very much.’ + +‘Now we are delighted at that,’ said both the weavers, and thereupon +they named the colours and explained the make of the texture. + +The old minister paid great attention, so that he could tell the same to +the Emperor when he came back to him, which he did. + +The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in +their weaving. They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no +threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working +at the empty loom. The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to +see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon +be finished. It was the same with him as the first one; he looked and +looked, but because there was nothing on the empty loom he could see +nothing. + +‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and +they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there. + +‘Stupid I am not!’ thought the man, ‘so it must be my good office for +which I am not fitted. It is strange, certainly, but no one must be +allowed to notice it.’ And so he praised the cloth which he did not +see, and expressed to them his delight at the beautiful colours and the +splendid texture. ‘Yes, it is quite beautiful,’ he said to the Emperor. + +Everybody in the town was talking of the magnificent cloth. + +Now the Emperor wanted to see it himself while it was still on the +loom. With a great crowd of select followers, amongst whom were both +the worthy statesmen who had already been there before, he went to +the cunning impostors, who were now weaving with all their might, but +without fibre or thread. + +‘Is it not splendid!’ said both the old statesmen who had already been +there. ‘See, your Majesty, what a texture! What colours!’ And then they +pointed to the empty loom, for they believed that the others could see +the cloth quite well. + +‘What!’ thought the Emperor, ‘I can see nothing! This is indeed +horrible! Am I stupid? Am I not fit to be Emperor? That were the most +dreadful thing that could happen to me. Oh, it is very beautiful,’ he +said. ‘It has my gracious approval.’ And then he nodded pleasantly, and +examined the empty loom, for he would not say that he could see nothing. + +His whole Court round him looked and looked, and saw no more than the +others; but they said like the Emperor, ‘Oh! it is beautiful!’ And they +advised him to wear these new and magnificent clothes for the first time +at the great procession which was soon to take place. ‘Splendid! Lovely! +Most beautiful!’ went from mouth to mouth; everyone seemed delighted +over them, and the Emperor gave to the impostors the title of Court +weavers to the Emperor. + +Throughout the whole of the night before the morning on which the +procession was to take place, the impostors were up and were working by +the light of over sixteen candles. The people could see that they were +very busy making the Emperor’s new clothes ready. They pretended they +were taking the cloth from the loom, cut with huge scissors in the +air, sewed with needles without thread, and then said at last, ‘Now the +clothes are finished!’ + +The Emperor came himself with his most distinguished knights, and each +impostor held up his arm just as if he were holding something, and said, +‘See! here are the breeches! Here is the coat! Here the cloak!’ and so +on. + +‘Spun clothes are so comfortable that one would imagine one had nothing +on at all; but that is the beauty of it!’ + +‘Yes,’ said all the knights, but they could see nothing, for there was +nothing there. + +‘Will it please your Majesty graciously to take off your clothes,’ said +the impostors, ‘then we will put on the new clothes, here before the +mirror.’ + +The Emperor took off all his clothes, and the impostors placed +themselves before him as if they were putting on each part of his new +clothes which was ready, and the Emperor turned and bent himself in +front of the mirror. + +‘How beautifully they fit! How well they sit!’ said everybody. ‘What +material! What colours! It is a gorgeous suit!’ + +‘They are waiting outside with the canopy which your Majesty is wont +to have borne over you in the procession,’ announced the Master of the +Ceremonies. + +‘Look, I am ready,’ said the Emperor. ‘Doesn’t it sit well!’ And he +turned himself again to the mirror to see if his finery was on all +right. + +The chamberlains who were used to carry the train put their hands near +the floor as if they were lifting up the train; then they did as if they +were holding something in the air. They would not have it noticed that +they could see nothing. + +So the Emperor went along in the procession under the splendid canopy, +and all the people in the streets and at the windows said, ‘How +matchless are the Emperor’s new clothes! That train fastened to his +dress, how beautifully it hangs!’ + +No one wished it to be noticed that he could see nothing, for then he +would have been unfit for his office, or else very stupid. None of the +Emperor’s clothes had met with such approval as these had. + +‘But he has nothing on!’ said a little child at last. + +‘Just listen to the innocent child!’ said the father, and each one +whispered to his neighbour what the child had said. + +‘But he has nothing on!’ the whole of the people called out at last. + +This struck the Emperor, for it seemed to him as if they were right; but +he thought to himself, ‘I must go on with the procession now. And the +chamberlains walked along still more uprightly, holding up the train +which was not there at all. + + + + +THE GOLDEN CRAB(5) + +(5) ‘Prinz Krebs,’ from Griechische Mahrchen. Schmidt. + +Once upon a time there was a fisherman who had a wife and three +children. Every morning he used to go out fishing, and whatever fish he +caught he sold to the King. One day, among the other fishes, he caught +a golden crab. When he came home he put all the fishes together into +a great dish, but he kept the Crab separate because it shone so +beautifully, and placed it upon a high shelf in the cupboard. Now while +the old woman, his wife, was cleaning the fish, and had tucked up her +gown so that her feet were visible, she suddenly heard a voice, which +said: + + ‘Let down, let down thy petticoat + That lets thy feet be seen.’ + +She turned round in surprise, and then she saw the little creature, the +Golden Crab. + +‘What! You can speak, can you, you ridiculous crab?’ she said, for she +was not quite pleased at the Crab’s remarks. Then she took him up and +placed him on a dish. + +When her husband came home and they sat down to dinner, they presently +heard the Crab’s little voice saying, ‘Give me some too.’ They were all +very much surprised, but they gave him something to eat. When the old +man came to take away the plate which had contained the Crab’s dinner, +he found it full of gold, and as the same thing happened every day he +soon became very fond of the Crab. + +One day the Crab said to the fisherman’s wife, ‘Go to the King and tell +him I wish to marry his younger daughter.’ + +The old woman went accordingly, and laid the matter before the King, who +laughed a little at the notion of his daughter marrying a crab, but did +not decline the proposal altogether, because he was a prudent monarch, +and knew that the Crab was likely to be a prince in disguise. He said, +therefore, to the fisherman’s wife, ‘Go, old woman, and tell the Crab I +will give him my daughter if by to-morrow morning he can build a wall in +front of my castle much higher than my tower, upon which all the flowers +of the world must grow and bloom.’ + +The fisherman’s wife went home and gave this message. + +Then the Crab gave her a golden rod, and said, ‘Go and strike with this +rod three times upon the ground on the place which the King showed you, +and to-morrow morning the wall will be there.’ + +The old woman did so and went away again. + +The next morning, when the King awoke, what do you think he saw? The +wall stood there before his eyes, exactly as he had bespoken it! + +Then the old woman went back to the King and said to him, ‘Your +Majesty’s orders have been fulfilled.’ + +‘That is all very well,’ said the King, ‘but I cannot give away my +daughter until there stands in front of my palace a garden in which +there are three fountains, of which the first must play gold, the second +diamonds, and the third brilliants.’ + +So the old woman had to strike again three times upon the ground with +the rod, and the next morning the garden was there. The King now gave +his consent, and the wedding was fixed for the very next day. + +Then the Crab said to the old fisherman, ‘Now take this rod; go and +knock with it on a certain mountain; then a black man(6) will come out +and ask you what you wish for. Answer him thus: ‘’Your master, the King, +has sent me to tell you that you must send him his golden garment that +is like the sun.’’ Make him give you, besides, the queenly robes of gold +and precious stones which are like the flowery meadows, and bring them +both to me. And bring me also the golden cushion.’ + +(6) Ein Mohr. + + +The old man went and did his errand. When he had brought the precious +robes, the Crab put on the golden garment and then crept upon the golden +cushion, and in this way the fisherman carried him to the castle, where +the Crab presented the other garment to his bride. Now the ceremony +took place, and when the married pair were alone together the Crab made +himself known to his young wife, and told her how he was the son of the +greatest king in the world, and how he was enchanted, so that he became +a crab by day and was a man only at night; and he could also change +himself into an eagle as often as he wished. No sooner had he said this +than he shook himself, and immediately became a handsome youth, but the +next morning he was forced to creep back again into his crab-shell. And +the same thing happened every day. But the Princess’s affection for the +Crab, and the polite attention with which she behaved to him, surprised +the royal family very much. They suspected some secret, but though they +spied and spied, they could not discover it. Thus a year passed away, +and the Princess had a son, whom she called Benjamin. But her mother +still thought the whole matter very strange. At last she said to the +King that he ought to ask his daughter whether she would not like to +have another husband instead of the Crab? But when the daughter was +questioned she only answered: + +‘I am married to the Crab, and him only will I have.’ + +Then the King said to her, ‘I will appoint a tournament in your honour, +and I will invite all the princes in the world to it, and if any one of +them pleases you, you shall marry him.’ + +In the evening the Princess told this to the Crab, who said to her, +‘Take this rod, go to the garden gate and knock with it, then a black +man will come out and say to you, ‘’Why have you called me, and what do +you require of me?’’ Answer him thus: ‘Your master the King has sent me +hither to tell you to send him his golden armour and his steed and the +silver apple.’’ And bring them to me.’ + +The Princess did so, and brought him what he desired. + +The following evening the Prince dressed himself for the tournament. +Before he went he said to his wife, ‘Now mind you do not say when you +see me that I am the Crab. For if you do this evil will come of it. +Place yourself at the window with your sisters; I will ride by and throw +you the silver apple. Take it in your hand, but if they ask you who I +am, say that you do not know.’ So saying, he kissed her, repeated his +warning once more, and went away. + +The Princess went with her sisters to the window and looked on at the +tournament. Presently her husband rode by and threw the apple up to her. +She caught it in her hand and went with it to her room, and by-and-by +her husband came back to her. But her father was much surprised that she +did not seem to care about any of the Princes; he therefore appointed a +second tournament. + +The Crab then gave his wife the same directions as before, only this +time the apple which she received from the black man was of gold. But +before the Prince went to the tournament he said to his wife, ‘Now I +know you will betray me to-day.’ + +But she swore to him that she would not tell who he was. He then +repeated his warning and went away. + +In the evening, while the Princess, with her mother and sisters, was +standing at the window, the Prince suddenly galloped past on his steed +and threw her the golden apple. + +Then her mother flew into a passion, gave her a box on the ear, and +cried out, ‘Does not even that prince please you, you fool?’ + +The Princess in her fright exclaimed, ‘That is the Crab himself!’ + +Her mother was still more angry because she had not been told sooner, +ran into her daughter’s room where the crab-shell was still lying, took +it up and threw it into the fire. Then the poor Princess cried bitterly, +but it was of no use; her husband did not come back. + +Now we must leave the Princess and turn to the other persons in the +story. One day an old man went to a stream to dip in a crust of bread +which he was going to eat, when a dog came out of the water, snatched +the bread from his hand, and ran away. The old man ran after him, +but the dog reached a door, pushed it open, and ran in, the old man +following him. He did not overtake the dog, but found himself above a +staircase, which he descended. Then he saw before him a stately palace, +and, entering, he found in a large hall a table set for twelve persons. +He hid himself in the hall behind a great picture, that he might see +what would happen. At noon he heard a great noise, so that he trembled +with fear. When he took courage to look out from behind the picture, +he saw twelve eagles flying in. At this sight his fear became still +greater. The eagles flew to the basin of a fountain that was there and +bathed themselves, when suddenly they were changed into twelve handsome +youths. Now they seated themselves at the table, and one of them took +up a goblet filled with wine, and said, ‘A health to my father!’ And +another said, ‘A health to my mother!’ and so the healths went round. +Then one of them said: + + ‘A health to my dearest lady, + Long may she live and well! + But a curse on the cruel mother + That burnt my golden shell!’ + +And so saying he wept bitterly. Then the youths rose from the table, +went back to the great stone fountain, turned themselves into eagles +again, and flew away. + +Then the old man went away too, returned to the light of day, and went +home. Soon after he heard that the Princess was ill, and that the only +thing that did her good was having stories told to her. He therefore +went to the royal castle, obtained an audience of the Princess, and told +her about the strange things he had seen in the underground palace. No +sooner had he finished than the Princess asked him whether he could find +the way to that palace. + +‘Yes,’ he answered, ‘certainly.’ + +And now she desired him to guide her thither at once. The old man did +so, and when they came to the palace he hid her behind the great picture +and advised her to keep quite still, and he placed himself behind +the picture also. Presently the eagles came flying in, and changed +themselves into young men, and in a moment the Princess recognised her +husband amongst them all, and tried to come out of her hiding-place; but +the old man held her back. The youths seated themselves at the table; +and now the Prince said again, while he took up the cup of wine: + + ‘A health to my dearest lady, + Long may she live and well! + But a curse on the cruel mother + That burnt my golden shell!’ + +Then the Princess could restrain herself no longer, but ran forward and +threw her arms round her husband. And immediately he knew her again, and +said: + +‘Do you remember how I told you that day that you would betray me? +Now you see that I spoke the truth. But all that bad time is past. Now +listen to me: I must still remain enchanted for three months. Will you +stay here with me till that time is over?’ + +So the Princess stayed with him, and said to the old man, ‘Go back to +the castle and tell my parents that I am staying here.’ + +Her parents were very much vexed when the old man came back and told +them this, but as soon as the three months of the Prince’s enchantment +were over, he ceased to be an eagle and became once more a man, and they +returned home together. And then they lived happily, and we who hear the +story are happier still. + + + + +THE IRON STOVE(7) + +(7) Grimm. + +Once upon a time when wishes came true there was a king’s son who was +enchanted by an old witch, so that he was obliged to sit in a large iron +stove in a wood. There he lived for many years, and no one could free +him. At last a king’s daughter came into the wood; she had lost her way, +and could not find her father’s kingdom again. She had been wandering +round and round for nine days, and she came at last to the iron case. A +voice came from within and asked her, ‘Where do you come from, and where +do you want to go?’ She answered, ‘I have lost my way to my father’s +kingdom, and I shall never get home again.’ Then the voice from the iron +stove said, ‘I will help you to find your home again, and that in a very +short time, if you will promise to do what I ask you. I am a greater +prince than you are a princess, and I will marry you.’ Then she grew +frightened, and thought, ‘What can a young lassie do with an iron +stove?’ But as she wanted very much to go home to her father, she +promised to do what he wished. + +He said, ‘You must come again, and bring a knife with you to scrape a +hole in the iron.’ + +Then he gave her someone for a guide, who walked near her and said +nothing, but he brought her in two hours to her house. There was great +joy in the castle when the Princess came back, and the old King fell on +her neck and kissed her. But she was very much troubled, and said, ‘Dear +father, listen to what has befallen me! I should never have come home +again out of the great wild wood if I had not come to an iron stove, +to whom I have had to promise that I will go back to free him and marry +him!’ The old King was so frightened that he nearly fainted, for she was +his only daughter. So they consulted together, and determined that the +miller’s daughter, who was very beautiful, should take her place. They +took her there, gave her a knife, and said she must scrape at the iron +stove. She scraped for twenty-four hours, but did not make the least +impression. When the day broke, a voice called from the iron stove, ‘It +seems to me that it is day outside.’ Then she answered, ‘It seems so to +me; I think I hear my father’s mill rattling.’ + +‘So you are a miller’s daughter! Then go away at once, and tell the +King’s daughter to come.’ + +Then she went away, and told the old King that the thing inside the +iron stove would not have her, but wanted the Princess. The old King was +frightened, and his daughter wept. But they had a swineherd’s daughter +who was even more beautiful than the miller’s daughter, and they gave +her a piece of gold to go to the iron stove instead of the Princess. +Then she was taken out, and had to scrape for four-and-twenty hours, but +she could make no impression. As soon as the day broke the voice from +the stove called out, ‘It seems to be daylight outside.’ Then she +answered, ‘It seems so to me too; I think I hear my father blowing his +horn.’ ‘So you are a swineherd’s daughter! Go away at once, and let the +King’s daughter come. And say to her that what I foretell shall come to +pass, and if she does not come everything in the kingdom shall fall into +ruin, and not one stone shall be left upon another.’ When the Princess +heard this she began to cry, but it was no good; she had to keep her +word. She took leave of her father, put a knife in her belt, and went +to the iron stove in the wood. As soon as she reached it she began to +scrape, and the iron gave way and before two hours had passed she had +made a little hole. Then she peeped in and saw such a beautiful youth +all shining with gold and precious stones that she fell in love with him +on the spot. So she scraped away harder than ever, and made the hole +so large that he could get out. Then he said, ‘You are mine, and I am +thine; you are my bride and have set me free!’ He wanted to take her +with him to his kingdom, but she begged him just to let her go once more +to her father; and the Prince let her go, but told her not to say more +than three words to her father, then to come back again. So she went +home, but alas! she said MORE THAN THREE WORDS; and immediately the iron +stove vanished and went away over a mountain of glass and sharp swords. +But the Prince was free, and was no longer shut up in it. Then she said +good-bye to her father, and took a little money with her, and went again +into the great wood to look for the iron stove; but she could not find +it. She sought it for nine days, and then her hunger became so great +that she did not know how she could live any longer. And when it was +evening she climbed a little tree and wished that the night would not +come, because she was afraid of the wild beasts. When midnight came she +saw afar off a little light, and thought, ‘Ah! if only I could reach +that!’ Then she got down from the tree and went towards the light. She +came to a little old house with a great deal of grass growing round, and +stood in front of a little heap of wood. She thought, ‘Alas! what am I +coming to?’ and peeped through the window; but she saw nothing inside +except big and little toads, and a table beautifully spread with roast +meats and wine, and all the dishes and drinking-cups were of silver. +Then she took heart and knocked. Then a fat toad called out: + + ‘Little green toad with leg like crook, + Open wide the door, and look + Who it was the latch that shook.’ + +And a little toad came forward and let her in. When she entered they +all bid her welcome, and made her sit down. They asked her how she came +there and what she wanted. Then she told everything that had happened +to her, and how, because she had exceeded her permission only to speak +three words, the stove had disappeared with the Prince; and how she had +searched a very long time, and must wander over mountain and valley till +she found him. + +Then the old toad said: + + ‘Little green toad whose leg doth twist, + Go to the corner of which you wist, + And bring to me the large old kist.’ + +And the little toad went and brought out a great chest. Then they gave +her food and drink, and led her to a beautifully made bed of silk and +samite, on which she lay down and slept soundly. When the day dawned she +arose, and the old toad gave her three things out of the huge chest to +take with her. She would have need of them, for she had to cross a high +glass mountain, three cutting swords, and a great lake. When she had +passed these she would find her lover again. So she was given three +large needles, a plough-wheel, and three nuts, which she was to take +great care of. She set out with these things, and when she came to the +glass mountain which was so slippery she stuck the three needles behind +her feet and then in front, and so got over it, and when she was on the +other side put them carefully away. + +Then she reached the three cutting swords, and got on her plough-wheel +and rolled over them. At last she came to a great lake, and, when she +had crossed that, arrived at a beautiful castle. She went in and gave +herself out as a servant, a poor maid who would gladly be engaged. But +she knew that the Prince whom she had freed from the iron stove in the +great wood was in the castle. So she was taken on as a kitchen-maid for +very small wages. Now the Prince was about to marry another princess, +for he thought she was dead long ago. + +In the evening, when she had washed up and was ready, she felt in her +pocket and found the three nuts which the old toad had given her. She +cracked one and was going to eat the kernel, when behold! there was a +beautiful royal dress inside it! When the bride heard of this, she came +and begged for the dress, and wanted to buy it, saying that it was not a +dress for a serving-maid. Then she said she would not sell it unless she +was granted one favour--namely, to sleep by the Prince’s door. The bride +granted her this, because the dress was so beautiful and she had so few +like it. When it was evening she said to her bridegroom, ‘That stupid +maid wants to sleep by your door.’ + +‘If you are contented, I am,’ he said. But she gave him a glass of wine +in which she had poured a sleeping-draught. Then they both went to his +room, but he slept so soundly that she could not wake him. The maid wept +all night long, and said, ‘I freed you in the wild wood out of the iron +stove; I have sought you, and have crossed a glassy mountain, three +sharp swords, and a great lake before I found you, and will you not hear +me now?’ The servants outside heard how she cried the whole night, and +they told their master in the morning. + +When she had washed up the next evening she bit the second nut, and +there was a still more beautiful dress inside. When the bride saw it she +wanted to buy it also. But the maid did not want money, and asked that +she should sleep again by the Prince’s door. The bride, however, gave +him a sleeping-draught, and he slept so soundly that he heard nothing. +But the kitchen-maid wept the whole night long, and said, ‘I have freed +you in a wood and from an iron stove; I sought you and have crossed a +glassy mountain, three sharp swords, and a great lake to find you, and +now you will not hear me!’ The servants outside heard how she cried the +whole night, and in the morning they told their master. + +And when she had washed up on the third night she bit the third nut, +and there was a still more beautiful dress inside that was made of pure +gold. When the bride saw it she wanted to have it, but the maid would +only give it her on condition that she should sleep for the third +time by the Prince’s door. But the Prince took care not to drink +the sleeping-draught. When she began to weep and to say, ‘Dearest +sweetheart, I freed you in the horrible wild wood, and from an iron +stove,’ he jumped up and said, ‘You are right. You are mine, and I am +thine.’ Though it was still night, he got into a carriage with her, and +they took the false bride’s clothes away, so that she could not follow +them. When they came to the great lake they rowed across, and when they +reached the three sharp swords they sat on the plough-wheel, and on the +glassy mountain they stuck the three needles in. So they arrived at last +at the little old house, but when they stepped inside it turned into +a large castle. The toads were all freed, and were beautiful King’s +children, running about for joy. There they were married, and they +remained in the castle, which was much larger than that of the +Princess’s father’s. But because the old man did not like being left +alone, they went and fetched him. So they had two kingdoms and lived in +great wealth. + + A mouse has run, + My story’s done. + + + + +THE DRAGON AND HIS GRANDMOTHER + +There was once a great war, and the King had a great many soldiers, but +he gave them so little pay that they could not live upon it. Then three +of them took counsel together and determined to desert. + +One of them said to the others, ‘If we are caught, we shall be hanged +on the gallows; how shall we set about it?’ The other said, ‘Do you see +that large cornfield there? If we were to hide ourselves in that, no +one could find us. The army cannot come into it, and to-morrow it is to +march on.’ + +They crept into the corn, but the army did not march on, but remained +encamped close around them. They sat for two days and two nights in +the corn, and grew so hungry that they nearly died; but if they were to +venture out, it was certain death. + +They said at last, ‘What use was it our deserting? We must perish here +miserably.’ + +Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air. It +hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there. + +They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay +was so small. Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we +move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’ + +‘If you will serve me for seven years,’ said the dragon, I will lead you +through the midst of the army so that no one shall catch you.’ ‘We have +no choice, and must take your offer,’ said they. Then the dragon seized +them in his claws, took them through the air over the army, and set them +down on the earth a long way from it. + +He gave them a little whip, saying, ‘Whip and slash with this, and as +much money as you want will jump up before you. You can then live as +great lords, keep horses, and drive about in carriages. But after seven +years you are mine.’ Then he put a book before them, which he made all +three of them sign. ‘I will then give you a riddle,’ he said; ‘if you +guess it, you shall be free and out of my power.’ The dragon then flew +away, and they journeyed on with their little whip. They had as much +money as they wanted, wore grand clothes, and made their way into the +world. Wherever they went they lived in merrymaking and splendour, drove +about with horses and carriages, ate and drank, but did nothing wrong. + +The time passed quickly away, and when the seven years were nearly ended +two of them grew terribly anxious and frightened, but the third +made light of it, saying, ‘Don’t be afraid, brothers, I wasn’t born +yesterday; I will guess the riddle.’ + +They went into a field, sat down, and the two pulled long faces. An old +woman passed by, and asked them why they were so sad. ‘Alas! what have +you to do with it? You cannot help us.’ ‘Who knows?’ she answered. ‘Only +confide your trouble in me.’ + +Then they told her that they had become the servants of the Dragon for +seven long years, and how he had given them money as plentifully as +blackberries; but as they had signed their names they were his, unless +when the seven years had passed they could guess a riddle. The old woman +said, ‘If you would help yourselves, one of you must go into the wood, +and there he will come upon a tumble-down building of rocks which looks +like a little house. He must go in, and there he will find help.’ + +The two melancholy ones thought, ‘That won’t save us!’ and they remained +where they were. But the third and merry one jumped up and went into the +wood till he found the rock hut. In the hut sat a very old woman, who +was the Dragon’s grandmother. She asked him how he came, and what was +his business there. He told her all that happened, and because she was +pleased with him she took compassion on him, and said she would help +him. + +She lifted up a large stone which lay over the cellar, saying, ‘Hide +yourself there; you can hear all that is spoken in this room. Only sit +still and don’t stir. When the Dragon comes, I will ask him what the +riddle is, for he tells me everything; then listen carefully what he +answers.’ + +At midnight the Dragon flew in, and asked for his supper. His +grandmother laid the table, and brought out food and drink till he was +satisfied, and they ate and drank together. Then in the course of the +conversation she asked him what he had done in the day, and how many +souls he had conquered. + +‘I haven’t had much luck to-day,’ he said, ‘but I have a tight hold on +three soldiers.’ + +‘Indeed! three soldiers!’ said she. ‘Who cannot escape you?’ + +‘They are mine,’ answered the Dragon scornfully, ‘for I shall only give +them one riddle which they will never be able to guess.’ + +‘What sort of a riddle is it?’ she asked. + +‘I will tell you this. In the North Sea lies a dead sea-cat--that shall +be their roast meat; and the rib of a whale--that shall be their +silver spoon; and the hollow foot of a dead horse--that shall be their +wineglass.’ + +When the Dragon had gone to bed, his old grandmother pulled up the stone +and let out the soldier. + +‘Did you pay attention to everything?’ + +‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘I know enough, and can help myself splendidly.’ + +Then he went by another way through the window secretly, and in all +haste back to his comrades. He told them how the Dragon had been +outwitted by his grandmother, and how he had heard from his own lips the +answer to the riddle. + +Then they were all delighted and in high spirits, took out their whip, +and cracked so much money that it came jumping up from the ground. +When the seven years had quite gone, the Fiend came with his book, and, +pointing at the signatures, said, ‘I will take you underground with me; +you shall have a meal there. If you can tell me what you will get for +your roast meat, you shall be free, and shall also keep the whip.’ + +Then said the first soldier, ‘In the North Sea lies a dead sea-cat; that +shall be the roast meat.’ + +The Dragon was much annoyed, and hummed and hawed a good deal, and asked +the second, ‘But what shall be your spoon?’ + +‘The rib of a whale shall be our silver spoon.’ + +The Dragon-made a face, and growled again three times, ‘Hum, hum, hum,’ +and said to the third, ‘Do you know what your wineglass shall be?’ + +‘An old horse’s hoof shall be our wineglass.’ + +Then the Dragon flew away with a loud shriek, and had no more power over +them. But the three soldiers took the little whip, whipped as much money +as they wanted, and lived happily to their lives end. + + + +THE DONKEY CABBAGE + +There was once a young Hunter who went boldly into the forest. He had a +merry and light heart, and as he went whistling along there came an ugly +old woman, who said to him, ‘Good-day, dear hunter! You are very merry +and contented, but I suffer hunger and thirst, so give me a trifle.’ The +Hunter was sorry for the poor old woman, and he felt in his pocket and +gave her all he could spare. He was going on then, but the old woman +stopped him and said, ‘Listen, dear hunter, to what I say. Because of +your kind heart I will make you a present. Go on your way, and in a +short time you will come to a tree on which sit nine birds who have a +cloak in their claws and are quarrelling over it. Then take aim with +your gun and shoot in the middle of them; they will let the cloak fall, +but one of the birds will be hit and will drop down dead. Take the cloak +with you; it is a wishing-cloak, and when you throw it on your shoulders +you have only to wish yourself at a certain place, and in the twinkling +of an eye you are there. Take the heart out of the dead bird and swallow +it whole, and early every morning when you get up you will find a gold +piece under your pillow.’ + +The Hunter thanked the wise woman, and thought to himself ‘These are +splendid things she has promised me, if only they come to pass!’ So +he walked on about a hundred yards, and then he heard above him in the +branches such a screaming and chirping that he looked up, and there +he saw a heap of birds tearing a cloth with their beaks and feet, +shrieking, tugging, and fighting, as if each wanted it for himself. +‘Well,’ said the Hunter, ‘this is wonderful! It is just as the old woman +said’; and he took his gun on his shoulder, pulled the trigger, and +shot into the midst of them, so that their feathers flew about. Then the +flock took flight with much screaming, but one fell dead, and the cloak +fluttered down. Then the Hunter did as the old woman had told him: he +cut open the bird, found its heart, swallowed it, and took the cloak +home with him. The next morning when he awoke he remembered the promise, +and wanted to see if it had come true. But when he lifted up his pillow, +there sparkled the gold piece, and the next morning he found another, +and so on every time he got up. He collected a heap of gold, but at +last he thought to himself, ‘What good is all my gold to me if I stay +at home? I will travel and look a bit about me in the world.’ So he took +leave of his parents, slung his hunting knapsack and his gun round him, +and journeyed into the world. + +It happened that one day he went through a thick wood, and when he came +to the end of it there lay in the plain before him a large castle. At +one of the windows in it stood an old woman with a most beautiful maiden +by her side, looking out. But the old woman was a witch, and she said to +the girl, ‘There comes one out of the wood who has a wonderful treasure +in his body which we must manage to possess ourselves of, darling +daughter; we have more right to it than he. He has a bird’s heart in +him, and so every morning there lies a gold piece under his pillow.’ + +She told her how they could get hold of it, and how she was to coax it +from him, and at last threatened her angrily, saying, ‘And if you do not +obey me, you shall repent it!’ + +When the Hunter came nearer he saw the maiden, and said to himself, ‘I +have travelled so far now that I will rest, and turn into this beautiful +castle; money I have in plenty.’ But the real reason was that he had +caught sight of the lovely face. + +He went into the house, and was kindly received and hospitably +entertained. It was not long before he was so much in love with the +witch-maiden that he thought of nothing else, and only looked in her +eyes, and whatever she wanted, that he gladly did. Then the old witch +said, ‘Now we must have the bird-heart; he will not feel when it is +gone.’ She prepared a drink, and when it was ready she poured it in a +goblet and gave it to the maiden, who had to hand it to the hunter. + +‘Drink to me now, my dearest,’ she said. Then he took the goblet, and +when he had swallowed the drink the bird-heart came out of his mouth. +The maiden had to get hold of it secretly and then swallow it herself, +for the old witch wanted to have it. Thenceforward he found no more gold +under his pillow, and it lay under the maiden’s; but he was so much in +love and so much bewitched that he thought of nothing except spending +all his time with the maiden. + +Then the old witch said, ‘We have the bird-heart, but we must also get +the wishing-cloak from him.’ + +The maiden answered, ‘We will leave him that; he has already lost his +wealth!’ + +The old witch grew angry, and said, ‘Such a cloak is a wonderful thing, +it is seldom to be had in the world, and have it I must and will.’ She +beat the maiden, and said that if she did not obey it would go ill with +her. + +So she did her mother’s bidding, and, standing one day by the window, +she looked away into the far distance as if she were very sad. + +‘Why are you standing there looking so sad?’ asked the Hunter. + +‘Alas, my love,’ she replied, ‘over there lies the granite mountain +where the costly precious stones grow. I have a great longing to go +there, so that when I think of it I am very sad. For who can fetch them? +Only the birds who fly; a man, never.’ + +‘If you have no other trouble,’ said the Hunter, ‘that one I can easily +remove from your heart.’ + +So he wrapped her round in his cloak and wished themselves to the +granite mountain, and in an instant there they were, sitting on it! The +precious stones sparkled so brightly on all sides that it was a pleasure +to see them, and they collected the most beautiful and costly together. +But now the old witch had through her caused the Hunter’s eyes to become +heavy. + +He said to the maiden, ‘We will sit down for a little while and rest; I +am so tired that I can hardly stand on my feet.’ + +So they sat down, and he laid his head on her lap and fell asleep. As +soon as he was sound asleep she unfastened the cloak from his shoulders, +threw it on her own, left the granite and stones, and wished herself +home again. + +But when the Hunter had finished his sleep and awoke, he found that his +love had betrayed him and left him alone on the wild mountain. ‘Oh,’ +said he, ‘why is faithlessness so great in the world?’ and he sat down +in sorrow and trouble, not knowing what to do. + +But the mountain belonged to fierce and huge giants, who lived on it +and traded there, and he had not sat long before he saw three of them +striding towards him. So he lay down as if he had fallen into a deep +sleep. + +The giants came up, and the first pushed him with his foot, and said, +‘What sort of an earthworm is that?’ + +The second said, ‘Crush him dead.’ + +But the third said contemptuously, ‘It is not worth the trouble! Let him +live; he cannot remain here, and if he goes higher up the mountain the +clouds will take him and carry him off.’ + +Talking thus they went away. But the Hunter had listened to their talk, +and as soon as they had gone he rose and climbed to the summit. When he +had sat there a little while a cloud swept by, and, seizing him, carried +him away. It travelled for a time in the sky, and then it sank down and +hovered over a large vegetable garden surrounded by walls, so that he +came safely to the ground amidst cabbages and vegetables. The Hunter +then looked about him, saying, ‘If only I had something to eat! I am so +hungry, and it will go badly with me in the future, for I see here +not an apple or pear or fruit of any kind--nothing but vegetables +everywhere.’ At last he thought, ‘At a pinch I can eat a salad; it does +not taste particularly nice, but it will refresh me.’ So he looked about +for a good head and ate it, but no sooner had he swallowed a couple +of mouthfuls than he felt very strange, and found himself wonderfully +changed. Four legs began to grow on him, a thick head, and two long +ears, and he saw with horror that he had changed into a donkey. But as +he was still very hungry and this juicy salad tasted very good to his +present nature, he went on eating with a still greater appetite. At last +he got hold of another kind of cabbage, but scarcely had swallowed it +when he felt another change, and he once more regained his human form. + +The Hunter now lay down and slept off his weariness. When he awoke +the next morning he broke off a head of the bad and a head of the good +cabbage, thinking, ‘This will help me to regain my own, and to punish +faithlessness.’ Then he put the heads in his pockets, climbed the wall, +and started off to seek the castle of his love. When he had wandered +about for a couple of days he found it quite easily. He then browned his +face quickly, so that his own mother would not have known him, and went +into the castle, where he begged for a lodging. + +‘I am so tired,’ he said, ‘I can go no farther.’ + +The witch asked, ‘Countryman, who are you, and what is your business?’ + +He answered, ‘I am a messenger of the King, and have been sent to seek +the finest salad that grows under the sun. I have been so lucky as to +find it, and am bringing it with me; but the heat of the sun is so great +that the tender cabbage threatens to grow soft, and I do not know if I +shall be able to bring it any farther.’ + +When the old witch heard of the fine salad she wanted to eat it, and +said, ‘Dear countryman, just let me taste the wonderful salad.’ + +‘Why not?’ he answered; ‘I have brought two heads with me, and will give +you one.’ + +So saying, he opened his sack and gave her the bad one. The witch +suspected no evil, and her mouth watered to taste the new dish, so that +she went into the kitchen to prepare it herself. When it was ready she +could not wait till it was served at the table, but she immediately took +a couple of leaves and put them in her mouth. No sooner, however, had +she swallowed them than she lost human form, and ran into the courtyard +in the shape of a donkey. + +Now the servant came into the kitchen, and when she saw the salad +standing there ready cooked she was about to carry it up, but on the +way, according to her old habit, she tasted it and ate a couple of +leaves. Immediately the charm worked, and she became a donkey, and ran +out to join the old witch, and the dish with the salad in it fell to +the ground. In the meantime, the messenger was sitting with the lovely +maiden, and as no one came with the salad, and she wanted very much to +taste it, she said, ‘I don’t know where the salad is.’ + +Then thought the Hunter, ‘The cabbage must have already begun to work.’ +And he said, ‘I will go to the kitchen and fetch it myself.’ + +When he came there he saw the two donkeys running about in the +courtyard, but the salad was lying on the ground. + +‘That’s all right,’ said he; ‘two have had their share!’ And lifting the +remaining leaves up, he laid them on the dish and brought them to the +maiden. + +‘I am bringing you the delicious food my own self,’ he said, ‘so that +you need not wait any longer.’ + +Then she ate, and, as the others had done, she at once lost her human +form, and ran as a donkey into the yard. + +When the Hunter had washed his face, so that the changed ones might know +him, he went into the yard, saying, ‘Now you shall receive a reward for +your faithlessness.’ + +He tied them all three with a rope, and drove them away till he came to +a mill. He knocked at the window, and the miller put his head out and +asked what he wanted. + +‘I have three tiresome animals,’ he answered, ‘which I don’t want to +keep any longer. If you will take them, give them food and stabling, and +do as I tell you with them, I will pay you as much as you want.’ + +The miller replied, ‘Why not? What shall I do with them?’ + +Then the Hunter said that to the old donkey, which was the witch, three +beatings and one meal; to the younger one, which was the servant, one +beating and three meals; and to the youngest one, which was the maiden, +no beating and three meals; for he could not find it in his heart to let +the maiden be beaten. + +Then he went back into the castle, and he found there all that he +wanted. After a couple of days the miller came and said that he must +tell him that the old donkey which was to have three beatings and only +one meal had died. ‘The two others,’ he added, ‘are certainly not dead, +and get their three meals every day, but they are so sad that they +cannot last much longer.’ + +Then the Hunter took pity on them, laid aside his anger, and told the +miller to drive them back again. And when they came he gave them some +of the good cabbage to eat, so that they became human again. Then the +beautiful maiden fell on her knees before him, saying, ‘Oh, my dearest, +forgive me the ill I have done you! My mother compelled me to do it; +it was against my will, for I love you dearly. Your wishing-cloak is +hanging in a cupboard, and as for the bird-heart I will make a drink and +give it back to you.’ + +But he changed his mind, and said, ‘Keep it; it makes no difference, for +I will take you to be my own dear true wife.’ + +And the wedding was celebrated, and they lived happy together till +death. + + + + + THE LITTLE GREEN FROG(8) + +(8) Cabinet des Fees. + +In a part of the world whose name I forget lived once upon a time two +kings, called Peridor and Diamantino. They were cousins as well as +neighbours, and both were under the protection of the fairies; though it +is only fair to say that the fairies did not love them half so well as +their wives did. + +Now it often happens that as princes can generally manage to get their +own way it is harder for them to be good than it is for common people. +So it was with Peridor and Diamantino; but of the two, the fairies +declared that Diamantino was much the worst; indeed, he behaved so badly +to his wife Aglantino, that the fairies would not allow him to live any +longer; and he died, leaving behind him a little daughter. As she was an +only child, of course this little girl was the heiress of the kingdom, +but, being still only a baby, her mother, the widow of Diamantino, was +proclaimed regent. The Queen-dowager was wise and good, and tried her +best to make her people happy. The only thing she had to vex her was +the absence of her daughter; for the fairies, for reasons of their own, +determined to bring up the little Princess Serpentine among themselves. + +As to the other King, he was really fond of his wife, Queen Constance, +but he often grieved her by his thoughtless ways, and in order to punish +him for his carelessness, the fairies caused her to die quite suddenly. +When she was gone the King felt how much he had loved her, and his grief +was so great (though he never neglected his duties) that his subjects +called him Peridor the Sorrowful. It seems hardly possible that any +man should live like Peridor for fifteen years plunged in such depth of +grief, and most likely he would have died too if it had not been for the +fairies. + +The one comfort the poor King had was his son, Prince Saphir, who was +only three years old at the time of his mother’s death, and great care +was given to his education. By the time he was fifteen Saphir had learnt +everything that a prince should know, and he was, besides, charming and +agreeable. + +It was about this time that the fairies suddenly took fright lest his +love for his father should interfere with the plans they had made for +the young prince. So, to prevent this, they placed in a pretty little +room of which Saphir was very fond a little mirror in a black frame, +such as were often brought from Venice. The Prince did not notice +for some days that there was anything new in the room, but at last +he perceived it, and went up to look at it more closely. What was his +surprise to see reflected in the mirror, not his own face, but that of +a young girl as lovely as the morning! And, better still, every movement +of the girl, just growing out of childhood, was also reflected in the +wonderful glass. + +As might have been expected, the young Prince lost his heart completely +to the beautiful image, and it was impossible to get him out of the +room, so busy was he in watching the lovely unknown. Certainly it was +very delightful to be able to see her whom he loved at any moment he +chose, but his spirits sometimes sank when he wondered what was to be +the end of this adventure. + +The magic mirror had been for about a year in the Prince’s possession, +when one day a new subject of disquiet seized upon him. As usual, he was +engaged in looking at the girl, when suddenly he thought he saw a second +mirror reflected in the first, exactly like his own, and with the same +power. And in this he was perfectly right. The young girl had only +possessed it for a short time, and neglected all her duties for the sake +of the mirror. Now it was not difficult for Saphir to guess the reason +of the change in her, nor why the new mirror was consulted so often; +but try as he would he could never see the face of the person who was +reflected in it, for the young girl’s figure always came between. All he +knew was that the face was that of a man, and this was quite enough to +make him madly jealous. This was the doing of the fairies, and we must +suppose that they had their reasons for acting as they did. + +When these things happened Saphir was about eighteen years old, and +fifteen years had passed away since the death of his mother. King +Peridor had grown more and more unhappy as time went on, and at last he +fell so ill that it seemed as if his days were numbered. He was so much +beloved by his subjects that this sad news was heard with despair by the +nation, and more than all by the Prince. + +During his whole illness the King never spoke of anything but the Queen, +his sorrow at having grieved her, and his hope of one day seeing her +again. All the doctors and all the water-cures in the kingdom had been +tried, and nothing would do him any good. At last he persuaded them to +let him lie quietly in his room, where no one came to trouble him. + +Perhaps the worst pain he had to bear was a sort of weight on his chest, +which made it very hard for him to breathe. So he commanded his servants +to leave the windows open in order that he might get more air. One day, +when he had been left alone for a few minutes, a bird with brilliant +plumage came and fluttered round the window, and finally rested on the +sill. His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such +glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made +the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown. I +cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that +it was still more splendid than all the rest. As to his voice I can +say nothing about that, for the bird never sang at all. In fact, he did +nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt +his strength come back to him. In a little while the bird flew into the +room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the +strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well +as he used to be before the Queen died. Filled with joy at his cure, +he tried to seize the bird to whom he owed it all, but, swifter than a +swallow, it managed to avoid him. In vain he described the bird to +his attendants, who rushed at his first call; in vain they sought the +wonderful creature both on horse and foot, and summoned the fowlers to +their aid: the bird could nowhere be found. The love the people bore +King Peridor was so strong, and the reward he promised was so large, +that in the twinkling of an eye every man, woman, and child had fled +into the fields, and the towns were quite empty. + +All this bustle, however, ended in nothing but confusion, and, what +was worse, the King soon fell back into the same condition as he was in +before. Prince Saphir, who loved his father very dearly, was so unhappy +at this that he persuaded himself that he might succeed where the others +had failed, and at once prepared himself for a more distant search. +In spite of the opposition he met with, he rode away, followed by his +household, trusting to chance to help him. He had formed no plan, and +there was no reason that he should choose one path more than another. +His only idea was to make straight for those spots which were the +favourite haunts of birds. But in vain he examined all the hedges and +all the thickets; in vain he questioned everyone he met along the road. +The more he sought the less he found. + +At last he came to one of the largest forests in all the world, composed +entirely of cedars. But in spite of the deep shadows cast by the +wide-spreading branches of the trees, the grass underneath was soft and +green, and covered with the rarest flowers. It seemed to Saphir that +this was exactly the place where the birds would choose to live, and +he determined not to quit the wood until he had examined it from end to +end. And he did more. He ordered some nets to be prepared and painted of +the same colours as the bird’s plumage, thinking that we are all easily +caught by what is like ourselves. In this he had to help him not only +the fowlers by profession, but also his attendants, who excelled in this +art. For a man is not a courtier unless he can do everything. + +After searching as usual for nearly a whole day Prince Saphir began +to feel overcome with thirst. He was too tired to go any farther, +when happily he discovered a little way off a bubbling fountain of the +clearest water. Being an experienced traveller, he drew from his pocket +a little cup (without which no one should ever take a journey), and was +just about to dip it in the water, when a lovely little green frog, +much prettier than frogs generally are, jumped into the cup. Far from +admiring its beauty, Saphir shook it impatiently off; but it was no +good, for quick as lightning the frog jumped back again. Saphir, who was +raging with thirst, was just about to shake it off anew, when the little +creature fixed upon him the most beautiful eyes in the world, and said, +‘I am a friend of the bird you are seeking, and when you have quenched +your thirst listen to me.’ + +So the Prince drank his fill, and then, by the command of the Little +Green Frog, he lay down on the grass to rest himself. + +‘Now,’ she began, ‘be sure you do exactly in every respect what I tell +you. First you must call together your attendants, and order them to +remain in a little hamlet close by until you want them. Then go, quite +alone, down a road that you will find on your right hand, looking +southwards. This road is planted all the way with cedars of Lebanon; and +after going down it a long way you will come at last to a magnificent +castle. And now,’ she went on, ‘attend carefully to what I am going to +say. Take this tiny grain of sand, and put it into the ground as close +as you can to the gate of the castle. It has the virtue both of opening +the gate and also of sending to sleep all the inhabitants. Then go at +once to the stable, and pay no heed to anything except what I tell you. +Choose the handsomest of all the horses, leap quickly on its back, and +come to me as fast as you can. Farewell, Prince; I wish you good +luck,’ and with these words the Little Frog plunged into the water and +disappeared. + +The Prince, who felt more hopeful than he had done since he left home, +did precisely as he had been ordered. He left his attendants in the +hamlet, found the road the frog had described to him, and followed it +all alone, and at last he arrived at the gate of the castle, which was +even more splendid than he had expected, for it was built of crystal, +and all its ornaments were of massive gold. However, he had no thoughts +to spare for its beauty, and quickly buried his grain of sand in the +earth. In one instant the gates flew open, and all the dwellers inside +fell sound asleep. Saphir flew straight to the stable, and already had +his hand on the finest horse it contained, when his eye was caught by +a suit of magnificent harness hanging up close by. It occurred to +him directly that the harness belonged to the horse, and without ever +thinking of harm (for indeed he who steals a horse can hardly be blamed +for taking his saddle), he hastily placed it on the animal’s back. +Suddenly the people in the castle became broad awake, and rushed to the +stable. They flung themselves on the Prince, seized him, and dragged him +before their lord; but, luckily for the Prince, who could only find very +lame excuses for his conduct, the lord of the castle took a fancy to his +face, and let him depart without further questions. + +Very sad, and very much ashamed of himself poor Saphir crept back to the +fountain, where the Frog was awaiting him with a good scolding. + +‘Whom do you take me for?’ she exclaimed angrily. ‘Do you really believe +that it was just for the pleasure of talking that I gave you the advice +you have neglected so abominably?’ + +But the Prince was so deeply grieved, and apologised so very humbly, +that after some time the heart of the good little Frog was softened, and +she gave him another tiny little grain, but instead of being sand it was +now a grain of gold. She directed him to do just as he had done before, +with only this difference, that instead of going to the stable which +had been the ruin of his hopes, he was to enter right into the castle +itself, and to glide as fast as he could down the passages till he came +to a room filled with perfume, where he would find a beautiful maiden +asleep on a bed. He was to wake the maiden instantly and carry her off, +and to be sure not to pay any heed to whatever resistance she might +make. + +The Prince obeyed the Frog’s orders one by one, and all went well for +this second time also. The gate opened, the inhabitants fell sound +asleep, and he walked down the passage till he found the girl on her +bed, exactly as he had been told he would. He woke her, and begged her +firmly, but politely, to follow him quickly. After a little persuasion +the maiden consented, but only on condition that she was allowed first +to put on her dress. This sounded so reasonable and natural that it did +not enter the Prince’s head to refuse her request. + +But the maiden’s hand had hardly touched the dress when the palace +suddenly awoke from its sleep, and the Prince was seized and bound. He +was so vexed with his own folly, and so taken aback at the disaster, +that he did not attempt to explain his conduct, and things would have +gone badly with him if his friends the fairies had not softened the +hearts of his captors, so that they once more allowed him to leave +quietly. However, what troubled him most was the idea of having to meet +the Frog who had been his benefactress. How was he ever to appear before +her with this tale? Still, after a long struggle with himself, he made +up his mind that there was nothing else to be done, and that he deserved +whatever she might say to him. And she said a great deal, for she had +worked herself into a terrible passion; but the Prince humbly implored +her pardon, and ventured to point out that it would have been very hard +to refuse the young lady’s reasonable request. ‘You must learn to do as +you are told,’ was all the Frog would reply. + +But poor Saphir was so unhappy, and begged so hard for forgiveness, that +at last the Frog’s anger gave way, and she held up to him a tiny diamond +stone. ‘Go back,’ she said, ‘to the castle, and bury this little diamond +close to the door. But be careful not to return to the stable or to the +bedroom; they have proved too fatal to you. Walk straight to the garden +and enter through a portico, into a small green wood, in the midst of +which is a tree with a trunk of gold and leaves of emeralds. Perched on +this tree you will see the beautiful bird you have been seeking so long. +You must cut the branch on which it is sitting, and bring it back to +me without delay. But I warn you solemnly that if you disobey my +directions, as you have done twice before, you have nothing more to +expect either of me or anyone else.’ + +With these words she jumped into the water, and the Prince, who had +taken her threats much to heart, took his departure, firmly resolved not +to deserve them. He found it all just as he had been told: the portico, +the wood, the magnificent tree, and the beautiful bird, which was +sleeping soundly on one of the branches. He speedily lopped off the +branch, and though he noticed a splendid golden cage hanging close by, +which would have been very useful for the bird to travel in, he left it +alone, and came back to the fountain, holding his breath and walking on +tip-toe all the way, for fear lest he should awake his prize. But what +was his surprise, when instead of finding the fountain in the spot where +he had left it, he saw in its place a little rustic palace built in +the best taste, and standing in the doorway a charming maiden, at whose +sight his mind seemed to give way. + +‘What! Madam!’ he cried, hardly knowing what he said. ‘What! Is it you?’ + +The maiden blushed and answered: ‘Ah, my lord, it is long since I first +beheld your face, but I did not think you had ever seen mine.’ + +‘Oh, madam,’ replied he, ‘you can never guess the days and the hours I +have passed lost in admiration of you.’ And after these words they each +related all the strange things that had happened, and the more they +talked the more they felt convinced of the truth of the images they +had seen in their mirrors. After some time spent in the most tender +conversation, the Prince could not restrain himself from asking the +lovely unknown by what lucky chance she was wandering in the forest; +where the fountain had gone; and if she knew anything of the Frog to +whom he owed all his happiness, and to whom he must give up the bird, +which, somehow or other, was still sound asleep. + +‘Ah, my lord,’ she replied, with rather an awkward air, ‘as to the Frog, +she stands before you. Let me tell you my story; it is not a long one. I +know neither my country nor my parents, and the only thing I can say for +certain is that I am called Serpentine. The fairies, who have taken +care of me ever since I was born, wished me to be in ignorance as to my +family, but they have looked after my education, and have bestowed on me +endless kindness. I have always lived in seclusion, and for the last two +years I have wished for nothing better. I had a mirror’--here shyness +and embarrassment choked her words--but regaining her self-control, +she added, ‘You know that fairies insist on being obeyed without +questioning. It was they who changed the little house you saw before you +into the fountain for which you are now asking, and, having turned me +into a frog, they ordered me to say to the first person who came to the +fountain exactly what I repeated to you. But, my lord, when you stood +before me, it was agony to my heart, filled as it was with thoughts of +you, to appear to your eyes under so monstrous a form. However, there +was no help for it, and, painful as it was, I had to submit. I desired +your success with all my soul, not only for your own sake, but also for +my own, because I could not get back my proper shape till you had become +master of the beautiful bird, though I am quite ignorant as to your +reason for seeking it.’ + +On this Saphir explained about the state of his father’s health, and all +that has been told before. + +On hearing this story Serpentine grew very sad, and her lovely eyes +filled with tears. + +‘Ah, my lord,’ she said, ‘you know nothing of me but what you have seen +in the mirror; and I, who cannot even name my parents, learn that you +are a king’s son.’ + +In vain Saphir declared that love made them equal; Serpentine would only +reply: ‘I love you too much to allow you to marry beneath your rank. I +shall be very unhappy, of course, but I shall never alter my mind. If +I do not find from the fairies that my birth is worthy of you, then, +whatever be my feelings, I will never accept your hand.’ + +The conversation was at this point, and bid fair to last some time +longer, when one of the fairies appeared in her ivory car, accompanied +by a beautiful woman past her early youth. At this moment the bird +suddenly awakened, and, flying on to Saphir’s shoulder (which it never +afterwards left), began fondling him as well as a bird can do. The fairy +told Serpentine that she was quite satisfied with her conduct, and made +herself very agreeable to Saphir, whom she presented to the lady she had +brought with her, explaining that the lady was no other than his Aunt +Aglantine, widow of Diamantino. + +Then they all fell into each other’s arms, till the fairy mounted her +chariot, placed Aglantine by her side, and Saphir and Serpentine on the +front seat. She also sent a message to the Prince’s attendants that +they might travel slowly back to the Court of King Peridor, and that +the beautiful bird had really been found. This matter being comfortably +arranged, she started off her chariot. But in spite of the swiftness +with which they flew through the air, the time passed even quicker for +Saphir and Serpentine, who had so much to think about. + +They were still quite confused with the pleasure of seeing each other, +when the chariot arrived at King Peridor’s palace. He had had himself +carried to a room on the roof, where his nurses thought that he would +die at any moment. Directly the chariot drew within sight of the castle +the beautiful bird took flight, and, making straight for the dying King, +at once cured him of his sickness. Then she resumed her natural shape, +and he found that the bird was no other than the Queen Constance, whom +he had long believed to be dead. Peridor was rejoiced to embrace his +wife and his son once more, and with the help of the fairies began to +make preparations for the marriage of Saphir and Serpentine, who turned +out to be the daughter of Aglantine and Diamantino, and as much a +princess as he was a prince. The people of the kingdom were delighted, +and everybody lived happy and contented to the end of their lives. + + + + + THE SEVEN-HEADED SERPENT(9) + +(9) ‘Die Siebenkopfige Schlange,’ from Schmidt’s Griechische Mahrchen. + +Once upon a time there was a king who determined to take a long voyage. +He assembled his fleet and all the seamen, and set out. They went +straight on night and day, until they came to an island which was +covered with large trees, and under every tree lay a lion. As soon as +the King had landed his men, the lions all rose up together and tried +to devour them. After a long battle they managed to overcome the +wild beasts, but the greater number of the men were killed. Those who +remained alive now went on through the forest and found on the other +side of it a beautiful garden, in which all the plants of the world +flourished together. + +There were also in the garden three springs: the first flowed with +silver, the second with gold, and the third with pearls. The men +unbuckled their knapsacks and filled them with those precious things. In +the middle of the garden they found a large lake, and when they reached +the edge of it the Lake began to speak, and said to them, ‘What men are +you, and what brings you here? Are you come to visit our king?’ But they +were too much frightened to answer. + +Then the Lake said, ‘You do well to be afraid, for it is at your peril +that you are come hither. Our king, who has seven heads, is now asleep, +but in a few minutes he will wake up and come to me to take his bath! +Woe to anyone who meets him in the garden, for it is impossible to +escape from him. This is what you must do if you wish to save your +lives. Take off your clothes and spread them on the path which leads +from here to the castle. The King will then glide over something soft, +which he likes very much, and he will be so pleased with that that he +will not devour you. He will give you some punishment, but then he will +let you go.’ + +The men did as the Lake advised them, and waited for a time. At noon the +earth began to quake, and opened in many places, and out of the openings +appeared lions, tigers, and other wild beasts, which surrounded the +castle, and thousands and thousands of beasts came out of the castle +following their king, the Seven-headed Serpent. The Serpent glided over +the clothes which were spread for him, came to the Lake, and asked it +who had strewed those soft things on the path? The Lake answered that +it had been done by people who had come to do him homage. The King +commanded that the men should be brought before him. They came humbly on +their knees, and in a few words told him their story. Then he spoke to +them with a mighty and terrible voice, and said, ‘Because you have dared +to come here, I lay upon you the punishment. Every year you must bring +me from among your people twelve youths and twelve maidens, that I may +devour them. If you do not do this, I will destroy your whole nation.’ + +Then he desired one of his beasts to show the men the way out of the +garden, and dismissed them. They then left the island and went back to +their own country, where they related what had happened to them. Soon +the time came round when the king of the beasts would expect the +youths and maidens to be brought to him. The King therefore issued +a proclamation inviting twelve youths and twelve maidens to offer +themselves up to save their country; and immediately many young people, +far more than enough, hastened to do so. A new ship was built, and set +with black sails, and in it the youths and maidens who were appointed +for the king of the beasts embarked and set out for his country. When +they arrived there they went at once to the Lake, and this time the +lions did not stir, nor did the springs flow, and neither did the Lake +speak. So they waited then, and it was not long before the earth quaked +even more terribly than the first time. The Seven-headed Serpent came +without his train of beasts, saw his prey waiting for him, and devoured +it at one mouthful. Then the ship’s crew returned home, and the same +thing happened yearly until many years had passed. + +Now the King of this unhappy country was growing old, and so was the +Queen, and they had no children. One day the Queen was sitting at the +window weeping bitterly because she was childless, and knew that the +crown would therefore pass to strangers after the King’s death. Suddenly +a little old woman appeared before her, holding an apple in her hand, +and said, ‘Why do you weep, my Queen, and what makes you so unhappy?’ + +‘Alas, good mother,’ answered the Queen, ‘I am unhappy because I have no +children.’ + +‘Is that what vexes you?’ said the old woman. ‘Listen to me. I am a nun +from the Spinning Convent,(10) and my mother when she died left me this +apple. Whoever eats this apple shall have a child.’ + +(10) Convent Gnothi. + + +The Queen gave money to the old woman, and bought the apple from her. +Then she peeled it, ate it, and threw the rind out of the window, and it +so happened that a mare that was running loose in the court below ate up +the rind. After a time the Queen had a little boy, and the mare also had +a male foal. The boy and the foal grew up together and loved each other +like brothers. In course of time the King died, and so did the Queen, +and their son, who was now nineteen years old, was left alone. One day, +when he and his horse were talking together, the Horse said to him, +‘Listen to me, for I love you and wish for your good and that of the +country. If you go on every year sending twelve youths and twelve +maidens to the King of the Beasts, your country will very soon be +ruined. Mount upon my back: I will take you to a woman who can direct +you how to kill the Seven-headed Serpent.’ + +Then the youth mounted his horse, who carried him far away to a mountain +which was hollow, for in its side was a great underground cavern. In the +cavern sat an old woman spinning. This was the cloister of the nuns, and +the old woman was the Abbess. They all spent their time in spinning, and +that is why the convent has this name. All round the walls of the cavern +there were beds cut out of the solid rock, upon which the nuns slept, +and in the middle a light was burning. It was the duty of the nuns to +watch the light in turns, that it might never go out, and if anyone of +them let it go out the others put her to death. + +As soon as the King’s son saw the old Abbess spinning he threw himself +at her feet and entreated her to tell him how he could kill the +Seven-headed Serpent. + +She made the youth rise, embraced him, and said, ‘Know, my son, that it +is I who sent the nun to your mother and caused you to be born, and with +you the horse, with whose help you will be able to free the world from +the monster. I will tell you what you have to do. Load your horse with +cotton, and go by a secret passage which I will show you, which is +hidden from the wild beasts, to the Serpent’s palace. You will find the +King asleep upon his bed, which is all hung round with bells, and +over his bed you will see a sword hanging. With this sword only it is +possible to kill the Serpent, because even if its blade breaks a new one +will grow again for every head the monster has. Thus you will be able +to cut off all his seven heads. And this you must also do in order to +deceive the King: you must slip into his bed-chamber very softly, and +stop up all the bells which are round his bed with cotton. Then take +down the sword gently, and quickly give the monster a blow on his tail +with it. This will make him waken up, and if he catches sight of you he +will seize you. But you must quickly cut off his first head, and then +wait till the next one comes up. Then strike it off also, and so go on +till you have cut off all his seven heads.’ + +The old Abbess then gave the Prince her blessing, and he set out upon +his enterprise, arrived at the Serpent’s castle by following the secret +passage which she had shown him, and by carefully attending to all her +directions he happily succeeded in killing the monster. As soon as +the wild beasts heard of their king’s death, they all hastened to the +castle, but the youth had long since mounted his horse and was already +far out of their reach. They pursued him as fast as they could, but they +found it impossible to overtake him, and he reached home in safety. Thus +he freed his country from this terrible oppression. + + + +THE GRATEFUL BEASTS(11) + +(11) From the Hungarian. Kletke. + +There was once upon a time a man and woman who had three fine-looking +sons, but they were so poor that they had hardly enough food for +themselves, let alone their children. So the sons determined to set out +into the world and to try their luck. Before starting their mother gave +them each a loaf of bread and her blessing, and having taken a tender +farewell of her and their father the three set forth on their travels. + +The youngest of the three brothers, whose name was Ferko, was a +beautiful youth, with a splendid figure, blue eyes, fair hair, and a +complexion like milk and roses. His two brothers were as jealous of him +as they could be, for they thought that with his good looks he would be +sure to be more fortunate than they would ever be. + +One day all the three were sitting resting under a tree, for the sun +was hot and they were tired of walking. Ferko fell fast asleep, but the +other two remained awake, and the eldest said to the second brother, +‘What do you say to doing our brother Ferko some harm? He is so +beautiful that everyone takes a fancy to him, which is more than they do +to us. If we could only get him out of the way we might succeed better.’ + +‘I quite agree with you,’ answered the second brother, ‘and my advice +is to eat up his loaf of bread, and then to refuse to give him a bit +of ours until he has promised to let us put out his eyes or break his +legs.’ + +His eldest brother was delighted with this proposal, and the two wicked +wretches seized Ferko’s loaf and ate it all up, while the poor boy was +still asleep. + +When he did awake he felt very hungry and turned to eat his bread, but +his brothers cried out, ‘You ate your loaf in your sleep, you glutton, +and you may starve as long as you like, but you won’t get a scrap of +ours.’ + +Ferko was at a loss to understand how he could have eaten in his sleep, +but he said nothing, and fasted all that day and the next night. But +on the following morning he was so hungry that he burst into tears, and +implored his brothers to give him a little bit of their bread. Then the +cruel creatures laughed, and repeated what they had said the day before; +but when Ferko continued to beg and beseech them, the eldest said at +last, ‘If you will let us put out one of your eyes and break one of your +legs, then we will give you a bit of our bread.’ + +At these words poor Ferko wept more bitterly than before, and bore the +torments of hunger till the sun was high in the heavens; then he could +stand it no longer, and he consented to allow his left eye to be put out +and his left leg to be broken. When this was done he stretched out his +hand eagerly for the piece of bread, but his brothers gave him such a +tiny scrap that the starving youth finished it in a moment and besought +them for a second bit. + +But the more Ferko wept and told his brothers that he was dying of +hunger, the more they laughed and scolded him for his greed. So he +endured the pangs of starvation all that day, but when night came his +endurance gave way, and he let his right eye be put out and his right +leg broken for a second piece of bread. + +After his brothers had thus successfully maimed and disfigured him for +life, they left him groaning on the ground and continued their journey +without him. + +Poor Ferko ate up the scrap of bread they had left him and wept +bitterly, but no one heard him or came to his help. Night came on, and +the poor blind youth had no eyes to close, and could only crawl along +the ground, not knowing in the least where he was going. But when the +sun was once more high in the heavens, Ferko felt the blazing heat +scorch him, and sought for some cool shady place to rest his aching +limbs. He climbed to the top of a hill and lay down in the grass, and as +he thought under the shadow of a big tree. But it was no tree he leant +against, but a gallows on which two ravens were seated. The one was +saying to the other as the weary youth lay down, ‘Is there anything the +least wonderful or remarkable about this neighbourhood?’ + +‘I should just think there was,’ replied the other; ‘many things that +don’t exist anywhere else in the world. There is a lake down there below +us, and anyone who bathes in it, though he were at death’s door, becomes +sound and well on the spot, and those who wash their eyes with the dew +on this hill become as sharp-sighted as the eagle, even if they have +been blind from their youth.’ + +‘Well,’ answered the first raven, ‘my eyes are in no want of this +healing bath, for, Heaven be praised, they are as good as ever they +were; but my wing has been very feeble and weak ever since it was shot +by an arrow many years ago, so let us fly at once to the lake that I may +be restored to health and strength again.’ And so they flew away. + +Their words rejoiced Ferko’s heart, and he waited impatiently till +evening should come and he could rub the precious dew on his sightless +eyes. + +At last it began to grow dusk, and the sun sank behind the mountains; +gradually it became cooler on the hill, and the grass grew wet with dew. +Then Ferko buried his face in the ground till his eyes were damp with +dewdrops, and in a moment he saw clearer than he had ever done in his +life before. The moon was shining brightly, and lighted him to the lake +where he could bathe his poor broken legs. + +Then Ferko crawled to the edge of the lake and dipped his limbs in the +water. No sooner had he done so than his legs felt as sound and strong +as they had been before, and Ferko thanked the kind fate that had led +him to the hill where he had overheard the ravens’ conversation. He +filled a bottle with the healing water, and then continued his journey +in the best of spirits. + +He had not gone far before he met a wolf, who was limping disconsolately +along on three legs, and who on perceiving Ferko began to howl dismally. + +‘My good friend,’ said the youth, ‘be of good cheer, for I can soon heal +your leg,’ and with these words he poured some of the precious water +over the wolf’s paw, and in a minute the animal was springing about +sound and well on all fours. The grateful creature thanked his +benefactor warmly, and promised Ferko to do him a good turn if he should +ever need it. + +Ferko continued his way till he came to a ploughed field. Here he +noticed a little mouse creeping wearily along on its hind paws, for its +front paws had both been broken in a trap. + +Ferko felt so sorry for the little beast that he spoke to it in the most +friendly manner, and washed its small paws with the healing water. In +a moment the mouse was sound and whole, and after thanking the kind +physician it scampered away over the ploughed furrows. + +Ferko again proceeded on his journey, but he hadn’t gone far before a +queen bee flew against him, trailing one wing behind her, which had been +cruelly torn in two by a big bird. Ferko was no less willing to help +her than he had been to help the wolf and the mouse, so he poured some +healing drops over the wounded wing. On the spot the queen bee was +cured, and turning to Ferko she said, ‘I am most grateful for your +kindness, and shall reward you some day.’ And with these words she flew +away humming, gaily. + +Then Ferko wandered on for many a long day, and at length reached +a strange kingdom. Here, he thought to himself, he might as well +go straight to the palace and offer his services to the King of the +country, for he had heard that the King’s daughter was as beautiful as +the day. + +So he went to the royal palace, and as he entered the door the first +people he saw were his two brothers who had so shamefully ill-treated +him. They had managed to obtain places in the King’s service, and when +they recognised Ferko with his eyes and legs sound and well they were +frightened to death, for they feared he would tell the King of their +conduct, and that they would be hung. + +No sooner had Ferko entered the palace than all eyes were turned on the +handsome youth, and the King’s daughter herself was lost in admiration, +for she had never seen anyone so handsome in her life before. His +brothers noticed this, and envy and jealousy were added to their fear, +so much so that they determined once more to destroy him. They went to +the King and told him that Ferko was a wicked magician, who had come to +the palace with the intention of carrying off the Princess. + +Then the King had Ferko brought before him, and said, ‘You are accused +of being a magician who wishes to rob me of my daughter, and I condemn +you to death; but if you can fulfil three tasks which I shall set you to +do your life shall be spared, on condition you leave the country; but if +you cannot perform what I demand you shall be hung on the nearest tree.’ + +And turning to the two wicked brothers he said, ‘Suggest something for +him to do; no matter how difficult, he must succeed in it or die.’ + +They did not think long, but replied, ‘Let him build your Majesty in one +day a more beautiful palace than this, and if he fails in the attempt +let him be hung.’ + +The King was pleased with this proposal, and commanded Ferko to set to +work on the following day. The two brothers were delighted, for they +thought they had now got rid of Ferko for ever. The poor youth himself +was heart-broken, and cursed the hour he had crossed the boundary of +the King’s domain. As he was wandering disconsolately about the meadows +round the palace, wondering how he could escape being put to death, a +little bee flew past, and settling on his shoulder whispered in his ear, +‘What is troubling you, my kind benefactor? Can I be of any help to you? +I am the bee whose wing you healed, and would like to show my gratitude +in some way.’ + +Ferko recognised the queen bee, and said, ‘Alas! how could you help me? +for I have been set to do a task which no one in the whole world could +do, let him be ever such a genius! To-morrow I must build a palace more +beautiful than the King’s, and it must be finished before evening.’ + +‘Is that all?’ answered the bee, ‘then you may comfort yourself; for +before the sun goes down to-morrow night a palace shall be built unlike +any that King has dwelt in before. Just stay here till I come again and +tell you that it is finished.’ Having said this she flew merrily away, +and Ferko, reassured by her words, lay down on the grass and slept +peacefully till the next morning. + +Early on the following day the whole town was on its feet, and everyone +wondered how and where the stranger would build the wonderful palace. +The Princess alone was silent and sorrowful, and had cried all night +till her pillow was wet, so much did she take the fate of the beautiful +youth to heart. + +Ferko spent the whole day in the meadows waiting the return of the bee. +And when evening was come the queen bee flew by, and perching on his +shoulder she said, ‘The wonderful palace is ready. Be of good cheer, +and lead the King to the hill just outside the city walls.’ And humming +gaily she flew away again. + +Ferko went at once to the King and told him the palace was finished. The +whole court went out to see the wonder, and their astonishment was great +at the sight which met their eyes. A splendid palace reared itself on +the hill just outside the walls of the city, made of the most exquisite +flowers that ever grew in mortal garden. The roof was all of crimson +roses, the windows of lilies, the walls of white carnations, the floors +of glowing auriculas and violets, the doors of gorgeous tulips and +narcissi with sunflowers for knockers, and all round hyacinths and other +sweet-smelling flowers bloomed in masses, so that the air was perfumed +far and near and enchanted all who were present. + +This splendid palace had been built by the grateful queen bee, who had +summoned all the other bees in the kingdom to help her. + +The King’s amazement knew no bounds, and the Princess’s eyes beamed with +delight as she turned them from the wonderful building on the delighted +Ferko. But the two brothers had grown quite green with envy, and only +declared the more that Ferko was nothing but a wicked magician. + +The King, although he had been surprised and astonished at the way his +commands had been carried out, was very vexed that the stranger should +escape with his life, and turning to the two brothers he said, ‘He has +certainly accomplished the first task, with the aid no doubt of his +diabolical magic; but what shall we give him to do now? Let us make it +as difficult as possible, and if he fails he shall die.’ + +Then the eldest brother replied, ‘The corn has all been cut, but it has +not yet been put into barns; let the knave collect all the grain in the +kingdom into one big heap before to-morrow night, and if as much as a +stalk of corn is left let him be put to death. + +The Princess grew white with terror when she heard these words; but +Ferko felt much more cheerful than he had done the first time, and +wandered out into the meadows again, wondering how he was to get out of +the difficulty. But he could think of no way of escape. The sun sank to +rest and night came on, when a little mouse started out of the grass +at Ferko’s feet, and said to him, ‘I’m delighted to see you, my kind +benefactor; but why are you looking so sad? Can I be of any help to you, +and thus repay your great kindness to me?’ + +Then Ferko recognised the mouse whose front paws he had healed, and +replied, ‘Alas I how can you help me in a matter that is beyond any +human power! Before to-morrow night all the grain in the kingdom has +to be gathered into one big heap, and if as much as a stalk of corn is +wanting I must pay for it with my life.’ + +‘Is that all?’ answered the mouse; ‘that needn’t distress you much. Just +trust in me, and before the sun sets again you shall hear that your task +is done.’ And with these words the little creature scampered away into +the fields. + +Ferko, who never doubted that the mouse would be as good as its word, +lay down comforted on the soft grass and slept soundly till next +morning. The day passed slowly, and with the evening came the little +mouse and said, ‘Now there is not a single stalk of corn left in any +field; they are all collected in one big heap on the hill out there.’ + +Then Ferko went joyfully to the King and told him that all he demanded +had been done. And the whole Court went out to see the wonder, and were +no less astonished than they had been the first time. For in a heap +higher than the King’s palace lay all the grain of the country, and not +a single stalk of corn had been left behind in any of the fields. And +how had all this been done? The little mouse had summoned every other +mouse in the land to its help, and together they had collected all the +grain in the kingdom. + +The King could not hide his amazement, but at the same time his wrath +increased, and he was more ready than ever to believe the two brothers, +who kept on repeating that Ferko was nothing more nor less than a wicked +magician. Only the beautiful Princess rejoiced over Ferko’s success, and +looked on him with friendly glances, which the youth returned. + +The more the cruel King gazed on the wonder before him, the more +angry he became, for he could not, in the face of his promise, put the +stranger to death. He turned once more to the two brothers and said, +‘His diabolical magic has helped him again, but now what third task +shall we set him to do? No matter how impossible it is, he must do it or +die.’ + +The eldest answered quickly, ‘Let him drive all the wolves of the +kingdom on to this hill before to-morrow night. If he does this he may +go free; if not he shall be hung as you have said.’ + +At these words the Princess burst into tears, and when the King saw this +he ordered her to be shut up in a high tower and carefully guarded till +the dangerous magician should either have left the kingdom or been hung +on the nearest tree. + +Ferko wandered out into the fields again, and sat down on the stump of +a tree wondering what he should do next. Suddenly a big wolf ran up to +him, and standing still said, ‘I’m very glad to see you again, my kind +benefactor. What are you thinking about all alone by yourself? If I can +help you in any way only say the word, for I would like to give you a +proof of my gratitude.’ + +Ferko at once recognised the wolf whose broken leg he had healed, and +told him what he had to do the following day if he wished to escape with +his life. ‘But how in the world,’ he added, ‘am I to collect all the +wolves of the kingdom on to that hill over there?’ + +‘If that’s all you want done,’ answered the wolf, ‘you needn’t worry +yourself. I’ll undertake the task, and you’ll hear from me again before +sunset to-morrow. Keep your spirits up.’ And with these words he trotted +quickly away. + +Then the youth rejoiced greatly, for now he felt that his life was safe; +but he grew very sad when he thought of the beautiful Princess, and that +he would never see her again if he left the country. He lay down once +more on the grass and soon fell fast asleep. + +All the next day he spent wandering about the fields, and toward +evening the wolf came running to him in a great hurry and said, ‘I have +collected together all the wolves in the kingdom, and they are waiting +for you in the wood. Go quickly to the King, and tell him to go to the +hill that he may see the wonder you have done with his own eyes. Then +return at once to me and get on my back, and I will help you to drive +all the wolves together.’ + +Then Ferko went straight to the palace and told the King that he was +ready to perform the third task if he would come to the hill and see it +done. Ferko himself returned to the fields, and mounting on the wolf’s +back he rode to the wood close by. + +Quick as lightning the wolf flew round the wood, and in a minute many +hundred wolves rose up before him, increasing in number every moment, +till they could be counted by thousands. He drove them all before him on +to the hill, where the King and his whole Court and Ferko’s two brothers +were standing. Only the lovely Princess was not present, for she was +shut up in her tower weeping bitterly. + +The wicked brothers stamped and foamed with rage when they saw the +failure of their wicked designs. But the King was overcome by a sudden +terror when he saw the enormous pack of wolves approaching nearer and +nearer, and calling out to Ferko he said, ‘Enough, enough, we don’t want +any more.’ + +But the wolf on whose back Ferko sat, said to its rider, ‘Go on! go +on!’ and at the same moment many more wolves ran up the hill, howling +horribly and showing their white teeth. + +The King in his terror called out, ‘Stop a moment; I will give you half +my kingdom if you will drive all the wolves away.’ But Ferko pretended +not to hear, and drove some more thousands before him, so that everyone +quaked with horror and fear. + +Then the King raised his voice again and called out, ‘Stop! you shall +have my whole kingdom, if you will only drive these wolves back to the +places they came from.’ + +But the wolf kept on encouraging Ferko, and said, ‘Go on! go on!’ So he +led the wolves on, till at last they fell on the King and on the wicked +brothers, and ate them and the whole Court up in a moment. + +Then Ferko went straight to the palace and set the Princess free, and on +the same day he married her and was crowned King of the country. And the +wolves all went peacefully back to their own homes, and Ferko and his +bride lived for many years in peace and happiness together, and were +much beloved by great and small in the land. + + + + + THE GIANTS AND THE HERD-BOY(12) + +(12) From the Bukowniaer. Von Wliolocki. + +There was once upon a time a poor boy who had neither father nor mother. +In order to gain a living he looked after the sheep of a great Lord. Day +and night he spent out in the open fields, and only when it was very +wet and stormy did he take refuge in a little hut on the edge of a +big forest. Now one night, when he was sitting on the grass beside his +flocks, he heard not very far from him the sound as of some one crying. +He rose up and followed the direction of the noise. To his dismay and +astonishment he found a Giant lying at the entrance of the wood; he was +about to run off as fast as his legs could carry him, when the Giant +called out: ‘Don’t be afraid, I won’t harm you. On the contrary, I will +reward you handsomely if you will bind up my foot. I hurt it when I was +trying to root up an oak-tree.’ The Herd-boy took off his shirt, and +bound up the Giant’s wounded foot with it. Then the Giant rose up and +said, ‘Now come and I will reward you. We are going to celebrate a +marriage to-day, and I promise you we shall have plenty of fun. Come and +enjoy yourself, but in order that my brothers mayn’t see you, put this +band round your waist and then you’ll be invisible.’ With these words +he handed the Herd-boy a belt, and walking on in front he led him to +a fountain where hundreds of Giants and Giantesses were assembled +preparing to hold a wedding. They danced and played different games till +midnight; then one of the Giants tore up a plant by its roots, and all +the Giants and Giantesses made themselves so thin that they disappeared +into the earth through the hole made by the uprooting of the plant. The +wounded Giant remained behind to the last and called out, ‘Herd-boy, +where are you?’ ‘Here I am, close to you,’ was the reply. ‘Touch me,’ +said the Giant, ‘so that you too may come with us under ground.’ The +Herd-boy did as he was told, and before he could have believed it +possible he found himself in a big hall, where even the walls were +made of pure gold. Then to his astonishment he saw that the hall was +furnished with the tables and chairs that belonged to his master. In a +few minutes the company began to eat and drink. + +The banquet was a very gorgeous one, and the poor youth fell to and ate +and drank lustily. When he had eaten and drunk as much as he could he +thought to himself, ‘Why shouldn’t I put a loaf of bread in my pocket? +I shall be glad of it to-morrow.’ So he seized a loaf when no one was +looking and stowed it away under his tunic. No sooner had he done so +than the wounded Giant limped up to him and whispered softly, ‘Herd-boy, +where are you?’ ‘Here I am,’ replied the youth. ‘Then hold on to me,’ +said the Giant, ‘so that I may lead you up above again.’ So the Herd-boy +held on to the Giant, and in a few moments he found himself on the earth +once more, but the Giant had vanished. The Herd-boy returned to his +sheep, and took off the invisible belt which he hid carefully in his +bag. + +The next morning the lad felt hungry, and thought he would cut off a +piece of the loaf he had carried away from the Giants’ wedding feast, +and eat it. But although he tried with all his might, he couldn’t cut +off the smallest piece. Then in despair he bit the loaf, and what was +his astonishment when a piece of gold fell out of his mouth and rolled +at his feet. He bit the bread a second and third time, and each time a +piece of gold fell out of his mouth; but the bread remained untouched. +The Herd-boy was very much delighted over his stroke of good fortune, +and, hiding the magic loaf in his bag, he hurried off to the nearest +village to buy himself something to eat, and then returned to his sheep. + +Now the Lord whose sheep the Herd-boy looked after had a very lovely +daughter, who always smiled and nodded to the youth when she walked with +her father in his fields. For a long time the Herd-boy had made up his +mind to prepare a surprise for this beautiful creature on her birthday. +So when the day approached he put on his invisible belt, took a sack of +gold pieces with him, and slipping into her room in the middle of the +night, he placed the bag of gold beside her bed and returned to his +sheep. The girl’s joy was great, and so was her parents’ next day when +they found the sack full of gold pieces. The Herd-boy was so pleased to +think what pleasure he had given that the next night he placed another +bag of gold beside the girl’s bed. And this he continued to do for seven +nights, and the girl and her parents made up their minds that it must +be a good Fairy who brought the gold every night. But one night they +determined to watch, and see from their hiding place who the bringer of +the sack of gold really was. + +On the eighth night a fearful storm of wind and rain came on while the +Herd-boy was on his way to bring the beautiful girl another bag of gold. +Then for the first time he noticed, just as he reached his master’s +house, that he had forgotten the belt which made him invisible. He +didn’t like the idea of going back to his hut in the wind and wet, so +he just stepped as he was into the girl’s room, laid the sack of +gold beside her, and was turning to leave the room, when his master +confronted him and said, ‘You young rogue, so you were going to steal +the gold that a good Fairy brings every night, were you?’ The Herd-boy +was so taken aback by his words, that he stood trembling before him, +and did not dare to explain his presence. Then his master spoke. ‘As you +have hitherto always behaved well in my service I will not send you to +prison; but leave your place instantly and never let me see your face +again.’ So the Herd-boy went back to his hut, and taking his loaf and +belt with him, he went to the nearest town. There he bought himself +some fine clothes, and a beautiful coach with four horses, hired two +servants, and drove back to his master. You may imagine how astonished +he was to see his Herd-boy returning to him in this manner! Then the +youth told him of the piece of good luck that had befallen him, and +asked him for the hand of his beautiful daughter. This was readily +granted, and the two lived in peace and happiness to the end of their +lives. + + + + + THE INVISIBLE PRINCE + +Once upon a time there lived a Fairy who had power over the earth, the +sea, fire, and the air; and this Fairy had four sons. The eldest, who +was quick and lively, with a vivid imagination, she made Lord of Fire, +which was in her opinion the noblest of all the elements. To the second +son, whose wisdom and prudence made amends for his being rather dull, +she gave the government of the earth. The third was wild and savage, and +of monstrous stature; and the Fairy, his mother, who was ashamed of +his defects, hoped to hide them by creating him King of the Seas. The +youngest, who was the slave of his passions and of a very uncertain +temper, became Prince of the Air. + +Being the youngest, he was naturally his mother’s favourite; but this +did not blind her to his weaknesses, and she foresaw that some day he +would suffer much pain through falling in love. So she thought the best +thing she could do was to bring him up with a horror of women; and, to +her great delight, she saw this dislike only increased as he grew older. +From his earliest childhood he heard nothing but stories of princes who +had fallen into all sorts of troubles through love; and she drew +such terrible pictures of poor little Cupid that the young man had no +difficulty in believing that he was the root of all evil. + +All the time that this wise mother could spare from filling her son +with hatred for all womenkind she passed in giving him a love of the +pleasures of the chase, which henceforth became his chief joy. For his +amusement she had made a new forest, planted with the most splendid +trees, and turned loose in it every animal that could be found in any of +the four quarters of the globe. In the midst of this forest she built a +palace which had not its equal for beauty in the whole world, and then +she considered that she had done enough to make any prince happy. + +Now it is all very well to abuse the God of Love, but a man cannot +struggle against his fate. In his secret heart the Prince got tired of +his mother’s constant talk on this subject; and when one day she quitted +the palace to attend to some business, begging him never to go beyond +the grounds, he at once jumped at the chance of disobeying her. + +Left to himself the Prince soon forgot the wise counsels of his mother, +and feeling very much bored with his own company, he ordered some of +the spirits of the air to carry him to the court of a neighbouring +sovereign. This kingdom was situated in the Island of Roses, where the +climate is so delicious that the grass is always green and the flowers +always sweet. The waves, instead of beating on the rocks, seemed to die +gently on the shore; clusters of golden bushes covered the land, and the +vines were bent low with grapes. + +The King of this island had a daughter named Rosalie, who was more +lovely than any girl in the whole world. No sooner had the eyes of the +Prince of the Air rested on her than he forgot all the terrible woes +which had been prophesied to him ever since he was born, for in one +single moment the plans of years are often upset. He instantly began to +think how best to make himself happy, and the shortest way that occurred +to him was to have Rosalie carried off by his attendant spirits. + +It is easy to imagine the feelings of the King when he found that his +daughter had vanished. He wept her loss night and day, and his only +comfort was to talk over it with a young and unknown prince, who had +just arrived at the Court. Alas! he did not know what a deep interest +the stranger had in Rosalie, for he too had seen her, and had fallen a +victim to her charms. + +One day the King, more sorrowful than usual, was walking sadly along +the sea-shore, when after a long silence the unknown Prince, who was his +only companion, suddenly spoke. ‘There is no evil without a remedy,’ he +said to the unhappy father; ‘and if you will promise me your daughter in +marriage, I will undertake to bring her back to you.’ + +‘You are trying to soothe me by vain promises,’ answered the King. ‘Did +I not see her caught up into the air, in spite of cries which would have +softened the heart of any one but the barbarian who has robbed me of +her? The unfortunate girl is pining away in some unknown land, where +perhaps no foot of man has ever trod, and I shall see her no more. But +go, generous stranger; bring back Rosalie if you can, and live happy +with her ever after in this country, of which I now declare you heir.’ + +Although the stranger’s name and rank were unknown to Rosalie’s father, +he was really the son of the King of the Golden Isle, which had for +capital a city that extended from one sea to another. The walls, washed +by the quiet waters, were covered with gold, which made one think of the +yellow sands. Above them was a rampart of orange and lemon trees, and +all the streets were paved with gold. + +The King of this beautiful island had one son, for whom a life of +adventure had been foretold at his birth. This so frightened his father +and mother that in order to comfort them a Fairy, who happened to be +present at the time, produced a little pebble which she told them to +keep for the Prince till he grew up, as by putting it in his mouth he +would become invisible, as long as he did not try to speak, for if he +did the stone would lose all its virtue. In this way the good fairy +hoped that the Prince would be protected against all dangers. + +No sooner did the Prince begin to grow out of boyhood than he longed to +see if the other countries of the world were as splendid as the one in +which he lived. So, under pretence of visiting some small islands that +belonged to his father, he set out. But a frightful storm drove his ship +on to unknown shores, where most of his followers were put to death by +the savages, and the Prince himself only managed to escape by making use +of his magic pebble. By this means he passed through the midst of them +unseen, and wandered on till he reached the coast, where he re-embarked +on board his ship. + +The first land he sighted was the Island of Roses, and he went at once +to the court of the King, Rosalie’s father. The moment his eyes beheld +the Princess, he fell in love with her like everyone else. + +He had already spent several months in this condition when the Prince of +the Air whirled her away, to the grief and despair of every man on the +island. But sad though everybody was, the Prince of the Golden Isle was +perfectly inconsolable, and he passed both days and nights in bemoaning +his loss. + +‘Alas!’ he cried; ‘shall I never see my lovely Princess again?’ Who +knows where she may be, and what fairy may have her in his keeping? I am +only a man, but I am strong in my love, and I will seek the whole world +through till I find her.’ + +So saying, he left the court, and made ready for his journey. + +He travelled many weary days without hearing a single word of the lost +Princess, till one morning, as he was walking through a thick forest, +he suddenly perceived a magnificent palace standing at the end of a +pine avenue, and his heart bounded to think that he might be gazing on +Rosalie’s prison. He hastened his steps, and quickly arrived at the gate +of the palace, which was formed of a single agate. The gate swung +open to let him through, and he next passed successively three courts, +surrounded by deep ditches filled with running water, with birds of +brilliant plumage flying about the banks. Everything around was rare and +beautiful, but the Prince scarcely raised his eyes to all these wonders. +He thought only of the Princess and where he should find her, but in +vain he opened every door and searched in every corner; he neither saw +Rosalie nor anyone else. At last there was no place left for him to +search but a little wood, which contained in the centre a sort of hall +built entirely of orange-trees, with four small rooms opening out of +the corners. Three of these were empty except for statues and wonderful +things, but in the fourth the Invisible Prince caught sight of Rosalie. +His joy at beholding her again was, however, somewhat lessened by seeing +that the Prince of the Air was kneeling at her feet, and pleading his +own cause. But it was in vain that he implored her to listen; she only +shook her head. ‘No,’ was all she would say; ‘you snatched me from +my father whom I loved, and all the splendour in the world can never +console me. Go! I can never feel anything towards you but hate and +contempt.’ With these words she turned away and entered her own +apartments. + +Unknown to herself the Invisible Prince had followed her, but fearing to +be discovered by the Princess in the presence of others, he made up his +mind to wait quietly till dark; and employed the long hours in writing a +poem to the Princess, which he laid on the bed beside her. This done, he +thought of nothing but how best to deliver Rosalie, and he resolved to +take advantage of a visit which the Prince of the Air paid every year to +his mother and brothers in order to strike the blow. + +One day Rosalie was sitting alone in her room thinking of her troubles +when she suddenly saw a pen get up from off the desk and begin to write +all by itself on a sheet of white paper. As she did not know that it was +guided by an invisible hand she was very much astonished, and the moment +that the pen had ceased to move she instantly went over to the table, +where she found some lovely verses, telling her that another shared her +distresses, whatever they might be, and loved her with all his heart; +and that he would never rest until he had delivered her from the hands +of the man she hated. Thus encouraged, she told him all her story, and +of the arrival of a young stranger in her father’s palace, whose looks +had so charmed her that since that day she had thought of no one else. +At these words the Prince could contain himself no longer. He took the +pebble from his mouth, and flung himself at Rosalie’s feet. + +When they had got over the first rapture of meeting they began to make +plans to escape from the power of the Prince of the Air. But this did +not prove easy, for the magic stone would only serve for one person at +a time, and in order to save Rosalie the Prince of the Golden Isle would +have to expose himself to the fury of his enemy. But Rosalie would not +hear of this. + +‘No, Prince,’ she said; ‘since you are here this island no longer feels +a prison. Besides, you are under the protection of a Fairy, who always +visits your father’s court at this season. Go instantly and seek her, +and when she is found implore the gift of another stone with similar +powers. Once you have that, there will be no further difficulty in the +way of escape.’ + +The Prince of the Air returned a few days later from his mother’s +palace, but the Invisible Prince had already set out. He had, however, +entirely forgotten the road by which he had come, and lost himself for +so long in the forest, that when at last he reached home the Fairy had +already left, and, in spite of all his grief, there was nothing for it +but to wait till the Fairy’s next visit, and allow Rosalie to suffer +three months longer. This thought drove him to despair, and he had +almost made up his mind to return to the place of her captivity, when +one day, as he was strolling along an alley in the woods, he saw a +huge oak open its trunk, and out of it step two Princes in earnest +conversation. As our hero had the magic stone in his mouth they imagined +themselves alone, and did not lower their voices. + +‘What!’ said one, ‘are you always going to allow yourself to be +tormented by a passion which can never end happily, and in your whole +kingdom can you find nothing else to satisfy you?’ + +‘What is the use,’ replied the other, ‘of being Prince of the Gnomes, +and having a mother who is queen over all the four elements, if I cannot +win the love of the Princess Argentine? From the moment that I first saw +her, sitting in the forest surrounded by flowers, I have never ceased +to think of her night and day, and, although I love her, I am quite +convinced that she will never care for me. You know that I have in my +palace the cabinets of the years. In the first, great mirrors reflect +the past; in the second, we contemplate the present; in the third, the +future can be read. It was here that I fled after I had gazed on the +Princess Argentine, but instead of love I only saw scorn and contempt. +Think how great must be my devotion, when, in spite of my fate, I still +love on!’ + +Now the Prince of the Golden Isle was enchanted with this conversation, +for the Princess Argentine was his sister, and he hoped, by means of her +influence over the Prince of the Gnomes, to obtain from his brother +the release of Rosalie. So he joyfully returned to his father’s palace, +where he found his friend the Fairy, who at once presented him with +a magic pebble like his own. As may be imagined, he lost no time in +setting out to deliver Rosalie, and travelled so fast that he soon +arrived at the forest, in the midst of which she lay a captive. But +though he found the palace he did not find Rosalie. He hunted high and +low, but there was no sign of her, and his despair was so great that +he was ready, a thousand times over, to take his own life. At last he +remembered the conversation of the two Princes about the cabinets of the +years, and that if he could manage to reach the oak tree, he would be +certain to discover what had become of Rosalie. Happily, he soon found +out the secret of the passage and entered the cabinet of the present, +where he saw reflected in the mirrors the unfortunate Rosalie sitting +on the floor weeping bitterly, and surrounded with genii, who never left +her night or day. + +This sight only increased the misery of the Prince, for he did not +know where the castle was, nor how to set about finding it. However, +he resolved to seek the whole world through till he came to the right +place. He began by setting sail in a favourable wind, but his bad luck +followed him even on the sea. He had scarcely lost sight of the land +when a violent storm arose, and after several hours of beating about, +the vessel was driven on to some rocks, on which it dashed itself +to bits. The Prince was fortunate enough to be able to lay hold of a +floating spar, and contrived to keep himself afloat; and, after a long +struggle with the winds and waves, he was cast upon a strange island. +But what was his surprise, on reaching the shore, to hear sounds of the +most heartrending distress, mingled with the sweetest songs which had +ever charmed him! His curiosity was instantly roused, and he advanced +cautiously till he saw two huge dragons guarding the gate of a wood. +They were terrible indeed to look upon. Their bodies were covered with +glittering scales; their curly tails extended far over the land; flames +darted from their mouths and noses, and their eyes would have made the +bravest shudder; but as the Prince was invisible and they did not see +him, he slipped past them into the wood. He found himself at once in a +labyrinth, and wandered about for a long time without meeting anyone; in +fact, the only sight he saw was a circle of human hands, sticking out +of the ground above the wrist, each with a bracelet of gold, on which +a name was written. The farther he advanced in the labyrinth the more +curious he became, till he was stopped by two corpses lying in the +midst of a cypress alley, each with a scarlet cord round his neck and a +bracelet on his arm on which were engraved their own names, and those of +two Princesses. + +The invisible Prince recognised these dead men as Kings of two large +islands near his own home, but the names of the Princesses were unknown +to him. He grieved for their unhappy fate, and at once proceeded to bury +them; but no sooner had he laid them in their graves, than their hands +started up through the earth and remained sticking up like those of +their fellows. + +The Prince went on his way, thinking about this strange adventure, when +suddenly at the turn of the walk he perceived a tall man whose face was +the picture of misery, holding in his hands a silken cord of the exact +colour of those round the necks of the dead men. A few steps further +this man came up with another as miserable to the full as he himself; +they silently embraced, and then without a word passed the cords round +their throats, and fell dead side by side. In vain the Prince rushed to +their assistance and strove to undo the cord. He could not loosen it; so +he buried them like the others and continued his path. + +He felt, however, that great prudence was necessary, or he himself might +become the victim of some enchantment; and he was thankful to slip past +the dragons, and enter a beautiful park, with clear streams and sweet +flowers, and a crowd of men and maidens. But he could not forget +the terrible things he had seen, and hoped eagerly for a clue to the +mystery. Noticing two young people talking together, he drew near +thinking that he might get some explanation of what puzzled him. And so +he did. + +‘You swear,’ said the Prince, ‘that you will love me till you die, but I +fear your faithless heart, and I feel that I shall soon have to seek the +Fairy Despair, ruler of half this island. She carries off the lovers +who have been cast away by their mistresses, and wish to have done with +life. She places them in a labyrinth where they are condemned to walk +for ever, with a bracelet on their arms and a cord round their necks, +unless they meet another as miserable as themselves. Then the cord is +pulled and they lie where they fall, till they are buried by the first +passer by. Terrible as this death would be,’ added the Prince, ‘it would +be sweeter than life if I had lost your love.’ + +The sight of all these happy lovers only made the Prince grieve the +more, and he wandered along the seashore spending his days; but one day +he was sitting on a rock bewailing his fate, and the impossibility +of leaving the island, when all in a moment the sea appeared to raise +itself nearly to the skies, and the caves echoed with hideous screams. +As he looked a woman rose from the depths of the sea, flying madly +before a furious giant. The cries she uttered softened the heart of +the Prince; he took the stone from his mouth, and drawing his sword +he rushed after the giant, so as to give the lady time to escape. But +hardly had he come within reach of the enemy, than the giant touched him +with a ring that he held in his hand, and the Prince remained immovable +where he stood. The giant then hastily rejoined his prey, and, seizing +her in his arms, he plunged her into the sea. Then he sent some tritons +to bind chains about the Prince of the Golden Isle, and he too felt +himself borne to the depths of the ocean, and without the hope of ever +again seeing the Princess. + +Now the giant whom the invisible had so rashly attacked was the Lord +of the Sea, and the third son of the Queen of the Elements, and he had +touched the youth with a magic ring which enabled a mortal to live under +water. So the Prince of the Golden Isle found, when bound in chains by +the tritons, he was carried through the homes of strange monsters +and past immense seaweed forests, till he reached a vast sandy space, +surrounded by huge rocks. On the tallest of the rocks sat the giant as +on a throne. + +‘Rash mortal,’ said he, when the Prince was dragged before him, ‘you +have deserved death, but you shall live only to suffer more cruelly. Go, +and add to the number of those whom it is my pleasure to torture.’ + +At these words the unhappy Prince found himself tied to a rock; but he +was not alone in his misfortunes, for all round him were chained Princes +and Princesses, whom the giant had led captive. Indeed, it was his chief +delight to create a storm, in order to add to the list of his prisoners. + +As his hands were fastened, it was impossible for the Prince of the +Golden Isle to make use of his magic stone, and he passed his nights and +days dreaming of Rosalie. But at last the time came when the giant took +it into his head to amuse himself by arranging fights between some +of his captives. Lots were drawn, and one fell upon our Prince, whose +chains were immediately loosened. The moment he was set free, he +snatched up his stone, and became invisible. + +The astonishment of the giant at the sudden disappearance of the Prince +may well be imagined. He ordered all the passages to be watched, but it +was too late, for the Prince had already glided between two rocks. He +wandered for a long while through the forests, where he met nothing but +fearful monsters; he climbed rock after rock, steered his way from tree +to tree, till at length he arrived at the edge of the sea, at the foot +of a mountain that he remembered to have seen in the cabinet of the +present, where Rosalie was held captive. + +Filled with joy, he made his way to the top of the mountain which +pierced the clouds, and there he found a palace. He entered, and in the +middle of a long gallery he discovered a crystal room, in the midst of +which sat Rosalie, guarded night and day by genii. There was no door +anywhere, nor any window. At this sight the Prince became more puzzled +than ever, for he did not know how he was to warn Rosalie of his return. +Yet it broke his heart to see her weeping from dawn till dark. + +One day, as Rosalie was walking up and down her room, she was surprised +to see that the crystal which served for a wall had grown cloudy, as if +some one had breathed on it, and, what was more, wherever she moved +the brightness of the crystal always became clouded. This was enough to +cause the Princess to suspect that her lover had returned. In order +to set the Prince of the Air’s mind at rest she began by being very +gracious to him, so that when she begged that her captivity might be a +little lightened she should not be refused. At first the only favour she +asked was to be allowed to walk for one hour every day up and down the +long gallery. This was granted, and the Invisible Prince speedily took +the opportunity of handing her the stone, which she at once slipped +into her mouth. No words can paint the fury of her captor at her +disappearance. He ordered the spirits of the air to fly through all +space, and to bring back Rosalie wherever she might be. They instantly +flew off to obey his commands, and spread themselves over the whole +earth. + +Meantime Rosalie and the Invisible Prince had reached, hand in hand, +a door of the gallery which led through a terrace into the gardens. In +silence they glided along, and thought themselves already safe, when +a furious monster dashed itself by accident against Rosalie and the +Invisible Prince, and in her fright she let go his hand. No one can +speak as long as he is invisible, and besides, they knew that the +spirits were all around them, and at the slightest sound they would +be recognised; so all they could do was to feel about in the hope that +their hands might once more meet. + +But, alas! the joy of liberty lasted but a short time. The Princess, +having wandered in vain up and down the forest, stopped at last on the +edge of a fountain. As she walked she wrote on the trees: ‘If ever the +Prince, my lover, comes this way, let him know that it is here I dwell, +and that I sit daily on the edge of this fountain, mingling my tears +with its waters.’ + +These words were read by one of the genii, who repeated them to his +master. The Prince of the Air, in his turn making himself invisible, was +led to the fountain, and waited for Rosalie. When she drew near he +held out his hand, which she grasped eagerly, taking it for that of her +lover; and, seizing his opportunity, the Prince passed a cord round her +arms, and throwing off his invisibility cried to his spirits to drag her +into the lowest pit. + +It was at this moment that the Invisible Prince appeared, and at the +sight of the Prince of the Genii mounting into the air, holding a silken +cord, he guessed instantly that he was carrying off Rosalie. + +He felt so overwhelmed by despair that he thought for an instant of +putting an end to his life. ‘Can I survive my misfortunes?’ he cried. ‘I +fancied I had come to an end of my troubles, and now they are worse than +ever. What will become of me? Never can I discover the place where this +monster will hide Rosalie.’ + +The unhappy youth had determined to let himself die, and indeed his +sorrow alone was enough to kill him, when the thought that by means +of the cabinets of the years he might find out where the Princess was +imprisoned, gave him a little ray of comfort. So he continued to walk +on through the forest, and after some hours he arrived at the gate of a +temple, guarded by two huge lions. Being invisible, he was able to enter +unharmed. In the middle of the temple was an altar, on which lay a book, +and behind the altar hung a great curtain. The Prince approached the +altar and opened the book, which contained the names of all the lovers +in the world: and in it he read that Rosalie had been carried off by the +Prince of the Air to an abyss which had no entrance except the one that +lay by way of the Fountain of Gold. + +Now, as the Prince had not the smallest idea where this fountain was to +be found, it might be thought that he was not much nearer Rosalie than +before. This was not, however, the view taken by the Prince. + +‘Though every step that I take may perhaps lead me further from her,’ +he said to himself, ‘I am still thankful to know that she is alive +somewhere.’ + +On leaving the temple the Invisible Prince saw six paths lying before +him, each of which led through the wood. He was hesitating which to +choose, when he suddenly beheld two people coming towards him, down +the track which lay most to his right. They turned out to be the Prince +Gnome and his friend, and the sudden desire to get some news of his +sister, Princess Argentine, caused the Invisible Prince to follow them +and to listen to their conversation. + +‘Do you think,’ the Prince Gnome was saying, ‘do you think that I would +not break my chains if I could? I know that the Princess Argentine will +never love me, yet each day I feel her dearer still. And as if this +were not enough, I have the horror of feeling that she probably loves +another. So I have resolved to put myself out of my pain by means of the +Golden Fountain. A single drop of its water falling on the sand around +will trace the name of my rival in her heart. I dread the test, and yet +this very dread convinces me of my misfortune.’ + +It may be imagined that after listening to these words the Invisible +Prince followed Prince Gnome like his shadow, and after walking some +time they arrived at the Golden Fountain. The unhappy lover stooped down +with a sigh, and dipping his finger in the water let fall a drop on +the sand. It instantly wrote the name of Prince Flame, his brother. The +shock of this discovery was so real, that Prince Gnome sank fainting +into the arms of his friend. + +Meanwhile the Invisible Prince was turning over in his mind how he could +best deliver Rosalie. As, since he had been touched by the Giant’s ring, +he had the power to live in the water as well as on land, he at once +dived into the fountain. He perceived in one corner a door leading into +the mountain, and at the foot of the mountain was a high rock on which +was fixed an iron ring with a cord attached. The Prince promptly guessed +that the cord was used to chain the Princess, and drew his sword and cut +it. In a moment he felt the Princess’s hand in his, for she had +always kept her magic pebble in her mouth, in spite of the prayers and +entreaties of the Prince of the Air to make herself visible. + +So hand in hand the invisible Prince and Rosalie crossed the mountain; +but as the Princess had no power of living under water, she could not +pass the Golden Fountain. Speechless and invisible they clung together +on the brink, trembling at the frightful tempest the Prince of the Air +had raised in his fury. The storm had already lasted many days when +tremendous heat began to make itself felt. The lightning flashed, the +thunder rattled, fire bolts fell from heaven, burning up the forests and +even the fields of corn. In one instant the very streams were dried up, +and the Prince, seizing his opportunity, carried the Princess over the +Golden Fountain. + +It took them a long time still to reach the Golden Isle, but at last +they got there, and we may be quite sure they never wanted to leave it +any more. + + + + + THE CROW(13) + +(13) From the Polish. Kletke. + +Once upon a time there were three Princesses who were all three young +and beautiful; but the youngest, although she was not fairer than the +other two, was the most loveable of them all. + +About half a mile from the palace in which they lived there stood a +castle, which was uninhabited and almost a ruin, but the garden which +surrounded it was a mass of blooming flowers, and in this garden the +youngest Princess used often to walk. + +One day when she was pacing to and fro under the lime trees, a black +crow hopped out of a rose-bush in front of her. The poor beast was all +torn and bleeding, and the kind little Princess was quite unhappy about +it. When the crow saw this it turned to her and said: + +‘I am not really a black crow, but an enchanted Prince, who has been +doomed to spend his youth in misery. If you only liked, Princess, you +could save me. But you would have to say good-bye to all your own people +and come and be my constant companion in this ruined castle. There is +one habitable room in it, in which there is a golden bed; there you will +have to live all by yourself, and don’t forget that whatever you may see +or hear in the night you must not scream out, for if you give as much as +a single cry my sufferings will be doubled.’ + +The good-natured Princess at once left her home and her family and +hurried to the ruined castle, and took possession of the room with the +golden bed. + +When night approached she lay down, but though she shut her eyes tight +sleep would not come. At midnight she heard to her great horror some one +coming along the passage, and in a minute her door was flung wide open +and a troop of strange beings entered the room. They at once proceeded +to light a fire in the huge fireplace; then they placed a great cauldron +of boiling water on it. When they had done this, they approached the +bed on which the trembling girl lay, and, screaming and yelling all +the time, they dragged her towards the cauldron. She nearly died with +fright, but she never uttered a sound. Then of a sudden the cock crew, +and all the evil spirits vanished. + +At the same moment the crow appeared and hopped all round the room with +joy. It thanked the Princess most heartily for her goodness, and said +that its sufferings had already been greatly lessened. + +Now one of the Princess’s elder sisters, who was very inquisitive, had +found out about everything, and went to pay her youngest sister a visit +in the ruined castle. She implored her so urgently to let her spend the +night with her in the golden bed, that at last the good-natured little +Princess consented. But at midnight, when the odd folk appeared, the +elder sister screamed with terror, and from this time on the youngest +Princess insisted always on keeping watch alone. + +So she lived in solitude all the daytime, and at night she would have +been frightened, had she not been so brave; but every day the crow came +and thanked her for her endurance, and assured her that his sufferings +were far less than they had been. + +And so two years passed away, when one day the crow came to the Princess +and said: ‘In another year I shall be freed from the spell I am under +at present, because then the seven years will be over. But before I +can resume my natural form, and take possession of the belongings of +my forefathers, you must go out into the world and take service as a +maidservant.’ + +The young Princess consented at once, and for a whole year she served as +a maid; but in spite of her youth and beauty she was very badly treated, +and suffered many things. One evening, when she was spinning flax, and +had worked her little white hands weary, she heard a rustling beside her +and a cry of joy. Then she saw a handsome youth standing beside her; who +knelt down at her feet and kissed the little weary white hands. + +‘I am the Prince,’ he said, ‘who you in your goodness, when I was +wandering about in the shape of a black crow, freed from the most awful +torments. Come now to my castle with me, and let us live there happily +together.’ + +So they went to the castle where they had both endured so much. But when +they reached it, it was difficult to believe that it was the same, for +it had all been rebuilt and done up again. And there they lived for a +hundred years, a hundred years of joy and happiness. + + + + +HOW SIX MEN TRAVELLED THROUGH THE WIDE WORLD + +There was once upon a time a man who understood all sorts of arts; he +served in the war, and bore himself bravely and well; but when the war +was over, he got his discharge, and set out on his travels with three +farthings of his pay in his pocket. ‘Wait,’ he said; ‘that does not +please me; only let me find the right people, and the King shall yet +give me all the treasures of his kingdom.’ He strode angrily into the +forest, and there he saw a man standing who had uprooted six trees as +if they were straws. He said to him, ‘Will you be my servant and travel +with me?’ + +‘Yes,’ he answered; ‘but first of all I will take this little bundle +of sticks home to my mother,’ and he took one of the trees and wound +it round the other five, raised the bundle on his shoulders and bore it +off. Then he came back and went with his master, who said, ‘We two ought +to be able to travel through the wide world!’ And when they had gone a +little way they came upon a hunter, who was on his knees, his gun on his +shoulder, aiming at something. The master said to him, ‘Hunter, what are +you aiming at?’ + +He answered, ‘Two miles from this place sits a fly on a branch of an +oak; I want to shoot out its left eye.’ + +‘Oh, go with me,’ said the man; ‘if we three are together we shall +easily travel through the wide world.’ + +The hunter agreed and went with him, and they came to seven windmills +whose sails were going round quite fast, and yet there was not a breath +of wind, nor was a leaf moving. The man said, ‘I don’t know what is +turning those windmills; there is not the slightest breeze blowing.’ So +he walked on with his servants, and when they had gone two miles they +saw a man sitting on a tree, holding one of his nostrils and blowing out +of the other. + +‘Fellow, what are you puffing at up there?’ asked the man. + +He replied, ‘Two miles from this place are standing seven windmills; +see, I am blowing to drive them round.’ + +‘Oh, go with me,’ said the man; ‘if we four are together we shall easily +travel through the wide world.’ + +So the blower got down and went with him, and after a time they saw a +man who was standing on one leg, and had unstrapped the other and +laid it near him. Then said the master, ‘You have made yourself very +comfortable to rest!’ + +‘I am a runner,’ answered he; ‘and so that I shall not go too quickly, +I have unstrapped one leg; when I run with two legs, I go faster than a +bird flies.’ + +‘Oh, go with me; if we five are together, we shall easily travel through +the wide world.’ So he went with him, and, not long afterwards, they met +a man who wore a little hat, but he had it slouched over one ear. + +‘Manners, manners!’ said the master to him; ‘don’t hang your hat over +one ear; you look like a madman!’ + +‘I dare not,’ said the other, ‘for if I were to put my hat on straight, +there would come such a frost that the very birds in the sky would +freeze and fall dead on the earth.’ + +‘Oh, go with me,’ said the master; ‘if we six are together, we shall +easily travel through the wide world. + +Now the Six came to a town in which the King had proclaimed that whoever +should run with his daughter in a race, and win, should become her +husband; but if he lost, he must lose his head. This was reported to +the man who declared he would compete, ‘but,’ he said, ‘I shall let my +servant run for me.’ + +The King replied, ‘Then both your heads must be staked, and your head +and his must be guaranteed for the winner.’ + +When this was agreed upon and settled, the man strapped on the runner’s +other leg, saying to him, ‘Now be nimble, and see that we win!’ It was +arranged that whoever should first bring water out of a stream a long +way off, should be the victor. Then the runner got a pitcher, and the +King’s daughter another, and they began to run at the same time; but in +a moment, when the King’s daughter was only just a little way off, +no spectator could see the runner, and it seemed as if the wind had +whistled past. In a short time he reached the stream, filled his +pitcher with water, and turned round again. But, half way home, a great +drowsiness came over him; he put down his pitcher, lay down, and fell +asleep. He had, however, put a horse’s skull which was lying on the +ground, for his pillow, so that he should not be too comfortable and +might soon wake up. + +In the meantime the King’s daughter, who could also run well, as well +as an ordinary man could, reached the stream, and hastened back with her +pitcher full of water. When she saw the runner lying there asleep, she +was delighted, and said, ‘My enemy is given into my hands!’ She emptied +his pitcher and ran on. + +Everything now would have been lost, if by good luck the hunter had not +been standing on the castle tower and had seen everything with his sharp +eyes. + +‘Ah,’ said he, ‘the King’s daughter shall not overreach us;’ and, +loading his gun, he shot so cleverly, that he shot away the horse’s +skull from under the runner’s head, without its hurting him. Then the +runner awoke, jumped up, and saw that his pitcher was empty and the +King’s daughter far ahead. But he did not lose courage, and ran back +to the stream with his pitcher, filled it once more with water, and was +home ten minutes before the King’s daughter arrived. + +‘Look,’ said he, ‘I have only just exercised my legs; that was nothing +of a run.’ + +But the King was angry, and his daughter even more so, that she should +be carried away by a common, discharged soldier. They consulted together +how they could destroy both him and his companions. + +‘Then,’ said the King to her, ‘I have found a way. Don’t be frightened; +they shall not come home again.’ He said to them, ‘You must now make +merry together, and eat and drink,’ and he led them into a room which +had a floor of iron; the doors were also of iron, and the windows were +barred with iron. In the room was a table spread with delicious food. +The King said to them, ‘Go in and enjoy yourselves,’ and as soon as +they were inside he had the doors shut and bolted. Then he made the cook +come, and ordered him to keep up a large fire under the room until the +iron was red-hot. The cook did so, and the Six sitting round the table +felt it grow very warm, and they thought this was because of their good +fare; but when the heat became still greater and they wanted to go out, +but found the doors and windows fastened, then they knew that the King +meant them harm and was trying to suffocate them. + +‘But he shall not succeed,’ cried he of the little hat, ‘I will make a +frost come which shall make the fire ashamed and die out!’ So he put his +hat on straight, and at once there came such a frost that all the heat +disappeared and the food on the dishes began to freeze. When a couple of +hours had passed, and the King thought they must be quite dead from the +heat, he had the doors opened and went in himself to see. + +But when the doors were opened, there stood all Six, alive and well, +saying they were glad they could come out to warm themselves, for the +great cold in the room had frozen all the food hard in the dishes. Then +the King went angrily to the cook, and scolded him, and asked him why he +had not done what he was told. + +But the cook answered, ‘There is heat enough there; see for yourself.’ +Then the King saw a huge fire burning under the iron room, and +understood that he could do no harm to the Six in this way. The King +now began again to think how he could free himself from his unwelcome +guests. He commanded the master to come before him, and said, ‘If you +will take gold, and give up your right to my daughter, you shall have as +much as you like.’ + +‘Oh, yes, your Majesty,’ answered he, ‘give me as much as my servant can +carry, and I will give up your daughter.’ + +The King was delighted, and the man said, ‘I will come and fetch it in +fourteen days.’ + +Then he called all the tailors in the kingdom together, and made them +sit down for fourteen days sewing at a sack. When it was finished, he +made the strong man who had uprooted the trees take the sack on his +shoulder and go with him to the King. Then the King said, ‘What a +powerful fellow that is, carrying that bale of linen as large as a house +on his shoulder!’ and he was much frightened, and thought ‘What a lot of +gold he will make away with!’ Then he had a ton of gold brought, which +sixteen of the strongest men had to carry; but the strong man seized it +with one hand, put it in the sack, saying, ‘Why don’t you bring me more? +That scarcely covers the bottom!’ Then the King had to send again and +again to fetch his treasures, which the strong man shoved into the sack, +and the sack was only half full. + +‘Bring more,’ he cried, ‘these crumbs don’t fill it.’ So seven thousand +waggons of the gold of the whole kingdom were driven up; these the +strong man shoved into the sack, oxen and all. + +‘I will no longer be particular,’ he said, ‘and will take what comes, so +that the sack shall be full.’ + +When everything was put in and there was not yet enough, he said, ‘I +will make an end of this; it is easy to fasten a sack when it is not +full.’ Then he threw it on his back and went with his companions. + +Now, when the King saw how a single man was carrying away the wealth +of the whole country he was very angry, and made his cavalry mount +and pursue the Six, and bring back the strong man with the sack. Two +regiments soon overtook them, and called to them, ‘You are prisoners! +lay down the sack of gold or you shall be cut down.’ + +‘What do you say?’ said the blower, ‘we are prisoners? Before that, you +shall dance in the air!’ And he held one nostril and blew with the other +at the two regiments; they were separated and blown away in the blue sky +over the mountains, one this way, and the other that. A sergeant-major +cried for mercy, saying he had nine wounds, and was a brave fellow, and +did not deserve this disgrace. So the blower let him off, and he came +down without hurt. Then he said to him, ‘Now go home to the King, and +say that if he sends any more cavalry I will blow them all into the +air.’ + +When the King received the message, he said, ‘Let the fellows go; they +are bewitched.’ Then the Six brought the treasure home, shared it among +themselves, and lived contentedly till the end of their days. + + + + + THE WIZARD KING(14) + +(14) From Les fees illustres. + +In very ancient times there lived a King, whose power lay not only in +the vast extent of his dominions, but also in the magic secrets of which +he was master. After spending the greater part of his early youth in +pleasure, he met a Princess of such remarkable beauty that he at once +asked her hand in marriage, and, having obtained it, considered himself +the happiest of men. + +After a year’s time a son was born, worthy in every way of such +distinguished parents, and much admired by the whole Court. As soon as +the Queen thought him strong enough for a journey she set out with him +secretly to visit her Fairy godmother. I said secretly, because the +Fairy had warned the Queen that the King was a magician; and as from +time immemorial there had been a standing feud between the Fairies and +the Wizards, he might not have approved of his wife’s visit. + +The Fairy godmother, who took the deepest interest in all the Queen’s +concerns, and who was much pleased with the little Prince, endowed him +with the power of pleasing everybody from his cradle, as well as with +a wonderful ease in learning everything which could help to make him +a perfectly accomplished Prince. Accordingly, to the delight of his +teachers, he made the most rapid progress in his education, constantly +surpassing everyone’s expectations. Before he was many years old, +however, he had the great sorrow of losing his mother, whose last words +were to advise him never to undertake anything of importance without +consulting the Fairy under whose protection she had placed him. + +The Prince’s grief at the death of his mother was great, but it +was nothing compared to that of the King, his father, who was quite +inconsolable for the loss of his dear wife. Neither time nor reason +seemed to lighten his sorrow, and the sight of all the familiar faces +and things about him only served to remind him of his loss. He therefore +resolved to travel for change, and by means of his magic art was able +to visit every country he came to see under different shapes, returning +every few weeks to the place where he had left a few followers. + +Having travelled from land to land in this fashion without finding +anything to rivet his attention, it occurred to him to take the form of +an eagle, and in this shape he flew across many countries and arrived +at length in a new and lovely spot, where the air seemed filled with the +scent of jessamine and orange flowers with which the ground was thickly +planted. Attracted by the sweet perfume he flew lower, and perceived +some large and beautiful gardens filled with the rarest flowers, and +with fountains throwing up their clear waters into the air in a hundred +different shapes. A wide stream flowed through the garden, and on it +floated richly ornamented barges and gondolas filled with people dressed +in the most elegant manner and covered with jewels. + +In one of these barges sat the Queen of that country with her only +daughter, a maiden more beautiful than the Day Star, and attended by +the ladies of the Court. No more exquisitely lovely mortal was ever seen +than this Princess, and it needed all an eagle’s strength of sight to +prevent the King being hopelessly dazzled. He perched on the top of a +large orange tree, whence he was able to survey the scene and to gaze at +pleasure on the Princess’s charms. + +Now, an eagle with a King’s heart in his breast is apt to be bold, +and accordingly he instantly made up his mind to carry off the lovely +damsel, feeling sure that having once seen her he could not live without +her. + +He waited till he saw her in the act of stepping ashore, when, suddenly +swooping down, he carried her off before her equerry in attendance had +advanced to offer her his hand. The Princess, on finding herself in an +eagle’s talons, uttered the most heart-breaking shrieks and cries; but +her captor, though touched by her distress, would not abandon his lovely +prey, and continued to fly through the air too fast to allow of his +saying anything to comfort her. + +At length, when he thought they had reached a safe distance, he began +to lower his flight, and gradually descending to earth, deposited +his burden in a flowery meadow. He then entreated her pardon for his +violence, and told her that he was about to carry her to a great kingdom +over which he ruled, and where he desired she should rule with him, +adding many tender and consoling expressions. + +For some time the Princess remained speechless; but recovering herself +a little, she burst into a flood of tears. The King, much moved, said, +‘Adorable Princess, dry your tears. I implore you. My only wish is to +make you the happiest person in the world.’ + +‘If you speak truth, my lord,’ replied the Princess, ‘restore to me the +liberty you have deprived me of. Otherwise I can only look on you as my +worst enemy.’ + +The King retorted that her opposition filled him with despair, but that +he hoped to carry her to a place where all around would respect her, and +where every pleasure would surround her. So saying, he seized her once +more, and in spite of all her cries he rapidly bore her off to the +neighbourhood of his capital. Here he gently placed her on a lawn, and +as he did so she saw a magnificent palace spring up at her feet. The +architecture was imposing, and in the interior the rooms were handsome +and furnished in the best possible taste. + +The Princess, who expected to be quite alone, was pleased at finding +herself surrounded by a number of pretty girls, all anxious to wait on +her, whilst a brilliantly-coloured parrot said the most agreeable things +in the world. + +On arriving at this palace the King had resumed his own form, and +though no longer young, he might well have pleased any other than this +Princess, who had been so prejudiced against him by his violence that +she could only regard him with feelings of hatred, which she was at +no pains to conceal. The King hoped, however, that time might not only +soften her anger, but accustom her to his sight. He took the precaution +of surrounding the palace with a dense cloud, and then hastened to his +Court, where his prolonged absence was causing much anxiety. + +The Prince and all the courtiers were delighted to see their beloved +King again, but they had to submit themselves to more frequent absences +than ever on his part. He made business a pretext for shutting himself +up in his study, but it was really in order to spend the time with the +Princess, who remained inflexible. + +Not being able to imagine what could be the cause of so much obstinacy +the King began to fear, lest, in spite of all his precautions, she might +have heard of the charms of the Prince his son, whose goodness, youth +and beauty, made him adored at Court. This idea made him horribly +uneasy, and he resolved to remove the cause of his fears by sending the +Prince on his travels escorted by a magnificent retinue. + +The Prince, after visiting several Courts, arrived at the one where the +lost Princess was still deeply mourned. The King and Queen received him +most graciously, and some festivities were revived to do him honour. + +One day when the Prince was visiting the Queen in her own apartments he +was much struck by a most beautiful portrait. He eagerly inquired whose +it was, and the Queen, with many tears, told him it was all that was +left her of her beloved daughter, who had suddenly been carried off, she +knew neither where nor how. + +The Prince was deeply moved, and vowed that he would search the world +for the Princess, and take no rest till he had found and restored her to +her mother’s arms. The Queen assured him of her eternal gratitude, +and promised, should he succeed, to give him her daughter in marriage, +together with all the estates she herself owned. + +The Prince, far more attracted by the thoughts of possessing the +Princess than her promised dower, set forth in his quest after taking +leave of the King and Queen, the latter giving him a miniature of her +daughter which she was in the habit of wearing. His first act was +to seek the Fairy under whose protection he had been placed, and he +implored her to give him all the assistance of her art and counsel in +this important matter. + +After listening attentively to the whole adventure, the Fairy asked +for time to consult her books. After due consideration she informed the +Prince that the object of his search was not far distant, but that it +was too difficult for him to attempt to enter the enchanted palace where +she was, as the King his father had surrounded it with a thick cloud, +and that the only expedient she could think of would be to gain +possession of the Princess’s parrot. This, she added, did not +appear impossible, as it often flew about to some distance in the +neighbourhood. + +Having told the Prince all this, the Fairy went out in hopes of seeing +the parrot, and soon returned with the bird in her hand. She promptly +shut it up in a cage, and, touching the Prince with her wand, +transformed him into an exactly similar parrot; after which, she +instructed him how to reach the Princess. + +The Prince reached the palace in safety, but was so dazzled at first by +the Princess’s beauty, which far surpassed his expectations, that he +was quite dumb for a time. The Princess was surprised and anxious, and +fearing the parrot, who was her greatest comfort, had fallen ill, she +took him in her hand and caressed him. This soon reassured the Prince, +and encouraged him to play his part well, and he began to say a thousand +agreeable things which charmed the Princess. + +Presently the King appeared, and the parrot noticed with joy how much +he was disliked. As soon as the King left, the Princess retired to her +dressing-room, the parrot flew after her and overheard her lamentations +at the continued persecutions of the King, who had pressed her to +consent to their marriage. The parrot said so many clever and tender +things to comfort her that she began to doubt whether this could indeed +be her own parrot. + +When he saw her well-disposed towards him, he exclaimed: ‘Madam, I +have a most important secret to confide to you, and I beg you not to be +alarmed by what I am about to say. I am here on behalf of the Queen your +mother, with the object of delivering your Highness; to prove which, +behold this portrait which she gave me herself.’ So saying he drew forth +the miniature from under his wing. The Princess’s surprise was great, +but after what she had seen and heard it was impossible not to indulge +in hope, for she had recognised the likeness of herself which her mother +always wore. + +The parrot, finding she was not much alarmed, told her who he was, all +that her mother had promised him and the help he had already received +from a Fairy who had assured him that she would give him means to +transport the Princess to her mother’s arms. + +When he found her listening attentively to him, he implored the Princess +to allow him to resume his natural shape. She did not speak, so he drew +a feather from his wing, and she beheld before her a Prince of such +surpassing beauty that it was impossible not to hope that she might owe +her liberty to so charming a person. + +Meantime the Fairy had prepared a chariot, to which she harnessed two +powerful eagles; then placing the cage, with the parrot in it, +she charged the bird to conduct it to the window of the Princess’s +dressing-room. This was done in a few minutes, and the Princess, +stepping into the chariot with the Prince, was delighted to find her +parrot again. + +As they rose through the air the Princess remarked a figure mounted on +an eagle’s back flying in front of the chariot. She was rather alarmed, +but the Prince reassured her, telling her it was the good Fairy to +whom she owed so much, and who was now conducting her in safety to her +mother. + +That same morning the King woke suddenly from a troubled sleep. He +had dreamt that the Princess was being carried off from him, and, +transforming himself into an eagle, he flew to the palace. When he +failed to find her he flew into a terrible rage, and hastened home to +consult his books, by which means he discovered that it was his son +who had deprived him of this precious treasure. Immediately he took the +shape of a harpy, and, filled with rage, was determined to devour his +son, and even the Princess too, if only he could overtake them. + +He set out at full speed; but he started too late, and was further +delayed by a strong wind which the Fairy raised behind the young couple +so as to baffle any pursuit. + +You may imagine the rapture with which the Queen received the daughter +she had given up for lost, as well as the amiable Prince who had rescued +her. The Fairy entered with them, and warned the Queen that the Wizard +King would shortly arrive, infuriated by his loss, and that nothing +could preserve the Prince and Princess from his rage and magic unless +they were actually married. + +The Queen hastened to inform the King her husband, and the wedding took +place on the spot. + +As the ceremony was completed the Wizard King arrived. His despair at +being so late bewildered him so entirely that he appeared in his natural +form and attempted to sprinkle some black liquid over the bride and +bridegroom, which was intended to kill them, but the Fairy stretched out +her wand and the liquid dropped on the Magician himself. He fell down +senseless, and the Princess’s father, deeply offended at the cruel +revenge which had been attempted, ordered him to be removed and locked +up in prison. + +Now as magicians lose all their power as soon as they are in prison, the +King felt himself much embarrassed at being thus at the mercy of +those he had so greatly offended. The Prince implored and obtained his +father’s pardon, and the prison doors were opened. + +No sooner was this done than the Wizard King was seen in the air under +the form of some unknown bird, exclaiming as he flew off that he would +never forgive either his son or the Fairy the cruel wrong they had done +him. + +Everyone entreated the Fairy to settle in the kingdom where she now was, +to which she consented. She built herself a magnificent palace, to which +she transported her books and fairy secrets, and where she enjoyed the +sight of the perfect happiness she had helped to bestow on the entire +royal family. + + + + + THE NIXY(15) + +(15) From the German. Kletke. + +There was once upon a time a miller who was very well off, and had as +much money and as many goods as he knew what to do with. But sorrow +comes in the night, and the miller all of a sudden became so poor +that at last he could hardly call the mill in which he sat his own. He +wandered about all day full of despair and misery, and when he lay down +at night he could get no rest, but lay awake all night sunk in sorrowful +thoughts. + +One morning he rose up before dawn and went outside, for he thought his +heart would be lighter in the open air. As he wandered up and down on +the banks of the mill-pond he heard a rustling in the water, and when he +looked near he saw a white woman rising up from the waves. + +He realised at once that this could be none other than the nixy of the +mill-pond, and in his terror he didn’t know if he should fly away or +remain where he was. While he hesitated the nixy spoke, called him by +his name, and asked him why he was so sad. + +When the miller heard how friendly her tone was, he plucked up heart and +told her how rich and prosperous he had been all his life up till now, +when he didn’t know what he was to do for want and misery. + +Then the nixy spoke comforting words to him, and promised that she would +make him richer and more prosperous than he had ever been in his life +before, if he would give her in return the youngest thing in his house. + +The miller thought she must mean one of his puppies or kittens, so +promised the nixy at once what she asked, and returned to his mill full +of hope. On the threshold he was greeted by a servant with the news that +his wife had just given birth to a boy. + +The poor miller was much horrified by these tidings, and went in to +his wife with a heavy heart to tell her and his relations of the fatal +bargain he had just struck with the nixy. ‘I would gladly give up all +the good fortune she promised me,’ he said, ‘if I could only save my +child.’ But no one could think of any advice to give him, beyond taking +care that the child never went near the mill-pond. + +So the boy throve and grew big, and in the meantime all prospered with +the miller, and in a few years he was richer than he had ever been +before. But all the same he did not enjoy his good fortune, for he could +not forget his compact with the nixy, and he knew that sooner or later +she would demand his fulfilment of it. But year after year went by, and +the boy grew up and became a great hunter, and the lord of the land took +him into his service, for he was as smart and bold a hunter as you would +wish to see. In a short time he married a pretty young wife, and lived +with her in great peace and happiness. + +One day when he was out hunting a hare sprang up at his feet, and ran +for some way in front of him in the open field. The hunter pursued it +hotly for some time, and at last shot it dead. Then he proceeded to +skin it, never noticing that he was close to the mill-pond, which from +childhood up he had been taught to avoid. He soon finished the skinning, +and went to the water to wash the blood off his hands. He had hardly +dipped them in the pond when the nixy rose up in the water, and seizing +him in her wet arms she dragged him down with her under the waves. + +When the hunter did not come home in the evening his wife grew very +anxious, and when his game bag was found close to the mill-pond she +guessed at once what had befallen him. She was nearly beside herself +with grief, and roamed round and round the pond calling on her husband +without ceasing. At last, worn out with sorrow and fatigue, she fell +asleep and dreamt that she was wandering along a flowery meadow, when +she came to a hut where she found an old witch, who promised to restore +her husband to her. + +When she awoke next morning she determined to set out and find the +witch; so she wandered on for many a day, and at last she reached the +flowery meadow and found the hut where the old witch lived. The poor +wife told her all that had happened and how she had been told in a dream +of the witch’s power to help her. + +The witch counselled her to go to the pond the first time there was a +full moon, and to comb her black hair with a golden comb, and then to +place the comb on the bank. The hunter’s wife gave the witch a handsome +present, thanked her heartily, and returned home. + +Time dragged heavily till the time of the full moon, but it passed at +last, and as soon as it rose the young wife went to the pond, combed +her black hair with a golden comb, and when she had finished, placed the +comb on the bank; then she watched the water impatiently. Soon she heard +a rushing sound, and a big wave rose suddenly and swept the comb off the +bank, and a minute after the head of her husband rose from the pond and +gazed sadly at her. But immediately another wave came, and the head sank +back into the water without having said a word. The pond lay still and +motionless, glittering in the moonshine, and the hunter’s wife was not a +bit better off than she had been before. + +In despair she wandered about for days and nights, and at last, worn out +by fatigue, she sank once more into a deep sleep, and dreamt exactly the +same dream about the old witch. So next morning she went again to the +flowery meadow and sought the witch in her hut, and told her of her +grief. The old woman counselled her to go to the mill-pond the next +full moon and play upon a golden flute, and then to lay the flute on the +bank. + +As soon as the next moon was full the hunter’s wife went to the +mill-pond, played on a golden flute, and when she had finished placed it +on the bank. Then a rushing sound was heard, and a wave swept the flute +off the bank, and soon the head of the hunter appeared and rose up +higher and higher till he was half out of the water. Then he gazed sadly +at his wife and stretched out his arms towards her. But another rushing +wave arose and dragged him under once more. The hunter’s wife, who had +stood on the bank full of joy and hope, sank into despair when she saw +her husband snatched away again before her eyes. + +But for her comfort she dreamt the same dream a third time, and betook +herself once more to the old witch’s hut in the flowery meadow. This +time the old woman told her to go the next full moon to the mill-pond, +and to spin there with a golden spinning-wheel, and then to leave the +spinning-wheel on the bank. + +The hunter’s wife did as she was advised, and the first night the moon +was full she sat and spun with a golden spinning-wheel, and then left +the wheel on the bank. In a few minutes a rushing sound was heard in the +waters, and a wave swept the spinning-wheel from the bank. Immediately +the head of the hunter rose up from the pond, getting higher and higher +each moment, till at length he stepped on to the bank and fell on his +wife’s neck. + +But the waters of the pond rose up suddenly, overflowed the bank where +the couple stood, and dragged them under the flood. In her despair the +young wife called on the old witch to help her, and in a moment the +hunter was turned into a frog and his wife into a toad. But they were +not able to remain together, for the water tore them apart, and when the +flood was over they both resumed their own shapes again, but the hunter +and the hunter’s wife found themselves each in a strange country, and +neither knew what had become of the other. + +The hunter determined to become a shepherd, and his wife too became a +shepherdess. So they herded their sheep for many years in solitude and +sadness. + +Now it happened once that the shepherd came to the country where the +shepherdess lived. The neighbourhood pleased him, and he saw that the +pasture was rich and suitable for his flocks. So he brought his sheep +there, and herded them as before. The shepherd and shepherdess became +great friends, but they did not recognise each other in the least. + +But one evening when the moon was full they sat together watching their +flocks, and the shepherd played upon his flute. Then the shepherdess +thought of that evening when she had sat at the full moon by the +mill-pond and had played on the golden flute; the recollection was too +much for her, and she burst into tears. The shepherd asked her why she +was crying, and left her no peace till she told him all her story. Then +the scales fell from the shepherd’s eyes, and he recognised his wife, +and she him. So they returned joyfully to their own home, and lived in +peace and happiness ever after. + + + + +THE GLASS MOUNTAIN(16) + +(16) From the Polish. Kletke. + +Once upon a time there was a Glass Mountain at the top of which stood +a castle made of pure gold, and in front of the castle there grew an +apple-tree on which there were golden apples. + +Anyone who picked an apple gained admittance into the golden castle, and +there in a silver room sat an enchanted Princess of surpassing fairness +and beauty. She was as rich too as she was beautiful, for the cellars of +the castle were full of precious stones, and great chests of the finest +gold stood round the walls of all the rooms. + +Many knights had come from afar to try their luck, but it was in vain +they attempted to climb the mountain. In spite of having their horses +shod with sharp nails, no one managed to get more than half-way up, and +then they all fell back right down to the bottom of the steep slippery +hill. Sometimes they broke an arm, sometimes a leg, and many a brave man +had broken his neck even. + +The beautiful Princess sat at her window and watched the bold knights +trying to reach her on their splendid horses. The sight of her always +gave men fresh courage, and they flocked from the four quarters of the +globe to attempt the work of rescuing her. But all in vain, and for +seven years the Princess had sat now and waited for some one to scale +the Glass Mountain. + +A heap of corpses both of riders and horses lay round the mountain, and +many dying men lay groaning there unable to go any farther with their +wounded limbs. The whole neighbourhood had the appearance of a vast +churchyard. In three more days the seven years would be at an end, +when a knight in golden armour and mounted on a spirited steed was seen +making his way towards the fatal hill. + +Sticking his spurs into his horse he made a rush at the mountain, and +got up half-way, then he calmly turned his horse’s head and came down +again without a slip or stumble. The following day he started in the +same way; the horse trod on the glass as if it had been level earth, +and sparks of fire flew from its hoofs. All the other knights gazed in +astonishment, for he had almost gained the summit, and in another moment +he would have reached the apple-tree; but of a sudden a huge eagle rose +up and spread its mighty wings, hitting as it did so the knight’s horse +in the eye. + +The beast shied, opened its wide nostrils and tossed its mane, then +rearing high up in the air, its hind feet slipped and it fell with its +rider down the steep mountain side. Nothing was left of either of them +except their bones, which rattled in the battered golden armour like dry +peas in a pod. + +And now there was only one more day before the close of the seven years. +Then there arrived on the scene a mere schoolboy--a merry, happy-hearted +youth, but at the same time strong and well-grown. He saw how many +knights had broken their necks in vain, but undaunted he approached the +steep mountain on foot and began the ascent. + +For long he had heard his parents speak of the beautiful Princess who +sat in the golden castle at the top of the Glass Mountain. He listened +to all he heard, and determined that he too would try his luck. But +first he went to the forest and caught a lynx, and cutting off the +creature’s sharp claws, he fastened them on to his own hands and feet. + +Armed with these weapons he boldly started up the Glass Mountain. + +The sun was nearly going down, and the youth had not got more than +half-way up. He could hardly draw breath he was so worn out, and his +mouth was parched by thirst. A huge black cloud passed over his head, +but in vain did he beg and beseech her to let a drop of water fall on +him. He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as +much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips. + +His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his +hands. Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he could +behold the top of the mountain. Then he gazed beneath him, and what a +sight met his eyes! A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at +the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders! And +this had been the end of all the other brave men who like himself had +attempted the ascent. + +It was almost pitch dark now, and only the stars lit up the Glass +Mountain. The poor boy still clung on as if glued to the glass by his +blood-stained hands. He made no struggle to get higher, for all his +strength had left him, and seeing no hope he calmly awaited death. +Then all of a sudden he fell into a deep sleep, and forgetful of his +dangerous position, he slumbered sweetly. But all the same, although he +slept, he had stuck his sharp claws so firmly into the glass that he was +quite safe not to fall. + +Now the golden apple-tree was guarded by the eagle which had overthrown +the golden knight and his horse. Every night it flew round the Glass +Mountain keeping a careful look-out, and no sooner had the moon emerged +from the clouds than the bird rose up from the apple-tree, and circling +round in the air, caught sight of the sleeping youth. + +Greedy for carrion, and sure that this must be a fresh corpse, the bird +swooped down upon the boy. But he was awake now, and perceiving the +eagle, he determined by its help to save himself. + +The eagle dug its sharp claws into the tender flesh of the youth, but he +bore the pain without a sound, and seized the bird’s two feet with his +hands. The creature in terror lifted him high up into the air and began +to circle round the tower of the castle. The youth held on bravely. He +saw the glittering palace, which by the pale rays of the moon looked +like a dim lamp; and he saw the high windows, and round one of them a +balcony in which the beautiful Princess sat lost in sad thoughts. Then +the boy saw that he was close to the apple-tree, and drawing a small +knife from his belt, he cut off both the eagle’s feet. The bird rose up +in the air in its agony and vanished into the clouds, and the youth fell +on to the broad branches of the apple-tree. + +Then he drew out the claws of the eagle’s feet that had remained in his +flesh, and put the peel of one of the golden apples on the wound, and +in one moment it was healed and well again. He pulled several of the +beautiful apples and put them in his pocket; then he entered the castle. +The door was guarded by a great dragon, but as soon as he threw an apple +at it, the beast vanished. + +At the same moment a gate opened, and the youth perceived a courtyard +full of flowers and beautiful trees, and on a balcony sat the lovely +enchanted Princess with her retinue. + +As soon as she saw the youth, she ran towards him and greeted him as her +husband and master. She gave him all her treasures, and the youth became +a rich and mighty ruler. But he never returned to the earth, for only +the mighty eagle, who had been the guardian of the Princess and of the +castle, could have carried on his wings the enormous treasure down to +the world. But as the eagle had lost its feet it died, and its body was +found in a wood on the Glass Mountain. + +. . . . . . . + +One day when the youth was strolling about in the palace garden with the +Princess, his wife, he looked down over the edge of the Glass Mountain +and saw to his astonishment a great number of people gathered there. He +blew his silver whistle, and the swallow who acted as messenger in the +golden castle flew past. + +‘Fly down and ask what the matter is,’ he said to the little bird, who +sped off like lightning and soon returned saying: + +‘The blood of the eagle has restored all the people below to life. All +those who have perished on this mountain are awakening up to-day, as +it were from a sleep, and are mounting their horses, and the whole +population are gazing on this unheard-of wonder with joy and amazement.’ + + + + + ALPHEGE, OR THE GREEN MONKEY + +Many years ago there lived a King, who was twice married. His first +wife, a good and beautiful woman, died at the birth of her little son, +and the King her husband was so overwhelmed with grief at her loss that +his only comfort was in the sight of his heir. + +When the time for the young Prince’s christening came the King chose +as godmother a neighbouring Princess, so celebrated for her wisdom and +goodness that she was commonly called ‘the Good Queen.’ She named the +baby Alphege, and from that moment took him to her heart. + +Time wipes away the greatest griefs, and after two or three years the +King married again. His second wife was a Princess of undeniable beauty, +but by no means of so amiable a disposition as the first Queen. In due +time a second Prince was born, and the Queen was devoured with rage at +the thought that Prince Alphege came between her son and the throne. She +took care however to conceal her jealous feelings from the King. + +At length she could control herself no longer, so she sent a trusty +servant to her old and faithful friend the Fairy of the Mountain, to beg +her to devise some means by which she might get rid of her stepson. + +The Fairy replied that, much as she desired to be agreeable to the Queen +in every way, it was impossible for her to attempt anything against the +young Prince, who was under the protection of some greater Power than +her own. + +The ‘Good Queen’ on her side watched carefully over her godson. She was +obliged to do so from a distance, her own country being a remote one, +but she was well informed of all that went on and knew all about the +Queen’s wicked designs. She therefore sent the Prince a large and +splendid ruby, with injunctions to wear it night and day as it would +protect him from all attacks, but added that the talisman only retained +its power as long as the Prince remained within his father’s dominions. +The Wicked Queen knowing this made every attempt to get the Prince out +of the country, but her efforts failed, till one day accident did what +she was unable to accomplish. + +The King had an only sister who was deeply attached to him, and who was +married to the sovereign of a distant country. She had always kept up +a close correspondence with her brother, and the accounts she heard of +Prince Alphege made her long to become acquainted with so charming a +nephew. She entreated the King to allow the Prince to visit her, and +after some hesitation which was overruled by his wife, he finally +consented. + +Prince Alphege was at this time fourteen years old, and the handsomest +and most engaging youth imaginable. In his infancy he had been placed +in the charge of one of the great ladies of the Court, who, according +to the prevailing custom, acted first as his head nurse and then as his +governess. When he outgrew her care her husband was appointed as his +tutor and governor, so that he had never been separated from this +excellent couple, who loved him as tenderly as they did their only +daughter Zayda, and were warmly loved by him in return. + +When the Prince set forth on his travels it was but natural that this +devoted couple should accompany him, and accordingly he started with +them and attended by a numerous retinue. + +For some time he travelled through his father’s dominions and all went +well; but soon after passing the frontier they had to cross a desert +plain under a burning sun. They were glad to take shelter under a group +of trees near, and here the Prince complained of burning thirst. Luckily +a tiny stream ran close by and some water was soon procured, but no +sooner had he tasted it than he sprang from his carriage and disappeared +in a moment. In vain did his anxious followers seek for him, he was +nowhere to be found. + +As they were hunting and shouting through the trees a black monkey +suddenly appeared on a point of rock and said: ‘Poor sorrowing people, +you are seeking your Prince in vain. Return to your own country and know +that he will not be restored to you till you have for some time failed +to recognise him.’ + +With these words he vanished, leaving the courtiers sadly perplexed; but +as all their efforts to find the Prince were useless they had no choice +but to go home, bringing with them the sad news, which so greatly +distressed the King that he fell ill and died not long after. + +The Queen, whose ambition was boundless, was delighted to see the crown +on her son’s head and to have the power in her own hands. Her hard rule +made her very unpopular, and it was commonly believed that she had +made away with Prince Alphege. Indeed, had the King her son not been +deservedly beloved a revolution would certainly have arisen. + +Meantime the former governess of the unfortunate Alphege, who had lost +her husband soon after the King’s death, retired to her own house with +her daughter, who grew up a lovely and most loveable girl, and both +continued to mourn the loss of their dear Prince. + +The young King was devoted to hunting, and often indulged in his +favourite pastime, attended by the noblest youths in his kingdom. + +One day, after a long morning’s chase he stopped to rest near a brook in +the shade of a little wood, where a splendid tent had been prepared +for him. Whilst at luncheon he suddenly spied a little monkey of the +brightest green sitting on a tree and gazing so tenderly at him that +he felt quite moved. He forbade his courtiers to frighten it, and the +monkey, noticing how much attention was being paid him, sprang from +bough to bough, and at length gradually approached the King, who offered +him some food. The monkey took it very daintily and finally came to the +table. The King took him on his knees, and, delighted with his capture, +brought him home with him. He would trust no one else with its care, and +the whole Court soon talked of nothing but the pretty green monkey. + +One morning, as Prince Alphege’s governess and her daughter were alone +together, the little monkey sprang in through an open window. He had +escaped from the palace, and his manners were so gentle and caressing +that Zayda and her mother soon got over the first fright he had given +them. He had spent some time with them and quite won their hearts by +his insinuating ways, when the King discovered where he was and sent to +fetch him back. But the monkey made such piteous cries, and seemed so +unhappy when anyone attempted to catch him, that the two ladies begged +the King to leave him a little longer with them, to which he consented. + +One evening, as they sat by the fountain in the garden, the little +monkey kept gazing at Zayda with such sad and loving eyes that she and +her mother could not think what to make of it, and they were still more +surprised when they saw big tears rolling down his cheeks. + +Next day both mother and daughter were sitting in a jessamine bower in +the garden, and they began to talk of the green monkey and his strange +ways. The mother said, ‘My dear child, I can no longer hide my feelings +from you. I cannot get the thought out of my mind that the green monkey +is no other than our beloved Prince Alphege, transformed in this strange +fashion. I know the idea sounds wild, but I cannot get it out of my +heart, and it leaves me no peace.’ + +As she spoke she glanced up, and there sat the little monkey, whose +tears and gestures seemed to confirm her words. + +The following night the elder lady dreamt that she saw the Good Queen, +who said, ‘Do not weep any longer but follow my directions. Go into +your garden and lift up the little marble slab at the foot of the great +myrtle tree. You will find beneath it a crystal vase filled with a +bright green liquid. Take it with you and place the thing which is at +present most in your thoughts into a bath filled with roses and rub it +well with the green liquid.’ + +At these words the sleeper awoke, and lost no time in rising and +hurrying to the garden, where she found all as the Good Queen had +described. Then she hastened to rouse her daughter and together they +prepared the bath, for they would not let their women know what they +were about. Zayda gathered quantities of roses, and when all was ready +they put the monkey into a large jasper bath, where the mother rubbed +him all over with the green liquid. + +Their suspense was not long, for suddenly the monkey skin dropped off, +and there stood Prince Alphege, the handsomest and most charming of +men. The joy of such a meeting was beyond words. After a time the ladies +begged the Prince to relate his adventures, and he told them of all his +sufferings in the desert when he was first transformed. His only comfort +had been in visits from the Good Queen, who had at length put him in the +way of meeting his brother. + +Several days were spent in these interesting conversations, but at +length Zayda’s mother began to think of the best means for placing the +Prince on the throne, which was his by right. + +The Queen on her side was feeling very anxious. She had felt sure from +the first that her son’s pet monkey was no other than Prince Alphege, +and she longed to put an end to him. Her suspicions were confirmed by +the Fairy of the Mountain, and she hastened in tears to the King, her +son. + +‘I am informed,’ she cried, ‘that some ill-disposed people have raised +up an impostor in the hopes of dethroning you. You must at once have him +put to death.’ + +The King, who was very brave, assured the Queen that he would soon +punish the conspirators. He made careful inquiries into the matter, and +thought it hardly probable that a quiet widow and a young girl would +think of attempting anything of the nature of a revolution. + +He determined to go and see them, and to find out the truth for himself; +so one night, without saying anything to the Queen or his ministers, he +set out for the palace where the two ladies lived, attended only by a +small band of followers. + +The two ladies were at the moment deep in conversation with Prince +Alphege, and hearing a knocking so late at night begged him to keep out +of sight for a time. What was their surprise when the door was opened to +see the King and his suite. + +‘I know,’ said the King, ‘that you are plotting against my crown and +person, and I have come to have an explanation with you.’ + +As she was about to answer Prince Alphege, who had heard all, came +forward and said, ‘It is from me you must ask an explanation, brother.’ +He spoke with such grace and dignity that everyone gazed at him with +mute surprise. + +At length the King, recovering from his astonishment at recognising the +brother who had been lost some years before, exclaimed, ‘Yes, you are +indeed my brother, and now that I have found you, take the throne to +which I have no longer a right.’ So saying, he respectfully kissed the +Prince’s hand. + +Alphege threw himself into his arms, and the brothers hastened to the +royal palace, where in the presence of the entire court he received +the crown from his brother’s hand. To clear away any possible doubt, he +showed the ruby which the Good Queen had given him in his childhood. As +they were gazing at it, it suddenly split with a loud noise, and at the +same moment the Wicked Queen expired. + +King Alphege lost no time in marrying his dear and lovely Zayda, and +his joy was complete when the Good Queen appeared at his wedding. She +assured him that the Fairy of the Mountain had henceforth lost all +power over him, and after spending some time with the young couple, +and bestowing the most costly presents on them, she retired to her own +country. + +King Alphege insisted on his brother sharing his throne, and they all +lived to a good old age, universally beloved and admired. + + + + + FAIRER-THAN-A-FAIRY + +Once there lived a King who had no children for many years after his +marriage. At length heaven granted him a daughter of such remarkable +beauty that he could think of no name so appropriate for her as +‘Fairer-than-a-Fairy.’ + +It never occurred to the good-natured monarch that such a name was +certain to call down the hatred and jealousy of the fairies in a body on +the child, but this was what happened. No sooner had they heard of this +presumptuous name than they resolved to gain possession of her who bore +it, and either to torment her cruelly, or at least to conceal her from +the eyes of all men. + +The eldest of their tribe was entrusted to carry out their revenge. This +Fairy was named Lagree; she was so old that she only had one eye and one +tooth left, and even these poor remains she had to keep all night in a +strengthening liquid. She was also so spiteful that she gladly devoted +all her time to carrying out all the mean or ill-natured tricks of the +whole body of fairies. + +With her large experience, added to her native spite, she found but +little difficulty in carrying off Fairer-than-a-Fairy. The poor child, +who was only seven years old, nearly died of fear on finding herself +in the power of this hideous creature. However, when after an hour’s +journey underground she found herself in a splendid palace with lovely +gardens, she felt a little reassured, and was further cheered when she +discovered that her pet cat and dog had followed her. + +The old Fairy led her to a pretty room which she said should be hers, at +the same time giving her the strictest orders never to let out the fire +which was burning brightly in the grate. She then gave two glass bottles +into the Princess’s charge, desiring her to take the greatest care of +them, and having enforced her orders with the most awful threats in case +of disobedience, she vanished, leaving the little girl at liberty to +explore the palace and grounds and a good deal relieved at having only +two apparently easy tasks set her. + +Several years passed, during which time the Princess grew accustomed to +her lonely life, obeyed the Fairy’s orders, and by degrees forgot all +about the court of the King her father. + +One day, whilst passing near a fountain in the garden, she noticed +that the sun’s rays fell on the water in such a manner as to produce +a brilliant rainbow. She stood still to admire it, when, to her great +surprise, she heard a voice addressing her which seemed to come from the +centre of its rays. The voice was that of a young man, and its sweetness +of tone and the agreeable things it uttered, led one to infer that its +owner must be equally charming; but this had to be a mere matter of +fancy, for no one was visible. + +The beautiful Rainbow informed Fairer-than-a-Fairy that he was young, +the son of a powerful king, and that the Fairy, Lagree, who owed his +parents a grudge, had revenged herself by depriving him of his natural +shape for some years; that she had imprisoned him in the palace, where +he had found his confinement hard to bear for some time, but now, he +owned, he no longer sighed for freedom since he had seen and learned to +love Fairer-than-a-Fairy. + +He added many other tender speeches to this declaration, and the +Princess, to whom such remarks were a new experience, could not help +feeling pleased and touched by his attentions. + +The Prince could only appear or speak under the form of a Rainbow, and +it was therefore necessary that the sun should shine on water so as to +enable the rays to form themselves. + +Fairer-than-a-Fairy lost no moment in which she could meet her lover, +and they enjoyed many long and interesting interviews. One day, however, +their conversation became so absorbing and time passed so quickly that +the Princess forgot to attend to the fire, and it went out. Lagree, on +her return, soon found out the neglect, and seemed only too pleased to +have the opportunity of showing her spite to her lovely prisoner. She +ordered Fairer-than-a-Fairy to start next day at dawn to ask Locrinos +for fire with which to relight the one she had allowed to go out. + +Now this Locrinos was a cruel monster who devoured everyone he came +across, and especially enjoyed a chance of catching and eating any young +girls. Our heroine obeyed with great sweetness, and without having been +able to take leave of her lover she set off to go to Locrinos as to +certain death. As she was crossing a wood a bird sang to her to pick up +a shining pebble which she would find in a fountain close by, and to use +it when needed. She took the bird’s advice, and in due time arrived at +the house of Locrinos. Luckily she only found his wife at home, who was +much struck by the Princess’s youth and beauty and sweet gentle manners, +and still further impressed by the present of the shining pebble. + +She readily let Fairer-than-a-Fairy have the fire, and in return for +the stone she gave her another, which, she said, might prove useful some +day. Then she sent her away without doing her any harm. + +Lagree was as much surprised as displeased at the happy result of this +expedition, and Fairer-than-a Fairy waited anxiously for an opportunity +of meeting Prince Rainbow and telling him her adventures. She found, +however, that he had already been told all about them by a Fairy who +protected him, and to whom he was related. + +The dread of fresh dangers to his beloved Princess made him devise +some more convenient way of meeting than by the garden fountain, and +Fairer-than-a-Fairy carried out his plan daily with entire success. +Every morning she placed a large basin full of water on her window-sill, +and as soon as the sun’s rays fell on the water the Rainbow appeared +as clearly as it had ever done in the fountain. By this means they were +able to meet without losing sight of the fire or of the two bottles in +which the old Fairy kept her eye and her tooth at night, and for some +time the lovers enjoyed every hour of sunshine together. + +One day Prince Rainbow appeared in the depths of woe. He had just heard +that he was to be banished from this lovely spot, but he had no idea +where he was to go. The poor young couple were in despair, and only +parted with the last ray of sunshine, and in hopes of meeting next +morning. Alas! next day was dark and gloomy, and it was only late in the +afternoon that the sun broke through the clouds for a few minutes. + +Fairer-than-a-Fairy eagerly ran to the window, but in her haste she +upset the basin, and spilt all the water with which she had carefully +filled it overnight. No other water was at hand except that in the two +bottles. It was the only chance of seeing her lover before they were +separated, and she did not hesitate to break the bottle and pour their +contents into the basin, when the Rainbow appeared at once. Their +farewells were full of tenderness; the Prince made the most ardent and +sincere protestations, and promised to neglect nothing which might help +to deliver his dear Fairer-than-a-Fairy from her captivity, and implored +her to consent to their marriage as soon as they should both be free. +The Princess, on her side, vowed to have no other husband, and declared +herself willing to brave death itself in order to rejoin him. + +They were not allowed much time for their adieus; the Rainbow vanished, +and the Princess, resolved to run all risks, started off at once, taking +nothing with her but her dog, her cat, a sprig of myrtle, and the stone +which the wife of Locrinos gave her. + +When Lagree became aware of her prisoner’s flight she was furious, and +set off at full speed in pursuit. She overtook her just as the poor +girl, overcome by fatigue, had lain down to rest in a cave which the +stone had formed itself into to shelter her. The little dog who was +watching her mistress promptly flew at Lagree and bit her so severely +that she stumbled against a corner of the cave and broke off her only +tooth. Before she had recovered from the pain and rage this caused her, +the Princess had time to escape, and was some way on her road. Fear gave +her strength for some time, but at last she could go no further, and +sank down to rest. As she did so, the sprig of myrtle she carried +touched the ground, and immediately a green and shady bower sprang up +round her, in which she hoped to sleep in peace. + +But Lagree had not given up her pursuit, and arrived just as +Fairer-than-a-Fairy had fallen fast asleep. This time she made sure of +catching her victim, but the cat spied her out, and, springing from one +of the boughs of the arbour she flew at Lagree’s face and tore out her +only eye, thus delivering the Princess for ever from her persecutor. + +One might have thought that all would now be well, but no sooner had +Lagree been put to fight than our heroine was overwhelmed with hunger +and thirst. She felt as though she should certainly expire, and it was +with some difficulty that she dragged herself as far as a pretty little +green and white house, which stood at no great distance. Here she was +received by a beautiful lady dressed in green and white to match the +house, which apparently belonged to her, and of which she seemed the +only inhabitant. + +She greeted the fainting Princess most kindly, gave her an excellent +supper, and after a long night’s rest in a delightful bed told her that +after many troubles she should finally attain her desire. + +As the green and white lady took leave of the Princess she gave her a +nut, desiring her only to open it in the most urgent need. + +After a long and tiring journey Fairer-than-a-Fairy was once more +received in a house, and by a lady exactly like the one she had quitted. +Here again she received a present with the same injunctions, but instead +of a nut this lady gave her a golden pomegranate. The mournful Princess +had to continue her weary way, and after many troubles and hardships she +again found rest and shelter in a third house exactly similar to the two +others. + +These houses belonged to three sisters, all endowed with fairy gifts, +and all so alike in mind and person that they wished their houses and +garments to be equally alike. Their occupation consisted in helping +those in misfortune, and they were as gentle and benevolent as Lagree +had been cruel and spiteful. + +The third Fairy comforted the poor traveller, begged her not to lose +heart, and assured her that her troubles should be rewarded. + +She accompanied her advice by the gift of a crystal smelling-bottle, +with strict orders only to open it in case of urgent need. +Fairer-than-a-Fairy thanked her warmly, and resumed her way cheered by +pleasant thoughts. + +After a time her road led through a wood, full of soft airs and sweet +odours, and before she had gone a hundred yards she saw a wonderful +silver Castle suspended by strong silver chains to four of the +largest trees. It was so perfectly hung that a gentle breeze rocked it +sufficiently to send you pleasantly to sleep. + +Fairer-than-a-Fairy felt a strong desire to enter this Castle, but +besides being hung a little above the ground there seemed to be neither +doors nor windows. She had no doubt (though really I cannot think why) +that the moment had come in which to use the nut which had been given +her. She opened it, and out came a diminutive hall porter at whose belt +hung a tiny chain, at the end of which was a golden key half as long as +the smallest pin you ever saw. + +The Princess climbed up one of the silver chains, holding in her hand +the little porter who, in spite of his minute size, opened a secret door +with his golden key and let her in. She entered a magnificent room which +appeared to occupy the entire Castle, and which was lighted by gold and +jewelled stars in the ceiling. In the midst of this room stood a couch, +draped with curtains of all the colours of the rainbow, and suspended by +golden cords so that it swayed with the Castle in a manner which rocked +its occupant delightfully to sleep. + +On this elegant couch lay Prince Rainbow, looking more beautiful than +ever, and sunk in profound slumber, in which he had been held ever since +his disappearance. + +Fairy-than-a-Fairy, who now saw him for the first time in his real +shape, hardly dared to gaze at him, fearing lest his appearance might +not be in keeping with the voice and language which had won her heart. +At the same time she could not help feeling rather hurt at the apparent +indifference with which she was received. + +She related all the dangers and difficulties she had gone through, and +though she repeated the story twenty times in a loud clear voice, the +Prince slept on and took no heed. She then had recourse to the golden +pomegranate, and on opening it found that all the seeds were as many +little violins which flew up in the vaulted roof and at once began +playing melodiously. + +The Prince was not completely roused, but he opened his eyes a little +and looked all the handsomer. + +Impatient at not being recognised, Fairer-than-a-Fairy now drew out her +third present, and on opening the crystal scent-bottle a little syren +flew out, who silenced the violins and then sang close to the Prince’s +ear the story of all his lady love had suffered in her search for him. +She added some gentle reproaches to her tale, but before she had got +far he was wide awake, and transported with joy threw himself at the +Princess’s feet. At the same moment the walls of the room expanded and +opened out, revealing a golden throne covered with jewels. A magnificent +Court now began to assemble, and at the same time several elegant +carriages filled with ladies in magnificent dresses drove up. In the +first and most splendid of these carriages sat Prince Rainbow’s mother. +She fondly embraced her son, after which she informed him that his +father had been dead for some years, that the anger of the Fairies was +at length appeased, and that he might return in peace to reign over his +people, who were longing for his presence. + +The Court received the new King with joyful acclamations which would +have delighted him at any other time, but all his thoughts were full of +Fairer-than-a-Fairy. He was just about to present her to his mother and +the Court, feeling sure that her charms would win all hearts, when the +three green and white sisters appeared. + +They declared the secret of Fairy-than-a-Fairy’s royal birth, and the +Queen taking the two lovers in her carriage set off with them for the +capital of the kingdom. + +Here they were received with tumultuous joy. The wedding was celebrated +without delay, and succeeding years diminished neither the virtues, +beauty, nor the mutual affection of King Rainbow and his Queen, +Fairer-than-a-Fairy. + + + + + THE THREE BROTHERS(17) + +(17) From the Polish. Kletke. + +There was once upon a time a witch, who in the shape of a hawk used +every night to break the windows of a certain village church. In the +same village there lived three brothers, who were all determined to kill +the mischievous hawk. But in vain did the two eldest mount guard in the +church with their guns; as soon as the bird appeared high above their +heads, sleep overpowered them, and they only awoke to hear the windows +crashing in. + +Then the youngest brother took his turn of guarding the windows, and to +prevent his being overcome by sleep he placed a lot of thorns under his +chin, so that if he felt drowsy and nodded his head, they would prick +him and keep him awake. + +The moon was already risen, and it was as light as day, when suddenly he +heard a fearful noise, and at the same time a terrible desire to sleep +overpowered him. + +His eyelids closed, and his head sank on his shoulders, but the thorns +ran into him and were so painful that he awoke at once. He saw the hawk +swooping down upon the church, and in a moment he had seized his gun +and shot at the bird. The hawk fell heavily under a big stone, severely +wounded in its right wing. The youth ran to look at it, and saw that +a huge abyss had opened below the stone. He went at once to fetch his +brothers, and with their help dragged a lot of pine-wood and ropes to +the spot. They fastened some of the burning pine-wood to the end of the +rope, and let it slowly down to the bottom of the abyss. At first it was +quite dark, and the flaming torch only lit up dirty grey stone walls. +But the youngest brother determined to explore the abyss, and letting +himself down by the rope he soon reached the bottom. Here he found a +lovely meadow full of green trees and exquisite flowers. + +In the middle of the meadow stood a huge stone castle, with an iron gate +leading to it, which was wide open. Everything in the castle seemed +to be made of copper, and the only inhabitant he could discover was +a lovely girl, who was combing her golden hair; and he noticed that +whenever one of her hairs fell on the ground it rang out like pure +metal. The youth looked at her more closely, and saw that her skin was +smooth and fair, her blue eyes bright and sparkling, and her hair as +golden as the sun. He fell in love with her on the spot, and kneeling at +her feet, he implored her to become his wife. + +The lovely girl accepted his proposal gladly; but at the same time she +warned him that she could never come up to the world above till her +mother, the old witch, was dead. And she went on to tell him that the +only way in which the old creature could be killed was with the sword +that hung up in the castle; but the sword was so heavy that no one could +lift it. + +Then the youth went into a room in the castle where everything was made +of silver, and here he found another beautiful girl, the sister of his +bride. She was combing her silver hair, and every hair that fell on the +ground rang out like pure metal. The second girl handed him the sword, +but though he tried with all his strength he could not lift it. At last +a third sister came to him and gave him a drop of something to drink, +which she said would give him the needful strength. He drank one drop, +but still he could not lift the sword; then he drank a second, and the +sword began to move; but only after he had drunk a third drop was he +able to swing the sword over his head. + +Then he hid himself in the castle and awaited the old witch’s arrival. +At last as it was beginning to grow dark she appeared. She swooped down +upon a big apple-tree, and after shaking some golden apples from it, she +pounced down upon the earth. As soon as her feet touched the ground she +became transformed from a hawk into a woman. This was the moment the +youth was waiting for, and he swung his mighty sword in the air with all +his strength and the witch’s head fell off, and her blood spurted up on +the walls. + +Without fear of any further danger, he packed up all the treasures of +the castle into great chests, and gave his brothers a signal to pull +them up out of the abyss. First the treasures were attached to the rope +and then the three lovely girls. And now everything was up above and +only he himself remained below. But as he was a little suspicious of his +brothers, he fastened a heavy stone on to the rope and let them pull it +up. At first they heaved with a will, but when the stone was half way +up they let it drop suddenly, and it fell to the bottom broken into a +hundred pieces. + +‘So that’s what would have happened to my bones had I trusted myself to +them,’ said the youth sadly; and he began to cry bitterly, not because +of the treasures, but because of the lovely girl with her swanlike neck +and golden hair. + +For a long time he wandered sadly all through the beautiful underworld, +and one day he met a magician who asked him the cause of his tears. The +youth told him all that had befallen him, and the magician said: + +‘Do not grieve, young man! If you will guard the children who are hidden +in the golden apple-tree, I will bring you at once up to the earth. +Another magician who lives in this land always eats my children up. It +is in vain that I have hidden them under the earth and locked them into +the castle. Now I have hidden them in the apple-tree; hide yourself +there too, and at midnight you will see my enemy.’ + +The youth climbed up the tree, and picked some of the beautiful golden +apples, which he ate for his supper. + +At midnight the wind began to rise, and a rustling sound was heard at +the foot of the tree. The youth looked down and beheld a long thick +serpent beginning to crawl up the tree. It wound itself round the stem +and gradually got higher and higher. It stretched its huge head, in +which the eyes glittered fiercely, among the branches, searching for the +nest in which the little children lay. They trembled with terror when +they saw the hideous creature, and hid themselves beneath the leaves. + +Then the youth swung his mighty sword in the air, and with one blow cut +off the serpent’s head. He cut up the rest of the body into little bits +and strewed them to the four winds. + +The father of the rescued children was so delighted over the death of +his enemy that he told the youth to get on his back, and in this way he +carried him up to the world above. + +With what joy did he hurry now to his brothers’ house! He burst into a +room where they were all assembled, but no one knew who he was. Only his +bride, who was serving as cook to her sisters, recognised her lover at +once. + +His brothers, who had quite believed he was dead, yielded him up his +treasures at once, and flew into the woods in terror. But the good youth +forgave them all they had done, and divided his treasures with them. +Then he built himself a big castle with golden windows, and there he +lived happily with his golden-haired wife till the end of their lives. + + + + + THE BOY AND THE WOLVES, OR THE BROKEN PROMISE(18) + +(18) A North American Indian story. + +Once upon a time an Indian hunter built himself a house in the middle +of a great forest, far away from all his tribe; for his heart was gentle +and kind, and he was weary of the treachery and cruel deeds of those +who had been his friends. So he left them, and took his wife and three +children, and they journeyed on until they found a spot near to a clear +stream, where they began to cut down trees, and to make ready their +wigwam. For many years they lived peacefully and happily in this +sheltered place, never leaving it except to hunt the wild animals, which +served them both for food and clothes. At last, however, the strong man +felt sick, and before long he knew he must die. + +So he gathered his family round him, and said his last words to them. +‘You, my wife, the companion of my days, will follow me ere many moons +have waned to the island of the blest. But for you, O my children, whose +lives are but newly begun, the wickedness, unkindness, and ingratitude +from which I fled are before you. Yet I shall go hence in peace, my +children, if you will promise always to love each other, and never to +forsake your youngest brother. + +‘Never!’ they replied, holding out their hands. And the hunter died +content. + +Scarcely eight moons had passed when, just as he had said, the wife went +forth, and followed her husband; but before leaving her children she +bade the two elder ones think of their promise never to forsake the +younger, for he was a child, and weak. And while the snow lay thick upon +the ground, they tended him and cherished him; but when the earth showed +green again, the heart of the young man stirred within him, and he +longed to see the wigwams of the village where his father’s youth was +spent. + +Therefore he opened all his heart to his sister, who answered: ‘My +brother, I understand your longing for our fellow-men, whom here we +cannot see. But remember our father’s words. Shall we not seek our own +pleasures, and forget the little one?’ + +But he would not listen, and, making no reply, he took his bow and +arrows and left the hut. The snows fell and melted, yet he never +returned; and at last the heart of the girl grew cold and hard, and her +little boy became a burden in her eyes, till one day she spoke thus to +him: ‘See, there is food for many days to come. Stay here within the +shelter of the hut. I go to seek our brother, and when I have found him +I shall return hither.’ + +But when, after hard journeying, she reached the village where her +brother dwelt, and saw that he had a wife and was happy, and when she, +too, was sought by a young brave, then she also forgot the boy alone in +the forest, and thought only of her husband. + +Now as soon as the little boy had eaten all the food which his sister +had left him, he went out into the woods, and gathered berries and dug +up roots, and while the sun shone he was contented and had his fill. But +when the snows began and the wind howled, then his stomach felt empty +and his limbs cold, and he hid in trees all the night, and only crept +out to eat what the wolves had left behind. And by-and-by, having no +other friends, he sought their company, and sat by while they devoured +their prey, and they grew to know him, and gave him food. And without +them he would have died in the snow. + +But at last the snows melted, and the ice upon the great lake, and +as the wolves went down to the shore, the boy went after them. And it +happened one day that his big brother was fishing in his canoe near the +shore, and he heard the voice of a child singing in the Indian tone-- + + ‘My brother, my brother! + I am becoming a wolf, + I am becoming a wolf!’ + +And when he had so sung he howled as wolves howl. Then the heart of +the elder sunk, and he hastened towards him, crying, ‘Brother, little +brother, come to me;’ but he, being half a wolf, only continued his +song. And the louder the elder called him, ‘Brother, little brother, +come to me,’ the swifter he fled after his brothers the wolves, and +the heavier grew his skin, till, with a long howl, he vanished into the +depths of the forest. + +So, with shame and anguish in his soul, the elder brother went back to +his village, and, with his sister, mourned the little boy and the broken +promise till the end of his life. + + + + + THE GLASS AXE(19) + +(19) From the Hungarian. Kletke. + +There was once upon a time a King and Queen who had everything they +could possibly wish for in this world except a child. At last, after +twelve years, the Queen gave birth to a son; but she did not live long +to enjoy her happiness, for on the following day she died. But before +her death she called her husband to her and said, ‘Never let the child +put his feet on the ground, for as soon as he does so he will fall into +the power of a wicked Fairy, who will do him much harm.’ And these were +the last words the poor Queen spoke. + +The boy throve and grew big, and when he was too heavy for his nurse +to carry, a chair was made for him on little wheels, in which he could +wander through the palace gardens without help; at other times he was +carried about on a litter, and he was always carefully watched and +guarded for fear he should at any time put his feet to the ground. + +But as this sort of life was bad for his health, the doctors ordered him +horse exercise, and he soon became a first-rate rider, and used to go +out for long excursions on horseback, accompanied always by his father’s +stud-groom and a numerous retinue. + +Every day he rode through the neighbouring fields and woods, and always +returned home in the evening safe and well. In this way many years +passed, and the Prince grew to manhood, and hardly anyone remembered the +Queen’s warning, though precautions were still taken, more from use and +wont than for any other reason. + +One day the Prince and his suite went out for a ride in a wood where his +father sometimes held a hunt. Their way led through a stream whose banks +were overgrown with thick brushwood. Just as the horsemen were about +to ford the river, a hare, startled by the sound of the horses’ hoofs, +started up from the grass and ran towards the thicket. The young Prince +pursued the little creature, and had almost overtaken it, when the girth +of his saddle suddenly broke in two and he fell heavily to the ground. +No sooner had his foot touched the earth than he disappeared before the +eyes of the horrified courtiers. + +They sought for him far and near, but all in vain, and they were forced +to recognise the power of the evil Fairy, against which the Queen had +warned them on her death-bed. The old King was much grieved when they +brought him the news of his son’s disappearance, but as he could do +nothing to free him from his fate, he gave himself up to an old age of +grief and loneliness, cherishing at the same time the hope that some +lucky chance might one day deliver the youth out of the hands of his +enemy. + +Hardly had the Prince touched the ground than he felt himself violently +seized by an unseen power, and hurried away he knew not whither. A whole +new world stretched out before him, quite unlike the one he had left. +A splendid castle surrounded by a huge lake was the abode of the Fairy, +and the only approach to it was over a bridge of clouds. On the other +side of the lake high mountains rose up, and dark woods stretched +along the banks; over all hung a thick mist, and deep silence reigned +everywhere. + +No sooner had the Fairy reached her own domain than she made herself +visible, and turning to the Prince she told him that unless he obeyed +all her commands down to the minutest detail he would be severely +punished. Then she gave him an axe made of glass, and bade him cross the +bridge of clouds and go into the wood beyond and cut down all the trees +there before sunset. At the same time she cautioned him with many angry +words against speaking to a black girl he would most likely meet in the +wood. + +The Prince listened to her words meekly, and when she had finished took +up the glass axe and set out for the forest. At every step he seemed to +sink into the clouds, but fear gave wings to his feet, and he crossed +the lake in safety and set to work at once. + +But no sooner had he struck the first blow with his axe than it broke +into a thousand pieces against the tree. The poor youth was so terrified +he did not know what to do, for he was in mortal dread of the punishment +the wicked old Fairy would inflict on him. He wandered to and fro in the +wood, not knowing where he was going, and at last, worn out by fatigue +and misery, he sank on the ground and fell fast asleep. + +He did not know how long he had slept when a sudden sound awoke him, and +opening his eyes he saw a black girl standing beside him. Mindful of +the Fairy’s warning he did not dare to address her, but she on her part +greeted him in the most friendly manner, and asked him at once if he +were under the power of the wicked Fairy. The Prince nodded his head +silently in answer. + +Then the black girl told him that she too was in the power of the Fairy, +who had doomed her to wander about in her present guise until some youth +should take pity on her and bear her in safety to the other side of the +river which they saw in the distance, and on the other side of which the +Fairy’s domain and power ended. + +The girl’s words so inspired the Prince with confidence that he told her +all his tale of woe, and ended up by asking her advice as to how he was +to escape the punishment the Fairy would be sure to inflict on him when +she discovered that he had not cut down the trees in the wood and that +he had broken her axe. + +‘You must know,’ answered the black girl, ‘that the Fairy in whose power +we both are is my own mother, but you must not betray this secret, for +it would cost me my life. If you will only promise to try and free me +I will stand by you, and will accomplish for you all the tasks which my +mother sets you.’ + +The Prince promised joyfully all she asked; then having once more warned +him not to betray her confidence, she handed him a draught to drink +which very soon sunk his senses in a deep slumber. + +His astonishment was great when he awoke to find the glass axe whole and +unbroken at his side, and all the trees of the wood lying felled around +him! + +He made all haste across the bridge of clouds, and told the Fairy that +her commands were obeyed. She was much amazed when she heard that all +the wood was cut down, and saw the axe unbroken in his hand, and +since she could not believe that he had done all this by himself, she +questioned him narrowly if he had seen or spoken to the black girl. But +the Prince lied manfully, and swore he had never looked up from his work +for a moment. Seeing she could get nothing more out of him, she gave him +a little bread and water, and showing him to a small dark cupboard she +told him he might sleep there. + +Morning had hardly dawned when the Fairy awoke the Prince, and giving +him the glass axe again she told him to cut up all the wood he had +felled the day before, and to put it in bundles ready for firewood; at +the same time she warned him once more against approaching or speaking a +word to the black girl if he met her in the wood. + +Although his task was no easier than that of the day before, the youth +set out much more cheerfully, because he knew he could count an the help +of the black girl. With quicker and lighter step he crossed the bridge +of clouds, and hardly had he reached the other side than his friend +stood before him and greeted him cheerfully. When she heard what the +Fairy demanded this time, she answered smilingly, ‘Never fear,’ and +handed him another draught, which very soon caused the Prince to sink +into a deep sleep. + +When he awoke everything, was done. All the trees of the wood were cut +up into firewood and arranged in bundles ready for use. + +He returned to the castle as quickly as he could, and told the Fairy +that her commands were obeyed. She was even more amazed than she had +been before, and asked him again if he had either seen or spoken to the +black girl; but the Prince knew better than to betray his word, and once +more lied freely. + +On the following day the Fairy set him a third task to do, even harder +than the other two. She told him he must build a castle on the other +side of the lake, made of nothing but gold, silver, and precious stones, +and unless he could accomplish this within an hour, the most frightful +doom awaited him. + +The Prince heard her words without anxiety, so entirely did he rely on +the help of his black friend. Full of hope he hurried across the bridge, +and recognised at once the spot where the castle was to stand, for +spades, hammers, axes, and every other building implement lay scattered +on the ground ready for the workman’s hand, but of gold, silver, and +precious stones there was not a sign. But before the Prince had time +to feel despondent the black girl beckoned to him in the distance from +behind a rock, where she had hidden herself for fear her mother should +catch sight of her. Full of joy the youth hurried towards her, and +begged her aid and counsel in the new piece of work he had been given to +do. + +But this time the Fairy had watched the Prince’s movements from +her window, and she saw him hiding himself behind the rock with her +daughter. She uttered a piercing shriek so that the mountains re-echoed +with the sound of it, and the terrified pair had hardly dared to look +out from their hiding-place when the enraged woman, with her dress and +hair flying in the wind, hurried over the bridge of clouds. The Prince +at once gave himself up for lost, but the girl told him to be of good +courage and to follow her as quickly as he could. But before they left +their shelter she broke off a little bit of the rock, spoke some magic +words over it, and threw it in the direction her mother was coming from. +In a moment a glittering palace arose before the eyes of the Fairy which +blinded her with its dazzling splendour, and with its many doors and +passages prevented her for some time from finding her way out of it. + +In the meantime the black girl hurried on with the Prince, hastening to +reach the river, where once on the other side they would for ever be out +of the wicked Fairy’s power. But before they had accomplished half the +way they heard again the rustle of her garments and her muttered curses +pursuing them closely. + +The Prince was terrified; he dared not look back, and he felt his +strength giving way. But before he had time to despair the girl uttered +some more magic words, and immediately she herself was changed into a +pond, and the Prince into a duck swimming on its surface. + +When the Fairy saw this her rage knew no bounds, and she used all her +magic wits to make the pond disappear; she caused a hill of sand to +arise at her feet, meaning it to dry up the water at once. But the sand +hill only drove the pond a little farther away, and its waters seemed to +increase instead of diminishing. When the old woman saw that the powers +of her magic were of so little avail, she had recourse to cunning. She +threw a lot of gold nuts into the pond, hoping in this way to catch +the duck, but all her efforts were fruitless, for the little creature +refused to let itself be caught. + +Then a new idea struck the wicked old woman, and hiding herself behind +the rock which had sheltered the fugitives, she waited behind it, +watching carefully for the moment when the Prince and her daughter +should resume their natural forms and continue their journey. + +She had not to wait long, for as soon as the girl thought her mother was +safely out of the way, she changed herself and the Prince once more into +their human shape, and set out cheerfully for the river. + +But they had not gone many steps when the wicked Fairy hurried after +them, a drawn dagger in her hand, and was close upon them, when +suddenly, instead of the Prince and her daughter, she found herself in +front of a great stone church, whose entrance was carefully guarded by a +huge monk. + +Breathless with rage and passion, she tried to plunge her dagger into +the monk’s heart, but it fell shattered in pieces at her feet. In her +desperation she determined to pull down the church, and thus to destroy +her two victims for ever. She stamped three times on the ground, and the +earth trembled, and both the church and the monk began to shake. As soon +as the Fairy saw this she retreated to some distance from the building, +so as not to be hurt herself by its fall. But once more her scheme was +doomed to failure, for hardly had she gone a yard from the church than +both it and the monk disappeared, and she found herself in a wood black +as night, and full of wolves and bears and wild animals of all sorts and +descriptions. + +Then her wrath gave place to terror, for she feared every moment to be +torn in pieces by the beasts who one and all seemed to defy her power. +She thought it wisest to make her way as best she could out of the +forest, and then to pursue the fugitives once more and accomplish their +destruction either by force or cunning. + +In the meantime the Prince and the black girl had again assumed their +natural forms, and were hurrying on as fast as they could to reach the +river. But when they got there they found that there was no way in which +they could cross it, and the girl’s magic art seemed no longer to +have any power. Then turning to the Prince she said, ‘The hour for my +deliverance has not yet come, but as you promised to do all you could to +free me, you must do exactly as I bid you now. Take this bow and arrow +and kill every beast you see with them, and be sure you spare no living +creature.’ + +With these words she disappeared, and hardly had she done so than a +huge wild boar started out of the thicket near and made straight for the +Prince. But the youth did not lose his presence of mind, and drawing +his bow he pierced the beast with his arrow right through the skull. The +creature fell heavily on the ground, and out of its side sprang a little +hare, which ran like the wind along the river bank. The Prince drew his +bow once more, and the hare lay dead at his feet; but at the same moment +a dove rose up in the air, and circled round the Prince’s head in the +most confiding manner. But mindful of the black girl’s commands, he +dared not spare the little creature’s life, and taking another arrow +from his quiver he laid it as dead as the boar and the hare. But when +he went to look at the body of the bird he found instead of the dove a +round white egg lying on the ground. + +While he was gazing on it and wondering what it could mean, he heard the +sweeping of wings above him, and looking up he saw a huge vulture with +open claws swooping down upon him. In a moment he seized the egg and +flung it at the bird with all his might, and lo and behold! instead of +the ugly monster the most beautiful girl he had ever seen stood before +the astonished eyes of the Prince. + +But while all this was going on the wicked old Fairy had managed to +make her way out of the wood, and was now using the last resource in her +power to overtake her daughter and the Prince. As soon as she was in the +open again she mounted her chariot, which was drawn by a fiery dragon, +and flew through the air in it. But just as she got to the river she saw +the two lovers in each other’s arms swimming through the water as easily +as two fishes. + +Quick as lightning, and forgetful of every danger, she flew down upon +them. But the waters seized her chariot and sunk it in the lowest +depths, and the waves bore the wicked old woman down the stream till she +was caught in some thorn bushes, where she made a good meal for all the +little fishes that were swimming about. + +And so at last the Prince and his lovely Bride were free. They hurried +as quickly as they could to the old King, who received them with joy and +gladness. On the following day a most gorgeous wedding feast was held, +and as far as we know the Prince and his bride lived happily for ever +afterwards. + + + + +THE DEAD WIFE(20) + +(20) From the Iroquois. + +Once upon a time there were a man and his wife who lived in the forest, +very far from the rest of the tribe. Very often they spent the day in +hunting together, but after a while the wife found that she had so many +things to do that she was obliged to stay at home; so he went alone, +though he found that when his wife was not with him he never had any +luck. One day, when he was away hunting, the woman fell ill, and in a +few days she died. + +Her husband grieved bitterly, and buried her in the house where she had +passed her life; but as the time went on he felt so lonely without her +that he made a wooden doll about her height and size for company, and +dressed it in her clothes. He seated it in front of the fire, and tried +to think he had his wife back again. The next day he went out to hunt, +and when he came home the first thing he did was to go up to the doll +and brush off some of the ashes from the fire which had fallen on its +face. But he was very busy now, for he had to cook and mend, besides +getting food, for there was no one to help him. And so a whole year +passed away. + +At the end of that time he came back from hunting one night and found +some wood by the door and a fire within. The next night there was not +only wood and fire, but a piece of meat in the kettle, nearly ready for +eating. He searched all about to see who could have done this, but could +find no one. The next time he went to hunt he took care not to go far, +and came in quite early. And while he was still a long way off he saw a +woman going into the house with wood on her shoulders. So he made haste, +and opened the door quickly, and instead of the wooden doll, his wife +sat in front of the fire. + +Then she spoke to him and said, ‘The Great Spirit felt sorry for you, +because you would not be comforted, so he let me come back to you, but +you must not stretch out your hand to touch me till we have seen the +rest of our people. If you do, I shall die.’ + +So the man listened to her words, and the woman dwelt there, and brought +the wood and kindled the fire, till one day her husband said to her, ‘It +is now two years since you died. Let us now go back to our tribe. Then +you will be well, and I can touch you.’ + +And with that he prepared food for the journey, a string of deer’s flesh +for her to carry, and one for himself; and so they started. Now the camp +of the tribe was distant six days’ journey, and when they were yet one +day’s journey off it began to snow, and they felt weary and longed for +rest. Therefore they made a fire, cooked some food, and spread out their +skins to sleep. + +Then the heart of the man was greatly stirred, and he stretched out his +arms to his wife, but she waved her hands and said, ‘We have seen no one +yet; it is too soon.’ + +But he would not listen to her, and caught her to him, and behold! he +was clasping the wooden doll. And when he saw it was the doll he pushed +it from him in his misery and rushed away to the camp, and told them all +his story. And some doubted, and they went back with him to the place +where he and his wife had stopped to rest, and there lay the doll, and +besides, they saw in the snow the steps of two people, and the foot of +one was like the foot of the doll. And the man grieved sore all the days +of his life. + + + + +IN THE LAND OF SOULS (21) + +(21) From the Red Indian. + +Far away, in North America, where the Red Indians dwell, there lived a +long time ago a beautiful maiden, who was lovelier than any other girl +in the whole tribe. Many of the young braves sought her in marriage, but +she would listen to one only--a handsome chief, who had taken her fancy +some years before. So they were to be married, and great rejoicings were +made, and the two looked forward to a long life of happiness together, +when the very night before the wedding feast a sudden illness seized the +girl, and, without a word to her friends who were weeping round her, she +passed silently away. + +The heart of her lover had been set upon her, and the thought of her +remained with him night and day. He put aside his bow, and went neither +to fight nor to hunt, but from sunrise to sunset he sat by the place +where she was laid, thinking of his happiness that was buried there. +At last, after many days, a light seemed to come to him out of the +darkness. He remembered having heard from the old, old people of the +tribe, that there was a path that led to the Land of Souls--that if you +sought carefully you could find it. + +So the next morning he got up early, and put some food in his pouch and +slung an extra skin over his shoulders, for he knew not how long +his journey would take, nor what sort of country he would have to go +through. Only one thing he knew, that if the path was there, he would +find it. At first he was puzzled, as there seemed no reason he should go +in one direction more than another. Then all at once he thought he had +heard one of the old men say that the Land of Souls lay to the south, +and so, filled with new hope and courage, he set his face southwards. +For many, many miles the country looked the same as it did round his own +home. The forests, the hills, and the rivers all seemed exactly like the +ones he had left. The only thing that was different was the snow, which +had lain thick upon the hills and trees when he started, but grew less +and less the farther he went south, till it disappeared altogether. Soon +the trees put forth their buds, and flowers sprang up under his feet, +and instead of thick clouds there was blue sky over his head, and +everywhere the birds were singing. Then he knew that he was in the right +road. + +The thought that he should soon behold his lost bride made his heart +beat for joy, and he sped along lightly and swiftly. Now his way led +through a dark wood, and then over some steep cliffs, and on the top of +these he found a hut or wigwam. An old man clothed in skins, and holding +a staff in his hand, stood in the doorway; and he said to the young +chief who was beginning to tell his story, ‘I was waiting for you, +wherefore you have come I know. It is but a short while since she whom +you seek was here. Rest in my hut, as she also rested, and I will tell +you what you ask, and whither you should go.’ + +On hearing these words, the young man entered the hut, but his heart was +too eager within him to suffer him to rest, and when he arose, the old +man rose too, and stood with him at the door. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘at the +water which lies far out yonder, and the plains which stretch beyond. +That is the Land of Souls, but no man enters it without leaving his body +behind him. So, lay down your body here; your bow and arrows, your skin +and your dog. They shall be kept for you safely.’ + +Then he turned away, and the young chief, light as air, seemed hardly to +touch the ground; and as he flew along the scents grew sweeter and the +flowers more beautiful, while the animals rubbed their noses against +him, instead of hiding as he approached, and birds circled round him, +and fishes lifted up their heads and looked as he went by. Very soon he +noticed with wonder, that neither rocks nor trees barred his path. He +passed through them without knowing it, for indeed, they were not rocks +and trees at all, but only the souls of them; for this was the Land of +Shadows. + +So he went on with winged feet till he came to the shores of a great +lake, with a lovely island in the middle of it; while on the bank of the +lake was a canoe of glittering stone, and in the canoe were two shining +paddles. + +The chief jumped straight into the canoe, and seizing the paddles pushed +off from the shore, when to his joy and wonder he saw following him in +another canoe exactly like his own the maiden for whose sake he had made +this long journey. But they could not touch each other, for between them +rolled great waves, which looked as if they would sink the boats, yet +never did. And the young man and the maiden shrank with fear, for down +in the depths of the water they saw the bones of those who had died +before, and in the waves themselves men and women were struggling, and +but few passed over. Only the children had no fear, and reached the +other side in safety. Still, though the chief and the young girl quailed +in terror at these horrible sights and sounds, no harm came to them, +for their lives had been free from evil, and the Master of Life had said +that no evil should happen unto them. So they reached unhurt the shore +of the Happy Island, and wandered through the flowery fields and by the +banks of rushing streams, and they knew not hunger nor thirst; neither +cold nor heat. The air fed them and the sun warmed them, and they forgot +the dead, for they saw no graves, and the young man’s thoughts turned +not to wars, neither to the hunting of animals. And gladly would these +two have walked thus for ever, but in the murmur of the wind he heard +the Master of Life saying to him, ‘Return whither you came, for I have +work for you to do, and your people need you, and for many years you +shall rule over them. At the gate my messenger awaits you, and you shall +take again your body which you left behind, and he will show you what +you are to do. Listen to him, and have patience, and in time to come you +shall rejoin her whom you must now leave, for she is accepted, and will +remain ever young and beautiful, as when I called her hence from the +Land of Snows.’ + + + + +THE WHITE DUCK + +Once upon a time a great and powerful King married a lovely Princess. No +couple were ever so happy; but before their honeymoon was over they were +forced to part, for the King had to go on a warlike expedition to a far +country, and leave his young wife alone at home. Bitter were the tears +she shed, while her husband sought in vain to soothe her with words of +comfort and counsel, warning her, above all things, never to leave +the castle, to hold no intercourse with strangers, to beware of evil +counsellors, and especially to be on her guard against strange women. +And the Queen promised faithfully to obey her royal lord and master in +these four matters. + +So when the King set out on his expedition she shut herself up with +her ladies in her own apartments, and spent her time in spinning and +weaving, and in thinking of her royal husband. Often she was very sad +and lonely, and it happened that one day while she was seated at the +window, letting salt tears drop on her work, an old woman, a kind, +homely-looking old body, stepped up to the window, and, leaning upon her +crutch, addressed the Queen in friendly, flattering tones, saying: + +‘Why are you sad and cast down, fair Queen? You should not mope all day +in your rooms, but should come out into the green garden, and hear the +birds sing with joy among the trees, and see the butterflies fluttering +above the flowers, and hear the bees and insects hum, and watch +the sunbeams chase the dew-drops through the rose-leaves and in the +lily-cups. All the brightness outside would help to drive away your +cares, O Queen.’ + +For long the Queen resisted her coaxing words, remembering the promise +she had given the King, her husband; but at last she thought to herself: +After all, what harm would it do if I were to go into the garden for a +short time and enjoy myself among the trees and flowers, and the singing +birds and fluttering butterflies and humming insects, and look at +the dew-drops hiding from the sunbeams in the hearts of the roses and +lilies, and wander about in the sunshine, instead of remaining all +day in this room? For she had no idea that the kind-looking old woman +leaning on her crutch was in reality a wicked witch, who envied the +Queen her good fortune, and was determined to ruin her. And so, in all +ignorance, the Queen followed her out into the garden and listened to +her smooth, flattering words. Now, in the middle of the garden there was +a pond of water, clear as crystal, and the old woman said to the Queen: + +‘The day is so warm, and the sun’s rays so scorching, that the water in +the pond looks very cool and inviting. Would you not like to bathe in +it, fair Queen?’ + +‘No, I think not,’ answered the Queen; but the next moment she regretted +her words, and thought to herself: Why shouldn’t I bathe in that cool, +fresh water? No harm could come of it. And, so saying, she slipped off +her robes and stepped into the water. But scarcely had her tender feet +touched the cool ripples when she felt a great shove on her shoulders, +and the wicked witch had pushed her into the deep water, exclaiming: + +‘Swim henceforth, White Duck!’ + +And the witch herself assumed the form of the Queen, and decked herself +out in the royal robes, and sat among the Court ladies, awaiting the +King’s return. And suddenly the tramp of horses’ hoofs was heard, and +the barking of dogs, and the witch hastened forward to meet the royal +carriages, and, throwing her arms round the King’s neck, kissed him. +And in his great joy the King did not know that the woman he held in his +arms was not his own dear wife, but a wicked witch. + +In the meantime, outside the palace walls, the poor White Duck swam up +and down the pond; and near it laid three eggs, out of which there came +one morning two little fluffy ducklings and a little ugly drake. And the +White Duck brought the little creatures up, and they paddled after her +in the pond, and caught gold-fish, and hopped upon the bank and waddled +about, ruffling their feathers and saying ‘Quack, quack’ as they +strutted about on the green banks of the pond. But their mother used to +warn them not to stray too far, telling them that a wicked witch lived +in the castle beyond the garden, adding, ‘She has ruined me, and she +will do her best to ruin you.’ But the young ones did not listen to +their mother, and, playing about the garden one day, they strayed close +up to the castle windows. The witch at once recognised them by their +smell, and ground her teeth with anger; but she hid her feelings, and, +pretending to be very kind she called them to her and joked with them, +and led them into a beautiful room, where she gave them food to eat, and +showed them a soft cushion on which they might sleep. Then she left them +and went down into the palace kitchens, where she told the servants to +sharpen the knives, and to make a great fire ready, and hang a large +kettleful of water over it. + +In the meantime the two little ducklings had fallen asleep, and the +little drake lay between them, covered up by their wings, to be kept +warm under their feathers. But the little drake could not go to sleep, +and as he lay there wide awake in the night he heard the witch come to +the door and say: + +‘Little ones, are you asleep?’ + +And the little drake answered for the other two: + + ‘We cannot sleep, we wake and weep, + Sharp is the knife, to take our life; + The fire is hot, now boils the pot, + And so we wake, and lie and quake.’ + +‘They are not asleep yet,’ muttered the witch to herself; and she walked +up and down in the passage, and then came back to the door, and said: + +‘Little ones, are you asleep?’ + +And again the little drake answered for his sisters: + + ‘We cannot sleep, we wake and weep, + Sharp is the knife, to take our life; + The fire is hot, now boils the pot, + And so we wake, and lie and quake.’ + +‘Just the same answer,’ muttered the witch; ‘I think I’ll go in and +see.’ So she opened the door gently, and seeing the two little ducklings +sound asleep, she there and then killed them. + +The next morning the White Duck wandered round the pond in a distracted +manner, looking for her little ones; she called and she searched, but +could find no trace of them. And in her heart she had a foreboding that +evil had befallen them, and she fluttered up out of the water and flew +to the palace. And there, laid out on the marble floor of the court, +dead and stone cold, were her three children. The White Duck threw +herself upon them, and, covering up their little bodies with her wings, +she cried: + + ‘Quack, quack--my little loves! + Quack, quack--my turtle-doves! + I brought you up with grief and pain, + And now before my eyes you’re slain. + + I gave you always of the best; + I kept you warm in my soft nest. + I loved and watched you day and night-- + You were my joy, my one delight.’ + + +The King heard the sad complaint of the White Duck, and called to the +witch: ‘Wife, what a wonder is this? Listen to that White Duck.’ + +But the witch answered, ‘My dear husband, what do you mean? There is +nothing wonderful in a duck’s quacking. Here, servants! Chase that duck +out of the courtyard.’ But though the servants chased and chevied, they +could not get rid of the duck; for she circled round and round, and +always came back to the spot where her children lay, crying: + + ‘Quack, quack--my little loves! + Quack, quack--my turtle-doves! + The wicked witch your lives did take-- + The wicked witch, the cunning snake. + First she stole my King away, + Then my children did she slay. + Changed me, from a happy wife, + To a duck for all my life. + Would I were the Queen again; + Would that you had never been slain.’ + +And as the King heard her words he began to suspect that he had been +deceived, and he called out to the servants, ‘Catch that duck, and bring +it here.’ But, though they ran to and fro, the duck always fled past +them, and would not let herself be caught. So the King himself stepped +down amongst them, and instantly the duck fluttered down into his hands. +And as he stroked her wings she was changed into a beautiful woman, and +he recognised his dear wife. And she told him that a bottle would be +found in her nest in the garden, containing some drops from the spring +of healing. And it was brought to her; and the ducklings and little +drake were sprinkled with the water, and from the little dead bodies +three lovely children arose. And the King and Queen were overjoyed when +they saw their children, and they all lived happily together in the +beautiful palace. But the wicked witch was taken by the King’s command, +and she came to no good end. + + + + +THE WITCH AND HER SERVANTS(22) + +(22) From the Russian. Kletke. + +Long time ago there lived a King who had three sons; the eldest was +called Szabo, the second Warza, and the youngest Iwanich. + +One beautiful spring morning the King was walking through his +gardens with these three sons, gazing with admiration at the various +fruit-trees, some of which were a mass of blossom, whilst others were +bowed to the ground laden with rich fruit. During their wanderings they +came unperceived on a piece of waste land where three splendid trees +grew. The King looked on them for a moment, and then, shaking his head +sadly, he passed on in silence. + +The sons, who could not understand why he did this, asked him the reason +of his dejection, and the King told them as follows: + +‘These three trees, which I cannot see without sorrow, were planted by +me on this spot when I was a youth of twenty. A celebrated magician, who +had given the seed to my father, promised him that they would grow into +the three finest trees the world had ever seen. My father did not live +to see his words come true; but on his death-bed he bade me transplant +them here, and to look after them with the greatest care, which I +accordingly did. At last, after the lapse of five long years, I noticed +some blossoms on the branches, and a few days later the most exquisite +fruit my eyes had ever seen. + +‘I gave my head-gardener the strictest orders to watch the trees +carefully, for the magician had warned my father that if one unripe +fruit were plucked from the tree, all the rest would become rotten at +once. When it was quite ripe the fruit would become a golden yellow. + +‘Every day I gazed on the lovely fruit, which became gradually more +and more tempting-looking, and it was all I could do not to break the +magician’s commands. + +‘One night I dreamt that the fruit was perfectly ripe; I ate some of it, +and it was more delicious than anything I had ever tasted in real life. +As soon as I awoke I sent for the gardener and asked him if the fruit on +the three trees had not ripened in the night to perfection. + +‘But instead of replying, the gardener threw himself at my feet and +swore that he was innocent. He said that he had watched by the trees all +night, but in spite of it, and as if by magic, the beautiful trees had +been robbed of all their fruit. + +‘Grieved as I was over the theft, I did not punish the gardener, of +whose fidelity I was well assured, but I determined to pluck off all the +fruit in the following year before it was ripe, as I had not much belief +in the magician’s warning. + +‘I carried out my intention, and had all the fruit picked off the tree, +but when I tasted one of the apples it was bitter and unpleasant, and +the next morning the rest of the fruit had all rotted away. + +‘After this I had the beautiful fruit of these trees carefully guarded +by my most faithful servants; but every year, on this very night, the +fruit was plucked and stolen by an invisible hand, and next morning not +a single apple remained on the trees. For some time past I have given up +even having the trees watched.’ + +When the King had finished his story, Szabo, his eldest son, said to +him: ‘Forgive me, father, if I say I think you are mistaken. I am sure +there are many men in your kingdom who could protect these trees from +the cunning arts of a thieving magician; I myself, who as your eldest +son claim the first right to do so, will mount guard over the fruit this +very night.’ + +The King consented, and as soon as evening drew on Szabo climbed up on +to one of the trees, determined to protect the fruit even if it cost him +his life. So he kept watch half the night; but a little after midnight +he was overcome by an irresistible drowsiness, and fell fast asleep. +He did not awake till it was bright daylight, and all the fruit on the +trees had vanished. + +The following year Warza, the second brother, tried his luck, but with +the same result. Then it came to the turn of the third and youngest son. + +Iwanich was not the least discouraged by the failure of his elder +brothers, though they were both much older and stronger than he was, +and when night came climbed up the tree as they had done, The moon had +risen, and with her soft light lit up the whole neighbourhood, so that +the observant Prince could distinguish the smallest object distinctly. + +At midnight a gentle west wind shook the tree, and at the same moment +a snow-white swan-like bird sank down gently on his breast. The +Prince hastily seized the bird’s wings in his hands, when, lo! to his +astonishment he found he was holding in his arms not a bird but the most +beautiful girl he had ever seen. + +‘You need not fear Militza,’ said the beautiful girl, looking at the +Prince with friendly eyes. ‘An evil magician has not robbed you of your +fruit, but he stole the seed from my mother, and thereby caused her +death. When she was dying she bade me take the fruit, which you have no +right to possess, from the trees every year as soon as it was ripe. +This I would have done to-night too, if you had not seized me with such +force, and so broken the spell I was under.’ + +Iwanich, who had been prepared to meet a terrible magician and not a +lovely girl, fell desperately in love with her. They spent the rest of +the night in pleasant conversation, and when Militza wished to go away +he begged her not to leave him. + +‘I would gladly stay with you longer,’ said Militza, ‘but a wicked witch +once cut off a lock of my hair when I was asleep, which has put me in +her power, and if morning were still to find me here she would do me +some harm, and you, too, perhaps.’ + +Having said these words, she drew a sparkling diamond ring from her +finger, which she handed to the Prince, saying: ‘Keep this ring in +memory of Militza, and think of her sometimes if you never see her +again. But if your love is really true, come and find me in my own +kingdom. I may not show you the way there, but this ring will guide you. + +‘If you have love and courage enough to undertake this journey, whenever +you come to a cross-road always look at this diamond before you settle +which way you are going to take. If it sparkles as brightly as ever go +straight on, but if its lustre is dimmed choose another path.’ + +Then Militza bent over the Prince and kissed him on his forehead, and +before he had time to say a word she vanished through the branches of +the tree in a little white cloud. + +Morning broke, and the Prince, still full of the wonderful apparition, +left his perch and returned to the palace like one in a dream, without +even knowing if the fruit had been taken or not; for his whole mind was +absorbed by thoughts of Militza and how he was to find her. + +As soon as the head-gardener saw the Prince going towards the palace he +ran to the trees, and when he saw them laden with ripe fruit he hastened +to tell the King the joyful news. The King was beside himself for joy, +and hurried at once to the garden and made the gardener pick him some of +the fruit. He tasted it, and found the apple quite as luscious as it +had been in his dream. He went at once to his son Iwanich, and after +embracing him tenderly and heaping praises on him, he asked him how +he had succeeded in protecting the costly fruit from the power of the +magician. + +This question placed Iwanich in a dilemma. But as he did not want the +real story to be known, he said that about midnight a huge wasp had +flown through the branches, and buzzed incessantly round him. He had +warded it off with his sword, and at dawn, when he was becoming quite +worn out, the wasp had vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. + +The King, who never doubted the truth of this tale, bade his son go to +rest at once and recover from the fatigues of the night; but he himself +went and ordered many feasts to be held in honour of the preservation of +the wonderful fruit. + +The whole capital was in a stir, and everyone shared in the King’s joy; +the Prince alone took no part in the festivities. + +While the King was at a banquet, Iwanich took some purses of gold, and +mounting the quickest horse in the royal stable, he sped off like the +wind without a single soul being any the wiser. + +It was only on the next day that they missed him; the King was very +distressed at his disappearance, and sent search-parties all over the +kingdom to look for him, but in vain; and after six months they gave him +up as dead, and in another six months they had forgotten all about him. +But in the meantime the Prince, with the help of his ring, had had a +most successful journey, and no evil had befallen him. + +At the end of three months he came to the entrance of a huge forest, +which looked as if it had never been trodden by human foot before, and +which seemed to stretch out indefinitely. The Prince was about to enter +the wood by a little path he had discovered, when he heard a voice +shouting to him: ‘Hold, youth! Whither are you going?’ + +Iwanich turned round, and saw a tall, gaunt-looking man, clad in +miserable rags, leaning on a crooked staff and seated at the foot of +an oak tree, which was so much the same colour as himself that it was +little wonder the Prince had ridden past the tree without noticing him. + +‘Where else should I be going,’ he said, ‘than through the wood?’ + +‘Through the wood?’ said the old man in amazement. ‘It’s easily seen +that you have heard nothing of this forest, that you rush so blindly to +meet your doom. Well, listen to me before you ride any further; let me +tell you that this wood hides in its depths a countless number of the +fiercest tigers, hyenas, wolves, bears, and snakes, and all sorts of +other monsters. If I were to cut you and your horse up into tiny morsels +and throw them to the beasts, there wouldn’t be one bit for each hundred +of them. Take my advice, therefore, and if you wish to save your life +follow some other path.’ + +The Prince was rather taken aback by the old man’s words, and considered +for a minute what he should do; then looking at his ring, and perceiving +that it sparkled as brightly as ever, he called out: ‘If this wood held +even more terrible things than it does, I cannot help myself, for I must +go through it.’ + +Here he spurred his horse and rode on; but the old beggar screamed so +loudly after him that the Prince turned round and rode back to the oak +tree. + +‘I am really sorry for you,’ said the beggar, ‘but if you are quite +determined to brave the dangers of the forest, let me at least give you +a piece of advice which will help you against these monsters. + +‘Take this bagful of bread-crumbs and this live hare. I will make you +a present of them both, as I am anxious to save your life; but you must +leave your horse behind you, for it would stumble over the fallen trees +or get entangled in the briers and thorns. When you have gone about a +hundred yards into the wood the wild beasts will surround you. Then you +must instantly seize your bag, and scatter the bread-crumbs among them. +They will rush to eat them up greedily, and when you have scattered the +last crumb you must lose no time in throwing the hare to them; as soon +as the hare feels itself on the ground it will run away as quickly as +possible, and the wild beasts will turn to pursue it. In this way you +will be able to get through the wood unhurt.’ + +Iwanich thanked the old man for his counsel, dismounted from his horse, +and, taking the bag and the hare in his arms, he entered the forest. He +had hardly lost sight of his gaunt grey friend when he heard growls and +snarls in the thicket close to him, and before he had time to think he +found himself surrounded by the most dreadful-looking creatures. On +one side he saw the glittering eye of a cruel tiger, on the other the +gleaming teeth of a great she-wolf; here a huge bear growled fiercely, +and there a horrible snake coiled itself in the grass at his feet. + +But Iwanich did not forget the old man’s advice, and quickly put his +hand into the bag and took out as many bread-crumbs as he could hold in +his hand at a time. He threw them to the beasts, but soon the bag grew +lighter and lighter, and the Prince began to feel a little frightened. +And now the last crumb was gone, and the hungry beasts thronged round +him, greedy for fresh prey. Then he seized the hare and threw it to +them. + +No sooner did the little creature feel itself on the ground than it +lay back its ears and flew through the wood like an arrow from a bow, +closely pursued by the wild beasts, and the Prince was left alone. He +looked at his ring, and when he saw that it sparkled as brightly as ever +he went straight on through the forest. + +He hadn’t gone very far when he saw a most extraordinary looking man +coming towards him. He was not more than three feet high, his legs +were quite crooked, and all his body was covered with prickles like a +hedgehog. Two lions walked with him, fastened to his side by the two +ends of his long beard. + +He stopped the Prince and asked him in a harsh voice: ‘Are you the man +who has just fed my body-guard?’ + +Iwanich was so startled that he could hardly reply, but the little man +continued: ‘I am most grateful to you for your kindness; what can I give +you as a reward?’ + +‘All I ask,’ replied Iwanich, ‘is, that I should be allowed to go +through this wood in safety.’ + +‘Most certainly,’ answered the little man; ‘and for greater security I +will give you one of my lions as a protector. But when you leave this +wood and come near a palace which does not belong to my domain, let the +lion go, in order that he may not fall into the hands of an enemy and be +killed.’ + +With these words he loosened the lion from his beard and bade the beast +guard the youth carefully. + +With this new protector Iwanich wandered on through the forest, and +though he came upon a great many more wolves, hyenas, leopards, and +other wild beasts, they always kept at a respectful distance when they +saw what sort of an escort the Prince had with him. + +Iwanich hurried through the wood as quickly as his legs would carry him, +but, nevertheless, hour after hour went by and not a trace of a green +field or a human habitation met his eyes. At length, towards evening, +the mass of trees grew more transparent, and through the interlaced +branches a wide plain was visible. + +At the exit of the wood the lion stood still, and the Prince took leave +of him, having first thanked him warmly for his kind protection. It had +become quite dark, and Iwanich was forced to wait for daylight before +continuing his journey. + +He made himself a bed of grass and leaves, lit a fire of dry branches, +and slept soundly till the next morning. + +Then he got up and walked towards a beautiful white palace which he saw +gleaming in the distance. In about an hour he reached the building, and +opening the door he walked in. + +After wandering through many marble halls, he came to a huge staircase +made of porphyry, leading down to a lovely garden. + +The Prince burst into a shout of joy when he suddenly perceived Militza +in the centre of a group of girls who were weaving wreaths of flowers +with which to deck their mistress. + +As soon as Militza saw the Prince she ran up to him and embraced him +tenderly; and after he had told her all his adventures, they went into +the palace, where a sumptuous meal awaited them. Then the Princess +called her court together, and introduced Iwanich to them as her future +husband. + +Preparations were at once made for the wedding, which was held soon +after with great pomp and magnificence. + +Three months of great happiness followed, when Militza received one day +an invitation to visit her mother’s sister. + +Although the Princess was very unhappy at leaving her husband, she did +not like to refuse the invitation, and, promising to return in seven +days at the latest, she took a tender farewell of the Prince, and +said: ‘Before I go I will hand you over all the keys of the castle. Go +everywhere and do anything you like; only one thing I beg and beseech +you, do not open the little iron door in the north tower, which is +closed with seven locks and seven bolts; for if you do, we shall both +suffer for it.’ + +Iwanich promised what she asked, and Militza departed, repeating her +promise to return in seven days. + +When the Prince found himself alone he began to be tormented by pangs +of curiosity as to what the room in the tower contained. For two days he +resisted the temptation to go and look, but on the third he could stand +it no longer, and taking a torch in his hand he hurried to the tower, +and unfastened one lock after the other of the little iron door until it +burst open. + +What an unexpected sight met his gaze! The Prince perceived a small room +black with smoke, lit up feebly by a fire from which issued long blue +flames. Over the fire hung a huge cauldron full of boiling pitch, and +fastened into the cauldron by iron chains stood a wretched man screaming +with agony. + +Iwanich was much horrified at the sight before him, and asked the man +what terrible crime he had committed to be punished in this dreadful +fashion. + +‘I will tell you everything,’ said the man in the cauldron; ‘but first +relieve my torments a little, I implore you.’ + +‘And how can I do that?’ asked the Prince. + +‘With a little water,’ replied the man; ‘only sprinkle a few drops over +me and I shall feel better.’ + +The Prince, moved by pity, without thinking what he was doing, ran +to the courtyard of the castle, and filled a jug with water, which he +poured over the man in the cauldron. + +In a moment a most fearful crash was heard, as if all the pillars of the +palace were giving way, and the palace itself, with towers and doors, +windows and the cauldron, whirled round the bewildered Prince’s head. +This continued for a few minutes, and then everything vanished into +thin air, and Iwanich found himself suddenly alone upon a desolate heath +covered with rocks and stones. + +The Prince, who now realised what his heedlessness had done, cursed too +late his spirit of curiosity. In his despair he wandered on over the +heath, never looking where he put his feet, and full of sorrowful +thoughts. At last he saw a light in the distance, which came from a +miserable-looking little hut. + +The owner of it was none other than the kind-hearted gaunt grey beggar +who had given the Prince the bag of bread-crumbs and the hare. Without +recognising Iwanich, he opened the door when he knocked and gave him +shelter for the night. + +On the following morning the Prince asked his host if he could get him +any work to do, as he was quite unknown in the neighbourhood, and had +not enough money to take him home. + +‘My son,’ replied the old man, ‘all this country round here is +uninhabited; I myself have to wander to distant villages for my living, +and even then I do not very often find enough to satisfy my hunger. But +if you would like to take service with the old witch Corva, go straight +up the little stream which flows below my hut for about three hours, and +you will come to a sand-hill on the left-hand side; that is where she +lives.’ + +Iwanich thanked the gaunt grey beggar for his information, and went on +his way. + +After walking for about three hours the Prince came upon a +dreary-looking grey stone wall; this was the back of the building and +did not attract him; but when he came upon the front of the house +he found it even less inviting, for the old witch had surrounded her +dwelling with a fence of spikes, on every one of which a man’s skull was +stuck. In this horrible enclosure stood a small black house, which had +only two grated windows, all covered with cobwebs, and a battered iron +door. + +The Prince knocked, and a rasping woman’s voice told him to enter. + +Iwanich opened the door, and found himself in a smoke-begrimed kitchen, +in the presence of a hideous old woman who was warming her skinny hands +at a fire. The Prince offered to become her servant, and the old hag +told him she was badly in want of one, and he seemed to be just the +person to suit her. + +When Iwanich asked what his work, and how much his wages would be, the +witch bade him follow her, and led the way through a narrow damp +passage into a vault, which served as a stable. Here he perceived two +pitch-black horses in a stall. + +‘You see before you,’ said the old woman, ‘a mare and her foal; you have +nothing to do but to lead them out to the fields every day, and to see +that neither of them runs away from you. If you look after them both for +a whole year I will give you anything you like to ask; but if, on the +other hand, you let either of the animals escape you, your last hour is +come, and your head shall be stuck on the last spike of my fence. The +other spikes, as you see, are already adorned, and the skulls are all +those of different servants I have had who have failed to do what I +demanded.’ + +Iwanich, who thought he could not be much worse off than he was already, +agreed to the witch’s proposal. + +At daybreak nest morning he drove his horses to the field, and brought +them back in the evening without their ever having attempted to break +away from him. The witch stood at her door and received him kindly, and +set a good meal before him. + +So it continued for some time, and all went well with the Prince. + +Early every morning he led the horses out to the fields, and brought +them home safe and sound in the evening. + +One day, while he was watching the horses, he came to the banks of a +river, and saw a big fish, which through some mischance had been cast on +the land, struggling hard to get back into the water. + +Iwanich, who felt sorry for the poor creature, seized it in his arms and +flung it into the stream. But no sooner did the fish find itself in the +water again, than, to the Prince’s amazement, it swam up to the bank and +said: + +‘My kind benefactor, how can I reward you for your goodness?’ + +‘I desire nothing,’ answered the Prince. ‘I am quite content to have +been able to be of some service to you.’ + +‘You must do me the favour,’ replied the fish, ‘to take a scale from my +body, and keep it carefully. If you should ever need my help, throw it +into the river, and I will come to your aid at once.’ + +Iwanich bowed, loosened a scale from the body of the grateful beast, put +it carefully away, and returned home. + +A short time after this, when he was going early one morning to the +usual grazing place with his horses, he noticed a flock of birds +assembled together making a great noise and flying wildly backwards and +forwards. + +Full of curiosity, Iwanich hurried up to the spot, and saw that a large +number of ravens had attacked an eagle, and although the eagle was big +and powerful and was making a brave fight, it was overpowered at last by +numbers, and had to give in. + +But the Prince, who was sorry for the poor bird, seized the branch of +a tree and hit out at the ravens with it; terrified at this unexpected +onslaught they flew away, leaving many of their number dead or wounded +on the battlefield. + +As soon as the eagle saw itself free from its tormentors it plucked a +feather from its wing, and, handing it to the Prince, said: ‘Here, my +kind benefactor, take this feather as a proof of my gratitude; should +you ever be in need of my help blow this feather into the air, and I +will help you as much as is in my power.’ + +Iwanich thanked the bird, and placing the feather beside the scale he +drove the horses home. + +Another day he had wandered farther than usual, and came close to a +farmyard; the place pleased the Prince, and as there was plenty of good +grass for the horses he determined to spend the day there. Just as he +was sitting down under a tree he heard a cry close to him, and saw a fox +which had been caught in a trap placed there by the farmer. + +In vain did the poor beast try to free itself; then the good-natured +Prince came once more to the rescue, and let the fox out of the trap. + +The fox thanked him heartily, tore two hairs out of his bushy tail, and +said: ‘Should you ever stand in need of my help throw these two hairs +into the fire, and in a moment I shall be at your side ready to obey +you.’ + +Iwanich put the fox’s hairs with the scale and the feather, and as it +was getting dark he hastened home with his horses. + +In the meantime his service was drawing near to an end, and in three +more days the year was up, and he would be able to get his reward and +leave the witch. + +On the first evening of these last three days, when he came home and was +eating his supper, he noticed the old woman stealing into the stables. + +The Prince followed her secretly to see what she was going to do. He +crouched down in the doorway and heard the wicked witch telling the +horses to wait next morning till Iwanich was asleep, and then to go and +hide themselves in the river, and to stay there till she told them to +return; and if they didn’t do as she told them the old woman threatened +to beat them till they bled. + +When Iwanich heard all this he went back to his room, determined that +nothing should induce him to fall asleep next day. On the following +morning he led the mare and foal to the fields as usual, but bound a +cord round them both which he kept in his hand. + +But after a few hours, by the magic arts of the old witch, he was +overpowered by sleep, and the mare and foal escaped and did as they had +been told to do. The Prince did not awake till late in the evening; and +when he did, he found, to his horror, that the horses had disappeared. +Filled with despair, he cursed the moment when he had entered the +service of the cruel witch, and already he saw his head sticking up on +the sharp spike beside the others. + +Then he suddenly remembered the fish’s scale, which, with the eagle’s +feather and the fox’s hairs, he always carried about with him. He drew +the scale from his pocket, and hurrying to the river he threw it in. In +a minute the grateful fish swam towards the bank on which Iwanich was +standing, and said: ‘What do you command, my friend and benefactor?’ + +The Prince replied: ‘I had to look after a mare and foal, and they have +run away from me and have hidden themselves in the river; if you wish to +save my life drive them back to the land.’ + +‘Wait a moment,’ answered the fish, ‘and I and my friends will soon +drive them out of the water.’ With these words the creature disappeared +into the depths of the stream. + +Almost immediately a rushing hissing sound was heard in the waters, the +waves dashed against the banks, the foam was tossed into the air, and +the two horses leapt suddenly on to the dry land, trembling and shaking +with fear. + +Iwanich sprang at once on to the mare’s back, seized the foal by its +bridle, and hastened home in the highest spirits. + +When the witch saw the Prince bringing the horses home she could hardly +conceal her wrath, and as soon as she had placed Iwanich’s supper before +him she stole away again to the stables. The Prince followed her, and +heard her scolding the beasts harshly for not having hidden themselves +better. She bade them wait next morning till Iwanich was asleep and then +to hide themselves in the clouds, and to remain there till she called. +If they did not do as she told them she would beat them till they bled. + +The next morning, after Iwanich had led his horses to the fields, he +fell once more into a magic sleep. The horses at once ran away and hid +themselves in the clouds, which hung down from the mountains in soft +billowy masses. + +When the Prince awoke and found that both the mare and the foal had +disappeared, he bethought him at once of the eagle, and taking the +feather out of his pocket he blew it into the air. + +In a moment the bird swooped down beside him and asked: ‘What do you +wish me to do?’ + +‘My mare and foal,’ replied the Prince, ‘have run away from me, and have +hidden themselves in the clouds; if you wish to save my life, restore +both animals to me.’ + +‘Wait a minute,’ answered the eagle; ‘with the help of my friends I will +soon drive them back to you.’ + +With these words the bird flew up into the air and disappeared among the +clouds. + +Almost directly Iwanich saw his two horses being driven towards him by +a host of eagles of all sizes. He caught the mare and foal, and having +thanked the eagle he drove them cheerfully home again. + +The old witch was more disgusted than ever when she saw him appearing, +and having set his supper before him she stole into the stables, and +Iwanich heard her abusing the horses for not having hidden themselves +better in the clouds. Then she bade them hide themselves next morning, +as soon as Iwanich was asleep, in the King’s hen-house, which stood on +a lonely part of the heath, and to remain there till she called. If they +failed to do as she told them she would certainly beat them this time +till they bled. + +On the following morning the Prince drove his horses as usual to the +fields. After he had been overpowered by sleep, as on the former days, +the mare and foal ran away and hid themselves in the royal hen house. + +When the Prince awoke and found the horses gone he determined to appeal +to the fox; so, lighting a fire, he threw the two hairs into it, and +in a few moments the fox stood beside him and asked: ‘In what way can I +serve you?’ + +‘I wish to know,’ replied Iwanich, ‘where the King’s hen-house is.’ + +‘Hardly an hour’s walk from here,’ answered the fox, and offered to show +the Prince the way to it. + +While they were walking along the fox asked him what he wanted to do +at the royal hen-house. The Prince told him of the misfortune that had +befallen him, and of the necessity of recovering the mare and foal. + +‘That is no easy matter,’ replied the fox. ‘But wait a moment. I have +an idea. Stand at the door of the hen-house, and wait there for your +horses. In the meantime I will slip in among the hens through a hole in +the wall and give them a good chase, so that the noise they make will +arouse the royal henwives, and they will come to see what is the matter. +When they see the horses they will at once imagine them to be the cause +of the disturbance, and will drive them out. Then you must lay hands on +the mare and foal and catch them. + +All turned out exactly as the sly fox had foreseen. The Prince swung +himself on the mare, seized the foal by its bridle, and hurried home. + +While he was riding over the heath in the highest of spirits the mare +suddenly said to her rider: ‘You are the first person who has ever +succeeded in outwitting the old witch Corva, and now you may ask what +reward you like for your service. If you promise never to betray me I +will give you a piece of advice which you will do well to follow.’ + +The Prince promised never to betray her confidence, and the mare +continued: ‘Ask nothing else as a reward than my foal, for it has not +its like in the world, and is not to be bought for love or money; for it +can go from one end of the earth to another in a few minutes. Of course +the cunning Corva will do her best to dissuade you from taking the foal, +and will tell you that it is both idle and sickly; but do not believe +her, and stick to your point.’ + +Iwanich longed to possess such an animal, and promised the mare to +follow her advice. + +This time Corva received him in the most friendly manner, and set a +sumptuous repast before him. As soon as he had finished she asked him +what reward he demanded for his year’s service. + +‘Nothing more nor less,’ replied the Prince, ‘than the foal of your +mare.’ + +The witch pretended to be much astonished at his request, and said that +he deserved something much better than the foal, for the beast was lazy +and nervous, blind in one eye, and, in short, was quite worthless. + +But the Prince knew what he wanted, and when the old witch saw that he +had made up his mind to have the foal, she said, ‘I am obliged to keep +my promise and to hand you over the foal; and as I know who you are and +what you want, I will tell you in what way the animal will be useful to +you. The man in the cauldron of boiling pitch, whom you set free, is a +mighty magician; through your curiosity and thoughtlessness Militza came +into his power, and he has transported her and her castle and belongings +into a distant country. + +‘You are the only person who can kill him; and in consequence he fears +you to such an extent that he has set spies to watch you, and they +report your movements to him daily. + +‘When you have reached him, beware of speaking a single word to him, or +you will fall into the power of his friends. Seize him at once by the +beard and dash him to the ground.’ + +Iwanich thanked the old witch, mounted his foal, put spurs to its sides, +and they flew like lightning through the air. + +Already it was growing dark, when Iwanich perceived some figures in the +distance; they soon came up to them, and then the Prince saw that it +was the magician and his friends who were driving through the air in a +carriage drawn by owls. + +When the magician found himself face to face with Iwanich, without hope +of escape, he turned to him with false friendliness and said: ‘Thrice my +kind benefactor!’ + +But the Prince, without saying a word, seized him at once by his beard +and dashed him to the ground. At the same moment the foal sprang on the +top of the magician and kicked and stamped on him with his hoofs till he +died. + +Then Iwanich found himself once more in the palace of his bride, and +Militza herself flew into his arms. + +From this time forward they lived in undisturbed peace and happiness +till the end of their lives. + + + + +THE MAGIC RING + +Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had one son called +Martin. Now when the old man’s time had come, he stretched himself out +on his bed and died. Though all his life long he had toiled and moiled, +he only left his widow and son two hundred florins. The old woman +determined to put by the money for a rainy day; but alas! the rainy day +was close at hand, for their meal was all consumed, and who is prepared +to face starvation with two hundred florins at their disposal? So the +old woman counted out a hundred of her florins, and giving them to +Martin, told him to go into the town and lay in a store of meal for a +year. + +So Martin started off for the town. When he reached the meat-market he +found the whole place in turmoil, and a great noise of angry voices and +barking of dogs. Mixing in the crowd, he noticed a stag-hound which the +butchers had caught and tied to a post, and which was being flogged in +a merciless manner. Overcome with pity, Martin spoke to the butchers, +saying: + +‘Friends, why are you beating the poor dog so cruelly?’ + +‘We have every right to beat him,’ they replied; ‘he has just devoured a +newly-killed pig.’ + +‘Leave off beating him,’ said Martin, ‘and sell him to me instead.’ + +‘If you choose to buy him,’ answered the butchers derisively; ‘but for +such a treasure we won’t take a penny less than a hundred florins.’ + +‘A hundred!’ exclaimed Martin. ‘Well, so be it, if you will not take +less;’ and, taking the money out of his pocket, he handed it over in +exchange for the dog, whose name was Schurka. + +When Martin got home, his mother met him with the question: + +‘Well, what have you bought?’ + +‘Schurka, the dog,’ replied Martin, pointing to his new possession. +Whereupon his mother became very angry, and abused him roundly. He ought +to be ashamed of himself, when there was scarcely a handful of meal in +the house, to have spent the money on a useless brute like that. On the +following day she sent him back to the town, saying, ‘Here, take our +last hundred florins, and buy provisions with them. I have just emptied +the last grains of meal out of the chest, and baked a bannock; but it +won’t last over to-morrow.’ + +Just as Martin was entering the town he met a rough-looking peasant who +was dragging a cat after him by a string which was fastened round the +poor beast’s neck. + +‘Stop,’ cried Martin; ‘where are you dragging that poor cat?’ + +‘I mean to drown him,’ was the answer. + +‘What harm has the poor beast done?’ said Martin. + +‘It has just killed a goose,’ replied the peasant. + +‘Don’t drown him, sell him to me instead,’ begged Martin. + +‘Not for a hundred florins,’ was the answer. + +‘Surely for a hundred florins you’ll sell it?’ said Martin. ‘See! here +is the money;’ and, so saying, he handed him the hundred florins, which +the peasant pocketed, and Martin took possession of the cat, which was +called Waska. + +When he reached his home his mother greeted him with the question: + +‘Well, what have you brought back?’ + +‘I have brought this cat, Waska,’ answered Martin. + +‘And what besides?’ + +‘I had no money over to buy anything else with,’ replied Martin. + +‘You useless ne’er-do-weel!’ exclaimed his mother in a great passion. +‘Leave the house at once, and go and beg your bread among strangers;’ +and as Martin did not dare to contradict her, he called Schurka and +Waska and started off with them to the nearest village in search of +work. On the way he met a rich peasant, who asked him where he was +going. + +‘I want to get work as a day labourer,’ he answered. + +‘Come along with me, then. But I must tell you I engage my labourers +without wages. If you serve me faithfully for a year, I promise you it +shall be for your advantage.’ + +So Martin consented, and for a year he worked diligently, and served +his master faithfully, not sparing himself in any way. When the day of +reckoning had come the peasant led him into a barn, and pointing to two +full sacks, said: ‘Take whichever of these you choose.’ + +Martin examined the contents of the sacks, and seeing that one was full +of silver and the other of sand, he said to himself: + +‘There must be some trick about this; I had better take the sand.’ And +throwing the sack over his shoulders he started out into the world, +in search of fresh work. On and on he walked, and at last he reached +a great gloomy wood. In the middle of the wood he came upon a meadow, +where a fire was burning, and in the midst of the fire, surrounded by +flames, was a lovely damsel, more beautiful than anything that Martin +had ever seen, and when she saw him she called to him: + +‘Martin, if you would win happiness, save my life. Extinguish the flames +with the sand that you earned in payment of your faithful service.’ + +‘Truly,’ thought Martin to himself, ‘it would be more sensible to save a +fellow-being’s life with this sand than to drag it about on one’s back, +seeing what a weight it is.’ And forthwith he lowered the sack from his +shoulders and emptied its contents on the flames, and instantly the +fire was extinguished; but at the same moment lo! and behold the lovely +damsel turned into a Serpent, and, darting upon him, coiled itself round +his neck, and whispered lovingly in his ear: + +‘Do not be afraid of me, Martin; I love you, and will go with you +through the world. But first you must follow me boldly into my Father’s +Kingdom, underneath the earth; and when we get there, remember this--he +will offer you gold and silver, and dazzling gems, but do not touch +them. Ask him, instead, for the ring which he wears on his little +finger, for in that ring lies a magic power; you have only to throw it +from one hand to the other, and at once twelve young men will appear, +who will do your bidding, no matter how difficult, in a single night.’ + +So they started on their way, and after much wandering they reached +a spot where a great rock rose straight up in the middle of the road. +Instantly the Serpent uncoiled itself from his neck, and, as it touched +the damp earth, it resumed the shape of the lovely damsel. Pointing to +the rock, she showed him an opening just big enough for a man to wriggle +through. Passing into it, they entered a long underground passage, which +led out on to a wide field, above which spread a blue sky. In the middle +of the field stood a magnificent castle, built out of porphyry, with a +roof of gold and with glittering battlements. And his beautiful guide +told him that this was the palace in which her father lived and reigned +over his kingdom in the Under-world. + +Together they entered the palace, and were received by the King with +great kindness. Turning to his daughter, he said: + +‘My child, I had almost given up the hope of ever seeing you again. +Where have you been all these years?’ + +‘My father,’ she replied, ‘I owe my life to this youth, who saved me +from a terrible death.’ + +Upon which the King turned to Martin with a gracious smile, saying: ‘I +will reward your courage by granting you whatever your heart desires. +Take as much gold, silver, and precious stones as you choose.’ + +‘I thank you, mighty King, for your gracious offer,’ answered Martin,’ +‘but I do not covet either gold, silver, or precious stones; yet if you +will grant me a favour, give me, I beg, the ring from off the little +finger of your royal hand. Every time my eye falls on it I shall think +of your gracious Majesty, and when I marry I shall present it to my +bride.’ + +So the King took the ring from his finger and gave it to Martin, saying: +‘Take it, good youth; but with it I make one condition--you are never +to confide to anyone that this is a magic ring. If you do, you will +straightway bring misfortune on yourself.’ + +Martin took the ring, and, having thanked the King, he set out on the +same road by which he had come down into the Under-world. When he had +regained the upper air he started for his old home, and having found his +mother still living in the old house where he had left her, they settled +down together very happily. So uneventful was their life that it +almost seemed as if it would go on in this way always, without let or +hindrance. But one day it suddenly came into his mind that he would like +to get married, and, moreover, that he would choose a very grand wife--a +King’s daughter, in short. But as he did not trust himself as a wooer, +he determined to send his old mother on the mission. + +‘You must go to the King,’ he said to her, ‘and demand the hand of his +lovely daughter in marriage for me.’ + +‘What are you thinking of, my son?’ answered the old woman, aghast at +the idea. ‘Why cannot you marry someone in your own rank? That would be +far more fitting than to send a poor old woman like me a-wooing to the +King’s Court for the hand of a Princess. Why, it is as much as our heads +are worth. Neither my life nor yours would be worth anything if I went +on such a fool’s errand.’ + +‘Never fear, little mother,’ answered Martin. ‘Trust me; all will be +well. But see that you do not come back without an answer of some kind.’ + +And so, obedient to her son’s behest, the old woman hobbled off to the +palace, and, without being hindered, reached the courtyard, and began to +mount the flight of steps leading to the royal presence chamber. At +the head of the landing rows of courtiers were collected in magnificent +attire, who stared at the queer old figure, and called to her, and +explained to her, with every kind of sign, that it was strictly +forbidden to mount those steps. But their stern words and forbidding +gestures made no impression whatever on the old woman, and she +resolutely continued to climb the stairs, bent on carrying out her son’s +orders. Upon this some of the courtiers seized her by the arms, and held +her back by sheer force, at which she set up such a yell that the King +himself heard it, and stepped out on to the balcony to see what was the +matter. When he beheld the old woman flinging her arms wildly about, and +heard her scream that she would not leave the place till she had laid +her case before the King, he ordered that she should be brought into +his presence. And forthwith she was conducted into the golden presence +chamber, where, leaning back amongst cushions of royal purple, the King +sat, surrounded by his counsellors and courtiers. Courtesying low, the +old woman stood silent before him. ‘Well, my good old dame, what can I +do for you?’ asked the King. + +‘I have come,’ replied Martin’s mother--‘and your Majesty must not be +angry with me--I have come a-wooing.’ + +‘Is the woman out of her mind?’ said the King, with an angry frown. + +But Martin’s mother answered boldly: ‘If the King will only listen +patiently to me, and give me a straightforward answer, he will see that +I am not out of my mind. You, O King, have a lovely daughter to give +in marriage. I have a son--a wooer--as clever a youth and as good a +son-in-law as you will find in your whole kingdom. There is nothing that +he cannot do. Now tell me, O King, plump and plain, will you give your +daughter to my son as wife?’ The King listened to the end of the old +woman’s strange request, but every moment his face grew blacker, and his +features sterner; till all at once he thought to himself, ‘Is it worth +while that I, the King, should be angry with this poor old fool?’ And +all the courtiers and counsellors were amazed when they saw the hard +lines round his mouth and the frown on his brow grow smooth, and heard +the mild but mocking tones in which he answered the old woman, saying: + +‘If your son is as wonderfully clever as you say, and if there is +nothing in the world that he cannot do, let him build a magnificent +castle, just opposite my palace windows, in four and twenty hours. The +palace must be joined together by a bridge of pure crystal. On each +side of the bridge there must be growing trees, having golden and silver +apples, and with birds of Paradise among the branches. At the right of +the bridge there must be a church, with five golden cupolas; in this +church your son shall be wedded to my daughter, and we will keep the +wedding festivities in the new castle. But if he fails to execute this +my royal command, then, as a just but mild monarch, I shall give orders +that you and he are taken, and first dipped in tar and then in feathers, +and you shall be executed in the market-place for the entertainment of +my courtiers.’ + +And a smile played round the King’s lips as he finished speaking, and +his courtiers and counsellors shook with laughter when they thought of +the old woman’s folly, and praised the King’s wise device, and said to +each other, ‘What a joke it will be when we see the pair of them tarred +and feathered! The son is just as able to grow a beard on the palm of +his hand as to execute such a task in twenty-four hours.’ + +Now the poor old woman was mortally afraid and, in a trembling voice she +asked: + +‘Is that really your royal will, O King? Must I take this order to my +poor son?’ + +‘Yes, old dame; such is my command. If your son carries out my order, +he shall be rewarded with my daughter; but if he fails, away to the +tar-barrel and the stake with you both!’ + +On her way home the poor old woman shed bitter tears, and when she saw +Martin she told him what the King had said, and sobbed out: + +‘Didn’t I tell you, my son, that you should marry someone of your own +rank? It would have been better for us this day if you had. As I told +you, my going to Court has been as much as our lives are worth, and +now we will both be tarred and feathered, and burnt in the public +market-place. It is terrible!’ and she moaned and cried. + +‘Never fear, little mother,’ answered Martin; ‘trust me, and you will +see all will be well. You may go to sleep with a quiet mind.’ + +And, stepping to the front of the hut, Martin threw his ring from the +palm of one hand into the other, upon which twelve youths instantly +appeared, and demanded what he wanted them to do. Then he told them the +King’s commands, and they answered that by next morning all should be +accomplished exactly as the King had ordered. + +Next morning when the King awoke, and looked out of his window, to his +amazement he beheld a magnificent castle, just opposite his own palace, +and joined to it a bridge of pure crystal. + +At each side of the bridge trees were growing, from whose branches hung +golden and silver apples, among which birds of Paradise perched. At the +right, gleaming in the sun, were the five golden cupolas of a splendid +church, whose bells rang out, as if they would summon people from all +corners of the earth to come and behold the wonder. Now, though the King +would much rather have seen his future son-in-law tarred, feathered, and +burnt at the stake, he remembered his royal oath, and had to make the +best of a bad business. So he took heart of grace, and made Martin a +Duke, and gave his daughter a rich dowry, and prepared the grandest +wedding-feast that had ever been seen, so that to this day the old +people in the country still talk of it. + +After the wedding Martin and his royal bride went to dwell in the +magnificent new palace, and here Martin lived in the greatest comfort +and luxury, such luxury as he had never imagined. But though he was as +happy as the day was long, and as merry as a grig, the King’s daughter +fretted all day, thinking of the indignity that had been done her in +making her marry Martin, the poor widow’s son, instead of a rich young +Prince from a foreign country. So unhappy was she that she spent all her +time wondering how she should get rid of her undesirable husband. +And first she determined to learn the secret of his power, and, with +flattering, caressing words, she tried to coax him to tell her how he +was so clever that there was nothing in the world that he could not do. +At first he would tell her nothing; but once, when he was in a yielding +mood, she approached him with a winning smile on her lovely face, and, +speaking flattering words to him, she gave him a potion to drink, with +a sweet, strong taste. And when he had drunk it Martin’s lips were +unsealed, and he told her that all his power lay in the magic ring that +he wore on his finger, and he described to her how to use it, and, still +speaking, he fell into a deep sleep. And when she saw that the potion +had worked, and that he was sound asleep, the Princess took the magic +ring from his finger, and, going into the courtyard, she threw it from +the palm of one hand into the other. + +On the instant the twelve youths appeared, and asked her what she +commanded them to do. Then she told them that by the next morning they +were to do away with the castle, and the bridge, and the church, and +put in their stead the humble hut in which Martin used to live with his +mother, and that while he slept her husband was to be carried to his old +lowly room; and that they were to bear her away to the utmost ends of +the earth, where an old King lived who would make her welcome in his +palace, and surround her with the state that befitted a royal Princess. + +‘You shall be obeyed,’ answered the twelve youths at the same moment. +And lo and behold! the following morning, when the King awoke and looked +out of his window he beheld to his amazement that the palace, bridge, +church, and trees had all vanished, and there was nothing in their place +but a bare, miserable-looking hut. + +Immediately the King sent for his son-in-law, and commanded him to +explain what had happened. But Martin looked at his royal father-in-law, +and answered never a word. Then the King was very angry, and, calling +a council together, he charged Martin with having been guilty of +witchcraft, and of having deceived the King, and having made away with +the Princess; and he was condemned to imprisonment in a high stone +tower, with neither meat nor drink, till he should die of starvation. + +Then, in the hour of his dire necessity, his old friends Schurka (the +dog) and Waska (the cat) remembered how Martin had once saved them from +a cruel death; and they took counsel together as to how they should help +him. And Schurka growled, and was of opinion that he would like to tear +everyone in pieces; but Waska purred meditatively, and scratched the +back of her ear with a velvet paw, and remained lost in thought. At the +end of a few minutes she had made up her mind, and, turning to Schurka, +said: ‘Let us go together into the town, and the moment we meet a baker +you must make a rush between his legs and upset the tray from off his +head; I will lay hold of the rolls, and will carry them off to our +master.’ No sooner said than done. Together the two faithful creatures +trotted off into the town, and very soon they met a baker bearing a tray +on his head, and looking round on all sides, while he cried: + + ‘Fresh rolls, sweet cake, + Fancy bread of every kind. + Come and buy, come and take, + Sure you’ll find it to your mind,’ + + +At that moment Schurka made a rush between his legs--the baker stumbled, +the tray was upset, the rolls fell to the ground, and, while the man +angrily pursued Schurka, Waska managed to drag the rolls out of sight +behind a bush. And when a moment later Schurka joined her, they set off +at full tilt to the stone tower where Martin was a prisoner, taking the +rolls with them. Waska, being very agile, climbed up by the outside to +the grated window, and called in an anxious voice: + +‘Are you alive, master?’ + +‘Scarcely alive--almost starved to death,’ answered Martin in a weak +voice. ‘I little thought it would come to this, that I should die of +hunger.’ + +‘Never fear, dear master. Schurka and I will look after you,’ said +Waska. And in another moment she had climbed down and brought him back a +roll, and then another, and another, till she had brought him the whole +tray-load. Upon which she said: ‘Dear master, Schurka and I are going +off to a distant kingdom at the utmost ends of the earth to fetch you +back your magic ring. You must be careful that the rolls last till our +return.’ + +And Waska took leave of her beloved master, and set off with Schurka +on their journey. On and on they travelled, looking always to right +and left for traces of the Princess, following up every track, making +inquiries of every cat and dog they met, listening to the talk of every +wayfarer they passed; and at last they heard that the kingdom at the +utmost ends of the earth where the twelve youths had borne the Princess +was not very far off. And at last one day they reached that distant +kingdom, and, going at once to the palace, they began to make friends +with all the dogs and cats in the place, and to question them about +the Princess and the magic ring; but no one could tell them much about +either. Now one day it chanced that Waska had gone down to the palace +cellar to hunt for mice and rats, and seeing an especially fat, well-fed +mouse, she pounced upon it, buried her claws in its soft fur, and was +just going to gobble it up, when she was stopped by the pleading tones +of the little creature, saying, ‘If you will only spare my life I may be +of great service to you. I will do everything in my power for you; for I +am the King of the Mice, and if I perish the whole race will die out.’ + +‘So be it,’ said Waska. ‘I will spare your life; but in return you must +do something for me. In this castle there lives a Princess, the wicked +wife of my dear master. She has stolen away his magic ring. You must get +it away from her at whatever cost; do you hear? Till you have done this +I won’t take my claws out of your fur.’ + +‘Good!’ replied the mouse; ‘I will do what you ask.’ And, so saying, +he summoned all the mice in his kingdom together. A countless number +of mice, small and big, brown and grey, assembled, and formed a circle +round their king, who was a prisoner under Waska’s claws. Turning to +them he said: ‘Dear and faithful subjects, who ever among you will steal +the magic ring from the strange Princess will release me from a cruel +death; and I shall honour him above all the other mice in the kingdom.’ + +Instantly a tiny mouse stepped forward and said: ‘I often creep about +the Princess’s bedroom at night, and I have noticed that she has a ring +which she treasures as the apple of her eye. All day she wears it on her +finger, and at night she keeps it in her mouth. I will undertake, sire, +to steal away the ring for you.’ + +And the tiny mouse tripped away into the bedroom of the Princess, and +waited for nightfall; then, when the Princess had fallen asleep, it +crept up on to her bed, and gnawed a hole in the pillow, through which +it dragged one by one little down feathers, and threw them under the +Princess’s nose. And the fluff flew into the Princess’s nose, and into +her mouth, and starting up she sneezed and coughed, and the ring fell +out of her mouth on to the coverlet. In a flash the tiny mouse had +seized it, and brought it to Waska as a ransom for the King of the Mice. +Thereupon Waska and Schurka started off, and travelled night and day +till they reached the stone tower where Martin was imprisoned; and the +cat climbed up the window, and called out to him: + +‘Martin, dear master, are you still alive?’ + +‘Ah! Waska, my faithful little cat, is that you?’ replied a weak voice. +‘I am dying of hunger. For three days I have not tasted food.’ + +‘Be of good heart, dear master,’ replied Waska; ‘from this day forth you +will know nothing but happiness and prosperity. If this were a moment to +trouble you with riddles, I would make you guess what Schurka and I have +brought you back. Only think, we have got you your ring!’ + +At these words Martin’s joy knew no bounds, and he stroked her fondly, +and she rubbed up against him and purred happily, while below Schurka +bounded in the air, and barked joyfully. Then Martin took the ring, and +threw it from one hand into the other, and instantly the twelve youths +appeared and asked what they were to do. + +‘Fetch me first something to eat and drink, as quickly as possible; and +after that bring musicians hither, and let us have music all day long.’ + +Now when the people in the town and palace heard music coming from the +tower they were filled with amazement, and came to the King with the +news that witchcraft must be going on in Martin’s Tower, for, instead +of dying of starvation, he was seemingly making merry to the sound of +music, and to the clatter of plates, and glass, and knives and forks; +and the music was so enchantingly sweet that all the passers-by stood +still to listen to it. On this the King sent at once a messenger to +the Starvation Tower, and he was so astonished with what he saw that he +remained rooted to the spot. Then the King sent his chief counsellors, +and they too were transfixed with wonder. At last the King came himself, +and he likewise was spellbound by the beauty of the music. + +Then Martin summoned the twelve youths, spoke to them, saying, ‘Build up +my castle again, and join it to the King’s Palace with a crystal bridge; +do not forget the trees with the golden and silver apples, and with the +birds of Paradise in the branches; and put back the church with the five +cupolas, and let the bells ring out, summoning the people from the four +corners of the kingdom. And one thing more: bring back my faithless +wife, and lead her into the women’s chamber.’ + +And it was all done as he commanded, and, leaving the Starvation Tower, +he took the King, his father-in-law, by the arm, and led him into the +new palace, where the Princess sat in fear and trembling, awaiting her +death. And Martin spoke to the King, saying, ‘King and royal father, I +have suffered much at the hands of your daughter. What punishment shall +be dealt to her?’ + +Then the mild King answered: ‘Beloved Prince and son-in-law, if you love +me, let your anger be turned to grace--forgive my daughter, and restore +her to your heart and favour.’ + +And Martin’s heart was softened and he forgave his wife, and they lived +happily together ever after. And his old mother came and lived with him, +and he never parted with Schurka and Waska; and I need hardly tell you +that he never again let the ring out of his possession. + + + + +THE FLOWER QUEEN’S DAUGHTER(23) + +(23) From the Bukowinaer. Von Wliolocki. + +A young Prince was riding one day through a meadow that stretched for +miles in front of him, when he came to a deep open ditch. He was turning +aside to avoid it, when he heard the sound of someone crying in the +ditch. He dismounted from his horse, and stepped along in the direction +the sound came from. To his astonishment he found an old woman, who +begged him to help her out of the ditch. The Prince bent down and lifted +her out of her living grave, asking her at the same time how she had +managed to get there. + +‘My son,’ answered the old woman, ‘I am a very poor woman, and soon +after midnight I set out for the neighbouring town in order to sell my +eggs in the market on the following morning; but I lost my way in the +dark, and fell into this deep ditch, where I might have remained for +ever but for your kindness.’ + +Then the Prince said to her, ‘You can hardly walk; I will put you on my +horse and lead you home. Where do you live?’ + +‘Over there, at the edge of the forest in the little hut you see in the +distance,’ replied the old woman. + +The Prince lifted her on to his horse, and soon they reached the hut, +where the old woman got down, and turning to the Prince said, ‘Just wait +a moment, and I will give you something.’ And she disappeared into her +hut, but returned very soon and said, ‘You are a mighty Prince, but +at the same time you have a kind heart, which deserves to be rewarded. +Would you like to have the most beautiful woman in the world for your +wife?’ + +‘Most certainly I would,’ replied the Prince. + +So the old woman continued, ‘The most beautiful woman in the whole world +is the daughter of the Queen of the Flowers, who has been captured by a +dragon. If you wish to marry her, you must first set her free, and this +I will help you to do. I will give you this little bell: if you ring it +once, the King of the Eagles will appear; if you ring it twice, the King +of the Foxes will come to you; and if you ring it three times, you will +see the King of the Fishes by your side. These will help you if you are +in any difficulty. Now farewell, and heaven prosper your undertaking.’ +She handed him the little bell, and there disappeared hut and all, as +though the earth had swallowed her up. + +Then it dawned on the Prince that he had been speaking to a good fairy, +and putting the little bell carefully in his pocket, he rode home and +told his father that he meant to set the daughter of the Flower Queen +free, and intended setting out on the following day into the wide world +in search of the maid. + +So the next morning the Prince mounted his fine horse and left his home. +He had roamed round the world for a whole year, and his horse had died +of exhaustion, while he himself had suffered much from want and misery, +but still he had come on no trace of her he was in search of. At last +one day he came to a hut, in front of which sat a very old man. The +Prince asked him, ‘Do you not know where the Dragon lives who keeps the +daughter of the Flower Queen prisoner?’ + +‘No, I do not,’ answered the old man. ‘But if you go straight along +this road for a year, you will reach a hut where my father lives, and +possibly he may be able to tell you.’ + +The Prince thanked him for his information, and continued his journey +for a whole year along the same road, and at the end of it came to +the little hut, where he found a very old man. He asked him the same +question, and the old man answered, ‘No, I do not know where the Dragon +lives. But go straight along this road for another year, and you will +come to a hut in which my father lives. I know he can tell you.’ + +And so the Prince wandered on for another year, always on the same road, +and at last reached the hut where he found the third old man. He put +the same question to him as he had put to his son and grandson; but this +time the old man answered, ‘The Dragon lives up there on the mountain, +and he has just begun his year of sleep. For one whole year he is always +awake, and the next he sleeps. But if you wish to see the Flower Queen’s +daughter go up the second mountain: the Dragon’s old mother lives there, +and she has a ball every night, to which the Flower Queen’s daughter +goes regularly.’ + +So the Prince went up the second mountain, where he found a castle all +made of gold with diamond windows. He opened the big gate leading into +the courtyard, and was just going to walk in, when seven dragons rushed +on him and asked him what he wanted? + +The Prince replied, ‘I have heard so much of the beauty and kindness of +the Dragon’s Mother, and would like to enter her service.’ + +This flattering speech pleased the dragons, and the eldest of them said, +‘Well, you may come with me, and I will take you to the Mother Dragon.’ + +They entered the castle and walked through twelve splendid halls, all +made of gold and diamonds. In the twelfth room they found the Mother +Dragon seated on a diamond throne. She was the ugliest woman under the +sun, and, added to it all, she had three heads. Her appearance was a +great shock to the Prince, and so was her voice, which was like the +croaking of many ravens. She asked him, ‘Why have you come here?’ + +The Prince answered at once, ‘I have heard so much of your beauty and +kindness, that I would very much like to enter your service.’ + +‘Very well,’ said the Mother Dragon; ‘but if you wish to enter my +service, you must first lead my mare out to the meadow and look after +her for three days; but if you don’t bring her home safely every +evening, we will eat you up.’ + +The Prince undertook the task and led the mare out to the meadow. + +But no sooner had they reached the grass than she vanished. The Prince +sought for her in vain, and at last in despair sat down on a big stone +and contemplated his sad fate. As he sat thus lost in thought, he +noticed an eagle flying over his head. Then he suddenly bethought him of +his little bell, and taking it out of his pocket he rang it once. In a +moment he heard a rustling sound in the air beside him, and the King of +the Eagles sank at his feet. + +‘I know what you want of me,’ the bird said. ‘You are looking for the +Mother Dragon’s mare who is galloping about among the clouds. I will +summon all the eagles of the air together, and order them to catch the +mare and bring her to you.’ And with these words the King of the Eagles +flew away. Towards evening the Prince heard a mighty rushing sound in +the air, and when he looked up he saw thousands of eagles driving the +mare before them. They sank at his feet on to the ground and gave the +mare over to him. Then the Prince rode home to the old Mother Dragon, +who was full of wonder when she saw him, and said, ‘You have succeeded +to-day in looking after my mare, and as a reward you shall come to my +ball to-night.’ She gave him at the same time a cloak made of copper, +and led him to a big room where several young he-dragons and she-dragons +were dancing together. Here, too, was the Flower Queen’s beautiful +daughter. Her dress was woven out of the most lovely flowers in the +world, and her complexion was like lilies and roses. As the Prince was +dancing with her he managed to whisper in her ear, ‘I have come to set +you free!’ + +Then the beautiful girl said to him, ‘If you succeed in bringing the +mare back safely the third day, ask the Mother Dragon to give you a foal +of the mare as a reward.’ + +The ball came to an end at midnight, and early next morning the Prince +again led the Mother Dragon’s mare out into the meadow. But again she +vanished before his eyes. Then he took out his little bell and rang it +twice. + +In a moment the King of the Foxes stood before him and said: ‘I know +already what you want, and will summon all the foxes of the world +together to find the mare who has hidden herself in a hill.’ + +With these words the King of the Foxes disappeared, and in the evening +many thousand foxes brought the mare to the Prince. + +Then he rode home to the Mother-Dragon, from whom he received this time +a cloak made of silver, and again she led him to the ball-room. + +The Flower Queen’s daughter was delighted to see him safe and sound, +and when they were dancing together she whispered in his ear: ‘If you +succeed again to-morrow, wait for me with the foal in the meadow. After +the ball we will fly away together.’ + +On the third day the Prince led the mare to the meadow again; but once +more she vanished before his eyes. Then the Prince took out his little +bell and rang it three times. + +In a moment the King of the Fishes appeared, and said to him: ‘I know +quite well what you want me to do, and I will summon all the fishes +of the sea together, and tell them to bring you back the mare, who is +hiding herself in a river.’ + +Towards evening the mare was returned to him, and when he led her home +to the Mother Dragon she said to him: + +‘You are a brave youth, and I will make you my body-servant. But what +shall I give you as a reward to begin with?’ + +The Prince begged for a foal of the mare, which the Mother Dragon at +once gave him, and over and above, a cloak made of gold, for she had +fallen in love with him because he had praised her beauty. + +So in the evening he appeared at the ball in his golden cloak; but +before the entertainment was over he slipped away, and went straight to +the stables, where he mounted his foal and rode out into the meadow to +wait for the Flower Queen’s daughter. Towards midnight the beautiful +girl appeared, and placing her in front of him on his horse, the +Prince and she flew like the wind till they reached the Flower Queen’s +dwelling. But the dragons had noticed their flight, and woke their +brother out of his year’s sleep. He flew into a terrible rage when +he heard what had happened, and determined to lay siege to the Flower +Queen’s palace; but the Queen caused a forest of flowers as high as the +sky to grow up round her dwelling, through which no one could force a +way. + +When the Flower Queen heard that her daughter wanted to marry the +Prince, she said to him: ‘I will give my consent to your marriage +gladly, but my daughter can only stay with you in summer. In winter, +when everything is dead and the ground covered with snow, she must come +and live with me in my palace underground.’ The Prince consented to +this, and led his beautiful bride home, where the wedding was held with +great pomp and magnificence. The young couple lived happily together +till winter came, when the Flower Queen’s daughter departed and went +home to her mother. In summer she returned to her husband, and their +life of joy and happiness began again, and lasted till the approach of +winter, when the Flower Queen’s daughter went back again to her mother. +This coming and going continued all her life long, and in spite of it +they always lived happily together. + + + + +THE FLYING SHIP(24) + +(24) From the Russian. + +Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had three sons; the two +elder were clever, but the third was a regular dunce. The clever sons +were very fond of their mother, gave her good clothes, and always spoke +pleasantly to her; but the youngest was always getting in her way, +and she had no patience with him. Now, one day it was announced in the +village that the King had issued a decree, offering his daughter, the +Princess, in marriage to whoever should build a ship that could fly. +Immediately the two elder brothers determined to try their luck, and +asked their parents’ blessing. So the old mother smartened up their +clothes, and gave them a store of provisions for their journey, not +forgetting to add a bottle of brandy. When they had gone the poor +Simpleton began to tease his mother to smarten him up and let him start +off. + +‘What would become of a dolt like you?’ she answered. ‘Why, you would be +eaten up by wolves.’ + +But the foolish youth kept repeating, ‘I will go, I will go, I will go!’ + +Seeing that she could do nothing with him, the mother gave him a crust +of bread and a bottle of water, and took no further heed of him. + +So the Simpleton set off on his way. When he had gone a short distance +he met a little old manikin. They greeted one another, and the manikin +asked him where he was going. + +‘I am off to the King’s Court,’ he answered. ‘He has promised to give +his daughter to whoever can make a flying ship.’ + +‘And can you make such a ship?’ + +‘Not I.’ + +‘Then why in the world are you going?’ + +‘Can’t tell,’ replied the Simpleton. + +‘Well, if that is the case,’ said the manikin, ‘sit down beside me; we +can rest for a little and have something to eat. Give me what you have +got in your satchel.’ + +Now, the poor Simpleton was ashamed to show what was in it. However, he +thought it best not to make a fuss, so he opened the satchel, and could +scarcely believe his own eyes, for, instead of the hard crust, he saw +two beautiful fresh rolls and some cold meat. He shared them with the +manikin, who licked his lips and said: + +‘Now, go into that wood, and stop in front of the first tree, bow three +times, and then strike the tree with your axe, fall on your knees on +the ground, with your face on the earth, and remain there till you are +raised up. You will then find a ship at your side, step into it and fly +to the King’s Palace. If you meet anyone on the way, take him with you.’ + +The Simpleton thanked the manikin very kindly, bade him farewell, and +went into the road. When he got to the first tree he stopped in front of +it, did everything just as he had been told, and, kneeling on the ground +with his face to the earth, fell asleep. After a little time he was +aroused; he awoke and, rubbing his eyes, saw a ready-made ship at his +side, and at once got into it. + +And the ship rose and rose, and in another minute was flying through the +air, when the Simpleton, who was on the look out, cast his eyes down to +the earth and saw a man beneath him on the road, who was kneeling with +his ear upon the damp ground. + +‘Hallo!’ he called out, ‘what are you doing down there?’ + +‘I am listening to what is going on in the world,’ replied the man. + +‘Come with me in my ship,’ said the Simpleton. + +So the man was only too glad, and got in beside him; and the ship flew, +and flew, and flew through the air, till again from his outlook the +Simpleton saw a man on the road below, who was hopping on one leg, while +his other leg was tied up behind his ear. So he hailed him, calling out: + +‘Hallo! what are you doing, hopping on one leg?’ + +‘I can’t help it,’ replied the man. ‘I walk so fast that unless I tied +up one leg I should be at the end of the earth in a bound.’ + +‘Come with us on my ship,’ he answered; and the man made no objections, +but joined them; and the ship flew on, and on, and on, till suddenly the +Simpleton, looking down on the road below, beheld a man aiming with a +gun into the distance. + +‘Hallo!’ he shouted to him, ‘what are you aiming at? As far as eye can +see, there is no bird in sight.’ + +‘What would be the good of my taking a near shot?’ replied the man; ‘I +can hit beast or bird at a hundred miles’ distance. That is the kind of +shot I enjoy.’ + +‘Come into the ship with us,’ answered the Simpleton; and the man was +only too glad to join them, and he got in; and the ship flew on, farther +and farther, till again the Simpleton from his outlook saw a man on the +road below, carrying on his back a basket full of bread. And he waved to +him, calling out: + +‘Hallo! where are you going?’ + +‘To fetch bread for my breakfast.’ + +‘Bread? Why, you have got a whole basket-load of it on your back.’ + +‘That’s nothing,’ answered the man; ‘I should finish that in one +mouthful.’ + +‘Come along with us in my ship, then.’ + +And so the glutton joined the party, and the ship mounted again into the +air, and flew up and onward, till the Simpleton from his outlook saw +a man walking by the shore of a great lake, and evidently looking for +something. + +‘Hallo!’ he cried to him,’ what are you seeking? + +‘I want water to drink, I’m so thirsty,’ replied the man. + +‘Well, there’s a whole lake in front of you; why don’t you drink some of +that?’ + +‘Do you call that enough?’ answered the other. ‘Why, I should drink it +up in one gulp.’ + +‘Well, come with us in the ship.’ + +And so the mighty drinker was added to the company; and the ship flew +farther, and even farther, till again the Simpleton looked out, and this +time he saw a man dragging a bundle of wood, walking through the forest +beneath them. + +‘Hallo!’ he shouted to him, ‘why are you carrying wood through a +forest?’ + +‘This is not common wood,’ answered the other. + +‘What sort of wood is it, then?’ said the Simpleton. + +‘If you throw it upon the ground,’ said the man, ‘it will be changed +into an army of soldiers.’ + +‘Come into the ship with us, then.’ + +And so he too joined them; and away the ship flew on, and on, and on, +and once more the Simpleton looked out, and this time he saw a man +carrying straw upon his back. + +‘Hallo! Where are you carrying that straw to?’ + +‘To the village,’ said the man. + +‘Do you mean to say there is no straw in the village?’ + +‘Ah! but this is quite a peculiar straw. If you strew it about even in +the hottest summer the air at once becomes cold, and snow falls, and the +people freeze.’ + +Then the Simpleton asked him also to join them. + +At last the ship, with its strange crew, arrived at the King’s Court. +The King was having his dinner, but he at once despatched one of his +courtiers to find out what the huge, strange new bird could be that had +come flying through the air. The courtier peeped into the ship, and, +seeing what it was, instantly went back to the King and told him that it +was a flying ship, and that it was manned by a few peasants. + +Then the King remembered his royal oath; but he made up his mind that +he would never consent to let the Princess marry a poor peasant. So he +thought and thought, and then said to himself: + +‘I will give him some impossible tasks to perform; that will be the best +way of getting rid of him.’ And he there and then decided to despatch +one of his courtiers to the Simpleton, with the command that he was +to fetch the King the healing water from the world’s end before he had +finished his dinner. + +But while the King was still instructing the courtier exactly what +he was to say, the first man of the ship’s company, the one with the +miraculous power of hearing, had overheard the King’s words, and hastily +reported them to the poor Simpleton. + +‘Alas, alas!’ he cried; ‘what am I to do now? It would take me quite a +year, possibly my whole life, to find the water.’ + +‘Never fear,’ said his fleet-footed comrade, ‘I will fetch what the King +wants.’ + +Just then the courtier arrived, bearing the King’s command. + +‘Tell his Majesty,’ said the Simpleton, ‘that his orders shall be +obeyed; ‘and forthwith the swift runner unbound the foot that was strung +up behind his ear and started off, and in less than no time had reached +the world’s end and drawn the healing water from the well. + +‘Dear me,’ he thought to himself, ‘that’s rather tiring! I’ll just rest +for a few minutes; it will be some little time yet before the King has +got to dessert.’ So he threw himself down on the grass, and, as the sun +was very dazzling, he closed his eyes, and in a few seconds had fallen +sound asleep. + +In the meantime all the ship’s crew were anxiously awaiting him; the +King’s dinner would soon be finished, and their comrade had not yet +returned. So the man with the marvellous quick hearing lay down and, +putting his ear to the ground, listened. + +‘That’s a nice sort of fellow!’ he suddenly exclaimed. ‘He’s lying on +the ground, snoring hard!’ + +At this the marksman seized his gun, took aim, and fired in the +direction of the world’s end, in order to awaken the sluggard. And a +moment later the swift runner reappeared, and, stepping on board the +ship, handed the healing water to the Simpleton. So while the King was +still sitting at table finishing his dinner news was brought to him that +his orders had been obeyed to the letter. + +What was to be done now? The King determined to think of a still more +impossible task. So he told another courtier to go to the Simpleton with +the command that he and his comrades were instantly to eat up twelve +oxen and twelve tons of bread. Once more the sharp-eared comrade +overheard the King’s words while he was still talking to the courtier, +and reported them to the Simpleton. + +‘Alas, alas!’ he sighed; ‘what in the world shall I do? Why, it would +take us a year, possibly our whole lives, to eat up twelve oxen and +twelve tons of bread.’ + +‘Never fear,’ said the glutton. ‘It will scarcely be enough for me, I’m +so hungry.’ + +So when the courtier arrived with the royal message he was told to take +back word to the King that his orders should be obeyed. Then twelve +roasted oxen and twelve tons of bread were brought alongside of the +ship, and at one sitting the glutton had devoured it all. + +‘I call that a small meal,’ he said. ‘I wish they’d brought me some +more.’ + +Next, the King ordered that forty casks of wine, containing forty +gallons each, were to be drunk up on the spot by the Simpleton and his +party. When these words were overheard by the sharp-eared comrade and +repeated to the Simpleton, he was in despair. + +‘Alas, alas!’ he exclaimed; ‘what is to be done? It would take us a +year, possibly our whole lives, to drink so much.’ + +‘Never fear,’ said his thirsty comrade. ‘I’ll drink it all up at a +gulp, see if I don’t.’ And sure enough, when the forty casks of wine +containing forty gallons each were brought alongside of the ship, they +disappeared down the thirsty comrade’s throat in no time; and when they +were empty he remarked: + +‘Why, I’m still thirsty. I should have been glad of two more casks.’ + +Then the King took counsel with himself and sent an order to the +Simpleton that he was to have a bath, in a bath-room at the royal +palace, and after that the betrothal should take place. Now the +bath-room was built of iron, and the King gave orders that it was to +be heated to such a pitch that it would suffocate the Simpleton. And so +when the poor silly youth entered the room, he discovered that the iron +walls were red hot. But, fortunately, his comrade with the straw on his +back had entered behind him, and when the door was shut upon them he +scattered the straw about, and suddenly the red-hot walls cooled down, +and it became so very cold that the Simpleton could scarcely bear to +take a bath, and all the water in the room froze. So the Simpleton +climbed up upon the stove, and, wrapping himself up in the bath +blankets, lay there the whole night. And in the morning when they opened +the door there he lay sound and safe, singing cheerfully to himself. + +Now when this strange tale was told to the King he became quite sad, +not knowing what he should do to get rid of so undesirable a son-in-law, +when suddenly a brilliant idea occurred to him. + +‘Tell the rascal to raise me an army, now at this instant!’ he exclaimed +to one of his courtiers. ‘Inform him at once of this, my royal will.’ +And to himself he added, ‘I think I shall do for him this time.’ + +As on former occasions, the quick-eared comrade had overheard the King’s +command and repeated it to the Simpleton. + +‘Alas, alas!’ he groaned; ‘now I am quite done for.’ + +‘Not at all,’ replied one of his comrades (the one who had dragged the +bundle of wood through the forest). ‘Have you quite forgotten me?’ + +In the meantime the courtier, who had run all the way from the palace, +reached the ship panting and breathless, and delivered the King’s +message. + +‘Good!’ remarked the Simpleton. ‘I will raise an army for the King,’ and +he drew himself up. ‘But if, after that, the King refuses to accept me +as his son-in-law, I will wage war against him, and carry the Princess +off by force.’ + +During the night the Simpleton and his comrade went, together into a big +field, not forgetting to take the bundle of wood with them, which the +man spread out in all directions--and in a moment a mighty army stood +upon the spot, regiment on regiment of foot and horse soldiers; the +bugles sounded and the drums beat, the chargers neighed, and their +riders put their lances in rest, and the soldiers presented arms. + +In the morning when the King awoke he was startled by these warlike +sounds, the bugles and the drums, and the clatter of the horses, and the +shouts of the soldiers. And, stepping to the window, he saw the lances +gleam in the sunlight and the armour and weapons glitter. And the proud +monarch said to himself, ‘I am powerless in comparison with this man.’ +So he sent him royal robes and costly jewels, and commanded him to come +to the palace to be married to the Princess. And his son-in-law put +on the royal robes, and he looked so grand and stately that it was +impossible to recognise the poor Simpleton, so changed was he; and the +Princess fell in love with him as soon as ever she saw him. + +Never before had so grand a wedding been seen, and there was so much +food and wine that even the glutton and the thirsty comrade had enough +to eat and drink. + + + + +THE SNOW-DAUGHTER AND THE FIRE-SON(25) + +(25) From the Bukowinaer Tales and Legends. Von Wliolocki. + +There was once upon a time a man and his wife, and they had no children, +which was a great grief to them. One winter’s day, when the sun was +shining brightly, the couple were standing outside their cottage, and +the woman was looking at all the little icicles which hung from the +roof. She sighed, and turning to her husband said, ‘I wish I had as many +children as there are icicles hanging there.’ ‘Nothing would please me +more either,’ replied her husband. Then a tiny icicle detached itself +from the roof, and dropped into the woman’s mouth, who swallowed it with +a smile, and said, ‘Perhaps I shall give birth to a snow child now!’ Her +husband laughed at his wife’s strange idea, and they went back into the +house. + +But after a short time the woman gave birth to a little girl, who was +as white as snow and as cold as ice. If they brought the child anywhere +near the fire, it screamed loudly till they put it back into some cool +place. The little maid throve wonderfully, and in a few months she could +run about and speak. But she was not altogether easy to bring up, and +gave her parents much trouble and anxiety, for all summer she insisted +on spending in the cellar, and in the winter she would sleep outside in +the snow, and the colder it was the happier she seemed to be. Her father +and mother called her simply ‘Our Snow-daughter,’ and this name stuck to +her all her life. + +One day her parents sat by the fire, talking over the extraordinary +behaviour of their daughter, who was disporting herself in the snowstorm +that raged outside. The woman sighed deeply and said, ‘I wish I had +given birth to a Fire-son!’ As she said these words, a spark from the +big wood fire flew into the woman’s lap, and she said with a laugh, ‘Now +perhaps I shall give birth to a Fire-son!’ The man laughed at his wife’s +words, and thought it was a good joke. But he ceased to think it a +joke when his wife shortly afterwards gave birth to a boy, who screamed +lustily till he was put quite close to the fire, and who nearly yelled +himself into a fit if the Snow-daughter came anywhere near him. The +Snow-daughter herself avoided him as much as she could, and always crept +into a corner as far away from him as possible. The parents called the +boy simply ‘Our Fire-son,’ a name which stuck to him all his life. They +had a great deal of trouble and worry with him too; but he throve and +grew very quickly, and before he was a year old he could run about and +talk. He was as red as fire, and as hot to touch, and he always sat on +the hearth quite close to the fire, and complained of the cold; if his +sister were in the room he almost crept into the flames, while the girl +on her part always complained of the great heat if her brother were +anywhere near. In summer the boy always lay out in the sun, while the +girl hid herself in the cellar: so it happened that the brother and +sister came very little into contact with each other--in fact, they +carefully avoided it. + +Just as the girl grew up into a beautiful woman, her father and mother +both died one after the other. Then the Fire-son, who had grown up in +the meantime into a fine, strong young man, said to his sister, ‘I am +going out into the world, for what is the use of remaining on here?’ + +‘I shall go with you,’ she answered, ‘for, except you, I have no one in +the world, and I have a feeling that if we set out together we shall be +lucky.’ + +The Fire-son said, ‘I love you with all my heart, but at the same time +I always freeze if you are near me, and you nearly die of heat if I +approach you! How shall we travel about together without being odious +the one to the other?’ + +‘Don’t worry about that,’ replied the girl, ‘for I’ve thought it all +over, and have settled on a plan which will make us each able to bear +with the other! See, I have had a fur cloak made for each of us, and if +we put them on I shall not feel the heat so much nor you the cold.’ So +they put on the fur cloaks, and set out cheerfully on their way, and for +the first time in their lives quite happy in each other’s company. + +For a long time the Fire-son and the Snow-daughter wandered through the +world, and when at the beginning of winter they came to a big wood they +determined to stay there till spring. The Fire-son built himself a hut +where he always kept up a huge fire, while his sister with very few +clothes on stayed outside night and day. Now it happened one day that +the King of the land held a hunt in this wood, and saw the Snow-daughter +wandering about in the open air. He wondered very much who the beautiful +girl clad in such garments could be, and he stopped and spoke to her. +He soon learnt that she could not stand heat, and that her brother could +not endure cold. The King was so charmed by the Snow-daughter, that he +asked her to be his wife. The girl consented, and the wedding was held +with much state. The King had a huge house of ice made for his wife +underground, so that even in summer it did not melt. But for his +brother-in-law he had a house built with huge ovens all round it, that +were kept heated all day and night. The Fire-son was delighted, but +the perpetual heat in which he lived made his body so hot, that it was +dangerous to go too close to him. + +One day the King gave a great feast, and asked his brother-in-law +among the other guests. The Fire-son did not appear till everyone had +assembled, and when he did, everyone fled outside to the open air, so +intense was the heat he gave forth. Then the King was very angry and +said, ‘If I had known what a lot of trouble you would have been, I would +never have taken you into my house.’ Then the Fire-son replied with a +laugh, ‘Don’t be angry, dear brother! I love heat and my sister loves +cold--come here and let me embrace you, and then I’ll go home at once.’ +And before the King had time to reply, the Fire-son seized him in a +tight embrace. The King screamed aloud in agony, and when his wife, the +Snow-daughter, who had taken refuge from her brother in the next room, +hurried to him, the King lay dead on the ground burnt to a cinder. When +the Snow-daughter saw this she turned on her brother and flew at him. +Then a fight began, the like of which had never been seen on earth. When +the people, attracted by the noise, hurried to the spot, they saw the +Snow-daughter melting into water and the Fire-son burn to a cinder. And +so ended the unhappy brother and sister. + + + + +THE STORY OF KING FROST (26) + +(26) From the Russian. + +There was once upon a time a peasant-woman who had a daughter and a +step-daughter. The daughter had her own way in everything, and whatever +she did was right in her mother’s eyes; but the poor step-daughter had +a hard time. Let her do what she would, she was always blamed, and got +small thanks for all the trouble she took; nothing was right, everything +wrong; and yet, if the truth were known, the girl was worth her weight +in gold--she was so unselfish and good-hearted. But her step-mother did +not like her, and the poor girl’s days were spent in weeping; for it +was impossible to live peacefully with the woman. The wicked shrew was +determined to get rid of the girl by fair means or foul, and kept saying +to her father: ‘Send her away, old man; send her away--anywhere so that +my eyes sha’n’t be plagued any longer by the sight of her, or my ears +tormented by the sound of her voice. Send her out into the fields, and +let the cutting frost do for her.’ + +In vain did the poor old father weep and implore her pity; she was firm, +and he dared not gainsay her. So he placed his daughter in a sledge, +not even daring to give her a horse-cloth to keep herself warm with, and +drove her out on to the bare, open fields, where he kissed her and left +her, driving home as fast as he could, that he might not witness her +miserable death. + +Deserted by her father, the poor girl sat down under a fir-tree at the +edge of the forest and began to weep silently. Suddenly she heard a +faint sound: it was King Frost springing from tree to tree, and cracking +his fingers as he went. At length he reached the fir-tree beneath which +she was sitting, and with a crisp crackling sound he alighted beside +her, and looked at her lovely face. + +‘Well, maiden,’ he snapped out, ‘do you know who I am? I am King Frost, +king of the red-noses.’ + +‘All hail to you, great King!’ answered the girl, in a gentle, trembling +voice. ‘Have you come to take me?’ + +‘Are you warm, maiden?’ he replied. + +‘Quite warm, King Frost,’ she answered, though she shivered as she +spoke. + +Then King Frost stooped down, and bent over the girl, and the crackling +sound grew louder, and the air seemed to be full of knives and darts; +and again he asked: + +‘Maiden, are you warm? Are you warm, you beautiful girl?’ + +And though her breath was almost frozen on her lips, she whispered +gently, ‘Quite warm, King Frost.’ + +Then King Frost gnashed his teeth, and cracked his fingers, and his eyes +sparkled, and the crackling, crisp sound was louder than ever, and for +the last time he asked her: + +‘Maiden, are you still warm? Are you still warm, little love?’ + +And the poor girl was so stiff and numb that she could just gasp, ‘Still +warm, O King!’ + +Now her gentle, courteous words and her uncomplaining ways touched +King Frost, and he had pity on her, and he wrapped her up in furs, and +covered her with blankets, and he fetched a great box, in which were +beautiful jewels and a rich robe embroidered in gold and silver. And she +put it on, and looked more lovely than ever, and King Frost stepped with +her into his sledge, with six white horses. + +In the meantime the wicked step-mother was waiting at home for news of +the girl’s death, and preparing pancakes for the funeral feast. And she +said to her husband: ‘Old man, you had better go out into the fields and +find your daughter’s body and bury her.’ Just as the old man was leaving +the house the little dog under the table began to bark, saying: + + ‘YOUR daughter shall live to be your delight; + HER daughter shall die this very night.’ + +‘Hold your tongue, you foolish beast!’ scolded the woman. ‘There’s a +pancake for you, but you must say: + + “HER daughter shall have much silver and gold; + HIS daughter is frozen quite stiff and cold.”’ + +But the doggie ate up the pancake and barked, saying: + + ‘His daughter shall wear a crown on her head; + Her daughter shall die unwooed, unwed.’ + + +Then the old woman tried to coax the doggie with more pancakes and +to terrify it with blows, but he barked on, always repeating the same +words. And suddenly the door creaked and flew open, and a great heavy +chest was pushed in, and behind it came the step-daughter, radiant and +beautiful, in a dress all glittering with silver and gold. For a moment +the step-mother’s eyes were dazzled. Then she called to her husband: +‘Old man, yoke the horses at once into the sledge, and take my daughter +to the same field and leave her on the same spot exactly; ‘and so the +old man took the girl and left her beneath the same tree where he had +parted from his daughter. In a few minutes King Frost came past, and, +looking at the girl, he said: + +‘Are you warm, maiden?’ + +‘What a blind old fool you must be to ask such a question!’ she answered +angrily. ‘Can’t you see that my hands and feet are nearly frozen?’ + +Then King Frost sprang to and fro in front of her, questioning her, and +getting only rude, rough words in reply, till at last he got very angry, +and cracked his fingers, and gnashed his teeth, and froze her to death. + +But in the hut her mother was waiting for her return, and as she grew +impatient she said to her husband: ‘Get out the horses, old man, to go +and fetch her home; but see that you are careful not to upset the sledge +and lose the chest.’ + +But the doggie beneath the table began to bark, saying: + + ‘Your daughter is frozen quite stiff and cold, + And shall never have a chest full of gold.’ + +‘Don’t tell such wicked lies!’ scolded the woman. ‘There’s a cake for +you; now say: + + “HER daughter shall marry a mighty King.” + +At that moment the door flew open, and she rushed out to meet her +daughter, and as she took her frozen body in her arms she too was +chilled to death. + + + + +THE DEATH OF THE SUN-HERO (27) + +(27) From the Bukowinaer Tales and Legends. Von Wliolocki. + +Many, many thousand years ago there lived a mighty King whom heaven had +blessed with a clever and beautiful son. When he was only ten years old +the boy was cleverer than all the King’s counsellors put together, and +when he was twenty he was the greatest hero in the whole kingdom. His +father could not make enough of his son, and always had him clothed in +golden garments which shone and sparkled like the sun; and his mother +gave him a white horse, which never slept, and which flew like the +wind. All the people in the land loved him dearly, and called him the +Sun-Hero, for they did not think his like existed under the sun. Now +it happened one night that both his parents had the same extraordinary +dream. They dreamt that a girl all dressed in red had come to them and +said: ‘If you wish that your son should really become the Sun-Hero in +deed and not only in name, let him go out into the world and search for +the Tree of the Sun, and when he has found it, let him pluck a golden +apple from it and bring it home.’ + +When the King and Queen had each related their dreams to the other, +they were much amazed that they should both have dreamt exactly the same +about their son, and the King said to his wife, ‘This is clearly a sign +from heaven that we should send our son out into the world in order that +he may come home the great Sun-Hero, as the Red Girl said, not only in +name but in deed.’ + +The Queen consented with many tears, and the King at once bade his son +set forth in search of the Tree of the Sun, from which he was to pluck +a golden apple. The Prince was delighted at the prospect, and set out on +his travels that very day. + +For a long time he wandered all through the world, and it was not till +the ninety-ninth day after he started that he found an old man who +was able to tell him where the Tree of the Sun grew. He followed his +directions, and rode on his way, and after another ninety-nine days +he arrived at a golden castle, which stood in the middle of a vast +wilderness. He knocked at the door, which was opened noiselessly and by +invisible hands. Finding no one about, the Prince rode on, and came to +a great meadow, where the Sun-Tree grew. When he reached the tree he put +out his hand to pick a golden apple; but all of a sudden the tree grew +higher, so that he could not reach its fruit. Then he heard some one +behind him laughing. Turning round, he saw the girl in red walking +towards him, who addressed him in these words: + +‘Do you really imagine, brave son of the earth, that you can pluck an +apple so easily from the Tree of the Sun? Before you can do that, you +have a difficult task before you. You must guard the tree for nine days +and nine nights from the ravages of two wild black wolves, who will try +to harm it. Do you think you can undertake this?’ + +‘Yes,’ answered the Sun-Hero, ‘I will guard the Tree of the Sun nine +days and nine nights.’ + +Then the girl continued: ‘Remember, though, if you do not succeed the +Sun will kill you. Now begin your watch.’ + +With these words the Red Girl went back into the golden castle. She had +hardly left him when the two black wolves appeared: but the Sun-Hero +beat them off with his sword, and they retired, only, however, to +reappear in a very short time. The Sun-Hero chased them away once more, +but he had hardly sat down to rest when the two black wolves were on +the scene again. This went on for seven days and nights, when the white +horse, who had never done such a thing before, turned to the Sun-Hero +and said in a human voice: ‘Listen to what I am going to say. A Fairy +gave me to your mother in order that I might be of service to you; so +let me tell you, that if you go to sleep and let the wolves harm the +tree, the Sun will surely kill you. The Fairy, foreseeing this, put +everyone in the world under a spell, which prevents their obeying the +Sun’s command to take your life. But all the same, she has forgotten +one person, who will certainly kill you if you fall asleep and let the +wolves damage the tree. So watch and keep the wolves away.’ + +Then the Sun-Hero strove with all his might and kept the black wolves +at bay, and conquered his desire to sleep; but on the eighth night his +strength failed him, and he fell fast asleep. When he awoke a woman in +black stood beside him, who said: ‘You have fulfilled your task very +badly, for you have let the two black wolves damage the Tree of the Sun. +I am the mother of the Sun, and I command you to ride away from here at +once, and I pronounce sentence of death upon you, for you proudly let +yourself be called the Sun-Hero without having done anything to deserve +the name.’ + +The youth mounted his horse sadly, and rode home. The people all +thronged round him on his return, anxious to hear his adventures, but +he told them nothing, and only to his mother did he confide what had +befallen him. But the old Queen laughed, and said to her son: ‘Don’t +worry, my child; you see, the Fairy has protected you so far, and the +Sun has found no one to kill you. So cheer up and be happy.’ + +After a time the Prince forgot all about his adventure, and married a +beautiful Princess, with whom he lived very happily for some time. But +one day when he was out hunting he felt very thirsty, and coming to a +stream he stooped down to drink from it, and this caused his death, for +a crab came swimming up, and with its claws tore out his tongue. He was +carried home in a dying condition, and as he lay on his death-bed +the black woman appeared and said: ‘So the Sun has, after all, found +someone, who was not under the Fairy’s spell, who has caused your death. +And a similar fate will overtake everyone under the Sun who wrongfully +assumes a title to which he has no right.’ + + + + +THE WITCH (28) + +(28) From the Russian. + +Once upon a time there was a peasant whose wife died, leaving him with +two children--twins--a boy and a girl. For some years the poor man +lived on alone with the children, caring for them as best he could; but +everything in the house seemed to go wrong without a woman to look after +it, and at last he made up his mind to marry again, feeling that a +wife would bring peace and order to his household and take care of his +motherless children. So he married, and in the following years several +children were born to him; but peace and order did not come to the +household. For the step-mother was very cruel to the twins, and beat +them, and half-starved them, and constantly drove them out of the house; +for her one idea was to get them out of the way. All day she thought +of nothing but how she should get rid of them; and at last an evil idea +came into her head, and she determined to send them out into the great +gloomy wood where a wicked witch lived. And so one morning she spoke to +them, saying: + +‘You have been such good children that I am going to send you to visit +my granny, who lives in a dear little hut in the wood. You will have to +wait upon her and serve her, but you will be well rewarded, for she will +give you the best of everything.’ + +So the children left the house together; and the little sister, who was +very wise for her years, said to the brother: + +‘We will first go and see our own dear grandmother, and tell her where +our step-mother is sending us.’ + +And when the grandmother heard where they were going, she cried and +said: + +‘You poor motherless children! How I pity you; and yet I can do nothing +to help you! Your step-mother is not sending you to her granny, but to +a wicked witch who lives in that great gloomy wood. Now listen to me, +children. You must be civil and kind to everyone, and never say a cross +word to anyone, and never touch a crumb belonging to anyone else. Who +knows if, after all, help may not be sent to you?’ + +And she gave her grandchildren a bottle of milk and a piece of ham and +a loaf of bread, and they set out for the great gloomy wood. When they +reached it they saw in front of them, in the thickest of the trees, a +queer little hut, and when they looked into it, there lay the witch, +with her head on the threshold of the door, with one foot in one corner +and the other in the other corner, and her knees cocked up, almost +touching the ceiling. + +‘Who’s there?’ she snarled, in an awful voice, when she saw the +children. + +And they answered civilly, though they were so terrified that they hid +behind one another, and said: + +‘Good-morning, granny; our step-mother has sent us to wait upon you, and +serve you.’ + +‘See that you do it well, then,’ growled the witch. ‘If I am pleased +with you, I’ll reward you; but if I am not, I’ll put you in a pan and +fry you in the oven--that’s what I’ll do with you, my pretty dears! You +have been gently reared, but you’ll find my work hard enough. See if you +don’t.’ + +And, so saying, she set the girl down to spin yarn, and she gave the boy +a sieve in which to carry water from the well, and she herself went +out into the wood. Now, as the girl was sitting at her distaff, weeping +bitterly because she could not spin, she heard the sound of hundreds +of little feet, and from every hole and corner in the hut mice came +pattering along the floor, squeaking and saying: + + ‘Little girl, why are your eyes so red? + If you want help, then give us some bread.’ + +And the girl gave them the bread that her grandmother had given her. +Then the mice told her that the witch had a cat, and the cat was very +fond of ham; if she would give the cat her ham, it would show her the +way out of the wood, and in the meantime they would spin the yarn for +her. So the girl set out to look for the cat, and, as she was hunting +about, she met her brother, in great trouble because he could not carry +water from the well in a sieve, as it came pouring out as fast as he +put it in. And as she was trying to comfort him they heard a rustling of +wings, and a flight of wrens alighted on the ground beside them. And the +wrens said: + + ‘Give us some crumbs, then you need not grieve. + + For you’ll find that water will stay in the sieve.’ + +Then the twins crumbled their bread on the ground, and the wrens pecked +it, and chirruped and chirped. And when they had eaten the last crumb +they told the boy to fill up the holes of the sieve with clay, and then +to draw water from the well. So he did what they said, and carried the +sieve full of water into the hut without spilling a drop. When they +entered the hut the cat was curled up on the floor. So they stroked her, +and fed her with ham, and said to her: + +‘Pussy, grey pussy, tell us how we are to get away from the witch?’ + +Then the cat thanked them for the ham, and gave them a +pocket-handkerchief and a comb, and told them that when the witch +pursued them, as she certainly would, all they had to do was to throw +the handkerchief on the ground and run as fast as they could. As soon as +the handkerchief touched the ground a deep, broad river would spring up, +which would hinder the witch’s progress. If she managed to get across +it, they must throw the comb behind them and run for their lives, for +where the comb fell a dense forest would start up, which would delay the +witch so long that they would be able to get safely away. + +The cat had scarcely finished speaking when the witch returned to see if +the children had fulfilled their tasks. + +‘Well, you have done well enough for to-day,’ she grumbled; ‘but +to-morrow you’ll have something more difficult to do, and if you don’t +do it well, you pampered brats, straight into the oven you go.’ + +Half-dead with fright, and trembling in every limb, the poor children +lay down to sleep on a heap of straw in the corner of the hut; but they +dared not close their eyes, and scarcely ventured to breathe. In the +morning the witch gave the girl two pieces of linen to weave before +night, and the boy a pile of wood to cut into chips. Then the witch left +them to their tasks, and went out into the wood. As soon as she had +gone out of sight the children took the comb and the handkerchief, and, +taking one another by the hand, they started and ran, and ran, and ran. +And first they met the watch-dog, who was going to leap on them and tear +them to pieces; but they threw the remains of their bread to him, and +he ate them and wagged his tail. Then they were hindered by the +birch-trees, whose branches almost put their eyes out. But the little +sister tied the twigs together with a piece of ribbon, and they got past +safely, and, after running through the wood, came out on to the open +fields. + +In the meantime in the hut the cat was busy weaving the linen and +tangling the threads as it wove. And the witch returned to see how the +children were getting on; and she crept up to the window, and whispered: + +‘Are you weaving, my little dear?’ + +‘Yes, granny, I am weaving,’ answered the cat. + +When the witch saw that the children had escaped her, she was furious, +and, hitting the cat with a porringer, she said: ‘Why did you let the +children leave the hut? Why did you not scratch their eyes out?’ + +But the cat curled up its tail and put its back up, and answered: ‘I +have served you all these years and you never even threw me a bone, but +the dear children gave me their own piece of ham.’ + +Then the witch was furious with the watch-dog and with the birch-trees, +because they had let the children pass. But the dog answered: + +‘I have served you all these years and you never gave me so much as a +hard crust, but the dear children gave me their own loaf of bread.’ + +And the birch rustled its leaves, and said: ‘I have served you longer +than I can say, and you never tied a bit of twine even round my +branches; and the dear children bound them up with their brightest +ribbons.’ + +So the witch saw there was no help to be got from her old servants, and +that the best thing she could do was to mount on her broom and set off +in pursuit of the children. And as the children ran they heard the sound +of the broom sweeping the ground close behind them, so instantly they +threw the handkerchief down over their shoulder, and in a moment a deep, +broad river flowed behind them. + +When the witch came up to it, it took her a long time before she found a +place which she could ford over on her broom-stick; but at last she got +across, and continued the chase faster than before. And as the children +ran they heard a sound, and the little sister put her ear to the ground, +and heard the broom sweeping the earth close behind them; so, quick as +thought, she threw the comb down on the ground, and in an instant, +as the cat had said, a dense forest sprung up, in which the roots and +branches were so closely intertwined, that it was impossible to force a +way through it. So when the witch came up to it on her broom she found +that there was nothing for it but to turn round and go back to her hut. + +But the twins ran straight on till they reached their own home. Then +they told their father all that they had suffered, and he was so angry +with their step-mother that he drove her out of the house, and never let +her return; but he and the children lived happily together; and he took +care of them himself, and never let a stranger come near them. + + + + +THE HAZEL-NUT CHILD (29) + +(29) From the Bukowniaer. Van Wliolocki. + +There was once upon a time a couple who had no children, and they prayed +Heaven every day to send them a child, though it were no bigger than +a hazel-nut. At last Heaven heard their prayer and sent them a child +exactly the size of a hazel-nut, and it never grew an inch. The parents +were very devoted to the little creature, and nursed and tended it +carefully. Their tiny son too was as clever as he could be, and so sharp +and sensible that all the neighbours marvelled over the wise things he +said and did. + +When the Hazel-nut child was fifteen years old, and was sitting one day +in an egg-shell on the table beside his mother, she turned to him and +said, ‘You are now fifteen years old, and nothing can be done with you. +What do you intend to be?’ + +‘A messenger,’ answered the Hazel-nut child. + +Then his mother burst out laughing and said, ‘What an idea! You a +messenger! Why, your little feet would take an hour to go the distance +an ordinary person could do in a minute!’ + +But the Hazel-nut child replied, ‘Nevertheless I mean to be a messenger! +Just send me a message and you’ll see that I shall be back in next to no +time.’ + +So his mother said, ‘Very well, go to your aunt in the neighbouring +village, and fetch me a comb.’ The Hazel-nut child jumped quickly out +of the egg-shell and ran out into the street. Here he found a man on +horseback who was just setting out for the neighbouring village. He +crept up the horse’s leg, sat down under the saddle, and then began to +pinch the horse and to prick it with a pin. The horse plunged and reared +and then set off at a hard gallop, which it continued in spite of its +rider’s efforts to stop it. When they reached the village, the Hazel-nut +child left off pricking the horse, and the poor tired creature pursued +its way at a snail’s pace. The Hazel-nut child took advantage of this, +and crept down the horse’s leg; then he ran to his aunt and asked her +for a comb. On the way home he met another rider, and did the return +journey in exactly the same way. When he handed his mother the comb that +his aunt had given him, she was much amazed and asked him, ‘But how did +you manage to get back so quickly?’ + +‘Ah! mother,’ he replied, ‘you see I was quite right when I said I knew +a messenger was the profession for me.’ + +His father too possessed a horse which he often used to take out into +the fields to graze. One day he took the Hazel-nut child with him. At +midday the father turned to his small son and said, ‘Stay here and look +after the horse. I must go home and give your mother a message, but I +shall be back soon.’ + +When his father had gone, a robber passed by and saw the horse grazing +without any one watching it, for of course he could not see the +Hazel-nut child hidden in the grass. So he mounted the horse and rode +away. But the Hazel-nut child, who was the most active little creature, +climbed up the horse’s tail and began to bite it on the back, enraging +the creature to such an extent that it paid no attention to the +direction the robber tried to make it go in, but galloped straight home. +The father was much astonished when he saw a stranger riding his horse, +but the Hazel-nut child climbed down quickly and told him all that had +happened, and his father had the robber arrested at once and put into +prison. + +One autumn when the Hazel-nut child was twenty years old he said to his +parents: ‘Farewell, my dear father and mother. I am going to set out +into the world, and as soon as I have become rich I will return home to +you.’ + +The parents laughed at the little man’s words, but did not believe him +for a moment. In the evening the Hazel-nut child crept on to the roof, +where some storks had built their nest. The storks were fast asleep, +and he climbed on to the back of the father-stork and bound a silk cord +round the joint of one of its wings, then he crept among its soft downy +feathers and fell asleep. + +The next morning the storks flew towards the south, for winter was +approaching. The Hazel-nut child flew through the air on the stork’s +back, and when he wanted to rest he bound his silk cord on to the joint +of the bird’s other wing, so that it could not fly any farther. In this +way he reached the country of the black people, where the storks took +up their abode close to the capital. When the people saw the Hazel-nut +child they were much astonished, and took him with the stork to the King +of the country. The King was delighted with the little creature and kept +him always beside him, and he soon grew so fond of the little man that +he gave him a diamond four times as big as himself. The Hazel-nut child +fastened the diamond firmly under the stork’s neck with a ribbon, and +when he saw that the other storks were getting ready for their northern +flight, he untied the silk cord from his stork’s wings, and away they +went, getting nearer home every minute. At length the Hazel-nut child +came to his native village; then he undid the ribbon from the stork’s +neck and the diamond fell to the ground; he covered it first with sand +and stones, and then ran to get his parents, so that they might carry +the treasure home, for he himself was not able to lift the great +diamond. + +So the Hazel-nut child and his parents lived in happiness and prosperity +after this till they died. + + + + +THE STORY OF BIG KLAUS AND LITTLE KLAUS + +In a certain village there lived two people who had both the same name. +Both were called Klaus, but one owned four horses and the other only +one. In order to distinguish the one from the other, the one who had +four horses was called Big Klaus, and the one who had only one horse, +Little Klaus. Now you shall hear what befell them both, for this is a +true story. + +The whole week through Little Klaus had to plough for Big Klaus, and +lend him his one horse; then Big Klaus lent him his four horses, but +only once a week, and that was on Sunday. Hurrah! how loudly Little +Klaus cracked his whip over all the five horses! for they were indeed as +good as his on this one day. The sun shone brightly, and all the bells +in the church-towers were pealing; the people were dressed in their best +clothes, and were going to church, with their hymn books under their +arms, to hear the minister preach. They saw Little Klaus ploughing with +the five horses; but he was so happy that he kept on cracking his whip, +and calling out ‘Gee-up, my five horses!’ + +‘You mustn’t say that,’ said Big Klaus. ‘Only one horse is yours.’ + +But as soon as someone else was going by Little Klaus forgot that he +must not say it, and called out ‘Gee-up, my five horses!’ + +‘Now you had better stop that,’ said Big Klaus, ‘for if you say it once +more I will give your horse such a crack on the head that it will drop +down dead on the spot!’ + +‘I really won’t say it again!’ said Little Klaus. But as soon as more +people passed by, and nodded him good-morning, he became so happy in +thinking how well it looked to have five horses ploughing his field +that, cracking his whip, he called out ‘Gee-up, my five horses!’ + +‘I’ll see to your horses!’ said Big Klaus; and, seizing an iron bar, he +struck Little Klaus’ one horse such a blow on the head that it fell down +and died on the spot. + +‘Alas! Now I have no horse!’ said Little Klaus, beginning to cry. Then +he flayed the skin off his horse, dried it, and put it in a sack, which +he threw over his shoulder, and went into the town to sell it. He had a +long way to go, and had to pass through a great dark forest. A dreadful +storm came on, in which he lost his way, and before he could get on to +the right road night came on, and it was impossible to reach the town +that evening. + +Right in front of him was a large farm-house. The window-shutters were +closed, but the light came through the chinks. ‘I should very much like +to be allowed to spend the night there,’ thought Little Klaus; and he +went and knocked at the door. The farmer’s wife opened it, but when she +heard what he wanted she told him to go away; her husband was not at +home, and she took in no strangers. + +‘Well, I must lie down outside,’ said Little Klaus; and the farmer’s +wife shut the door in his face. Close by stood a large haystack, +and between it and the house a little out-house, covered with a flat +thatched roof. + +‘I can lie down there,’ thought Little Klaus, looking at the roof; ‘it +will make a splendid bed, if only the stork won’t fly down and bite my +legs.’ For a live stork was standing on the roof, where it had its nest. +So Little Klaus crept up into the out-house, where he lay down, and made +himself comfortable for the night. The wooden shutters over the windows +were not shut at the top, and he could just see into the room. + +There stood a large table, spread with wine and roast meat and a +beautiful fish. The farmer’s wife and the sexton sat at the table, but +there was no one else. She was filling up his glass, while he stuck his +fork into the fish which was his favourite dish. + +‘If one could only get some of that!’ thought Little Klaus, stretching +his head towards the window. Ah, what delicious cakes he saw standing +there! It WAS a feast! + +Then he heard someone riding along the road towards the house. It was +the farmer coming home. He was a very worthy man; but he had one great +peculiarity--namely, that he could not bear to see a sexton. If he +saw one he was made quite mad. That was why the sexton had gone to say +good-day to the farmer’s wife when he knew that her husband was not at +home, and the good woman therefore put in front of him the best food she +had. But when they heard the farmer coming they were frightened, and the +farmer’s wife begged the sexton to creep into a great empty chest. He +did so, as he knew the poor man could not bear to see a sexton. The wife +hastily hid all the beautiful food and the wine in her oven; for if her +husband had seen it, he would have been sure to ask what it all meant. + +‘Oh, dear! oh, dear!’ groaned Little Klaus up in the shed, when he saw +the good food disappearing. + +‘Is anybody up there?’ asked the farmer, catching sight of Little Klaus. +‘Why are you lying there? Come with me into the house.’ + +Then Little Klaus told him how he had lost his way, and begged to be +allowed to spend the night there. + +‘Yes, certainly,’ said the farmer; ‘but we must first have something to +eat!’ + +The wife received them both very kindly, spread a long table, and gave +them a large plate of porridge. The farmer was hungry, and ate with a +good appetite; but Little Klaus could not help thinking of the delicious +dishes of fish and roast meats and cakes which he knew were in the oven. +Under the table at his feet he had laid the sack with the horse-skin in +it, for, as we know, he was going to the town to sell it. The porridge +did not taste good to him, so he trod upon his sack, and the dry skin in +the sack squeaked loudly. + +‘Hush!’ said Little Klaus to his sack, at the same time treading on it +again so that it squeaked even louder than before. + +‘Hallo! what have you got in your sack?’ asked the farmer. + +‘Oh, it is a wizard!’ said Little Klaus. ‘He says we should not eat +porridge, for he has conjured the whole oven full of roast meats and +fish and cakes.’ + +‘Goodness me!’ said the farmer; and opening the oven he saw all the +delicious, tempting dishes his wife had hidden there, but which he now +believed the wizard in the sack had conjured up for them. The wife could +say nothing, but she put the food at once on the table, and they ate the +fish, the roast meat, and the cakes. Little Klaus now trod again on his +sack, so that the skin squeaked. + +‘What does he say now?’ asked the farmer. + +‘He says,’ replied Little Klans, ‘that he has also conjured up for us +three bottles of wine; they are standing in the corner by the oven!’ + +The wife had to fetch the wine which she had hidden, and the farmer +drank and grew very merry. He would very much like to have had such a +wizard as Little Klaus had in the sack. + +‘Can he conjure up the Devil?’ asked the farmer. ‘I should like to see +him very much, for I feel just now in very good spirits!’ + +‘Yes,’ said Little Klaus; ‘my wizard can do everything that I ask. Isn’t +that true?’ he asked, treading on the sack so that it squeaked. ‘Do you +hear? He says ‘’Yes;’’ but that the Devil looks so ugly that we should +not like to see him.’ + +‘Oh! I’m not at all afraid. What does he look like?’ + +‘He will show himself in the shape of a sexton!’ + +‘I say!’ said the farmer, ‘he must be ugly! You must know that I can’t +bear to look at a sexton! But it doesn’t matter. I know that it is the +Devil, and I sha’n’t mind! I feel up to it now. But he must not come too +near me!’ + +‘I must ask my wizard,’ said Little Klaus, treading on the sack and +putting his ear to it. + +‘What does he say?’ + +‘He says you can open the chest in the corner there, and you will see +the Devil squatting inside it; but you must hold the lid so that he +shall not escape.’ + +‘Will you help me to hold him?’ begged the farmer, going towards the +chest where his wife had hidden the real sexton, who was sitting inside +in a terrible fright. The farmer opened the lid a little way, and saw +him inside. + +‘Ugh!’ he shrieked, springing back. ‘Yes, now I have seen him; he looked +just like our sexton. Oh, it was horrid!’ + +So he had to drink again, and they drank till far on into the night. + +‘You MUST sell me the wizard,’ said the farmer. ‘Ask anything you like! +I will pay you down a bushelful of money on the spot.’ + +‘No, I really can’t,’ said Little Klans. ‘Just think how many things I +can get from this wizard!’ + +‘Ah! I should like to have him so much!’ said the farmer, begging very +hard. + +‘Well!’ said Little Klaus at last, ‘as you have been so good as to give +me shelter to-night, I will sell him. You shall have the wizard for a +bushel of money, but I must have full measure.’ + +‘That you shall,’ said the farmer. ‘But you must take the chest with +you. I won’t keep it another hour in the house. Who knows that he isn’t +in there still?’ + +Little Klaus gave the farmer his sack with the dry skin, and got instead +a good bushelful of money. The farmer also gave him a wheelbarrow to +carry away his money and the chest. ‘Farewell,’ said Little Klaus; and +away he went with his money and the big chest, wherein sat the sexton. + +On the other side of the wood was a large deep river. The water flowed +so rapidly that you could scarcely swim against the stream. + +A great new bridge had been built over it, on the middle of which Little +Klaus stopped, and said aloud so that the sexton might hear: + +‘Now, what am I to do with this stupid chest? It is as heavy as if it +were filled with stones! I shall only be tired, dragging it along; I +will throw it into the river. If it swims home to me, well and good; and +if it doesn’t, it’s no matter.’ + +Then he took the chest with one hand and lifted it up a little, as if he +were going to throw it into the water. + +‘No, don’t do that!’ called out the sexton in the chest. ‘Let me get out +first!’ + +‘Oh, oh!’ said Little Klaus, pretending that he was afraid. ‘He is still +in there! I must throw him quickly into the water to drown him!’ + +‘Oh! no, no!’ cried the sexton. ‘I will give you a whole bushelful of +money if you will let me go!’ + +‘Ah, that’s quite another thing!’ said Little Klaus, opening the chest. +The sexton crept out very quickly, pushed the empty chest into the water +and went to his house, where he gave Little Klaus a bushel of money. One +he had had already from the farmer, and now he had his wheelbarrow full +of money. + +‘Well, I have got a good price for the horse!’ said he to himself when +he shook all his money out in a heap in his room. ‘This will put Big +Klaus in a rage when he hears how rich I have become through my one +horse; but I won’t tell him just yet!’ + +So he sent a boy to Big Klaus to borrow a bushel measure from him. + +‘Now what can he want with it?’ thought Big Klaus; and he smeared some +tar at the bottom, so that of whatever was measured a little should +remain in it. And this is just what happened; for when he got his +measure back, three new silver five-shilling pieces were sticking to it. + +What does this mean?’ said Big Klaus, and he ran off at once to Little +Klaus. + +‘Where did you get so much money from?’ + +‘Oh, that was from my horse-skin. I sold it yesterday evening.’ + +‘That’s certainly a good price!’ said Big Klaus; and running home in +great haste, he took an axe, knocked all his four horses on the head, +skinned them, and went into the town. + +‘Skins! skins! Who will buy skins?’ he cried through the streets. + +All the shoemakers and tanners came running to ask him what he wanted +for them. ‘A bushel of money for each,’ said Big Klaus. + +‘Are you mad?’ they all exclaimed. ‘Do you think we have money by the +bushel?’ + +‘Skins! skins! Who will buy skins?’ he cried again, and to all who asked +him what they cost, he answered, ‘A bushel of money.’ + +‘He is making game of us,’ they said; and the shoemakers seized their +yard measures and the tanners their leathern aprons and they gave Big +Klaus a good beating. ‘Skins! skins!’ they cried mockingly; yes, we will +tan YOUR skin for you! Out of the town with him!’ they shouted; and Big +Klaus had to hurry off as quickly as he could, if he wanted to save his +life. + +‘Aha!’ said he when he came home, ‘Little Klaus shall pay dearly for +this. I will kill him!’ + +Little Klaus’ grandmother had just died. Though she had been very unkind +to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid +her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life. +There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a +chair, which he had often done before. And in the night as he sat there +the door opened, and Big Klaus came in with his axe. He knew quite +well where Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the +grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be. +‘There!’ said he. ‘Now you won’t get the best of me again!’ And he went +home. + +‘What a very wicked man!’ thought Little Klaus. ‘He was going to kill +me! It was a good thing for my grandmother that she was dead already, or +else he would have killed her!’ + +Then he dressed his grandmother in her Sunday clothes, borrowed a horse +from his neighbour, harnessed the cart to it, sat his grandmother on the +back seat so that she could not fall out when he drove, and away they +went. When the sun rose they were in front of a large inn. Little Klaus +got down, and went in to get something to drink. The host was very rich. +He was a very worthy but hot-tempered man. + +‘Good morning!’ said he to Little Klaus. ‘You are early on the road.’ + +‘Yes,’ said Little Klaus. ‘I am going to the town with my grandmother. +She is sitting outside in the cart; I cannot bring her in. Will you not +give her a glass of mead? But you will have to speak loud, for she is +very hard of hearing.’ + +‘Oh yes, certainly I will!’ said the host; and, pouring out a large +glass of mead, he took it out to the dead grandmother, who was sitting +upright in the cart. + +‘Here is a glass of mead from your son,’ said the host. But the dead +woman did not answer a word, and sat still. ‘Don’t you hear?’ cried the +host as loud as he could. ‘Here is a glass of mead from your son!’ + +Then he shouted the same thing again, and yet again, but she never moved +in her place; and at last he grew angry, threw the glass in her face, so +that she fell back into the cart, for she was not tied in her place. + +‘Hullo!’ cried Little Klaus, running out of the door, and seizing the +host by the throat. ‘You have killed my grandmother! Look! there is a +great hole in her forehead!’ + +‘Oh, what a misfortune!’ cried the host, wringing his hands. ‘It all +comes from my hot temper! Dear Little Klaus! I will give you a bushel of +money, and will bury your grandmother as if she were my own; only don’t +tell about it, or I shall have my head cut off, and that would be very +uncomfortable.’ + +So Little Klaus got a bushel of money, and the host buried his +grandmother as if she had been his own. + +Now when Little Klaus again reached home with so much money he sent his +boy to Big Klaus to borrow his bushel measure. + +‘What’s this?’ said Big Klaus. ‘Didn’t I kill him? I must see to this +myself!’ + +So he went himself to Little Klaus with the measure. + +‘Well, now, where did you get all this money?’ asked he, opening his +eyes at the heap. + +‘You killed my grandmother--not me,’ said Little Klaus. ‘I sold her, and +got a bushel of money for her.’ + +‘That is indeed a good price!’ said Big Klaus; and, hurrying home, he +took an axe and killed his grandmother, laid her in the cart, and drove +off to the apothecary’s, and asked whether he wanted to buy a dead body. + +‘Who is it, and how did you get it?’ asked the apothecary. + +‘It is my grandmother,’ said Big Klaus. ‘I killed her in order to get a +bushel of money.’ + +‘You are mad!’ said the apothecary. ‘Don’t mention such things, or you +will lose your head!’ And he began to tell him what a dreadful thing +he had done, and what a wicked man he was, and that he ought to be +punished; till Big Klaus was so frightened that he jumped into the cart +and drove home as hard as he could. The apothecary and all the people +thought he must be mad, so they let him go. + +‘You shall pay for this!’ said Big Klaus as he drove home. ‘You shall +pay for this dearly, Little Klaus!’ + +So as soon as he got home he took the largest sack he could find, and +went to Little Klaus and said: ‘You have fooled me again! First I killed +my horses, then my grandmother! It is all your fault; but you sha’n’t do +it again!’ And he seized Little Klaus, pushed him in the sack, threw it +over his shoulder, crying out ‘Now I am going to drown you!’ + +He had to go a long way before he came to the river, and Little Klaus +was not very light. The road passed by the church; the organ was +sounding, and the people were singing most beautifully. + +Big Klaus put down the sack with Little Klaus in it by the church-door, +and thought that he might as well go in and hear a psalm before going on +farther. Little Klaus could not get out, and everybody was in church; so +he went in. + +‘Oh, dear! oh, dear!’ groaned Little Klaus in the sack, twisting and +turning himself. But he could not undo the string. + +There came by an old, old shepherd, with snow-white hair and a long +staff in his hand. He was driving a herd of cows and oxen. These pushed +against the sack so that it was overturned. + +‘Alas!’ moaned Little Klans, ‘I am so young and yet I must die!’ + +‘And I, poor man,’ said the cattle-driver, ‘I am so old and yet I cannot +die!’ + +‘Open the sack,’ called out Little Klaus; ‘creep in here instead of me, +and you will die in a moment!’ + +‘I will gladly do that,’ said the cattle-driver; and he opened the sack, +and Little Klaus struggled out at once. + +‘You will take care of the cattle, won’t you?’ asked the old man, +creeping into the sack, which Little Klaus fastened up and then went on +with the cows and oxen. Soon after Big Klaus came out of the church, and +taking up the sack on his shoulders it seemed to him as if it had become +lighter; for the old cattle-driver was not half as heavy as Little +Klaus. + +‘How easy he is to carry now! That must be because I heard part of the +service.’ + +So he went to the river, which was deep and broad, threw in the sack +with the old driver, and called after it, for he thought Little Klaus +was inside: + +‘Down you go! You won’t mock me any more now!’ + +Then he went home; but when he came to the cross-roads, there he met +Little Klaus, who was driving his cattle. + +‘What’s this?’ said Big Klaus. ‘Haven’t I drowned you?’ + +‘Yes,’ replied Little Klaus; ‘you threw me into the river a good +half-hour ago!’ + +‘But how did you get those splendid cattle?’ asked Big Klaus. + +‘They are sea-cattle!’ said Little Klaus. ‘I will tell you the whole +story, and I thank you for having drowned me, because now I am on dry +land and really rich! How frightened I was when I was in the sack! How +the wind whistled in my ears as you threw me from the bridge into the +cold water! I sank at once to the bottom; but I did not hurt myself for +underneath was growing the most beautiful soft grass. I fell on this, +and immediately the sack opened; the loveliest maiden in snow-white +garments, with a green garland round her wet hair, took me by the hand, +and said! ‘’Are you Little Klaus? Here are some cattle for you to begin +with, and a mile farther down the road there is another herd, which +I will give you as a present!’’ Now I saw that the river was a great +high-road for the sea-people. Along it they travel underneath from +the sea to the land till the river ends. It was so beautiful, full of +flowers and fresh grass; the fishes which were swimming in the water +shot past my ears as the birds do here in the air. What lovely people +there were, and what fine cattle were grazing in the ditches and dykes!’ + +‘But why did you come up to us again?’ asked Big Klaus. ‘I should not +have done so, if it is so beautiful down below!’ + +‘Oh!’ said Little Klaus, ‘that was just so politic of me. You heard +what I told you, that the sea-maiden said to me a mile farther along the +road--and by the road she meant the river, for she can go by no other +way--there was another herd of cattle waiting for me. But I know what +windings the river makes, now here, now there, so that it is a long way +round. Therefore it makes it much shorter if one comes on the land and +drives across the field to the river. Thus I have spared myself quite +half a mile, and have come much quicker to my sea-cattle!’ + +‘Oh, you’re a lucky fellow!’ said Big Klaus. ‘Do you think I should also +get some cattle if I went to the bottom of the river?’ + +‘Oh, yes! I think so,’ said Little Klaus. ‘But I can’t carry you in a +sack to the river; you are too heavy for me! If you like to go there +yourself and then creep into the sack, I will throw you in with the +greatest of pleasure.’ + +‘Thank you,’ said Big Klaus; ‘but if I don’t get any sea-cattle when I +come there, you will have a good hiding, mind!’ + +‘Oh, no! Don’t be so hard on me!’ Then they went to the river. When +the cattle, which were thirsty, caught sight of the water, they ran as +quickly as they could to drink. + +‘Look how they are running!’ said Little Klaus. ‘They want to go to the +bottom again!’ + +‘Yes; but help me first,’ said Big Klaus, ‘or else you shall have a +beating!’ + +And so he crept into the large sack, which was lying on the back of +one of the oxen. ‘Put a stone in, for I am afraid I may not reach the +bottom,’ said Big Klaus. + +‘It goes all right!’ said Little Klaus; but still he laid a big stone in +the sack, fastened it up tight, and then pushed it in. Plump! there was +Big Klaus in the water, and he sank like lead to the bottom. + +‘I doubt if he will find any cattle!’ said Little Klaus as he drove his +own home. + + + + +PRINCE RING (30) + +(30) From the Icelandic. + +Once upon a time there was a King and his Queen in their kingdom. + +They had one daughter, who was called Ingiborg, and one son, whose name +was Ring. He was less fond of adventures than men of rank usually were +in those days, and was not famous for strength or feats of arms. When he +was twelve years old, one fine winter day he rode into the forest along +with his men to enjoy himself. They went on a long way, until they +caught sight of a hind with a gold ring on its horns. The Prince was +eager to catch it, if possible, so they gave chase and rode on without +stopping until all the horses began to founder beneath them. At last the +Prince’s horse gave way too, and then there came over them a darkness so +black that they could no longer see the hind. By this time they were far +away from any house, and thought it was high time to be making their way +home again, but they found they had got lost now. At first they all kept +together, but soon each began to think that he knew the right way best; +so they separated, and all went in different directions. + +The Prince, too, had got lost like the rest, and wandered on for a time +until he came to a little clearing in the forest not far from the sea, +where he saw a woman sitting on a chair and a big barrel standing +beside her. The Prince went up to her and saluted her politely, and she +received him very graciously. He looked down into the barrel then, and +saw lying at the bottom an unusually beautiful gold ring, which pleased +him so much that he could not take his eyes off it. The woman saw this, +and said that he might have it if he would take the trouble to get it; +for which the Prince thanked her, and said it was at least worth trying. +So he leaned over into the barrel, which did not seem very deep, and +thought he would easily reach the ring; but the more he stretched down +after it the deeper grew the barrel. As he was thus bending down into it +the woman suddenly rose up and pushed him in head first, saying that +now he could take up his quarters there. Then she fixed the top on the +barrel and threw it out into the sea. + +The Prince thought himself in a bad plight now, as he felt the barrel +floating out from the land and tossing about on the waves. + +How many days he spent thus he could not tell, but at last he felt that +the barrel was knocking against rocks, at which he was a little cheered, +thinking it was probably land and not merely a reef in the sea. Being +something of a swimmer, he at last made up his mind to kick the bottom +out of the barrel, and having done so he was able to get on shore, for +the rocks by the sea were smooth and level; but overhead there were high +cliffs. It seemed difficult to get up these, but he went along the foot +of them for a little, till at last he tried to climb up, which at last +he did. + +Having got to the top, he looked round about him and saw that he was +on an island, which was covered with forest, with apples growing, and +altogether pleasant as far as the land was concerned. After he had been +there several days, he one day heard a great noise in the forest, which +made him terribly afraid, so that he ran to hide himself among the +trees. Then he saw a Giant approaching, dragging a sledge loaded with +wood, and making straight for him, so that he could see nothing for it +but to lie down just where he was. When the Giant came across him, he +stood still and looked at the Prince for a little; then he took him up +in his arms and carried him home to his house, and was exceedingly kind +to him. He gave him to his wife, saying he had found this child in the +wood, and she could have it to help her in the house. The old woman was +greatly pleased, and began to fondle the Prince with the utmost delight. +He stayed there with them, and was very willing and obedient to them in +everything, while they grew kinder to him every day. + +One day the Giant took him round and showed him all his rooms except the +parlour; this made the Prince curious to have a look into it, thinking +there must be some very rare treasure there. So one day, when the Giant +had gone into the forest, he tried to get into the parlour, and managed +to get the door open half-way. Then he saw that some living creature +moved inside and ran along the floor towards him and said something, +which made him so frightened that he sprang back from the door and shut +it again. As soon as the fright began to pass off he tried it again, for +he thought it would be interesting to hear what it said; but things went +just as before with him. He then got angry with himself, and, summoning +up all his courage, tried it a third time, and opened the door of the +room and stood firm. Then he saw that it was a big Dog, which spoke to +him and said: + +‘Choose me, Prince Ring.’ + +The Prince went away rather afraid, thinking with himself that it was no +great treasure after all; but all the same what it had said to him stuck +in his mind. + +It is not said how long the Prince stayed with the Giant, but one +day the latter came to him and said he would now take him over to the +mainland out of the island, for he himself had no long time to live. He +also thanked him for his good service, and told him to choose some-one +of his possessions, for he would get whatever he wanted. Ring thanked +him heartily, and said there was no need to pay him for his services, +they were so little worth; but if he did wish to give him anything he +would choose what was in the parlour. The Giant was taken by surprise, +and said: + +‘There, you chose my old woman’s right hand; but I must not break my +word.’ + +Upon this he went to get the Dog, which came running with signs of great +delight; but the Prince was so much afraid of it that it was all he +could do to keep from showing his alarm. + +After this the Giant accompanied him down to the sea, where he saw a +stone boat which was just big enough to hold the two of them and the +Dog. On reaching the mainland the Giant took a friendly farewell of +Ring, and told him he might take possession of all that was in the +island after he and his wife died, which would happen within two weeks +from that time. The Prince thanked him for this and for all his other +kindnesses, and the Giant returned home, while Ring went up some +distance from the sea; but he did not know what land he had come to, and +was afraid to speak to the Dog. After he had walked on in silence for a +time the Dog spoke to him and said: + +‘You don’t seem to have much curiosity, seeing you never ask my name.’ + +The Prince then forced himself to ask, ‘What is your name?’ + +‘You had best call me Snati-Snati,’ said the Dog. ‘Now we are coming to +a King’s seat, and you must ask the King to keep us all winter, and to +give you a little room for both of us.’ + +The Prince now began to be less afraid of the Dog. They came to the King +and asked him to keep them all the winter, to which he agreed. When the +King’s men saw the Dog they began to laugh at it, and make as if they +would tease it; but when the Prince saw this he advised them not to do +it, or they might have the worst of it. They replied that they didn’t +care a bit what he thought. + +After Ring had been with the King for some days the latter began to +think there was a great deal in him, and esteemed him more than the +others. The King, however, had a counsellor called Red, who became very +jealous when he saw how much the King esteemed Ring; and one day he +talked to him, and said he could not understand why he had so good an +opinion of this stranger, who had not yet shown himself superior to +other men in anything. The King replied that it was only a short time +since he had come there. Red then asked him to send them both to cut +down wood next morning, and see which of them could do most work. +Snati-Snati heard this and told it to Ring, advising him to ask the King +for two axes, so that he might have one in reserve if the first one +got broken. Next morning the King asked Ring and Red to go and cut down +trees for him, and both agreed. Ring got the two axes, and each went his +own way; but when the Prince had got out into the wood Snati took one of +the axes and began to hew along with him. In the evening the King came +to look over their day’s work, as Red had proposed, and found that +Ring’s wood-heap was more than twice as big. + +‘I suspected,’ said the King, ‘that Ring was not quite useless; never +have I seen such a day’s work.’ + +Ring was now in far greater esteem with the King than before, and Red +was all the more discontented. One day he came to the King and said, ‘If +Ring is such a mighty man, I think you might ask him to kill the wild +oxen in the wood here, and flay them the same day, and bring you the +horns and the hides in the evening.’ + +‘Don’t you think that a desperate errand?’ said the King, ‘seeing they +are so dangerous, and no one has ever yet ventured to go against them?’ + +Red answered that he had only one life to lose, and it would be +interesting to see how brave he was; besides, the King would have good +reason to ennoble him if he overcame them. The King at last allowed +himself, though rather unwillingly, to be won over by Red’s persistency, +and one day asked Ring to go and kill the oxen that were in the wood for +him, and bring their horns and hides to him in the evening. Not knowing +how dangerous the oxen were, Ring was quite ready, and went off at once, +to the great delight of Red, who was now sure of his death. + +As soon as Ring came in sight of the oxen they came bellowing to meet +him; one of them was tremendously big, the other rather less. Ring grew +terribly afraid. + +‘How do you like them?’ asked Snati. + +‘Not well at all,’ said the Prince. + +‘We can do nothing else,’ said Snati, ‘than attack them, if it is to go +well; you will go against the little one, and I shall take the other.’ + +With this Snati leapt at the big one, and was not long in bringing +him down. Meanwhile the Prince went against the other with fear and +trembling, and by the time Snati came to help him the ox had nearly got +him under, but Snati was not slow in helping his master to kill it. + +Each of them then began to flay their own ox, but Ring was only half +through by the time Snati had finished his. In the evening, after they +had finished this task, the Prince thought himself unfit to carry all +the horns and both the hides, so Snati told him to lay them all on his +back until they got to the Palace gate. + +The Prince agreed, and laid everything on the Dog except the skin of the +smaller ox, which he staggered along with himself. At the Palace gate he +left everything lying, went before the King, and asked him to come that +length with him, and there handed over to him the hides and horns of the +oxen. The King was greatly surprised at his valour, and said he knew no +one like him, and thanked him heartily for what he had done. + +After this the King set Ring next to himself, and all esteemed him +highly, and held him to be a great hero; nor could Red any longer say +anything against him, though he grew still more determined to destroy +him. One day a good idea came into his head. He came to the King and +said he had something to say to him. + +‘What is that?’ said the King. + +Red said that he had just remembered the gold cloak, gold chess-board, +and bright gold piece that the King had lost about a year before. + +‘Don’t remind me of them!’ said the King. + +Red, however, went on to say that, since Ring was such a mighty man that +he could do everything, it had occurred to him to advise the King to +ask him to search for these treasures, and come back with them before +Christmas; in return the King should promise him his daughter. + +The King replied that he thought it altogether unbecoming to propose +such a thing to Ring, seeing that he could not tell him where the things +were; but Red pretended not to hear the King’s excuses, and went on +talking about it until the King gave in to him. One day, a month or so +before Christmas, the King spoke to Ring, saying that he wished to ask a +great favour of him. + +‘What is that?’ said Ring. + +‘It is this,’ said the King: ‘that you find for me my gold cloak, my +gold chess-board, and my bright gold piece, that were stolen from me +about a year ago. If you can bring them to me before Christmas I will +give you my daughter in marriage.’ + +‘Where am I to look for them, then?’ said Ring. + +‘That you must find out for yourself,’ said the King: ‘I don’t know.’ + +Ring now left the King, and was very silent, for he saw he was in a +great difficulty: but, on the other hand, he thought it was excellent +to have such a chance of winning the King’s daughter. Snati noticed that +his master was at a loss, and said to him that he should not disregard +what the King had asked him to do; but he would have to act upon his +advice, otherwise he would get into great difficulties. The Prince +assented to this, and began to prepare for the journey. + +After he had taken leave of the King, and was setting out on the +search, Snati said to him, ‘Now you must first of all go about the +neighbourhood, and gather as much salt as ever you can.’ The Prince did +so, and gathered so much salt that he could hardly carry it; but Snati +said, ‘Throw it on my back,’ which he accordingly did, and the Dog then +ran on before the Prince, until they came to the foot of a steep cliff. + +‘We must go up here,’ said Snati. + +‘I don’t think that will be child’s play,’ said the Prince. + +‘Hold fast by my tail,’ said Snati; and in this way he pulled Ring up on +the lowest shelf of the rock. The Prince began to get giddy, but up went +Snati on to the second shelf. Ring was nearly swooning by this time, but +Snati made a third effort and reached the top of the cliff, where the +Prince fell down in a faint. After a little, however, he recovered +again, and they went a short distance along a level plain, until they +came to a cave. This was on Christmas Eve. They went up above the cave, +and found a window in it, through which they looked, and saw four +trolls lying asleep beside the fire, over which a large porridge-pot was +hanging. + +‘Now you must empty all the salt into the porridge-pot,’ said Snati. + +Ring did so, and soon the trolls wakened up. The old hag, who was the +most frightful of them all, went first to taste the porridge. + +‘How comes this?’ she said; ‘the porridge is salt! I got the milk by +witchcraft yesterday out of four kingdoms, and now it is salt!’ + +All the others then came to taste the porridge, and thought it nice, but +after they had finished it the old hag grew so thirsty that she could +stand it no longer, and asked her daughter to go out and bring her some +water from the river that ran near by. + +‘I won’t go,’ said she, ‘unless you lend me your bright gold piece.’ + +‘Though I should die you shan’t have that,’ said the hag. + +‘Die, then,’ said the girl. + +‘Well, then, take it, you brat,’ said the old hag, ‘and be off with you, +and make haste with the water.’ + +The girl took the gold and ran out with it, and it was so bright that it +shone all over the plain. As soon as she came to the river she lay down +to take a drink of the water, but meanwhile the two of them had got down +off the roof and thrust her, head first, into the river. + +The old hag began now to long for the water, and said that the girl +would be running about with the gold piece all over the plain, so she +asked her son to go and get her a drop of water. + +‘I won’t go,’ said he, ‘unless I get the gold cloak.’ + +‘Though I should die you shan’t have that,’ said the hag. + +‘Die, then,’ said the son. + +‘Well, then, take it,’ said the old hag, ‘and be off with you, but you +must make haste with the water.’ + +He put on the cloak, and when he came outside it shone so bright that he +could see to go with it. On reaching the river he went to take a drink +like his sister, but at that moment Ring and Snati sprang upon him, took +the cloak from him, and threw him into the river. + +The old hag could stand the thirst no longer, and asked her husband +to go for a drink for her; the brats, she said, were of course running +about and playing themselves, just as she had expected they would, +little wretches that they were. + +‘I won’t go,’ said the old troll, ‘unless you lend me the gold +chess-board.’ + +‘Though I should die you shan’t have that,’ said the hag. + +‘I think you may just as well do that,’ said he, ‘since you won’t grant +me such a little favour.’ + +‘Take it, then, you utter disgrace!’ said the old hag, ‘since you are +just like these two brats.’ + +The old troll now went out with the gold chess-board, and down to the +river, and was about to take a drink, when Ring and Snati came upon him, +took the chess-board from him, and threw him into the river. Before they +had got back again, however, and up on top of the cave, they saw +the poor old fellow’s ghost come marching up from the river. Snati +immediately sprang upon him, and Ring assisted in the attack, and after +a hard struggle they mastered him a second time. When they got back +again to the window they saw that the old hag was moving towards the +door. + +‘Now we must go in at once,’ said Snati, ‘and try to master her there, +for if she once gets out we shall have no chance with her. She is the +worst witch that ever lived, and no iron can cut her. One of us must +pour boiling porridge out of the pot on her, and the other punch her +with red-hot iron.’ + +In they went then, and no sooner did the hag see them than she said, +‘So you have come, Prince Ring; you must have seen to my husband and +children.’ + +Snati saw that she was about to attack them, and sprang at her with a +red-hot iron from the fire, while Ring kept pouring boiling porridge on +her without stopping, and in this way they at last got her killed. Then +they burned the old troll and her to ashes, and explored the cave, where +they found plenty of gold and treasures. The most valuable of these they +carried with them as far as the cliff, and left them there. Then they +hastened home to the King with his three treasures, where they arrived +late on Christmas night, and Ring handed them over to him. + +The King was beside himself with joy, and was astonished at how clever +a man Ring was in all kinds of feats, so that he esteemed him still more +highly than before, and betrothed his daughter to him; and the feast +for this was to last all through Christmastide. Ring thanked the King +courteously for this and all his other kindnesses, and as soon as he had +finished eating and drinking in the hall went off to sleep in his own +room. Snati, however, asked permission to sleep in the Prince’s bed for +that night, while the Prince should sleep where the Dog usually lay. +Ring said he was welcome to do so, and that he deserved more from him +than that came to. So Snati went up into the Prince’s bed, but after a +time he came back, and told Ring he could go there himself now, but to +take care not to meddle with anything that was in the bed. + +Now the story comes back to Red, who came into the hall and showed the +King his right arm wanting the hand, and said that now he could see what +kind of a man his intended son-in-law was, for he had done this to him +without any cause whatever. The King became very angry, and said he +would soon find out the truth about it, and if Ring had cut off his hand +without good cause he should be hanged; but if it was otherwise, then +Red should die. So the King sent for Ring and asked him for what reason +he had done this. Snati, however, had just told Ring what had happened +during the night, and in reply he asked the King to go with him and he +would show him something. The King went with him to his sleeping-room, +and saw lying on the bed a man’s hand holding a sword. + +‘This hand,’ said Ring, ‘came over the partition during the night, and +was about to run me through in my bed, if I had not defended myself.’ + +The King answered that in that case he could not blame him for +protecting his own life, and that Red was well worthy of death. So Red +was hanged, and Ring married the King’s daughter. + +The first night that they went to bed together Snati asked Ring to allow +him to lie at their feet, and this Ring allowed him to do. During the +night he heard a howling and outcry beside them, struck a light in a +hurry and saw an ugly dog’s skin lying near him, and a beautiful Prince +in the bed. Ring instantly took the skin and burned it, and then shook +the Prince, who was lying unconscious, until he woke up. The bridegroom +then asked his name; he replied that he was called Ring, and was a +King’s son. In his youth he had lost his mother, and in her place his +father had married a witch, who had laid a spell on him that he should +turn into a dog, and never be released from the spell unless a Prince +of the same name as himself allowed him to sleep at his feet the first +night after his marriage. He added further, ‘As soon as she knew that +you were my namesake she tried to get you destroyed, so that you +might not free me from the spell. She was the hind that you and your +companions chased; she was the woman that you found in the clearing with +the barrel, and the old hag that we just now killed in the cave.’ + +After the feasting was over the two namesakes, along with other men, +went to the cliff and brought all the treasure home to the Palace. Then +they went to the island and removed all that was valuable from it. +Ring gave to his namesake, whom he had freed from the spell, his sister +Ingiborg and his father’s kingdom to look after, but he himself stayed +with his father-in-law the King, and had half the kingdom while he lived +and the whole of it after his death. + + + + +THE SWINEHERD + +There was once a poor Prince. He possessed a kingdom which, though +small, was yet large enough for him to marry on, and married he wished +to be. + +Now it was certainly a little audacious of him to venture to say to the +Emperor’s daughter, ‘Will you marry me?’ But he did venture to say so, +for his name was known far and wide. There were hundreds of princesses +who would gladly have said ‘Yes,’ but would she say the same? + +Well, we shall see. + +On the grave of the Prince’s father grew a rose-tree, a very beautiful +rose-tree. It only bloomed every five years, and then bore but a single +rose, but oh, such a rose! Its scent was so sweet that when you smelt +it you forgot all your cares and troubles. And he had also a nightingale +which could sing as if all the beautiful melodies in the world were shut +up in its little throat. This rose and this nightingale the Princess was +to have, and so they were both put into silver caskets and sent to her. + +The Emperor had them brought to him in the great hall, where +the Princess was playing ‘Here comes a duke a-riding’ with her +ladies-in-waiting. And when she caught sight of the big caskets which +contained the presents, she clapped her hands for joy. + +‘If only it were a little pussy cat!’ she said. But the rose-tree with +the beautiful rose came out. + +‘But how prettily it is made!’ said all the ladies-in-waiting. + +‘It is more than pretty,’ said the Emperor, ‘it is charming!’ + +But the Princess felt it, and then she almost began to cry. + +‘Ugh! Papa,’ she said, ‘it is not artificial, it is REAL!’ + +‘Ugh!’ said all the ladies-in-waiting, ‘it is real!’ + +‘Let us see first what is in the other casket before we begin to be +angry,’ thought the Emperor, and there came out the nightingale. It sang +so beautifully that one could scarcely utter a cross word against it. + +‘Superbe! charmant!’ said the ladies-in-waiting, for they all chattered +French, each one worse than the other. + +‘How much the bird reminds me of the musical snuff-box of the late +Empress!’ said an old courtier. ‘Ah, yes, it is the same tone, the same +execution!’ + +‘Yes,’ said the Emperor; and then he wept like a little child. + +‘I hope that this, at least, is not real?’ asked the Princess. + +‘Yes, it is a real bird,’ said those who had brought it. + +‘Then let the bird fly away,’ said the Princess; and she would not on +any account allow the Prince to come. + +‘But he was nothing daunted. He painted his face brown and black, +drew his cap well over his face, and knocked at the door. ‘Good-day, +Emperor,’ he said. ‘Can I get a place here as servant in the castle?’ + +‘Yes,’ said the Emperor, ‘but there are so many who ask for a place that +I don’t know whether there will be one for you; but, still, I will think +of you. Stay, it has just occurred to me that I want someone to look +after the swine, for I have so very many of them.’ + +And the Prince got the situation of Imperial Swineherd. He had a +wretched little room close to the pigsties; here he had to stay, but the +whole day he sat working, and when evening was come he had made a pretty +little pot. All round it were little bells, and when the pot boiled they +jingled most beautifully and played the old tune-- + + ‘Where is Augustus dear? + Alas! he’s not here, here, here!’ + +But the most wonderful thing was, that when one held one’s finger in the +steam of the pot, then at once one could smell what dinner was ready in +any fire-place in the town. That was indeed something quite different +from the rose. + +Now the Princess came walking past with all her ladies-in-waiting, and +when she heard the tune she stood still and her face beamed with joy, +for she also could play ‘Where is Augustus dear?’ + +It was the only tune she knew, but that she could play with one finger. + +‘Why, that is what I play!’ she said. ‘He must be a most accomplished +Swineherd! Listen! Go down and ask him what the instrument costs.’ + +And one of the ladies-in-waiting had to go down; but she put on wooden +clogs. ‘What will you take for the pot?’ asked the lady-in-waiting. + +‘I will have ten kisses from the Princess,’ answered the Swineherd. + +‘Heaven forbid!’ said the lady-in-waiting. + +‘Yes, I will sell it for nothing less,’ replied the Swineherd. + +‘Well, what does he say?’ asked the Princess. + +‘I really hardly like to tell you,’ answered the lady-in-waiting. + +‘Oh, then you can whisper it to me.’ + +‘He is disobliging!’ said the Princess, and went away. But she had only +gone a few steps when the bells rang out so prettily-- + + ‘Where is Augustus dear? + Alas! he’s not here, here, here.’ + +‘Listen!’ said the Princess. ‘Ask him whether he will take ten kisses +from my ladies-in-waiting.’ + +‘No, thank you,’ said the Swineherd. ‘Ten kisses from the Princess, or +else I keep my pot.’ + +‘That is very tiresome!’ said the Princess. ‘But you must put yourselves +in front of me, so that no one can see.’ + +And the ladies-in-waiting placed themselves in front and then spread out +their dresses; so the Swineherd got his ten kisses, and she got the pot. + +What happiness that was! The whole night and the whole day the pot was +made to boil; there was not a fire-place in the whole town where they +did not know what was being cooked, whether it was at the chancellor’s +or at the shoemaker’s. + +The ladies-in-waiting danced and clapped their hands. + +‘We know who is going to have soup and pancakes; we know who is going to +have porridge and sausages--isn’t it interesting?’ + +‘Yes, very interesting!’ said the first lady-in-waiting. + +‘But don’t say anything about it, for I am the Emperor’s daughter.’ + +‘Oh, no, of course we won’t!’ said everyone. + +The Swineherd--that is to say, the Prince (though they did not know +he was anything but a true Swineherd)--let no day pass without making +something, and one day he made a rattle which, when it was turned round, +played all the waltzes, galops, and polkas which had ever been known +since the world began. + +‘But that is superbe!’ said the Princess as she passed by. ‘I have never +heard a more beautiful composition. Listen! Go down and ask him what +this instrument costs; but I won’t kiss him again.’ + +‘He wants a hundred kisses from the Princess,’ said the lady-in-waiting +who had gone down to ask him. + +‘I believe he is mad!’ said the Princess, and then she went on; but she +had only gone a few steps when she stopped. + +‘One ought to encourage art,’ she said. ‘I am the Emperor’s daughter! +Tell him he shall have, as before, ten kisses; the rest he can take from +my ladies-in-waiting.’ + +‘But we don’t at all like being kissed by him,’ said the +ladies-in-waiting. + +‘That’s nonsense,’ said the Princess; ‘and if I can kiss him, you can +too. Besides, remember that I give you board and lodging.’ + +So the ladies-in-waiting had to go down to him again. + +‘A hundred kisses from the Princess,’ said he, ‘or each keeps his own.’ + +‘Put yourselves in front of us,’ she said then; and so all the +ladies-in-waiting put themselves in front, and he began to kiss the +Princess. + +‘What can that commotion be by the pigsties?’ asked the Emperor, who was +standing on the balcony. He rubbed his eyes and put on his spectacles. +‘Why those are the ladies-in-waiting playing their games; I must go down +to them.’ + +So he took off his shoes, which were shoes though he had trodden them +down into slippers. What a hurry he was in, to be sure! + +As soon as he came into the yard he walked very softly, and the +ladies-in-waiting were so busy counting the kisses and seeing fair play +that they never noticed the Emperor. He stood on tiptoe. + +‘What is that?’ he said, when he saw the kissing; and then he threw +one of his slippers at their heads just as the Swineherd was taking his +eighty-sixth kiss. + +‘Be off with you!’ said the Emperor, for he was very angry. And the +Princess and the Swineherd were driven out of the empire. + +Then she stood still and wept; the Swineherd was scolding, and the rain +was streaming down. + +‘Alas, what an unhappy creature I am!’ sobbed the Princess. + +‘If only I had taken the beautiful Prince! Alas, how unfortunate I am!’ + +And the Swineherd went behind a tree, washed the black and brown off +his face, threw away his old clothes, and then stepped forward in his +splendid dress, looking so beautiful that the Princess was obliged to +courtesy. + +‘I now come to this. I despise you!’ he said. ‘You would have nothing +to do with a noble Prince; you did not understand the rose or the +nightingale, but you could kiss the Swineherd for the sake of a toy. +This is what you get for it!’ And he went into his kingdom and shut the +door in her face, and she had to stay outside singing-- + + ‘Where’s my Augustus dear? + Alas! he’s not here, here, here! + + + + +HOW TO TELL A TRUE PRINCESS + +There was once upon a time a Prince who wanted to marry a Princess, but +she must be a true Princess. So he travelled through the whole world to +find one, but there was always something against each. There were plenty +of Princesses, but he could not find out if they were true Princesses. +In every case there was some little defect, which showed the genuine +article was not yet found. So he came home again in very low spirits, +for he had wanted very much to have a true Princess. One night there was +a dreadful storm; it thundered and lightened and the rain streamed down +in torrents. It was fearful! There was a knocking heard at the Palace +gate, and the old King went to open it. + +There stood a Princess outside the gate; but oh, in what a sad plight +she was from the rain and the storm! The water was running down from +her hair and her dress into the points of her shoes and out at the heels +again. And yet she said she was a true Princess! + +‘Well, we shall soon find that!’ thought the old Queen. But she said +nothing, and went into the sleeping-room, took off all the bed-clothes, +and laid a pea on the bottom of the bed. Then she put twenty mattresses +on top of the pea, and twenty eider-down quilts on the top of the +mattresses. And this was the bed in which the Princess was to sleep. + +The next morning she was asked how she had slept. + +‘Oh, very badly!’ said the Princess. ‘I scarcely closed my eyes all +night! I am sure I don’t know what was in the bed. I laid on something +so hard that my whole body is black and blue. It is dreadful!’ + +Now they perceived that she was a true Princess, because she had felt +the pea through the twenty mattresses and the twenty eider-down quilts. + +No one but a true Princess could be so sensitive. + +So the Prince married her, for now he knew that at last he had got hold +of a true Princess. And the pea was put into the Royal Museum, where it +is still to be seen if no one has stolen it. Now this is a true story. + + + + +THE BLUE MOUNTAINS + +There were once a Scotsman and an Englishman and an Irishman serving in +the army together, who took it into their heads to run away on the first +opportunity they could get. The chance came and they took it. They +went on travelling for two days through a great forest, without food or +drink, and without coming across a single house, and every night they +had to climb up into the trees through fear of the wild beasts that were +in the wood. On the second morning the Scotsman saw from the top of his +tree a great castle far away. He said to himself that he would certainly +die if he stayed in the forest without anything to eat but the roots of +grass, which would not keep him alive very long. As soon, then, as he +got down out of the tree he set off towards the castle, without so much +as telling his companions that he had seen it at all; perhaps the hunger +and want they had suffered had changed their nature so much that the +one did not care what became of the other if he could save himself. He +travelled on most of the day, so that it was quite late when he reached +the castle, and to his great disappointment found nothing but closed +doors and no smoke rising from the chimneys. He thought there was +nothing for it but to die after all, and had lain down beside the wall, +when he heard a window being opened high above him. At this he looked +up, and saw the most beautiful woman he had ever set eyes on. + +‘Oh, it is Fortune that has sent you to me,’ he said. + +‘It is indeed,’ said she. ‘What are you in need of, or what has sent you +here?’ + +‘Necessity,’ said he. ‘I am dying for want of food and drink.’ + +‘Come inside, then,’ she said; ‘there is plenty of both here.’ + +Accordingly he went in to where she was, and she opened a large room for +him, where he saw a number of men lying asleep. She then set food before +him, and after that showed him to the room where the others were. He lay +down on one of the beds and fell sound asleep. And now we must go back +to the two that he left behind him in the wood. + +When nightfall and the time of the wild beasts came upon these, the +Englishman happened to climb up into the very same tree on which the +Scotsman was when he got a sight of the castle; and as soon as the day +began to dawn and the Englishman looked to the four quarters of heaven, +what did he see but the castle too! Off he went without saying a word to +the Irishman, and everything happened to him just as it had done to the +Scotsman. + +The poor Irishman was now left all alone, and did not know where +the others had gone to, so he just stayed where he was, very sad and +miserable. When night came he climbed up into the same tree as the +Englishman had been on the night before. As soon as day came he also saw +the castle, and set out towards it; but when he reached it he could +see no signs of fire or living being about it. Before long, however, he +heard the window opened above his head, looked up, and beheld the most +beautiful woman he had ever seen. He asked if she would give him food +and drink, and she answered kindly and heartily that she would, if he +would only come inside. This he did very willingly, and she set before +him food and drink that he had never seen the like of before. In the +room there was a bed, with diamond rings hanging at every loop of the +curtains, and everything that was in the room besides astonished him so +much that he actually forgot that he was hungry. When she saw that he +was not eating at all, she asked him what he wanted yet, to which he +replied that he would neither eat nor drink until he knew who she was, +or where she came from, or who had put her there. + +‘I shall tell you that,’ said she. ‘I am an enchanted Princess, and my +father has promised that the man who releases me from the spell shall +have the third of his kingdom while he is alive, and the whole of it +after he is dead, and marry me as well. If ever I saw a man who looked +likely to do this, you are the one. I have been here for sixteen years +now, and no one who ever came to the castle has asked me who I was, +except yourself. Every other man that has come, so long as I have been +here, lies asleep in the big room down there.’ + +‘Tell me, then,’ said the Irishman, ‘what is the spell that has been +laid on you, and how you can be freed from it.’ + +‘There is a little room there,’ said the Princess, ‘and if I could get a +man to stay in it from ten o’clock till midnight for three nights on end +I should be freed from the spell.’ + +‘I am the man for you, then,’ said he; ‘I will take on hand to do it.’ + +Thereupon she brought him a pipe and tobacco, and he went into the room; +but before long he heard a hammering and knocking on the outside of the +door, and was told to open it. + +‘I won’t,’ he said. + +The next moment the door came flying in, and those outside along with +it. They knocked him down, and kicked him, and knelt on his body till it +came to midnight; but as soon as the cock crew they all disappeared. The +Irishman was little more than alive by this time. As soon as daylight +appeared the Princess came, and found him lying full length on the +floor, unable to speak a word. She took a bottle, rubbed him from head +to foot with something from it, and thereupon he was as sound as ever; +but after what he had got that night he was very unwilling to try it a +second time. The Princess, however, entreated him to stay, saying +that the next night would not be so bad, and in the end he gave in and +stayed. + +When it was getting near midnight he heard them ordering him to open the +door, and there were three of them for every one that there had been the +previous evening. He did not make the slightest movement to go out to +them or to open the door, but before long they broke it up, and were in +on top of him. They laid hold of him, and kept throwing him between them +up to the ceiling, or jumping above him, until the cock crew, when they +all disappeared. When day came the Princess went to the room to see if +he was still alive, and taking the bottle put it to his nostrils, which +soon brought him to himself. The first thing he said then was that he +was a fool to go on getting himself killed for anyone he ever saw, and +was determined to be off and stay there no longer, When the Princess +learned his intention she entreated him to stay, reminding him that +another night would free her from the spell. ‘Besides,’ she said, ‘if +there is a single spark of life in you when the day comes, the stuff +that is in this bottle will make you as sound as ever you were.’ + +With all this the Irishman decided to stay; but that night there were +three at him for every one that was there the two nights before, and +it looked very unlikely that he would be alive in the morning after all +that he got. When morning dawned, and the Princess came to see if he was +still alive, she found him lying on the floor as if dead. She tried to +see if there was breath in him, but could not quite make it out. +Then she put her hand on his pulse, and found a faint movement in it. +Accordingly she poured what was in the bottle on him, and before long +he rose up on his feet, and was as well as ever he was. So that business +was finished, and the Princess was freed from the spell. + +The Princess then told the Irishman that she must go away for the +present, but would return for him in a few days in a carriage drawn by +four grey horses. He told her to ‘be aisy,’ and not speak like that to +him. ‘I have paid dear for you for the last three nights,’ he said, ‘if +I have to part with you now;’ but in the twinkling of an eye she had +disappeared. He did not know what to do with himself when he saw that +she was gone, but before she went she had given him a little rod, with +which he could, when he pleased, waken the men who had been sleeping +there, some of them for sixteen years. + +After being thus left alone, he went in and stretched himself on three +chairs that were in the room, when what does he see coming in at the +door but a little fair-haired lad. + +‘Where did you come from, my lad?’ said the Irishman. + +‘I came to make ready your food for you,’ said he. + +‘Who told you to do that?’ said the Irishman. + +‘My mistress,’ answered the lad--‘the Princess that was under the spell +and is now free.’ + +By this the Irishman knew that she had sent the lad to wait on him. The +lad also told him that his mistress wished him to be ready next morning +at nine o’clock, when she would come for him with the carriage, as she +had promised. He was greatly pleased at this, and next morning, when +the time was drawing near, went out into the garden; but the little +fair-haired lad took a big pin out of his pocket, and stuck it into the +back of the Irishman’s coat without his noticing it, whereupon he fell +sound asleep. + +Before long the Princess came with the carriage and four horses, and +asked the lad whether his master was awake. He said that he wasn’t. ‘It +is bad for him,’ said she, ‘when the night is not long enough for him to +sleep. Tell him that if he doesn’t meet me at this time to-morrow it is +not likely that he will ever see me again all his life.’ + +As soon as she was gone the lad took the pin out of his master’s coat, +who instantly awoke. The first word he said to the lad was, ‘Have you +seen her?’ + +‘Yes,’ said he, ‘and she bade me tell you that if you don’t meet her at +nine o’clock to-morrow you will never see her again.’ + +He was very sorry when he heard this, and could not understand why the +sleep should have fallen upon him just when she was coming. He decided, +however, to go early to bed that night, in order to rise in time nest +morning, and so he did. When it was getting near nine o’clock he went +out to the garden to wait till she came, and the fair-haired lad along +with him; but as soon as the lad got the chance he stuck the pin into +his master’s coat again and he fell asleep as before. Precisely at nine +o’clock came the Princess in the carriage with four horses, and asked +the lad if his master had got up yet; but he said ‘No, he was asleep, +just as he was the day before.’ ‘Dear! dear!’ said the Princess, ‘I am +sorry for him. Was the sleep he had last night not enough for him? Tell +him that he will never see me here again; and here is a sword that you +will give him in my name, and my blessing along with it.’ + +With this she went off, and as soon as she had gone the lad took the pin +out of his master’s coat. He awoke instantly, and the first word he said +was, ‘Have you seen her?’ The lad said that he had, and there was the +sword she had left for him. The Irishman was ready to kill the lad out +of sheer vexation, but when he gave a glance over his shoulder not a +trace of the fair-haired lad was left. + +Being thus left all alone, he thought of going into the room where all +the men were lying asleep, and there among the rest he found his two +comrades who had deserted along with him. Then he remembered what the +Princess had told him--that he had only to touch them with the rod she +had given him and they would all awake; and the first he touched were +his own comrades. They started to their feet at once, and he gave them +as much silver and gold as they could carry when they went away. There +was plenty to do before he got all the others wakened, for the two doors +of the castle were crowded with them all the day long. + +The loss of the Princess, however, kept rankling in his mind day and +night, till finally he thought he would go about the world to see if he +could find anyone to give him news of her. So he took the best horse in +the stable and set out. Three years he spent travelling through forests +and wildernesses, but could find no one able to tell him anything of the +Princess. At last he fell into so great despair that he thought he would +put an end to his own life, and for this purpose laid hold of the sword +that she had given him by the hands of the fair-haired lad; but on +drawing it from its sheath he noticed that there was some writing on one +side of the blade. He looked at this, and read there, ‘You will find me +in the Blue Mountains.’ This made him take heart again, and he gave up +the idea of killing himself, thinking that he would go on in hope of +meeting some one who could tell him where the Blue Mountains were. After +he had gone a long way without thinking where he was going, he saw at +last a light far away, and made straight for it. On reaching it he found +it came from a little house, and as soon as the man inside heard the +noise of the horse’s feet he came out to see who was there. Seeing a +stranger on horseback, he asked what brought him there and where he was +going. + +‘I have lived here,’ said he, ‘for three hundred years, and all that +time I have not seen a single human being but yourself.’ + +‘I have been going about for the last three years,’ said the Irishman, +‘to see if I could find anyone who can tell me where the Blue Mountains +are.’ + +‘Come in,’ said the old man, ‘and stay with me all night. I have a +book which contains the history of the world, which I shall go through +to-night, and if there is such a place as the Blue Mountains in it we +shall find it out.’ + +The Irishman stayed there all night, and as soon as morning came rose +to go. The old man said he had not gone to sleep all night for going +through the book, but there was not a word about the Blue Mountains +in it. ‘But I’ll tell you what,’ he said, ‘if there is such a place on +earth at all, I have a brother who lives nine hundred miles from here, +and he is sure to know where they are, if anyone in this world does.’ +The Irishman answered that he could never go these nine hundred miles, +for his horse was giving in already. ‘That doesn’t matter,’ said the old +man; ‘I can do better than that. I have only to blow my whistle and you +will be at my brother’s house before nightfall.’ + +So he blew the whistle, and the Irishman did not know where on earth he +was until he found himself at the other old man’s door, who also told +him that it was three hundred years since he had seen anyone, and asked +him where he was going. + +‘I am going to see if I can find anyone that can tell me where the Blue +Mountains are,’ he said. + +‘If you will stay with me to-night,’ said the old man, ‘I have a book +of the history of the world, and I shall know where they are before +daylight, if there is such a place in it at all.’ + +He stayed there all night, but there was not a word in the book about +the Blue Mountains. Seeing that he was rather cast down, the old man +told him that he had a brother nine hundred miles away, and that if +information could be got about them from anyone it would be from him; +‘and I will enable you,’ he said, ‘to reach the place where he lives +before night.’ So he blew his whistle, and the Irishman landed at the +brother’s house before nightfall. When the old man saw him he said he +had not seen a single man for three hundred years, and was very much +surprised to see anyone come to him now. + +‘Where are you going to?’ he said. + +‘I am going about asking for the Blue Mountains,’ said the Irishman. + +‘The Blue Mountains?’ said the old man. + +‘Yes,’ said the Irishman. + +‘I never heard the name before; but if they do exist I shall find them +out. I am master of all the birds in the world, and have only to blow my +whistle and every one will come to me. I shall then ask each of them to +tell where it came from, and if there is any way of finding out the Blue +Mountains that is it.’ + +So he blew his whistle, and when he blew it then all the birds of the +world began to gather. The old man questioned each of them as to where +they had come from, but there was not one of them that had come from the +Blue Mountains. After he had run over them all, however, he missed a +big Eagle that was wanting, and wondered that it had not come. Soon +afterwards he saw something big coming towards him, darkening the sky. +It kept coming nearer and growing bigger, and what was this after all +but the Eagle? When she arrived the old man scolded her, and asked what +had kept her so long behind. + +‘I couldn’t help it,’ she said; ‘I had more than twenty times further to +come than any bird that has come here to-day.’ + +‘Where have you come from, then?’ said the old man. + +‘From the Blue Mountains,’ said she. + +‘Indeed!’ said the old man; and what are they doing there?’ + +‘They are making ready this very day,’ said the Eagle, ‘for the marriage +of the daughter of the King of the Blue Mountains. For three years now +she has refused to marry anyone whatsoever, until she should give up all +hope of the coming of the man who released her from the spell. Now she +can wait no longer, for three years is the time that she agreed with her +father to remain without marrying.’ + +The Irishman knew that it was for himself she had been waiting so +long, but he was unable to make any better of it, for he had no hope of +reaching the Blue Mountains all his life. The old man noticed how sad he +grew, and asked the Eagle what she would take for carrying this man on +her back to the Blue Mountains. + +‘I must have threescore cattle killed,’ said she, ‘and cut up into +quarters, and every time I look over my shoulder he must throw one of +them into my mouth.’ + +As soon as the Irishman and the old man heard her demand they went out +hunting, and before evening they had killed three-score cattle. They +made quarters of them, as the Eagle told them, and then the old man +asked her to lie down, till they would get it all heaped up on her back. +First of all, though, they had to get a ladder of fourteen steps, to +enable them to get on to the Eagle’s back, and there they piled up the +meat as well as they could. Then the old man told the Irishman to mount, +and to remember to throw a quarter of beef to her every time she looked +round. He went up, and the old man gave the Eagle the word to be off, +which she instantly obeyed; and every time she turned her head the +Irishman threw a quarter of beef into her mouth. + +As they came near the borders of the kingdom of the Blue Mountains, +however, the beef was done, and, when the Eagle looked over her +shoulder, what was the Irishman at but throwing the stone between her +tail and her neck! At this she turned a complete somersault, and threw +the Irishman off into the sea, where he fell into the bay that was right +in front of the King’s Palace. Fortunately the points of his toes just +touched the bottom, and he managed to get ashore. + +When he went up into the town all the streets were gleaming with light, +and the wedding of the Princess was just about to begin. He went into +the first house he came to, and this happened to be the house of the +King’s hen-wife. He asked the old woman what was causing all the noise +and light in the town. + +‘The Princess,’ said she, ‘is going to be married to-night against her +will, for she has been expecting every day that the man who freed her +from the spell would come.’ + +‘There is a guinea for you,’ said he; ‘go and bring her here.’ + +The old woman went, and soon returned along with the Princess. She and +the Irishman recognised each other, and were married, and had a great +wedding that lasted for a year and a day. + + + + +THE TINDER-BOX + +A soldier came marching along the high road--left, right! A left, right! +He had his knapsack on his back and a sword by his side, for he had been +to the wars and was now returning home. + +An old Witch met him on the road. She was very ugly to look at: her +under-lip hung down to her breast. + +‘Good evening, Soldier!’ she said. ‘What a fine sword and knapsack you +have! You are something like a soldier! You ought to have as much money +as you would like to carry!’ + +‘Thank you, old Witch,’ said the Soldier. + +‘Do you see that great tree there?’ said the Witch, pointing to a tree +beside them. ‘It is hollow within. You must climb up to the top, and +then you will see a hole through which you can let yourself down into +the tree. I will tie a rope round your waist, so that I may be able to +pull you up again when you call.’ + +‘What shall I do down there?’ asked the Soldier. + +‘Get money!’ answered the Witch. ‘Listen! When you reach the bottom of +the tree you will find yourself in a large hall; it is light there, for +there are more than three hundred lamps burning. Then you will see three +doors, which you can open--the keys are in the locks. If you go into the +first room, you will see a great chest in the middle of the floor with +a dog sitting upon it; he has eyes as large as saucers, but you needn’t +trouble about him. I will give you my blue-check apron, which you must +spread out on the floor, and then go back quickly and fetch the dog and +set him upon it; open the chest and take as much money as you like. It +is copper there. If you would rather have silver, you must go into the +next room, where there is a dog with eyes as large as mill-wheels. +But don’t take any notice of him; just set him upon my apron, and help +yourself to the money. If you prefer gold, you can get that too, if you +go into the third room, and as much as you like to carry. But the dog +that guards the chest there has eyes as large as the Round Tower at +Copenhagen! He is a savage dog, I can tell you; but you needn’t be +afraid of him either. Only, put him on my apron and he won’t touch you, +and you can take out of the chest as much gold as you like!’ + +‘Come, this is not bad!’ said the Soldier. ‘But what am I to give you, +old Witch; for surely you are not going to do this for nothing?’ + +‘Yes, I am!’ replied the Witch. ‘Not a single farthing will I take! For +me you shall bring nothing but an old tinder-box which my grandmother +forgot last time she was down there.’ + +‘Well, tie the rope round my waist! ‘said the Soldier. + +‘Here it is,’ said the Witch, ‘and here is my blue-check apron.’ + +Then the Soldier climbed up the tree, let himself down through the hole, +and found himself standing, as the Witch had said, underground in the +large hall, where the three hundred lamps were burning. + +Well, he opened the first door. Ugh! there sat the dog with eyes as big +as saucers glaring at him. + +‘You are a fine fellow!’ said the Soldier, and put him on the Witch’s +apron, took as much copper as his pockets could hold; then he shut the +chest, put the dog on it again, and went into the second room. Sure +enough there sat the dog with eyes as large as mill-wheels. + +‘You had better not look at me so hard!’ said the Soldier. ‘Your eyes +will come out of their sockets!’ + +And then he set the dog on the apron. When he saw all the silver in the +chest, he threw away the copper he had taken, and filled his pockets and +knapsack with nothing but silver. + +Then he went into the third room. Horrors! the dog there had two eyes, +each as large as the Round Tower at Copenhagen, spinning round in his +head like wheels. + +‘Good evening!’ said the Soldier and saluted, for he had never seen +a dog like this before. But when he had examined him more closely, he +thought to himself: ‘Now then, I’ve had enough of this!’ and put him +down on the floor, and opened the chest. Heavens! what a heap of gold +there was! With all that he could buy up the whole town, and all the +sugar pigs, all the tin soldiers, whips and rocking-horses in the whole +world. Now he threw away all the silver with which he had filled his +pockets and knapsack, and filled them with gold instead--yes, all his +pockets, his knapsack, cap and boots even, so that he could hardly walk. +Now he was rich indeed. He put the dog back upon the chest, shut the +door, and then called up through the tree: + +‘Now pull me up again, old Witch!’ + +‘Have you got the tinder-box also?’ asked the Witch. + +‘Botheration!’ said the Soldier, ‘I had clean forgotten it!’ And then he +went back and fetched it. + +The Witch pulled him up, and there he stood again on the high road, with +pockets, knapsack, cap and boots filled with gold. + +‘What do you want to do with the tinder-box?’ asked the Soldier. + +‘That doesn’t matter to you,’ replied the Witch. ‘You have got your +money, give me my tinder-box.’ + +‘We’ll see!’ said the Soldier. ‘Tell me at once what you want to do with +it, or I will draw my sword, and cut off your head!’ + +‘No!’ screamed the Witch. + +The Soldier immediately cut off her head. That was the end of her! But +he tied up all his gold in her apron, slung it like a bundle over his +shoulder, put the tinder-box in his pocket, and set out towards the +town. + +It was a splendid town! He turned into the finest inn, ordered the best +chamber and his favourite dinner; for now that he had so much money he +was really rich. + +It certainly occurred to the servant who had to clean his boots that +they were astonishingly old boots for such a rich lord. But that +was because he had not yet bought new ones; next day he appeared in +respectable boots and fine clothes. Now, instead of a common soldier +he had become a noble lord, and the people told him about all the grand +doings of the town and the King, and what a beautiful Princess his +daughter was. + +‘How can one get to see her?’ asked the Soldier. + +‘She is never to be seen at all!’ they told him; ‘she lives in a great +copper castle, surrounded by many walls and towers! No one except the +King may go in or out, for it is prophesied that she will marry a common +soldier, and the King cannot submit to that.’ + +‘I should very much like to see her,’ thought the Soldier; but he could +not get permission. + +Now he lived very gaily, went to the theatre, drove in the King’s +garden, and gave the poor a great deal of money, which was very nice +of him; he had experienced in former times how hard it is not to have a +farthing in the world. Now he was rich, wore fine clothes, and made many +friends, who all said that he was an excellent man, a real nobleman. And +the Soldier liked that. But as he was always spending money, and never +made any more, at last the day came when he had nothing left but two +shillings, and he had to leave the beautiful rooms in which he had been +living, and go into a little attic under the roof, and clean his own +boots, and mend them with a darning-needle. None of his friends came to +visit him there, for there were too many stairs to climb. + +It was a dark evening, and he could not even buy a light. But all at +once it flashed across him that there was a little end of tinder in the +tinder-box, which he had taken from the hollow tree into which the Witch +had helped him down. He found the box with the tinder in it; but just as +he was kindling a light, and had struck a spark out of the tinder-box, +the door burst open, and the dog with eyes as large as saucers, which he +had seen down in the tree, stood before him and said: + +‘What does my lord command?’ + +‘What’s the meaning of this?’ exclaimed the Soldier. ‘This is a pretty +kind of tinder-box, if I can get whatever I want like this. Get me +money!’ he cried to the dog, and hey, presto! he was off and back again, +holding a great purse full of money in his mouth. + +Now the Soldier knew what a capital tinder-box this was. If he rubbed +once, the dog that sat on the chest of copper appeared; if he rubbed +twice, there came the dog that watched over the silver chest; and if +he rubbed three times, the one that guarded the gold appeared. Now, the +Soldier went down again to his beautiful rooms, and appeared once more +in splendid clothes. All his friends immediately recognised him again, +and paid him great court. + +One day he thought to himself: ‘It is very strange that no one can get +to see the Princess. They all say she is very pretty, but what’s the use +of that if she has to sit for ever in the great copper castle with +all the towers? Can I not manage to see her somehow? Where is my +tinder-box?’ and so he struck a spark, and, presto! there came the dog +with eyes as large as saucers. + +‘It is the middle of the night, I know,’ said the Soldier; ‘but I should +very much like to see the Princess for a moment.’ + +The dog was already outside the door, and before the Soldier could look +round, in he came with the Princess. She was lying asleep on the +dog’s back, and was so beautiful that anyone could see she was a real +Princess. The Soldier really could not refrain from kissing her--he was +such a thorough Soldier. Then the dog ran back with the Princess. But +when it was morning, and the King and Queen were drinking tea, the +Princess said that the night before she had had such a strange dream +about a dog and a Soldier: she had ridden on the dog’s back, and the +Soldier had kissed her. + +‘That is certainly a fine story,’ said the Queen. But the next night one +of the ladies-in-waiting was to watch at the Princess’s bed, to see if +it was only a dream, or if it had actually happened. + +The Soldier had an overpowering longing to see the Princess again, and +so the dog came in the middle of the night and fetched her, running as +fast as he could. But the lady-in-waiting slipped on india-rubber shoes +and followed them. When she saw them disappear into a large house, she +thought to herself: ‘Now I know where it is; ‘and made a great cross on +the door with a piece of chalk. Then she went home and lay down, and the +dog came back also, with the Princess. But when he saw that a cross had +been made on the door of the house where the Soldier lived, he took a +piece of chalk also, and made crosses on all the doors in the town; and +that was very clever, for now the lady-in-waiting could not find the +right house, as there were crosses on all the doors. + +Early next morning the King, Queen, ladies-in-waiting, and officers came +out to see where the Princess had been. + +‘There it is!’ said the King, when he saw the first door with a cross on +it. + +‘No, there it is, my dear!’ said the Queen, when she likewise saw a door +with a cross. + +‘But here is one, and there is another!’ they all exclaimed; wherever +they looked there was a cross on the door. Then they realised that the +sign would not help them at all. + +But the Queen was an extremely clever woman, who could do a great deal +more than just drive in a coach. She took her great golden scissors, cut +up a piece of silk, and made a pretty little bag of it. This she filled +with the finest buckwheat grains, and tied it round the Princess’ neck; +this done, she cut a little hole in the bag, so that the grains would +strew the whole road wherever the Princess went. + +In the night the dog came again, took the Princess on his back and ran +away with her to the Soldier, who was very much in love with her, and +would have liked to have been a Prince, so that he might have had her +for his wife. + +The dog did not notice how the grains were strewn right from the castle +to the Soldier’s window, where he ran up the wall with the Princess. + +In the morning the King and the Queen saw plainly where their daughter +had been, and they took the Soldier and put him into prison. + +There he sat. Oh, how dark and dull it was there! And they told him: +‘To-morrow you are to be hanged.’ Hearing that did not exactly cheer +him, and he had left his tinder-box in the inn. + +Next morning he could see through the iron grating in front of his +little window how the people were hurrying out of the town to see him +hanged. He heard the drums and saw the soldiers marching; all the +people were running to and fro. Just below his window was a shoemaker’s +apprentice, with leather apron and shoes; he was skipping along so +merrily that one of his shoes flew off and fell against the wall, just +where the Soldier was sitting peeping through the iron grating. + +‘Oh, shoemaker’s boy, you needn’t be in such a hurry!’ said the Soldier +to him. ‘There’s nothing going on till I arrive. But if you will run +back to the house where I lived, and fetch me my tinder-box, I will give +you four shillings. But you must put your best foot foremost.’ + +The shoemaker’s boy was very willing to earn four shillings, and fetched +the tinder-box, gave it to the Soldier, and--yes--now you shall hear. + +Outside the town a great scaffold had been erected, and all round were +standing the soldiers, and hundreds of thousands of people. The King and +Queen were sitting on a magnificent throne opposite the judges and the +whole council. + +The Soldier was already standing on the top of the ladder; but when they +wanted to put the rope round his neck, he said that the fulfilment of +one innocent request was always granted to a poor criminal before he +underwent his punishment. He would so much like to smoke a small pipe of +tobacco; it would be his last pipe in this world. + +The King could not refuse him this, and so he took out his tinder-box, +and rubbed it once, twice, three times. And lo, and behold I there stood +all three dogs--the one with eyes as large as saucers, the second with +eyes as large as mill-wheels, and the third with eyes each as large as +the Round Tower of Copenhagen. + +‘Help me now, so that I may not be hanged!’ cried the Soldier. And +thereupon the dogs fell upon the judges and the whole council, seized +some by the legs, others by the nose, and threw them so high into the +air that they fell and were smashed into pieces. + +‘I won’t stand this!’ said the King; but the largest dog seized him +too, and the Queen as well, and threw them up after the others. This +frightened the soldiers, and all the people cried: ‘Good Soldier, you +shall be our King, and marry the beautiful Princess!’ + +Then they put the Soldier into the King’s coach, and the three dogs +danced in front, crying ‘Hurrah!’ And the boys whistled and the soldiers +presented arms. + +The Princess came out of the copper castle, and became Queen; and that +pleased her very much. + +The wedding festivities lasted for eight days, and the dogs sat at table +and made eyes at everyone. + + + + +THE WITCH IN THE STONE BOAT(31) + +(31) From the Icelandic. + +There were once a King and a Queen, and they had a son called Sigurd, +who was very strong and active, and good-looking. When the King came +to be bowed down with the weight of years he spoke to his son, and +said that now it was time for him to look out for a fitting match for +himself, for he did not know how long he might last now, and he would +like to see him married before he died. + +Sigurd was not averse to this, and asked his father where he thought +it best to look for a wife. The King answered that in a certain country +there was a King who had a beautiful daughter, and he thought it would +be most desirable if Sigurd could get her. So the two parted, and Sigurd +prepared for the journey, and went to where his father had directed him. + +He came to the King and asked his daughter’s hand, which he readily +granted him, but only on the condition that he should remain there as +long as he could, for the King himself was not strong and not very able +to govern his kingdom. Sigurd accepted this condition, but added that +he would have to get leave to go home again to his own country when +he heard news of his father’s death. After that Sigurd married the +Princess, and helped his father-in-law to govern the kingdom. He and the +Princess loved each other dearly, and after a year a son came to them, +who was two years old when word came to Sigurd that his father was dead. +Sigurd now prepared to return home with his wife and child, and went on +board ship to go by sea. + +They had sailed for several days, when the breeze suddenly fell, and +there came a dead calm, at a time when they needed only one day’s voyage +to reach home. Sigurd and his Queen were one day on deck, when most of +the others on the ship had fallen asleep. There they sat and talked for +a while, and had their little son along with them. After a time Sigurd +became so heavy with sleep that he could no longer keep awake, so he +went below and lay down, leaving the Queen alone on the deck, playing +with her son. + +A good while after Sigurd had gone below the Queen saw something black +on the sea, which seemed to be coming nearer. As it approached she +could make out that it was a boat, and could see the figure of some one +sitting in it and rowing it. At last the boat came alongside the ship, +and now the Queen saw that it was a stone boat, out of which there +came up on board the ship a fearfully ugly Witch. The Queen was more +frightened than words can describe, and could neither speak a word nor +move from the place so as to awaken the King or the sailors. The Witch +came right up to the Queen, took the child from her and laid it on the +deck; then she took the Queen, and stripped her of all her fine clothes, +which she proceeded to put on herself, and looked then like a human +being. Last of all she took the Queen, put her into the boat, and said-- + +‘This spell I lay upon you, that you slacken not your course until you +come to my brother in the Underworld.’ + +The Queen sat stunned and motionless, but the boat at once shot away +from the ship with her, and before long she was out of sight. + +When the boat could no longer be seen the child began to cry, and though +the Witch tried to quiet it she could not manage it; so she went below +to where the King was sleeping with the child on her arm, and awakened +him, scolding him for leaving them alone on deck, while he and all the +crew were asleep. It was great carelessness of him, she said, to leave +no one to watch the ship with her. + +Sigurd was greatly surprised to hear his Queen scold him so much, for +she had never said an angry word to him before; but he thought it was +quite excusable in this case, and tried to quiet the child along with +her, but it was no use. Then he went and wakened the sailors, and +bade them hoist the sails, for a breeze had sprung up and was blowing +straight towards the harbour. + +They soon reached the land which Sigurd was to rule over, and found all +the people sorrowful for the old King’s death, but they became glad when +they got Sigurd back to the Court, and made him King over them. + +The King’s son, however, hardly ever stopped crying from the time he +had been taken from his mother on the deck of the ship, although he had +always been such a good child before, so that at last the King had to +get a nurse for him--one of the maids of the Court. As soon as the child +got into her charge he stopped crying, and behaved well as before. + +After the sea-voyage it seemed to the King that the Queen had altered +very much in many ways, and not for the better. He thought her much more +haughty and stubborn and difficult to deal with than she used to be. +Before long others began to notice this as well as the King. In the +Court there were two young fellows, one of eighteen years old, the other +of nineteen, who were very fond of playing chess, and often sat long +inside playing at it. Their room was next the Queen’s, and often during +the day they heard the Queen talking. + +One day they paid more attention than usual when they heard her talk, +and put their ears close to a crack in the wall between the rooms, and +heard the Queen say quite plainly, ‘When I yawn a little, then I am a +nice little maiden; when I yawn half-way, then I am half a troll; and +when I yawn fully, then I am a troll altogether.’ + +As she said this she yawned tremendously, and in a moment had put on +the appearance of a fearfully ugly troll. Then there came up through the +floor of the room a three-headed Giant with a trough full of meat, who +saluted her as his sister and set down the trough before her. She began +to eat out of it, and never stopped till she had finished it. The young +fellows saw all this going on, but did not hear the two of them say +anything to each other. They were astonished though at how greedily the +Queen devoured the meat, and how much she ate of it, and were no longer +surprised that she took so little when she sat at table with the King. +As soon as she had finished it the Giant disappeared with the trough by +the same way as he had come, and the Queen returned to her human shape. + +Now we must go back to the King’s son after he had been put in charge of +the nurse. One evening, after she had lit a candle and was holding the +child, several planks sprang up in the floor of the room, and out at the +opening came a beautiful woman dressed in white, with an iron belt round +her waist, to which was fastened an iron chain that went down into the +ground. The woman came up to the nurse, took the child from her, +and pressed it to her breast; then she gave it back to the nurse and +returned by the same way as she had come, and the floor closed over her +again. Although the woman had not spoken a single word to her, the nurse +was very much frightened, but told no one about it. + +Next evening the same thing happened again, just as before, but as the +woman was going away she said in a sad tone, ‘Two are gone, and one +only is left,’ and then disappeared as before. The nurse was still more +frightened when she heard the woman say this, and thought that perhaps +some danger was hanging over the child, though she had no ill-opinion of +the unknown woman, who, indeed, had behaved towards the child as if it +were her own. The most mysterious thing was the woman saying ‘and only +one is left;’ but the nurse guessed that this must mean that only one +day was left, since she had come for two days already. + +At last the nurse made up her mind to go to the King, and told him the +whole story, and asked him to be present in person next day about the +time when the woman usually came. The King promised to do so, and came +to the nurse’s room a little before the time, and sat down on a chair +with his drawn sword in his hand. Soon after the planks in the floor +sprang up as before, and the woman came up, dressed in white, with the +iron belt and chain. The King saw at once that it was his own Queen, and +immediately hewed asunder the iron chain that was fastened to the belt. +This was followed by such noises and crashings down in the earth that +all the King’s Palace shook, so that no one expected anything else than +to see every bit of it shaken to pieces. At last, however, the noises +and shaking stopped, and they began to come to themselves again. + +The King and Queen embraced each other, and she told him the whole +story--how the Witch came to the ship when they were all asleep and sent +her off in the boat. After she had gone so far that she could not see +the ship, she sailed on through darkness until she landed beside a +three-headed Giant. The Giant wished her to marry him, but she refused; +whereupon he shut her up by herself, and told her she would never get +free until she consented. After a time she began to plan how to get her +freedom, and at last told him that she would consent if he would allow +her to visit her son on earth three days on end. This he agreed to, but +put on her this iron belt and chain, the other end of which he fastened +round his own waist, and the great noises that were heard when the King +cut the chain must have been caused by the Giant’s falling down the +underground passage when the chain gave way so suddenly. The Giant’s +dwelling, indeed, was right under the Palace, and the terrible shakings +must have been caused by him in his death-throes. + +The King now understood how the Queen he had had for some time past had +been so ill-tempered. He at once had a sack drawn over her head and made +her be stoned to death, and after that torn in pieces by untamed horses. +The two young fellows also told now what they had heard and seen in the +Queen’s room, for before this they had been afraid to say anything about +it, on account of the Queen’s power. + +The real Queen was now restored to all her dignity, and was beloved by +all. The nurse was married to a nobleman, and the King and Queen gave +her splendid presents. + + + + +THUMBELINA + +There was once a woman who wanted to have quite a tiny, little child, +but she did not know where to get one from. So one day she went to an +old Witch and said to her: ‘I should so much like to have a tiny, little +child; can you tell me where I can get one?’ + +‘Oh, we have just got one ready!’ said the Witch. ‘Here is a barley-corn +for you, but it’s not the kind the farmer sows in his field, or feeds +the cocks and hens with, I can tell you. Put it in a flower-pot, and +then you will see something happen.’ + +‘Oh, thank you!’ said the woman, and gave the Witch a shilling, for +that was what it cost. Then she went home and planted the barley-corn; +immediately there grew out of it a large and beautiful flower, which +looked like a tulip, but the petals were tightly closed as if it were +still only a bud. + +‘What a beautiful flower!’ exclaimed the woman, and she kissed the red +and yellow petals; but as she kissed them the flower burst open. It +was a real tulip, such as one can see any day; but in the middle of the +blossom, on the green velvety petals, sat a little girl, quite tiny, +trim, and pretty. She was scarcely half a thumb in height; so they +called her Thumbelina. An elegant polished walnut-shell served +Thumbelina as a cradle, the blue petals of a violet were her mattress, +and a rose-leaf her coverlid. There she lay at night, but in the +day-time she used to play about on the table; here the woman had put a +bowl, surrounded by a ring of flowers, with their stalks in water, in +the middle of which floated a great tulip pedal, and on this Thumbelina +sat, and sailed from one side of the bowl to the other, rowing herself +with two white horse-hairs for oars. It was such a pretty sight! She +could sing, too, with a voice more soft and sweet than had ever been +heard before. + +One night, when she was lying in her pretty little bed, an old toad +crept in through a broken pane in the window. She was very ugly, clumsy, +and clammy; she hopped on to the table where Thumbelina lay asleep under +the red rose-leaf. + +‘This would make a beautiful wife for my son,’ said the toad, taking up +the walnut-shell, with Thumbelina inside, and hopping with it through +the window into the garden. + +There flowed a great wide stream, with slippery and marshy banks; here +the toad lived with her son. Ugh! how ugly and clammy he was, just like +his mother! ‘Croak, croak, croak!’ was all he could say when he saw the +pretty little girl in the walnut-shell. + +‘Don’t talk so load, or you’ll wake her,’ said the old toad. ‘She might +escape us even now; she is as light as a feather. We will put her at +once on a broad water-lily leaf in the stream. That will be quite an +island for her; she is so small and light. She can’t run away from us +there, whilst we are preparing the guest-chamber under the marsh where +she shall live.’ + +Outside in the brook grew many water-lilies, with broad green leaves, +which looked as if they were swimming about on the water. + +The leaf farthest away was the largest, and to this the old toad swam +with Thumbelina in her walnut-shell. + +The tiny Thumbelina woke up very early in the morning, and when she saw +where she was she began to cry bitterly; for on every side of the great +green leaf was water, and she could not get to the land. + +The old toad was down under the marsh, decorating her room with +rushes and yellow marigold leaves, to make it very grand for her new +daughter-in-law; then she swam out with her ugly son to the leaf where +Thumbelina lay. She wanted to fetch the pretty cradle to put it into her +room before Thumbelina herself came there. The old toad bowed low in the +water before her, and said: ‘Here is my son; you shall marry him, and +live in great magnificence down under the marsh.’ + +‘Croak, croak, croak!’ was all that the son could say. Then they took +the neat little cradle and swam away with it; but Thumbelina sat alone +on the great green leaf and wept, for she did not want to live with the +clammy toad, or marry her ugly son. The little fishes swimming about +under the water had seen the toad quite plainly, and heard what she had +said; so they put up their heads to see the little girl. When they saw +her, they thought her so pretty that they were very sorry she should +go down with the ugly toad to live. No; that must not happen. They +assembled in the water round the green stalk which supported the leaf +on which she was sitting, and nibbled the stem in two. Away floated the +leaf down the stream, bearing Thumbelina far beyond the reach of the +toad. + +On she sailed past several towns, and the little birds sitting in the +bushes saw her, and sang, ‘What a pretty little girl!’ The leaf floated +farther and farther away; thus Thumbelina left her native land. + +A beautiful little white butterfly fluttered above her, and at +last settled on the leaf. Thumbelina pleased him, and she, too, +was delighted, for now the toads could not reach her, and it was so +beautiful where she was travelling; the sun shone on the water and made +it sparkle like the brightest silver. She took off her sash, and tied +one end round the butterfly; the other end she fastened to the leaf, so +that now it glided along with her faster than ever. + +A great cockchafer came flying past; he caught sight of Thumbelina, and +in a moment had put his arms round her slender waist, and had flown off +with her to a tree. The green leaf floated away down the stream, and +the butterfly with it, for he was fastened to the leaf and could not get +loose from it. Oh, dear! how terrified poor little Thumbelina was when +the cockchafer flew off with her to the tree! But she was especially +distressed on the beautiful white butterfly’s account, as she had tied +him fast, so that if he could not get away he must starve to death. But +the cockchafer did not trouble himself about that; he sat down with her +on a large green leaf, gave her the honey out of the flowers to eat, and +told her that she was very pretty, although she wasn’t in the least like +a cockchafer. Later on, all the other cockchafers who lived in the same +tree came to pay calls; they examined Thumbelina closely, and remarked, +‘Why, she has only two legs! How very miserable!’ + +‘She has no feelers!’ cried another. + +‘How ugly she is!’ said all the lady chafers--and yet Thumbelina was +really very pretty. + +The cockchafer who had stolen her knew this very well; but when he heard +all the ladies saying she was ugly, he began to think so too, and would +not keep her; she might go wherever she liked. So he flew down from the +tree with her and put her on a daisy. There she sat and wept, because +she was so ugly that the cockchafer would have nothing to do with her; +and yet she was the most beautiful creature imaginable, so soft and +delicate, like the loveliest rose-leaf. + +The whole summer poor little Thumbelina lived alone in the great wood. +She plaited a bed for herself of blades of grass, and hung it up under a +clover-leaf, so that she was protected from the rain; she gathered +honey from the flowers for food, and drank the dew on the leaves every +morning. Thus the summer and autumn passed, but then came winter--the +long, cold winter. All the birds who had sung so sweetly about her had +flown away; the trees shed their leaves, the flowers died; the great +clover-leaf under which she had lived curled up, and nothing remained of +it but the withered stalk. She was terribly cold, for her clothes were +ragged, and she herself was so small and thin. Poor little Thumbelina! +she would surely be frozen to death. It began to snow, and every +snow-flake that fell on her was to her as a whole shovelful thrown on +one of us, for we are so big, and she was only an inch high. She wrapt +herself round in a dead leaf, but it was torn in the middle and gave her +no warmth; she was trembling with cold. + +Just outside the wood where she was now living lay a great corn-field. +But the corn had been gone a long time; only the dry, bare stubble was +left standing in the frozen ground. This made a forest for her to wander +about in. All at once she came across the door of a field-mouse, who had +a little hole under a corn-stalk. There the mouse lived warm and snug, +with a store-room full of corn, a splendid kitchen and dining-room. Poor +little Thumbelina went up to the door and begged for a little piece of +barley, for she had not had anything to eat for the last two days. + +‘Poor little creature!’ said the field-mouse, for she was a kind-hearted +old thing at the bottom. ‘Come into my warm room and have some dinner +with me.’ + +As Thumbelina pleased her, she said: ‘As far as I am concerned you may +spend the winter with me; but you must keep my room clean and tidy, and +tell me stories, for I like that very much.’ + +And Thumbelina did all that the kind old field-mouse asked, and did it +remarkably well too. + +‘Now I am expecting a visitor,’ said the field-mouse; ‘my neighbour +comes to call on me once a week. He is in better circumstances than I +am, has great, big rooms, and wears a fine black-velvet coat. If you +could only marry him, you would be well provided for. But he is blind. +You must tell him all the prettiest stories you know.’ + +But Thumbelina did not trouble her head about him, for he was only a +mole. He came and paid them a visit in his black-velvet coat. + +‘He is so rich and so accomplished,’ the field-mouse told her. + +‘His house is twenty times larger than mine; he possesses great +knowledge, but he cannot bear the sun and the beautiful flowers, and +speaks slightingly of them, for he has never seen them.’ + +Thumbelina had to sing to him, so she sang ‘Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly +away home!’ and other songs so prettily that the mole fell in love with +her; but he did not say anything, he was a very cautious man. A short +time before he had dug a long passage through the ground from his own +house to that of his neighbour; in this he gave the field-mouse and +Thumbelina permission to walk as often as they liked. But he begged them +not to be afraid of the dead bird that lay in the passage: it was a real +bird with beak and feathers, and must have died a little time ago, and +now laid buried just where he had made his tunnel. The mole took a piece +of rotten wood in his mouth, for that glows like fire in the dark, and +went in front, lighting them through the long dark passage. When they +came to the place where the dead bird lay, the mole put his broad nose +against the ceiling and pushed a hole through, so that the daylight +could shine down. In the middle of the path lay a dead swallow, his +pretty wings pressed close to his sides, his claws and head drawn under +his feathers; the poor bird had evidently died of cold. Thumbelina was +very sorry, for she was very fond of all little birds; they had sung +and twittered so beautifully to her all through the summer. But the mole +kicked him with his bandy legs and said: + +‘Now he can’t sing any more! It must be very miserable to be a little +bird! I’m thankful that none of my little children are; birds always +starve in winter.’ + +‘Yes, you speak like a sensible man,’ said the field-mouse. ‘What has +a bird, in spite of all his singing, in the winter-time? He must starve +and freeze, and that must be very pleasant for him, I must say!’ + +Thumbelina did not say anything; but when the other two had passed on +she bent down to the bird, brushed aside the feathers from his head, +and kissed his closed eyes gently. ‘Perhaps it was he that sang to me so +prettily in the summer,’ she thought. ‘How much pleasure he did give me, +dear little bird!’ + +The mole closed up the hole again which let in the light, and then +escorted the ladies home. But Thumbelina could not sleep that night; +so she got out of bed, and plaited a great big blanket of straw, and +carried it off, and spread it over the dead bird, and piled upon +it thistle-down as soft as cotton-wool, which she had found in the +field-mouse’s room, so that the poor little thing should lie warmly +buried. + +‘Farewell, pretty little bird!’ she said. ‘Farewell, and thank you for +your beautiful songs in the summer, when the trees were green, and the +sun shone down warmly on us!’ Then she laid her head against the bird’s +heart. But the bird was not dead: he had been frozen, but now that she +had warmed him, he was coming to life again. + +In autumn the swallows fly away to foreign lands; but there are some who +are late in starting, and then they get so cold that they drop down as +if dead, and the snow comes and covers them over. + +Thumbelina trembled, she was so frightened; for the bird was very large +in comparison with herself--only an inch high. But she took courage, +piled up the down more closely over the poor swallow, fetched her own +coverlid and laid it over his head. + +Next night she crept out again to him. There he was alive, but very +weak; he could only open his eyes for a moment and look at Thumbelina, +who was standing in front of him with a piece of rotten wood in her +hand, for she had no other lantern. + +‘Thank you, pretty little child!’ said the swallow to her. ‘I am so +beautifully warm! Soon I shall regain my strength, and then I shall be +able to fly out again into the warm sunshine.’ + +‘Oh!’ she said, ‘it is very cold outside; it is snowing and freezing! +stay in your warm bed; I will take care of you!’ + +Then she brought him water in a petal, which he drank, after which he +related to her how he had torn one of his wings on a bramble, so that he +could not fly as fast as the other swallows, who had flown far away +to warmer lands. So at last he had dropped down exhausted, and then he +could remember no more. The whole winter he remained down there, and +Thumbelina looked after him and nursed him tenderly. Neither the mole +nor the field-mouse learnt anything of this, for they could not bear the +poor swallow. + +When the spring came, and the sun warmed the earth again, the swallow +said farewell to Thumbelina, who opened the hole in the roof for him +which the mole had made. The sun shone brightly down upon her, and the +swallow asked her if she would go with him; she could sit upon his back. +Thumbelina wanted very much to fly far away into the green wood, but +she knew that the old field-mouse would be sad if she ran away. ‘No, I +mustn’t come!’ she said. + +‘Farewell, dear good little girl!’ said the swallow, and flew off into +the sunshine. Thumbelina gazed after him with the tears standing in her +eyes, for she was very fond of the swallow. + +‘Tweet, tweet!’ sang the bird, and flew into the green wood. Thumbelina +was very unhappy. She was not allowed to go out into the warm sunshine. +The corn which had been sowed in the field over the field-mouse’s home +grew up high into the air, and made a thick forest for the poor little +girl, who was only an inch high. + +‘Now you are to be a bride, Thumbelina!’ said the field-mouse, ‘for our +neighbour has proposed for you! What a piece of fortune for a poor child +like you! Now you must set to work at your linen for your dowry, for +nothing must be lacking if you are to become the wife of our neighbour, +the mole!’ + +Thumbelina had to spin all day long, and every evening the mole visited +her, and told her that when the summer was over the sun would not shine +so hot; now it was burning the earth as hard as a stone. Yes, when the +summer had passed, they would keep the wedding. + +But she was not at all pleased about it, for she did not like the stupid +mole. Every morning when the sun was rising, and every evening when it +was setting, she would steal out of the house-door, and when the breeze +parted the ears of corn so that she could see the blue sky through them, +she thought how bright and beautiful it must be outside, and longed to +see her dear swallow again. But he never came; no doubt he had flown +away far into the great green wood. + +By the autumn Thumbelina had finished the dowry. + +‘In four weeks you will be married!’ said the field-mouse; ‘don’t be +obstinate, or I shall bite you with my sharp white teeth! You will get +a fine husband! The King himself has not such a velvet coat. His +store-room and cellar are full, and you should be thankful for that.’ + +Well, the wedding-day arrived. The mole had come to fetch Thumbelina +to live with him deep down under the ground, never to come out into the +warm sun again, for that was what he didn’t like. The poor little girl +was very sad; for now she must say good-bye to the beautiful sun. + +‘Farewell, bright sun!’ she cried, stretching out her arms towards it, +and taking another step outside the house; for now the corn had +been reaped, and only the dry stubble was left standing. ‘Farewell, +farewell!’ she said, and put her arms round a little red flower that +grew there. ‘Give my love to the dear swallow when you see him!’ + +‘Tweet, tweet!’ sounded in her ear all at once. She looked up. There was +the swallow flying past! As soon as he saw Thumbelina, he was very glad. +She told him how unwilling she was to marry the ugly mole, as then she +had to live underground where the sun never shone, and she could not +help bursting into tears. + +‘The cold winter is coming now,’ said the swallow. ‘I must fly away to +warmer lands: will you come with me? You can sit on my back, and we will +fly far away from the ugly mole and his dark house, over the mountains, +to the warm countries where the sun shines more brightly than here, +where it is always summer, and there are always beautiful flowers. +Do come with me, dear little Thumbelina, who saved my life when I lay +frozen in the dark tunnel!’ + +‘Yes, I will go with you,’ said Thumbelina, and got on the swallow’s +back, with her feet on one of his outstretched wings. Up he flew into +the air, over woods and seas, over the great mountains where the snow +is always lying. And if she was cold she crept under his warm feathers, +only keeping her little head out to admire all the beautiful things in +the world beneath. At last they came to warm lands; there the sun was +brighter, the sky seemed twice as high, and in the hedges hung the +finest green and purple grapes; in the woods grew oranges and lemons: +the air was scented with myrtle and mint, and on the roads were +pretty little children running about and playing with great gorgeous +butterflies. But the swallow flew on farther, and it became more and +more beautiful. Under the most splendid green trees besides a blue +lake stood a glittering white-marble castle. Vines hung about the high +pillars; there were many swallows’ nests, and in one of these lived the +swallow who was carrying Thumbelina. + +‘Here is my house!’ said he. ‘But it won’t do for you to live with me; I +am not tidy enough to please you. Find a home for yourself in one of the +lovely flowers that grow down there; now I will set you down, and you +can do whatever you like.’ + +‘That will be splendid!’ said she, clapping her little hands. + +There lay a great white marble column which had fallen to the ground +and broken into three pieces, but between these grew the most beautiful +white flowers. The swallow flew down with Thumbelina, and set her upon +one of the broad leaves. But there, to her astonishment, she found +a tiny little man sitting in the middle of the flower, as white and +transparent as if he were made of glass; he had the prettiest golden +crown on his head, and the most beautiful wings on his shoulders; he +himself was no bigger than Thumbelina. He was the spirit of the flower. +In each blossom there dwelt a tiny man or woman; but this one was the +King over the others. + +‘How handsome he is!’ whispered Thumbelina to the swallow. + +The little Prince was very much frightened at the swallow, for in +comparison with one so tiny as himself he seemed a giant. But when he +saw Thumbelina, he was delighted, for she was the most beautiful girl he +had ever seen. So he took his golden crown from off his head and put it +on hers, asking her her name, and if she would be his wife, and then +she would be Queen of all the flowers. Yes! he was a different kind of +husband to the son of the toad and the mole with the black-velvet coat. +So she said ‘Yes’ to the noble Prince. And out of each flower came a +lady and gentleman, each so tiny and pretty that it was a pleasure to +see them. Each brought Thumbelina a present, but the best of all was a +beautiful pair of wings which were fastened on to her back, and now she +too could fly from flower to flower. They all wished her joy, and the +swallow sat above in his nest and sang the wedding march, and that he +did as well as he could; but he was sad, because he was very fond of +Thumbelina and did not want to be separated from her. + +‘You shall not be called Thumbelina!’ said the spirit of the flower to +her; ‘that is an ugly name, and you are much too pretty for that. We +will call you May Blossom.’ + +‘Farewell, farewell!’ said the little swallow with a heavy heart, and +flew away to farther lands, far, far away, right back to Denmark. There +he had a little nest above a window, where his wife lived, who can tell +fairy-stories. ‘Tweet, tweet!’ he sang to her. And that is the way we +learnt the whole story. + + + + +THE NIGHTINGALE + +In China, as I daresay you know, the Emperor is a Chinaman, and all his +courtiers are also Chinamen. The story I am going to tell you happened +many years ago, but it is worth while for you to listen to it, before it +is forgotten. + +The Emperor’s Palace was the most splendid in the world, all made of +priceless porcelain, but so brittle and delicate that you had to take +great care how you touched it. In the garden were the most beautiful +flowers, and on the loveliest of them were tied silver bells which +tinkled, so that if you passed you could not help looking at the +flowers. Everything in the Emperor’s garden was admirably arranged with +a view to effect; and the garden was so large that even the gardener +himself did not know where it ended. If you ever got beyond it, you came +to a stately forest with great trees and deep lakes in it. The forest +sloped down to the sea, which was a clear blue. Large ships could +sail under the boughs of the trees, and in these trees there lived a +Nightingale. She sang so beautifully that even the poor fisherman who +had so much to do stood and listened when he came at night to cast his +nets. ‘How beautiful it is!’ he said; but he had to attend to his work, +and forgot about the bird. But when she sang the next night and the +fisherman came there again, he said the same thing, ‘How beautiful it +is!’ + +From all the countries round came travellers to the Emperor’s town, who +were astonished at the Palace and the garden. But when they heard the +Nightingale they all said, ‘This is the finest thing after all!’ + +The travellers told all about it when they went home, and learned +scholars wrote many books upon the town, the Palace, and the garden. But +they did not forget the Nightingale; she was praised the most, and all +the poets composed splendid verses on the Nightingale in the forest by +the deep sea. + +The books were circulated throughout the world, and some of them reached +the Emperor. He sat in his golden chair, and read and read. He nodded +his head every moment, for he liked reading the brilliant accounts of +the town, the Palace, and the garden. ‘But the Nightingale is better +than all,’ he saw written. + +‘What is that?’ said the Emperor. ‘I don’t know anything about the +Nightingale! Is there such a bird in my empire, and so near as in my +garden? I have never heard it! Fancy reading for the first time about it +in a book!’ + +And he called his First Lord to him. He was so proud that if anyone of +lower rank than his own ventured to speak to him or ask him anything, he +would say nothing but ‘P!’ and that does not mean anything. + +‘Here is a most remarkable bird which is called a Nightingale!’ said the +Emperor. ‘They say it is the most glorious thing in my kingdom. Why has +no one ever said anything to me about it?’ + +‘I have never before heard it mentioned!’ said the First Lord. ‘I will +look for it and find it!’ + +But where was it to be found? The First Lord ran up and down stairs, +through the halls and corridors; but none of those he met had ever heard +of the Nightingale. And the First Lord ran again to the Emperor, and +told him that it must be an invention on the part of those who had +written the books. + +‘Your Imperial Majesty cannot really believe all that is written! There +are some inventions called the Black Art!’ + +‘But the book in which I read this,’ said the Emperor, ‘is sent me by +His Great Majesty the Emperor of Japan; so it cannot be untrue, and I +will hear the Nightingale! She must be here this evening! She has my +gracious permission to appear, and if she does not, the whole Court +shall be trampled under foot after supper!’ + +‘Tsing pe!’ said the First Lord; and he ran up and down stairs, through +the halls and corridors, and half the Court ran with him, for they +did not want to be trampled under foot. Everyone was asking after the +wonderful Nightingale which all the world knew of, except those at +Court. + +At last they met a poor little girl in the kitchen, who said, ‘Oh! I +know the Nightingale well. How she sings! I have permission to carry the +scraps over from the Court meals to my poor sick mother, and when I am +going home at night, tired and weary, and rest for a little in the wood, +then I hear the Nightingale singing! It brings tears to my eyes, and I +feel as if my mother were kissing me!’ + +‘Little kitchenmaid!’ said the First Lord, ‘I will give you a place in +the kitchen, and you shall have leave to see the Emperor at dinner, if +you can lead us to the Nightingale, for she is invited to come to Court +this evening.’ + +And so they all went into the wood where the Nightingale was wont to +sing, and half the Court went too. + +When they were on the way there they heard a cow mooing. + +‘Oh!’ said the Courtiers, ‘now we have found her! What a wonderful power +for such a small beast to have! I am sure we have heard her before!’ + +‘No; that is a cow mooing!’ said the little kitchenmaid. ‘We are still a +long way off!’ + +Then the frogs began to croak in the marsh. ‘Splendid!’ said the Chinese +chaplain. ‘Now we hear her; it sounds like a little church-bell!’ + +‘No, no; those are frogs!’ said the little kitchenmaid. ‘But I think we +shall soon hear her now!’ + +Then the Nightingale began to sing. + +‘There she is!’ cried the little girl. ‘Listen! She is sitting there!’ +And she pointed to a little dark-grey bird up in the branches. + +‘Is it possible!’ said the First Lord. ‘I should never have thought it! +How ordinary she looks! She must surely have lost her feathers because +she sees so many distinguished men round her!’ + +‘Little Nightingale,’ called out the little kitchenmaid, ‘our Gracious +Emperor wants you to sing before him!’ + +‘With the greatest of pleasure!’ said the Nightingale; and she sang so +gloriously that it was a pleasure to listen. + +‘It sounds like glass bells!’ said the First Lord. ‘And look how her +little throat works! It is wonderful that we have never heard her +before! She will be a great success at Court.’ + +‘Shall I sing once more for the Emperor?’ asked the Nightingale, +thinking that the Emperor was there. + +‘My esteemed little Nightingale,’ said the First Lord, ‘I have the +great pleasure to invite you to Court this evening, where His Gracious +Imperial Highness will be enchanted with your charming song!’ + +‘It sounds best in the green wood,’ said the Nightingale; but still, she +came gladly when she heard that the Emperor wished it. + +At the Palace everything was splendidly prepared. The porcelain walls +and floors glittered in the light of many thousand gold lamps; the most +gorgeous flowers which tinkled out well were placed in the corridors. +There was such a hurrying and draught that all the bells jingled so much +that one could not hear oneself speak. In the centre of the great hall +where the Emperor sat was a golden perch, on which the Nightingale sat. +The whole Court was there, and the little kitchenmaid was allowed to +stand behind the door, now that she was a Court-cook. Everyone was +dressed in his best, and everyone was looking towards the little grey +bird to whom the Emperor nodded. + +The Nightingale sang so gloriously that the tears came into the +Emperor’s eyes and ran down his cheeks. Then the Nightingale sang even +more beautifully; it went straight to all hearts. The Emperor was so +delighted that he said she should wear his gold slipper round her neck. +But the Nightingale thanked him, and said she had had enough reward +already. ‘I have seen tears in the Emperor’s eyes--that is a great +reward. An Emperor’s tears have such power!’ Then she sang again with +her gloriously sweet voice. + +‘That is the most charming coquetry I have ever seen!’ said all the +ladies round. And they all took to holding water in their mouths that +they might gurgle whenever anyone spoke to them. Then they thought +themselves nightingales. Yes, the lackeys and chambermaids announced +that they were pleased; which means a great deal, for they are the most +difficult people of all to satisfy. In short, the Nightingale was a real +success. + +She had to stay at Court now; she had her own cage, and permission to +walk out twice in the day and once at night. + +She was given twelve servants, who each held a silken string which was +fastened round her leg. There was little pleasure in flying about like +this. + +The whole town was talking about the wonderful bird, and when two people +met each other one would say ‘Nightin,’ and the other ‘Gale,’ and then +they would both sigh and understand one another. + +Yes, and eleven grocer’s children were called after her, but not one of +them could sing a note. + +One day the Emperor received a large parcel on which was written ‘The +Nightingale.’ + +‘Here is another new book about our famous bird!’ said the Emperor. + +But it was not a book, but a little mechanical toy, which lay in a +box--an artificial nightingale which was like the real one, only that it +was set all over with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. When it was wound +up, it could sing the piece the real bird sang, and moved its tail +up and down, and glittered with silver and gold. Round its neck was a +little collar on which was written, ‘The Nightingale of the Emperor of +Japan is nothing compared to that of the Emperor of China.’ + +‘This is magnificent!’ they all said, and the man who had brought +the clockwork bird received on the spot the title of ‘Bringer of the +Imperial First Nightingale.’ + +‘Now they must sing together; what a duet we shall have!’ + +And so they sang together, but their voices did not blend, for the real +Nightingale sang in her way and the clockwork bird sang waltzes. + +‘It is not its fault!’ said the bandmaster; ‘it keeps very good time and +is quite after my style!’ + +Then the artificial bird had to sing alone. It gave just as much +pleasure as the real one, and then it was so much prettier to look at; +it sparkled like bracelets and necklaces. Three-and-thirty times it sang +the same piece without being tired. People would like to have heard it +again, but the Emperor thought that the living Nightingale should sing +now--but where was she? No one had noticed that she had flown out of the +open window away to her green woods. + +‘What SHALL we do!’ said the Emperor. + +And all the Court scolded, and said that the Nightingale was very +ungrateful. ‘But we have still the best bird!’ they said and the +artificial bird had to sing again, and that was the thirty-fourth time +they had heard the same piece. But they did not yet know it by heart; +it was much too difficult. And the bandmaster praised the bird +tremendously; yes, he assured them it was better than a real +nightingale, not only because of its beautiful plumage and diamonds, but +inside as well. ‘For see, my Lords and Ladies and your Imperial Majesty, +with the real Nightingale one can never tell what will come out, but all +is known about the artificial bird! You can explain it, you can open it +and show people where the waltzes lie, how they go, and how one follows +the other!’ + +‘That’s just what we think!’ said everyone; and the bandmaster received +permission to show the bird to the people the next Sunday. They should +hear it sing, commanded the Emperor. And they heard it, and they were +as pleased as if they had been intoxicated with tea, after the Chinese +fashion, and they all said ‘Oh!’ and held up their forefingers and +nodded time. But the poor fishermen who had heard the real Nightingale +said: ‘This one sings well enough, the tunes glide out; but there is +something wanting--I don’t know what!’ + +The real Nightingale was banished from the kingdom. + +The artificial bird was put on silken cushions by the Emperor’s bed, all +the presents which it received, gold and precious stones, lay round +it, and it was given the title of Imperial Night-singer, First from the +left. For the Emperor counted that side as the more distinguished, being +the side on which the heart is; the Emperor’s heart is also on the left. + +And the bandmaster wrote a work of twenty-five volumes about the +artificial bird. It was so learned, long, and so full of the hardest +Chinese words that everyone said they had read it and understood it; for +once they had been very stupid about a book, and had been trampled under +foot in consequence. So a whole year passed. The Emperor, the Court, and +all the Chinese knew every note of the artificial bird’s song by heart. +But they liked it all the better for this; they could even sing with +it, and they did. The street boys sang ‘Tra-la-la-la-la, and the Emperor +sang too sometimes. It was indeed delightful. + +But one evening, when the artificial bird was singing its best, and the +Emperor lay in bed listening to it, something in the bird went crack. +Something snapped! Whir-r-r! all the wheels ran down and then the music +ceased. The Emperor sprang up, and had his physician summoned, but +what could HE do! Then the clockmaker came, and, after a great deal of +talking and examining, he put the bird somewhat in order, but he said +that it must be very seldom used as the works were nearly worn out, and +it was impossible to put in new ones. Here was a calamity! Only once a +year was the artificial bird allowed to sing, and even that was almost +too much for it. But then the bandmaster made a little speech full +of hard words, saying that it was just as good as before. And so, of +course, it WAS just as good as before. So five years passed, and then a +great sorrow came to the nation. The Chinese look upon their Emperor as +everything, and now he was ill, and not likely to live it was said. + +Already a new Emperor had been chosen, and the people stood outside in +the street and asked the First Lord how the old Emperor was. ‘P!’ said +he, and shook his head. + +Cold and pale lay the Emperor in his splendid great bed; the whole +Court believed him dead, and one after the other left him to pay their +respects to the new Emperor. Everywhere in the halls and corridors cloth +was laid down so that no footstep could be heard, and everything was +still--very, very still. And nothing came to break the silence. + +The Emperor longed for something to come and relieve the monotony of +this deathlike stillness. If only someone would speak to him! If only +someone would sing to him. Music would carry his thoughts away, and +would break the spell lying on him. The moon was streaming in at the +open window; but that, too, was silent, quite silent. + +‘Music! music!’ cried the Emperor. ‘You little bright golden bird, sing! +do sing! I gave you gold and jewels; I have hung my gold slipper round +your neck with my own hand--sing! do sing!’ But the bird was silent. +There was no one to wind it up, and so it could not sing. And all was +silent, so terribly silent! + +All at once there came in at the window the most glorious burst of song. +It was the little living Nightingale, who, sitting outside on a bough, +had heard the need of her Emperor and had come to sing to him of comfort +and hope. And as she sang the blood flowed quicker and quicker in the +Emperor’s weak limbs, and life began to return. + +‘Thank you, thank you!’ said the Emperor. ‘You divine little bird! +I know you. I chased you from my kingdom, and you have given me life +again! How can I reward you?’ + +‘You have done that already!’ said the Nightingale. ‘I brought tears +to your eyes the first time I sang. I shall never forget that. They +are jewels that rejoice a singer’s heart. But now sleep and get strong +again; I will sing you a lullaby.’ And the Emperor fell into a deep, +calm sleep as she sang. + +The sun was shining through the window when he awoke, strong and well. +None of his servants had come back yet, for they thought he was dead. +But the Nightingale sat and sang to him. + +‘You must always stay with me!’ said the Emperor. ‘You shall sing +whenever you like, and I will break the artificial bird into a thousand +pieces.’ + +‘Don’t do that!’ said the Nightingale. ‘He did his work as long as he +could. Keep him as you have done! I cannot build my nest in the Palace +and live here; but let me come whenever I like. I will sit in the +evening on the bough outside the window, and I will sing you something +that will make you feel happy and grateful. I will sing of joy, and of +sorrow; I will sing of the evil and the good which lies hidden from you. +The little singing-bird flies all around, to the poor fisherman’s hut, +to the farmer’s cottage, to all those who are far away from you and your +Court. I love your heart more than your crown, though that has about it +a brightness as of something holy. Now I will sing to you again; but you +must promise me one thing----’ + +‘Anything!’ said the Emperor, standing up in his Imperial robes, which +he had himself put on, and fastening on his sword richly embossed with +gold. + +‘One thing I beg of you! Don’t tell anyone that you have a little bird +who tells you everything. It will be much better not to!’ Then the +Nightingale flew away. + +The servants came in to look at their dead Emperor. + +The Emperor said, ‘Good-morning!’ + + + + +HERMOD AND HADVOR (32) + +(32) From the Icelandic. + +Once upon a time there were a King and a Queen who had an only daughter, +called Hadvor, who was fair and beautiful, and being an only child, was +heir to the kingdom. The King and Queen had also a foster son, named +Hermod, who was just about the same age as Hadvor, and was good-looking, +as well as clever at most things. Hermod and Hadvor often played +together while they were children, and liked each other so much that +while they were still young they secretly plighted their troth to each +other. + +As time went on the Queen fell sick, and suspecting that it was her last +illness, sent for the King to come to her. When he came she told him +that she had no long time to live, and therefore wished to ask one thing +of him, which was, that if he married another wife he should promise to +take no other one than the Queen of Hetland the Good. The King gave the +promise, and thereafter the Queen died. + +Time went past, and the King, growing tired of living alone, fitted +out his ship and sailed out to sea. As he sailed there came upon him +so thick a mist that he altogether lost his bearings, but after long +trouble he found land. There he laid his ship to, and went on shore all +alone. After walking for some time he came to a forest, into which he +went a little way and stopped. Then he heard sweet music from a harp, +and went in the direction of the sound until he came to a clearing, and +there he saw three women, one of whom sat on a golden chair, and was +beautifully and grandly dressed; she held a harp in her hands, and +was very sorrowful. The second was also finely dressed, but younger +in appearance, and also sat on a chair, but it was not so grand as the +first one’s. The third stood beside them, and was very pretty to look +at; she had a green cloak over her other clothes, and it was easy to see +that she was maid to the other two. + +After the King had looked at them for a little he went forward and +saluted them. The one that sat on the golden chair asked him who he +was and where he was going; and he told her all the story--how he was +a king, and had lost his queen, and was now on his way to Hetland the +Good, to ask the Queen of that country in marriage. She answered that +fortune had contrived this wonderfully, for pirates had plundered +Hetland and killed the King, and she had fled from the land in terror, +and had come hither after great trouble, and she was the very person +he was looking for, and the others were her daughter and maid. The +King immediately asked her hand; she gladly received his proposal and +accepted him at once. Thereafter they all set out, and made their way to +the ship; and after that nothing is told of their voyage until the King +reached his own country. There he made a great feast, and celebrated his +marriage with this woman; and after that things are quiet for a time. + +Hermod and Hadvor took but little notice of the Queen and her daughter, +but, on the other hand, Hadvor and the Queen’s maid, whose name was +Olof, were very friendly, and Olof came often to visit Hadvor in her +castle. Before long the King went out to war, and no sooner was he away +than the Queen came to talk with Hermod, and said that she wanted him to +marry her daughter. Hermod told her straight and plain that he would +not do so, at which the Queen grew terribly angry, and said that in that +case neither should he have Hadvor, for she would now lay this spell on +him, that he should go to a desert island and there be a lion by day and +a man by night. He should also think always of Hadvor, which would cause +him all the more sorrow, and from this spell he should never be freed +until Hadvor burned the lion’s skin, and that would not happen very +soon. + +As soon as the Queen had finished her speech Hermod replied that he also +laid a spell on her, and that was, that as soon as he was freed from her +enchantments she should become a rat and her daughter a mouse, and fight +with each other in the hall until he killed them with his sword. + +After this Hermod disappeared, and no one knew what had become of him; +the Queen caused search to be made for him, but he could nowhere be +found. One time, when Olof was in the castle beside Hadvor, she asked +the Princess if she knew where Hermod had gone to. At this Hadvor became +very sad, and said that she did not. + +‘I shall tell you then,’ said Olof, ‘for I know all about it. Hermod has +disappeared through the wicked devices of the Queen, for she is a witch, +and so is her daughter, though they have put on these beautiful forms. +Because Hermod would not fall in with the Queen’s plans, and marry her +daughter, she has laid a spell on him, to go on an island and be a lion +by day and a man by night, and never be freed from this until you burn +the lion’s skin. Besides,’ said Olof, ‘she has looked out a match for +you; she has a brother in the Underworld, a three-headed Giant, whom she +means to turn into a beautiful prince and get him married to you. This +is no new thing for the Queen; she took me away from my parents’ house +and compelled me to serve her; but she has never done me any harm, for +the green cloak I wear protects me against all mischief. + +Hadvor now became still sadder than before at the thought of the +marriage destined for her, and entreated Olof to think of some plan to +save her. + +‘I think,’ said Olof, ‘that your wooer will come up through the floor of +the castle to you, and so you must be prepared when you hear the noise +of his coming and the floor begins to open, and have at hand blazing +pitch, and pour plenty of it into the opening. That will prove too much +for him.’ + +About this time the King came home from his expedition, and thought it +a great blow that no one knew what had become of Hermod; but the Queen +consoled him as best she could, and after a time the King thought less +about his disappearance. + +Hadvor remained in her castle, and had made preparations to receive her +wooer when he came. One night, not long after, a loud noise and rumbling +was heard under the castle. Hadvor at once guessed what it was, and told +her maids to be ready to help her. The noise and thundering grew louder +and louder, until the floor began to open, whereupon Hadvor made them +take the caldron of pitch and pour plenty of it into the opening. With +that the noises grew fainter and fainter, till at last they ceased +altogether. + +Next morning the Queen rose early, and went out to the Palace gate, and +there she found her brother the Giant lying dead. She went up to him and +said, ‘I pronounce this spell, that you become a beautiful prince, and +that Hadvor shall be unable to say anything against the charges that I +shall bring against her.’ + +The body of the dead Giant now became that of a beautiful prince, and +the Queen went in again. + +‘I don’t think,’ said she to the King, ‘that your daughter is as good as +she is said to be. My brother came and asked her hand, and she has had +him put to death. I have just found his dead body lying at the Palace +gate.’ + +The King went along with the Queen to see the body, and thought it all +very strange; so beautiful a youth, he said, would have been a worthy +match for Hadvor, and he would readily have agreed to their marriage. +The Queen asked leave to decide what Hadvor’s punishment should be, +which the King was very willing to allow, so as to escape from punishing +his own daughter. The Queen’s decision was that the King should make a +big grave-mound for her brother, and put Hadvor into it beside him. + +Olof knew all the plans of the Queen, and went to tell the Princess what +had been done, whereupon Hadvor earnestly entreated her to tell her what +to do. + +‘First and foremost,’ said Olof, ‘you must get a wide cloak to wear over +your other clothes, when you are put into the mound. The Giant’s ghost +will walk after you are both left together in there, and he will have +two dogs along with him. He will ask you to cut pieces out of his legs +to give to the dogs, but that you must not promise to do unless he tells +you where Hermod has gone to, and tells you how to find him. He will +then let you stand on his shoulders, so as to get out of the mound; but +he means to cheat you all the same, and will catch you by the cloak to +pull you back again; but you must take care to have the cloak loose on +your shoulders, so that he will only get hold of that.’ + +The mound was all ready now, and the Giant laid in it, and into it +Hadvor also had to go without being allowed to make any defence. After +they were both left there everything happened just as Olof had said. The +prince became a Giant again, and asked Hadvor to cut the pieces out of +his legs for the dogs; but she refused until he told her that Hermod was +in a desert island, which she could not reach unless she took the skin +off the soles of his feet and made shoes out of that; with these shoes +she could travel both on land and sea. This Hadvor now did, and the +Giant then let her get up on his shoulders to get out of the mound. As +she sprang out he caught hold of her cloak; but she had taken care to +let it lie loose on her shoulders, and so escaped. + +She now made her way down to the sea, to where she knew there was the +shortest distance over to the island in which Hermod was. This strait +she easily crossed, for the shoes kept her up. On reaching the island +she found a sandy beach all along by the sea, and high cliffs above. Nor +could she see any way to get up these, and so, being both sad at heart +and tired with the long journey, she lay down and fell asleep. As she +slept she dreamed that a tall woman came to her and said, ‘I know that +you are Princess Hadvor, and are searching for Hermod. He is on this +island; but it will be hard for you to get to him if you have no one to +help you, for you cannot climb the cliffs by your own strength. I have +therefore let down a rope, by which you will be able to climb up; and as +the island is so large that you might not find Hermod’s dwelling-place +so easily, I lay down this clew beside you. You need only hold the end +of the thread, and the clew will run on before and show you the way. I +also lay this belt beside you, to put on when you awaken; it will keep +you from growing faint with hunger.’ + +The woman now disappeared, and Hadvor woke, and saw that all her dream +had been true. The rope hung down from the cliff, and the clew and belt +lay beside her. The belt she put on, the rope enabled her to climb up +the cliff, and the clew led her on till she came to the mouth of a cave, +which was not very big. She went into the cave, and saw there a low +couch, under which she crept and lay down. + +When evening came she heard the noise of footsteps outside, and became +aware that the lion had come to the mouth of the cave, and shook itself +there, after which she heard a man coming towards the couch. She was +sure this was Hermod, because she heard him speaking to himself about +his own condition, and calling to mind Hadvor and other things in the +old days. Hadvor made no sign, but waited till he had fallen asleep, and +then crept out and burned the lion’s skin, which he had left outside. +Then she went back into the cave and wakened Hermod, and they had a most +joyful meeting. + +In the morning they talked over their plans, and were most at a loss +to know how to get out of the island. Hadvor told Hermod her dream, and +said she suspected there was some one in the island who would be able to +help them. Hermod said he knew of a Witch there, who was very ready to +help anyone, and that the only plan was to go to her. So they went to +the Witch’s cave, and found her there with her fifteen young sons, and +asked her to help them to get to the mainland. + +‘There are other things easier than that,’ said she, ‘for the Giant that +was buried will be waiting for you, and will attack you on the way, +as he has turned himself into a big whale. I shall lend you a boat, +however, and if you meet the whale and think your lives are in danger, +then you can name me by name.’ + +They thanked her greatly for her help and advice, and set out from the +island, but on the way they saw a huge fish coming towards them, with +great splashing and dashing of waves. They were sure of what it was, and +thought they had as good reason as ever they would have to call on +the Witch, and so they did. The next minute they saw coming after them +another huge whale, followed by fifteen smaller ones. All of these swam +past the boat and went on to meet the whale. There was a fierce battle +then, and the sea became so stormy that it was not very easy to keep the +boat from being filled by the waves. After this fight had gone on for +some time, they saw that the sea was dyed with blood; the big whale +and the fifteen smaller ones disappeared, and they got to land safe and +sound. + +Now the story goes back to the King’s hall, where strange things had +happened in the meantime. The Queen and her daughter had disappeared, +but a rat and a mouse were always fighting with each other there. Ever +so many people had tried to drive them away, but no one could manage it. +Thus some time went on, while the King was almost beside himself with +sorrow and care for the loss of his Queen, and because these monsters +destroyed all mirth in the hall. + +One evening, however, while they all sat dull and down-hearted, in came +Hermod with a sword by his side, and saluted the King, who received +him with the greatest joy, as if he had come back from the dead. Before +Hermod sat down, however, he went to where the rat and the mouse were +fighting, and cut them in two with his sword. All were astonished then +by seeing two witches lying dead on the floor of the hall. + +Hermod now told the whole story to the King, who was very glad to be rid +of such vile creatures. Next he asked for the hand of Hadvor, which the +King readily gave him, and being now an old man, gave the kingdom to him +as well; and so Hermod became King. + +Olof married a good-looking nobleman, and that is the end of the story. + + + + +THE STEADFAST TIN-SOLDIER + +There were once upon a time five-and twenty tin-soldiers--all brothers, +as they were made out of the same old tin spoon. Their uniform was red +and blue, and they shouldered their guns and looked straight in front of +them. The first words that they heard in this world, when the lid of the +box in which they lay was taken off, were: ‘Hurrah, tin-soldiers!’ This +was exclaimed by a little boy, clapping his hands; they had been given +to him because it was his birthday, and now he began setting them out on +the table. Each soldier was exactly like the other in shape, except just +one, who had been made last when the tin had run short; but there he +stood as firmly on his one leg as the others did on two, and he is the +one that became famous. + +There were many other playthings on the table on which they were being +set out, but the nicest of all was a pretty little castle made of +cardboard, with windows through which you could see into the rooms. In +front of the castle stood some little trees surrounding a tiny mirror +which looked like a lake. Wax swans were floating about and reflecting +themselves in it. That was all very pretty; but the most beautiful thing +was a little lady, who stood in the open doorway. She was cut out of +paper, but she had on a dress of the finest muslin, with a scarf of +narrow blue ribbon round her shoulders, fastened in the middle with a +glittering rose made of gold paper, which was as large as her head. The +little lady was stretching out both her arms, for she was a Dancer, and +was lifting up one leg so high in the air that the Tin-soldier couldn’t +find it anywhere, and thought that she, too, had only one leg. + +‘That’s the wife for me!’ he thought; ‘but she is so grand, and lives in +a castle, whilst I have only a box with four-and-twenty others. This is +no place for her! But I must make her acquaintance.’ Then he stretched +himself out behind a snuff-box that lay on the table; from thence he +could watch the dainty little lady, who continued to stand on one leg +without losing her balance. + +When the night came all the other tin-soldiers went into their box, +and the people of the house went to bed. Then the toys began to play at +visiting, dancing, and fighting. The tin-soldiers rattled in their box, +for they wanted to be out too, but they could not raise the lid. The +nut-crackers played at leap-frog, and the slate-pencil ran about the +slate; there was such a noise that the canary woke up and began to talk +to them, in poetry too! The only two who did not stir from their places +were the Tin-soldier and the little Dancer. She remained on tip-toe, +with both arms outstretched; he stood steadfastly on his one leg, never +moving his eyes from her face. + +The clock struck twelve, and crack! off flew the lid of the snuff-box; +but there was no snuff inside, only a little black imp--that was the +beauty of it. + +‘Hullo, Tin-soldier!’ said the imp. ‘Don’t look at things that aren’t +intended for the likes of you!’ + +But the Tin-soldier took no notice, and seemed not to hear. + +‘Very well, wait till to-morrow!’ said the imp. + +When it was morning, and the children had got up, the Tin-soldier was +put in the window; and whether it was the wind or the little black imp, +I don’t know, but all at once the window flew open and out fell the +little Tin-soldier, head over heels, from the third-storey window! That +was a terrible fall, I can tell you! He landed on his head with his leg +in the air, his gun being wedged between two paving-stones. + +The nursery-maid and the little boy came down at once to look for him, +but, though they were so near him that they almost trod on him, they did +not notice him. If the Tin-soldier had only called out ‘Here I am!’ they +must have found him; but he did not think it fitting for him to cry out, +because he had on his uniform. + +Soon it began to drizzle; then the drops came faster, and there was a +regular down-pour. When it was over, two little street boys came along. + +‘Just look!’ cried one. ‘Here is a Tin-soldier! He shall sail up and +down in a boat!’ + +So they made a little boat out of newspaper, put the Tin-soldier in it, +and made him sail up and down the gutter; both the boys ran along beside +him, clapping their hands. What great waves there were in the gutter, +and what a swift current! The paper-boat tossed up and down, and in the +middle of the stream it went so quick that the Tin-soldier trembled; but +he remained steadfast, showed no emotion, looked straight in front +of him, shouldering his gun. All at once the boat passed under a long +tunnel that was as dark as his box had been. + +‘Where can I be coming now?’ he wondered. ‘Oh, dear! This is the black +imp’s fault! Ah, if only the little lady were sitting beside me in the +boat, it might be twice as dark for all I should care!’ + +Suddenly there came along a great water-rat that lived in the tunnel. + +‘Have you a passport?’ asked the rat. ‘Out with your passport!’ + +But the Tin-soldier was silent, and grasped his gun more firmly. + +The boat sped on, and the rat behind it. Ugh! how he showed his teeth, +as he cried to the chips of wood and straw: ‘Hold him, hold him! he has +not paid the toll! He has not shown his passport!’ + +But the current became swifter and stronger. The Tin-soldier could +already see daylight where the tunnel ended; but in his ears there +sounded a roaring enough to frighten any brave man. Only think! at the +end of the tunnel the gutter discharged itself into a great canal; that +would be just as dangerous for him as it would be for us to go down a +waterfall. + +Now he was so near to it that he could not hold on any longer. On went +the boat, the poor Tin-soldier keeping himself as stiff as he could: no +one should say of him afterwards that he had flinched. The boat whirled +three, four times round, and became filled to the brim with water: it +began to sink! The Tin-soldier was standing up to his neck in water, and +deeper and deeper sank the boat, and softer and softer grew the paper; +now the water was over his head. He was thinking of the pretty little +Dancer, whose face he should never see again, and there sounded in his +ears, over and over again: + + ‘Forward, forward, soldier bold! + Death’s before thee, grim and cold!’ + +The paper came in two, and the soldier fell--but at that moment he was +swallowed by a great fish. + +Oh! how dark it was inside, even darker than in the tunnel, and it was +really very close quarters! But there the steadfast little Tin-soldier +lay full length, shouldering his gun. + +Up and down swam the fish, then he made the most dreadful contortions, +and became suddenly quite still. Then it was as if a flash of lightning +had passed through him; the daylight streamed in, and a voice exclaimed, +‘Why, here is the little Tin-soldier!’ The fish had been caught, taken +to market, sold, and brought into the kitchen, where the cook had cut it +open with a great knife. She took up the soldier between her finger and +thumb, and carried him into the room, where everyone wanted to see the +hero who had been found inside a fish; but the Tin-soldier was not at +all proud. They put him on the table, and--no, but what strange things +do happen in this world!--the Tin-soldier was in the same room in which +he had been before! He saw the same children, and the same toys on +the table; and there was the same grand castle with the pretty little +Dancer. She was still standing on one leg with the other high in the +air; she too was steadfast. That touched the Tin-soldier, he was nearly +going to shed tin-tears; but that would not have been fitting for a +soldier. He looked at her, but she said nothing. + +All at once one of the little boys took up the Tin-soldier, and threw +him into the stove, giving no reasons; but doubtless the little black +imp in the snuff-box was at the bottom of this too. + +There the Tin-soldier lay, and felt a heat that was truly terrible; but +whether he was suffering from actual fire, or from the ardour of his +passion, he did not know. All his colour had disappeared; whether this +had happened on his travels or whether it was the result of trouble, who +can say? He looked at the little lady, she looked at him, and he felt +that he was melting; but he remained steadfast, with his gun at his +shoulder. Suddenly a door opened, the draught caught up the little +Dancer, and off she flew like a sylph to the Tin-soldier in the stove, +burst into flames--and that was the end of her! Then the Tin-soldier +melted down into a little lump, and when next morning the maid was +taking out the ashes, she found him in the shape of a heart. There was +nothing left of the little Dancer but her gilt rose, burnt as black as a +cinder. + + + + +BLOCKHEAD-HANS + +Far away in the country lay an old manor-house where lived an old squire +who had two sons. They thought themselves so clever, that if they had +known only half of what they did know, it would have been quite enough. +They both wanted to marry the King’s daughter, for she had proclaimed +that she would have for her husband the man who knew best how to choose +his words. + +Both prepared for the wooing a whole week, which was the longest time +allowed them; but, after all, it was quite long enough, for they both +had preparatory knowledge, and everyone knows how useful that is. One +knew the whole Latin dictionary and also three years’ issue of the daily +paper of the town off by heart, so that he could repeat it all backwards +or forwards as you pleased. The other had worked at the laws of +corporation, and knew by heart what every member of the corporation +ought to know, so that he thought he could quite well speak on State +matters and give his opinion. He understood, besides this, how to +embroider braces with roses and other flowers, and scrolls, for he was +very ready with his fingers. + +‘I shall win the king’s daughter!’ they both cried. + +Their old father gave each of them a fine horse; the one who knew the +dictionary and the daily paper by heart had a black horse, while the +other who was so clever at corporation law had a milk-white one. Then +they oiled the corners of their mouths so that they might be able to +speak more fluently. All the servants stood in the courtyard and saw +them mount their steeds, and here by chance came the third brother; for +the squire had three sons, but nobody counted him with his brothers, +for he was not so learned as they were, and he was generally called +‘Blockhead-Hans.’ + +‘Oh, oh!’ said Blockhead-Hans. ‘Where are you off to? You are in your +Sunday-best clothes!’ + +‘We are going to Court, to woo the Princess! Don’t you know what is +known throughout all the country side?’ And they told him all about it. + +‘Hurrah! I’ll go to!’ cried Blockhead-Hans; and the brothers laughed at +him and rode off. + +‘Dear father!’ cried Blockhead-Hans, ‘I must have a horse too. What a +desire for marriage has seized me! If she will have me, she WILL have +me, and if she won’t have me, I will have her.’ + +‘Stop that nonsense!’ said the old man. ‘I will not give you a horse. +YOU can’t speak; YOU don’t know how to choose your words. Your brothers! +Ah! they are very different lads!’ + +‘Well,’ said Blockhead-Hans, ‘if I can’t have a horse, I will take the +goat which is mine; he can carry me!’ + +And he did so. He sat astride on the goat, struck his heels into its +side, and went rattling down the high-road like a hurricane. + +‘Hoppetty hop! what a ride!’ Here I come!’ shouted Blockhead-Hans, +singing so that the echoes were roused far and near. But his brothers +were riding slowly in front. They were not speaking, but they were +thinking over all the good things they were going to say, for everything +had to be thought out. + +‘Hullo!’ bawled Blockhead-Hans, ‘here I am! Just look what I found on +the road!’--and he showed them a dead crow which he had picked up. + +‘Blockhead!’ said his brothers, ‘what are you going to do with it?’ + +‘With the crow? I shall give it to the Princess!’ + +‘Do so, certainly!’ they said, laughing loudly and riding on. + +‘Slap! bang! here I am again! Look what I have just found! You don’t +find such things every day on the road!’ And the brothers turned round +to see what in the world he could have found. + +‘Blockhead!’ said they, ‘that is an old wooden shoe without the top! Are +you going to send that, too, to the Princess?’ + +‘Of course I shall!’ returned Blockhead-Hans; and the brothers laughed +and rode on a good way. + +‘Slap! bang! here I am!’ cried Blockhead-Hans; ‘better and better--it is +really famous!’ + +‘What have you found now?’ asked the brothers. + +‘Oh,’ said Blockhead-Hans, ‘it is really too good! How pleased the +Princess will be!’ + +‘Why!’ said the brothers, ‘this is pure mud, straight from the ditch.’ + +‘Of course it is!’ said Blockhead-Hans, ‘and it is the best kind! Look +how it runs through one’s fingers!’ and, so saying, he filled his pocket +with the mud. + +But the brothers rode on so fast that dust and sparks flew all around, +and they reached the gate of the town a good hour before Blockhead-Hans. +Here came the suitors numbered according to their arrival, and they were +ranged in rows, six in each row, and they were so tightly packed +that they could not move their arms. This was a very good thing, for +otherwise they would have torn each other in pieces, merely because the +one was in front of the other. + +All the country people were standing round the King’s throne, and were +crowded together in thick masses almost out of the windows to see the +Princess receive the suitors; and as each one came into the room all his +fine phrases went out like a candle! + +‘It doesn’t matter!’ said the Princess. ‘Away! out with him!’ + +At last she came to the row in which the brother who knew the dictionary +by heart was, but he did not know it any longer; he had quite forgotten +it in the rank and file. And the floor creaked, and the ceiling was all +made of glass mirrors, so that he saw himself standing on his head, and +by each window were standing three reporters and an editor; and each +of them was writing down what was said, to publish it in the paper that +came out and was sold at the street corners for a penny. It was fearful, +and they had made up the fire so hot that it was grilling. + +‘It is hot in here, isn’t it!’ said the suitor. + +‘Of course it is! My father is roasting young chickens to-day!’ said the +Princess. + +‘Ahem!’ There he stood like an idiot. He was not prepared for such a +speech; he did not know what to say, although he wanted to say something +witty. ‘Ahem!’ + +‘It doesn’t matter!’ said the Princess. ‘Take him out!’ and out he had +to go. + +Now the other brother entered. + +‘How hot it is!’ he said. + +‘Of course! We are roasting young chickens to-day!’ remarked the +Princess. + +‘How do you--um!’ he said, and the reporters wrote down. ‘How do +you--um.’ + +‘It doesn’t matter!’ said the Princess. ‘Take him out!’ + +Now Blockhead-Hans came in; he rode his goat right into the hall. + +‘I say! How roasting hot it is here!’ said he. + +‘Of course! I am roasting young chickens to-day!’ said the Princess. + +‘That’s good!’ replied Blockhead-Hans; ‘then can I roast a crow with +them?’ + +‘With the greatest of pleasure!’ said the Princess; ‘but have you +anything you can roast them in? for I have neither pot nor saucepan.’ + +‘Oh, rather!’ said Blockhead-Hans. ‘Here is a cooking implement with tin +rings,’ and he drew out the old wooden shoe, and laid the crow in it. + +‘That is quite a meal!’ said the Princess; ‘but where shall we get the +soup from?’ + +‘I’ve got that in my pocket!’ said Blockhead-Hans. ‘I have so much that +I can quite well throw some away!’ and he poured some mud out of his +pocket. + +‘I like you!’ said the Princess. ‘You can answer, and you can speak, and +I will marry you; but do you know that every word which we are saying +and have said has been taken down and will be in the paper to-morrow? +By each window do you see there are standing three reporters and an +old editor, and this old editor is the worst, for he doesn’t understand +anything!’ but she only said this to tease Blockhead-Hans. And the +reporters giggled, and each dropped a blot of ink on the floor. + +‘Ah! are those the great people?’ said Blockhead-Hans. ‘Then I will give +the editor the best!’ So saying, he turned his pockets inside out, and +threw the mud right in his face. + +‘That was neatly done!’ said the Princess. ‘I couldn’t have done it; but +I will soon learn how to!’ + +Blockhead-Hans became King, got a wife and a crown, and sat on the +throne; and this we have still damp from the newspaper of the editor and +the reporters--and they are not to be believed for a moment. + + + + +A STORY ABOUT A DARNING-NEEDLE + +There was once a Darning-needle who thought herself so fine that she +believed she was an embroidery-needle. ‘Take great care to hold me +tight!’ said the Darning-needle to the Fingers who were holding her. +‘Don’t let me fall! If I once fall on the ground I shall never be found +again, I am so fine!’ + +‘It is all right!’ said the Fingers, seizing her round the waist. + +‘Look, I am coming with my train!’ said the Darning-needle as she drew a +long thread after her; but there was no knot at the end of the thread. + +The Fingers were using the needle on the cook’s shoe. The upper leather +was unstitched and had to be sewn together. + +‘This is common work!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I shall never get +through it. I am breaking! I am breaking!’ And in fact she did break. +‘Didn’t I tell you so!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I am too fine!’ + +‘Now she is good for nothing!’ said the Fingers; but they had to hold +her tight while the cook dropped some sealing-wax on the needle and +stuck it in the front of her dress. + +‘Now I am a breast-pin!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I always knew I +should be promoted. When one is something, one will become something!’ +And she laughed to herself; you can never see when a Darning-needle is +laughing. Then she sat up as proudly as if she were in a State coach, +and looked all round her. + +‘May I be allowed to ask if you are gold?’ she said to her neighbour, +the Pin. ‘You have a very nice appearance, and a peculiar head; but +it is too small! You must take pains to make it grow, for it is +not everyone who has a head of sealing-wax.’ And so saying the +Darning-needle raised herself up so proudly that she fell out of the +dress, right into the sink which the cook was rinsing out. + +‘Now I am off on my travels!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I do hope I +sha’n’t get lost!’ She did indeed get lost. + +‘I am too fine for this world!’ said she as she lay in the gutter; ‘but +I know who I am, and that is always a little satisfaction!’ + +And the Darning-needle kept her proud bearing and did not lose her +good-temper. + +All kinds of things swam over her--shavings, bits of straw, and scraps +of old newspapers. + +‘Just look how they sail along!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘They don’t +know what is underneath them! Here I am sticking fast! There goes a +shaving thinking of nothing in the world but of itself, a mere chip! +There goes a straw--well, how it does twist and twirl, to be sure! Don’t +think so much about yourself, or you will be knocked against a stone. +There floats a bit of newspaper. What is written on it is long ago +forgotten, and yet how proud it is! I am sitting patient and quiet. I +know who I am, and that is enough for me!’ + +One day something thick lay near her which glittered so brightly that +the Darning-needle thought it must be a diamond. But it was a bit of +bottle-glass, and because it sparkled the Darning-needle spoke to it, +and gave herself out as a breast-pin. + +‘No doubt you are a diamond?’ + +‘Yes, something of that kind!’ And each believed that the other was +something very costly; and they both said how very proud the world must +be of them. + +‘I have come from a lady’s work-box,’ said Darning-needle, ‘and this +lady was a cook; she had five fingers on each hand; anything so proud as +these fingers I have never seen! And yet they were only there to take me +out of the work-box and to put me back again!’ + +‘Were they of noble birth, then?’ asked the bit of bottle-glass. + +‘Of noble birth!’ said the Darning-needle; ‘no indeed, but proud! They +were five brothers, all called ‘’Fingers.’’ They held themselves proudly +one against the other, although they were of different sizes. The +outside one, the Thumb, was short and fat; he was outside the rank, and +had only one bend in his back, and could only make one bow; but he said +that if he were cut off from a man that he was no longer any use as +a soldier. Dip-into-everything, the second finger, dipped into sweet +things as well as sour things, pointed to the sun and the moon, and +guided the pen when they wrote. Longman, the third, looked at the others +over his shoulder. Goldband, the fourth, had a gold sash round his +waist; and little Playman did nothing at all, and was the more proud. +There was too much ostentation, and so I came away.’ + +‘And now we are sitting and shining here!’ said the bit of bottle-glass. + +At that moment more water came into the gutter; it streamed over the +edges and washed the bit of bottle-glass away. + +‘Ah! now he has been promoted!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I remain here; +I am too fine. But that is my pride, which is a sign of respectability!’ +And she sat there very proudly, thinking lofty thoughts. + +‘I really believe I must have been born a sunbeam, I am so fine! It +seems to me as if the sunbeams were always looking under the water for +me. Ah, I am so fine that my own mother cannot find me! If I had my old +eye which broke off, I believe I could weep; but I can’t--it is not fine +to weep!’ + +One day two street-urchins were playing and wading in the gutter, +picking up old nails, pennies, and such things. It was rather dirty +work, but it was a great delight to them. + +‘Oh, oh!’ cried out one, as he pricked himself with the Darning-needle; +‘he is a fine fellow though!’ + +‘I am not a fellow; I am a young lady!’ said the Darning-needle; but no +one heard. The sealing-wax had gone, and she had become quite black; but +black makes one look very slim, and so she thought she was even finer +than before. + +‘Here comes an egg-shell sailing along!’ said the boys, and they stuck +the Darning-needle into the egg-shell. + +‘The walls white and I black--what a pretty contrast it makes!’ said +the Darning-needle. ‘Now I can be seen to advantage! If only I am not +sea-sick! I should give myself up for lost!’ + +But she was not sea-sick, and did not give herself up. + +‘It is a good thing to be steeled against sea-sickness; here one has +indeed an advantage over man! Now my qualms are over. The finer one is +the more one can beat.’ + +‘Crack!’ said the egg-shell as a wagon-wheel went over it. + +‘Oh! how it presses!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I shall indeed be +sea-sick now. I am breaking!’ But she did not break, although the +wagon-wheel went over her; she lay there at full length, and there she +may lie. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Yellow Fairy Book, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 640-0.txt or 640-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/4/640/ + +Produced by David Widger and Charles Keller for Tina + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/640-0.zip b/640-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e26e50d --- /dev/null +++ b/640-0.zip diff --git a/640-h.zip b/640-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9126a81 --- /dev/null +++ b/640-h.zip diff --git a/640-h/640-h.htm b/640-h/640-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d9111a --- /dev/null +++ b/640-h/640-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,13682 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Yellow Fairy Book, by Various + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#ffffcc; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Yellow Fairy Book, by Various + +<table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto" cellpadding="4" border="3"> +<tr> +<td> +THIS EBOOK WAS ONE OF PROJECT GUTENBERG'S EARLY FILES PRODUCED AT A +TIME WHEN PROOFING METHODS AND TOOLS WERE NOT WELL DEVELOPED. THERE IS +AN IMPROVED ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THIS TITLE WHICH MAY VIEWED AT EBOOK <big><b><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28314"> +[ #28314 ]</a></b></big> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Yellow Fairy Book + +Author: Various + +Editor: Andrew Lang + +Release Date: November 30, 2009 [EBook #640] +Last Updated: December 16, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger, and Charles Keller for Tina + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Various + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Edited By Andrew Lang + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> Dedication TO JOAN, TODDLES, AND TINY + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Books Yellow, Red, and Green and Blue, + All true, or just as good as true, + And here’s the Yellow Book for YOU! + + Hard is the path from A to Z, + And puzzling to a curly head, + Yet leads to Books—Green, Blue, and Red. + + For every child should understand + That letters from the first were planned + To guide us into Fairy Land + + So labour at your Alphabet, + For by that learning shall you get + To lands where Fairies may be met. + + And going where this pathway goes, + You too, at last, may find, who knows? + The Garden of the Singing Rose. + </pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <table summary="" border="3" cellpadding="0"> + <tbody> + <tr> + <td> + <a + href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/28314/28314-h/28314-h.htm"><b>A + NEW ILLUSTRATED EDITION</b> </a> + </td> + <td> + </td> + </tr> + </tbody> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <a name="link2H_PREF" id="link2H_PREF"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + PREFACE + </h2> + <p> + The Editor thinks that children will readily forgive him for publishing + another Fairy Book. We have had the Blue, the Red, the Green, and here is + the Yellow. If children are pleased, and they are so kind as to say that + they are pleased, the Editor does not care very much for what other people + may say. Now, there is one gentleman who seems to think that it is not + quite right to print so many fairy tales, with pictures, and to publish + them in red and blue covers. He is named Mr. G. Laurence Gomme, and he is + president of a learned body called the Folk Lore Society. Once a year he + makes his address to his subjects, of whom the Editor is one, and Mr. + Joseph Jacobs (who has published many delightful fairy tales with pretty + pictures)(1) is another. Fancy, then, the dismay of Mr. Jacobs, and of the + Editor, when they heard their president say that he did not think it very + nice in them to publish fairy books, above all, red, green, and blue fairy + books! They said that they did not see any harm in it, and they were ready + to ‘put themselves on their country,’ and be tried by a jury of children. + And, indeed, they still see no harm in what they have done; nay, like + Father William in the poem, they are ready ‘to do it again and again.’ + </p> + <p> + (1) You may buy them from Mr. Nutt, in the Strand. + </p> + <p> + Where is the harm? The truth is that the Folk Lore Society—made up + of the most clever, learned, and beautiful men and women of the country—is + fond of studying the history and geography of Fairy Land. This is + contained in very old tales, such as country people tell, and savages: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Little Sioux and little Crow, + Little frosty Eskimo.’ +</pre> + <p> + These people are thought to know most about fairyland and its inhabitants. + But, in the Yellow Fairy Book, and the rest, are many tales by persons who + are neither savages nor rustics, such as Madame D’Aulnoy and Herr Hans + Christian Andersen. The Folk Lore Society, or its president, say that + THEIR tales are not so true as the rest, and should not be published with + the rest. But WE say that all the stories which are pleasant to read are + quite true enough for us; so here they are, with pictures by Mr. Ford, and + we do not think that either the pictures or the stories are likely to + mislead children. + </p> + <p> + As to whether there are really any fairies or not, that is a difficult + question. Professor Huxley thinks there are none. The Editor never saw any + himself, but he knows several people who have seen them—in the + Highlands—and heard their music. If ever you are in Nether Lochaber, + go to the Fairy Hill, and you may hear the music yourself, as grown-up + people have done, but you must goon a fine day. Again, if there are really + no fairies, why do people believe in them, all over the world? The ancient + Greeks believed, so did the old Egyptians, and the Hindoos, and the Red + Indians, and is it likely, if there are no fairies, that so many different + peoples would have seen and heard them? The Rev. Mr. Baring-Gould saw + several fairies when he was a boy, and was travelling in the land of the + Troubadours. For these reasons, the Editor thinks that there are certainly + fairies, but they never do anyone any harm; and, in England, they have + been frightened away by smoke and schoolmasters. As to Giants, they have + died out, but real Dwarfs are common in the forests of Africa. Probably a + good many stories not perfectly true have been told about fairies, but + such stories have also been told about Napoleon, Claverhouse, Julius + Caesar, and Joan of Arc, all of whom certainly existed. A wise child will, + therefore, remember that, if he grows up and becomes a member of the Folk + Lore Society, ALL the tales in this book were not offered to him as + absolutely truthful, but were printed merely for his entertainment. The + exact facts he can learn later, or he can leave them alone. + </p> + <p> + There are Russian, German, French, Icelandic, Red Indian, and other + stories here. They were translated by Miss Cheape, Miss Alma, and Miss + Thyra Alleyne, Miss Sellar, Mr. Craigie (he did the Icelandic tales), Miss + Blackley, Mrs. Dent, and Mrs. Lang, but the Red Indian stories are copied + from English versions published by the Smithsonian Bureau of Ethnology, in + America. Mr. Ford did the pictures, and it is hoped that children will + find the book not less pleasing than those which have already been + submitted to their consideration. The Editor cannot say ‘good-bye’ without + advising them, as they pursue their studies, to read The Rose and the + Ring, by the late Mr. Thackeray, with pictures by the author. This book he + thinks quite indispensable in every child’s library, and parents should be + urged to purchase it at the first opportunity, as without it no education + is complete. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + A. LANG. +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PREF"> PREFACE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> THE CAT AND THE MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> THE SIX SWANS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> STORY OF THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> THE GOLDEN CRAB </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> THE IRON STOVE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> THE DRAGON AND HIS GRANDMOTHER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> HOW SIX MEN TRAVELLED THROUGH THE WIDE WORLD + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> THE GLASS MOUNTAIN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> THE DEAD WIFE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> IN THE LAND OF SOULS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> THE WHITE DUCK </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> THE WITCH AND HER SERVANTS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> THE MAGIC RING </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> THE FLOWER QUEEN’S DAUGHTER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> THE FLYING SHIP </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> THE SNOW-DAUGHTER AND THE FIRE-SON </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> THE STORY OF KING FROST </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> THE DEATH OF THE SUN-HERO </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0022"> THE WITCH </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0023"> THE HAZEL-NUT CHILD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> THE STORY OF BIG KLAUS AND LITTLE KLAUS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0025"> PRINCE RING </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0026"> THE SWINEHERD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0027"> HOW TO TELL A TRUE PRINCESS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0028"> THE BLUE MOUNTAINS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0029"> THE TINDER-BOX </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0030"> THE WITCH IN THE STONE BOAT </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0031"> THUMBELINA </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0032"> THE NIGHTINGALE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0033"> HERMOD AND HADVOR </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0034"> THE STEADFAST TIN-SOLDIER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0035"> BLOCKHEAD-HANS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0036"> A STORY ABOUT A DARNING-NEEDLE </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h1> + THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE CAT AND THE MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP + </h2> + <p> + A cat had made acquaintance with a mouse, and had spoken so much of the + great love and friendship she felt for her, that at last the Mouse + consented to live in the same house with her, and to go shares in the + housekeeping. ‘But we must provide for the winter or else we shall suffer + hunger,’ said the Cat. ‘You, little Mouse, cannot venture everywhere in + case you run at last into a trap.’ This good counsel was followed, and a + little pot of fat was bought. But they did not know where to put it. At + length, after long consultation, the Cat said, ‘I know of no place where + it could be better put than in the church. No one will trouble to take it + away from there. We will hide it in a corner, and we won’t touch it till + we are in want.’ So the little pot was placed in safety; but it was not + long before the Cat had a great longing for it, and said to the Mouse, ‘I + wanted to tell you, little Mouse, that my cousin has a little son, white + with brown spots, and she wants me to be godmother to it. Let me go out + to-day, and do you take care of the house alone.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, go certainly,’ replied the Mouse, ‘and when you eat anything good, + think of me; I should very much like a drop of the red christening wine.’ + </p> + <p> + But it was all untrue. The Cat had no cousin, and had not been asked to be + godmother. She went straight to the church, slunk to the little pot of + fat, began to lick it, and licked the top off. Then she took a walk on the + roofs of the town, looked at the view, stretched herself out in the sun, + and licked her lips whenever she thought of the little pot of fat. As soon + as it was evening she went home again. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, here you are again!’ said the Mouse; ‘you must certainly have had an + enjoyable day.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘It went off very well,’ answered the Cat. + </p> + <p> + ‘What was the child’s name?’ asked the Mouse. + </p> + <p> + ‘Top Off,’ said the Cat drily. + </p> + <p> + ‘Topoff!’ echoed the Mouse, ‘it is indeed a wonderful and curious name. Is + it in your family?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What is there odd about it?’ said the Cat. ‘It is not worse than + Breadthief, as your godchild is called.’ + </p> + <p> + Not long after this another great longing came over the Cat. She said to + the Mouse, ‘You must again be kind enough to look after the house alone, + for I have been asked a second time to stand godmother, and as this child + has a white ring round its neck, I cannot refuse.’ + </p> + <p> + The kind Mouse agreed, but the Cat slunk under the town wall to the + church, and ate up half of the pot of fat. ‘Nothing tastes better,’ said + she, ‘than what one eats by oneself,’ and she was very much pleased with + her day’s work. When she came home the Mouse asked, ‘What was this child + called?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Half Gone,’ answered the Cat. + </p> + <p> + ‘Halfgone! what a name! I have never heard it in my life. I don’t believe + it is in the calendar.’ + </p> + <p> + Soon the Cat’s mouth began to water once more after her licking business. + ‘All good things in threes,’ she said to the Mouse; ‘I have again to stand + godmother. The child is quite black, and has very white paws, but not a + single white hair on its body. This only happens once in two years, so you + will let me go out?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Topoff! Halfgone!’ repeated the Mouse, ‘they are such curious names; they + make me very thoughtful.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, you sit at home in your dark grey coat and your long tail,’ said the + Cat, ‘and you get fanciful. That comes of not going out in the day.’ + </p> + <p> + The Mouse had a good cleaning out while the Cat was gone, and made the + house tidy; but the greedy Cat ate the fat every bit up. + </p> + <p> + ‘When it is all gone one can be at rest,’ she said to herself, and at + night she came home sleek and satisfied. The Mouse asked at once after the + third child’s name. + </p> + <p> + ‘It won’t please you any better,’ said the Cat, ‘he was called Clean + Gone.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Cleangone!’ repeated the Mouse. ‘I do not believe that name has been + printed any more than the others. Cleangone! What can it mean?’ She shook + her head, curled herself up, and went to sleep. + </p> + <p> + From this time on no one asked the Cat to stand godmother; but when the + winter came and there was nothing to be got outside, the Mouse remembered + their provision and said, ‘Come, Cat, we will go to our pot of fat which + we have stored away; it will taste very good.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, indeed,’ answered the Cat; ‘it will taste as good to you as if you + stretched your thin tongue out of the window.’ + </p> + <p> + They started off, and when they reached it they found the pot in its + place, but quite empty! + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah,’ said the Mouse,’ ‘now I know what has happened! It has all come out! + You are a true friend to me! You have eaten it all when you stood + godmother; first the top off, then half of it gone, then——’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Will you be quiet!’ screamed the Cat. ‘Another word and I will eat you + up.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Clean-gone’ was already on the poor Mouse’s tongue, and scarcely was it + out than the Cat made a spring at her, seized and swallowed her. + </p> + <p> + You see that is the way of the world. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE SIX SWANS + </h2> + <p> + A king was once hunting in a great wood, and he hunted the game so eagerly + that none of his courtiers could follow him. When evening came on he stood + still and looked round him, and he saw that he had quite lost himself. He + sought a way out, but could find none. Then he saw an old woman with a + shaking head coming towards him; but she was a witch. + </p> + <p> + ‘Good woman,’ he said to her, ‘can you not show me the way out of the + wood?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, certainly, Sir King,’ she replied, ‘I can quite well do that, but on + one condition, which if you do not fulfil you will never get out of the + wood, and will die of hunger.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What is the condition?’ asked the King. + </p> + <p> + ‘I have a daughter,’ said the old woman, ‘who is so beautiful that she has + not her equal in the world, and is well fitted to be your wife; if you + will make her lady-queen I will show you the way out of the wood.’ + </p> + <p> + The King in his anguish of mind consented, and the old woman led him to + her little house where her daughter was sitting by the fire. She received + the King as if she were expecting him, and he saw that she was certainly + very beautiful; but she did not please him, and he could not look at her + without a secret feeling of horror. As soon as he had lifted the maiden on + to his horse the old woman showed him the way, and the King reached his + palace, where the wedding was celebrated. + </p> + <p> + The King had already been married once, and had by his first wife seven + children, six boys and one girl, whom he loved more than anything in the + world. And now, because he was afraid that their stepmother might not + treat them well and might do them harm, he put them in a lonely castle + that stood in the middle of a wood. It lay so hidden, and the way to it + was so hard to find, that he himself could not have found it out had not a + wise-woman given him a reel of thread which possessed a marvellous + property: when he threw it before him it unwound itself and showed him the + way. But the King went so often to his dear children that the Queen was + offended at his absence. She grew curious, and wanted to know what he had + to do quite alone in the wood. She gave his servants a great deal of + money, and they betrayed the secret to her, and also told her of the reel + which alone could point out the way. She had no rest now till she had + found out where the King guarded the reel, and then she made some little + white shirts, and, as she had learnt from her witch-mother, sewed an + enchantment in each of them. + </p> + <p> + And when the King had ridden off she took the little shirts and went into + the wood, and the reel showed her the way. The children, who saw someone + coming in the distance, thought it was their dear father coming to them, + and sprang to meet him very joyfully. Then she threw over each one a + little shirt, which when it had touched their bodies changed them into + swans, and they flew away over the forest. The Queen went home quite + satisfied, and thought she had got rid of her step-children; but the girl + had not run to meet her with her brothers, and she knew nothing of her. + </p> + <p> + The next day the King came to visit his children, but he found no one but + the girl. + </p> + <p> + ‘Where are your brothers?’ asked the King. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! dear father,’ she answered, ‘they have gone away and left me all + alone.’ And she told him that looking out of her little window she had + seen her brothers flying over the wood in the shape of swans, and she + showed him the feathers which they had let fall in the yard, and which she + had collected. The King mourned, but he did not think that the Queen had + done the wicked deed, and as he was afraid the maiden would also be taken + from him, he wanted to take her with him. But she was afraid of the + stepmother, and begged the King to let her stay just one night more in the + castle in the wood. The poor maiden thought, ‘My home is no longer here; I + will go and seek my brothers.’ And when night came she fled away into the + forest. She ran all through the night and the next day, till she could go + no farther for weariness. Then she saw a little hut, went in, and found a + room with six little beds. She was afraid to lie down on one, so she crept + under one of them, lay on the hard floor, and was going to spend the night + there. But when the sun had set she heard a noise, and saw six swans + flying in at the window. They stood on the floor and blew at one another, + and blew all their feathers off, and their swan-skin came off like a + shirt. Then the maiden recognised her brothers, and overjoyed she crept + out from under the bed. Her brothers were not less delighted than she to + see their little sister again, but their joy did not last long. + </p> + <p> + ‘You cannot stay here,’ they said to her. ‘This is a den of robbers; if + they were to come here and find you they would kill you.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Could you not protect me?’ asked the little sister. + </p> + <p> + ‘No,’ they answered, ‘for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a + quarter of an hour every evening. For this time we regain our human forms, + but then we are changed into swans again.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the little sister cried and said, ‘Can you not be freed?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, no,’ they said, ‘the conditions are too hard. You must not speak or + laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of + star-flowers. If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour is + vain.’ And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to + an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans. + </p> + <p> + But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should cost + her her life. She left the hut, went into the forest, climbed a tree, and + spent the night there. The next morning she went out, collected + star-flowers, and began to sew. She could speak to no one, and she had no + wish to laugh, so she sat there, looking only at her work. + </p> + <p> + When she had lived there some time, it happened that the King of the + country was hunting in the forest, and his hunters came to the tree on + which the maiden sat. They called to her and said ‘Who are you?’ + </p> + <p> + But she gave no answer. + </p> + <p> + ‘Come down to us,’ they said, ‘we will do you no harm.’ + </p> + <p> + But she shook her head silently. As they pressed her further with + questions, she threw them the golden chain from her neck. But they did not + leave off, and she threw them her girdle, and when this was no use, her + garters, and then her dress. The huntsmen would not leave her alone, but + climbed the tree, lifted the maiden down, and led her to the King. The + King asked, ‘Who are you? What are you doing up that tree?’ + </p> + <p> + But she answered nothing. + </p> + <p> + He asked her in all the languages he knew, but she remained as dumb as a + fish. Because she was so beautiful, however, the King’s heart was touched, + and he was seized with a great love for her. He wrapped her up in his + cloak, placed her before him on his horse, and brought her to his castle. + There he had her dressed in rich clothes, and her beauty shone out as + bright as day, but not a word could be drawn from her. He set her at table + by his side, and her modest ways and behaviour pleased him so much that he + said, ‘I will marry this maiden and none other in the world,’ and after + some days he married her. But the King had a wicked mother who was + displeased with the marriage, and said wicked things of the young Queen. + ‘Who knows who this girl is?’ she said; ‘she cannot speak, and is not + worthy of a king.’ + </p> + <p> + After a year, when the Queen had her first child, the old mother took it + away from her. Then she went to the King and said that the Queen had + killed it. The King would not believe it, and would not allow any harm to + be done her. But she sat quietly sewing at the shirts and troubling + herself about nothing. The next time she had a child the wicked mother did + the same thing, but the King could not make up his mind to believe her. He + said, ‘She is too sweet and good to do such a thing as that. If she were + not dumb and could defend herself, her innocence would be proved.’ But + when the third child was taken away, and the Queen was again accused, and + could not utter a word in her own defence, the King was obliged to give + her over to the law, which decreed that she must be burnt to death. When + the day came on which the sentence was to be executed, it was the last day + of the six years in which she must not speak or laugh, and now she had + freed her dear brothers from the power of the enchantment. The six shirts + were done; there was only the left sleeve wanting to the last. + </p> + <p> + When she was led to the stake, she laid the shirts on her arm, and as she + stood on the pile and the fire was about to be lighted, she looked around + her and saw six swans flying through the air. Then she knew that her + release was at hand and her heart danced for joy. The swans fluttered + round her, and hovered low so that she could throw the shirts over them. + When they had touched them the swan-skins fell off, and her brothers stood + before her living, well and beautiful. Only the youngest had a swan’s wing + instead of his left arm. They embraced and kissed each other, and the + Queen went to the King, who was standing by in great astonishment, and + began to speak to him, saying, ‘Dearest husband, now I can speak and tell + you openly that I am innocent and have been falsely accused.’ + </p> + <p> + She told him of the old woman’s deceit, and how she had taken the three + children away and hidden them. Then they were fetched, to the great joy of + the King, and the wicked mother came to no good end. + </p> + <p> + But the King and the Queen with their six brothers lived many years in + happiness and peace. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH(2) + </h2> + <h3> + (2) ‘Der Norlands Drache,’ from Esthnische Mahrchen. Kreutzwald. + </h3> + <p> + Very long ago, as old people have told me, there lived a terrible monster, + who came out of the North, and laid waste whole tracts of country, + devouring both men and beasts; and this monster was so destructive that it + was feared that unless help came no living creature would be left on the + face of the earth. It had a body like an ox, and legs like a frog, two + short fore-legs, and two long ones behind, and besides that it had a tail + like a serpent, ten fathoms in length. When it moved it jumped like a + frog, and with every spring it covered half a mile of ground. Fortunately + its habit, was to remain for several years in the same place, and not to + move on till the whole neighbourhood was eaten up. Nothing could hunt it, + because its whole body was covered with scales, which were harder than + stone or metal; its two great eyes shone by night, and even by day, like + the brightest lamps, and anyone who had the ill luck to look into those + eyes became as it were bewitched, and was obliged to rush of his own + accord into the monster’s jaws. In this way the Dragon was able to feed + upon both men and beasts without the least trouble to itself, as it needed + not to move from the spot where it was lying. All the neighbouring kings + had offered rich rewards to anyone who should be able to destroy the + monster, either by force or enchantment, and many had tried their luck, + but all had miserably failed. Once a great forest in which the Dragon lay + had been set on fire; the forest was burnt down, but the fire did not do + the monster the least harm. However, there was a tradition amongst the + wise men of the country that the Dragon might be overcome by one who + possessed King Solomon’s signet-ring, upon which a secret writing was + engraved. This inscription would enable anyone who was wise enough to + interpret it to find out how the Dragon could be destroyed. Only no one + knew where the ring was hidden, nor was there any sorcerer or learned man + to be found who would be able to explain the inscription. + </p> + <p> + At last a young man, with a good heart and plenty of courage, set out to + search for the ring. He took his way towards the sunrising, because he + knew that all the wisdom of old time comes from the East. After some years + he met with a famous Eastern magician, and asked for his advice in the + matter. The magician answered: + </p> + <p> + ‘Mortal men have but little wisdom, and can give you no help, but the + birds of the air would be better guides to you if you could learn their + language. I can help you to understand it if you will stay with me a few + days.’ + </p> + <p> + The youth thankfully accepted the magician’s offer, and said, ‘I cannot + now offer you any reward for your kindness, but should my undertaking + succeed your trouble shall be richly repaid.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the magician brewed a powerful potion out of nine sorts of herbs + which he had gathered himself all alone by moonlight, and he gave the + youth nine spoonfuls of it daily for three days, which made him able to + understand the language of birds. + </p> + <p> + At parting the magician said to him. ‘If you ever find Solomon’s ring and + get possession of it, then come back to me, that I may explain the + inscription on the ring to you, for there is no one else in the world who + can do this.’ + </p> + <p> + From that time the youth never felt lonely as he walked along; he always + had company, because he understood the language of birds; and in this way + he learned many things which mere human knowledge could never have taught + him. But time went on, and he heard nothing about the ring. It happened + one evening, when he was hot and tired with walking, and had sat down + under a tree in a forest to eat his supper, that he saw two gaily-plumaged + birds, that were strange to him, sitting at the top of the tree talking to + one another about him. The first bird said: + </p> + <p> + ‘I know that wandering fool under the tree there, who has come so far + without finding what he seeks. He is trying to find King Solomon’s lost + ring.’ + </p> + <p> + The other bird answered, ‘He will have to seek help from the + Witch-maiden,(3) who will doubtless be able to put him on the right track. + If she has not got the ring herself, she knows well enough who has it.’ + </p> + <p> + (3) Hollenmadchen. + </p> + <p> + ‘But where is he to find the Witch-maiden?’ said the first bird. ‘She has + no settled dwelling, but is here to-day and gone to-morrow. He might as + well try to catch the wind.’ + </p> + <p> + The other replied, ‘I do not know, certainly, where she is at present, but + in three nights from now she will come to the spring to wash her face, as + she does every month when the moon is full, in order that she may never + grow old nor wrinkled, but may always keep the bloom of youth.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Well,’ said the first bird, ‘the spring is not far from here. Shall we go + and see how it is she does it?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Willingly, if you like,’ said the other. + </p> + <p> + The youth immediately resolved to follow the birds to the spring, only two + things made him uneasy: first, lest he might be asleep when the birds + went, and secondly, lest he might lose sight of them, since he had not + wings to carry him along so swiftly. He was too tired to keep awake all + night, yet his anxiety prevented him from sleeping soundly, and when with + the earliest dawn he looked up to the tree-top, he was glad to see his + feathered companions still asleep with their heads under their wings. He + ate his breakfast, and waited until the birds should start, but they did + not leave the place all day. They hopped about from one tree to another + looking for food, all day long until the evening, when they went back to + their old perch to sleep. The next day the same thing happened, but on the + third morning one bird said to the other, ‘To-day we must go to the spring + to see the Witch-maiden wash her face.’ They remained on the tree till + noon; then they flew away and went towards the south. The young man’s + heart beat with anxiety lest he should lose sight of his guides, but he + managed to keep the birds in view until they again perched upon a tree. + The young man ran after them until he was quite exhausted and out of + breath, and after three short rests the birds at length reached a small + open space in the forest, on the edge of which they placed themselves on + the top of a high tree. When the youth had overtaken them, he saw that + there was a clear spring in the middle of the space. He sat down at the + foot of the tree upon which the birds were perched, and listened + attentively to what they were saying to each other. + </p> + <p> + ‘The sun is not down yet,’ said the first bird; ‘we must wait yet awhile + till the moon rises and the maiden comes to the spring. Do you think she + will see that young man sitting under the tree?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Nothing is likely to escape her eyes, certainly not a young man, said the + other bird. ‘Will the youth have the sense not to let himself be caught in + her toils?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘We will wait,’ said the first bird, ‘and see how they get on together.’ + </p> + <p> + The evening light had quite faded, and the full moon was already shining + down upon the forest, when the young man heard a slight rustling sound. + After a few moments there came out of the forest a maiden, gliding over + the grass so lightly that her feet seemed scarcely to touch the ground, + and stood beside the spring. The youth could not turn away his eyes from + the maiden, for he had never in his life seen a woman so beautiful. + Without seeming to notice anything, she went to the spring, looked up to + the full moon, then knelt down and bathed her face nine times, then looked + up to the moon again and walked nine times round the well, and as she + walked she sang this song: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Full-faced moon with light unshaded, + Let my beauty ne’er be faded. + Never let my cheek grow pale! + While the moon is waning nightly, + May the maiden bloom more brightly, + May her freshness never fail!’ +</pre> + <p> + Then she dried her face with her long hair, and was about to go away, when + her eye suddenly fell upon the spot where the young man was sitting, and + she turned towards the tree. The youth rose and stood waiting. Then the + maiden said, ‘You ought to have a heavy punishment because you have + presumed to watch my secret doings in the moonlight. But I will forgive + you this time, because you are a stranger and knew no better. But you must + tell me truly who you are and how you came to this place, where no mortal + has ever set foot before.’ + </p> + <p> + The youth answered humbly: ‘Forgive me, beautiful maiden, if I have + unintentionally offended you. I chanced to come here after long wandering, + and found a good place to sleep under this tree. At your coming I did not + know what to do, but stayed where I was, because I thought my silent + watching could not offend you.’ + </p> + <p> + The maiden answered kindly, ‘Come and spend this night with us. You will + sleep better on a pillow than on damp moss.’ + </p> + <p> + The youth hesitated for a little, but presently he heard the birds saying + from the top of the tree, ‘Go where she calls you, but take care to give + no blood, or you will sell your soul.’ So the youth went with her, and + soon they reached a beautiful garden, where stood a splendid house, which + glittered in the moonlight as if it was all built out of gold and silver. + When the youth entered he found many splendid chambers, each one finer + than the last. Hundreds of tapers burnt upon golden candlesticks, and shed + a light like the brightest day. At length they reached a chamber where a + table was spread with the most costly dishes. At the table were placed two + chairs, one of silver, the other of gold. The maiden seated herself upon + the golden chair, and offered the silver one to her companion. They were + served by maidens dressed in white, whose feet made no sound as they moved + about, and not a word was spoken during the meal. Afterwards the youth and + the Witch-maiden conversed pleasantly together, until a woman, dressed in + red, came in to remind them that it was bedtime. The youth was now shown + into another room, containing a silken bed with down cushions, where he + slept delightfully, yet he seemed to hear a voice near his bed which + repeated to him, ‘Remember to give no blood!’ + </p> + <p> + The next morning the maiden asked him whether he would not like to stay + with her always in this beautiful place, and as he did not answer + immediately, she continued: ‘You see how I always remain young and + beautiful, and I am under no one’s orders, but can do just what I like, so + that I have never thought of marrying before. But from the moment I saw + you I took a fancy to you, so if you agree, we might be married and might + live together like princes, because I have great riches.’ + </p> + <p> + The youth could not but be tempted with the beautiful maiden’s offer, but + he remembered how the birds had called her the witch, and their warning + always sounded in his ears. Therefore he answered cautiously, ‘Do not be + angry, dear maiden, if I do not decide immediately on this important + matter. Give me a few days to consider before we come to an + understanding.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Why not?’ answered the maiden. ‘Take some weeks to consider if you like, + and take counsel with your own heart.’ And to make the time pass + pleasantly, she took the youth over every part of her beautiful dwelling, + and showed him all her splendid treasures. But these treasures were all + produced by enchantment, for the maiden could make anything she wished + appear by the help of King Solomon’s signet ring; only none of these + things remained fixed; they passed away like the wind without leaving a + trace behind. But the youth did not know this; he thought they were all + real. + </p> + <p> + One day the maiden took him into a secret chamber, where a little gold box + was standing on a silver table. Pointing to the box, she said, ‘Here is my + greatest treasure, whose like is not to be found in the whole world. It is + a precious gold ring. When you marry me, I will give you this ring as a + marriage gift, and it will make you the happiest of mortal men. But in + order that our love may last for ever, you must give me for the ring three + drops of blood from the little finger of your left hand.’ + </p> + <p> + When the youth heard these words a cold shudder ran over him, for he + remembered that his soul was at stake. He was cunning enough, however, to + conceal his feelings and to make no direct answer, but he only asked the + maiden, as if carelessly, what was remarkable about the ring? + </p> + <p> + She answered, ‘No mortal is able entirely to understand the power of this + ring, because no one thoroughly understands the secret signs engraved upon + it. But even with my half-knowledge I can work great wonders. If I put the + ring upon the little finger of my left hand, then I can fly like a bird + through the air wherever I wish to go. If I put it on the third finger of + my left hand I am invisible, and I can see everything that passes around + me, though no one can see me. If I put the ring upon the middle finger of + my left hand, then neither fire nor water nor any sharp weapon can hurt + me. If I put it on the forefinger of my left hand, then I can with its + help produce whatever I wish. I can in a single moment build houses or + anything I desire. Finally, as long as I wear the ring on the thumb of my + left hand, that hand is so strong that it can break down rocks and walls. + Besides these, the ring has other secret signs which, as I said, no one + can understand. No doubt it contains secrets of great importance. The ring + formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign + the wisest men lived. But it is not known whether this ring was ever made + by mortal hands: it is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.’ + </p> + <p> + When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of + the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts. He + wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite + like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box. + A few days after they were again speaking of the magic ring, and the youth + said, ‘I do not think it possible that the ring can have all the power you + say it has.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the maiden opened the box and took the ring out, and it glittered as + she held it like the clearest sunbeam. She put it on the middle finger of + her left hand, and told the youth to take a knife and try as hard as he + could to cut her with it, for he would not be able to hurt her. He was + unwilling at first, but the maiden insisted. Then he tried, at first only + in play, and then seriously, to strike her with the knife, but an + invisible wall of iron seemed to be between them, and the maiden stood + before him laughing and unhurt. Then she put the ring on her third finger, + and in an instant she had vanished from his eyes. Presently she was beside + him again laughing, and holding the ring between her fingers. + </p> + <p> + ‘Do let me try,’ said the youth, ‘whether I can do these wonderful + things.’ + </p> + <p> + The maiden, suspecting no treachery, gave him the magic ring. + </p> + <p> + The youth pretended to have forgotten what to do, and asked what finger he + must put the ring on so that no sharp weapon could hurt him?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, the middle finger of your left hand,’ the maiden answered, laughing. + </p> + <p> + She took the knife and tried to strike the youth, and he even tried to cut + himself with it, but found it impossible. Then he asked the maiden to show + him how to split stones and rocks with the help of the ring. So she led + him into a courtyard where stood a great boulder-stone. ‘Now,’ she said, + ‘put the ring upon the thumb of your left hand, and you will see how + strong that hand has become. The youth did so, and found to his + astonishment that with a single blow of his fist the stone flew into a + thousand pieces. Then the youth bethought him that he who does not use his + luck when he has it is a fool, and that this was a chance which once lost + might never return. So while they stood laughing at the shattered stone he + placed the ring, as if in play, upon the third finger of his left hand. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now,’ said the maiden, ‘you are invisible to me until you take the ring + off again.’ + </p> + <p> + But the youth had no mind to do that; on the contrary, he went farther + off, then put the ring on the little finger of his left hand, and soared + into the air like a bird. + </p> + <p> + When the maiden saw him flying away she thought at first that he was still + in play, and cried, ‘Come back, friend, for now you see I have told you + the truth.’ But the young man never came back. + </p> + <p> + Then the maiden saw she was deceived, and bitterly repented that she had + ever trusted him with the ring. + </p> + <p> + The young man never halted in his flight until he reached the dwelling of + the wise magician who had taught him the speech of birds. The magician was + delighted to find that his search had been successful, and at once set to + work to interpret the secret signs engraved upon the ring, but it took him + seven weeks to make them out clearly. Then he gave the youth the following + instructions how to overcome the Dragon of the North: ‘You must have an + iron horse cast, which must have little wheels under each foot. You must + also be armed with a spear two fathoms long, which you will be able to + wield by means of the magic ring upon your left thumb. The spear must be + as thick in the middle as a large tree, and both its ends must be sharp. + In the middle of the spear you must have two strong chains ten fathoms in + length. As soon as the Dragon has made himself fast to the spear, which + you must thrust through his jaws, you must spring quickly from the iron + horse and fasten the ends of the chains firmly to the ground with iron + stakes, so that he cannot get away from them. After two or three days the + monster’s strength will be so far exhausted that you will be able to come + near him. Then you can put Solomon’s ring upon your left thumb and give + him the finishing stroke, but keep the ring on your third finger until you + have come close to him, so that the monster cannot see you, else he might + strike you dead with his long tail. But when all is done, take care you do + not lose the ring, and that no one takes it from you by cunning.’ + </p> + <p> + The young man thanked the magician for his directions, and promised, + should they succeed, to reward him. But the magician answered, ‘I have + profited so much by the wisdom the ring has taught me that I desire no + other reward.’ Then they parted, and the youth quickly flew home through + the air. After remaining in his own home for some weeks, he heard people + say that the terrible Dragon of the North was not far off, and might + shortly be expected in the country. The King announced publicly that he + would give his daughter in marriage, as well as a large part of his + kingdom, to whosoever should free the country from the monster. The youth + then went to the King and told him that he had good hopes of subduing the + Dragon, if the King would grant him all he desired for the purpose. The + King willingly agreed, and the iron horse, the great spear, and the chains + were all prepared as the youth requested. When all was ready, it was found + that the iron horse was so heavy that a hundred men could not move it from + the spot, so the youth found there was nothing for it but to move it with + his own strength by means of the magic ring. The Dragon was now so near + that in a couple of springs he would be over the frontier. The youth now + began to consider how he should act, for if he had to push the iron horse + from behind he could not ride upon it as the sorcerer had said he must. + But a raven unexpectedly gave him this advice: ‘Ride upon the horse, and + push the spear against the ground, as if you were pushing off a boat from + the land.’ The youth did so, and found that in this way he could easily + move forwards. The Dragon had his monstrous jaws wide open, all ready for + his expected prey. A few paces nearer, and man and horse would have been + swallowed up by them! The youth trembled with horror, and his blood ran + cold, yet he did not lose his courage; but, holding the iron spear upright + in his hand, he brought it down with all his might right through the + monster’s lower jaw. Then quick as lightning he sprang from his horse + before the Dragon had time to shut his mouth. A fearful clap like thunder, + which could be heard for miles around, now warned him that the Dragon’s + jaws had closed upon the spear. When the youth turned round he saw the + point of the spear sticking up high above the Dragon’s upper jaw, and knew + that the other end must be fastened firmly to the ground; but the Dragon + had got his teeth fixed in the iron horse, which was now useless. The + youth now hastened to fasten down the chains to the ground by means of the + enormous iron pegs which he had provided. The death struggle of the + monster lasted three days and three nights; in his writhing he beat his + tail so violently against the ground, that at ten miles’ distance the + earth trembled as if with an earthquake. When he at length lost power to + move his tail, the youth with the help of the ring took up a stone which + twenty ordinary men could not have moved, and beat the Dragon so hard + about the head with it that very soon the monster lay lifeless before him. + </p> + <p> + You can fancy how great was the rejoicing when the news was spread abroad + that the terrible monster was dead. His conqueror was received into the + city with as much pomp as if he had been the mightiest of kings. The old + King did not need to urge his daughter to marry the slayer of the Dragon; + he found her already willing to bestow her hand upon this hero, who had + done all alone what whole armies had tried in vain to do. In a few days a + magnificent wedding was celebrated, at which the rejoicings lasted four + whole weeks, for all the neighbouring kings had met together to thank the + man who had freed the world from their common enemy. But everyone forgot + amid the general joy that they ought to have buried the Dragon’s monstrous + body, for it began now to have such a bad smell that no one could live in + the neighbourhood, and before long the whole air was poisoned, and a + pestilence broke out which destroyed many hundreds of people. In this + distress, the King’s son-in-law resolved to seek help once more from the + Eastern magician, to whom he at once travelled through the air like a bird + by the help of the ring. But there is a proverb which says that ill-gotten + gains never prosper, and the Prince found that the stolen ring brought him + ill-luck after all. The Witch-maiden had never rested night nor day until + she had found out where the ring was. As soon as she had discovered by + means of magical arts that the Prince in the form of a bird was on his way + to the Eastern magician, she changed herself into an eagle and watched in + the air until the bird she was waiting for came in sight, for she knew him + at once by the ring which was hung round his neck by a ribbon. Then the + eagle pounced upon the bird, and the moment she seized him in her talons + she tore the ring from his neck before the man in bird’s shape had time to + prevent her. Then the eagle flew down to the earth with her prey, and the + two stood face to face once more in human form. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now, villain, you are in my power!’ cried the Witch-maiden. ‘I favoured + you with my love, and you repaid me with treachery and theft. You stole my + most precious jewel from me, and do you expect to live happily as the + King’s son-in-law? Now the tables are turned; you are in my power, and I + will be revenged on you for your crimes.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Forgive me! forgive me!’ cried the Prince; ‘I know too well how deeply I + have wronged you, and most heartily do I repent it.’ + </p> + <p> + The maiden answered, ‘Your prayers and your repentance come too late, and + if I were to spare you everyone would think me a fool. You have doubly + wronged me; first you scorned my love, and then you stole my ring, and you + must bear the punishment.’ + </p> + <p> + With these words she put the ring upon her left thumb, lifted the young + man with one hand, and walked away with him under her arm. This time she + did not take him to a splendid palace, but to a deep cave in a rock, where + there were chains hanging from the wall. The maiden now chained the young + man’s hands and feet so that he could not escape; then she said in an + angry voice, ‘Here you shall remain chained up until you die. I will bring + you every day enough food to prevent you dying of hunger, but you need + never hope for freedom any more.’ With these words she left him. + </p> + <p> + The old King and his daughter waited anxiously for many weeks for the + Prince’s return, but no news of him arrived. The King’s daughter often + dreamed that her husband was going through some great suffering: she + therefore begged her father to summon all the enchanters and magicians, + that they might try to find out where the Prince was and how he could be + set free. But the magicians, with all their arts, could find out nothing, + except that he was still living and undergoing great suffering; but none + could tell where he was to be found. At last a celebrated magician from + Finland was brought before the King, who had found out that the King’s + son-in-law was imprisoned in the East, not by men, but by some more + powerful being. The King now sent messengers to the East to look for his + son-in-law, and they by good luck met with the old magician who had + interpreted the signs on King Solomon’s ring, and thus was possessed of + more wisdom than anyone else in the world. The magician soon found out + what he wished to know, and pointed out the place where the Prince was + imprisoned, but said: ‘He is kept there by enchantment, and cannot be set + free without my help. I will therefore go with you myself.’ + </p> + <p> + So they all set out, guided by birds, and after some days came to the cave + where the unfortunate Prince had been chained up for nearly seven years. + He recognised the magician immediately, but the old man did not know him, + he had grown so thin. However, he undid the chains by the help of magic, + and took care of the Prince until he recovered and became strong enough to + travel. When he reached home he found that the old King had died that + morning, so that he was now raised to the throne. And now after his long + suffering came prosperity, which lasted to the end of his life; but he + never got back the magic ring, nor has it ever again been seen by mortal + eyes. + </p> + <p> + Now, if YOU had been the Prince, would you not rather have stayed with the + pretty witch-maiden? + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + STORY OF THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES(4) + </h2> + <h3> + (4) Andersen. + </h3> + <p> + Many years ago there lived an Emperor who was so fond of new clothes that + he spent all his money on them in order to be beautifully dressed. He did + not care about his soldiers, he did not care about the theatre; he only + liked to go out walking to show off his new clothes. He had a coat for + every hour of the day; and just as they say of a king, ‘He is in the + council-chamber,’ they always said here, ‘The Emperor is in the wardrobe.’ + </p> + <p> + In the great city in which he lived there was always something going on; + every day many strangers came there. One day two impostors arrived who + gave themselves out as weavers, and said that they knew how to manufacture + the most beautiful cloth imaginable. Not only were the texture and pattern + uncommonly beautiful, but the clothes which were made of the stuff + possessed this wonderful property that they were invisible to anyone who + was not fit for his office, or who was unpardonably stupid. + </p> + <p> + ‘Those must indeed be splendid clothes,’ thought the Emperor. ‘If I had + them on I could find out which men in my kingdom are unfit for the offices + they hold; I could distinguish the wise from the stupid! Yes, this cloth + must be woven for me at once.’ And he gave both the impostors much money, + so that they might begin their work. + </p> + <p> + They placed two weaving-looms, and began to do as if they were working, + but they had not the least thing on the looms. They also demanded the + finest silk and the best gold, which they put in their pockets, and worked + at the empty looms till late into the night. + </p> + <p> + ‘I should like very much to know how far they have got on with the cloth,’ + thought the Emperor. But he remembered when he thought about it that + whoever was stupid or not fit for his office would not be able to see it. + Now he certainly believed that he had nothing to fear for himself, but he + wanted first to send somebody else in order to see how he stood with + regard to his office. Everybody in the whole town knew what a wonderful + power the cloth had, and they were all curious to see how bad or how + stupid their neighbour was. + </p> + <p> + ‘I will send my old and honoured minister to the weavers,’ thought the + Emperor. ‘He can judge best what the cloth is like, for he has intellect, + and no one understands his office better than he.’ + </p> + <p> + Now the good old minister went into the hall where the two impostors sat + working at the empty weaving-looms. ‘Dear me!’ thought the old minister, + opening his eyes wide, ‘I can see nothing!’ But he did not say so. + </p> + <p> + Both the impostors begged him to be so kind as to step closer, and asked + him if it were not a beautiful texture and lovely colours. They pointed to + the empty loom, and the poor old minister went forward rubbing his eyes; + but he could see nothing, for there was nothing there. + </p> + <p> + ‘Dear, dear!’ thought he, ‘can I be stupid? I have never thought that, and + nobody must know it! Can I be not fit for my office? No, I must certainly + not say that I cannot see the cloth!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Have you nothing to say about it?’ asked one of the men who was weaving. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, it is lovely, most lovely!’ answered the old minister, looking + through his spectacles. ‘What a texture! What colours! Yes, I will tell + the Emperor that it pleases me very much.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Now we are delighted at that,’ said both the weavers, and thereupon they + named the colours and explained the make of the texture. + </p> + <p> + The old minister paid great attention, so that he could tell the same to + the Emperor when he came back to him, which he did. + </p> + <p> + The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in + their weaving. They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no + threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working at + the empty loom. The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how + the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon be finished. + It was the same with him as the first one; he looked and looked, but + because there was nothing on the empty loom he could see nothing. + </p> + <p> + ‘Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?’ asked the two impostors, and they + pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there. + </p> + <p> + ‘Stupid I am not!’ thought the man, ‘so it must be my good office for + which I am not fitted. It is strange, certainly, but no one must be + allowed to notice it.’ And so he praised the cloth which he did not see, + and expressed to them his delight at the beautiful colours and the + splendid texture. ‘Yes, it is quite beautiful,’ he said to the Emperor. + </p> + <p> + Everybody in the town was talking of the magnificent cloth. + </p> + <p> + Now the Emperor wanted to see it himself while it was still on the loom. + With a great crowd of select followers, amongst whom were both the worthy + statesmen who had already been there before, he went to the cunning + impostors, who were now weaving with all their might, but without fibre or + thread. + </p> + <p> + ‘Is it not splendid!’ said both the old statesmen who had already been + there. ‘See, your Majesty, what a texture! What colours!’ And then they + pointed to the empty loom, for they believed that the others could see the + cloth quite well. + </p> + <p> + ‘What!’ thought the Emperor, ‘I can see nothing! This is indeed horrible! + Am I stupid? Am I not fit to be Emperor? That were the most dreadful thing + that could happen to me. Oh, it is very beautiful,’ he said. ‘It has my + gracious approval.’ And then he nodded pleasantly, and examined the empty + loom, for he would not say that he could see nothing. + </p> + <p> + His whole Court round him looked and looked, and saw no more than the + others; but they said like the Emperor, ‘Oh! it is beautiful!’ And they + advised him to wear these new and magnificent clothes for the first time + at the great procession which was soon to take place. ‘Splendid! Lovely! + Most beautiful!’ went from mouth to mouth; everyone seemed delighted over + them, and the Emperor gave to the impostors the title of Court weavers to + the Emperor. + </p> + <p> + Throughout the whole of the night before the morning on which the + procession was to take place, the impostors were up and were working by + the light of over sixteen candles. The people could see that they were + very busy making the Emperor’s new clothes ready. They pretended they were + taking the cloth from the loom, cut with huge scissors in the air, sewed + with needles without thread, and then said at last, ‘Now the clothes are + finished!’ + </p> + <p> + The Emperor came himself with his most distinguished knights, and each + impostor held up his arm just as if he were holding something, and said, + ‘See! here are the breeches! Here is the coat! Here the cloak!’ and so on. + </p> + <p> + ‘Spun clothes are so comfortable that one would imagine one had nothing on + at all; but that is the beauty of it!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ said all the knights, but they could see nothing, for there was + nothing there. + </p> + <p> + ‘Will it please your Majesty graciously to take off your clothes,’ said + the impostors, ‘then we will put on the new clothes, here before the + mirror.’ + </p> + <p> + The Emperor took off all his clothes, and the impostors placed themselves + before him as if they were putting on each part of his new clothes which + was ready, and the Emperor turned and bent himself in front of the mirror. + </p> + <p> + ‘How beautifully they fit! How well they sit!’ said everybody. ‘What + material! What colours! It is a gorgeous suit!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘They are waiting outside with the canopy which your Majesty is wont to + have borne over you in the procession,’ announced the Master of the + Ceremonies. + </p> + <p> + ‘Look, I am ready,’ said the Emperor. ‘Doesn’t it sit well!’ And he turned + himself again to the mirror to see if his finery was on all right. + </p> + <p> + The chamberlains who were used to carry the train put their hands near the + floor as if they were lifting up the train; then they did as if they were + holding something in the air. They would not have it noticed that they + could see nothing. + </p> + <p> + So the Emperor went along in the procession under the splendid canopy, and + all the people in the streets and at the windows said, ‘How matchless are + the Emperor’s new clothes! That train fastened to his dress, how + beautifully it hangs!’ + </p> + <p> + No one wished it to be noticed that he could see nothing, for then he + would have been unfit for his office, or else very stupid. None of the + Emperor’s clothes had met with such approval as these had. + </p> + <p> + ‘But he has nothing on!’ said a little child at last. + </p> + <p> + ‘Just listen to the innocent child!’ said the father, and each one + whispered to his neighbour what the child had said. + </p> + <p> + ‘But he has nothing on!’ the whole of the people called out at last. + </p> + <p> + This struck the Emperor, for it seemed to him as if they were right; but + he thought to himself, ‘I must go on with the procession now. And the + chamberlains walked along still more uprightly, holding up the train which + was not there at all. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE GOLDEN CRAB(5) + </h2> + <h3> + (5) ‘Prinz Krebs,’ from Griechische Mahrchen. Schmidt. + </h3> + <p> + Once upon a time there was a fisherman who had a wife and three children. + Every morning he used to go out fishing, and whatever fish he caught he + sold to the King. One day, among the other fishes, he caught a golden + crab. When he came home he put all the fishes together into a great dish, + but he kept the Crab separate because it shone so beautifully, and placed + it upon a high shelf in the cupboard. Now while the old woman, his wife, + was cleaning the fish, and had tucked up her gown so that her feet were + visible, she suddenly heard a voice, which said: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Let down, let down thy petticoat + That lets thy feet be seen.’ +</pre> + <p> + She turned round in surprise, and then she saw the little creature, the + Golden Crab. + </p> + <p> + ‘What! You can speak, can you, you ridiculous crab?’ she said, for she was + not quite pleased at the Crab’s remarks. Then she took him up and placed + him on a dish. + </p> + <p> + When her husband came home and they sat down to dinner, they presently + heard the Crab’s little voice saying, ‘Give me some too.’ They were all + very much surprised, but they gave him something to eat. When the old man + came to take away the plate which had contained the Crab’s dinner, he + found it full of gold, and as the same thing happened every day he soon + became very fond of the Crab. + </p> + <p> + One day the Crab said to the fisherman’s wife, ‘Go to the King and tell + him I wish to marry his younger daughter.’ + </p> + <p> + The old woman went accordingly, and laid the matter before the King, who + laughed a little at the notion of his daughter marrying a crab, but did + not decline the proposal altogether, because he was a prudent monarch, and + knew that the Crab was likely to be a prince in disguise. He said, + therefore, to the fisherman’s wife, ‘Go, old woman, and tell the Crab I + will give him my daughter if by to-morrow morning he can build a wall in + front of my castle much higher than my tower, upon which all the flowers + of the world must grow and bloom.’ + </p> + <p> + The fisherman’s wife went home and gave this message. + </p> + <p> + Then the Crab gave her a golden rod, and said, ‘Go and strike with this + rod three times upon the ground on the place which the King showed you, + and to-morrow morning the wall will be there.’ + </p> + <p> + The old woman did so and went away again. + </p> + <p> + The next morning, when the King awoke, what do you think he saw? The wall + stood there before his eyes, exactly as he had bespoken it! + </p> + <p> + Then the old woman went back to the King and said to him, ‘Your Majesty’s + orders have been fulfilled.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘That is all very well,’ said the King, ‘but I cannot give away my + daughter until there stands in front of my palace a garden in which there + are three fountains, of which the first must play gold, the second + diamonds, and the third brilliants.’ + </p> + <p> + So the old woman had to strike again three times upon the ground with the + rod, and the next morning the garden was there. The King now gave his + consent, and the wedding was fixed for the very next day. + </p> + <p> + Then the Crab said to the old fisherman, ‘Now take this rod; go and knock + with it on a certain mountain; then a black man(6) will come out and ask + you what you wish for. Answer him thus: ‘’Your master, the King, has sent + me to tell you that you must send him his golden garment that is like the + sun.‘’ Make him give you, besides, the queenly robes of gold and precious + stones which are like the flowery meadows, and bring them both to me. And + bring me also the golden cushion.’ + </p> + <p> + (6) Ein Mohr. + </p> + <p> + The old man went and did his errand. When he had brought the precious + robes, the Crab put on the golden garment and then crept upon the golden + cushion, and in this way the fisherman carried him to the castle, where + the Crab presented the other garment to his bride. Now the ceremony took + place, and when the married pair were alone together the Crab made himself + known to his young wife, and told her how he was the son of the greatest + king in the world, and how he was enchanted, so that he became a crab by + day and was a man only at night; and he could also change himself into an + eagle as often as he wished. No sooner had he said this than he shook + himself, and immediately became a handsome youth, but the next morning he + was forced to creep back again into his crab-shell. And the same thing + happened every day. But the Princess’s affection for the Crab, and the + polite attention with which she behaved to him, surprised the royal family + very much. They suspected some secret, but though they spied and spied, + they could not discover it. Thus a year passed away, and the Princess had + a son, whom she called Benjamin. But her mother still thought the whole + matter very strange. At last she said to the King that he ought to ask his + daughter whether she would not like to have another husband instead of the + Crab? But when the daughter was questioned she only answered: + </p> + <p> + ‘I am married to the Crab, and him only will I have.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the King said to her, ‘I will appoint a tournament in your honour, + and I will invite all the princes in the world to it, and if any one of + them pleases you, you shall marry him.’ + </p> + <p> + In the evening the Princess told this to the Crab, who said to her, ‘Take + this rod, go to the garden gate and knock with it, then a black man will + come out and say to you, ‘’Why have you called me, and what do you require + of me?’’ Answer him thus: ‘Your master the King has sent me hither to tell + you to send him his golden armour and his steed and the silver apple.‘’ + And bring them to me.’ + </p> + <p> + The Princess did so, and brought him what he desired. + </p> + <p> + The following evening the Prince dressed himself for the tournament. + Before he went he said to his wife, ‘Now mind you do not say when you see + me that I am the Crab. For if you do this evil will come of it. Place + yourself at the window with your sisters; I will ride by and throw you the + silver apple. Take it in your hand, but if they ask you who I am, say that + you do not know.’ So saying, he kissed her, repeated his warning once + more, and went away. + </p> + <p> + The Princess went with her sisters to the window and looked on at the + tournament. Presently her husband rode by and threw the apple up to her. + She caught it in her hand and went with it to her room, and by-and-by her + husband came back to her. But her father was much surprised that she did + not seem to care about any of the Princes; he therefore appointed a second + tournament. + </p> + <p> + The Crab then gave his wife the same directions as before, only this time + the apple which she received from the black man was of gold. But before + the Prince went to the tournament he said to his wife, ‘Now I know you + will betray me to-day.’ + </p> + <p> + But she swore to him that she would not tell who he was. He then repeated + his warning and went away. + </p> + <p> + In the evening, while the Princess, with her mother and sisters, was + standing at the window, the Prince suddenly galloped past on his steed and + threw her the golden apple. + </p> + <p> + Then her mother flew into a passion, gave her a box on the ear, and cried + out, ‘Does not even that prince please you, you fool?’ + </p> + <p> + The Princess in her fright exclaimed, ‘That is the Crab himself!’ + </p> + <p> + Her mother was still more angry because she had not been told sooner, ran + into her daughter’s room where the crab-shell was still lying, took it up + and threw it into the fire. Then the poor Princess cried bitterly, but it + was of no use; her husband did not come back. + </p> + <p> + Now we must leave the Princess and turn to the other persons in the story. + One day an old man went to a stream to dip in a crust of bread which he + was going to eat, when a dog came out of the water, snatched the bread + from his hand, and ran away. The old man ran after him, but the dog + reached a door, pushed it open, and ran in, the old man following him. He + did not overtake the dog, but found himself above a staircase, which he + descended. Then he saw before him a stately palace, and, entering, he + found in a large hall a table set for twelve persons. He hid himself in + the hall behind a great picture, that he might see what would happen. At + noon he heard a great noise, so that he trembled with fear. When he took + courage to look out from behind the picture, he saw twelve eagles flying + in. At this sight his fear became still greater. The eagles flew to the + basin of a fountain that was there and bathed themselves, when suddenly + they were changed into twelve handsome youths. Now they seated themselves + at the table, and one of them took up a goblet filled with wine, and said, + ‘A health to my father!’ And another said, ‘A health to my mother!’ and so + the healths went round. Then one of them said: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘A health to my dearest lady, + Long may she live and well! + But a curse on the cruel mother + That burnt my golden shell!’ +</pre> + <p> + And so saying he wept bitterly. Then the youths rose from the table, went + back to the great stone fountain, turned themselves into eagles again, and + flew away. + </p> + <p> + Then the old man went away too, returned to the light of day, and went + home. Soon after he heard that the Princess was ill, and that the only + thing that did her good was having stories told to her. He therefore went + to the royal castle, obtained an audience of the Princess, and told her + about the strange things he had seen in the underground palace. No sooner + had he finished than the Princess asked him whether he could find the way + to that palace. + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ he answered, ‘certainly.’ + </p> + <p> + And now she desired him to guide her thither at once. The old man did so, + and when they came to the palace he hid her behind the great picture and + advised her to keep quite still, and he placed himself behind the picture + also. Presently the eagles came flying in, and changed themselves into + young men, and in a moment the Princess recognised her husband amongst + them all, and tried to come out of her hiding-place; but the old man held + her back. The youths seated themselves at the table; and now the Prince + said again, while he took up the cup of wine: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘A health to my dearest lady, + Long may she live and well! + But a curse on the cruel mother + That burnt my golden shell!’ +</pre> + <p> + Then the Princess could restrain herself no longer, but ran forward and + threw her arms round her husband. And immediately he knew her again, and + said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Do you remember how I told you that day that you would betray me? Now you + see that I spoke the truth. But all that bad time is past. Now listen to + me: I must still remain enchanted for three months. Will you stay here + with me till that time is over?’ + </p> + <p> + So the Princess stayed with him, and said to the old man, ‘Go back to the + castle and tell my parents that I am staying here.’ + </p> + <p> + Her parents were very much vexed when the old man came back and told them + this, but as soon as the three months of the Prince’s enchantment were + over, he ceased to be an eagle and became once more a man, and they + returned home together. And then they lived happily, and we who hear the + story are happier still. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE IRON STOVE(7) + </h2> + <h3> + (7) Grimm. + </h3> + <p> + Once upon a time when wishes came true there was a king’s son who was + enchanted by an old witch, so that he was obliged to sit in a large iron + stove in a wood. There he lived for many years, and no one could free him. + At last a king’s daughter came into the wood; she had lost her way, and + could not find her father’s kingdom again. She had been wandering round + and round for nine days, and she came at last to the iron case. A voice + came from within and asked her, ‘Where do you come from, and where do you + want to go?’ She answered, ‘I have lost my way to my father’s kingdom, and + I shall never get home again.’ Then the voice from the iron stove said, ‘I + will help you to find your home again, and that in a very short time, if + you will promise to do what I ask you. I am a greater prince than you are + a princess, and I will marry you.’ Then she grew frightened, and thought, + ‘What can a young lassie do with an iron stove?’ But as she wanted very + much to go home to her father, she promised to do what he wished. + </p> + <p> + He said, ‘You must come again, and bring a knife with you to scrape a hole + in the iron.’ + </p> + <p> + Then he gave her someone for a guide, who walked near her and said + nothing, but he brought her in two hours to her house. There was great joy + in the castle when the Princess came back, and the old King fell on her + neck and kissed her. But she was very much troubled, and said, ‘Dear + father, listen to what has befallen me! I should never have come home + again out of the great wild wood if I had not come to an iron stove, to + whom I have had to promise that I will go back to free him and marry him!’ + The old King was so frightened that he nearly fainted, for she was his + only daughter. So they consulted together, and determined that the + miller’s daughter, who was very beautiful, should take her place. They + took her there, gave her a knife, and said she must scrape at the iron + stove. She scraped for twenty-four hours, but did not make the least + impression. When the day broke, a voice called from the iron stove, ‘It + seems to me that it is day outside.’ Then she answered, ‘It seems so to + me; I think I hear my father’s mill rattling.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘So you are a miller’s daughter! Then go away at once, and tell the King’s + daughter to come.’ + </p> + <p> + Then she went away, and told the old King that the thing inside the iron + stove would not have her, but wanted the Princess. The old King was + frightened, and his daughter wept. But they had a swineherd’s daughter who + was even more beautiful than the miller’s daughter, and they gave her a + piece of gold to go to the iron stove instead of the Princess. Then she + was taken out, and had to scrape for four-and-twenty hours, but she could + make no impression. As soon as the day broke the voice from the stove + called out, ‘It seems to be daylight outside.’ Then she answered, ‘It + seems so to me too; I think I hear my father blowing his horn.’ ‘So you + are a swineherd’s daughter! Go away at once, and let the King’s daughter + come. And say to her that what I foretell shall come to pass, and if she + does not come everything in the kingdom shall fall into ruin, and not one + stone shall be left upon another.’ When the Princess heard this she began + to cry, but it was no good; she had to keep her word. She took leave of + her father, put a knife in her belt, and went to the iron stove in the + wood. As soon as she reached it she began to scrape, and the iron gave way + and before two hours had passed she had made a little hole. Then she + peeped in and saw such a beautiful youth all shining with gold and + precious stones that she fell in love with him on the spot. So she scraped + away harder than ever, and made the hole so large that he could get out. + Then he said, ‘You are mine, and I am thine; you are my bride and have set + me free!’ He wanted to take her with him to his kingdom, but she begged + him just to let her go once more to her father; and the Prince let her go, + but told her not to say more than three words to her father, then to come + back again. So she went home, but alas! she said MORE THAN THREE WORDS; + and immediately the iron stove vanished and went away over a mountain of + glass and sharp swords. But the Prince was free, and was no longer shut up + in it. Then she said good-bye to her father, and took a little money with + her, and went again into the great wood to look for the iron stove; but + she could not find it. She sought it for nine days, and then her hunger + became so great that she did not know how she could live any longer. And + when it was evening she climbed a little tree and wished that the night + would not come, because she was afraid of the wild beasts. When midnight + came she saw afar off a little light, and thought, ‘Ah! if only I could + reach that!’ Then she got down from the tree and went towards the light. + She came to a little old house with a great deal of grass growing round, + and stood in front of a little heap of wood. She thought, ‘Alas! what am I + coming to?’ and peeped through the window; but she saw nothing inside + except big and little toads, and a table beautifully spread with roast + meats and wine, and all the dishes and drinking-cups were of silver. Then + she took heart and knocked. Then a fat toad called out: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Little green toad with leg like crook, + Open wide the door, and look + Who it was the latch that shook.’ +</pre> + <p> + And a little toad came forward and let her in. When she entered they all + bid her welcome, and made her sit down. They asked her how she came there + and what she wanted. Then she told everything that had happened to her, + and how, because she had exceeded her permission only to speak three + words, the stove had disappeared with the Prince; and how she had searched + a very long time, and must wander over mountain and valley till she found + him. + </p> + <p> + Then the old toad said: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Little green toad whose leg doth twist, + Go to the corner of which you wist, + And bring to me the large old kist.’ +</pre> + <p> + And the little toad went and brought out a great chest. Then they gave her + food and drink, and led her to a beautifully made bed of silk and samite, + on which she lay down and slept soundly. When the day dawned she arose, + and the old toad gave her three things out of the huge chest to take with + her. She would have need of them, for she had to cross a high glass + mountain, three cutting swords, and a great lake. When she had passed + these she would find her lover again. So she was given three large + needles, a plough-wheel, and three nuts, which she was to take great care + of. She set out with these things, and when she came to the glass mountain + which was so slippery she stuck the three needles behind her feet and then + in front, and so got over it, and when she was on the other side put them + carefully away. + </p> + <p> + Then she reached the three cutting swords, and got on her plough-wheel and + rolled over them. At last she came to a great lake, and, when she had + crossed that, arrived at a beautiful castle. She went in and gave herself + out as a servant, a poor maid who would gladly be engaged. But she knew + that the Prince whom she had freed from the iron stove in the great wood + was in the castle. So she was taken on as a kitchen-maid for very small + wages. Now the Prince was about to marry another princess, for he thought + she was dead long ago. + </p> + <p> + In the evening, when she had washed up and was ready, she felt in her + pocket and found the three nuts which the old toad had given her. She + cracked one and was going to eat the kernel, when behold! there was a + beautiful royal dress inside it! When the bride heard of this, she came + and begged for the dress, and wanted to buy it, saying that it was not a + dress for a serving-maid. Then she said she would not sell it unless she + was granted one favour—namely, to sleep by the Prince’s door. The + bride granted her this, because the dress was so beautiful and she had so + few like it. When it was evening she said to her bridegroom, ‘That stupid + maid wants to sleep by your door.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘If you are contented, I am,’ he said. But she gave him a glass of wine in + which she had poured a sleeping-draught. Then they both went to his room, + but he slept so soundly that she could not wake him. The maid wept all + night long, and said, ‘I freed you in the wild wood out of the iron stove; + I have sought you, and have crossed a glassy mountain, three sharp swords, + and a great lake before I found you, and will you not hear me now?’ The + servants outside heard how she cried the whole night, and they told their + master in the morning. + </p> + <p> + When she had washed up the next evening she bit the second nut, and there + was a still more beautiful dress inside. When the bride saw it she wanted + to buy it also. But the maid did not want money, and asked that she should + sleep again by the Prince’s door. The bride, however, gave him a + sleeping-draught, and he slept so soundly that he heard nothing. But the + kitchen-maid wept the whole night long, and said, ‘I have freed you in a + wood and from an iron stove; I sought you and have crossed a glassy + mountain, three sharp swords, and a great lake to find you, and now you + will not hear me!’ The servants outside heard how she cried the whole + night, and in the morning they told their master. + </p> + <p> + And when she had washed up on the third night she bit the third nut, and + there was a still more beautiful dress inside that was made of pure gold. + When the bride saw it she wanted to have it, but the maid would only give + it her on condition that she should sleep for the third time by the + Prince’s door. But the Prince took care not to drink the sleeping-draught. + When she began to weep and to say, ‘Dearest sweetheart, I freed you in the + horrible wild wood, and from an iron stove,’ he jumped up and said, ‘You + are right. You are mine, and I am thine.’ Though it was still night, he + got into a carriage with her, and they took the false bride’s clothes + away, so that she could not follow them. When they came to the great lake + they rowed across, and when they reached the three sharp swords they sat + on the plough-wheel, and on the glassy mountain they stuck the three + needles in. So they arrived at last at the little old house, but when they + stepped inside it turned into a large castle. The toads were all freed, + and were beautiful King’s children, running about for joy. There they were + married, and they remained in the castle, which was much larger than that + of the Princess’s father’s. But because the old man did not like being + left alone, they went and fetched him. So they had two kingdoms and lived + in great wealth. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + A mouse has run, + My story’s done. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE DRAGON AND HIS GRANDMOTHER + </h2> + <p> + There was once a great war, and the King had a great many soldiers, but he + gave them so little pay that they could not live upon it. Then three of + them took counsel together and determined to desert. + </p> + <p> + One of them said to the others, ‘If we are caught, we shall be hanged on + the gallows; how shall we set about it?’ The other said, ‘Do you see that + large cornfield there? If we were to hide ourselves in that, no one could + find us. The army cannot come into it, and to-morrow it is to march on.’ + </p> + <p> + They crept into the corn, but the army did not march on, but remained + encamped close around them. They sat for two days and two nights in the + corn, and grew so hungry that they nearly died; but if they were to + venture out, it was certain death. + </p> + <p> + They said at last, ‘What use was it our deserting? We must perish here + miserably.’ + </p> + <p> + Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air. It + hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there. + </p> + <p> + They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay + was so small. Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move + out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘If you will serve me for seven years,’ said the dragon, I will lead you + through the midst of the army so that no one shall catch you.’ ‘We have no + choice, and must take your offer,’ said they. Then the dragon seized them + in his claws, took them through the air over the army, and set them down + on the earth a long way from it. + </p> + <p> + He gave them a little whip, saying, ‘Whip and slash with this, and as much + money as you want will jump up before you. You can then live as great + lords, keep horses, and drive about in carriages. But after seven years + you are mine.’ Then he put a book before them, which he made all three of + them sign. ‘I will then give you a riddle,’ he said; ‘if you guess it, you + shall be free and out of my power.’ The dragon then flew away, and they + journeyed on with their little whip. They had as much money as they + wanted, wore grand clothes, and made their way into the world. Wherever + they went they lived in merrymaking and splendour, drove about with horses + and carriages, ate and drank, but did nothing wrong. + </p> + <p> + The time passed quickly away, and when the seven years were nearly ended + two of them grew terribly anxious and frightened, but the third made light + of it, saying, ‘Don’t be afraid, brothers, I wasn’t born yesterday; I will + guess the riddle.’ + </p> + <p> + They went into a field, sat down, and the two pulled long faces. An old + woman passed by, and asked them why they were so sad. ‘Alas! what have you + to do with it? You cannot help us.’ ‘Who knows?’ she answered. ‘Only + confide your trouble in me.’ + </p> + <p> + Then they told her that they had become the servants of the Dragon for + seven long years, and how he had given them money as plentifully as + blackberries; but as they had signed their names they were his, unless + when the seven years had passed they could guess a riddle. The old woman + said, ‘If you would help yourselves, one of you must go into the wood, and + there he will come upon a tumble-down building of rocks which looks like a + little house. He must go in, and there he will find help.’ + </p> + <p> + The two melancholy ones thought, ‘That won’t save us!’ and they remained + where they were. But the third and merry one jumped up and went into the + wood till he found the rock hut. In the hut sat a very old woman, who was + the Dragon’s grandmother. She asked him how he came, and what was his + business there. He told her all that happened, and because she was pleased + with him she took compassion on him, and said she would help him. + </p> + <p> + She lifted up a large stone which lay over the cellar, saying, ‘Hide + yourself there; you can hear all that is spoken in this room. Only sit + still and don’t stir. When the Dragon comes, I will ask him what the + riddle is, for he tells me everything; then listen carefully what he + answers.’ + </p> + <p> + At midnight the Dragon flew in, and asked for his supper. His grandmother + laid the table, and brought out food and drink till he was satisfied, and + they ate and drank together. Then in the course of the conversation she + asked him what he had done in the day, and how many souls he had + conquered. + </p> + <p> + ‘I haven’t had much luck to-day,’ he said, ‘but I have a tight hold on + three soldiers.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Indeed! three soldiers!’ said she. ‘Who cannot escape you?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘They are mine,’ answered the Dragon scornfully, ‘for I shall only give + them one riddle which they will never be able to guess.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What sort of a riddle is it?’ she asked. + </p> + <p> + ‘I will tell you this. In the North Sea lies a dead sea-cat—that + shall be their roast meat; and the rib of a whale—that shall be + their silver spoon; and the hollow foot of a dead horse—that shall + be their wineglass.’ + </p> + <p> + When the Dragon had gone to bed, his old grandmother pulled up the stone + and let out the soldier. + </p> + <p> + ‘Did you pay attention to everything?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘I know enough, and can help myself splendidly.’ + </p> + <p> + Then he went by another way through the window secretly, and in all haste + back to his comrades. He told them how the Dragon had been outwitted by + his grandmother, and how he had heard from his own lips the answer to the + riddle. + </p> + <p> + Then they were all delighted and in high spirits, took out their whip, and + cracked so much money that it came jumping up from the ground. When the + seven years had quite gone, the Fiend came with his book, and, pointing at + the signatures, said, ‘I will take you underground with me; you shall have + a meal there. If you can tell me what you will get for your roast meat, + you shall be free, and shall also keep the whip.’ + </p> + <p> + Then said the first soldier, ‘In the North Sea lies a dead sea-cat; that + shall be the roast meat.’ + </p> + <p> + The Dragon was much annoyed, and hummed and hawed a good deal, and asked + the second, ‘But what shall be your spoon?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘The rib of a whale shall be our silver spoon.’ + </p> + <p> + The Dragon-made a face, and growled again three times, ‘Hum, hum, hum,’ + and said to the third, ‘Do you know what your wineglass shall be?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘An old horse’s hoof shall be our wineglass.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the Dragon flew away with a loud shriek, and had no more power over + them. But the three soldiers took the little whip, whipped as much money + as they wanted, and lived happily to their lives end. + </p> + <p> + THE DONKEY CABBAGE + </p> + <p> + There was once a young Hunter who went boldly into the forest. He had a + merry and light heart, and as he went whistling along there came an ugly + old woman, who said to him, ‘Good-day, dear hunter! You are very merry and + contented, but I suffer hunger and thirst, so give me a trifle.’ The + Hunter was sorry for the poor old woman, and he felt in his pocket and + gave her all he could spare. He was going on then, but the old woman + stopped him and said, ‘Listen, dear hunter, to what I say. Because of your + kind heart I will make you a present. Go on your way, and in a short time + you will come to a tree on which sit nine birds who have a cloak in their + claws and are quarrelling over it. Then take aim with your gun and shoot + in the middle of them; they will let the cloak fall, but one of the birds + will be hit and will drop down dead. Take the cloak with you; it is a + wishing-cloak, and when you throw it on your shoulders you have only to + wish yourself at a certain place, and in the twinkling of an eye you are + there. Take the heart out of the dead bird and swallow it whole, and early + every morning when you get up you will find a gold piece under your + pillow.’ + </p> + <p> + The Hunter thanked the wise woman, and thought to himself ‘These are + splendid things she has promised me, if only they come to pass!’ So he + walked on about a hundred yards, and then he heard above him in the + branches such a screaming and chirping that he looked up, and there he saw + a heap of birds tearing a cloth with their beaks and feet, shrieking, + tugging, and fighting, as if each wanted it for himself. ‘Well,’ said the + Hunter, ‘this is wonderful! It is just as the old woman said’; and he took + his gun on his shoulder, pulled the trigger, and shot into the midst of + them, so that their feathers flew about. Then the flock took flight with + much screaming, but one fell dead, and the cloak fluttered down. Then the + Hunter did as the old woman had told him: he cut open the bird, found its + heart, swallowed it, and took the cloak home with him. The next morning + when he awoke he remembered the promise, and wanted to see if it had come + true. But when he lifted up his pillow, there sparkled the gold piece, and + the next morning he found another, and so on every time he got up. He + collected a heap of gold, but at last he thought to himself, ‘What good is + all my gold to me if I stay at home? I will travel and look a bit about me + in the world.’ So he took leave of his parents, slung his hunting knapsack + and his gun round him, and journeyed into the world. + </p> + <p> + It happened that one day he went through a thick wood, and when he came to + the end of it there lay in the plain before him a large castle. At one of + the windows in it stood an old woman with a most beautiful maiden by her + side, looking out. But the old woman was a witch, and she said to the + girl, ‘There comes one out of the wood who has a wonderful treasure in his + body which we must manage to possess ourselves of, darling daughter; we + have more right to it than he. He has a bird’s heart in him, and so every + morning there lies a gold piece under his pillow.’ + </p> + <p> + She told her how they could get hold of it, and how she was to coax it + from him, and at last threatened her angrily, saying, ‘And if you do not + obey me, you shall repent it!’ + </p> + <p> + When the Hunter came nearer he saw the maiden, and said to himself, ‘I + have travelled so far now that I will rest, and turn into this beautiful + castle; money I have in plenty.’ But the real reason was that he had + caught sight of the lovely face. + </p> + <p> + He went into the house, and was kindly received and hospitably + entertained. It was not long before he was so much in love with the + witch-maiden that he thought of nothing else, and only looked in her eyes, + and whatever she wanted, that he gladly did. Then the old witch said, ‘Now + we must have the bird-heart; he will not feel when it is gone.’ She + prepared a drink, and when it was ready she poured it in a goblet and gave + it to the maiden, who had to hand it to the hunter. + </p> + <p> + ‘Drink to me now, my dearest,’ she said. Then he took the goblet, and when + he had swallowed the drink the bird-heart came out of his mouth. The + maiden had to get hold of it secretly and then swallow it herself, for the + old witch wanted to have it. Thenceforward he found no more gold under his + pillow, and it lay under the maiden’s; but he was so much in love and so + much bewitched that he thought of nothing except spending all his time + with the maiden. + </p> + <p> + Then the old witch said, ‘We have the bird-heart, but we must also get the + wishing-cloak from him.’ + </p> + <p> + The maiden answered, ‘We will leave him that; he has already lost his + wealth!’ + </p> + <p> + The old witch grew angry, and said, ‘Such a cloak is a wonderful thing, it + is seldom to be had in the world, and have it I must and will.’ She beat + the maiden, and said that if she did not obey it would go ill with her. + </p> + <p> + So she did her mother’s bidding, and, standing one day by the window, she + looked away into the far distance as if she were very sad. + </p> + <p> + ‘Why are you standing there looking so sad?’ asked the Hunter. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas, my love,’ she replied, ‘over there lies the granite mountain where + the costly precious stones grow. I have a great longing to go there, so + that when I think of it I am very sad. For who can fetch them? Only the + birds who fly; a man, never.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘If you have no other trouble,’ said the Hunter, ‘that one I can easily + remove from your heart.’ + </p> + <p> + So he wrapped her round in his cloak and wished themselves to the granite + mountain, and in an instant there they were, sitting on it! The precious + stones sparkled so brightly on all sides that it was a pleasure to see + them, and they collected the most beautiful and costly together. But now + the old witch had through her caused the Hunter’s eyes to become heavy. + </p> + <p> + He said to the maiden, ‘We will sit down for a little while and rest; I am + so tired that I can hardly stand on my feet.’ + </p> + <p> + So they sat down, and he laid his head on her lap and fell asleep. As soon + as he was sound asleep she unfastened the cloak from his shoulders, threw + it on her own, left the granite and stones, and wished herself home again. + </p> + <p> + But when the Hunter had finished his sleep and awoke, he found that his + love had betrayed him and left him alone on the wild mountain. ‘Oh,’ said + he, ‘why is faithlessness so great in the world?’ and he sat down in + sorrow and trouble, not knowing what to do. + </p> + <p> + But the mountain belonged to fierce and huge giants, who lived on it and + traded there, and he had not sat long before he saw three of them striding + towards him. So he lay down as if he had fallen into a deep sleep. + </p> + <p> + The giants came up, and the first pushed him with his foot, and said, + ‘What sort of an earthworm is that?’ + </p> + <p> + The second said, ‘Crush him dead.’ + </p> + <p> + But the third said contemptuously, ‘It is not worth the trouble! Let him + live; he cannot remain here, and if he goes higher up the mountain the + clouds will take him and carry him off.’ + </p> + <p> + Talking thus they went away. But the Hunter had listened to their talk, + and as soon as they had gone he rose and climbed to the summit. When he + had sat there a little while a cloud swept by, and, seizing him, carried + him away. It travelled for a time in the sky, and then it sank down and + hovered over a large vegetable garden surrounded by walls, so that he came + safely to the ground amidst cabbages and vegetables. The Hunter then + looked about him, saying, ‘If only I had something to eat! I am so hungry, + and it will go badly with me in the future, for I see here not an apple or + pear or fruit of any kind—nothing but vegetables everywhere.’ At + last he thought, ‘At a pinch I can eat a salad; it does not taste + particularly nice, but it will refresh me.’ So he looked about for a good + head and ate it, but no sooner had he swallowed a couple of mouthfuls than + he felt very strange, and found himself wonderfully changed. Four legs + began to grow on him, a thick head, and two long ears, and he saw with + horror that he had changed into a donkey. But as he was still very hungry + and this juicy salad tasted very good to his present nature, he went on + eating with a still greater appetite. At last he got hold of another kind + of cabbage, but scarcely had swallowed it when he felt another change, and + he once more regained his human form. + </p> + <p> + The Hunter now lay down and slept off his weariness. When he awoke the + next morning he broke off a head of the bad and a head of the good + cabbage, thinking, ‘This will help me to regain my own, and to punish + faithlessness.’ Then he put the heads in his pockets, climbed the wall, + and started off to seek the castle of his love. When he had wandered about + for a couple of days he found it quite easily. He then browned his face + quickly, so that his own mother would not have known him, and went into + the castle, where he begged for a lodging. + </p> + <p> + ‘I am so tired,’ he said, ‘I can go no farther.’ + </p> + <p> + The witch asked, ‘Countryman, who are you, and what is your business?’ + </p> + <p> + He answered, ‘I am a messenger of the King, and have been sent to seek the + finest salad that grows under the sun. I have been so lucky as to find it, + and am bringing it with me; but the heat of the sun is so great that the + tender cabbage threatens to grow soft, and I do not know if I shall be + able to bring it any farther.’ + </p> + <p> + When the old witch heard of the fine salad she wanted to eat it, and said, + ‘Dear countryman, just let me taste the wonderful salad.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Why not?’ he answered; ‘I have brought two heads with me, and will give + you one.’ + </p> + <p> + So saying, he opened his sack and gave her the bad one. The witch + suspected no evil, and her mouth watered to taste the new dish, so that + she went into the kitchen to prepare it herself. When it was ready she + could not wait till it was served at the table, but she immediately took a + couple of leaves and put them in her mouth. No sooner, however, had she + swallowed them than she lost human form, and ran into the courtyard in the + shape of a donkey. + </p> + <p> + Now the servant came into the kitchen, and when she saw the salad standing + there ready cooked she was about to carry it up, but on the way, according + to her old habit, she tasted it and ate a couple of leaves. Immediately + the charm worked, and she became a donkey, and ran out to join the old + witch, and the dish with the salad in it fell to the ground. In the + meantime, the messenger was sitting with the lovely maiden, and as no one + came with the salad, and she wanted very much to taste it, she said, ‘I + don’t know where the salad is.’ + </p> + <p> + Then thought the Hunter, ‘The cabbage must have already begun to work.’ + And he said, ‘I will go to the kitchen and fetch it myself.’ + </p> + <p> + When he came there he saw the two donkeys running about in the courtyard, + but the salad was lying on the ground. + </p> + <p> + ‘That’s all right,’ said he; ‘two have had their share!’ And lifting the + remaining leaves up, he laid them on the dish and brought them to the + maiden. + </p> + <p> + ‘I am bringing you the delicious food my own self,’ he said, ‘so that you + need not wait any longer.’ + </p> + <p> + Then she ate, and, as the others had done, she at once lost her human + form, and ran as a donkey into the yard. + </p> + <p> + When the Hunter had washed his face, so that the changed ones might know + him, he went into the yard, saying, ‘Now you shall receive a reward for + your faithlessness.’ + </p> + <p> + He tied them all three with a rope, and drove them away till he came to a + mill. He knocked at the window, and the miller put his head out and asked + what he wanted. + </p> + <p> + ‘I have three tiresome animals,’ he answered, ‘which I don’t want to keep + any longer. If you will take them, give them food and stabling, and do as + I tell you with them, I will pay you as much as you want.’ + </p> + <p> + The miller replied, ‘Why not? What shall I do with them?’ + </p> + <p> + Then the Hunter said that to the old donkey, which was the witch, three + beatings and one meal; to the younger one, which was the servant, one + beating and three meals; and to the youngest one, which was the maiden, no + beating and three meals; for he could not find it in his heart to let the + maiden be beaten. + </p> + <p> + Then he went back into the castle, and he found there all that he wanted. + After a couple of days the miller came and said that he must tell him that + the old donkey which was to have three beatings and only one meal had + died. ‘The two others,’ he added, ‘are certainly not dead, and get their + three meals every day, but they are so sad that they cannot last much + longer.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the Hunter took pity on them, laid aside his anger, and told the + miller to drive them back again. And when they came he gave them some of + the good cabbage to eat, so that they became human again. Then the + beautiful maiden fell on her knees before him, saying, ‘Oh, my dearest, + forgive me the ill I have done you! My mother compelled me to do it; it + was against my will, for I love you dearly. Your wishing-cloak is hanging + in a cupboard, and as for the bird-heart I will make a drink and give it + back to you.’ + </p> + <p> + But he changed his mind, and said, ‘Keep it; it makes no difference, for I + will take you to be my own dear true wife.’ + </p> + <p> + And the wedding was celebrated, and they lived happy together till death. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + THE LITTLE GREEN FROG(8) +</pre> + <p> + (8) Cabinet des Fees. + </p> + <p> + In a part of the world whose name I forget lived once upon a time two + kings, called Peridor and Diamantino. They were cousins as well as + neighbours, and both were under the protection of the fairies; though it + is only fair to say that the fairies did not love them half so well as + their wives did. + </p> + <p> + Now it often happens that as princes can generally manage to get their own + way it is harder for them to be good than it is for common people. So it + was with Peridor and Diamantino; but of the two, the fairies declared that + Diamantino was much the worst; indeed, he behaved so badly to his wife + Aglantino, that the fairies would not allow him to live any longer; and he + died, leaving behind him a little daughter. As she was an only child, of + course this little girl was the heiress of the kingdom, but, being still + only a baby, her mother, the widow of Diamantino, was proclaimed regent. + The Queen-dowager was wise and good, and tried her best to make her people + happy. The only thing she had to vex her was the absence of her daughter; + for the fairies, for reasons of their own, determined to bring up the + little Princess Serpentine among themselves. + </p> + <p> + As to the other King, he was really fond of his wife, Queen Constance, but + he often grieved her by his thoughtless ways, and in order to punish him + for his carelessness, the fairies caused her to die quite suddenly. When + she was gone the King felt how much he had loved her, and his grief was so + great (though he never neglected his duties) that his subjects called him + Peridor the Sorrowful. It seems hardly possible that any man should live + like Peridor for fifteen years plunged in such depth of grief, and most + likely he would have died too if it had not been for the fairies. + </p> + <p> + The one comfort the poor King had was his son, Prince Saphir, who was only + three years old at the time of his mother’s death, and great care was + given to his education. By the time he was fifteen Saphir had learnt + everything that a prince should know, and he was, besides, charming and + agreeable. + </p> + <p> + It was about this time that the fairies suddenly took fright lest his love + for his father should interfere with the plans they had made for the young + prince. So, to prevent this, they placed in a pretty little room of which + Saphir was very fond a little mirror in a black frame, such as were often + brought from Venice. The Prince did not notice for some days that there + was anything new in the room, but at last he perceived it, and went up to + look at it more closely. What was his surprise to see reflected in the + mirror, not his own face, but that of a young girl as lovely as the + morning! And, better still, every movement of the girl, just growing out + of childhood, was also reflected in the wonderful glass. + </p> + <p> + As might have been expected, the young Prince lost his heart completely to + the beautiful image, and it was impossible to get him out of the room, so + busy was he in watching the lovely unknown. Certainly it was very + delightful to be able to see her whom he loved at any moment he chose, but + his spirits sometimes sank when he wondered what was to be the end of this + adventure. + </p> + <p> + The magic mirror had been for about a year in the Prince’s possession, + when one day a new subject of disquiet seized upon him. As usual, he was + engaged in looking at the girl, when suddenly he thought he saw a second + mirror reflected in the first, exactly like his own, and with the same + power. And in this he was perfectly right. The young girl had only + possessed it for a short time, and neglected all her duties for the sake + of the mirror. Now it was not difficult for Saphir to guess the reason of + the change in her, nor why the new mirror was consulted so often; but try + as he would he could never see the face of the person who was reflected in + it, for the young girl’s figure always came between. All he knew was that + the face was that of a man, and this was quite enough to make him madly + jealous. This was the doing of the fairies, and we must suppose that they + had their reasons for acting as they did. + </p> + <p> + When these things happened Saphir was about eighteen years old, and + fifteen years had passed away since the death of his mother. King Peridor + had grown more and more unhappy as time went on, and at last he fell so + ill that it seemed as if his days were numbered. He was so much beloved by + his subjects that this sad news was heard with despair by the nation, and + more than all by the Prince. + </p> + <p> + During his whole illness the King never spoke of anything but the Queen, + his sorrow at having grieved her, and his hope of one day seeing her + again. All the doctors and all the water-cures in the kingdom had been + tried, and nothing would do him any good. At last he persuaded them to let + him lie quietly in his room, where no one came to trouble him. + </p> + <p> + Perhaps the worst pain he had to bear was a sort of weight on his chest, + which made it very hard for him to breathe. So he commanded his servants + to leave the windows open in order that he might get more air. One day, + when he had been left alone for a few minutes, a bird with brilliant + plumage came and fluttered round the window, and finally rested on the + sill. His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such + glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made + the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown. I + cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it + was still more splendid than all the rest. As to his voice I can say + nothing about that, for the bird never sang at all. In fact, he did + nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt his + strength come back to him. In a little while the bird flew into the room, + still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of + the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to + be before the Queen died. Filled with joy at his cure, he tried to seize + the bird to whom he owed it all, but, swifter than a swallow, it managed + to avoid him. In vain he described the bird to his attendants, who rushed + at his first call; in vain they sought the wonderful creature both on + horse and foot, and summoned the fowlers to their aid: the bird could + nowhere be found. The love the people bore King Peridor was so strong, and + the reward he promised was so large, that in the twinkling of an eye every + man, woman, and child had fled into the fields, and the towns were quite + empty. + </p> + <p> + All this bustle, however, ended in nothing but confusion, and, what was + worse, the King soon fell back into the same condition as he was in + before. Prince Saphir, who loved his father very dearly, was so unhappy at + this that he persuaded himself that he might succeed where the others had + failed, and at once prepared himself for a more distant search. In spite + of the opposition he met with, he rode away, followed by his household, + trusting to chance to help him. He had formed no plan, and there was no + reason that he should choose one path more than another. His only idea was + to make straight for those spots which were the favourite haunts of birds. + But in vain he examined all the hedges and all the thickets; in vain he + questioned everyone he met along the road. The more he sought the less he + found. + </p> + <p> + At last he came to one of the largest forests in all the world, composed + entirely of cedars. But in spite of the deep shadows cast by the + wide-spreading branches of the trees, the grass underneath was soft and + green, and covered with the rarest flowers. It seemed to Saphir that this + was exactly the place where the birds would choose to live, and he + determined not to quit the wood until he had examined it from end to end. + And he did more. He ordered some nets to be prepared and painted of the + same colours as the bird’s plumage, thinking that we are all easily caught + by what is like ourselves. In this he had to help him not only the fowlers + by profession, but also his attendants, who excelled in this art. For a + man is not a courtier unless he can do everything. + </p> + <p> + After searching as usual for nearly a whole day Prince Saphir began to + feel overcome with thirst. He was too tired to go any farther, when + happily he discovered a little way off a bubbling fountain of the clearest + water. Being an experienced traveller, he drew from his pocket a little + cup (without which no one should ever take a journey), and was just about + to dip it in the water, when a lovely little green frog, much prettier + than frogs generally are, jumped into the cup. Far from admiring its + beauty, Saphir shook it impatiently off; but it was no good, for quick as + lightning the frog jumped back again. Saphir, who was raging with thirst, + was just about to shake it off anew, when the little creature fixed upon + him the most beautiful eyes in the world, and said, ‘I am a friend of the + bird you are seeking, and when you have quenched your thirst listen to + me.’ + </p> + <p> + So the Prince drank his fill, and then, by the command of the Little Green + Frog, he lay down on the grass to rest himself. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now,’ she began, ‘be sure you do exactly in every respect what I tell + you. First you must call together your attendants, and order them to + remain in a little hamlet close by until you want them. Then go, quite + alone, down a road that you will find on your right hand, looking + southwards. This road is planted all the way with cedars of Lebanon; and + after going down it a long way you will come at last to a magnificent + castle. And now,’ she went on, ‘attend carefully to what I am going to + say. Take this tiny grain of sand, and put it into the ground as close as + you can to the gate of the castle. It has the virtue both of opening the + gate and also of sending to sleep all the inhabitants. Then go at once to + the stable, and pay no heed to anything except what I tell you. Choose the + handsomest of all the horses, leap quickly on its back, and come to me as + fast as you can. Farewell, Prince; I wish you good luck,’ and with these + words the Little Frog plunged into the water and disappeared. + </p> + <p> + The Prince, who felt more hopeful than he had done since he left home, did + precisely as he had been ordered. He left his attendants in the hamlet, + found the road the frog had described to him, and followed it all alone, + and at last he arrived at the gate of the castle, which was even more + splendid than he had expected, for it was built of crystal, and all its + ornaments were of massive gold. However, he had no thoughts to spare for + its beauty, and quickly buried his grain of sand in the earth. In one + instant the gates flew open, and all the dwellers inside fell sound + asleep. Saphir flew straight to the stable, and already had his hand on + the finest horse it contained, when his eye was caught by a suit of + magnificent harness hanging up close by. It occurred to him directly that + the harness belonged to the horse, and without ever thinking of harm (for + indeed he who steals a horse can hardly be blamed for taking his saddle), + he hastily placed it on the animal’s back. Suddenly the people in the + castle became broad awake, and rushed to the stable. They flung themselves + on the Prince, seized him, and dragged him before their lord; but, luckily + for the Prince, who could only find very lame excuses for his conduct, the + lord of the castle took a fancy to his face, and let him depart without + further questions. + </p> + <p> + Very sad, and very much ashamed of himself poor Saphir crept back to the + fountain, where the Frog was awaiting him with a good scolding. + </p> + <p> + ‘Whom do you take me for?’ she exclaimed angrily. ‘Do you really believe + that it was just for the pleasure of talking that I gave you the advice + you have neglected so abominably?’ + </p> + <p> + But the Prince was so deeply grieved, and apologised so very humbly, that + after some time the heart of the good little Frog was softened, and she + gave him another tiny little grain, but instead of being sand it was now a + grain of gold. She directed him to do just as he had done before, with + only this difference, that instead of going to the stable which had been + the ruin of his hopes, he was to enter right into the castle itself, and + to glide as fast as he could down the passages till he came to a room + filled with perfume, where he would find a beautiful maiden asleep on a + bed. He was to wake the maiden instantly and carry her off, and to be sure + not to pay any heed to whatever resistance she might make. + </p> + <p> + The Prince obeyed the Frog’s orders one by one, and all went well for this + second time also. The gate opened, the inhabitants fell sound asleep, and + he walked down the passage till he found the girl on her bed, exactly as + he had been told he would. He woke her, and begged her firmly, but + politely, to follow him quickly. After a little persuasion the maiden + consented, but only on condition that she was allowed first to put on her + dress. This sounded so reasonable and natural that it did not enter the + Prince’s head to refuse her request. + </p> + <p> + But the maiden’s hand had hardly touched the dress when the palace + suddenly awoke from its sleep, and the Prince was seized and bound. He was + so vexed with his own folly, and so taken aback at the disaster, that he + did not attempt to explain his conduct, and things would have gone badly + with him if his friends the fairies had not softened the hearts of his + captors, so that they once more allowed him to leave quietly. However, + what troubled him most was the idea of having to meet the Frog who had + been his benefactress. How was he ever to appear before her with this + tale? Still, after a long struggle with himself, he made up his mind that + there was nothing else to be done, and that he deserved whatever she might + say to him. And she said a great deal, for she had worked herself into a + terrible passion; but the Prince humbly implored her pardon, and ventured + to point out that it would have been very hard to refuse the young lady’s + reasonable request. ‘You must learn to do as you are told,’ was all the + Frog would reply. + </p> + <p> + But poor Saphir was so unhappy, and begged so hard for forgiveness, that + at last the Frog’s anger gave way, and she held up to him a tiny diamond + stone. ‘Go back,’ she said, ‘to the castle, and bury this little diamond + close to the door. But be careful not to return to the stable or to the + bedroom; they have proved too fatal to you. Walk straight to the garden + and enter through a portico, into a small green wood, in the midst of + which is a tree with a trunk of gold and leaves of emeralds. Perched on + this tree you will see the beautiful bird you have been seeking so long. + You must cut the branch on which it is sitting, and bring it back to me + without delay. But I warn you solemnly that if you disobey my directions, + as you have done twice before, you have nothing more to expect either of + me or anyone else.’ + </p> + <p> + With these words she jumped into the water, and the Prince, who had taken + her threats much to heart, took his departure, firmly resolved not to + deserve them. He found it all just as he had been told: the portico, the + wood, the magnificent tree, and the beautiful bird, which was sleeping + soundly on one of the branches. He speedily lopped off the branch, and + though he noticed a splendid golden cage hanging close by, which would + have been very useful for the bird to travel in, he left it alone, and + came back to the fountain, holding his breath and walking on tip-toe all + the way, for fear lest he should awake his prize. But what was his + surprise, when instead of finding the fountain in the spot where he had + left it, he saw in its place a little rustic palace built in the best + taste, and standing in the doorway a charming maiden, at whose sight his + mind seemed to give way. + </p> + <p> + ‘What! Madam!’ he cried, hardly knowing what he said. ‘What! Is it you?’ + </p> + <p> + The maiden blushed and answered: ‘Ah, my lord, it is long since I first + beheld your face, but I did not think you had ever seen mine.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, madam,’ replied he, ‘you can never guess the days and the hours I + have passed lost in admiration of you.’ And after these words they each + related all the strange things that had happened, and the more they talked + the more they felt convinced of the truth of the images they had seen in + their mirrors. After some time spent in the most tender conversation, the + Prince could not restrain himself from asking the lovely unknown by what + lucky chance she was wandering in the forest; where the fountain had gone; + and if she knew anything of the Frog to whom he owed all his happiness, + and to whom he must give up the bird, which, somehow or other, was still + sound asleep. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, my lord,’ she replied, with rather an awkward air, ‘as to the Frog, + she stands before you. Let me tell you my story; it is not a long one. I + know neither my country nor my parents, and the only thing I can say for + certain is that I am called Serpentine. The fairies, who have taken care + of me ever since I was born, wished me to be in ignorance as to my family, + but they have looked after my education, and have bestowed on me endless + kindness. I have always lived in seclusion, and for the last two years I + have wished for nothing better. I had a mirror’—here shyness and + embarrassment choked her words—but regaining her self-control, she + added, ‘You know that fairies insist on being obeyed without questioning. + It was they who changed the little house you saw before you into the + fountain for which you are now asking, and, having turned me into a frog, + they ordered me to say to the first person who came to the fountain + exactly what I repeated to you. But, my lord, when you stood before me, it + was agony to my heart, filled as it was with thoughts of you, to appear to + your eyes under so monstrous a form. However, there was no help for it, + and, painful as it was, I had to submit. I desired your success with all + my soul, not only for your own sake, but also for my own, because I could + not get back my proper shape till you had become master of the beautiful + bird, though I am quite ignorant as to your reason for seeking it.’ + </p> + <p> + On this Saphir explained about the state of his father’s health, and all + that has been told before. + </p> + <p> + On hearing this story Serpentine grew very sad, and her lovely eyes filled + with tears. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, my lord,’ she said, ‘you know nothing of me but what you have seen in + the mirror; and I, who cannot even name my parents, learn that you are a + king’s son.’ + </p> + <p> + In vain Saphir declared that love made them equal; Serpentine would only + reply: ‘I love you too much to allow you to marry beneath your rank. I + shall be very unhappy, of course, but I shall never alter my mind. If I do + not find from the fairies that my birth is worthy of you, then, whatever + be my feelings, I will never accept your hand.’ + </p> + <p> + The conversation was at this point, and bid fair to last some time longer, + when one of the fairies appeared in her ivory car, accompanied by a + beautiful woman past her early youth. At this moment the bird suddenly + awakened, and, flying on to Saphir’s shoulder (which it never afterwards + left), began fondling him as well as a bird can do. The fairy told + Serpentine that she was quite satisfied with her conduct, and made herself + very agreeable to Saphir, whom she presented to the lady she had brought + with her, explaining that the lady was no other than his Aunt Aglantine, + widow of Diamantino. + </p> + <p> + Then they all fell into each other’s arms, till the fairy mounted her + chariot, placed Aglantine by her side, and Saphir and Serpentine on the + front seat. She also sent a message to the Prince’s attendants that they + might travel slowly back to the Court of King Peridor, and that the + beautiful bird had really been found. This matter being comfortably + arranged, she started off her chariot. But in spite of the swiftness with + which they flew through the air, the time passed even quicker for Saphir + and Serpentine, who had so much to think about. + </p> + <p> + They were still quite confused with the pleasure of seeing each other, + when the chariot arrived at King Peridor’s palace. He had had himself + carried to a room on the roof, where his nurses thought that he would die + at any moment. Directly the chariot drew within sight of the castle the + beautiful bird took flight, and, making straight for the dying King, at + once cured him of his sickness. Then she resumed her natural shape, and he + found that the bird was no other than the Queen Constance, whom he had + long believed to be dead. Peridor was rejoiced to embrace his wife and his + son once more, and with the help of the fairies began to make preparations + for the marriage of Saphir and Serpentine, who turned out to be the + daughter of Aglantine and Diamantino, and as much a princess as he was a + prince. The people of the kingdom were delighted, and everybody lived + happy and contented to the end of their lives. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + THE SEVEN-HEADED SERPENT(9) +</pre> + <p> + (9) ‘Die Siebenkopfige Schlange,’ from Schmidt’s Griechische Mahrchen. + </p> + <p> + Once upon a time there was a king who determined to take a long voyage. He + assembled his fleet and all the seamen, and set out. They went straight on + night and day, until they came to an island which was covered with large + trees, and under every tree lay a lion. As soon as the King had landed his + men, the lions all rose up together and tried to devour them. After a long + battle they managed to overcome the wild beasts, but the greater number of + the men were killed. Those who remained alive now went on through the + forest and found on the other side of it a beautiful garden, in which all + the plants of the world flourished together. + </p> + <p> + There were also in the garden three springs: the first flowed with silver, + the second with gold, and the third with pearls. The men unbuckled their + knapsacks and filled them with those precious things. In the middle of the + garden they found a large lake, and when they reached the edge of it the + Lake began to speak, and said to them, ‘What men are you, and what brings + you here? Are you come to visit our king?’ But they were too much + frightened to answer. + </p> + <p> + Then the Lake said, ‘You do well to be afraid, for it is at your peril + that you are come hither. Our king, who has seven heads, is now asleep, + but in a few minutes he will wake up and come to me to take his bath! Woe + to anyone who meets him in the garden, for it is impossible to escape from + him. This is what you must do if you wish to save your lives. Take off + your clothes and spread them on the path which leads from here to the + castle. The King will then glide over something soft, which he likes very + much, and he will be so pleased with that that he will not devour you. He + will give you some punishment, but then he will let you go.’ + </p> + <p> + The men did as the Lake advised them, and waited for a time. At noon the + earth began to quake, and opened in many places, and out of the openings + appeared lions, tigers, and other wild beasts, which surrounded the + castle, and thousands and thousands of beasts came out of the castle + following their king, the Seven-headed Serpent. The Serpent glided over + the clothes which were spread for him, came to the Lake, and asked it who + had strewed those soft things on the path? The Lake answered that it had + been done by people who had come to do him homage. The King commanded that + the men should be brought before him. They came humbly on their knees, and + in a few words told him their story. Then he spoke to them with a mighty + and terrible voice, and said, ‘Because you have dared to come here, I lay + upon you the punishment. Every year you must bring me from among your + people twelve youths and twelve maidens, that I may devour them. If you do + not do this, I will destroy your whole nation.’ + </p> + <p> + Then he desired one of his beasts to show the men the way out of the + garden, and dismissed them. They then left the island and went back to + their own country, where they related what had happened to them. Soon the + time came round when the king of the beasts would expect the youths and + maidens to be brought to him. The King therefore issued a proclamation + inviting twelve youths and twelve maidens to offer themselves up to save + their country; and immediately many young people, far more than enough, + hastened to do so. A new ship was built, and set with black sails, and in + it the youths and maidens who were appointed for the king of the beasts + embarked and set out for his country. When they arrived there they went at + once to the Lake, and this time the lions did not stir, nor did the + springs flow, and neither did the Lake speak. So they waited then, and it + was not long before the earth quaked even more terribly than the first + time. The Seven-headed Serpent came without his train of beasts, saw his + prey waiting for him, and devoured it at one mouthful. Then the ship’s + crew returned home, and the same thing happened yearly until many years + had passed. + </p> + <p> + Now the King of this unhappy country was growing old, and so was the + Queen, and they had no children. One day the Queen was sitting at the + window weeping bitterly because she was childless, and knew that the crown + would therefore pass to strangers after the King’s death. Suddenly a + little old woman appeared before her, holding an apple in her hand, and + said, ‘Why do you weep, my Queen, and what makes you so unhappy?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas, good mother,’ answered the Queen, ‘I am unhappy because I have no + children.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Is that what vexes you?’ said the old woman. ‘Listen to me. I am a nun + from the Spinning Convent,(10) and my mother when she died left me this + apple. Whoever eats this apple shall have a child.’ + </p> + <p> + (10) Convent Gnothi. + </p> + <p> + The Queen gave money to the old woman, and bought the apple from her. Then + she peeled it, ate it, and threw the rind out of the window, and it so + happened that a mare that was running loose in the court below ate up the + rind. After a time the Queen had a little boy, and the mare also had a + male foal. The boy and the foal grew up together and loved each other like + brothers. In course of time the King died, and so did the Queen, and their + son, who was now nineteen years old, was left alone. One day, when he and + his horse were talking together, the Horse said to him, ‘Listen to me, for + I love you and wish for your good and that of the country. If you go on + every year sending twelve youths and twelve maidens to the King of the + Beasts, your country will very soon be ruined. Mount upon my back: I will + take you to a woman who can direct you how to kill the Seven-headed + Serpent.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the youth mounted his horse, who carried him far away to a mountain + which was hollow, for in its side was a great underground cavern. In the + cavern sat an old woman spinning. This was the cloister of the nuns, and + the old woman was the Abbess. They all spent their time in spinning, and + that is why the convent has this name. All round the walls of the cavern + there were beds cut out of the solid rock, upon which the nuns slept, and + in the middle a light was burning. It was the duty of the nuns to watch + the light in turns, that it might never go out, and if anyone of them let + it go out the others put her to death. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the King’s son saw the old Abbess spinning he threw himself at + her feet and entreated her to tell him how he could kill the Seven-headed + Serpent. + </p> + <p> + She made the youth rise, embraced him, and said, ‘Know, my son, that it is + I who sent the nun to your mother and caused you to be born, and with you + the horse, with whose help you will be able to free the world from the + monster. I will tell you what you have to do. Load your horse with cotton, + and go by a secret passage which I will show you, which is hidden from the + wild beasts, to the Serpent’s palace. You will find the King asleep upon + his bed, which is all hung round with bells, and over his bed you will see + a sword hanging. With this sword only it is possible to kill the Serpent, + because even if its blade breaks a new one will grow again for every head + the monster has. Thus you will be able to cut off all his seven heads. And + this you must also do in order to deceive the King: you must slip into his + bed-chamber very softly, and stop up all the bells which are round his bed + with cotton. Then take down the sword gently, and quickly give the monster + a blow on his tail with it. This will make him waken up, and if he catches + sight of you he will seize you. But you must quickly cut off his first + head, and then wait till the next one comes up. Then strike it off also, + and so go on till you have cut off all his seven heads.’ + </p> + <p> + The old Abbess then gave the Prince her blessing, and he set out upon his + enterprise, arrived at the Serpent’s castle by following the secret + passage which she had shown him, and by carefully attending to all her + directions he happily succeeded in killing the monster. As soon as the + wild beasts heard of their king’s death, they all hastened to the castle, + but the youth had long since mounted his horse and was already far out of + their reach. They pursued him as fast as they could, but they found it + impossible to overtake him, and he reached home in safety. Thus he freed + his country from this terrible oppression. + </p> + <p> + THE GRATEFUL BEASTS(11) + </p> + <p> + (11) From the Hungarian. Kletke. + </p> + <p> + There was once upon a time a man and woman who had three fine-looking + sons, but they were so poor that they had hardly enough food for + themselves, let alone their children. So the sons determined to set out + into the world and to try their luck. Before starting their mother gave + them each a loaf of bread and her blessing, and having taken a tender + farewell of her and their father the three set forth on their travels. + </p> + <p> + The youngest of the three brothers, whose name was Ferko, was a beautiful + youth, with a splendid figure, blue eyes, fair hair, and a complexion like + milk and roses. His two brothers were as jealous of him as they could be, + for they thought that with his good looks he would be sure to be more + fortunate than they would ever be. + </p> + <p> + One day all the three were sitting resting under a tree, for the sun was + hot and they were tired of walking. Ferko fell fast asleep, but the other + two remained awake, and the eldest said to the second brother, ‘What do + you say to doing our brother Ferko some harm? He is so beautiful that + everyone takes a fancy to him, which is more than they do to us. If we + could only get him out of the way we might succeed better.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I quite agree with you,’ answered the second brother, ‘and my advice is + to eat up his loaf of bread, and then to refuse to give him a bit of ours + until he has promised to let us put out his eyes or break his legs.’ + </p> + <p> + His eldest brother was delighted with this proposal, and the two wicked + wretches seized Ferko’s loaf and ate it all up, while the poor boy was + still asleep. + </p> + <p> + When he did awake he felt very hungry and turned to eat his bread, but his + brothers cried out, ‘You ate your loaf in your sleep, you glutton, and you + may starve as long as you like, but you won’t get a scrap of ours.’ + </p> + <p> + Ferko was at a loss to understand how he could have eaten in his sleep, + but he said nothing, and fasted all that day and the next night. But on + the following morning he was so hungry that he burst into tears, and + implored his brothers to give him a little bit of their bread. Then the + cruel creatures laughed, and repeated what they had said the day before; + but when Ferko continued to beg and beseech them, the eldest said at last, + ‘If you will let us put out one of your eyes and break one of your legs, + then we will give you a bit of our bread.’ + </p> + <p> + At these words poor Ferko wept more bitterly than before, and bore the + torments of hunger till the sun was high in the heavens; then he could + stand it no longer, and he consented to allow his left eye to be put out + and his left leg to be broken. When this was done he stretched out his + hand eagerly for the piece of bread, but his brothers gave him such a tiny + scrap that the starving youth finished it in a moment and besought them + for a second bit. + </p> + <p> + But the more Ferko wept and told his brothers that he was dying of hunger, + the more they laughed and scolded him for his greed. So he endured the + pangs of starvation all that day, but when night came his endurance gave + way, and he let his right eye be put out and his right leg broken for a + second piece of bread. + </p> + <p> + After his brothers had thus successfully maimed and disfigured him for + life, they left him groaning on the ground and continued their journey + without him. + </p> + <p> + Poor Ferko ate up the scrap of bread they had left him and wept bitterly, + but no one heard him or came to his help. Night came on, and the poor + blind youth had no eyes to close, and could only crawl along the ground, + not knowing in the least where he was going. But when the sun was once + more high in the heavens, Ferko felt the blazing heat scorch him, and + sought for some cool shady place to rest his aching limbs. He climbed to + the top of a hill and lay down in the grass, and as he thought under the + shadow of a big tree. But it was no tree he leant against, but a gallows + on which two ravens were seated. The one was saying to the other as the + weary youth lay down, ‘Is there anything the least wonderful or remarkable + about this neighbourhood?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I should just think there was,’ replied the other; ‘many things that + don’t exist anywhere else in the world. There is a lake down there below + us, and anyone who bathes in it, though he were at death’s door, becomes + sound and well on the spot, and those who wash their eyes with the dew on + this hill become as sharp-sighted as the eagle, even if they have been + blind from their youth.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Well,’ answered the first raven, ‘my eyes are in no want of this healing + bath, for, Heaven be praised, they are as good as ever they were; but my + wing has been very feeble and weak ever since it was shot by an arrow many + years ago, so let us fly at once to the lake that I may be restored to + health and strength again.’ And so they flew away. + </p> + <p> + Their words rejoiced Ferko’s heart, and he waited impatiently till evening + should come and he could rub the precious dew on his sightless eyes. + </p> + <p> + At last it began to grow dusk, and the sun sank behind the mountains; + gradually it became cooler on the hill, and the grass grew wet with dew. + Then Ferko buried his face in the ground till his eyes were damp with + dewdrops, and in a moment he saw clearer than he had ever done in his life + before. The moon was shining brightly, and lighted him to the lake where + he could bathe his poor broken legs. + </p> + <p> + Then Ferko crawled to the edge of the lake and dipped his limbs in the + water. No sooner had he done so than his legs felt as sound and strong as + they had been before, and Ferko thanked the kind fate that had led him to + the hill where he had overheard the ravens’ conversation. He filled a + bottle with the healing water, and then continued his journey in the best + of spirits. + </p> + <p> + He had not gone far before he met a wolf, who was limping disconsolately + along on three legs, and who on perceiving Ferko began to howl dismally. + </p> + <p> + ‘My good friend,’ said the youth, ‘be of good cheer, for I can soon heal + your leg,’ and with these words he poured some of the precious water over + the wolf’s paw, and in a minute the animal was springing about sound and + well on all fours. The grateful creature thanked his benefactor warmly, + and promised Ferko to do him a good turn if he should ever need it. + </p> + <p> + Ferko continued his way till he came to a ploughed field. Here he noticed + a little mouse creeping wearily along on its hind paws, for its front paws + had both been broken in a trap. + </p> + <p> + Ferko felt so sorry for the little beast that he spoke to it in the most + friendly manner, and washed its small paws with the healing water. In a + moment the mouse was sound and whole, and after thanking the kind + physician it scampered away over the ploughed furrows. + </p> + <p> + Ferko again proceeded on his journey, but he hadn’t gone far before a + queen bee flew against him, trailing one wing behind her, which had been + cruelly torn in two by a big bird. Ferko was no less willing to help her + than he had been to help the wolf and the mouse, so he poured some healing + drops over the wounded wing. On the spot the queen bee was cured, and + turning to Ferko she said, ‘I am most grateful for your kindness, and + shall reward you some day.’ And with these words she flew away humming, + gaily. + </p> + <p> + Then Ferko wandered on for many a long day, and at length reached a + strange kingdom. Here, he thought to himself, he might as well go straight + to the palace and offer his services to the King of the country, for he + had heard that the King’s daughter was as beautiful as the day. + </p> + <p> + So he went to the royal palace, and as he entered the door the first + people he saw were his two brothers who had so shamefully ill-treated him. + They had managed to obtain places in the King’s service, and when they + recognised Ferko with his eyes and legs sound and well they were + frightened to death, for they feared he would tell the King of their + conduct, and that they would be hung. + </p> + <p> + No sooner had Ferko entered the palace than all eyes were turned on the + handsome youth, and the King’s daughter herself was lost in admiration, + for she had never seen anyone so handsome in her life before. His brothers + noticed this, and envy and jealousy were added to their fear, so much so + that they determined once more to destroy him. They went to the King and + told him that Ferko was a wicked magician, who had come to the palace with + the intention of carrying off the Princess. + </p> + <p> + Then the King had Ferko brought before him, and said, ‘You are accused of + being a magician who wishes to rob me of my daughter, and I condemn you to + death; but if you can fulfil three tasks which I shall set you to do your + life shall be spared, on condition you leave the country; but if you + cannot perform what I demand you shall be hung on the nearest tree.’ + </p> + <p> + And turning to the two wicked brothers he said, ‘Suggest something for him + to do; no matter how difficult, he must succeed in it or die.’ + </p> + <p> + They did not think long, but replied, ‘Let him build your Majesty in one + day a more beautiful palace than this, and if he fails in the attempt let + him be hung.’ + </p> + <p> + The King was pleased with this proposal, and commanded Ferko to set to + work on the following day. The two brothers were delighted, for they + thought they had now got rid of Ferko for ever. The poor youth himself was + heart-broken, and cursed the hour he had crossed the boundary of the + King’s domain. As he was wandering disconsolately about the meadows round + the palace, wondering how he could escape being put to death, a little bee + flew past, and settling on his shoulder whispered in his ear, ‘What is + troubling you, my kind benefactor? Can I be of any help to you? I am the + bee whose wing you healed, and would like to show my gratitude in some + way.’ + </p> + <p> + Ferko recognised the queen bee, and said, ‘Alas! how could you help me? + for I have been set to do a task which no one in the whole world could do, + let him be ever such a genius! To-morrow I must build a palace more + beautiful than the King’s, and it must be finished before evening.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Is that all?’ answered the bee, ‘then you may comfort yourself; for + before the sun goes down to-morrow night a palace shall be built unlike + any that King has dwelt in before. Just stay here till I come again and + tell you that it is finished.’ Having said this she flew merrily away, and + Ferko, reassured by her words, lay down on the grass and slept peacefully + till the next morning. + </p> + <p> + Early on the following day the whole town was on its feet, and everyone + wondered how and where the stranger would build the wonderful palace. The + Princess alone was silent and sorrowful, and had cried all night till her + pillow was wet, so much did she take the fate of the beautiful youth to + heart. + </p> + <p> + Ferko spent the whole day in the meadows waiting the return of the bee. + And when evening was come the queen bee flew by, and perching on his + shoulder she said, ‘The wonderful palace is ready. Be of good cheer, and + lead the King to the hill just outside the city walls.’ And humming gaily + she flew away again. + </p> + <p> + Ferko went at once to the King and told him the palace was finished. The + whole court went out to see the wonder, and their astonishment was great + at the sight which met their eyes. A splendid palace reared itself on the + hill just outside the walls of the city, made of the most exquisite + flowers that ever grew in mortal garden. The roof was all of crimson + roses, the windows of lilies, the walls of white carnations, the floors of + glowing auriculas and violets, the doors of gorgeous tulips and narcissi + with sunflowers for knockers, and all round hyacinths and other + sweet-smelling flowers bloomed in masses, so that the air was perfumed far + and near and enchanted all who were present. + </p> + <p> + This splendid palace had been built by the grateful queen bee, who had + summoned all the other bees in the kingdom to help her. + </p> + <p> + The King’s amazement knew no bounds, and the Princess’s eyes beamed with + delight as she turned them from the wonderful building on the delighted + Ferko. But the two brothers had grown quite green with envy, and only + declared the more that Ferko was nothing but a wicked magician. + </p> + <p> + The King, although he had been surprised and astonished at the way his + commands had been carried out, was very vexed that the stranger should + escape with his life, and turning to the two brothers he said, ‘He has + certainly accomplished the first task, with the aid no doubt of his + diabolical magic; but what shall we give him to do now? Let us make it as + difficult as possible, and if he fails he shall die.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the eldest brother replied, ‘The corn has all been cut, but it has + not yet been put into barns; let the knave collect all the grain in the + kingdom into one big heap before to-morrow night, and if as much as a + stalk of corn is left let him be put to death. + </p> + <p> + The Princess grew white with terror when she heard these words; but Ferko + felt much more cheerful than he had done the first time, and wandered out + into the meadows again, wondering how he was to get out of the difficulty. + But he could think of no way of escape. The sun sank to rest and night + came on, when a little mouse started out of the grass at Ferko’s feet, and + said to him, ‘I’m delighted to see you, my kind benefactor; but why are + you looking so sad? Can I be of any help to you, and thus repay your great + kindness to me?’ + </p> + <p> + Then Ferko recognised the mouse whose front paws he had healed, and + replied, ‘Alas I how can you help me in a matter that is beyond any human + power! Before to-morrow night all the grain in the kingdom has to be + gathered into one big heap, and if as much as a stalk of corn is wanting I + must pay for it with my life.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Is that all?’ answered the mouse; ‘that needn’t distress you much. Just + trust in me, and before the sun sets again you shall hear that your task + is done.’ And with these words the little creature scampered away into the + fields. + </p> + <p> + Ferko, who never doubted that the mouse would be as good as its word, lay + down comforted on the soft grass and slept soundly till next morning. The + day passed slowly, and with the evening came the little mouse and said, + ‘Now there is not a single stalk of corn left in any field; they are all + collected in one big heap on the hill out there.’ + </p> + <p> + Then Ferko went joyfully to the King and told him that all he demanded had + been done. And the whole Court went out to see the wonder, and were no + less astonished than they had been the first time. For in a heap higher + than the King’s palace lay all the grain of the country, and not a single + stalk of corn had been left behind in any of the fields. And how had all + this been done? The little mouse had summoned every other mouse in the + land to its help, and together they had collected all the grain in the + kingdom. + </p> + <p> + The King could not hide his amazement, but at the same time his wrath + increased, and he was more ready than ever to believe the two brothers, + who kept on repeating that Ferko was nothing more nor less than a wicked + magician. Only the beautiful Princess rejoiced over Ferko’s success, and + looked on him with friendly glances, which the youth returned. + </p> + <p> + The more the cruel King gazed on the wonder before him, the more angry he + became, for he could not, in the face of his promise, put the stranger to + death. He turned once more to the two brothers and said, ‘His diabolical + magic has helped him again, but now what third task shall we set him to + do? No matter how impossible it is, he must do it or die.’ + </p> + <p> + The eldest answered quickly, ‘Let him drive all the wolves of the kingdom + on to this hill before to-morrow night. If he does this he may go free; if + not he shall be hung as you have said.’ + </p> + <p> + At these words the Princess burst into tears, and when the King saw this + he ordered her to be shut up in a high tower and carefully guarded till + the dangerous magician should either have left the kingdom or been hung on + the nearest tree. + </p> + <p> + Ferko wandered out into the fields again, and sat down on the stump of a + tree wondering what he should do next. Suddenly a big wolf ran up to him, + and standing still said, ‘I’m very glad to see you again, my kind + benefactor. What are you thinking about all alone by yourself? If I can + help you in any way only say the word, for I would like to give you a + proof of my gratitude.’ + </p> + <p> + Ferko at once recognised the wolf whose broken leg he had healed, and told + him what he had to do the following day if he wished to escape with his + life. ‘But how in the world,’ he added, ‘am I to collect all the wolves of + the kingdom on to that hill over there?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘If that’s all you want done,’ answered the wolf, ‘you needn’t worry + yourself. I’ll undertake the task, and you’ll hear from me again before + sunset to-morrow. Keep your spirits up.’ And with these words he trotted + quickly away. + </p> + <p> + Then the youth rejoiced greatly, for now he felt that his life was safe; + but he grew very sad when he thought of the beautiful Princess, and that + he would never see her again if he left the country. He lay down once more + on the grass and soon fell fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + All the next day he spent wandering about the fields, and toward evening + the wolf came running to him in a great hurry and said, ‘I have collected + together all the wolves in the kingdom, and they are waiting for you in + the wood. Go quickly to the King, and tell him to go to the hill that he + may see the wonder you have done with his own eyes. Then return at once to + me and get on my back, and I will help you to drive all the wolves + together.’ + </p> + <p> + Then Ferko went straight to the palace and told the King that he was ready + to perform the third task if he would come to the hill and see it done. + Ferko himself returned to the fields, and mounting on the wolf’s back he + rode to the wood close by. + </p> + <p> + Quick as lightning the wolf flew round the wood, and in a minute many + hundred wolves rose up before him, increasing in number every moment, till + they could be counted by thousands. He drove them all before him on to the + hill, where the King and his whole Court and Ferko’s two brothers were + standing. Only the lovely Princess was not present, for she was shut up in + her tower weeping bitterly. + </p> + <p> + The wicked brothers stamped and foamed with rage when they saw the failure + of their wicked designs. But the King was overcome by a sudden terror when + he saw the enormous pack of wolves approaching nearer and nearer, and + calling out to Ferko he said, ‘Enough, enough, we don’t want any more.’ + </p> + <p> + But the wolf on whose back Ferko sat, said to its rider, ‘Go on! go on!’ + and at the same moment many more wolves ran up the hill, howling horribly + and showing their white teeth. + </p> + <p> + The King in his terror called out, ‘Stop a moment; I will give you half my + kingdom if you will drive all the wolves away.’ But Ferko pretended not to + hear, and drove some more thousands before him, so that everyone quaked + with horror and fear. + </p> + <p> + Then the King raised his voice again and called out, ‘Stop! you shall have + my whole kingdom, if you will only drive these wolves back to the places + they came from.’ + </p> + <p> + But the wolf kept on encouraging Ferko, and said, ‘Go on! go on!’ So he + led the wolves on, till at last they fell on the King and on the wicked + brothers, and ate them and the whole Court up in a moment. + </p> + <p> + Then Ferko went straight to the palace and set the Princess free, and on + the same day he married her and was crowned King of the country. And the + wolves all went peacefully back to their own homes, and Ferko and his + bride lived for many years in peace and happiness together, and were much + beloved by great and small in the land. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + THE GIANTS AND THE HERD-BOY(12) +</pre> + <p> + (12) From the Bukowniaer. Von Wliolocki. + </p> + <p> + There was once upon a time a poor boy who had neither father nor mother. + In order to gain a living he looked after the sheep of a great Lord. Day + and night he spent out in the open fields, and only when it was very wet + and stormy did he take refuge in a little hut on the edge of a big forest. + Now one night, when he was sitting on the grass beside his flocks, he + heard not very far from him the sound as of some one crying. He rose up + and followed the direction of the noise. To his dismay and astonishment he + found a Giant lying at the entrance of the wood; he was about to run off + as fast as his legs could carry him, when the Giant called out: ‘Don’t be + afraid, I won’t harm you. On the contrary, I will reward you handsomely if + you will bind up my foot. I hurt it when I was trying to root up an + oak-tree.’ The Herd-boy took off his shirt, and bound up the Giant’s + wounded foot with it. Then the Giant rose up and said, ‘Now come and I + will reward you. We are going to celebrate a marriage to-day, and I + promise you we shall have plenty of fun. Come and enjoy yourself, but in + order that my brothers mayn’t see you, put this band round your waist and + then you’ll be invisible.’ With these words he handed the Herd-boy a belt, + and walking on in front he led him to a fountain where hundreds of Giants + and Giantesses were assembled preparing to hold a wedding. They danced and + played different games till midnight; then one of the Giants tore up a + plant by its roots, and all the Giants and Giantesses made themselves so + thin that they disappeared into the earth through the hole made by the + uprooting of the plant. The wounded Giant remained behind to the last and + called out, ‘Herd-boy, where are you?’ ‘Here I am, close to you,’ was the + reply. ‘Touch me,’ said the Giant, ‘so that you too may come with us under + ground.’ The Herd-boy did as he was told, and before he could have + believed it possible he found himself in a big hall, where even the walls + were made of pure gold. Then to his astonishment he saw that the hall was + furnished with the tables and chairs that belonged to his master. In a few + minutes the company began to eat and drink. + </p> + <p> + The banquet was a very gorgeous one, and the poor youth fell to and ate + and drank lustily. When he had eaten and drunk as much as he could he + thought to himself, ‘Why shouldn’t I put a loaf of bread in my pocket? I + shall be glad of it to-morrow.’ So he seized a loaf when no one was + looking and stowed it away under his tunic. No sooner had he done so than + the wounded Giant limped up to him and whispered softly, ‘Herd-boy, where + are you?’ ‘Here I am,’ replied the youth. ‘Then hold on to me,’ said the + Giant, ‘so that I may lead you up above again.’ So the Herd-boy held on to + the Giant, and in a few moments he found himself on the earth once more, + but the Giant had vanished. The Herd-boy returned to his sheep, and took + off the invisible belt which he hid carefully in his bag. + </p> + <p> + The next morning the lad felt hungry, and thought he would cut off a piece + of the loaf he had carried away from the Giants’ wedding feast, and eat + it. But although he tried with all his might, he couldn’t cut off the + smallest piece. Then in despair he bit the loaf, and what was his + astonishment when a piece of gold fell out of his mouth and rolled at his + feet. He bit the bread a second and third time, and each time a piece of + gold fell out of his mouth; but the bread remained untouched. The Herd-boy + was very much delighted over his stroke of good fortune, and, hiding the + magic loaf in his bag, he hurried off to the nearest village to buy + himself something to eat, and then returned to his sheep. + </p> + <p> + Now the Lord whose sheep the Herd-boy looked after had a very lovely + daughter, who always smiled and nodded to the youth when she walked with + her father in his fields. For a long time the Herd-boy had made up his + mind to prepare a surprise for this beautiful creature on her birthday. So + when the day approached he put on his invisible belt, took a sack of gold + pieces with him, and slipping into her room in the middle of the night, he + placed the bag of gold beside her bed and returned to his sheep. The + girl’s joy was great, and so was her parents’ next day when they found the + sack full of gold pieces. The Herd-boy was so pleased to think what + pleasure he had given that the next night he placed another bag of gold + beside the girl’s bed. And this he continued to do for seven nights, and + the girl and her parents made up their minds that it must be a good Fairy + who brought the gold every night. But one night they determined to watch, + and see from their hiding place who the bringer of the sack of gold really + was. + </p> + <p> + On the eighth night a fearful storm of wind and rain came on while the + Herd-boy was on his way to bring the beautiful girl another bag of gold. + Then for the first time he noticed, just as he reached his master’s house, + that he had forgotten the belt which made him invisible. He didn’t like + the idea of going back to his hut in the wind and wet, so he just stepped + as he was into the girl’s room, laid the sack of gold beside her, and was + turning to leave the room, when his master confronted him and said, ‘You + young rogue, so you were going to steal the gold that a good Fairy brings + every night, were you?’ The Herd-boy was so taken aback by his words, that + he stood trembling before him, and did not dare to explain his presence. + Then his master spoke. ‘As you have hitherto always behaved well in my + service I will not send you to prison; but leave your place instantly and + never let me see your face again.’ So the Herd-boy went back to his hut, + and taking his loaf and belt with him, he went to the nearest town. There + he bought himself some fine clothes, and a beautiful coach with four + horses, hired two servants, and drove back to his master. You may imagine + how astonished he was to see his Herd-boy returning to him in this manner! + Then the youth told him of the piece of good luck that had befallen him, + and asked him for the hand of his beautiful daughter. This was readily + granted, and the two lived in peace and happiness to the end of their + lives. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + THE INVISIBLE PRINCE +</pre> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived a Fairy who had power over the earth, the + sea, fire, and the air; and this Fairy had four sons. The eldest, who was + quick and lively, with a vivid imagination, she made Lord of Fire, which + was in her opinion the noblest of all the elements. To the second son, + whose wisdom and prudence made amends for his being rather dull, she gave + the government of the earth. The third was wild and savage, and of + monstrous stature; and the Fairy, his mother, who was ashamed of his + defects, hoped to hide them by creating him King of the Seas. The + youngest, who was the slave of his passions and of a very uncertain + temper, became Prince of the Air. + </p> + <p> + Being the youngest, he was naturally his mother’s favourite; but this did + not blind her to his weaknesses, and she foresaw that some day he would + suffer much pain through falling in love. So she thought the best thing + she could do was to bring him up with a horror of women; and, to her great + delight, she saw this dislike only increased as he grew older. From his + earliest childhood he heard nothing but stories of princes who had fallen + into all sorts of troubles through love; and she drew such terrible + pictures of poor little Cupid that the young man had no difficulty in + believing that he was the root of all evil. + </p> + <p> + All the time that this wise mother could spare from filling her son with + hatred for all womenkind she passed in giving him a love of the pleasures + of the chase, which henceforth became his chief joy. For his amusement she + had made a new forest, planted with the most splendid trees, and turned + loose in it every animal that could be found in any of the four quarters + of the globe. In the midst of this forest she built a palace which had not + its equal for beauty in the whole world, and then she considered that she + had done enough to make any prince happy. + </p> + <p> + Now it is all very well to abuse the God of Love, but a man cannot + struggle against his fate. In his secret heart the Prince got tired of his + mother’s constant talk on this subject; and when one day she quitted the + palace to attend to some business, begging him never to go beyond the + grounds, he at once jumped at the chance of disobeying her. + </p> + <p> + Left to himself the Prince soon forgot the wise counsels of his mother, + and feeling very much bored with his own company, he ordered some of the + spirits of the air to carry him to the court of a neighbouring sovereign. + This kingdom was situated in the Island of Roses, where the climate is so + delicious that the grass is always green and the flowers always sweet. The + waves, instead of beating on the rocks, seemed to die gently on the shore; + clusters of golden bushes covered the land, and the vines were bent low + with grapes. + </p> + <p> + The King of this island had a daughter named Rosalie, who was more lovely + than any girl in the whole world. No sooner had the eyes of the Prince of + the Air rested on her than he forgot all the terrible woes which had been + prophesied to him ever since he was born, for in one single moment the + plans of years are often upset. He instantly began to think how best to + make himself happy, and the shortest way that occurred to him was to have + Rosalie carried off by his attendant spirits. + </p> + <p> + It is easy to imagine the feelings of the King when he found that his + daughter had vanished. He wept her loss night and day, and his only + comfort was to talk over it with a young and unknown prince, who had just + arrived at the Court. Alas! he did not know what a deep interest the + stranger had in Rosalie, for he too had seen her, and had fallen a victim + to her charms. + </p> + <p> + One day the King, more sorrowful than usual, was walking sadly along the + sea-shore, when after a long silence the unknown Prince, who was his only + companion, suddenly spoke. ‘There is no evil without a remedy,’ he said to + the unhappy father; ‘and if you will promise me your daughter in marriage, + I will undertake to bring her back to you.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You are trying to soothe me by vain promises,’ answered the King. ‘Did I + not see her caught up into the air, in spite of cries which would have + softened the heart of any one but the barbarian who has robbed me of her? + The unfortunate girl is pining away in some unknown land, where perhaps no + foot of man has ever trod, and I shall see her no more. But go, generous + stranger; bring back Rosalie if you can, and live happy with her ever + after in this country, of which I now declare you heir.’ + </p> + <p> + Although the stranger’s name and rank were unknown to Rosalie’s father, he + was really the son of the King of the Golden Isle, which had for capital a + city that extended from one sea to another. The walls, washed by the quiet + waters, were covered with gold, which made one think of the yellow sands. + Above them was a rampart of orange and lemon trees, and all the streets + were paved with gold. + </p> + <p> + The King of this beautiful island had one son, for whom a life of + adventure had been foretold at his birth. This so frightened his father + and mother that in order to comfort them a Fairy, who happened to be + present at the time, produced a little pebble which she told them to keep + for the Prince till he grew up, as by putting it in his mouth he would + become invisible, as long as he did not try to speak, for if he did the + stone would lose all its virtue. In this way the good fairy hoped that the + Prince would be protected against all dangers. + </p> + <p> + No sooner did the Prince begin to grow out of boyhood than he longed to + see if the other countries of the world were as splendid as the one in + which he lived. So, under pretence of visiting some small islands that + belonged to his father, he set out. But a frightful storm drove his ship + on to unknown shores, where most of his followers were put to death by the + savages, and the Prince himself only managed to escape by making use of + his magic pebble. By this means he passed through the midst of them + unseen, and wandered on till he reached the coast, where he re-embarked on + board his ship. + </p> + <p> + The first land he sighted was the Island of Roses, and he went at once to + the court of the King, Rosalie’s father. The moment his eyes beheld the + Princess, he fell in love with her like everyone else. + </p> + <p> + He had already spent several months in this condition when the Prince of + the Air whirled her away, to the grief and despair of every man on the + island. But sad though everybody was, the Prince of the Golden Isle was + perfectly inconsolable, and he passed both days and nights in bemoaning + his loss. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas!’ he cried; ‘shall I never see my lovely Princess again?’ Who knows + where she may be, and what fairy may have her in his keeping? I am only a + man, but I am strong in my love, and I will seek the whole world through + till I find her.’ + </p> + <p> + So saying, he left the court, and made ready for his journey. + </p> + <p> + He travelled many weary days without hearing a single word of the lost + Princess, till one morning, as he was walking through a thick forest, he + suddenly perceived a magnificent palace standing at the end of a pine + avenue, and his heart bounded to think that he might be gazing on + Rosalie’s prison. He hastened his steps, and quickly arrived at the gate + of the palace, which was formed of a single agate. The gate swung open to + let him through, and he next passed successively three courts, surrounded + by deep ditches filled with running water, with birds of brilliant plumage + flying about the banks. Everything around was rare and beautiful, but the + Prince scarcely raised his eyes to all these wonders. He thought only of + the Princess and where he should find her, but in vain he opened every + door and searched in every corner; he neither saw Rosalie nor anyone else. + At last there was no place left for him to search but a little wood, which + contained in the centre a sort of hall built entirely of orange-trees, + with four small rooms opening out of the corners. Three of these were + empty except for statues and wonderful things, but in the fourth the + Invisible Prince caught sight of Rosalie. His joy at beholding her again + was, however, somewhat lessened by seeing that the Prince of the Air was + kneeling at her feet, and pleading his own cause. But it was in vain that + he implored her to listen; she only shook her head. ‘No,’ was all she + would say; ‘you snatched me from my father whom I loved, and all the + splendour in the world can never console me. Go! I can never feel anything + towards you but hate and contempt.’ With these words she turned away and + entered her own apartments. + </p> + <p> + Unknown to herself the Invisible Prince had followed her, but fearing to + be discovered by the Princess in the presence of others, he made up his + mind to wait quietly till dark; and employed the long hours in writing a + poem to the Princess, which he laid on the bed beside her. This done, he + thought of nothing but how best to deliver Rosalie, and he resolved to + take advantage of a visit which the Prince of the Air paid every year to + his mother and brothers in order to strike the blow. + </p> + <p> + One day Rosalie was sitting alone in her room thinking of her troubles + when she suddenly saw a pen get up from off the desk and begin to write + all by itself on a sheet of white paper. As she did not know that it was + guided by an invisible hand she was very much astonished, and the moment + that the pen had ceased to move she instantly went over to the table, + where she found some lovely verses, telling her that another shared her + distresses, whatever they might be, and loved her with all his heart; and + that he would never rest until he had delivered her from the hands of the + man she hated. Thus encouraged, she told him all her story, and of the + arrival of a young stranger in her father’s palace, whose looks had so + charmed her that since that day she had thought of no one else. At these + words the Prince could contain himself no longer. He took the pebble from + his mouth, and flung himself at Rosalie’s feet. + </p> + <p> + When they had got over the first rapture of meeting they began to make + plans to escape from the power of the Prince of the Air. But this did not + prove easy, for the magic stone would only serve for one person at a time, + and in order to save Rosalie the Prince of the Golden Isle would have to + expose himself to the fury of his enemy. But Rosalie would not hear of + this. + </p> + <p> + ‘No, Prince,’ she said; ‘since you are here this island no longer feels a + prison. Besides, you are under the protection of a Fairy, who always + visits your father’s court at this season. Go instantly and seek her, and + when she is found implore the gift of another stone with similar powers. + Once you have that, there will be no further difficulty in the way of + escape.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince of the Air returned a few days later from his mother’s palace, + but the Invisible Prince had already set out. He had, however, entirely + forgotten the road by which he had come, and lost himself for so long in + the forest, that when at last he reached home the Fairy had already left, + and, in spite of all his grief, there was nothing for it but to wait till + the Fairy’s next visit, and allow Rosalie to suffer three months longer. + This thought drove him to despair, and he had almost made up his mind to + return to the place of her captivity, when one day, as he was strolling + along an alley in the woods, he saw a huge oak open its trunk, and out of + it step two Princes in earnest conversation. As our hero had the magic + stone in his mouth they imagined themselves alone, and did not lower their + voices. + </p> + <p> + ‘What!’ said one, ‘are you always going to allow yourself to be tormented + by a passion which can never end happily, and in your whole kingdom can + you find nothing else to satisfy you?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What is the use,’ replied the other, ‘of being Prince of the Gnomes, and + having a mother who is queen over all the four elements, if I cannot win + the love of the Princess Argentine? From the moment that I first saw her, + sitting in the forest surrounded by flowers, I have never ceased to think + of her night and day, and, although I love her, I am quite convinced that + she will never care for me. You know that I have in my palace the cabinets + of the years. In the first, great mirrors reflect the past; in the second, + we contemplate the present; in the third, the future can be read. It was + here that I fled after I had gazed on the Princess Argentine, but instead + of love I only saw scorn and contempt. Think how great must be my + devotion, when, in spite of my fate, I still love on!’ + </p> + <p> + Now the Prince of the Golden Isle was enchanted with this conversation, + for the Princess Argentine was his sister, and he hoped, by means of her + influence over the Prince of the Gnomes, to obtain from his brother the + release of Rosalie. So he joyfully returned to his father’s palace, where + he found his friend the Fairy, who at once presented him with a magic + pebble like his own. As may be imagined, he lost no time in setting out to + deliver Rosalie, and travelled so fast that he soon arrived at the forest, + in the midst of which she lay a captive. But though he found the palace he + did not find Rosalie. He hunted high and low, but there was no sign of + her, and his despair was so great that he was ready, a thousand times + over, to take his own life. At last he remembered the conversation of the + two Princes about the cabinets of the years, and that if he could manage + to reach the oak tree, he would be certain to discover what had become of + Rosalie. Happily, he soon found out the secret of the passage and entered + the cabinet of the present, where he saw reflected in the mirrors the + unfortunate Rosalie sitting on the floor weeping bitterly, and surrounded + with genii, who never left her night or day. + </p> + <p> + This sight only increased the misery of the Prince, for he did not know + where the castle was, nor how to set about finding it. However, he + resolved to seek the whole world through till he came to the right place. + He began by setting sail in a favourable wind, but his bad luck followed + him even on the sea. He had scarcely lost sight of the land when a violent + storm arose, and after several hours of beating about, the vessel was + driven on to some rocks, on which it dashed itself to bits. The Prince was + fortunate enough to be able to lay hold of a floating spar, and contrived + to keep himself afloat; and, after a long struggle with the winds and + waves, he was cast upon a strange island. But what was his surprise, on + reaching the shore, to hear sounds of the most heartrending distress, + mingled with the sweetest songs which had ever charmed him! His curiosity + was instantly roused, and he advanced cautiously till he saw two huge + dragons guarding the gate of a wood. They were terrible indeed to look + upon. Their bodies were covered with glittering scales; their curly tails + extended far over the land; flames darted from their mouths and noses, and + their eyes would have made the bravest shudder; but as the Prince was + invisible and they did not see him, he slipped past them into the wood. He + found himself at once in a labyrinth, and wandered about for a long time + without meeting anyone; in fact, the only sight he saw was a circle of + human hands, sticking out of the ground above the wrist, each with a + bracelet of gold, on which a name was written. The farther he advanced in + the labyrinth the more curious he became, till he was stopped by two + corpses lying in the midst of a cypress alley, each with a scarlet cord + round his neck and a bracelet on his arm on which were engraved their own + names, and those of two Princesses. + </p> + <p> + The invisible Prince recognised these dead men as Kings of two large + islands near his own home, but the names of the Princesses were unknown to + him. He grieved for their unhappy fate, and at once proceeded to bury + them; but no sooner had he laid them in their graves, than their hands + started up through the earth and remained sticking up like those of their + fellows. + </p> + <p> + The Prince went on his way, thinking about this strange adventure, when + suddenly at the turn of the walk he perceived a tall man whose face was + the picture of misery, holding in his hands a silken cord of the exact + colour of those round the necks of the dead men. A few steps further this + man came up with another as miserable to the full as he himself; they + silently embraced, and then without a word passed the cords round their + throats, and fell dead side by side. In vain the Prince rushed to their + assistance and strove to undo the cord. He could not loosen it; so he + buried them like the others and continued his path. + </p> + <p> + He felt, however, that great prudence was necessary, or he himself might + become the victim of some enchantment; and he was thankful to slip past + the dragons, and enter a beautiful park, with clear streams and sweet + flowers, and a crowd of men and maidens. But he could not forget the + terrible things he had seen, and hoped eagerly for a clue to the mystery. + Noticing two young people talking together, he drew near thinking that he + might get some explanation of what puzzled him. And so he did. + </p> + <p> + ‘You swear,’ said the Prince, ‘that you will love me till you die, but I + fear your faithless heart, and I feel that I shall soon have to seek the + Fairy Despair, ruler of half this island. She carries off the lovers who + have been cast away by their mistresses, and wish to have done with life. + She places them in a labyrinth where they are condemned to walk for ever, + with a bracelet on their arms and a cord round their necks, unless they + meet another as miserable as themselves. Then the cord is pulled and they + lie where they fall, till they are buried by the first passer by. Terrible + as this death would be,’ added the Prince, ‘it would be sweeter than life + if I had lost your love.’ + </p> + <p> + The sight of all these happy lovers only made the Prince grieve the more, + and he wandered along the seashore spending his days; but one day he was + sitting on a rock bewailing his fate, and the impossibility of leaving the + island, when all in a moment the sea appeared to raise itself nearly to + the skies, and the caves echoed with hideous screams. As he looked a woman + rose from the depths of the sea, flying madly before a furious giant. The + cries she uttered softened the heart of the Prince; he took the stone from + his mouth, and drawing his sword he rushed after the giant, so as to give + the lady time to escape. But hardly had he come within reach of the enemy, + than the giant touched him with a ring that he held in his hand, and the + Prince remained immovable where he stood. The giant then hastily rejoined + his prey, and, seizing her in his arms, he plunged her into the sea. Then + he sent some tritons to bind chains about the Prince of the Golden Isle, + and he too felt himself borne to the depths of the ocean, and without the + hope of ever again seeing the Princess. + </p> + <p> + Now the giant whom the invisible had so rashly attacked was the Lord of + the Sea, and the third son of the Queen of the Elements, and he had + touched the youth with a magic ring which enabled a mortal to live under + water. So the Prince of the Golden Isle found, when bound in chains by the + tritons, he was carried through the homes of strange monsters and past + immense seaweed forests, till he reached a vast sandy space, surrounded by + huge rocks. On the tallest of the rocks sat the giant as on a throne. + </p> + <p> + ‘Rash mortal,’ said he, when the Prince was dragged before him, ‘you have + deserved death, but you shall live only to suffer more cruelly. Go, and + add to the number of those whom it is my pleasure to torture.’ + </p> + <p> + At these words the unhappy Prince found himself tied to a rock; but he was + not alone in his misfortunes, for all round him were chained Princes and + Princesses, whom the giant had led captive. Indeed, it was his chief + delight to create a storm, in order to add to the list of his prisoners. + </p> + <p> + As his hands were fastened, it was impossible for the Prince of the Golden + Isle to make use of his magic stone, and he passed his nights and days + dreaming of Rosalie. But at last the time came when the giant took it into + his head to amuse himself by arranging fights between some of his + captives. Lots were drawn, and one fell upon our Prince, whose chains were + immediately loosened. The moment he was set free, he snatched up his + stone, and became invisible. + </p> + <p> + The astonishment of the giant at the sudden disappearance of the Prince + may well be imagined. He ordered all the passages to be watched, but it + was too late, for the Prince had already glided between two rocks. He + wandered for a long while through the forests, where he met nothing but + fearful monsters; he climbed rock after rock, steered his way from tree to + tree, till at length he arrived at the edge of the sea, at the foot of a + mountain that he remembered to have seen in the cabinet of the present, + where Rosalie was held captive. + </p> + <p> + Filled with joy, he made his way to the top of the mountain which pierced + the clouds, and there he found a palace. He entered, and in the middle of + a long gallery he discovered a crystal room, in the midst of which sat + Rosalie, guarded night and day by genii. There was no door anywhere, nor + any window. At this sight the Prince became more puzzled than ever, for he + did not know how he was to warn Rosalie of his return. Yet it broke his + heart to see her weeping from dawn till dark. + </p> + <p> + One day, as Rosalie was walking up and down her room, she was surprised to + see that the crystal which served for a wall had grown cloudy, as if some + one had breathed on it, and, what was more, wherever she moved the + brightness of the crystal always became clouded. This was enough to cause + the Princess to suspect that her lover had returned. In order to set the + Prince of the Air’s mind at rest she began by being very gracious to him, + so that when she begged that her captivity might be a little lightened she + should not be refused. At first the only favour she asked was to be + allowed to walk for one hour every day up and down the long gallery. This + was granted, and the Invisible Prince speedily took the opportunity of + handing her the stone, which she at once slipped into her mouth. No words + can paint the fury of her captor at her disappearance. He ordered the + spirits of the air to fly through all space, and to bring back Rosalie + wherever she might be. They instantly flew off to obey his commands, and + spread themselves over the whole earth. + </p> + <p> + Meantime Rosalie and the Invisible Prince had reached, hand in hand, a + door of the gallery which led through a terrace into the gardens. In + silence they glided along, and thought themselves already safe, when a + furious monster dashed itself by accident against Rosalie and the + Invisible Prince, and in her fright she let go his hand. No one can speak + as long as he is invisible, and besides, they knew that the spirits were + all around them, and at the slightest sound they would be recognised; so + all they could do was to feel about in the hope that their hands might + once more meet. + </p> + <p> + But, alas! the joy of liberty lasted but a short time. The Princess, + having wandered in vain up and down the forest, stopped at last on the + edge of a fountain. As she walked she wrote on the trees: ‘If ever the + Prince, my lover, comes this way, let him know that it is here I dwell, + and that I sit daily on the edge of this fountain, mingling my tears with + its waters.’ + </p> + <p> + These words were read by one of the genii, who repeated them to his + master. The Prince of the Air, in his turn making himself invisible, was + led to the fountain, and waited for Rosalie. When she drew near he held + out his hand, which she grasped eagerly, taking it for that of her lover; + and, seizing his opportunity, the Prince passed a cord round her arms, and + throwing off his invisibility cried to his spirits to drag her into the + lowest pit. + </p> + <p> + It was at this moment that the Invisible Prince appeared, and at the sight + of the Prince of the Genii mounting into the air, holding a silken cord, + he guessed instantly that he was carrying off Rosalie. + </p> + <p> + He felt so overwhelmed by despair that he thought for an instant of + putting an end to his life. ‘Can I survive my misfortunes?’ he cried. ‘I + fancied I had come to an end of my troubles, and now they are worse than + ever. What will become of me? Never can I discover the place where this + monster will hide Rosalie.’ + </p> + <p> + The unhappy youth had determined to let himself die, and indeed his sorrow + alone was enough to kill him, when the thought that by means of the + cabinets of the years he might find out where the Princess was imprisoned, + gave him a little ray of comfort. So he continued to walk on through the + forest, and after some hours he arrived at the gate of a temple, guarded + by two huge lions. Being invisible, he was able to enter unharmed. In the + middle of the temple was an altar, on which lay a book, and behind the + altar hung a great curtain. The Prince approached the altar and opened the + book, which contained the names of all the lovers in the world: and in it + he read that Rosalie had been carried off by the Prince of the Air to an + abyss which had no entrance except the one that lay by way of the Fountain + of Gold. + </p> + <p> + Now, as the Prince had not the smallest idea where this fountain was to be + found, it might be thought that he was not much nearer Rosalie than + before. This was not, however, the view taken by the Prince. + </p> + <p> + ‘Though every step that I take may perhaps lead me further from her,’ he + said to himself, ‘I am still thankful to know that she is alive + somewhere.’ + </p> + <p> + On leaving the temple the Invisible Prince saw six paths lying before him, + each of which led through the wood. He was hesitating which to choose, + when he suddenly beheld two people coming towards him, down the track + which lay most to his right. They turned out to be the Prince Gnome and + his friend, and the sudden desire to get some news of his sister, Princess + Argentine, caused the Invisible Prince to follow them and to listen to + their conversation. + </p> + <p> + ‘Do you think,’ the Prince Gnome was saying, ‘do you think that I would + not break my chains if I could? I know that the Princess Argentine will + never love me, yet each day I feel her dearer still. And as if this were + not enough, I have the horror of feeling that she probably loves another. + So I have resolved to put myself out of my pain by means of the Golden + Fountain. A single drop of its water falling on the sand around will trace + the name of my rival in her heart. I dread the test, and yet this very + dread convinces me of my misfortune.’ + </p> + <p> + It may be imagined that after listening to these words the Invisible + Prince followed Prince Gnome like his shadow, and after walking some time + they arrived at the Golden Fountain. The unhappy lover stooped down with a + sigh, and dipping his finger in the water let fall a drop on the sand. It + instantly wrote the name of Prince Flame, his brother. The shock of this + discovery was so real, that Prince Gnome sank fainting into the arms of + his friend. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the Invisible Prince was turning over in his mind how he could + best deliver Rosalie. As, since he had been touched by the Giant’s ring, + he had the power to live in the water as well as on land, he at once dived + into the fountain. He perceived in one corner a door leading into the + mountain, and at the foot of the mountain was a high rock on which was + fixed an iron ring with a cord attached. The Prince promptly guessed that + the cord was used to chain the Princess, and drew his sword and cut it. In + a moment he felt the Princess’s hand in his, for she had always kept her + magic pebble in her mouth, in spite of the prayers and entreaties of the + Prince of the Air to make herself visible. + </p> + <p> + So hand in hand the invisible Prince and Rosalie crossed the mountain; but + as the Princess had no power of living under water, she could not pass the + Golden Fountain. Speechless and invisible they clung together on the + brink, trembling at the frightful tempest the Prince of the Air had raised + in his fury. The storm had already lasted many days when tremendous heat + began to make itself felt. The lightning flashed, the thunder rattled, + fire bolts fell from heaven, burning up the forests and even the fields of + corn. In one instant the very streams were dried up, and the Prince, + seizing his opportunity, carried the Princess over the Golden Fountain. + </p> + <p> + It took them a long time still to reach the Golden Isle, but at last they + got there, and we may be quite sure they never wanted to leave it any + more. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + THE CROW(13) +</pre> + <p> + (13) From the Polish. Kletke. + </p> + <p> + Once upon a time there were three Princesses who were all three young and + beautiful; but the youngest, although she was not fairer than the other + two, was the most loveable of them all. + </p> + <p> + About half a mile from the palace in which they lived there stood a + castle, which was uninhabited and almost a ruin, but the garden which + surrounded it was a mass of blooming flowers, and in this garden the + youngest Princess used often to walk. + </p> + <p> + One day when she was pacing to and fro under the lime trees, a black crow + hopped out of a rose-bush in front of her. The poor beast was all torn and + bleeding, and the kind little Princess was quite unhappy about it. When + the crow saw this it turned to her and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘I am not really a black crow, but an enchanted Prince, who has been + doomed to spend his youth in misery. If you only liked, Princess, you + could save me. But you would have to say good-bye to all your own people + and come and be my constant companion in this ruined castle. There is one + habitable room in it, in which there is a golden bed; there you will have + to live all by yourself, and don’t forget that whatever you may see or + hear in the night you must not scream out, for if you give as much as a + single cry my sufferings will be doubled.’ + </p> + <p> + The good-natured Princess at once left her home and her family and hurried + to the ruined castle, and took possession of the room with the golden bed. + </p> + <p> + When night approached she lay down, but though she shut her eyes tight + sleep would not come. At midnight she heard to her great horror some one + coming along the passage, and in a minute her door was flung wide open and + a troop of strange beings entered the room. They at once proceeded to + light a fire in the huge fireplace; then they placed a great cauldron of + boiling water on it. When they had done this, they approached the bed on + which the trembling girl lay, and, screaming and yelling all the time, + they dragged her towards the cauldron. She nearly died with fright, but + she never uttered a sound. Then of a sudden the cock crew, and all the + evil spirits vanished. + </p> + <p> + At the same moment the crow appeared and hopped all round the room with + joy. It thanked the Princess most heartily for her goodness, and said that + its sufferings had already been greatly lessened. + </p> + <p> + Now one of the Princess’s elder sisters, who was very inquisitive, had + found out about everything, and went to pay her youngest sister a visit in + the ruined castle. She implored her so urgently to let her spend the night + with her in the golden bed, that at last the good-natured little Princess + consented. But at midnight, when the odd folk appeared, the elder sister + screamed with terror, and from this time on the youngest Princess insisted + always on keeping watch alone. + </p> + <p> + So she lived in solitude all the daytime, and at night she would have been + frightened, had she not been so brave; but every day the crow came and + thanked her for her endurance, and assured her that his sufferings were + far less than they had been. + </p> + <p> + And so two years passed away, when one day the crow came to the Princess + and said: ‘In another year I shall be freed from the spell I am under at + present, because then the seven years will be over. But before I can + resume my natural form, and take possession of the belongings of my + forefathers, you must go out into the world and take service as a + maidservant.’ + </p> + <p> + The young Princess consented at once, and for a whole year she served as a + maid; but in spite of her youth and beauty she was very badly treated, and + suffered many things. One evening, when she was spinning flax, and had + worked her little white hands weary, she heard a rustling beside her and a + cry of joy. Then she saw a handsome youth standing beside her; who knelt + down at her feet and kissed the little weary white hands. + </p> + <p> + ‘I am the Prince,’ he said, ‘who you in your goodness, when I was + wandering about in the shape of a black crow, freed from the most awful + torments. Come now to my castle with me, and let us live there happily + together.’ + </p> + <p> + So they went to the castle where they had both endured so much. But when + they reached it, it was difficult to believe that it was the same, for it + had all been rebuilt and done up again. And there they lived for a hundred + years, a hundred years of joy and happiness. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + HOW SIX MEN TRAVELLED THROUGH THE WIDE WORLD + </h2> + <p> + There was once upon a time a man who understood all sorts of arts; he + served in the war, and bore himself bravely and well; but when the war was + over, he got his discharge, and set out on his travels with three + farthings of his pay in his pocket. ‘Wait,’ he said; ‘that does not please + me; only let me find the right people, and the King shall yet give me all + the treasures of his kingdom.’ He strode angrily into the forest, and + there he saw a man standing who had uprooted six trees as if they were + straws. He said to him, ‘Will you be my servant and travel with me?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ he answered; ‘but first of all I will take this little bundle of + sticks home to my mother,’ and he took one of the trees and wound it round + the other five, raised the bundle on his shoulders and bore it off. Then + he came back and went with his master, who said, ‘We two ought to be able + to travel through the wide world!’ And when they had gone a little way + they came upon a hunter, who was on his knees, his gun on his shoulder, + aiming at something. The master said to him, ‘Hunter, what are you aiming + at?’ + </p> + <p> + He answered, ‘Two miles from this place sits a fly on a branch of an oak; + I want to shoot out its left eye.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, go with me,’ said the man; ‘if we three are together we shall easily + travel through the wide world.’ + </p> + <p> + The hunter agreed and went with him, and they came to seven windmills + whose sails were going round quite fast, and yet there was not a breath of + wind, nor was a leaf moving. The man said, ‘I don’t know what is turning + those windmills; there is not the slightest breeze blowing.’ So he walked + on with his servants, and when they had gone two miles they saw a man + sitting on a tree, holding one of his nostrils and blowing out of the + other. + </p> + <p> + ‘Fellow, what are you puffing at up there?’ asked the man. + </p> + <p> + He replied, ‘Two miles from this place are standing seven windmills; see, + I am blowing to drive them round.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, go with me,’ said the man; ‘if we four are together we shall easily + travel through the wide world.’ + </p> + <p> + So the blower got down and went with him, and after a time they saw a man + who was standing on one leg, and had unstrapped the other and laid it near + him. Then said the master, ‘You have made yourself very comfortable to + rest!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I am a runner,’ answered he; ‘and so that I shall not go too quickly, I + have unstrapped one leg; when I run with two legs, I go faster than a bird + flies.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, go with me; if we five are together, we shall easily travel through + the wide world.’ So he went with him, and, not long afterwards, they met a + man who wore a little hat, but he had it slouched over one ear. + </p> + <p> + ‘Manners, manners!’ said the master to him; ‘don’t hang your hat over one + ear; you look like a madman!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I dare not,’ said the other, ‘for if I were to put my hat on straight, + there would come such a frost that the very birds in the sky would freeze + and fall dead on the earth.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, go with me,’ said the master; ‘if we six are together, we shall + easily travel through the wide world. + </p> + <p> + Now the Six came to a town in which the King had proclaimed that whoever + should run with his daughter in a race, and win, should become her + husband; but if he lost, he must lose his head. This was reported to the + man who declared he would compete, ‘but,’ he said, ‘I shall let my servant + run for me.’ + </p> + <p> + The King replied, ‘Then both your heads must be staked, and your head and + his must be guaranteed for the winner.’ + </p> + <p> + When this was agreed upon and settled, the man strapped on the runner’s + other leg, saying to him, ‘Now be nimble, and see that we win!’ It was + arranged that whoever should first bring water out of a stream a long way + off, should be the victor. Then the runner got a pitcher, and the King’s + daughter another, and they began to run at the same time; but in a moment, + when the King’s daughter was only just a little way off, no spectator + could see the runner, and it seemed as if the wind had whistled past. In a + short time he reached the stream, filled his pitcher with water, and + turned round again. But, half way home, a great drowsiness came over him; + he put down his pitcher, lay down, and fell asleep. He had, however, put a + horse’s skull which was lying on the ground, for his pillow, so that he + should not be too comfortable and might soon wake up. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the King’s daughter, who could also run well, as well as + an ordinary man could, reached the stream, and hastened back with her + pitcher full of water. When she saw the runner lying there asleep, she was + delighted, and said, ‘My enemy is given into my hands!’ She emptied his + pitcher and ran on. + </p> + <p> + Everything now would have been lost, if by good luck the hunter had not + been standing on the castle tower and had seen everything with his sharp + eyes. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah,’ said he, ‘the King’s daughter shall not overreach us;’ and, loading + his gun, he shot so cleverly, that he shot away the horse’s skull from + under the runner’s head, without its hurting him. Then the runner awoke, + jumped up, and saw that his pitcher was empty and the King’s daughter far + ahead. But he did not lose courage, and ran back to the stream with his + pitcher, filled it once more with water, and was home ten minutes before + the King’s daughter arrived. + </p> + <p> + ‘Look,’ said he, ‘I have only just exercised my legs; that was nothing of + a run.’ + </p> + <p> + But the King was angry, and his daughter even more so, that she should be + carried away by a common, discharged soldier. They consulted together how + they could destroy both him and his companions. + </p> + <p> + ‘Then,’ said the King to her, ‘I have found a way. Don’t be frightened; + they shall not come home again.’ He said to them, ‘You must now make merry + together, and eat and drink,’ and he led them into a room which had a + floor of iron; the doors were also of iron, and the windows were barred + with iron. In the room was a table spread with delicious food. The King + said to them, ‘Go in and enjoy yourselves,’ and as soon as they were + inside he had the doors shut and bolted. Then he made the cook come, and + ordered him to keep up a large fire under the room until the iron was + red-hot. The cook did so, and the Six sitting round the table felt it grow + very warm, and they thought this was because of their good fare; but when + the heat became still greater and they wanted to go out, but found the + doors and windows fastened, then they knew that the King meant them harm + and was trying to suffocate them. + </p> + <p> + ‘But he shall not succeed,’ cried he of the little hat, ‘I will make a + frost come which shall make the fire ashamed and die out!’ So he put his + hat on straight, and at once there came such a frost that all the heat + disappeared and the food on the dishes began to freeze. When a couple of + hours had passed, and the King thought they must be quite dead from the + heat, he had the doors opened and went in himself to see. + </p> + <p> + But when the doors were opened, there stood all Six, alive and well, + saying they were glad they could come out to warm themselves, for the + great cold in the room had frozen all the food hard in the dishes. Then + the King went angrily to the cook, and scolded him, and asked him why he + had not done what he was told. + </p> + <p> + But the cook answered, ‘There is heat enough there; see for yourself.’ + Then the King saw a huge fire burning under the iron room, and understood + that he could do no harm to the Six in this way. The King now began again + to think how he could free himself from his unwelcome guests. He commanded + the master to come before him, and said, ‘If you will take gold, and give + up your right to my daughter, you shall have as much as you like.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, yes, your Majesty,’ answered he, ‘give me as much as my servant can + carry, and I will give up your daughter.’ + </p> + <p> + The King was delighted, and the man said, ‘I will come and fetch it in + fourteen days.’ + </p> + <p> + Then he called all the tailors in the kingdom together, and made them sit + down for fourteen days sewing at a sack. When it was finished, he made the + strong man who had uprooted the trees take the sack on his shoulder and go + with him to the King. Then the King said, ‘What a powerful fellow that is, + carrying that bale of linen as large as a house on his shoulder!’ and he + was much frightened, and thought ‘What a lot of gold he will make away + with!’ Then he had a ton of gold brought, which sixteen of the strongest + men had to carry; but the strong man seized it with one hand, put it in + the sack, saying, ‘Why don’t you bring me more? That scarcely covers the + bottom!’ Then the King had to send again and again to fetch his treasures, + which the strong man shoved into the sack, and the sack was only half + full. + </p> + <p> + ‘Bring more,’ he cried, ‘these crumbs don’t fill it.’ So seven thousand + waggons of the gold of the whole kingdom were driven up; these the strong + man shoved into the sack, oxen and all. + </p> + <p> + ‘I will no longer be particular,’ he said, ‘and will take what comes, so + that the sack shall be full.’ + </p> + <p> + When everything was put in and there was not yet enough, he said, ‘I will + make an end of this; it is easy to fasten a sack when it is not full.’ + Then he threw it on his back and went with his companions. + </p> + <p> + Now, when the King saw how a single man was carrying away the wealth of + the whole country he was very angry, and made his cavalry mount and pursue + the Six, and bring back the strong man with the sack. Two regiments soon + overtook them, and called to them, ‘You are prisoners! lay down the sack + of gold or you shall be cut down.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What do you say?’ said the blower, ‘we are prisoners? Before that, you + shall dance in the air!’ And he held one nostril and blew with the other + at the two regiments; they were separated and blown away in the blue sky + over the mountains, one this way, and the other that. A sergeant-major + cried for mercy, saying he had nine wounds, and was a brave fellow, and + did not deserve this disgrace. So the blower let him off, and he came down + without hurt. Then he said to him, ‘Now go home to the King, and say that + if he sends any more cavalry I will blow them all into the air.’ + </p> + <p> + When the King received the message, he said, ‘Let the fellows go; they are + bewitched.’ Then the Six brought the treasure home, shared it among + themselves, and lived contentedly till the end of their days. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + THE WIZARD KING(14) +</pre> + <p> + (14) From Les fees illustres. + </p> + <p> + In very ancient times there lived a King, whose power lay not only in the + vast extent of his dominions, but also in the magic secrets of which he + was master. After spending the greater part of his early youth in + pleasure, he met a Princess of such remarkable beauty that he at once + asked her hand in marriage, and, having obtained it, considered himself + the happiest of men. + </p> + <p> + After a year’s time a son was born, worthy in every way of such + distinguished parents, and much admired by the whole Court. As soon as the + Queen thought him strong enough for a journey she set out with him + secretly to visit her Fairy godmother. I said secretly, because the Fairy + had warned the Queen that the King was a magician; and as from time + immemorial there had been a standing feud between the Fairies and the + Wizards, he might not have approved of his wife’s visit. + </p> + <p> + The Fairy godmother, who took the deepest interest in all the Queen’s + concerns, and who was much pleased with the little Prince, endowed him + with the power of pleasing everybody from his cradle, as well as with a + wonderful ease in learning everything which could help to make him a + perfectly accomplished Prince. Accordingly, to the delight of his + teachers, he made the most rapid progress in his education, constantly + surpassing everyone’s expectations. Before he was many years old, however, + he had the great sorrow of losing his mother, whose last words were to + advise him never to undertake anything of importance without consulting + the Fairy under whose protection she had placed him. + </p> + <p> + The Prince’s grief at the death of his mother was great, but it was + nothing compared to that of the King, his father, who was quite + inconsolable for the loss of his dear wife. Neither time nor reason seemed + to lighten his sorrow, and the sight of all the familiar faces and things + about him only served to remind him of his loss. He therefore resolved to + travel for change, and by means of his magic art was able to visit every + country he came to see under different shapes, returning every few weeks + to the place where he had left a few followers. + </p> + <p> + Having travelled from land to land in this fashion without finding + anything to rivet his attention, it occurred to him to take the form of an + eagle, and in this shape he flew across many countries and arrived at + length in a new and lovely spot, where the air seemed filled with the + scent of jessamine and orange flowers with which the ground was thickly + planted. Attracted by the sweet perfume he flew lower, and perceived some + large and beautiful gardens filled with the rarest flowers, and with + fountains throwing up their clear waters into the air in a hundred + different shapes. A wide stream flowed through the garden, and on it + floated richly ornamented barges and gondolas filled with people dressed + in the most elegant manner and covered with jewels. + </p> + <p> + In one of these barges sat the Queen of that country with her only + daughter, a maiden more beautiful than the Day Star, and attended by the + ladies of the Court. No more exquisitely lovely mortal was ever seen than + this Princess, and it needed all an eagle’s strength of sight to prevent + the King being hopelessly dazzled. He perched on the top of a large orange + tree, whence he was able to survey the scene and to gaze at pleasure on + the Princess’s charms. + </p> + <p> + Now, an eagle with a King’s heart in his breast is apt to be bold, and + accordingly he instantly made up his mind to carry off the lovely damsel, + feeling sure that having once seen her he could not live without her. + </p> + <p> + He waited till he saw her in the act of stepping ashore, when, suddenly + swooping down, he carried her off before her equerry in attendance had + advanced to offer her his hand. The Princess, on finding herself in an + eagle’s talons, uttered the most heart-breaking shrieks and cries; but her + captor, though touched by her distress, would not abandon his lovely prey, + and continued to fly through the air too fast to allow of his saying + anything to comfort her. + </p> + <p> + At length, when he thought they had reached a safe distance, he began to + lower his flight, and gradually descending to earth, deposited his burden + in a flowery meadow. He then entreated her pardon for his violence, and + told her that he was about to carry her to a great kingdom over which he + ruled, and where he desired she should rule with him, adding many tender + and consoling expressions. + </p> + <p> + For some time the Princess remained speechless; but recovering herself a + little, she burst into a flood of tears. The King, much moved, said, + ‘Adorable Princess, dry your tears. I implore you. My only wish is to make + you the happiest person in the world.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘If you speak truth, my lord,’ replied the Princess, ‘restore to me the + liberty you have deprived me of. Otherwise I can only look on you as my + worst enemy.’ + </p> + <p> + The King retorted that her opposition filled him with despair, but that he + hoped to carry her to a place where all around would respect her, and + where every pleasure would surround her. So saying, he seized her once + more, and in spite of all her cries he rapidly bore her off to the + neighbourhood of his capital. Here he gently placed her on a lawn, and as + he did so she saw a magnificent palace spring up at her feet. The + architecture was imposing, and in the interior the rooms were handsome and + furnished in the best possible taste. + </p> + <p> + The Princess, who expected to be quite alone, was pleased at finding + herself surrounded by a number of pretty girls, all anxious to wait on + her, whilst a brilliantly-coloured parrot said the most agreeable things + in the world. + </p> + <p> + On arriving at this palace the King had resumed his own form, and though + no longer young, he might well have pleased any other than this Princess, + who had been so prejudiced against him by his violence that she could only + regard him with feelings of hatred, which she was at no pains to conceal. + The King hoped, however, that time might not only soften her anger, but + accustom her to his sight. He took the precaution of surrounding the + palace with a dense cloud, and then hastened to his Court, where his + prolonged absence was causing much anxiety. + </p> + <p> + The Prince and all the courtiers were delighted to see their beloved King + again, but they had to submit themselves to more frequent absences than + ever on his part. He made business a pretext for shutting himself up in + his study, but it was really in order to spend the time with the Princess, + who remained inflexible. + </p> + <p> + Not being able to imagine what could be the cause of so much obstinacy the + King began to fear, lest, in spite of all his precautions, she might have + heard of the charms of the Prince his son, whose goodness, youth and + beauty, made him adored at Court. This idea made him horribly uneasy, and + he resolved to remove the cause of his fears by sending the Prince on his + travels escorted by a magnificent retinue. + </p> + <p> + The Prince, after visiting several Courts, arrived at the one where the + lost Princess was still deeply mourned. The King and Queen received him + most graciously, and some festivities were revived to do him honour. + </p> + <p> + One day when the Prince was visiting the Queen in her own apartments he + was much struck by a most beautiful portrait. He eagerly inquired whose it + was, and the Queen, with many tears, told him it was all that was left her + of her beloved daughter, who had suddenly been carried off, she knew + neither where nor how. + </p> + <p> + The Prince was deeply moved, and vowed that he would search the world for + the Princess, and take no rest till he had found and restored her to her + mother’s arms. The Queen assured him of her eternal gratitude, and + promised, should he succeed, to give him her daughter in marriage, + together with all the estates she herself owned. + </p> + <p> + The Prince, far more attracted by the thoughts of possessing the Princess + than her promised dower, set forth in his quest after taking leave of the + King and Queen, the latter giving him a miniature of her daughter which + she was in the habit of wearing. His first act was to seek the Fairy under + whose protection he had been placed, and he implored her to give him all + the assistance of her art and counsel in this important matter. + </p> + <p> + After listening attentively to the whole adventure, the Fairy asked for + time to consult her books. After due consideration she informed the Prince + that the object of his search was not far distant, but that it was too + difficult for him to attempt to enter the enchanted palace where she was, + as the King his father had surrounded it with a thick cloud, and that the + only expedient she could think of would be to gain possession of the + Princess’s parrot. This, she added, did not appear impossible, as it often + flew about to some distance in the neighbourhood. + </p> + <p> + Having told the Prince all this, the Fairy went out in hopes of seeing the + parrot, and soon returned with the bird in her hand. She promptly shut it + up in a cage, and, touching the Prince with her wand, transformed him into + an exactly similar parrot; after which, she instructed him how to reach + the Princess. + </p> + <p> + The Prince reached the palace in safety, but was so dazzled at first by + the Princess’s beauty, which far surpassed his expectations, that he was + quite dumb for a time. The Princess was surprised and anxious, and fearing + the parrot, who was her greatest comfort, had fallen ill, she took him in + her hand and caressed him. This soon reassured the Prince, and encouraged + him to play his part well, and he began to say a thousand agreeable things + which charmed the Princess. + </p> + <p> + Presently the King appeared, and the parrot noticed with joy how much he + was disliked. As soon as the King left, the Princess retired to her + dressing-room, the parrot flew after her and overheard her lamentations at + the continued persecutions of the King, who had pressed her to consent to + their marriage. The parrot said so many clever and tender things to + comfort her that she began to doubt whether this could indeed be her own + parrot. + </p> + <p> + When he saw her well-disposed towards him, he exclaimed: ‘Madam, I have a + most important secret to confide to you, and I beg you not to be alarmed + by what I am about to say. I am here on behalf of the Queen your mother, + with the object of delivering your Highness; to prove which, behold this + portrait which she gave me herself.’ So saying he drew forth the miniature + from under his wing. The Princess’s surprise was great, but after what she + had seen and heard it was impossible not to indulge in hope, for she had + recognised the likeness of herself which her mother always wore. + </p> + <p> + The parrot, finding she was not much alarmed, told her who he was, all + that her mother had promised him and the help he had already received from + a Fairy who had assured him that she would give him means to transport the + Princess to her mother’s arms. + </p> + <p> + When he found her listening attentively to him, he implored the Princess + to allow him to resume his natural shape. She did not speak, so he drew a + feather from his wing, and she beheld before her a Prince of such + surpassing beauty that it was impossible not to hope that she might owe + her liberty to so charming a person. + </p> + <p> + Meantime the Fairy had prepared a chariot, to which she harnessed two + powerful eagles; then placing the cage, with the parrot in it, she charged + the bird to conduct it to the window of the Princess’s dressing-room. This + was done in a few minutes, and the Princess, stepping into the chariot + with the Prince, was delighted to find her parrot again. + </p> + <p> + As they rose through the air the Princess remarked a figure mounted on an + eagle’s back flying in front of the chariot. She was rather alarmed, but + the Prince reassured her, telling her it was the good Fairy to whom she + owed so much, and who was now conducting her in safety to her mother. + </p> + <p> + That same morning the King woke suddenly from a troubled sleep. He had + dreamt that the Princess was being carried off from him, and, transforming + himself into an eagle, he flew to the palace. When he failed to find her + he flew into a terrible rage, and hastened home to consult his books, by + which means he discovered that it was his son who had deprived him of this + precious treasure. Immediately he took the shape of a harpy, and, filled + with rage, was determined to devour his son, and even the Princess too, if + only he could overtake them. + </p> + <p> + He set out at full speed; but he started too late, and was further delayed + by a strong wind which the Fairy raised behind the young couple so as to + baffle any pursuit. + </p> + <p> + You may imagine the rapture with which the Queen received the daughter she + had given up for lost, as well as the amiable Prince who had rescued her. + The Fairy entered with them, and warned the Queen that the Wizard King + would shortly arrive, infuriated by his loss, and that nothing could + preserve the Prince and Princess from his rage and magic unless they were + actually married. + </p> + <p> + The Queen hastened to inform the King her husband, and the wedding took + place on the spot. + </p> + <p> + As the ceremony was completed the Wizard King arrived. His despair at + being so late bewildered him so entirely that he appeared in his natural + form and attempted to sprinkle some black liquid over the bride and + bridegroom, which was intended to kill them, but the Fairy stretched out + her wand and the liquid dropped on the Magician himself. He fell down + senseless, and the Princess’s father, deeply offended at the cruel revenge + which had been attempted, ordered him to be removed and locked up in + prison. + </p> + <p> + Now as magicians lose all their power as soon as they are in prison, the + King felt himself much embarrassed at being thus at the mercy of those he + had so greatly offended. The Prince implored and obtained his father’s + pardon, and the prison doors were opened. + </p> + <p> + No sooner was this done than the Wizard King was seen in the air under the + form of some unknown bird, exclaiming as he flew off that he would never + forgive either his son or the Fairy the cruel wrong they had done him. + </p> + <p> + Everyone entreated the Fairy to settle in the kingdom where she now was, + to which she consented. She built herself a magnificent palace, to which + she transported her books and fairy secrets, and where she enjoyed the + sight of the perfect happiness she had helped to bestow on the entire + royal family. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + THE NIXY(15) +</pre> + <p> + (15) From the German. Kletke. + </p> + <p> + There was once upon a time a miller who was very well off, and had as much + money and as many goods as he knew what to do with. But sorrow comes in + the night, and the miller all of a sudden became so poor that at last he + could hardly call the mill in which he sat his own. He wandered about all + day full of despair and misery, and when he lay down at night he could get + no rest, but lay awake all night sunk in sorrowful thoughts. + </p> + <p> + One morning he rose up before dawn and went outside, for he thought his + heart would be lighter in the open air. As he wandered up and down on the + banks of the mill-pond he heard a rustling in the water, and when he + looked near he saw a white woman rising up from the waves. + </p> + <p> + He realised at once that this could be none other than the nixy of the + mill-pond, and in his terror he didn’t know if he should fly away or + remain where he was. While he hesitated the nixy spoke, called him by his + name, and asked him why he was so sad. + </p> + <p> + When the miller heard how friendly her tone was, he plucked up heart and + told her how rich and prosperous he had been all his life up till now, + when he didn’t know what he was to do for want and misery. + </p> + <p> + Then the nixy spoke comforting words to him, and promised that she would + make him richer and more prosperous than he had ever been in his life + before, if he would give her in return the youngest thing in his house. + </p> + <p> + The miller thought she must mean one of his puppies or kittens, so + promised the nixy at once what she asked, and returned to his mill full of + hope. On the threshold he was greeted by a servant with the news that his + wife had just given birth to a boy. + </p> + <p> + The poor miller was much horrified by these tidings, and went in to his + wife with a heavy heart to tell her and his relations of the fatal bargain + he had just struck with the nixy. ‘I would gladly give up all the good + fortune she promised me,’ he said, ‘if I could only save my child.’ But no + one could think of any advice to give him, beyond taking care that the + child never went near the mill-pond. + </p> + <p> + So the boy throve and grew big, and in the meantime all prospered with the + miller, and in a few years he was richer than he had ever been before. But + all the same he did not enjoy his good fortune, for he could not forget + his compact with the nixy, and he knew that sooner or later she would + demand his fulfilment of it. But year after year went by, and the boy grew + up and became a great hunter, and the lord of the land took him into his + service, for he was as smart and bold a hunter as you would wish to see. + In a short time he married a pretty young wife, and lived with her in + great peace and happiness. + </p> + <p> + One day when he was out hunting a hare sprang up at his feet, and ran for + some way in front of him in the open field. The hunter pursued it hotly + for some time, and at last shot it dead. Then he proceeded to skin it, + never noticing that he was close to the mill-pond, which from childhood up + he had been taught to avoid. He soon finished the skinning, and went to + the water to wash the blood off his hands. He had hardly dipped them in + the pond when the nixy rose up in the water, and seizing him in her wet + arms she dragged him down with her under the waves. + </p> + <p> + When the hunter did not come home in the evening his wife grew very + anxious, and when his game bag was found close to the mill-pond she + guessed at once what had befallen him. She was nearly beside herself with + grief, and roamed round and round the pond calling on her husband without + ceasing. At last, worn out with sorrow and fatigue, she fell asleep and + dreamt that she was wandering along a flowery meadow, when she came to a + hut where she found an old witch, who promised to restore her husband to + her. + </p> + <p> + When she awoke next morning she determined to set out and find the witch; + so she wandered on for many a day, and at last she reached the flowery + meadow and found the hut where the old witch lived. The poor wife told her + all that had happened and how she had been told in a dream of the witch’s + power to help her. + </p> + <p> + The witch counselled her to go to the pond the first time there was a full + moon, and to comb her black hair with a golden comb, and then to place the + comb on the bank. The hunter’s wife gave the witch a handsome present, + thanked her heartily, and returned home. + </p> + <p> + Time dragged heavily till the time of the full moon, but it passed at + last, and as soon as it rose the young wife went to the pond, combed her + black hair with a golden comb, and when she had finished, placed the comb + on the bank; then she watched the water impatiently. Soon she heard a + rushing sound, and a big wave rose suddenly and swept the comb off the + bank, and a minute after the head of her husband rose from the pond and + gazed sadly at her. But immediately another wave came, and the head sank + back into the water without having said a word. The pond lay still and + motionless, glittering in the moonshine, and the hunter’s wife was not a + bit better off than she had been before. + </p> + <p> + In despair she wandered about for days and nights, and at last, worn out + by fatigue, she sank once more into a deep sleep, and dreamt exactly the + same dream about the old witch. So next morning she went again to the + flowery meadow and sought the witch in her hut, and told her of her grief. + The old woman counselled her to go to the mill-pond the next full moon and + play upon a golden flute, and then to lay the flute on the bank. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the next moon was full the hunter’s wife went to the mill-pond, + played on a golden flute, and when she had finished placed it on the bank. + Then a rushing sound was heard, and a wave swept the flute off the bank, + and soon the head of the hunter appeared and rose up higher and higher + till he was half out of the water. Then he gazed sadly at his wife and + stretched out his arms towards her. But another rushing wave arose and + dragged him under once more. The hunter’s wife, who had stood on the bank + full of joy and hope, sank into despair when she saw her husband snatched + away again before her eyes. + </p> + <p> + But for her comfort she dreamt the same dream a third time, and betook + herself once more to the old witch’s hut in the flowery meadow. This time + the old woman told her to go the next full moon to the mill-pond, and to + spin there with a golden spinning-wheel, and then to leave the + spinning-wheel on the bank. + </p> + <p> + The hunter’s wife did as she was advised, and the first night the moon was + full she sat and spun with a golden spinning-wheel, and then left the + wheel on the bank. In a few minutes a rushing sound was heard in the + waters, and a wave swept the spinning-wheel from the bank. Immediately the + head of the hunter rose up from the pond, getting higher and higher each + moment, till at length he stepped on to the bank and fell on his wife’s + neck. + </p> + <p> + But the waters of the pond rose up suddenly, overflowed the bank where the + couple stood, and dragged them under the flood. In her despair the young + wife called on the old witch to help her, and in a moment the hunter was + turned into a frog and his wife into a toad. But they were not able to + remain together, for the water tore them apart, and when the flood was + over they both resumed their own shapes again, but the hunter and the + hunter’s wife found themselves each in a strange country, and neither knew + what had become of the other. + </p> + <p> + The hunter determined to become a shepherd, and his wife too became a + shepherdess. So they herded their sheep for many years in solitude and + sadness. + </p> + <p> + Now it happened once that the shepherd came to the country where the + shepherdess lived. The neighbourhood pleased him, and he saw that the + pasture was rich and suitable for his flocks. So he brought his sheep + there, and herded them as before. The shepherd and shepherdess became + great friends, but they did not recognise each other in the least. + </p> + <p> + But one evening when the moon was full they sat together watching their + flocks, and the shepherd played upon his flute. Then the shepherdess + thought of that evening when she had sat at the full moon by the mill-pond + and had played on the golden flute; the recollection was too much for her, + and she burst into tears. The shepherd asked her why she was crying, and + left her no peace till she told him all her story. Then the scales fell + from the shepherd’s eyes, and he recognised his wife, and she him. So they + returned joyfully to their own home, and lived in peace and happiness ever + after. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE GLASS MOUNTAIN(16) + </h2> + <h3> + (16) From the Polish. Kletke. + </h3> + <p> + Once upon a time there was a Glass Mountain at the top of which stood a + castle made of pure gold, and in front of the castle there grew an + apple-tree on which there were golden apples. + </p> + <p> + Anyone who picked an apple gained admittance into the golden castle, and + there in a silver room sat an enchanted Princess of surpassing fairness + and beauty. She was as rich too as she was beautiful, for the cellars of + the castle were full of precious stones, and great chests of the finest + gold stood round the walls of all the rooms. + </p> + <p> + Many knights had come from afar to try their luck, but it was in vain they + attempted to climb the mountain. In spite of having their horses shod with + sharp nails, no one managed to get more than half-way up, and then they + all fell back right down to the bottom of the steep slippery hill. + Sometimes they broke an arm, sometimes a leg, and many a brave man had + broken his neck even. + </p> + <p> + The beautiful Princess sat at her window and watched the bold knights + trying to reach her on their splendid horses. The sight of her always gave + men fresh courage, and they flocked from the four quarters of the globe to + attempt the work of rescuing her. But all in vain, and for seven years the + Princess had sat now and waited for some one to scale the Glass Mountain. + </p> + <p> + A heap of corpses both of riders and horses lay round the mountain, and + many dying men lay groaning there unable to go any farther with their + wounded limbs. The whole neighbourhood had the appearance of a vast + churchyard. In three more days the seven years would be at an end, when a + knight in golden armour and mounted on a spirited steed was seen making + his way towards the fatal hill. + </p> + <p> + Sticking his spurs into his horse he made a rush at the mountain, and got + up half-way, then he calmly turned his horse’s head and came down again + without a slip or stumble. The following day he started in the same way; + the horse trod on the glass as if it had been level earth, and sparks of + fire flew from its hoofs. All the other knights gazed in astonishment, for + he had almost gained the summit, and in another moment he would have + reached the apple-tree; but of a sudden a huge eagle rose up and spread + its mighty wings, hitting as it did so the knight’s horse in the eye. + </p> + <p> + The beast shied, opened its wide nostrils and tossed its mane, then + rearing high up in the air, its hind feet slipped and it fell with its + rider down the steep mountain side. Nothing was left of either of them + except their bones, which rattled in the battered golden armour like dry + peas in a pod. + </p> + <p> + And now there was only one more day before the close of the seven years. + Then there arrived on the scene a mere schoolboy—a merry, + happy-hearted youth, but at the same time strong and well-grown. He saw + how many knights had broken their necks in vain, but undaunted he + approached the steep mountain on foot and began the ascent. + </p> + <p> + For long he had heard his parents speak of the beautiful Princess who sat + in the golden castle at the top of the Glass Mountain. He listened to all + he heard, and determined that he too would try his luck. But first he went + to the forest and caught a lynx, and cutting off the creature’s sharp + claws, he fastened them on to his own hands and feet. + </p> + <p> + Armed with these weapons he boldly started up the Glass Mountain. + </p> + <p> + The sun was nearly going down, and the youth had not got more than + half-way up. He could hardly draw breath he was so worn out, and his mouth + was parched by thirst. A huge black cloud passed over his head, but in + vain did he beg and beseech her to let a drop of water fall on him. He + opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as much as a + drop of dew moistened his dry lips. + </p> + <p> + His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his + hands. Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he could + behold the top of the mountain. Then he gazed beneath him, and what a + sight met his eyes! A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at + the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders! And + this had been the end of all the other brave men who like himself had + attempted the ascent. + </p> + <p> + It was almost pitch dark now, and only the stars lit up the Glass + Mountain. The poor boy still clung on as if glued to the glass by his + blood-stained hands. He made no struggle to get higher, for all his + strength had left him, and seeing no hope he calmly awaited death. Then + all of a sudden he fell into a deep sleep, and forgetful of his dangerous + position, he slumbered sweetly. But all the same, although he slept, he + had stuck his sharp claws so firmly into the glass that he was quite safe + not to fall. + </p> + <p> + Now the golden apple-tree was guarded by the eagle which had overthrown + the golden knight and his horse. Every night it flew round the Glass + Mountain keeping a careful look-out, and no sooner had the moon emerged + from the clouds than the bird rose up from the apple-tree, and circling + round in the air, caught sight of the sleeping youth. + </p> + <p> + Greedy for carrion, and sure that this must be a fresh corpse, the bird + swooped down upon the boy. But he was awake now, and perceiving the eagle, + he determined by its help to save himself. + </p> + <p> + The eagle dug its sharp claws into the tender flesh of the youth, but he + bore the pain without a sound, and seized the bird’s two feet with his + hands. The creature in terror lifted him high up into the air and began to + circle round the tower of the castle. The youth held on bravely. He saw + the glittering palace, which by the pale rays of the moon looked like a + dim lamp; and he saw the high windows, and round one of them a balcony in + which the beautiful Princess sat lost in sad thoughts. Then the boy saw + that he was close to the apple-tree, and drawing a small knife from his + belt, he cut off both the eagle’s feet. The bird rose up in the air in its + agony and vanished into the clouds, and the youth fell on to the broad + branches of the apple-tree. + </p> + <p> + Then he drew out the claws of the eagle’s feet that had remained in his + flesh, and put the peel of one of the golden apples on the wound, and in + one moment it was healed and well again. He pulled several of the + beautiful apples and put them in his pocket; then he entered the castle. + The door was guarded by a great dragon, but as soon as he threw an apple + at it, the beast vanished. + </p> + <p> + At the same moment a gate opened, and the youth perceived a courtyard full + of flowers and beautiful trees, and on a balcony sat the lovely enchanted + Princess with her retinue. + </p> + <p> + As soon as she saw the youth, she ran towards him and greeted him as her + husband and master. She gave him all her treasures, and the youth became a + rich and mighty ruler. But he never returned to the earth, for only the + mighty eagle, who had been the guardian of the Princess and of the castle, + could have carried on his wings the enormous treasure down to the world. + But as the eagle had lost its feet it died, and its body was found in a + wood on the Glass Mountain. + </p> + <p> + . . . . . . . + </p> + <p> + One day when the youth was strolling about in the palace garden with the + Princess, his wife, he looked down over the edge of the Glass Mountain and + saw to his astonishment a great number of people gathered there. He blew + his silver whistle, and the swallow who acted as messenger in the golden + castle flew past. + </p> + <p> + ‘Fly down and ask what the matter is,’ he said to the little bird, who + sped off like lightning and soon returned saying: + </p> + <p> + ‘The blood of the eagle has restored all the people below to life. All + those who have perished on this mountain are awakening up to-day, as it + were from a sleep, and are mounting their horses, and the whole population + are gazing on this unheard-of wonder with joy and amazement.’ + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ALPHEGE, OR THE GREEN MONKEY +</pre> + <p> + Many years ago there lived a King, who was twice married. His first wife, + a good and beautiful woman, died at the birth of her little son, and the + King her husband was so overwhelmed with grief at her loss that his only + comfort was in the sight of his heir. + </p> + <p> + When the time for the young Prince’s christening came the King chose as + godmother a neighbouring Princess, so celebrated for her wisdom and + goodness that she was commonly called ‘the Good Queen.’ She named the baby + Alphege, and from that moment took him to her heart. + </p> + <p> + Time wipes away the greatest griefs, and after two or three years the King + married again. His second wife was a Princess of undeniable beauty, but by + no means of so amiable a disposition as the first Queen. In due time a + second Prince was born, and the Queen was devoured with rage at the + thought that Prince Alphege came between her son and the throne. She took + care however to conceal her jealous feelings from the King. + </p> + <p> + At length she could control herself no longer, so she sent a trusty + servant to her old and faithful friend the Fairy of the Mountain, to beg + her to devise some means by which she might get rid of her stepson. + </p> + <p> + The Fairy replied that, much as she desired to be agreeable to the Queen + in every way, it was impossible for her to attempt anything against the + young Prince, who was under the protection of some greater Power than her + own. + </p> + <p> + The ‘Good Queen’ on her side watched carefully over her godson. She was + obliged to do so from a distance, her own country being a remote one, but + she was well informed of all that went on and knew all about the Queen’s + wicked designs. She therefore sent the Prince a large and splendid ruby, + with injunctions to wear it night and day as it would protect him from all + attacks, but added that the talisman only retained its power as long as + the Prince remained within his father’s dominions. The Wicked Queen + knowing this made every attempt to get the Prince out of the country, but + her efforts failed, till one day accident did what she was unable to + accomplish. + </p> + <p> + The King had an only sister who was deeply attached to him, and who was + married to the sovereign of a distant country. She had always kept up a + close correspondence with her brother, and the accounts she heard of + Prince Alphege made her long to become acquainted with so charming a + nephew. She entreated the King to allow the Prince to visit her, and after + some hesitation which was overruled by his wife, he finally consented. + </p> + <p> + Prince Alphege was at this time fourteen years old, and the handsomest and + most engaging youth imaginable. In his infancy he had been placed in the + charge of one of the great ladies of the Court, who, according to the + prevailing custom, acted first as his head nurse and then as his + governess. When he outgrew her care her husband was appointed as his tutor + and governor, so that he had never been separated from this excellent + couple, who loved him as tenderly as they did their only daughter Zayda, + and were warmly loved by him in return. + </p> + <p> + When the Prince set forth on his travels it was but natural that this + devoted couple should accompany him, and accordingly he started with them + and attended by a numerous retinue. + </p> + <p> + For some time he travelled through his father’s dominions and all went + well; but soon after passing the frontier they had to cross a desert plain + under a burning sun. They were glad to take shelter under a group of trees + near, and here the Prince complained of burning thirst. Luckily a tiny + stream ran close by and some water was soon procured, but no sooner had he + tasted it than he sprang from his carriage and disappeared in a moment. In + vain did his anxious followers seek for him, he was nowhere to be found. + </p> + <p> + As they were hunting and shouting through the trees a black monkey + suddenly appeared on a point of rock and said: ‘Poor sorrowing people, you + are seeking your Prince in vain. Return to your own country and know that + he will not be restored to you till you have for some time failed to + recognise him.’ + </p> + <p> + With these words he vanished, leaving the courtiers sadly perplexed; but + as all their efforts to find the Prince were useless they had no choice + but to go home, bringing with them the sad news, which so greatly + distressed the King that he fell ill and died not long after. + </p> + <p> + The Queen, whose ambition was boundless, was delighted to see the crown on + her son’s head and to have the power in her own hands. Her hard rule made + her very unpopular, and it was commonly believed that she had made away + with Prince Alphege. Indeed, had the King her son not been deservedly + beloved a revolution would certainly have arisen. + </p> + <p> + Meantime the former governess of the unfortunate Alphege, who had lost her + husband soon after the King’s death, retired to her own house with her + daughter, who grew up a lovely and most loveable girl, and both continued + to mourn the loss of their dear Prince. + </p> + <p> + The young King was devoted to hunting, and often indulged in his favourite + pastime, attended by the noblest youths in his kingdom. + </p> + <p> + One day, after a long morning’s chase he stopped to rest near a brook in + the shade of a little wood, where a splendid tent had been prepared for + him. Whilst at luncheon he suddenly spied a little monkey of the brightest + green sitting on a tree and gazing so tenderly at him that he felt quite + moved. He forbade his courtiers to frighten it, and the monkey, noticing + how much attention was being paid him, sprang from bough to bough, and at + length gradually approached the King, who offered him some food. The + monkey took it very daintily and finally came to the table. The King took + him on his knees, and, delighted with his capture, brought him home with + him. He would trust no one else with its care, and the whole Court soon + talked of nothing but the pretty green monkey. + </p> + <p> + One morning, as Prince Alphege’s governess and her daughter were alone + together, the little monkey sprang in through an open window. He had + escaped from the palace, and his manners were so gentle and caressing that + Zayda and her mother soon got over the first fright he had given them. He + had spent some time with them and quite won their hearts by his + insinuating ways, when the King discovered where he was and sent to fetch + him back. But the monkey made such piteous cries, and seemed so unhappy + when anyone attempted to catch him, that the two ladies begged the King to + leave him a little longer with them, to which he consented. + </p> + <p> + One evening, as they sat by the fountain in the garden, the little monkey + kept gazing at Zayda with such sad and loving eyes that she and her mother + could not think what to make of it, and they were still more surprised + when they saw big tears rolling down his cheeks. + </p> + <p> + Next day both mother and daughter were sitting in a jessamine bower in the + garden, and they began to talk of the green monkey and his strange ways. + The mother said, ‘My dear child, I can no longer hide my feelings from + you. I cannot get the thought out of my mind that the green monkey is no + other than our beloved Prince Alphege, transformed in this strange + fashion. I know the idea sounds wild, but I cannot get it out of my heart, + and it leaves me no peace.’ + </p> + <p> + As she spoke she glanced up, and there sat the little monkey, whose tears + and gestures seemed to confirm her words. + </p> + <p> + The following night the elder lady dreamt that she saw the Good Queen, who + said, ‘Do not weep any longer but follow my directions. Go into your + garden and lift up the little marble slab at the foot of the great myrtle + tree. You will find beneath it a crystal vase filled with a bright green + liquid. Take it with you and place the thing which is at present most in + your thoughts into a bath filled with roses and rub it well with the green + liquid.’ + </p> + <p> + At these words the sleeper awoke, and lost no time in rising and hurrying + to the garden, where she found all as the Good Queen had described. Then + she hastened to rouse her daughter and together they prepared the bath, + for they would not let their women know what they were about. Zayda + gathered quantities of roses, and when all was ready they put the monkey + into a large jasper bath, where the mother rubbed him all over with the + green liquid. + </p> + <p> + Their suspense was not long, for suddenly the monkey skin dropped off, and + there stood Prince Alphege, the handsomest and most charming of men. The + joy of such a meeting was beyond words. After a time the ladies begged the + Prince to relate his adventures, and he told them of all his sufferings in + the desert when he was first transformed. His only comfort had been in + visits from the Good Queen, who had at length put him in the way of + meeting his brother. + </p> + <p> + Several days were spent in these interesting conversations, but at length + Zayda’s mother began to think of the best means for placing the Prince on + the throne, which was his by right. + </p> + <p> + The Queen on her side was feeling very anxious. She had felt sure from the + first that her son’s pet monkey was no other than Prince Alphege, and she + longed to put an end to him. Her suspicions were confirmed by the Fairy of + the Mountain, and she hastened in tears to the King, her son. + </p> + <p> + ‘I am informed,’ she cried, ‘that some ill-disposed people have raised up + an impostor in the hopes of dethroning you. You must at once have him put + to death.’ + </p> + <p> + The King, who was very brave, assured the Queen that he would soon punish + the conspirators. He made careful inquiries into the matter, and thought + it hardly probable that a quiet widow and a young girl would think of + attempting anything of the nature of a revolution. + </p> + <p> + He determined to go and see them, and to find out the truth for himself; + so one night, without saying anything to the Queen or his ministers, he + set out for the palace where the two ladies lived, attended only by a + small band of followers. + </p> + <p> + The two ladies were at the moment deep in conversation with Prince + Alphege, and hearing a knocking so late at night begged him to keep out of + sight for a time. What was their surprise when the door was opened to see + the King and his suite. + </p> + <p> + ‘I know,’ said the King, ‘that you are plotting against my crown and + person, and I have come to have an explanation with you.’ + </p> + <p> + As she was about to answer Prince Alphege, who had heard all, came forward + and said, ‘It is from me you must ask an explanation, brother.’ He spoke + with such grace and dignity that everyone gazed at him with mute surprise. + </p> + <p> + At length the King, recovering from his astonishment at recognising the + brother who had been lost some years before, exclaimed, ‘Yes, you are + indeed my brother, and now that I have found you, take the throne to which + I have no longer a right.’ So saying, he respectfully kissed the Prince’s + hand. + </p> + <p> + Alphege threw himself into his arms, and the brothers hastened to the + royal palace, where in the presence of the entire court he received the + crown from his brother’s hand. To clear away any possible doubt, he showed + the ruby which the Good Queen had given him in his childhood. As they were + gazing at it, it suddenly split with a loud noise, and at the same moment + the Wicked Queen expired. + </p> + <p> + King Alphege lost no time in marrying his dear and lovely Zayda, and his + joy was complete when the Good Queen appeared at his wedding. She assured + him that the Fairy of the Mountain had henceforth lost all power over him, + and after spending some time with the young couple, and bestowing the most + costly presents on them, she retired to her own country. + </p> + <p> + King Alphege insisted on his brother sharing his throne, and they all + lived to a good old age, universally beloved and admired. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + FAIRER-THAN-A-FAIRY +</pre> + <p> + Once there lived a King who had no children for many years after his + marriage. At length heaven granted him a daughter of such remarkable + beauty that he could think of no name so appropriate for her as + ‘Fairer-than-a-Fairy.’ + </p> + <p> + It never occurred to the good-natured monarch that such a name was certain + to call down the hatred and jealousy of the fairies in a body on the + child, but this was what happened. No sooner had they heard of this + presumptuous name than they resolved to gain possession of her who bore + it, and either to torment her cruelly, or at least to conceal her from the + eyes of all men. + </p> + <p> + The eldest of their tribe was entrusted to carry out their revenge. This + Fairy was named Lagree; she was so old that she only had one eye and one + tooth left, and even these poor remains she had to keep all night in a + strengthening liquid. She was also so spiteful that she gladly devoted all + her time to carrying out all the mean or ill-natured tricks of the whole + body of fairies. + </p> + <p> + With her large experience, added to her native spite, she found but little + difficulty in carrying off Fairer-than-a-Fairy. The poor child, who was + only seven years old, nearly died of fear on finding herself in the power + of this hideous creature. However, when after an hour’s journey + underground she found herself in a splendid palace with lovely gardens, + she felt a little reassured, and was further cheered when she discovered + that her pet cat and dog had followed her. + </p> + <p> + The old Fairy led her to a pretty room which she said should be hers, at + the same time giving her the strictest orders never to let out the fire + which was burning brightly in the grate. She then gave two glass bottles + into the Princess’s charge, desiring her to take the greatest care of + them, and having enforced her orders with the most awful threats in case + of disobedience, she vanished, leaving the little girl at liberty to + explore the palace and grounds and a good deal relieved at having only two + apparently easy tasks set her. + </p> + <p> + Several years passed, during which time the Princess grew accustomed to + her lonely life, obeyed the Fairy’s orders, and by degrees forgot all + about the court of the King her father. + </p> + <p> + One day, whilst passing near a fountain in the garden, she noticed that + the sun’s rays fell on the water in such a manner as to produce a + brilliant rainbow. She stood still to admire it, when, to her great + surprise, she heard a voice addressing her which seemed to come from the + centre of its rays. The voice was that of a young man, and its sweetness + of tone and the agreeable things it uttered, led one to infer that its + owner must be equally charming; but this had to be a mere matter of fancy, + for no one was visible. + </p> + <p> + The beautiful Rainbow informed Fairer-than-a-Fairy that he was young, the + son of a powerful king, and that the Fairy, Lagree, who owed his parents a + grudge, had revenged herself by depriving him of his natural shape for + some years; that she had imprisoned him in the palace, where he had found + his confinement hard to bear for some time, but now, he owned, he no + longer sighed for freedom since he had seen and learned to love + Fairer-than-a-Fairy. + </p> + <p> + He added many other tender speeches to this declaration, and the Princess, + to whom such remarks were a new experience, could not help feeling pleased + and touched by his attentions. + </p> + <p> + The Prince could only appear or speak under the form of a Rainbow, and it + was therefore necessary that the sun should shine on water so as to enable + the rays to form themselves. + </p> + <p> + Fairer-than-a-Fairy lost no moment in which she could meet her lover, and + they enjoyed many long and interesting interviews. One day, however, their + conversation became so absorbing and time passed so quickly that the + Princess forgot to attend to the fire, and it went out. Lagree, on her + return, soon found out the neglect, and seemed only too pleased to have + the opportunity of showing her spite to her lovely prisoner. She ordered + Fairer-than-a-Fairy to start next day at dawn to ask Locrinos for fire + with which to relight the one she had allowed to go out. + </p> + <p> + Now this Locrinos was a cruel monster who devoured everyone he came + across, and especially enjoyed a chance of catching and eating any young + girls. Our heroine obeyed with great sweetness, and without having been + able to take leave of her lover she set off to go to Locrinos as to + certain death. As she was crossing a wood a bird sang to her to pick up a + shining pebble which she would find in a fountain close by, and to use it + when needed. She took the bird’s advice, and in due time arrived at the + house of Locrinos. Luckily she only found his wife at home, who was much + struck by the Princess’s youth and beauty and sweet gentle manners, and + still further impressed by the present of the shining pebble. + </p> + <p> + She readily let Fairer-than-a-Fairy have the fire, and in return for the + stone she gave her another, which, she said, might prove useful some day. + Then she sent her away without doing her any harm. + </p> + <p> + Lagree was as much surprised as displeased at the happy result of this + expedition, and Fairer-than-a Fairy waited anxiously for an opportunity of + meeting Prince Rainbow and telling him her adventures. She found, however, + that he had already been told all about them by a Fairy who protected him, + and to whom he was related. + </p> + <p> + The dread of fresh dangers to his beloved Princess made him devise some + more convenient way of meeting than by the garden fountain, and + Fairer-than-a-Fairy carried out his plan daily with entire success. Every + morning she placed a large basin full of water on her window-sill, and as + soon as the sun’s rays fell on the water the Rainbow appeared as clearly + as it had ever done in the fountain. By this means they were able to meet + without losing sight of the fire or of the two bottles in which the old + Fairy kept her eye and her tooth at night, and for some time the lovers + enjoyed every hour of sunshine together. + </p> + <p> + One day Prince Rainbow appeared in the depths of woe. He had just heard + that he was to be banished from this lovely spot, but he had no idea where + he was to go. The poor young couple were in despair, and only parted with + the last ray of sunshine, and in hopes of meeting next morning. Alas! next + day was dark and gloomy, and it was only late in the afternoon that the + sun broke through the clouds for a few minutes. + </p> + <p> + Fairer-than-a-Fairy eagerly ran to the window, but in her haste she upset + the basin, and spilt all the water with which she had carefully filled it + overnight. No other water was at hand except that in the two bottles. It + was the only chance of seeing her lover before they were separated, and + she did not hesitate to break the bottle and pour their contents into the + basin, when the Rainbow appeared at once. Their farewells were full of + tenderness; the Prince made the most ardent and sincere protestations, and + promised to neglect nothing which might help to deliver his dear + Fairer-than-a-Fairy from her captivity, and implored her to consent to + their marriage as soon as they should both be free. The Princess, on her + side, vowed to have no other husband, and declared herself willing to + brave death itself in order to rejoin him. + </p> + <p> + They were not allowed much time for their adieus; the Rainbow vanished, + and the Princess, resolved to run all risks, started off at once, taking + nothing with her but her dog, her cat, a sprig of myrtle, and the stone + which the wife of Locrinos gave her. + </p> + <p> + When Lagree became aware of her prisoner’s flight she was furious, and set + off at full speed in pursuit. She overtook her just as the poor girl, + overcome by fatigue, had lain down to rest in a cave which the stone had + formed itself into to shelter her. The little dog who was watching her + mistress promptly flew at Lagree and bit her so severely that she stumbled + against a corner of the cave and broke off her only tooth. Before she had + recovered from the pain and rage this caused her, the Princess had time to + escape, and was some way on her road. Fear gave her strength for some + time, but at last she could go no further, and sank down to rest. As she + did so, the sprig of myrtle she carried touched the ground, and + immediately a green and shady bower sprang up round her, in which she + hoped to sleep in peace. + </p> + <p> + But Lagree had not given up her pursuit, and arrived just as + Fairer-than-a-Fairy had fallen fast asleep. This time she made sure of + catching her victim, but the cat spied her out, and, springing from one of + the boughs of the arbour she flew at Lagree’s face and tore out her only + eye, thus delivering the Princess for ever from her persecutor. + </p> + <p> + One might have thought that all would now be well, but no sooner had + Lagree been put to fight than our heroine was overwhelmed with hunger and + thirst. She felt as though she should certainly expire, and it was with + some difficulty that she dragged herself as far as a pretty little green + and white house, which stood at no great distance. Here she was received + by a beautiful lady dressed in green and white to match the house, which + apparently belonged to her, and of which she seemed the only inhabitant. + </p> + <p> + She greeted the fainting Princess most kindly, gave her an excellent + supper, and after a long night’s rest in a delightful bed told her that + after many troubles she should finally attain her desire. + </p> + <p> + As the green and white lady took leave of the Princess she gave her a nut, + desiring her only to open it in the most urgent need. + </p> + <p> + After a long and tiring journey Fairer-than-a-Fairy was once more received + in a house, and by a lady exactly like the one she had quitted. Here again + she received a present with the same injunctions, but instead of a nut + this lady gave her a golden pomegranate. The mournful Princess had to + continue her weary way, and after many troubles and hardships she again + found rest and shelter in a third house exactly similar to the two others. + </p> + <p> + These houses belonged to three sisters, all endowed with fairy gifts, and + all so alike in mind and person that they wished their houses and garments + to be equally alike. Their occupation consisted in helping those in + misfortune, and they were as gentle and benevolent as Lagree had been + cruel and spiteful. + </p> + <p> + The third Fairy comforted the poor traveller, begged her not to lose + heart, and assured her that her troubles should be rewarded. + </p> + <p> + She accompanied her advice by the gift of a crystal smelling-bottle, with + strict orders only to open it in case of urgent need. Fairer-than-a-Fairy + thanked her warmly, and resumed her way cheered by pleasant thoughts. + </p> + <p> + After a time her road led through a wood, full of soft airs and sweet + odours, and before she had gone a hundred yards she saw a wonderful silver + Castle suspended by strong silver chains to four of the largest trees. It + was so perfectly hung that a gentle breeze rocked it sufficiently to send + you pleasantly to sleep. + </p> + <p> + Fairer-than-a-Fairy felt a strong desire to enter this Castle, but besides + being hung a little above the ground there seemed to be neither doors nor + windows. She had no doubt (though really I cannot think why) that the + moment had come in which to use the nut which had been given her. She + opened it, and out came a diminutive hall porter at whose belt hung a tiny + chain, at the end of which was a golden key half as long as the smallest + pin you ever saw. + </p> + <p> + The Princess climbed up one of the silver chains, holding in her hand the + little porter who, in spite of his minute size, opened a secret door with + his golden key and let her in. She entered a magnificent room which + appeared to occupy the entire Castle, and which was lighted by gold and + jewelled stars in the ceiling. In the midst of this room stood a couch, + draped with curtains of all the colours of the rainbow, and suspended by + golden cords so that it swayed with the Castle in a manner which rocked + its occupant delightfully to sleep. + </p> + <p> + On this elegant couch lay Prince Rainbow, looking more beautiful than + ever, and sunk in profound slumber, in which he had been held ever since + his disappearance. + </p> + <p> + Fairy-than-a-Fairy, who now saw him for the first time in his real shape, + hardly dared to gaze at him, fearing lest his appearance might not be in + keeping with the voice and language which had won her heart. At the same + time she could not help feeling rather hurt at the apparent indifference + with which she was received. + </p> + <p> + She related all the dangers and difficulties she had gone through, and + though she repeated the story twenty times in a loud clear voice, the + Prince slept on and took no heed. She then had recourse to the golden + pomegranate, and on opening it found that all the seeds were as many + little violins which flew up in the vaulted roof and at once began playing + melodiously. + </p> + <p> + The Prince was not completely roused, but he opened his eyes a little and + looked all the handsomer. + </p> + <p> + Impatient at not being recognised, Fairer-than-a-Fairy now drew out her + third present, and on opening the crystal scent-bottle a little syren flew + out, who silenced the violins and then sang close to the Prince’s ear the + story of all his lady love had suffered in her search for him. She added + some gentle reproaches to her tale, but before she had got far he was wide + awake, and transported with joy threw himself at the Princess’s feet. At + the same moment the walls of the room expanded and opened out, revealing a + golden throne covered with jewels. A magnificent Court now began to + assemble, and at the same time several elegant carriages filled with + ladies in magnificent dresses drove up. In the first and most splendid of + these carriages sat Prince Rainbow’s mother. She fondly embraced her son, + after which she informed him that his father had been dead for some years, + that the anger of the Fairies was at length appeased, and that he might + return in peace to reign over his people, who were longing for his + presence. + </p> + <p> + The Court received the new King with joyful acclamations which would have + delighted him at any other time, but all his thoughts were full of + Fairer-than-a-Fairy. He was just about to present her to his mother and + the Court, feeling sure that her charms would win all hearts, when the + three green and white sisters appeared. + </p> + <p> + They declared the secret of Fairy-than-a-Fairy’s royal birth, and the + Queen taking the two lovers in her carriage set off with them for the + capital of the kingdom. + </p> + <p> + Here they were received with tumultuous joy. The wedding was celebrated + without delay, and succeeding years diminished neither the virtues, + beauty, nor the mutual affection of King Rainbow and his Queen, + Fairer-than-a-Fairy. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + THE THREE BROTHERS(17) +</pre> + <p> + (17) From the Polish. Kletke. + </p> + <p> + There was once upon a time a witch, who in the shape of a hawk used every + night to break the windows of a certain village church. In the same + village there lived three brothers, who were all determined to kill the + mischievous hawk. But in vain did the two eldest mount guard in the church + with their guns; as soon as the bird appeared high above their heads, + sleep overpowered them, and they only awoke to hear the windows crashing + in. + </p> + <p> + Then the youngest brother took his turn of guarding the windows, and to + prevent his being overcome by sleep he placed a lot of thorns under his + chin, so that if he felt drowsy and nodded his head, they would prick him + and keep him awake. + </p> + <p> + The moon was already risen, and it was as light as day, when suddenly he + heard a fearful noise, and at the same time a terrible desire to sleep + overpowered him. + </p> + <p> + His eyelids closed, and his head sank on his shoulders, but the thorns ran + into him and were so painful that he awoke at once. He saw the hawk + swooping down upon the church, and in a moment he had seized his gun and + shot at the bird. The hawk fell heavily under a big stone, severely + wounded in its right wing. The youth ran to look at it, and saw that a + huge abyss had opened below the stone. He went at once to fetch his + brothers, and with their help dragged a lot of pine-wood and ropes to the + spot. They fastened some of the burning pine-wood to the end of the rope, + and let it slowly down to the bottom of the abyss. At first it was quite + dark, and the flaming torch only lit up dirty grey stone walls. But the + youngest brother determined to explore the abyss, and letting himself down + by the rope he soon reached the bottom. Here he found a lovely meadow full + of green trees and exquisite flowers. + </p> + <p> + In the middle of the meadow stood a huge stone castle, with an iron gate + leading to it, which was wide open. Everything in the castle seemed to be + made of copper, and the only inhabitant he could discover was a lovely + girl, who was combing her golden hair; and he noticed that whenever one of + her hairs fell on the ground it rang out like pure metal. The youth looked + at her more closely, and saw that her skin was smooth and fair, her blue + eyes bright and sparkling, and her hair as golden as the sun. He fell in + love with her on the spot, and kneeling at her feet, he implored her to + become his wife. + </p> + <p> + The lovely girl accepted his proposal gladly; but at the same time she + warned him that she could never come up to the world above till her + mother, the old witch, was dead. And she went on to tell him that the only + way in which the old creature could be killed was with the sword that hung + up in the castle; but the sword was so heavy that no one could lift it. + </p> + <p> + Then the youth went into a room in the castle where everything was made of + silver, and here he found another beautiful girl, the sister of his bride. + She was combing her silver hair, and every hair that fell on the ground + rang out like pure metal. The second girl handed him the sword, but though + he tried with all his strength he could not lift it. At last a third + sister came to him and gave him a drop of something to drink, which she + said would give him the needful strength. He drank one drop, but still he + could not lift the sword; then he drank a second, and the sword began to + move; but only after he had drunk a third drop was he able to swing the + sword over his head. + </p> + <p> + Then he hid himself in the castle and awaited the old witch’s arrival. At + last as it was beginning to grow dark she appeared. She swooped down upon + a big apple-tree, and after shaking some golden apples from it, she + pounced down upon the earth. As soon as her feet touched the ground she + became transformed from a hawk into a woman. This was the moment the youth + was waiting for, and he swung his mighty sword in the air with all his + strength and the witch’s head fell off, and her blood spurted up on the + walls. + </p> + <p> + Without fear of any further danger, he packed up all the treasures of the + castle into great chests, and gave his brothers a signal to pull them up + out of the abyss. First the treasures were attached to the rope and then + the three lovely girls. And now everything was up above and only he + himself remained below. But as he was a little suspicious of his brothers, + he fastened a heavy stone on to the rope and let them pull it up. At first + they heaved with a will, but when the stone was half way up they let it + drop suddenly, and it fell to the bottom broken into a hundred pieces. + </p> + <p> + ‘So that’s what would have happened to my bones had I trusted myself to + them,’ said the youth sadly; and he began to cry bitterly, not because of + the treasures, but because of the lovely girl with her swanlike neck and + golden hair. + </p> + <p> + For a long time he wandered sadly all through the beautiful underworld, + and one day he met a magician who asked him the cause of his tears. The + youth told him all that had befallen him, and the magician said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Do not grieve, young man! If you will guard the children who are hidden + in the golden apple-tree, I will bring you at once up to the earth. + Another magician who lives in this land always eats my children up. It is + in vain that I have hidden them under the earth and locked them into the + castle. Now I have hidden them in the apple-tree; hide yourself there too, + and at midnight you will see my enemy.’ + </p> + <p> + The youth climbed up the tree, and picked some of the beautiful golden + apples, which he ate for his supper. + </p> + <p> + At midnight the wind began to rise, and a rustling sound was heard at the + foot of the tree. The youth looked down and beheld a long thick serpent + beginning to crawl up the tree. It wound itself round the stem and + gradually got higher and higher. It stretched its huge head, in which the + eyes glittered fiercely, among the branches, searching for the nest in + which the little children lay. They trembled with terror when they saw the + hideous creature, and hid themselves beneath the leaves. + </p> + <p> + Then the youth swung his mighty sword in the air, and with one blow cut + off the serpent’s head. He cut up the rest of the body into little bits + and strewed them to the four winds. + </p> + <p> + The father of the rescued children was so delighted over the death of his + enemy that he told the youth to get on his back, and in this way he + carried him up to the world above. + </p> + <p> + With what joy did he hurry now to his brothers’ house! He burst into a + room where they were all assembled, but no one knew who he was. Only his + bride, who was serving as cook to her sisters, recognised her lover at + once. + </p> + <p> + His brothers, who had quite believed he was dead, yielded him up his + treasures at once, and flew into the woods in terror. But the good youth + forgave them all they had done, and divided his treasures with them. Then + he built himself a big castle with golden windows, and there he lived + happily with his golden-haired wife till the end of their lives. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + THE BOY AND THE WOLVES, OR THE BROKEN PROMISE(18) +</pre> + <p> + (18) A North American Indian story. + </p> + <p> + Once upon a time an Indian hunter built himself a house in the middle of a + great forest, far away from all his tribe; for his heart was gentle and + kind, and he was weary of the treachery and cruel deeds of those who had + been his friends. So he left them, and took his wife and three children, + and they journeyed on until they found a spot near to a clear stream, + where they began to cut down trees, and to make ready their wigwam. For + many years they lived peacefully and happily in this sheltered place, + never leaving it except to hunt the wild animals, which served them both + for food and clothes. At last, however, the strong man felt sick, and + before long he knew he must die. + </p> + <p> + So he gathered his family round him, and said his last words to them. + ‘You, my wife, the companion of my days, will follow me ere many moons + have waned to the island of the blest. But for you, O my children, whose + lives are but newly begun, the wickedness, unkindness, and ingratitude + from which I fled are before you. Yet I shall go hence in peace, my + children, if you will promise always to love each other, and never to + forsake your youngest brother. + </p> + <p> + ‘Never!’ they replied, holding out their hands. And the hunter died + content. + </p> + <p> + Scarcely eight moons had passed when, just as he had said, the wife went + forth, and followed her husband; but before leaving her children she bade + the two elder ones think of their promise never to forsake the younger, + for he was a child, and weak. And while the snow lay thick upon the + ground, they tended him and cherished him; but when the earth showed green + again, the heart of the young man stirred within him, and he longed to see + the wigwams of the village where his father’s youth was spent. + </p> + <p> + Therefore he opened all his heart to his sister, who answered: ‘My + brother, I understand your longing for our fellow-men, whom here we cannot + see. But remember our father’s words. Shall we not seek our own pleasures, + and forget the little one?’ + </p> + <p> + But he would not listen, and, making no reply, he took his bow and arrows + and left the hut. The snows fell and melted, yet he never returned; and at + last the heart of the girl grew cold and hard, and her little boy became a + burden in her eyes, till one day she spoke thus to him: ‘See, there is + food for many days to come. Stay here within the shelter of the hut. I go + to seek our brother, and when I have found him I shall return hither.’ + </p> + <p> + But when, after hard journeying, she reached the village where her brother + dwelt, and saw that he had a wife and was happy, and when she, too, was + sought by a young brave, then she also forgot the boy alone in the forest, + and thought only of her husband. + </p> + <p> + Now as soon as the little boy had eaten all the food which his sister had + left him, he went out into the woods, and gathered berries and dug up + roots, and while the sun shone he was contented and had his fill. But when + the snows began and the wind howled, then his stomach felt empty and his + limbs cold, and he hid in trees all the night, and only crept out to eat + what the wolves had left behind. And by-and-by, having no other friends, + he sought their company, and sat by while they devoured their prey, and + they grew to know him, and gave him food. And without them he would have + died in the snow. + </p> + <p> + But at last the snows melted, and the ice upon the great lake, and as the + wolves went down to the shore, the boy went after them. And it happened + one day that his big brother was fishing in his canoe near the shore, and + he heard the voice of a child singing in the Indian tone— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘My brother, my brother! + I am becoming a wolf, + I am becoming a wolf!’ +</pre> + <p> + And when he had so sung he howled as wolves howl. Then the heart of the + elder sunk, and he hastened towards him, crying, ‘Brother, little brother, + come to me;’ but he, being half a wolf, only continued his song. And the + louder the elder called him, ‘Brother, little brother, come to me,’ the + swifter he fled after his brothers the wolves, and the heavier grew his + skin, till, with a long howl, he vanished into the depths of the forest. + </p> + <p> + So, with shame and anguish in his soul, the elder brother went back to his + village, and, with his sister, mourned the little boy and the broken + promise till the end of his life. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + THE GLASS AXE(19) +</pre> + <p> + (19) From the Hungarian. Kletke. + </p> + <p> + There was once upon a time a King and Queen who had everything they could + possibly wish for in this world except a child. At last, after twelve + years, the Queen gave birth to a son; but she did not live long to enjoy + her happiness, for on the following day she died. But before her death she + called her husband to her and said, ‘Never let the child put his feet on + the ground, for as soon as he does so he will fall into the power of a + wicked Fairy, who will do him much harm.’ And these were the last words + the poor Queen spoke. + </p> + <p> + The boy throve and grew big, and when he was too heavy for his nurse to + carry, a chair was made for him on little wheels, in which he could wander + through the palace gardens without help; at other times he was carried + about on a litter, and he was always carefully watched and guarded for + fear he should at any time put his feet to the ground. + </p> + <p> + But as this sort of life was bad for his health, the doctors ordered him + horse exercise, and he soon became a first-rate rider, and used to go out + for long excursions on horseback, accompanied always by his father’s + stud-groom and a numerous retinue. + </p> + <p> + Every day he rode through the neighbouring fields and woods, and always + returned home in the evening safe and well. In this way many years passed, + and the Prince grew to manhood, and hardly anyone remembered the Queen’s + warning, though precautions were still taken, more from use and wont than + for any other reason. + </p> + <p> + One day the Prince and his suite went out for a ride in a wood where his + father sometimes held a hunt. Their way led through a stream whose banks + were overgrown with thick brushwood. Just as the horsemen were about to + ford the river, a hare, startled by the sound of the horses’ hoofs, + started up from the grass and ran towards the thicket. The young Prince + pursued the little creature, and had almost overtaken it, when the girth + of his saddle suddenly broke in two and he fell heavily to the ground. No + sooner had his foot touched the earth than he disappeared before the eyes + of the horrified courtiers. + </p> + <p> + They sought for him far and near, but all in vain, and they were forced to + recognise the power of the evil Fairy, against which the Queen had warned + them on her death-bed. The old King was much grieved when they brought him + the news of his son’s disappearance, but as he could do nothing to free + him from his fate, he gave himself up to an old age of grief and + loneliness, cherishing at the same time the hope that some lucky chance + might one day deliver the youth out of the hands of his enemy. + </p> + <p> + Hardly had the Prince touched the ground than he felt himself violently + seized by an unseen power, and hurried away he knew not whither. A whole + new world stretched out before him, quite unlike the one he had left. A + splendid castle surrounded by a huge lake was the abode of the Fairy, and + the only approach to it was over a bridge of clouds. On the other side of + the lake high mountains rose up, and dark woods stretched along the banks; + over all hung a thick mist, and deep silence reigned everywhere. + </p> + <p> + No sooner had the Fairy reached her own domain than she made herself + visible, and turning to the Prince she told him that unless he obeyed all + her commands down to the minutest detail he would be severely punished. + Then she gave him an axe made of glass, and bade him cross the bridge of + clouds and go into the wood beyond and cut down all the trees there before + sunset. At the same time she cautioned him with many angry words against + speaking to a black girl he would most likely meet in the wood. + </p> + <p> + The Prince listened to her words meekly, and when she had finished took up + the glass axe and set out for the forest. At every step he seemed to sink + into the clouds, but fear gave wings to his feet, and he crossed the lake + in safety and set to work at once. + </p> + <p> + But no sooner had he struck the first blow with his axe than it broke into + a thousand pieces against the tree. The poor youth was so terrified he did + not know what to do, for he was in mortal dread of the punishment the + wicked old Fairy would inflict on him. He wandered to and fro in the wood, + not knowing where he was going, and at last, worn out by fatigue and + misery, he sank on the ground and fell fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + He did not know how long he had slept when a sudden sound awoke him, and + opening his eyes he saw a black girl standing beside him. Mindful of the + Fairy’s warning he did not dare to address her, but she on her part + greeted him in the most friendly manner, and asked him at once if he were + under the power of the wicked Fairy. The Prince nodded his head silently + in answer. + </p> + <p> + Then the black girl told him that she too was in the power of the Fairy, + who had doomed her to wander about in her present guise until some youth + should take pity on her and bear her in safety to the other side of the + river which they saw in the distance, and on the other side of which the + Fairy’s domain and power ended. + </p> + <p> + The girl’s words so inspired the Prince with confidence that he told her + all his tale of woe, and ended up by asking her advice as to how he was to + escape the punishment the Fairy would be sure to inflict on him when she + discovered that he had not cut down the trees in the wood and that he had + broken her axe. + </p> + <p> + ‘You must know,’ answered the black girl, ‘that the Fairy in whose power + we both are is my own mother, but you must not betray this secret, for it + would cost me my life. If you will only promise to try and free me I will + stand by you, and will accomplish for you all the tasks which my mother + sets you.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince promised joyfully all she asked; then having once more warned + him not to betray her confidence, she handed him a draught to drink which + very soon sunk his senses in a deep slumber. + </p> + <p> + His astonishment was great when he awoke to find the glass axe whole and + unbroken at his side, and all the trees of the wood lying felled around + him! + </p> + <p> + He made all haste across the bridge of clouds, and told the Fairy that her + commands were obeyed. She was much amazed when she heard that all the wood + was cut down, and saw the axe unbroken in his hand, and since she could + not believe that he had done all this by himself, she questioned him + narrowly if he had seen or spoken to the black girl. But the Prince lied + manfully, and swore he had never looked up from his work for a moment. + Seeing she could get nothing more out of him, she gave him a little bread + and water, and showing him to a small dark cupboard she told him he might + sleep there. + </p> + <p> + Morning had hardly dawned when the Fairy awoke the Prince, and giving him + the glass axe again she told him to cut up all the wood he had felled the + day before, and to put it in bundles ready for firewood; at the same time + she warned him once more against approaching or speaking a word to the + black girl if he met her in the wood. + </p> + <p> + Although his task was no easier than that of the day before, the youth set + out much more cheerfully, because he knew he could count an the help of + the black girl. With quicker and lighter step he crossed the bridge of + clouds, and hardly had he reached the other side than his friend stood + before him and greeted him cheerfully. When she heard what the Fairy + demanded this time, she answered smilingly, ‘Never fear,’ and handed him + another draught, which very soon caused the Prince to sink into a deep + sleep. + </p> + <p> + When he awoke everything, was done. All the trees of the wood were cut up + into firewood and arranged in bundles ready for use. + </p> + <p> + He returned to the castle as quickly as he could, and told the Fairy that + her commands were obeyed. She was even more amazed than she had been + before, and asked him again if he had either seen or spoken to the black + girl; but the Prince knew better than to betray his word, and once more + lied freely. + </p> + <p> + On the following day the Fairy set him a third task to do, even harder + than the other two. She told him he must build a castle on the other side + of the lake, made of nothing but gold, silver, and precious stones, and + unless he could accomplish this within an hour, the most frightful doom + awaited him. + </p> + <p> + The Prince heard her words without anxiety, so entirely did he rely on the + help of his black friend. Full of hope he hurried across the bridge, and + recognised at once the spot where the castle was to stand, for spades, + hammers, axes, and every other building implement lay scattered on the + ground ready for the workman’s hand, but of gold, silver, and precious + stones there was not a sign. But before the Prince had time to feel + despondent the black girl beckoned to him in the distance from behind a + rock, where she had hidden herself for fear her mother should catch sight + of her. Full of joy the youth hurried towards her, and begged her aid and + counsel in the new piece of work he had been given to do. + </p> + <p> + But this time the Fairy had watched the Prince’s movements from her + window, and she saw him hiding himself behind the rock with her daughter. + She uttered a piercing shriek so that the mountains re-echoed with the + sound of it, and the terrified pair had hardly dared to look out from + their hiding-place when the enraged woman, with her dress and hair flying + in the wind, hurried over the bridge of clouds. The Prince at once gave + himself up for lost, but the girl told him to be of good courage and to + follow her as quickly as he could. But before they left their shelter she + broke off a little bit of the rock, spoke some magic words over it, and + threw it in the direction her mother was coming from. In a moment a + glittering palace arose before the eyes of the Fairy which blinded her + with its dazzling splendour, and with its many doors and passages + prevented her for some time from finding her way out of it. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the black girl hurried on with the Prince, hastening to + reach the river, where once on the other side they would for ever be out + of the wicked Fairy’s power. But before they had accomplished half the way + they heard again the rustle of her garments and her muttered curses + pursuing them closely. + </p> + <p> + The Prince was terrified; he dared not look back, and he felt his strength + giving way. But before he had time to despair the girl uttered some more + magic words, and immediately she herself was changed into a pond, and the + Prince into a duck swimming on its surface. + </p> + <p> + When the Fairy saw this her rage knew no bounds, and she used all her + magic wits to make the pond disappear; she caused a hill of sand to arise + at her feet, meaning it to dry up the water at once. But the sand hill + only drove the pond a little farther away, and its waters seemed to + increase instead of diminishing. When the old woman saw that the powers of + her magic were of so little avail, she had recourse to cunning. She threw + a lot of gold nuts into the pond, hoping in this way to catch the duck, + but all her efforts were fruitless, for the little creature refused to let + itself be caught. + </p> + <p> + Then a new idea struck the wicked old woman, and hiding herself behind the + rock which had sheltered the fugitives, she waited behind it, watching + carefully for the moment when the Prince and her daughter should resume + their natural forms and continue their journey. + </p> + <p> + She had not to wait long, for as soon as the girl thought her mother was + safely out of the way, she changed herself and the Prince once more into + their human shape, and set out cheerfully for the river. + </p> + <p> + But they had not gone many steps when the wicked Fairy hurried after them, + a drawn dagger in her hand, and was close upon them, when suddenly, + instead of the Prince and her daughter, she found herself in front of a + great stone church, whose entrance was carefully guarded by a huge monk. + </p> + <p> + Breathless with rage and passion, she tried to plunge her dagger into the + monk’s heart, but it fell shattered in pieces at her feet. In her + desperation she determined to pull down the church, and thus to destroy + her two victims for ever. She stamped three times on the ground, and the + earth trembled, and both the church and the monk began to shake. As soon + as the Fairy saw this she retreated to some distance from the building, so + as not to be hurt herself by its fall. But once more her scheme was doomed + to failure, for hardly had she gone a yard from the church than both it + and the monk disappeared, and she found herself in a wood black as night, + and full of wolves and bears and wild animals of all sorts and + descriptions. + </p> + <p> + Then her wrath gave place to terror, for she feared every moment to be + torn in pieces by the beasts who one and all seemed to defy her power. She + thought it wisest to make her way as best she could out of the forest, and + then to pursue the fugitives once more and accomplish their destruction + either by force or cunning. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the Prince and the black girl had again assumed their + natural forms, and were hurrying on as fast as they could to reach the + river. But when they got there they found that there was no way in which + they could cross it, and the girl’s magic art seemed no longer to have any + power. Then turning to the Prince she said, ‘The hour for my deliverance + has not yet come, but as you promised to do all you could to free me, you + must do exactly as I bid you now. Take this bow and arrow and kill every + beast you see with them, and be sure you spare no living creature.’ + </p> + <p> + With these words she disappeared, and hardly had she done so than a huge + wild boar started out of the thicket near and made straight for the + Prince. But the youth did not lose his presence of mind, and drawing his + bow he pierced the beast with his arrow right through the skull. The + creature fell heavily on the ground, and out of its side sprang a little + hare, which ran like the wind along the river bank. The Prince drew his + bow once more, and the hare lay dead at his feet; but at the same moment a + dove rose up in the air, and circled round the Prince’s head in the most + confiding manner. But mindful of the black girl’s commands, he dared not + spare the little creature’s life, and taking another arrow from his quiver + he laid it as dead as the boar and the hare. But when he went to look at + the body of the bird he found instead of the dove a round white egg lying + on the ground. + </p> + <p> + While he was gazing on it and wondering what it could mean, he heard the + sweeping of wings above him, and looking up he saw a huge vulture with + open claws swooping down upon him. In a moment he seized the egg and flung + it at the bird with all his might, and lo and behold! instead of the ugly + monster the most beautiful girl he had ever seen stood before the + astonished eyes of the Prince. + </p> + <p> + But while all this was going on the wicked old Fairy had managed to make + her way out of the wood, and was now using the last resource in her power + to overtake her daughter and the Prince. As soon as she was in the open + again she mounted her chariot, which was drawn by a fiery dragon, and flew + through the air in it. But just as she got to the river she saw the two + lovers in each other’s arms swimming through the water as easily as two + fishes. + </p> + <p> + Quick as lightning, and forgetful of every danger, she flew down upon + them. But the waters seized her chariot and sunk it in the lowest depths, + and the waves bore the wicked old woman down the stream till she was + caught in some thorn bushes, where she made a good meal for all the little + fishes that were swimming about. + </p> + <p> + And so at last the Prince and his lovely Bride were free. They hurried as + quickly as they could to the old King, who received them with joy and + gladness. On the following day a most gorgeous wedding feast was held, and + as far as we know the Prince and his bride lived happily for ever + afterwards. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE DEAD WIFE(20) + </h2> + <h3> + (20) From the Iroquois. + </h3> + <p> + Once upon a time there were a man and his wife who lived in the forest, + very far from the rest of the tribe. Very often they spent the day in + hunting together, but after a while the wife found that she had so many + things to do that she was obliged to stay at home; so he went alone, + though he found that when his wife was not with him he never had any luck. + One day, when he was away hunting, the woman fell ill, and in a few days + she died. + </p> + <p> + Her husband grieved bitterly, and buried her in the house where she had + passed her life; but as the time went on he felt so lonely without her + that he made a wooden doll about her height and size for company, and + dressed it in her clothes. He seated it in front of the fire, and tried to + think he had his wife back again. The next day he went out to hunt, and + when he came home the first thing he did was to go up to the doll and + brush off some of the ashes from the fire which had fallen on its face. + But he was very busy now, for he had to cook and mend, besides getting + food, for there was no one to help him. And so a whole year passed away. + </p> + <p> + At the end of that time he came back from hunting one night and found some + wood by the door and a fire within. The next night there was not only wood + and fire, but a piece of meat in the kettle, nearly ready for eating. He + searched all about to see who could have done this, but could find no one. + The next time he went to hunt he took care not to go far, and came in + quite early. And while he was still a long way off he saw a woman going + into the house with wood on her shoulders. So he made haste, and opened + the door quickly, and instead of the wooden doll, his wife sat in front of + the fire. + </p> + <p> + Then she spoke to him and said, ‘The Great Spirit felt sorry for you, + because you would not be comforted, so he let me come back to you, but you + must not stretch out your hand to touch me till we have seen the rest of + our people. If you do, I shall die.’ + </p> + <p> + So the man listened to her words, and the woman dwelt there, and brought + the wood and kindled the fire, till one day her husband said to her, ‘It + is now two years since you died. Let us now go back to our tribe. Then you + will be well, and I can touch you.’ + </p> + <p> + And with that he prepared food for the journey, a string of deer’s flesh + for her to carry, and one for himself; and so they started. Now the camp + of the tribe was distant six days’ journey, and when they were yet one + day’s journey off it began to snow, and they felt weary and longed for + rest. Therefore they made a fire, cooked some food, and spread out their + skins to sleep. + </p> + <p> + Then the heart of the man was greatly stirred, and he stretched out his + arms to his wife, but she waved her hands and said, ‘We have seen no one + yet; it is too soon.’ + </p> + <p> + But he would not listen to her, and caught her to him, and behold! he was + clasping the wooden doll. And when he saw it was the doll he pushed it + from him in his misery and rushed away to the camp, and told them all his + story. And some doubted, and they went back with him to the place where he + and his wife had stopped to rest, and there lay the doll, and besides, + they saw in the snow the steps of two people, and the foot of one was like + the foot of the doll. And the man grieved sore all the days of his life. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IN THE LAND OF SOULS (21) + </h2> + <h3> + (21) From the Red Indian. + </h3> + <p> + Far away, in North America, where the Red Indians dwell, there lived a + long time ago a beautiful maiden, who was lovelier than any other girl in + the whole tribe. Many of the young braves sought her in marriage, but she + would listen to one only—a handsome chief, who had taken her fancy + some years before. So they were to be married, and great rejoicings were + made, and the two looked forward to a long life of happiness together, + when the very night before the wedding feast a sudden illness seized the + girl, and, without a word to her friends who were weeping round her, she + passed silently away. + </p> + <p> + The heart of her lover had been set upon her, and the thought of her + remained with him night and day. He put aside his bow, and went neither to + fight nor to hunt, but from sunrise to sunset he sat by the place where + she was laid, thinking of his happiness that was buried there. At last, + after many days, a light seemed to come to him out of the darkness. He + remembered having heard from the old, old people of the tribe, that there + was a path that led to the Land of Souls—that if you sought + carefully you could find it. + </p> + <p> + So the next morning he got up early, and put some food in his pouch and + slung an extra skin over his shoulders, for he knew not how long his + journey would take, nor what sort of country he would have to go through. + Only one thing he knew, that if the path was there, he would find it. At + first he was puzzled, as there seemed no reason he should go in one + direction more than another. Then all at once he thought he had heard one + of the old men say that the Land of Souls lay to the south, and so, filled + with new hope and courage, he set his face southwards. For many, many + miles the country looked the same as it did round his own home. The + forests, the hills, and the rivers all seemed exactly like the ones he had + left. The only thing that was different was the snow, which had lain thick + upon the hills and trees when he started, but grew less and less the + farther he went south, till it disappeared altogether. Soon the trees put + forth their buds, and flowers sprang up under his feet, and instead of + thick clouds there was blue sky over his head, and everywhere the birds + were singing. Then he knew that he was in the right road. + </p> + <p> + The thought that he should soon behold his lost bride made his heart beat + for joy, and he sped along lightly and swiftly. Now his way led through a + dark wood, and then over some steep cliffs, and on the top of these he + found a hut or wigwam. An old man clothed in skins, and holding a staff in + his hand, stood in the doorway; and he said to the young chief who was + beginning to tell his story, ‘I was waiting for you, wherefore you have + come I know. It is but a short while since she whom you seek was here. + Rest in my hut, as she also rested, and I will tell you what you ask, and + whither you should go.’ + </p> + <p> + On hearing these words, the young man entered the hut, but his heart was + too eager within him to suffer him to rest, and when he arose, the old man + rose too, and stood with him at the door. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘at the water + which lies far out yonder, and the plains which stretch beyond. That is + the Land of Souls, but no man enters it without leaving his body behind + him. So, lay down your body here; your bow and arrows, your skin and your + dog. They shall be kept for you safely.’ + </p> + <p> + Then he turned away, and the young chief, light as air, seemed hardly to + touch the ground; and as he flew along the scents grew sweeter and the + flowers more beautiful, while the animals rubbed their noses against him, + instead of hiding as he approached, and birds circled round him, and + fishes lifted up their heads and looked as he went by. Very soon he + noticed with wonder, that neither rocks nor trees barred his path. He + passed through them without knowing it, for indeed, they were not rocks + and trees at all, but only the souls of them; for this was the Land of + Shadows. + </p> + <p> + So he went on with winged feet till he came to the shores of a great lake, + with a lovely island in the middle of it; while on the bank of the lake + was a canoe of glittering stone, and in the canoe were two shining + paddles. + </p> + <p> + The chief jumped straight into the canoe, and seizing the paddles pushed + off from the shore, when to his joy and wonder he saw following him in + another canoe exactly like his own the maiden for whose sake he had made + this long journey. But they could not touch each other, for between them + rolled great waves, which looked as if they would sink the boats, yet + never did. And the young man and the maiden shrank with fear, for down in + the depths of the water they saw the bones of those who had died before, + and in the waves themselves men and women were struggling, and but few + passed over. Only the children had no fear, and reached the other side in + safety. Still, though the chief and the young girl quailed in terror at + these horrible sights and sounds, no harm came to them, for their lives + had been free from evil, and the Master of Life had said that no evil + should happen unto them. So they reached unhurt the shore of the Happy + Island, and wandered through the flowery fields and by the banks of + rushing streams, and they knew not hunger nor thirst; neither cold nor + heat. The air fed them and the sun warmed them, and they forgot the dead, + for they saw no graves, and the young man’s thoughts turned not to wars, + neither to the hunting of animals. And gladly would these two have walked + thus for ever, but in the murmur of the wind he heard the Master of Life + saying to him, ‘Return whither you came, for I have work for you to do, + and your people need you, and for many years you shall rule over them. At + the gate my messenger awaits you, and you shall take again your body which + you left behind, and he will show you what you are to do. Listen to him, + and have patience, and in time to come you shall rejoin her whom you must + now leave, for she is accepted, and will remain ever young and beautiful, + as when I called her hence from the Land of Snows.’ + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE WHITE DUCK + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time a great and powerful King married a lovely Princess. No + couple were ever so happy; but before their honeymoon was over they were + forced to part, for the King had to go on a warlike expedition to a far + country, and leave his young wife alone at home. Bitter were the tears she + shed, while her husband sought in vain to soothe her with words of comfort + and counsel, warning her, above all things, never to leave the castle, to + hold no intercourse with strangers, to beware of evil counsellors, and + especially to be on her guard against strange women. And the Queen + promised faithfully to obey her royal lord and master in these four + matters. + </p> + <p> + So when the King set out on his expedition she shut herself up with her + ladies in her own apartments, and spent her time in spinning and weaving, + and in thinking of her royal husband. Often she was very sad and lonely, + and it happened that one day while she was seated at the window, letting + salt tears drop on her work, an old woman, a kind, homely-looking old + body, stepped up to the window, and, leaning upon her crutch, addressed + the Queen in friendly, flattering tones, saying: + </p> + <p> + ‘Why are you sad and cast down, fair Queen? You should not mope all day in + your rooms, but should come out into the green garden, and hear the birds + sing with joy among the trees, and see the butterflies fluttering above + the flowers, and hear the bees and insects hum, and watch the sunbeams + chase the dew-drops through the rose-leaves and in the lily-cups. All the + brightness outside would help to drive away your cares, O Queen.’ + </p> + <p> + For long the Queen resisted her coaxing words, remembering the promise she + had given the King, her husband; but at last she thought to herself: After + all, what harm would it do if I were to go into the garden for a short + time and enjoy myself among the trees and flowers, and the singing birds + and fluttering butterflies and humming insects, and look at the dew-drops + hiding from the sunbeams in the hearts of the roses and lilies, and wander + about in the sunshine, instead of remaining all day in this room? For she + had no idea that the kind-looking old woman leaning on her crutch was in + reality a wicked witch, who envied the Queen her good fortune, and was + determined to ruin her. And so, in all ignorance, the Queen followed her + out into the garden and listened to her smooth, flattering words. Now, in + the middle of the garden there was a pond of water, clear as crystal, and + the old woman said to the Queen: + </p> + <p> + ‘The day is so warm, and the sun’s rays so scorching, that the water in + the pond looks very cool and inviting. Would you not like to bathe in it, + fair Queen?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘No, I think not,’ answered the Queen; but the next moment she regretted + her words, and thought to herself: Why shouldn’t I bathe in that cool, + fresh water? No harm could come of it. And, so saying, she slipped off her + robes and stepped into the water. But scarcely had her tender feet touched + the cool ripples when she felt a great shove on her shoulders, and the + wicked witch had pushed her into the deep water, exclaiming: + </p> + <p> + ‘Swim henceforth, White Duck!’ + </p> + <p> + And the witch herself assumed the form of the Queen, and decked herself + out in the royal robes, and sat among the Court ladies, awaiting the + King’s return. And suddenly the tramp of horses’ hoofs was heard, and the + barking of dogs, and the witch hastened forward to meet the royal + carriages, and, throwing her arms round the King’s neck, kissed him. And + in his great joy the King did not know that the woman he held in his arms + was not his own dear wife, but a wicked witch. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, outside the palace walls, the poor White Duck swam up and + down the pond; and near it laid three eggs, out of which there came one + morning two little fluffy ducklings and a little ugly drake. And the White + Duck brought the little creatures up, and they paddled after her in the + pond, and caught gold-fish, and hopped upon the bank and waddled about, + ruffling their feathers and saying ‘Quack, quack’ as they strutted about + on the green banks of the pond. But their mother used to warn them not to + stray too far, telling them that a wicked witch lived in the castle beyond + the garden, adding, ‘She has ruined me, and she will do her best to ruin + you.’ But the young ones did not listen to their mother, and, playing + about the garden one day, they strayed close up to the castle windows. The + witch at once recognised them by their smell, and ground her teeth with + anger; but she hid her feelings, and, pretending to be very kind she + called them to her and joked with them, and led them into a beautiful + room, where she gave them food to eat, and showed them a soft cushion on + which they might sleep. Then she left them and went down into the palace + kitchens, where she told the servants to sharpen the knives, and to make a + great fire ready, and hang a large kettleful of water over it. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the two little ducklings had fallen asleep, and the little + drake lay between them, covered up by their wings, to be kept warm under + their feathers. But the little drake could not go to sleep, and as he lay + there wide awake in the night he heard the witch come to the door and say: + </p> + <p> + ‘Little ones, are you asleep?’ + </p> + <p> + And the little drake answered for the other two: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘We cannot sleep, we wake and weep, + Sharp is the knife, to take our life; + The fire is hot, now boils the pot, + And so we wake, and lie and quake.’ +</pre> + <p> + ‘They are not asleep yet,’ muttered the witch to herself; and she walked + up and down in the passage, and then came back to the door, and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Little ones, are you asleep?’ + </p> + <p> + And again the little drake answered for his sisters: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘We cannot sleep, we wake and weep, + Sharp is the knife, to take our life; + The fire is hot, now boils the pot, + And so we wake, and lie and quake.’ +</pre> + <p> + ‘Just the same answer,’ muttered the witch; ‘I think I’ll go in and see.’ + So she opened the door gently, and seeing the two little ducklings sound + asleep, she there and then killed them. + </p> + <p> + The next morning the White Duck wandered round the pond in a distracted + manner, looking for her little ones; she called and she searched, but + could find no trace of them. And in her heart she had a foreboding that + evil had befallen them, and she fluttered up out of the water and flew to + the palace. And there, laid out on the marble floor of the court, dead and + stone cold, were her three children. The White Duck threw herself upon + them, and, covering up their little bodies with her wings, she cried: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Quack, quack—my little loves! + Quack, quack—my turtle-doves! + I brought you up with grief and pain, + And now before my eyes you’re slain. + + I gave you always of the best; + I kept you warm in my soft nest. + I loved and watched you day and night— + You were my joy, my one delight.’ +</pre> + <p> + The King heard the sad complaint of the White Duck, and called to the + witch: ‘Wife, what a wonder is this? Listen to that White Duck.’ + </p> + <p> + But the witch answered, ‘My dear husband, what do you mean? There is + nothing wonderful in a duck’s quacking. Here, servants! Chase that duck + out of the courtyard.’ But though the servants chased and chevied, they + could not get rid of the duck; for she circled round and round, and always + came back to the spot where her children lay, crying: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Quack, quack—my little loves! + Quack, quack—my turtle-doves! + The wicked witch your lives did take— + The wicked witch, the cunning snake. + First she stole my King away, + Then my children did she slay. + Changed me, from a happy wife, + To a duck for all my life. + Would I were the Queen again; + Would that you had never been slain.’ +</pre> + <p> + And as the King heard her words he began to suspect that he had been + deceived, and he called out to the servants, ‘Catch that duck, and bring + it here.’ But, though they ran to and fro, the duck always fled past them, + and would not let herself be caught. So the King himself stepped down + amongst them, and instantly the duck fluttered down into his hands. And as + he stroked her wings she was changed into a beautiful woman, and he + recognised his dear wife. And she told him that a bottle would be found in + her nest in the garden, containing some drops from the spring of healing. + And it was brought to her; and the ducklings and little drake were + sprinkled with the water, and from the little dead bodies three lovely + children arose. And the King and Queen were overjoyed when they saw their + children, and they all lived happily together in the beautiful palace. But + the wicked witch was taken by the King’s command, and she came to no good + end. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE WITCH AND HER SERVANTS(22) + </h2> + <h3> + (22) From the Russian. Kletke. + </h3> + <p> + Long time ago there lived a King who had three sons; the eldest was called + Szabo, the second Warza, and the youngest Iwanich. + </p> + <p> + One beautiful spring morning the King was walking through his gardens with + these three sons, gazing with admiration at the various fruit-trees, some + of which were a mass of blossom, whilst others were bowed to the ground + laden with rich fruit. During their wanderings they came unperceived on a + piece of waste land where three splendid trees grew. The King looked on + them for a moment, and then, shaking his head sadly, he passed on in + silence. + </p> + <p> + The sons, who could not understand why he did this, asked him the reason + of his dejection, and the King told them as follows: + </p> + <p> + ‘These three trees, which I cannot see without sorrow, were planted by me + on this spot when I was a youth of twenty. A celebrated magician, who had + given the seed to my father, promised him that they would grow into the + three finest trees the world had ever seen. My father did not live to see + his words come true; but on his death-bed he bade me transplant them here, + and to look after them with the greatest care, which I accordingly did. At + last, after the lapse of five long years, I noticed some blossoms on the + branches, and a few days later the most exquisite fruit my eyes had ever + seen. + </p> + <p> + ‘I gave my head-gardener the strictest orders to watch the trees + carefully, for the magician had warned my father that if one unripe fruit + were plucked from the tree, all the rest would become rotten at once. When + it was quite ripe the fruit would become a golden yellow. + </p> + <p> + ‘Every day I gazed on the lovely fruit, which became gradually more and + more tempting-looking, and it was all I could do not to break the + magician’s commands. + </p> + <p> + ‘One night I dreamt that the fruit was perfectly ripe; I ate some of it, + and it was more delicious than anything I had ever tasted in real life. As + soon as I awoke I sent for the gardener and asked him if the fruit on the + three trees had not ripened in the night to perfection. + </p> + <p> + ‘But instead of replying, the gardener threw himself at my feet and swore + that he was innocent. He said that he had watched by the trees all night, + but in spite of it, and as if by magic, the beautiful trees had been + robbed of all their fruit. + </p> + <p> + ‘Grieved as I was over the theft, I did not punish the gardener, of whose + fidelity I was well assured, but I determined to pluck off all the fruit + in the following year before it was ripe, as I had not much belief in the + magician’s warning. + </p> + <p> + ‘I carried out my intention, and had all the fruit picked off the tree, + but when I tasted one of the apples it was bitter and unpleasant, and the + next morning the rest of the fruit had all rotted away. + </p> + <p> + ‘After this I had the beautiful fruit of these trees carefully guarded by + my most faithful servants; but every year, on this very night, the fruit + was plucked and stolen by an invisible hand, and next morning not a single + apple remained on the trees. For some time past I have given up even + having the trees watched.’ + </p> + <p> + When the King had finished his story, Szabo, his eldest son, said to him: + ‘Forgive me, father, if I say I think you are mistaken. I am sure there + are many men in your kingdom who could protect these trees from the + cunning arts of a thieving magician; I myself, who as your eldest son + claim the first right to do so, will mount guard over the fruit this very + night.’ + </p> + <p> + The King consented, and as soon as evening drew on Szabo climbed up on to + one of the trees, determined to protect the fruit even if it cost him his + life. So he kept watch half the night; but a little after midnight he was + overcome by an irresistible drowsiness, and fell fast asleep. He did not + awake till it was bright daylight, and all the fruit on the trees had + vanished. + </p> + <p> + The following year Warza, the second brother, tried his luck, but with the + same result. Then it came to the turn of the third and youngest son. + </p> + <p> + Iwanich was not the least discouraged by the failure of his elder + brothers, though they were both much older and stronger than he was, and + when night came climbed up the tree as they had done, The moon had risen, + and with her soft light lit up the whole neighbourhood, so that the + observant Prince could distinguish the smallest object distinctly. + </p> + <p> + At midnight a gentle west wind shook the tree, and at the same moment a + snow-white swan-like bird sank down gently on his breast. The Prince + hastily seized the bird’s wings in his hands, when, lo! to his + astonishment he found he was holding in his arms not a bird but the most + beautiful girl he had ever seen. + </p> + <p> + ‘You need not fear Militza,’ said the beautiful girl, looking at the + Prince with friendly eyes. ‘An evil magician has not robbed you of your + fruit, but he stole the seed from my mother, and thereby caused her death. + When she was dying she bade me take the fruit, which you have no right to + possess, from the trees every year as soon as it was ripe. This I would + have done to-night too, if you had not seized me with such force, and so + broken the spell I was under.’ + </p> + <p> + Iwanich, who had been prepared to meet a terrible magician and not a + lovely girl, fell desperately in love with her. They spent the rest of the + night in pleasant conversation, and when Militza wished to go away he + begged her not to leave him. + </p> + <p> + ‘I would gladly stay with you longer,’ said Militza, ‘but a wicked witch + once cut off a lock of my hair when I was asleep, which has put me in her + power, and if morning were still to find me here she would do me some + harm, and you, too, perhaps.’ + </p> + <p> + Having said these words, she drew a sparkling diamond ring from her + finger, which she handed to the Prince, saying: ‘Keep this ring in memory + of Militza, and think of her sometimes if you never see her again. But if + your love is really true, come and find me in my own kingdom. I may not + show you the way there, but this ring will guide you. + </p> + <p> + ‘If you have love and courage enough to undertake this journey, whenever + you come to a cross-road always look at this diamond before you settle + which way you are going to take. If it sparkles as brightly as ever go + straight on, but if its lustre is dimmed choose another path.’ + </p> + <p> + Then Militza bent over the Prince and kissed him on his forehead, and + before he had time to say a word she vanished through the branches of the + tree in a little white cloud. + </p> + <p> + Morning broke, and the Prince, still full of the wonderful apparition, + left his perch and returned to the palace like one in a dream, without + even knowing if the fruit had been taken or not; for his whole mind was + absorbed by thoughts of Militza and how he was to find her. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the head-gardener saw the Prince going towards the palace he + ran to the trees, and when he saw them laden with ripe fruit he hastened + to tell the King the joyful news. The King was beside himself for joy, and + hurried at once to the garden and made the gardener pick him some of the + fruit. He tasted it, and found the apple quite as luscious as it had been + in his dream. He went at once to his son Iwanich, and after embracing him + tenderly and heaping praises on him, he asked him how he had succeeded in + protecting the costly fruit from the power of the magician. + </p> + <p> + This question placed Iwanich in a dilemma. But as he did not want the real + story to be known, he said that about midnight a huge wasp had flown + through the branches, and buzzed incessantly round him. He had warded it + off with his sword, and at dawn, when he was becoming quite worn out, the + wasp had vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. + </p> + <p> + The King, who never doubted the truth of this tale, bade his son go to + rest at once and recover from the fatigues of the night; but he himself + went and ordered many feasts to be held in honour of the preservation of + the wonderful fruit. + </p> + <p> + The whole capital was in a stir, and everyone shared in the King’s joy; + the Prince alone took no part in the festivities. + </p> + <p> + While the King was at a banquet, Iwanich took some purses of gold, and + mounting the quickest horse in the royal stable, he sped off like the wind + without a single soul being any the wiser. + </p> + <p> + It was only on the next day that they missed him; the King was very + distressed at his disappearance, and sent search-parties all over the + kingdom to look for him, but in vain; and after six months they gave him + up as dead, and in another six months they had forgotten all about him. + But in the meantime the Prince, with the help of his ring, had had a most + successful journey, and no evil had befallen him. + </p> + <p> + At the end of three months he came to the entrance of a huge forest, which + looked as if it had never been trodden by human foot before, and which + seemed to stretch out indefinitely. The Prince was about to enter the wood + by a little path he had discovered, when he heard a voice shouting to him: + ‘Hold, youth! Whither are you going?’ + </p> + <p> + Iwanich turned round, and saw a tall, gaunt-looking man, clad in miserable + rags, leaning on a crooked staff and seated at the foot of an oak tree, + which was so much the same colour as himself that it was little wonder the + Prince had ridden past the tree without noticing him. + </p> + <p> + ‘Where else should I be going,’ he said, ‘than through the wood?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Through the wood?’ said the old man in amazement. ‘It’s easily seen that + you have heard nothing of this forest, that you rush so blindly to meet + your doom. Well, listen to me before you ride any further; let me tell you + that this wood hides in its depths a countless number of the fiercest + tigers, hyenas, wolves, bears, and snakes, and all sorts of other + monsters. If I were to cut you and your horse up into tiny morsels and + throw them to the beasts, there wouldn’t be one bit for each hundred of + them. Take my advice, therefore, and if you wish to save your life follow + some other path.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince was rather taken aback by the old man’s words, and considered + for a minute what he should do; then looking at his ring, and perceiving + that it sparkled as brightly as ever, he called out: ‘If this wood held + even more terrible things than it does, I cannot help myself, for I must + go through it.’ + </p> + <p> + Here he spurred his horse and rode on; but the old beggar screamed so + loudly after him that the Prince turned round and rode back to the oak + tree. + </p> + <p> + ‘I am really sorry for you,’ said the beggar, ‘but if you are quite + determined to brave the dangers of the forest, let me at least give you a + piece of advice which will help you against these monsters. + </p> + <p> + ‘Take this bagful of bread-crumbs and this live hare. I will make you a + present of them both, as I am anxious to save your life; but you must + leave your horse behind you, for it would stumble over the fallen trees or + get entangled in the briers and thorns. When you have gone about a hundred + yards into the wood the wild beasts will surround you. Then you must + instantly seize your bag, and scatter the bread-crumbs among them. They + will rush to eat them up greedily, and when you have scattered the last + crumb you must lose no time in throwing the hare to them; as soon as the + hare feels itself on the ground it will run away as quickly as possible, + and the wild beasts will turn to pursue it. In this way you will be able + to get through the wood unhurt.’ + </p> + <p> + Iwanich thanked the old man for his counsel, dismounted from his horse, + and, taking the bag and the hare in his arms, he entered the forest. He + had hardly lost sight of his gaunt grey friend when he heard growls and + snarls in the thicket close to him, and before he had time to think he + found himself surrounded by the most dreadful-looking creatures. On one + side he saw the glittering eye of a cruel tiger, on the other the gleaming + teeth of a great she-wolf; here a huge bear growled fiercely, and there a + horrible snake coiled itself in the grass at his feet. + </p> + <p> + But Iwanich did not forget the old man’s advice, and quickly put his hand + into the bag and took out as many bread-crumbs as he could hold in his + hand at a time. He threw them to the beasts, but soon the bag grew lighter + and lighter, and the Prince began to feel a little frightened. And now the + last crumb was gone, and the hungry beasts thronged round him, greedy for + fresh prey. Then he seized the hare and threw it to them. + </p> + <p> + No sooner did the little creature feel itself on the ground than it lay + back its ears and flew through the wood like an arrow from a bow, closely + pursued by the wild beasts, and the Prince was left alone. He looked at + his ring, and when he saw that it sparkled as brightly as ever he went + straight on through the forest. + </p> + <p> + He hadn’t gone very far when he saw a most extraordinary looking man + coming towards him. He was not more than three feet high, his legs were + quite crooked, and all his body was covered with prickles like a hedgehog. + Two lions walked with him, fastened to his side by the two ends of his + long beard. + </p> + <p> + He stopped the Prince and asked him in a harsh voice: ‘Are you the man who + has just fed my body-guard?’ + </p> + <p> + Iwanich was so startled that he could hardly reply, but the little man + continued: ‘I am most grateful to you for your kindness; what can I give + you as a reward?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘All I ask,’ replied Iwanich, ‘is, that I should be allowed to go through + this wood in safety.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Most certainly,’ answered the little man; ‘and for greater security I + will give you one of my lions as a protector. But when you leave this wood + and come near a palace which does not belong to my domain, let the lion + go, in order that he may not fall into the hands of an enemy and be + killed.’ + </p> + <p> + With these words he loosened the lion from his beard and bade the beast + guard the youth carefully. + </p> + <p> + With this new protector Iwanich wandered on through the forest, and though + he came upon a great many more wolves, hyenas, leopards, and other wild + beasts, they always kept at a respectful distance when they saw what sort + of an escort the Prince had with him. + </p> + <p> + Iwanich hurried through the wood as quickly as his legs would carry him, + but, nevertheless, hour after hour went by and not a trace of a green + field or a human habitation met his eyes. At length, towards evening, the + mass of trees grew more transparent, and through the interlaced branches a + wide plain was visible. + </p> + <p> + At the exit of the wood the lion stood still, and the Prince took leave of + him, having first thanked him warmly for his kind protection. It had + become quite dark, and Iwanich was forced to wait for daylight before + continuing his journey. + </p> + <p> + He made himself a bed of grass and leaves, lit a fire of dry branches, and + slept soundly till the next morning. + </p> + <p> + Then he got up and walked towards a beautiful white palace which he saw + gleaming in the distance. In about an hour he reached the building, and + opening the door he walked in. + </p> + <p> + After wandering through many marble halls, he came to a huge staircase + made of porphyry, leading down to a lovely garden. + </p> + <p> + The Prince burst into a shout of joy when he suddenly perceived Militza in + the centre of a group of girls who were weaving wreaths of flowers with + which to deck their mistress. + </p> + <p> + As soon as Militza saw the Prince she ran up to him and embraced him + tenderly; and after he had told her all his adventures, they went into the + palace, where a sumptuous meal awaited them. Then the Princess called her + court together, and introduced Iwanich to them as her future husband. + </p> + <p> + Preparations were at once made for the wedding, which was held soon after + with great pomp and magnificence. + </p> + <p> + Three months of great happiness followed, when Militza received one day an + invitation to visit her mother’s sister. + </p> + <p> + Although the Princess was very unhappy at leaving her husband, she did not + like to refuse the invitation, and, promising to return in seven days at + the latest, she took a tender farewell of the Prince, and said: ‘Before I + go I will hand you over all the keys of the castle. Go everywhere and do + anything you like; only one thing I beg and beseech you, do not open the + little iron door in the north tower, which is closed with seven locks and + seven bolts; for if you do, we shall both suffer for it.’ + </p> + <p> + Iwanich promised what she asked, and Militza departed, repeating her + promise to return in seven days. + </p> + <p> + When the Prince found himself alone he began to be tormented by pangs of + curiosity as to what the room in the tower contained. For two days he + resisted the temptation to go and look, but on the third he could stand it + no longer, and taking a torch in his hand he hurried to the tower, and + unfastened one lock after the other of the little iron door until it burst + open. + </p> + <p> + What an unexpected sight met his gaze! The Prince perceived a small room + black with smoke, lit up feebly by a fire from which issued long blue + flames. Over the fire hung a huge cauldron full of boiling pitch, and + fastened into the cauldron by iron chains stood a wretched man screaming + with agony. + </p> + <p> + Iwanich was much horrified at the sight before him, and asked the man what + terrible crime he had committed to be punished in this dreadful fashion. + </p> + <p> + ‘I will tell you everything,’ said the man in the cauldron; ‘but first + relieve my torments a little, I implore you.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘And how can I do that?’ asked the Prince. + </p> + <p> + ‘With a little water,’ replied the man; ‘only sprinkle a few drops over me + and I shall feel better.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince, moved by pity, without thinking what he was doing, ran to the + courtyard of the castle, and filled a jug with water, which he poured over + the man in the cauldron. + </p> + <p> + In a moment a most fearful crash was heard, as if all the pillars of the + palace were giving way, and the palace itself, with towers and doors, + windows and the cauldron, whirled round the bewildered Prince’s head. This + continued for a few minutes, and then everything vanished into thin air, + and Iwanich found himself suddenly alone upon a desolate heath covered + with rocks and stones. + </p> + <p> + The Prince, who now realised what his heedlessness had done, cursed too + late his spirit of curiosity. In his despair he wandered on over the + heath, never looking where he put his feet, and full of sorrowful + thoughts. At last he saw a light in the distance, which came from a + miserable-looking little hut. + </p> + <p> + The owner of it was none other than the kind-hearted gaunt grey beggar who + had given the Prince the bag of bread-crumbs and the hare. Without + recognising Iwanich, he opened the door when he knocked and gave him + shelter for the night. + </p> + <p> + On the following morning the Prince asked his host if he could get him any + work to do, as he was quite unknown in the neighbourhood, and had not + enough money to take him home. + </p> + <p> + ‘My son,’ replied the old man, ‘all this country round here is + uninhabited; I myself have to wander to distant villages for my living, + and even then I do not very often find enough to satisfy my hunger. But if + you would like to take service with the old witch Corva, go straight up + the little stream which flows below my hut for about three hours, and you + will come to a sand-hill on the left-hand side; that is where she lives.’ + </p> + <p> + Iwanich thanked the gaunt grey beggar for his information, and went on his + way. + </p> + <p> + After walking for about three hours the Prince came upon a dreary-looking + grey stone wall; this was the back of the building and did not attract + him; but when he came upon the front of the house he found it even less + inviting, for the old witch had surrounded her dwelling with a fence of + spikes, on every one of which a man’s skull was stuck. In this horrible + enclosure stood a small black house, which had only two grated windows, + all covered with cobwebs, and a battered iron door. + </p> + <p> + The Prince knocked, and a rasping woman’s voice told him to enter. + </p> + <p> + Iwanich opened the door, and found himself in a smoke-begrimed kitchen, in + the presence of a hideous old woman who was warming her skinny hands at a + fire. The Prince offered to become her servant, and the old hag told him + she was badly in want of one, and he seemed to be just the person to suit + her. + </p> + <p> + When Iwanich asked what his work, and how much his wages would be, the + witch bade him follow her, and led the way through a narrow damp passage + into a vault, which served as a stable. Here he perceived two pitch-black + horses in a stall. + </p> + <p> + ‘You see before you,’ said the old woman, ‘a mare and her foal; you have + nothing to do but to lead them out to the fields every day, and to see + that neither of them runs away from you. If you look after them both for a + whole year I will give you anything you like to ask; but if, on the other + hand, you let either of the animals escape you, your last hour is come, + and your head shall be stuck on the last spike of my fence. The other + spikes, as you see, are already adorned, and the skulls are all those of + different servants I have had who have failed to do what I demanded.’ + </p> + <p> + Iwanich, who thought he could not be much worse off than he was already, + agreed to the witch’s proposal. + </p> + <p> + At daybreak nest morning he drove his horses to the field, and brought + them back in the evening without their ever having attempted to break away + from him. The witch stood at her door and received him kindly, and set a + good meal before him. + </p> + <p> + So it continued for some time, and all went well with the Prince. + </p> + <p> + Early every morning he led the horses out to the fields, and brought them + home safe and sound in the evening. + </p> + <p> + One day, while he was watching the horses, he came to the banks of a + river, and saw a big fish, which through some mischance had been cast on + the land, struggling hard to get back into the water. + </p> + <p> + Iwanich, who felt sorry for the poor creature, seized it in his arms and + flung it into the stream. But no sooner did the fish find itself in the + water again, than, to the Prince’s amazement, it swam up to the bank and + said: + </p> + <p> + ‘My kind benefactor, how can I reward you for your goodness?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I desire nothing,’ answered the Prince. ‘I am quite content to have been + able to be of some service to you.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You must do me the favour,’ replied the fish, ‘to take a scale from my + body, and keep it carefully. If you should ever need my help, throw it + into the river, and I will come to your aid at once.’ + </p> + <p> + Iwanich bowed, loosened a scale from the body of the grateful beast, put + it carefully away, and returned home. + </p> + <p> + A short time after this, when he was going early one morning to the usual + grazing place with his horses, he noticed a flock of birds assembled + together making a great noise and flying wildly backwards and forwards. + </p> + <p> + Full of curiosity, Iwanich hurried up to the spot, and saw that a large + number of ravens had attacked an eagle, and although the eagle was big and + powerful and was making a brave fight, it was overpowered at last by + numbers, and had to give in. + </p> + <p> + But the Prince, who was sorry for the poor bird, seized the branch of a + tree and hit out at the ravens with it; terrified at this unexpected + onslaught they flew away, leaving many of their number dead or wounded on + the battlefield. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the eagle saw itself free from its tormentors it plucked a + feather from its wing, and, handing it to the Prince, said: ‘Here, my kind + benefactor, take this feather as a proof of my gratitude; should you ever + be in need of my help blow this feather into the air, and I will help you + as much as is in my power.’ + </p> + <p> + Iwanich thanked the bird, and placing the feather beside the scale he + drove the horses home. + </p> + <p> + Another day he had wandered farther than usual, and came close to a + farmyard; the place pleased the Prince, and as there was plenty of good + grass for the horses he determined to spend the day there. Just as he was + sitting down under a tree he heard a cry close to him, and saw a fox which + had been caught in a trap placed there by the farmer. + </p> + <p> + In vain did the poor beast try to free itself; then the good-natured + Prince came once more to the rescue, and let the fox out of the trap. + </p> + <p> + The fox thanked him heartily, tore two hairs out of his bushy tail, and + said: ‘Should you ever stand in need of my help throw these two hairs into + the fire, and in a moment I shall be at your side ready to obey you.’ + </p> + <p> + Iwanich put the fox’s hairs with the scale and the feather, and as it was + getting dark he hastened home with his horses. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime his service was drawing near to an end, and in three more + days the year was up, and he would be able to get his reward and leave the + witch. + </p> + <p> + On the first evening of these last three days, when he came home and was + eating his supper, he noticed the old woman stealing into the stables. + </p> + <p> + The Prince followed her secretly to see what she was going to do. He + crouched down in the doorway and heard the wicked witch telling the horses + to wait next morning till Iwanich was asleep, and then to go and hide + themselves in the river, and to stay there till she told them to return; + and if they didn’t do as she told them the old woman threatened to beat + them till they bled. + </p> + <p> + When Iwanich heard all this he went back to his room, determined that + nothing should induce him to fall asleep next day. On the following + morning he led the mare and foal to the fields as usual, but bound a cord + round them both which he kept in his hand. + </p> + <p> + But after a few hours, by the magic arts of the old witch, he was + overpowered by sleep, and the mare and foal escaped and did as they had + been told to do. The Prince did not awake till late in the evening; and + when he did, he found, to his horror, that the horses had disappeared. + Filled with despair, he cursed the moment when he had entered the service + of the cruel witch, and already he saw his head sticking up on the sharp + spike beside the others. + </p> + <p> + Then he suddenly remembered the fish’s scale, which, with the eagle’s + feather and the fox’s hairs, he always carried about with him. He drew the + scale from his pocket, and hurrying to the river he threw it in. In a + minute the grateful fish swam towards the bank on which Iwanich was + standing, and said: ‘What do you command, my friend and benefactor?’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince replied: ‘I had to look after a mare and foal, and they have + run away from me and have hidden themselves in the river; if you wish to + save my life drive them back to the land.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Wait a moment,’ answered the fish, ‘and I and my friends will soon drive + them out of the water.’ With these words the creature disappeared into the + depths of the stream. + </p> + <p> + Almost immediately a rushing hissing sound was heard in the waters, the + waves dashed against the banks, the foam was tossed into the air, and the + two horses leapt suddenly on to the dry land, trembling and shaking with + fear. + </p> + <p> + Iwanich sprang at once on to the mare’s back, seized the foal by its + bridle, and hastened home in the highest spirits. + </p> + <p> + When the witch saw the Prince bringing the horses home she could hardly + conceal her wrath, and as soon as she had placed Iwanich’s supper before + him she stole away again to the stables. The Prince followed her, and + heard her scolding the beasts harshly for not having hidden themselves + better. She bade them wait next morning till Iwanich was asleep and then + to hide themselves in the clouds, and to remain there till she called. If + they did not do as she told them she would beat them till they bled. + </p> + <p> + The next morning, after Iwanich had led his horses to the fields, he fell + once more into a magic sleep. The horses at once ran away and hid + themselves in the clouds, which hung down from the mountains in soft + billowy masses. + </p> + <p> + When the Prince awoke and found that both the mare and the foal had + disappeared, he bethought him at once of the eagle, and taking the feather + out of his pocket he blew it into the air. + </p> + <p> + In a moment the bird swooped down beside him and asked: ‘What do you wish + me to do?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘My mare and foal,’ replied the Prince, ‘have run away from me, and have + hidden themselves in the clouds; if you wish to save my life, restore both + animals to me.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Wait a minute,’ answered the eagle; ‘with the help of my friends I will + soon drive them back to you.’ + </p> + <p> + With these words the bird flew up into the air and disappeared among the + clouds. + </p> + <p> + Almost directly Iwanich saw his two horses being driven towards him by a + host of eagles of all sizes. He caught the mare and foal, and having + thanked the eagle he drove them cheerfully home again. + </p> + <p> + The old witch was more disgusted than ever when she saw him appearing, and + having set his supper before him she stole into the stables, and Iwanich + heard her abusing the horses for not having hidden themselves better in + the clouds. Then she bade them hide themselves next morning, as soon as + Iwanich was asleep, in the King’s hen-house, which stood on a lonely part + of the heath, and to remain there till she called. If they failed to do as + she told them she would certainly beat them this time till they bled. + </p> + <p> + On the following morning the Prince drove his horses as usual to the + fields. After he had been overpowered by sleep, as on the former days, the + mare and foal ran away and hid themselves in the royal hen house. + </p> + <p> + When the Prince awoke and found the horses gone he determined to appeal to + the fox; so, lighting a fire, he threw the two hairs into it, and in a few + moments the fox stood beside him and asked: ‘In what way can I serve you?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I wish to know,’ replied Iwanich, ‘where the King’s hen-house is.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Hardly an hour’s walk from here,’ answered the fox, and offered to show + the Prince the way to it. + </p> + <p> + While they were walking along the fox asked him what he wanted to do at + the royal hen-house. The Prince told him of the misfortune that had + befallen him, and of the necessity of recovering the mare and foal. + </p> + <p> + ‘That is no easy matter,’ replied the fox. ‘But wait a moment. I have an + idea. Stand at the door of the hen-house, and wait there for your horses. + In the meantime I will slip in among the hens through a hole in the wall + and give them a good chase, so that the noise they make will arouse the + royal henwives, and they will come to see what is the matter. When they + see the horses they will at once imagine them to be the cause of the + disturbance, and will drive them out. Then you must lay hands on the mare + and foal and catch them. + </p> + <p> + All turned out exactly as the sly fox had foreseen. The Prince swung + himself on the mare, seized the foal by its bridle, and hurried home. + </p> + <p> + While he was riding over the heath in the highest of spirits the mare + suddenly said to her rider: ‘You are the first person who has ever + succeeded in outwitting the old witch Corva, and now you may ask what + reward you like for your service. If you promise never to betray me I will + give you a piece of advice which you will do well to follow.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince promised never to betray her confidence, and the mare + continued: ‘Ask nothing else as a reward than my foal, for it has not its + like in the world, and is not to be bought for love or money; for it can + go from one end of the earth to another in a few minutes. Of course the + cunning Corva will do her best to dissuade you from taking the foal, and + will tell you that it is both idle and sickly; but do not believe her, and + stick to your point.’ + </p> + <p> + Iwanich longed to possess such an animal, and promised the mare to follow + her advice. + </p> + <p> + This time Corva received him in the most friendly manner, and set a + sumptuous repast before him. As soon as he had finished she asked him what + reward he demanded for his year’s service. + </p> + <p> + ‘Nothing more nor less,’ replied the Prince, ‘than the foal of your mare.’ + </p> + <p> + The witch pretended to be much astonished at his request, and said that he + deserved something much better than the foal, for the beast was lazy and + nervous, blind in one eye, and, in short, was quite worthless. + </p> + <p> + But the Prince knew what he wanted, and when the old witch saw that he had + made up his mind to have the foal, she said, ‘I am obliged to keep my + promise and to hand you over the foal; and as I know who you are and what + you want, I will tell you in what way the animal will be useful to you. + The man in the cauldron of boiling pitch, whom you set free, is a mighty + magician; through your curiosity and thoughtlessness Militza came into his + power, and he has transported her and her castle and belongings into a + distant country. + </p> + <p> + ‘You are the only person who can kill him; and in consequence he fears you + to such an extent that he has set spies to watch you, and they report your + movements to him daily. + </p> + <p> + ‘When you have reached him, beware of speaking a single word to him, or + you will fall into the power of his friends. Seize him at once by the + beard and dash him to the ground.’ + </p> + <p> + Iwanich thanked the old witch, mounted his foal, put spurs to its sides, + and they flew like lightning through the air. + </p> + <p> + Already it was growing dark, when Iwanich perceived some figures in the + distance; they soon came up to them, and then the Prince saw that it was + the magician and his friends who were driving through the air in a + carriage drawn by owls. + </p> + <p> + When the magician found himself face to face with Iwanich, without hope of + escape, he turned to him with false friendliness and said: ‘Thrice my kind + benefactor!’ + </p> + <p> + But the Prince, without saying a word, seized him at once by his beard and + dashed him to the ground. At the same moment the foal sprang on the top of + the magician and kicked and stamped on him with his hoofs till he died. + </p> + <p> + Then Iwanich found himself once more in the palace of his bride, and + Militza herself flew into his arms. + </p> + <p> + From this time forward they lived in undisturbed peace and happiness till + the end of their lives. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE MAGIC RING + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had one son called Martin. + Now when the old man’s time had come, he stretched himself out on his bed + and died. Though all his life long he had toiled and moiled, he only left + his widow and son two hundred florins. The old woman determined to put by + the money for a rainy day; but alas! the rainy day was close at hand, for + their meal was all consumed, and who is prepared to face starvation with + two hundred florins at their disposal? So the old woman counted out a + hundred of her florins, and giving them to Martin, told him to go into the + town and lay in a store of meal for a year. + </p> + <p> + So Martin started off for the town. When he reached the meat-market he + found the whole place in turmoil, and a great noise of angry voices and + barking of dogs. Mixing in the crowd, he noticed a stag-hound which the + butchers had caught and tied to a post, and which was being flogged in a + merciless manner. Overcome with pity, Martin spoke to the butchers, + saying: + </p> + <p> + ‘Friends, why are you beating the poor dog so cruelly?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘We have every right to beat him,’ they replied; ‘he has just devoured a + newly-killed pig.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Leave off beating him,’ said Martin, ‘and sell him to me instead.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘If you choose to buy him,’ answered the butchers derisively; ‘but for + such a treasure we won’t take a penny less than a hundred florins.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘A hundred!’ exclaimed Martin. ‘Well, so be it, if you will not take + less;’ and, taking the money out of his pocket, he handed it over in + exchange for the dog, whose name was Schurka. + </p> + <p> + When Martin got home, his mother met him with the question: + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, what have you bought?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Schurka, the dog,’ replied Martin, pointing to his new possession. + Whereupon his mother became very angry, and abused him roundly. He ought + to be ashamed of himself, when there was scarcely a handful of meal in the + house, to have spent the money on a useless brute like that. On the + following day she sent him back to the town, saying, ‘Here, take our last + hundred florins, and buy provisions with them. I have just emptied the + last grains of meal out of the chest, and baked a bannock; but it won’t + last over to-morrow.’ + </p> + <p> + Just as Martin was entering the town he met a rough-looking peasant who + was dragging a cat after him by a string which was fastened round the poor + beast’s neck. + </p> + <p> + ‘Stop,’ cried Martin; ‘where are you dragging that poor cat?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I mean to drown him,’ was the answer. + </p> + <p> + ‘What harm has the poor beast done?’ said Martin. + </p> + <p> + ‘It has just killed a goose,’ replied the peasant. + </p> + <p> + ‘Don’t drown him, sell him to me instead,’ begged Martin. + </p> + <p> + ‘Not for a hundred florins,’ was the answer. + </p> + <p> + ‘Surely for a hundred florins you’ll sell it?’ said Martin. ‘See! here is + the money;’ and, so saying, he handed him the hundred florins, which the + peasant pocketed, and Martin took possession of the cat, which was called + Waska. + </p> + <p> + When he reached his home his mother greeted him with the question: + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, what have you brought back?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I have brought this cat, Waska,’ answered Martin. + </p> + <p> + ‘And what besides?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I had no money over to buy anything else with,’ replied Martin. + </p> + <p> + ‘You useless ne’er-do-weel!’ exclaimed his mother in a great passion. + ‘Leave the house at once, and go and beg your bread among strangers;’ and + as Martin did not dare to contradict her, he called Schurka and Waska and + started off with them to the nearest village in search of work. On the way + he met a rich peasant, who asked him where he was going. + </p> + <p> + ‘I want to get work as a day labourer,’ he answered. + </p> + <p> + ‘Come along with me, then. But I must tell you I engage my labourers + without wages. If you serve me faithfully for a year, I promise you it + shall be for your advantage.’ + </p> + <p> + So Martin consented, and for a year he worked diligently, and served his + master faithfully, not sparing himself in any way. When the day of + reckoning had come the peasant led him into a barn, and pointing to two + full sacks, said: ‘Take whichever of these you choose.’ + </p> + <p> + Martin examined the contents of the sacks, and seeing that one was full of + silver and the other of sand, he said to himself: + </p> + <p> + ‘There must be some trick about this; I had better take the sand.’ And + throwing the sack over his shoulders he started out into the world, in + search of fresh work. On and on he walked, and at last he reached a great + gloomy wood. In the middle of the wood he came upon a meadow, where a fire + was burning, and in the midst of the fire, surrounded by flames, was a + lovely damsel, more beautiful than anything that Martin had ever seen, and + when she saw him she called to him: + </p> + <p> + ‘Martin, if you would win happiness, save my life. Extinguish the flames + with the sand that you earned in payment of your faithful service.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Truly,’ thought Martin to himself, ‘it would be more sensible to save a + fellow-being’s life with this sand than to drag it about on one’s back, + seeing what a weight it is.’ And forthwith he lowered the sack from his + shoulders and emptied its contents on the flames, and instantly the fire + was extinguished; but at the same moment lo! and behold the lovely damsel + turned into a Serpent, and, darting upon him, coiled itself round his + neck, and whispered lovingly in his ear: + </p> + <p> + ‘Do not be afraid of me, Martin; I love you, and will go with you through + the world. But first you must follow me boldly into my Father’s Kingdom, + underneath the earth; and when we get there, remember this—he will + offer you gold and silver, and dazzling gems, but do not touch them. Ask + him, instead, for the ring which he wears on his little finger, for in + that ring lies a magic power; you have only to throw it from one hand to + the other, and at once twelve young men will appear, who will do your + bidding, no matter how difficult, in a single night.’ + </p> + <p> + So they started on their way, and after much wandering they reached a spot + where a great rock rose straight up in the middle of the road. Instantly + the Serpent uncoiled itself from his neck, and, as it touched the damp + earth, it resumed the shape of the lovely damsel. Pointing to the rock, + she showed him an opening just big enough for a man to wriggle through. + Passing into it, they entered a long underground passage, which led out on + to a wide field, above which spread a blue sky. In the middle of the field + stood a magnificent castle, built out of porphyry, with a roof of gold and + with glittering battlements. And his beautiful guide told him that this + was the palace in which her father lived and reigned over his kingdom in + the Under-world. + </p> + <p> + Together they entered the palace, and were received by the King with great + kindness. Turning to his daughter, he said: + </p> + <p> + ‘My child, I had almost given up the hope of ever seeing you again. Where + have you been all these years?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘My father,’ she replied, ‘I owe my life to this youth, who saved me from + a terrible death.’ + </p> + <p> + Upon which the King turned to Martin with a gracious smile, saying: ‘I + will reward your courage by granting you whatever your heart desires. Take + as much gold, silver, and precious stones as you choose.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I thank you, mighty King, for your gracious offer,’ answered Martin,’ + ‘but I do not covet either gold, silver, or precious stones; yet if you + will grant me a favour, give me, I beg, the ring from off the little + finger of your royal hand. Every time my eye falls on it I shall think of + your gracious Majesty, and when I marry I shall present it to my bride.’ + </p> + <p> + So the King took the ring from his finger and gave it to Martin, saying: + ‘Take it, good youth; but with it I make one condition—you are never + to confide to anyone that this is a magic ring. If you do, you will + straightway bring misfortune on yourself.’ + </p> + <p> + Martin took the ring, and, having thanked the King, he set out on the same + road by which he had come down into the Under-world. When he had regained + the upper air he started for his old home, and having found his mother + still living in the old house where he had left her, they settled down + together very happily. So uneventful was their life that it almost seemed + as if it would go on in this way always, without let or hindrance. But one + day it suddenly came into his mind that he would like to get married, and, + moreover, that he would choose a very grand wife—a King’s daughter, + in short. But as he did not trust himself as a wooer, he determined to + send his old mother on the mission. + </p> + <p> + ‘You must go to the King,’ he said to her, ‘and demand the hand of his + lovely daughter in marriage for me.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What are you thinking of, my son?’ answered the old woman, aghast at the + idea. ‘Why cannot you marry someone in your own rank? That would be far + more fitting than to send a poor old woman like me a-wooing to the King’s + Court for the hand of a Princess. Why, it is as much as our heads are + worth. Neither my life nor yours would be worth anything if I went on such + a fool’s errand.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Never fear, little mother,’ answered Martin. ‘Trust me; all will be well. + But see that you do not come back without an answer of some kind.’ + </p> + <p> + And so, obedient to her son’s behest, the old woman hobbled off to the + palace, and, without being hindered, reached the courtyard, and began to + mount the flight of steps leading to the royal presence chamber. At the + head of the landing rows of courtiers were collected in magnificent + attire, who stared at the queer old figure, and called to her, and + explained to her, with every kind of sign, that it was strictly forbidden + to mount those steps. But their stern words and forbidding gestures made + no impression whatever on the old woman, and she resolutely continued to + climb the stairs, bent on carrying out her son’s orders. Upon this some of + the courtiers seized her by the arms, and held her back by sheer force, at + which she set up such a yell that the King himself heard it, and stepped + out on to the balcony to see what was the matter. When he beheld the old + woman flinging her arms wildly about, and heard her scream that she would + not leave the place till she had laid her case before the King, he ordered + that she should be brought into his presence. And forthwith she was + conducted into the golden presence chamber, where, leaning back amongst + cushions of royal purple, the King sat, surrounded by his counsellors and + courtiers. Courtesying low, the old woman stood silent before him. ‘Well, + my good old dame, what can I do for you?’ asked the King. + </p> + <p> + ‘I have come,’ replied Martin’s mother—‘and your Majesty must not be + angry with me—I have come a-wooing.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Is the woman out of her mind?’ said the King, with an angry frown. + </p> + <p> + But Martin’s mother answered boldly: ‘If the King will only listen + patiently to me, and give me a straightforward answer, he will see that I + am not out of my mind. You, O King, have a lovely daughter to give in + marriage. I have a son—a wooer—as clever a youth and as good a + son-in-law as you will find in your whole kingdom. There is nothing that + he cannot do. Now tell me, O King, plump and plain, will you give your + daughter to my son as wife?’ The King listened to the end of the old + woman’s strange request, but every moment his face grew blacker, and his + features sterner; till all at once he thought to himself, ‘Is it worth + while that I, the King, should be angry with this poor old fool?’ And all + the courtiers and counsellors were amazed when they saw the hard lines + round his mouth and the frown on his brow grow smooth, and heard the mild + but mocking tones in which he answered the old woman, saying: + </p> + <p> + ‘If your son is as wonderfully clever as you say, and if there is nothing + in the world that he cannot do, let him build a magnificent castle, just + opposite my palace windows, in four and twenty hours. The palace must be + joined together by a bridge of pure crystal. On each side of the bridge + there must be growing trees, having golden and silver apples, and with + birds of Paradise among the branches. At the right of the bridge there + must be a church, with five golden cupolas; in this church your son shall + be wedded to my daughter, and we will keep the wedding festivities in the + new castle. But if he fails to execute this my royal command, then, as a + just but mild monarch, I shall give orders that you and he are taken, and + first dipped in tar and then in feathers, and you shall be executed in the + market-place for the entertainment of my courtiers.’ + </p> + <p> + And a smile played round the King’s lips as he finished speaking, and his + courtiers and counsellors shook with laughter when they thought of the old + woman’s folly, and praised the King’s wise device, and said to each other, + ‘What a joke it will be when we see the pair of them tarred and feathered! + The son is just as able to grow a beard on the palm of his hand as to + execute such a task in twenty-four hours.’ + </p> + <p> + Now the poor old woman was mortally afraid and, in a trembling voice she + asked: + </p> + <p> + ‘Is that really your royal will, O King? Must I take this order to my poor + son?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, old dame; such is my command. If your son carries out my order, he + shall be rewarded with my daughter; but if he fails, away to the + tar-barrel and the stake with you both!’ + </p> + <p> + On her way home the poor old woman shed bitter tears, and when she saw + Martin she told him what the King had said, and sobbed out: + </p> + <p> + ‘Didn’t I tell you, my son, that you should marry someone of your own + rank? It would have been better for us this day if you had. As I told you, + my going to Court has been as much as our lives are worth, and now we will + both be tarred and feathered, and burnt in the public market-place. It is + terrible!’ and she moaned and cried. + </p> + <p> + ‘Never fear, little mother,’ answered Martin; ‘trust me, and you will see + all will be well. You may go to sleep with a quiet mind.’ + </p> + <p> + And, stepping to the front of the hut, Martin threw his ring from the palm + of one hand into the other, upon which twelve youths instantly appeared, + and demanded what he wanted them to do. Then he told them the King’s + commands, and they answered that by next morning all should be + accomplished exactly as the King had ordered. + </p> + <p> + Next morning when the King awoke, and looked out of his window, to his + amazement he beheld a magnificent castle, just opposite his own palace, + and joined to it a bridge of pure crystal. + </p> + <p> + At each side of the bridge trees were growing, from whose branches hung + golden and silver apples, among which birds of Paradise perched. At the + right, gleaming in the sun, were the five golden cupolas of a splendid + church, whose bells rang out, as if they would summon people from all + corners of the earth to come and behold the wonder. Now, though the King + would much rather have seen his future son-in-law tarred, feathered, and + burnt at the stake, he remembered his royal oath, and had to make the best + of a bad business. So he took heart of grace, and made Martin a Duke, and + gave his daughter a rich dowry, and prepared the grandest wedding-feast + that had ever been seen, so that to this day the old people in the country + still talk of it. + </p> + <p> + After the wedding Martin and his royal bride went to dwell in the + magnificent new palace, and here Martin lived in the greatest comfort and + luxury, such luxury as he had never imagined. But though he was as happy + as the day was long, and as merry as a grig, the King’s daughter fretted + all day, thinking of the indignity that had been done her in making her + marry Martin, the poor widow’s son, instead of a rich young Prince from a + foreign country. So unhappy was she that she spent all her time wondering + how she should get rid of her undesirable husband. And first she + determined to learn the secret of his power, and, with flattering, + caressing words, she tried to coax him to tell her how he was so clever + that there was nothing in the world that he could not do. At first he + would tell her nothing; but once, when he was in a yielding mood, she + approached him with a winning smile on her lovely face, and, speaking + flattering words to him, she gave him a potion to drink, with a sweet, + strong taste. And when he had drunk it Martin’s lips were unsealed, and he + told her that all his power lay in the magic ring that he wore on his + finger, and he described to her how to use it, and, still speaking, he + fell into a deep sleep. And when she saw that the potion had worked, and + that he was sound asleep, the Princess took the magic ring from his + finger, and, going into the courtyard, she threw it from the palm of one + hand into the other. + </p> + <p> + On the instant the twelve youths appeared, and asked her what she + commanded them to do. Then she told them that by the next morning they + were to do away with the castle, and the bridge, and the church, and put + in their stead the humble hut in which Martin used to live with his + mother, and that while he slept her husband was to be carried to his old + lowly room; and that they were to bear her away to the utmost ends of the + earth, where an old King lived who would make her welcome in his palace, + and surround her with the state that befitted a royal Princess. + </p> + <p> + ‘You shall be obeyed,’ answered the twelve youths at the same moment. And + lo and behold! the following morning, when the King awoke and looked out + of his window he beheld to his amazement that the palace, bridge, church, + and trees had all vanished, and there was nothing in their place but a + bare, miserable-looking hut. + </p> + <p> + Immediately the King sent for his son-in-law, and commanded him to explain + what had happened. But Martin looked at his royal father-in-law, and + answered never a word. Then the King was very angry, and, calling a + council together, he charged Martin with having been guilty of witchcraft, + and of having deceived the King, and having made away with the Princess; + and he was condemned to imprisonment in a high stone tower, with neither + meat nor drink, till he should die of starvation. + </p> + <p> + Then, in the hour of his dire necessity, his old friends Schurka (the dog) + and Waska (the cat) remembered how Martin had once saved them from a cruel + death; and they took counsel together as to how they should help him. And + Schurka growled, and was of opinion that he would like to tear everyone in + pieces; but Waska purred meditatively, and scratched the back of her ear + with a velvet paw, and remained lost in thought. At the end of a few + minutes she had made up her mind, and, turning to Schurka, said: ‘Let us + go together into the town, and the moment we meet a baker you must make a + rush between his legs and upset the tray from off his head; I will lay + hold of the rolls, and will carry them off to our master.’ No sooner said + than done. Together the two faithful creatures trotted off into the town, + and very soon they met a baker bearing a tray on his head, and looking + round on all sides, while he cried: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Fresh rolls, sweet cake, + Fancy bread of every kind. + Come and buy, come and take, + Sure you’ll find it to your mind,’ +</pre> + <p> + At that moment Schurka made a rush between his legs—the baker + stumbled, the tray was upset, the rolls fell to the ground, and, while the + man angrily pursued Schurka, Waska managed to drag the rolls out of sight + behind a bush. And when a moment later Schurka joined her, they set off at + full tilt to the stone tower where Martin was a prisoner, taking the rolls + with them. Waska, being very agile, climbed up by the outside to the + grated window, and called in an anxious voice: + </p> + <p> + ‘Are you alive, master?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Scarcely alive—almost starved to death,’ answered Martin in a weak + voice. ‘I little thought it would come to this, that I should die of + hunger.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Never fear, dear master. Schurka and I will look after you,’ said Waska. + And in another moment she had climbed down and brought him back a roll, + and then another, and another, till she had brought him the whole + tray-load. Upon which she said: ‘Dear master, Schurka and I are going off + to a distant kingdom at the utmost ends of the earth to fetch you back + your magic ring. You must be careful that the rolls last till our return.’ + </p> + <p> + And Waska took leave of her beloved master, and set off with Schurka on + their journey. On and on they travelled, looking always to right and left + for traces of the Princess, following up every track, making inquiries of + every cat and dog they met, listening to the talk of every wayfarer they + passed; and at last they heard that the kingdom at the utmost ends of the + earth where the twelve youths had borne the Princess was not very far off. + And at last one day they reached that distant kingdom, and, going at once + to the palace, they began to make friends with all the dogs and cats in + the place, and to question them about the Princess and the magic ring; but + no one could tell them much about either. Now one day it chanced that + Waska had gone down to the palace cellar to hunt for mice and rats, and + seeing an especially fat, well-fed mouse, she pounced upon it, buried her + claws in its soft fur, and was just going to gobble it up, when she was + stopped by the pleading tones of the little creature, saying, ‘If you will + only spare my life I may be of great service to you. I will do everything + in my power for you; for I am the King of the Mice, and if I perish the + whole race will die out.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘So be it,’ said Waska. ‘I will spare your life; but in return you must do + something for me. In this castle there lives a Princess, the wicked wife + of my dear master. She has stolen away his magic ring. You must get it + away from her at whatever cost; do you hear? Till you have done this I + won’t take my claws out of your fur.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Good!’ replied the mouse; ‘I will do what you ask.’ And, so saying, he + summoned all the mice in his kingdom together. A countless number of mice, + small and big, brown and grey, assembled, and formed a circle round their + king, who was a prisoner under Waska’s claws. Turning to them he said: + ‘Dear and faithful subjects, who ever among you will steal the magic ring + from the strange Princess will release me from a cruel death; and I shall + honour him above all the other mice in the kingdom.’ + </p> + <p> + Instantly a tiny mouse stepped forward and said: ‘I often creep about the + Princess’s bedroom at night, and I have noticed that she has a ring which + she treasures as the apple of her eye. All day she wears it on her finger, + and at night she keeps it in her mouth. I will undertake, sire, to steal + away the ring for you.’ + </p> + <p> + And the tiny mouse tripped away into the bedroom of the Princess, and + waited for nightfall; then, when the Princess had fallen asleep, it crept + up on to her bed, and gnawed a hole in the pillow, through which it + dragged one by one little down feathers, and threw them under the + Princess’s nose. And the fluff flew into the Princess’s nose, and into her + mouth, and starting up she sneezed and coughed, and the ring fell out of + her mouth on to the coverlet. In a flash the tiny mouse had seized it, and + brought it to Waska as a ransom for the King of the Mice. Thereupon Waska + and Schurka started off, and travelled night and day till they reached the + stone tower where Martin was imprisoned; and the cat climbed up the + window, and called out to him: + </p> + <p> + ‘Martin, dear master, are you still alive?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! Waska, my faithful little cat, is that you?’ replied a weak voice. ‘I + am dying of hunger. For three days I have not tasted food.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Be of good heart, dear master,’ replied Waska; ‘from this day forth you + will know nothing but happiness and prosperity. If this were a moment to + trouble you with riddles, I would make you guess what Schurka and I have + brought you back. Only think, we have got you your ring!’ + </p> + <p> + At these words Martin’s joy knew no bounds, and he stroked her fondly, and + she rubbed up against him and purred happily, while below Schurka bounded + in the air, and barked joyfully. Then Martin took the ring, and threw it + from one hand into the other, and instantly the twelve youths appeared and + asked what they were to do. + </p> + <p> + ‘Fetch me first something to eat and drink, as quickly as possible; and + after that bring musicians hither, and let us have music all day long.’ + </p> + <p> + Now when the people in the town and palace heard music coming from the + tower they were filled with amazement, and came to the King with the news + that witchcraft must be going on in Martin’s Tower, for, instead of dying + of starvation, he was seemingly making merry to the sound of music, and to + the clatter of plates, and glass, and knives and forks; and the music was + so enchantingly sweet that all the passers-by stood still to listen to it. + On this the King sent at once a messenger to the Starvation Tower, and he + was so astonished with what he saw that he remained rooted to the spot. + Then the King sent his chief counsellors, and they too were transfixed + with wonder. At last the King came himself, and he likewise was spellbound + by the beauty of the music. + </p> + <p> + Then Martin summoned the twelve youths, spoke to them, saying, ‘Build up + my castle again, and join it to the King’s Palace with a crystal bridge; + do not forget the trees with the golden and silver apples, and with the + birds of Paradise in the branches; and put back the church with the five + cupolas, and let the bells ring out, summoning the people from the four + corners of the kingdom. And one thing more: bring back my faithless wife, + and lead her into the women’s chamber.’ + </p> + <p> + And it was all done as he commanded, and, leaving the Starvation Tower, he + took the King, his father-in-law, by the arm, and led him into the new + palace, where the Princess sat in fear and trembling, awaiting her death. + And Martin spoke to the King, saying, ‘King and royal father, I have + suffered much at the hands of your daughter. What punishment shall be + dealt to her?’ + </p> + <p> + Then the mild King answered: ‘Beloved Prince and son-in-law, if you love + me, let your anger be turned to grace—forgive my daughter, and + restore her to your heart and favour.’ + </p> + <p> + And Martin’s heart was softened and he forgave his wife, and they lived + happily together ever after. And his old mother came and lived with him, + and he never parted with Schurka and Waska; and I need hardly tell you + that he never again let the ring out of his possession. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FLOWER QUEEN’S DAUGHTER(23) + </h2> + <h3> + (23) From the Bukowinaer. Von Wliolocki. + </h3> + <p> + A young Prince was riding one day through a meadow that stretched for + miles in front of him, when he came to a deep open ditch. He was turning + aside to avoid it, when he heard the sound of someone crying in the ditch. + He dismounted from his horse, and stepped along in the direction the sound + came from. To his astonishment he found an old woman, who begged him to + help her out of the ditch. The Prince bent down and lifted her out of her + living grave, asking her at the same time how she had managed to get + there. + </p> + <p> + ‘My son,’ answered the old woman, ‘I am a very poor woman, and soon after + midnight I set out for the neighbouring town in order to sell my eggs in + the market on the following morning; but I lost my way in the dark, and + fell into this deep ditch, where I might have remained for ever but for + your kindness.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the Prince said to her, ‘You can hardly walk; I will put you on my + horse and lead you home. Where do you live?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Over there, at the edge of the forest in the little hut you see in the + distance,’ replied the old woman. + </p> + <p> + The Prince lifted her on to his horse, and soon they reached the hut, + where the old woman got down, and turning to the Prince said, ‘Just wait a + moment, and I will give you something.’ And she disappeared into her hut, + but returned very soon and said, ‘You are a mighty Prince, but at the same + time you have a kind heart, which deserves to be rewarded. Would you like + to have the most beautiful woman in the world for your wife?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Most certainly I would,’ replied the Prince. + </p> + <p> + So the old woman continued, ‘The most beautiful woman in the whole world + is the daughter of the Queen of the Flowers, who has been captured by a + dragon. If you wish to marry her, you must first set her free, and this I + will help you to do. I will give you this little bell: if you ring it + once, the King of the Eagles will appear; if you ring it twice, the King + of the Foxes will come to you; and if you ring it three times, you will + see the King of the Fishes by your side. These will help you if you are in + any difficulty. Now farewell, and heaven prosper your undertaking.’ She + handed him the little bell, and there disappeared hut and all, as though + the earth had swallowed her up. + </p> + <p> + Then it dawned on the Prince that he had been speaking to a good fairy, + and putting the little bell carefully in his pocket, he rode home and told + his father that he meant to set the daughter of the Flower Queen free, and + intended setting out on the following day into the wide world in search of + the maid. + </p> + <p> + So the next morning the Prince mounted his fine horse and left his home. + He had roamed round the world for a whole year, and his horse had died of + exhaustion, while he himself had suffered much from want and misery, but + still he had come on no trace of her he was in search of. At last one day + he came to a hut, in front of which sat a very old man. The Prince asked + him, ‘Do you not know where the Dragon lives who keeps the daughter of the + Flower Queen prisoner?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘No, I do not,’ answered the old man. ‘But if you go straight along this + road for a year, you will reach a hut where my father lives, and possibly + he may be able to tell you.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince thanked him for his information, and continued his journey for + a whole year along the same road, and at the end of it came to the little + hut, where he found a very old man. He asked him the same question, and + the old man answered, ‘No, I do not know where the Dragon lives. But go + straight along this road for another year, and you will come to a hut in + which my father lives. I know he can tell you.’ + </p> + <p> + And so the Prince wandered on for another year, always on the same road, + and at last reached the hut where he found the third old man. He put the + same question to him as he had put to his son and grandson; but this time + the old man answered, ‘The Dragon lives up there on the mountain, and he + has just begun his year of sleep. For one whole year he is always awake, + and the next he sleeps. But if you wish to see the Flower Queen’s daughter + go up the second mountain: the Dragon’s old mother lives there, and she + has a ball every night, to which the Flower Queen’s daughter goes + regularly.’ + </p> + <p> + So the Prince went up the second mountain, where he found a castle all + made of gold with diamond windows. He opened the big gate leading into the + courtyard, and was just going to walk in, when seven dragons rushed on him + and asked him what he wanted? + </p> + <p> + The Prince replied, ‘I have heard so much of the beauty and kindness of + the Dragon’s Mother, and would like to enter her service.’ + </p> + <p> + This flattering speech pleased the dragons, and the eldest of them said, + ‘Well, you may come with me, and I will take you to the Mother Dragon.’ + </p> + <p> + They entered the castle and walked through twelve splendid halls, all made + of gold and diamonds. In the twelfth room they found the Mother Dragon + seated on a diamond throne. She was the ugliest woman under the sun, and, + added to it all, she had three heads. Her appearance was a great shock to + the Prince, and so was her voice, which was like the croaking of many + ravens. She asked him, ‘Why have you come here?’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince answered at once, ‘I have heard so much of your beauty and + kindness, that I would very much like to enter your service.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Very well,’ said the Mother Dragon; ‘but if you wish to enter my service, + you must first lead my mare out to the meadow and look after her for three + days; but if you don’t bring her home safely every evening, we will eat + you up.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince undertook the task and led the mare out to the meadow. + </p> + <p> + But no sooner had they reached the grass than she vanished. The Prince + sought for her in vain, and at last in despair sat down on a big stone and + contemplated his sad fate. As he sat thus lost in thought, he noticed an + eagle flying over his head. Then he suddenly bethought him of his little + bell, and taking it out of his pocket he rang it once. In a moment he + heard a rustling sound in the air beside him, and the King of the Eagles + sank at his feet. + </p> + <p> + ‘I know what you want of me,’ the bird said. ‘You are looking for the + Mother Dragon’s mare who is galloping about among the clouds. I will + summon all the eagles of the air together, and order them to catch the + mare and bring her to you.’ And with these words the King of the Eagles + flew away. Towards evening the Prince heard a mighty rushing sound in the + air, and when he looked up he saw thousands of eagles driving the mare + before them. They sank at his feet on to the ground and gave the mare over + to him. Then the Prince rode home to the old Mother Dragon, who was full + of wonder when she saw him, and said, ‘You have succeeded to-day in + looking after my mare, and as a reward you shall come to my ball + to-night.’ She gave him at the same time a cloak made of copper, and led + him to a big room where several young he-dragons and she-dragons were + dancing together. Here, too, was the Flower Queen’s beautiful daughter. + Her dress was woven out of the most lovely flowers in the world, and her + complexion was like lilies and roses. As the Prince was dancing with her + he managed to whisper in her ear, ‘I have come to set you free!’ + </p> + <p> + Then the beautiful girl said to him, ‘If you succeed in bringing the mare + back safely the third day, ask the Mother Dragon to give you a foal of the + mare as a reward.’ + </p> + <p> + The ball came to an end at midnight, and early next morning the Prince + again led the Mother Dragon’s mare out into the meadow. But again she + vanished before his eyes. Then he took out his little bell and rang it + twice. + </p> + <p> + In a moment the King of the Foxes stood before him and said: ‘I know + already what you want, and will summon all the foxes of the world together + to find the mare who has hidden herself in a hill.’ + </p> + <p> + With these words the King of the Foxes disappeared, and in the evening + many thousand foxes brought the mare to the Prince. + </p> + <p> + Then he rode home to the Mother-Dragon, from whom he received this time a + cloak made of silver, and again she led him to the ball-room. + </p> + <p> + The Flower Queen’s daughter was delighted to see him safe and sound, and + when they were dancing together she whispered in his ear: ‘If you succeed + again to-morrow, wait for me with the foal in the meadow. After the ball + we will fly away together.’ + </p> + <p> + On the third day the Prince led the mare to the meadow again; but once + more she vanished before his eyes. Then the Prince took out his little + bell and rang it three times. + </p> + <p> + In a moment the King of the Fishes appeared, and said to him: ‘I know + quite well what you want me to do, and I will summon all the fishes of the + sea together, and tell them to bring you back the mare, who is hiding + herself in a river.’ + </p> + <p> + Towards evening the mare was returned to him, and when he led her home to + the Mother Dragon she said to him: + </p> + <p> + ‘You are a brave youth, and I will make you my body-servant. But what + shall I give you as a reward to begin with?’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince begged for a foal of the mare, which the Mother Dragon at once + gave him, and over and above, a cloak made of gold, for she had fallen in + love with him because he had praised her beauty. + </p> + <p> + So in the evening he appeared at the ball in his golden cloak; but before + the entertainment was over he slipped away, and went straight to the + stables, where he mounted his foal and rode out into the meadow to wait + for the Flower Queen’s daughter. Towards midnight the beautiful girl + appeared, and placing her in front of him on his horse, the Prince and she + flew like the wind till they reached the Flower Queen’s dwelling. But the + dragons had noticed their flight, and woke their brother out of his year’s + sleep. He flew into a terrible rage when he heard what had happened, and + determined to lay siege to the Flower Queen’s palace; but the Queen caused + a forest of flowers as high as the sky to grow up round her dwelling, + through which no one could force a way. + </p> + <p> + When the Flower Queen heard that her daughter wanted to marry the Prince, + she said to him: ‘I will give my consent to your marriage gladly, but my + daughter can only stay with you in summer. In winter, when everything is + dead and the ground covered with snow, she must come and live with me in + my palace underground.’ The Prince consented to this, and led his + beautiful bride home, where the wedding was held with great pomp and + magnificence. The young couple lived happily together till winter came, + when the Flower Queen’s daughter departed and went home to her mother. In + summer she returned to her husband, and their life of joy and happiness + began again, and lasted till the approach of winter, when the Flower + Queen’s daughter went back again to her mother. This coming and going + continued all her life long, and in spite of it they always lived happily + together. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FLYING SHIP(24) + </h2> + <h3> + (24) From the Russian. + </h3> + <p> + Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had three sons; the two + elder were clever, but the third was a regular dunce. The clever sons were + very fond of their mother, gave her good clothes, and always spoke + pleasantly to her; but the youngest was always getting in her way, and she + had no patience with him. Now, one day it was announced in the village + that the King had issued a decree, offering his daughter, the Princess, in + marriage to whoever should build a ship that could fly. Immediately the + two elder brothers determined to try their luck, and asked their parents’ + blessing. So the old mother smartened up their clothes, and gave them a + store of provisions for their journey, not forgetting to add a bottle of + brandy. When they had gone the poor Simpleton began to tease his mother to + smarten him up and let him start off. + </p> + <p> + ‘What would become of a dolt like you?’ she answered. ‘Why, you would be + eaten up by wolves.’ + </p> + <p> + But the foolish youth kept repeating, ‘I will go, I will go, I will go!’ + </p> + <p> + Seeing that she could do nothing with him, the mother gave him a crust of + bread and a bottle of water, and took no further heed of him. + </p> + <p> + So the Simpleton set off on his way. When he had gone a short distance he + met a little old manikin. They greeted one another, and the manikin asked + him where he was going. + </p> + <p> + ‘I am off to the King’s Court,’ he answered. ‘He has promised to give his + daughter to whoever can make a flying ship.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘And can you make such a ship?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Not I.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Then why in the world are you going?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Can’t tell,’ replied the Simpleton. + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, if that is the case,’ said the manikin, ‘sit down beside me; we can + rest for a little and have something to eat. Give me what you have got in + your satchel.’ + </p> + <p> + Now, the poor Simpleton was ashamed to show what was in it. However, he + thought it best not to make a fuss, so he opened the satchel, and could + scarcely believe his own eyes, for, instead of the hard crust, he saw two + beautiful fresh rolls and some cold meat. He shared them with the manikin, + who licked his lips and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Now, go into that wood, and stop in front of the first tree, bow three + times, and then strike the tree with your axe, fall on your knees on the + ground, with your face on the earth, and remain there till you are raised + up. You will then find a ship at your side, step into it and fly to the + King’s Palace. If you meet anyone on the way, take him with you.’ + </p> + <p> + The Simpleton thanked the manikin very kindly, bade him farewell, and went + into the road. When he got to the first tree he stopped in front of it, + did everything just as he had been told, and, kneeling on the ground with + his face to the earth, fell asleep. After a little time he was aroused; he + awoke and, rubbing his eyes, saw a ready-made ship at his side, and at + once got into it. + </p> + <p> + And the ship rose and rose, and in another minute was flying through the + air, when the Simpleton, who was on the look out, cast his eyes down to + the earth and saw a man beneath him on the road, who was kneeling with his + ear upon the damp ground. + </p> + <p> + ‘Hallo!’ he called out, ‘what are you doing down there?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I am listening to what is going on in the world,’ replied the man. + </p> + <p> + ‘Come with me in my ship,’ said the Simpleton. + </p> + <p> + So the man was only too glad, and got in beside him; and the ship flew, + and flew, and flew through the air, till again from his outlook the + Simpleton saw a man on the road below, who was hopping on one leg, while + his other leg was tied up behind his ear. So he hailed him, calling out: + </p> + <p> + ‘Hallo! what are you doing, hopping on one leg?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I can’t help it,’ replied the man. ‘I walk so fast that unless I tied up + one leg I should be at the end of the earth in a bound.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Come with us on my ship,’ he answered; and the man made no objections, + but joined them; and the ship flew on, and on, and on, till suddenly the + Simpleton, looking down on the road below, beheld a man aiming with a gun + into the distance. + </p> + <p> + ‘Hallo!’ he shouted to him, ‘what are you aiming at? As far as eye can + see, there is no bird in sight.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What would be the good of my taking a near shot?’ replied the man; ‘I can + hit beast or bird at a hundred miles’ distance. That is the kind of shot I + enjoy.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Come into the ship with us,’ answered the Simpleton; and the man was only + too glad to join them, and he got in; and the ship flew on, farther and + farther, till again the Simpleton from his outlook saw a man on the road + below, carrying on his back a basket full of bread. And he waved to him, + calling out: + </p> + <p> + ‘Hallo! where are you going?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘To fetch bread for my breakfast.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Bread? Why, you have got a whole basket-load of it on your back.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘That’s nothing,’ answered the man; ‘I should finish that in one + mouthful.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Come along with us in my ship, then.’ + </p> + <p> + And so the glutton joined the party, and the ship mounted again into the + air, and flew up and onward, till the Simpleton from his outlook saw a man + walking by the shore of a great lake, and evidently looking for something. + </p> + <p> + ‘Hallo!’ he cried to him,’ what are you seeking? + </p> + <p> + ‘I want water to drink, I’m so thirsty,’ replied the man. + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, there’s a whole lake in front of you; why don’t you drink some of + that?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Do you call that enough?’ answered the other. ‘Why, I should drink it up + in one gulp.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, come with us in the ship.’ + </p> + <p> + And so the mighty drinker was added to the company; and the ship flew + farther, and even farther, till again the Simpleton looked out, and this + time he saw a man dragging a bundle of wood, walking through the forest + beneath them. + </p> + <p> + ‘Hallo!’ he shouted to him, ‘why are you carrying wood through a forest?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘This is not common wood,’ answered the other. + </p> + <p> + ‘What sort of wood is it, then?’ said the Simpleton. + </p> + <p> + ‘If you throw it upon the ground,’ said the man, ‘it will be changed into + an army of soldiers.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Come into the ship with us, then.’ + </p> + <p> + And so he too joined them; and away the ship flew on, and on, and on, and + once more the Simpleton looked out, and this time he saw a man carrying + straw upon his back. + </p> + <p> + ‘Hallo! Where are you carrying that straw to?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘To the village,’ said the man. + </p> + <p> + ‘Do you mean to say there is no straw in the village?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! but this is quite a peculiar straw. If you strew it about even in the + hottest summer the air at once becomes cold, and snow falls, and the + people freeze.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the Simpleton asked him also to join them. + </p> + <p> + At last the ship, with its strange crew, arrived at the King’s Court. The + King was having his dinner, but he at once despatched one of his courtiers + to find out what the huge, strange new bird could be that had come flying + through the air. The courtier peeped into the ship, and, seeing what it + was, instantly went back to the King and told him that it was a flying + ship, and that it was manned by a few peasants. + </p> + <p> + Then the King remembered his royal oath; but he made up his mind that he + would never consent to let the Princess marry a poor peasant. So he + thought and thought, and then said to himself: + </p> + <p> + ‘I will give him some impossible tasks to perform; that will be the best + way of getting rid of him.’ And he there and then decided to despatch one + of his courtiers to the Simpleton, with the command that he was to fetch + the King the healing water from the world’s end before he had finished his + dinner. + </p> + <p> + But while the King was still instructing the courtier exactly what he was + to say, the first man of the ship’s company, the one with the miraculous + power of hearing, had overheard the King’s words, and hastily reported + them to the poor Simpleton. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas, alas!’ he cried; ‘what am I to do now? It would take me quite a + year, possibly my whole life, to find the water.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Never fear,’ said his fleet-footed comrade, ‘I will fetch what the King + wants.’ + </p> + <p> + Just then the courtier arrived, bearing the King’s command. + </p> + <p> + ‘Tell his Majesty,’ said the Simpleton, ‘that his orders shall be obeyed; + ‘and forthwith the swift runner unbound the foot that was strung up behind + his ear and started off, and in less than no time had reached the world’s + end and drawn the healing water from the well. + </p> + <p> + ‘Dear me,’ he thought to himself, ‘that’s rather tiring! I’ll just rest + for a few minutes; it will be some little time yet before the King has got + to dessert.’ So he threw himself down on the grass, and, as the sun was + very dazzling, he closed his eyes, and in a few seconds had fallen sound + asleep. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime all the ship’s crew were anxiously awaiting him; the + King’s dinner would soon be finished, and their comrade had not yet + returned. So the man with the marvellous quick hearing lay down and, + putting his ear to the ground, listened. + </p> + <p> + ‘That’s a nice sort of fellow!’ he suddenly exclaimed. ‘He’s lying on the + ground, snoring hard!’ + </p> + <p> + At this the marksman seized his gun, took aim, and fired in the direction + of the world’s end, in order to awaken the sluggard. And a moment later + the swift runner reappeared, and, stepping on board the ship, handed the + healing water to the Simpleton. So while the King was still sitting at + table finishing his dinner news was brought to him that his orders had + been obeyed to the letter. + </p> + <p> + What was to be done now? The King determined to think of a still more + impossible task. So he told another courtier to go to the Simpleton with + the command that he and his comrades were instantly to eat up twelve oxen + and twelve tons of bread. Once more the sharp-eared comrade overheard the + King’s words while he was still talking to the courtier, and reported them + to the Simpleton. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas, alas!’ he sighed; ‘what in the world shall I do? Why, it would take + us a year, possibly our whole lives, to eat up twelve oxen and twelve tons + of bread.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Never fear,’ said the glutton. ‘It will scarcely be enough for me, I’m so + hungry.’ + </p> + <p> + So when the courtier arrived with the royal message he was told to take + back word to the King that his orders should be obeyed. Then twelve + roasted oxen and twelve tons of bread were brought alongside of the ship, + and at one sitting the glutton had devoured it all. + </p> + <p> + ‘I call that a small meal,’ he said. ‘I wish they’d brought me some more.’ + </p> + <p> + Next, the King ordered that forty casks of wine, containing forty gallons + each, were to be drunk up on the spot by the Simpleton and his party. When + these words were overheard by the sharp-eared comrade and repeated to the + Simpleton, he was in despair. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas, alas!’ he exclaimed; ‘what is to be done? It would take us a year, + possibly our whole lives, to drink so much.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Never fear,’ said his thirsty comrade. ‘I’ll drink it all up at a gulp, + see if I don’t.’ And sure enough, when the forty casks of wine containing + forty gallons each were brought alongside of the ship, they disappeared + down the thirsty comrade’s throat in no time; and when they were empty he + remarked: + </p> + <p> + ‘Why, I’m still thirsty. I should have been glad of two more casks.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the King took counsel with himself and sent an order to the Simpleton + that he was to have a bath, in a bath-room at the royal palace, and after + that the betrothal should take place. Now the bath-room was built of iron, + and the King gave orders that it was to be heated to such a pitch that it + would suffocate the Simpleton. And so when the poor silly youth entered + the room, he discovered that the iron walls were red hot. But, + fortunately, his comrade with the straw on his back had entered behind + him, and when the door was shut upon them he scattered the straw about, + and suddenly the red-hot walls cooled down, and it became so very cold + that the Simpleton could scarcely bear to take a bath, and all the water + in the room froze. So the Simpleton climbed up upon the stove, and, + wrapping himself up in the bath blankets, lay there the whole night. And + in the morning when they opened the door there he lay sound and safe, + singing cheerfully to himself. + </p> + <p> + Now when this strange tale was told to the King he became quite sad, not + knowing what he should do to get rid of so undesirable a son-in-law, when + suddenly a brilliant idea occurred to him. + </p> + <p> + ‘Tell the rascal to raise me an army, now at this instant!’ he exclaimed + to one of his courtiers. ‘Inform him at once of this, my royal will.’ And + to himself he added, ‘I think I shall do for him this time.’ + </p> + <p> + As on former occasions, the quick-eared comrade had overheard the King’s + command and repeated it to the Simpleton. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas, alas!’ he groaned; ‘now I am quite done for.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Not at all,’ replied one of his comrades (the one who had dragged the + bundle of wood through the forest). ‘Have you quite forgotten me?’ + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the courtier, who had run all the way from the palace, + reached the ship panting and breathless, and delivered the King’s message. + </p> + <p> + ‘Good!’ remarked the Simpleton. ‘I will raise an army for the King,’ and + he drew himself up. ‘But if, after that, the King refuses to accept me as + his son-in-law, I will wage war against him, and carry the Princess off by + force.’ + </p> + <p> + During the night the Simpleton and his comrade went, together into a big + field, not forgetting to take the bundle of wood with them, which the man + spread out in all directions—and in a moment a mighty army stood + upon the spot, regiment on regiment of foot and horse soldiers; the bugles + sounded and the drums beat, the chargers neighed, and their riders put + their lances in rest, and the soldiers presented arms. + </p> + <p> + In the morning when the King awoke he was startled by these warlike + sounds, the bugles and the drums, and the clatter of the horses, and the + shouts of the soldiers. And, stepping to the window, he saw the lances + gleam in the sunlight and the armour and weapons glitter. And the proud + monarch said to himself, ‘I am powerless in comparison with this man.’ So + he sent him royal robes and costly jewels, and commanded him to come to + the palace to be married to the Princess. And his son-in-law put on the + royal robes, and he looked so grand and stately that it was impossible to + recognise the poor Simpleton, so changed was he; and the Princess fell in + love with him as soon as ever she saw him. + </p> + <p> + Never before had so grand a wedding been seen, and there was so much food + and wine that even the glutton and the thirsty comrade had enough to eat + and drink. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE SNOW-DAUGHTER AND THE FIRE-SON(25) + </h2> + <h3> + (25) From the Bukowinaer Tales and Legends. Von Wliolocki. + </h3> + <p> + There was once upon a time a man and his wife, and they had no children, + which was a great grief to them. One winter’s day, when the sun was + shining brightly, the couple were standing outside their cottage, and the + woman was looking at all the little icicles which hung from the roof. She + sighed, and turning to her husband said, ‘I wish I had as many children as + there are icicles hanging there.’ ‘Nothing would please me more either,’ + replied her husband. Then a tiny icicle detached itself from the roof, and + dropped into the woman’s mouth, who swallowed it with a smile, and said, + ‘Perhaps I shall give birth to a snow child now!’ Her husband laughed at + his wife’s strange idea, and they went back into the house. + </p> + <p> + But after a short time the woman gave birth to a little girl, who was as + white as snow and as cold as ice. If they brought the child anywhere near + the fire, it screamed loudly till they put it back into some cool place. + The little maid throve wonderfully, and in a few months she could run + about and speak. But she was not altogether easy to bring up, and gave her + parents much trouble and anxiety, for all summer she insisted on spending + in the cellar, and in the winter she would sleep outside in the snow, and + the colder it was the happier she seemed to be. Her father and mother + called her simply ‘Our Snow-daughter,’ and this name stuck to her all her + life. + </p> + <p> + One day her parents sat by the fire, talking over the extraordinary + behaviour of their daughter, who was disporting herself in the snowstorm + that raged outside. The woman sighed deeply and said, ‘I wish I had given + birth to a Fire-son!’ As she said these words, a spark from the big wood + fire flew into the woman’s lap, and she said with a laugh, ‘Now perhaps I + shall give birth to a Fire-son!’ The man laughed at his wife’s words, and + thought it was a good joke. But he ceased to think it a joke when his wife + shortly afterwards gave birth to a boy, who screamed lustily till he was + put quite close to the fire, and who nearly yelled himself into a fit if + the Snow-daughter came anywhere near him. The Snow-daughter herself + avoided him as much as she could, and always crept into a corner as far + away from him as possible. The parents called the boy simply ‘Our + Fire-son,’ a name which stuck to him all his life. They had a great deal + of trouble and worry with him too; but he throve and grew very quickly, + and before he was a year old he could run about and talk. He was as red as + fire, and as hot to touch, and he always sat on the hearth quite close to + the fire, and complained of the cold; if his sister were in the room he + almost crept into the flames, while the girl on her part always complained + of the great heat if her brother were anywhere near. In summer the boy + always lay out in the sun, while the girl hid herself in the cellar: so it + happened that the brother and sister came very little into contact with + each other—in fact, they carefully avoided it. + </p> + <p> + Just as the girl grew up into a beautiful woman, her father and mother + both died one after the other. Then the Fire-son, who had grown up in the + meantime into a fine, strong young man, said to his sister, ‘I am going + out into the world, for what is the use of remaining on here?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I shall go with you,’ she answered, ‘for, except you, I have no one in + the world, and I have a feeling that if we set out together we shall be + lucky.’ + </p> + <p> + The Fire-son said, ‘I love you with all my heart, but at the same time I + always freeze if you are near me, and you nearly die of heat if I approach + you! How shall we travel about together without being odious the one to + the other?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Don’t worry about that,’ replied the girl, ‘for I’ve thought it all over, + and have settled on a plan which will make us each able to bear with the + other! See, I have had a fur cloak made for each of us, and if we put them + on I shall not feel the heat so much nor you the cold.’ So they put on the + fur cloaks, and set out cheerfully on their way, and for the first time in + their lives quite happy in each other’s company. + </p> + <p> + For a long time the Fire-son and the Snow-daughter wandered through the + world, and when at the beginning of winter they came to a big wood they + determined to stay there till spring. The Fire-son built himself a hut + where he always kept up a huge fire, while his sister with very few + clothes on stayed outside night and day. Now it happened one day that the + King of the land held a hunt in this wood, and saw the Snow-daughter + wandering about in the open air. He wondered very much who the beautiful + girl clad in such garments could be, and he stopped and spoke to her. He + soon learnt that she could not stand heat, and that her brother could not + endure cold. The King was so charmed by the Snow-daughter, that he asked + her to be his wife. The girl consented, and the wedding was held with much + state. The King had a huge house of ice made for his wife underground, so + that even in summer it did not melt. But for his brother-in-law he had a + house built with huge ovens all round it, that were kept heated all day + and night. The Fire-son was delighted, but the perpetual heat in which he + lived made his body so hot, that it was dangerous to go too close to him. + </p> + <p> + One day the King gave a great feast, and asked his brother-in-law among + the other guests. The Fire-son did not appear till everyone had assembled, + and when he did, everyone fled outside to the open air, so intense was the + heat he gave forth. Then the King was very angry and said, ‘If I had known + what a lot of trouble you would have been, I would never have taken you + into my house.’ Then the Fire-son replied with a laugh, ‘Don’t be angry, + dear brother! I love heat and my sister loves cold—come here and let + me embrace you, and then I’ll go home at once.’ And before the King had + time to reply, the Fire-son seized him in a tight embrace. The King + screamed aloud in agony, and when his wife, the Snow-daughter, who had + taken refuge from her brother in the next room, hurried to him, the King + lay dead on the ground burnt to a cinder. When the Snow-daughter saw this + she turned on her brother and flew at him. Then a fight began, the like of + which had never been seen on earth. When the people, attracted by the + noise, hurried to the spot, they saw the Snow-daughter melting into water + and the Fire-son burn to a cinder. And so ended the unhappy brother and + sister. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE STORY OF KING FROST (26) + </h2> + <h3> + (26) From the Russian. + </h3> + <p> + There was once upon a time a peasant-woman who had a daughter and a + step-daughter. The daughter had her own way in everything, and whatever + she did was right in her mother’s eyes; but the poor step-daughter had a + hard time. Let her do what she would, she was always blamed, and got small + thanks for all the trouble she took; nothing was right, everything wrong; + and yet, if the truth were known, the girl was worth her weight in gold—she + was so unselfish and good-hearted. But her step-mother did not like her, + and the poor girl’s days were spent in weeping; for it was impossible to + live peacefully with the woman. The wicked shrew was determined to get rid + of the girl by fair means or foul, and kept saying to her father: ‘Send + her away, old man; send her away—anywhere so that my eyes sha’n’t be + plagued any longer by the sight of her, or my ears tormented by the sound + of her voice. Send her out into the fields, and let the cutting frost do + for her.’ + </p> + <p> + In vain did the poor old father weep and implore her pity; she was firm, + and he dared not gainsay her. So he placed his daughter in a sledge, not + even daring to give her a horse-cloth to keep herself warm with, and drove + her out on to the bare, open fields, where he kissed her and left her, + driving home as fast as he could, that he might not witness her miserable + death. + </p> + <p> + Deserted by her father, the poor girl sat down under a fir-tree at the + edge of the forest and began to weep silently. Suddenly she heard a faint + sound: it was King Frost springing from tree to tree, and cracking his + fingers as he went. At length he reached the fir-tree beneath which she + was sitting, and with a crisp crackling sound he alighted beside her, and + looked at her lovely face. + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, maiden,’ he snapped out, ‘do you know who I am? I am King Frost, + king of the red-noses.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘All hail to you, great King!’ answered the girl, in a gentle, trembling + voice. ‘Have you come to take me?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Are you warm, maiden?’ he replied. + </p> + <p> + ‘Quite warm, King Frost,’ she answered, though she shivered as she spoke. + </p> + <p> + Then King Frost stooped down, and bent over the girl, and the crackling + sound grew louder, and the air seemed to be full of knives and darts; and + again he asked: + </p> + <p> + ‘Maiden, are you warm? Are you warm, you beautiful girl?’ + </p> + <p> + And though her breath was almost frozen on her lips, she whispered gently, + ‘Quite warm, King Frost.’ + </p> + <p> + Then King Frost gnashed his teeth, and cracked his fingers, and his eyes + sparkled, and the crackling, crisp sound was louder than ever, and for the + last time he asked her: + </p> + <p> + ‘Maiden, are you still warm? Are you still warm, little love?’ + </p> + <p> + And the poor girl was so stiff and numb that she could just gasp, ‘Still + warm, O King!’ + </p> + <p> + Now her gentle, courteous words and her uncomplaining ways touched King + Frost, and he had pity on her, and he wrapped her up in furs, and covered + her with blankets, and he fetched a great box, in which were beautiful + jewels and a rich robe embroidered in gold and silver. And she put it on, + and looked more lovely than ever, and King Frost stepped with her into his + sledge, with six white horses. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the wicked step-mother was waiting at home for news of the + girl’s death, and preparing pancakes for the funeral feast. And she said + to her husband: ‘Old man, you had better go out into the fields and find + your daughter’s body and bury her.’ Just as the old man was leaving the + house the little dog under the table began to bark, saying: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘YOUR daughter shall live to be your delight; + HER daughter shall die this very night.’ +</pre> + <p> + ‘Hold your tongue, you foolish beast!’ scolded the woman. ‘There’s a + pancake for you, but you must say: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “HER daughter shall have much silver and gold; + HIS daughter is frozen quite stiff and cold.”’ +</pre> + <p> + But the doggie ate up the pancake and barked, saying: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘His daughter shall wear a crown on her head; + Her daughter shall die unwooed, unwed.’ +</pre> + <p> + Then the old woman tried to coax the doggie with more pancakes and to + terrify it with blows, but he barked on, always repeating the same words. + And suddenly the door creaked and flew open, and a great heavy chest was + pushed in, and behind it came the step-daughter, radiant and beautiful, in + a dress all glittering with silver and gold. For a moment the + step-mother’s eyes were dazzled. Then she called to her husband: ‘Old man, + yoke the horses at once into the sledge, and take my daughter to the same + field and leave her on the same spot exactly; ‘and so the old man took the + girl and left her beneath the same tree where he had parted from his + daughter. In a few minutes King Frost came past, and, looking at the girl, + he said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Are you warm, maiden?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What a blind old fool you must be to ask such a question!’ she answered + angrily. ‘Can’t you see that my hands and feet are nearly frozen?’ + </p> + <p> + Then King Frost sprang to and fro in front of her, questioning her, and + getting only rude, rough words in reply, till at last he got very angry, + and cracked his fingers, and gnashed his teeth, and froze her to death. + </p> + <p> + But in the hut her mother was waiting for her return, and as she grew + impatient she said to her husband: ‘Get out the horses, old man, to go and + fetch her home; but see that you are careful not to upset the sledge and + lose the chest.’ + </p> + <p> + But the doggie beneath the table began to bark, saying: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Your daughter is frozen quite stiff and cold, + And shall never have a chest full of gold.’ +</pre> + <p> + ‘Don’t tell such wicked lies!’ scolded the woman. ‘There’s a cake for you; + now say: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “HER daughter shall marry a mighty King.” + </pre> + <p> + At that moment the door flew open, and she rushed out to meet her + daughter, and as she took her frozen body in her arms she too was chilled + to death. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE DEATH OF THE SUN-HERO (27) + </h2> + <h3> + (27) From the Bukowinaer Tales and Legends. Von Wliolocki. + </h3> + <p> + Many, many thousand years ago there lived a mighty King whom heaven had + blessed with a clever and beautiful son. When he was only ten years old + the boy was cleverer than all the King’s counsellors put together, and + when he was twenty he was the greatest hero in the whole kingdom. His + father could not make enough of his son, and always had him clothed in + golden garments which shone and sparkled like the sun; and his mother gave + him a white horse, which never slept, and which flew like the wind. All + the people in the land loved him dearly, and called him the Sun-Hero, for + they did not think his like existed under the sun. Now it happened one + night that both his parents had the same extraordinary dream. They dreamt + that a girl all dressed in red had come to them and said: ‘If you wish + that your son should really become the Sun-Hero in deed and not only in + name, let him go out into the world and search for the Tree of the Sun, + and when he has found it, let him pluck a golden apple from it and bring + it home.’ + </p> + <p> + When the King and Queen had each related their dreams to the other, they + were much amazed that they should both have dreamt exactly the same about + their son, and the King said to his wife, ‘This is clearly a sign from + heaven that we should send our son out into the world in order that he may + come home the great Sun-Hero, as the Red Girl said, not only in name but + in deed.’ + </p> + <p> + The Queen consented with many tears, and the King at once bade his son set + forth in search of the Tree of the Sun, from which he was to pluck a + golden apple. The Prince was delighted at the prospect, and set out on his + travels that very day. + </p> + <p> + For a long time he wandered all through the world, and it was not till the + ninety-ninth day after he started that he found an old man who was able to + tell him where the Tree of the Sun grew. He followed his directions, and + rode on his way, and after another ninety-nine days he arrived at a golden + castle, which stood in the middle of a vast wilderness. He knocked at the + door, which was opened noiselessly and by invisible hands. Finding no one + about, the Prince rode on, and came to a great meadow, where the Sun-Tree + grew. When he reached the tree he put out his hand to pick a golden apple; + but all of a sudden the tree grew higher, so that he could not reach its + fruit. Then he heard some one behind him laughing. Turning round, he saw + the girl in red walking towards him, who addressed him in these words: + </p> + <p> + ‘Do you really imagine, brave son of the earth, that you can pluck an + apple so easily from the Tree of the Sun? Before you can do that, you have + a difficult task before you. You must guard the tree for nine days and + nine nights from the ravages of two wild black wolves, who will try to + harm it. Do you think you can undertake this?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ answered the Sun-Hero, ‘I will guard the Tree of the Sun nine days + and nine nights.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the girl continued: ‘Remember, though, if you do not succeed the Sun + will kill you. Now begin your watch.’ + </p> + <p> + With these words the Red Girl went back into the golden castle. She had + hardly left him when the two black wolves appeared: but the Sun-Hero beat + them off with his sword, and they retired, only, however, to reappear in a + very short time. The Sun-Hero chased them away once more, but he had + hardly sat down to rest when the two black wolves were on the scene again. + This went on for seven days and nights, when the white horse, who had + never done such a thing before, turned to the Sun-Hero and said in a human + voice: ‘Listen to what I am going to say. A Fairy gave me to your mother + in order that I might be of service to you; so let me tell you, that if + you go to sleep and let the wolves harm the tree, the Sun will surely kill + you. The Fairy, foreseeing this, put everyone in the world under a spell, + which prevents their obeying the Sun’s command to take your life. But all + the same, she has forgotten one person, who will certainly kill you if you + fall asleep and let the wolves damage the tree. So watch and keep the + wolves away.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the Sun-Hero strove with all his might and kept the black wolves at + bay, and conquered his desire to sleep; but on the eighth night his + strength failed him, and he fell fast asleep. When he awoke a woman in + black stood beside him, who said: ‘You have fulfilled your task very + badly, for you have let the two black wolves damage the Tree of the Sun. I + am the mother of the Sun, and I command you to ride away from here at + once, and I pronounce sentence of death upon you, for you proudly let + yourself be called the Sun-Hero without having done anything to deserve + the name.’ + </p> + <p> + The youth mounted his horse sadly, and rode home. The people all thronged + round him on his return, anxious to hear his adventures, but he told them + nothing, and only to his mother did he confide what had befallen him. But + the old Queen laughed, and said to her son: ‘Don’t worry, my child; you + see, the Fairy has protected you so far, and the Sun has found no one to + kill you. So cheer up and be happy.’ + </p> + <p> + After a time the Prince forgot all about his adventure, and married a + beautiful Princess, with whom he lived very happily for some time. But one + day when he was out hunting he felt very thirsty, and coming to a stream + he stooped down to drink from it, and this caused his death, for a crab + came swimming up, and with its claws tore out his tongue. He was carried + home in a dying condition, and as he lay on his death-bed the black woman + appeared and said: ‘So the Sun has, after all, found someone, who was not + under the Fairy’s spell, who has caused your death. And a similar fate + will overtake everyone under the Sun who wrongfully assumes a title to + which he has no right.’ + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE WITCH (28) + </h2> + <h3> + (28) From the Russian. + </h3> + <p> + Once upon a time there was a peasant whose wife died, leaving him with two + children—twins—a boy and a girl. For some years the poor man + lived on alone with the children, caring for them as best he could; but + everything in the house seemed to go wrong without a woman to look after + it, and at last he made up his mind to marry again, feeling that a wife + would bring peace and order to his household and take care of his + motherless children. So he married, and in the following years several + children were born to him; but peace and order did not come to the + household. For the step-mother was very cruel to the twins, and beat them, + and half-starved them, and constantly drove them out of the house; for her + one idea was to get them out of the way. All day she thought of nothing + but how she should get rid of them; and at last an evil idea came into her + head, and she determined to send them out into the great gloomy wood where + a wicked witch lived. And so one morning she spoke to them, saying: + </p> + <p> + ‘You have been such good children that I am going to send you to visit my + granny, who lives in a dear little hut in the wood. You will have to wait + upon her and serve her, but you will be well rewarded, for she will give + you the best of everything.’ + </p> + <p> + So the children left the house together; and the little sister, who was + very wise for her years, said to the brother: + </p> + <p> + ‘We will first go and see our own dear grandmother, and tell her where our + step-mother is sending us.’ + </p> + <p> + And when the grandmother heard where they were going, she cried and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘You poor motherless children! How I pity you; and yet I can do nothing to + help you! Your step-mother is not sending you to her granny, but to a + wicked witch who lives in that great gloomy wood. Now listen to me, + children. You must be civil and kind to everyone, and never say a cross + word to anyone, and never touch a crumb belonging to anyone else. Who + knows if, after all, help may not be sent to you?’ + </p> + <p> + And she gave her grandchildren a bottle of milk and a piece of ham and a + loaf of bread, and they set out for the great gloomy wood. When they + reached it they saw in front of them, in the thickest of the trees, a + queer little hut, and when they looked into it, there lay the witch, with + her head on the threshold of the door, with one foot in one corner and the + other in the other corner, and her knees cocked up, almost touching the + ceiling. + </p> + <p> + ‘Who’s there?’ she snarled, in an awful voice, when she saw the children. + </p> + <p> + And they answered civilly, though they were so terrified that they hid + behind one another, and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Good-morning, granny; our step-mother has sent us to wait upon you, and + serve you.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘See that you do it well, then,’ growled the witch. ‘If I am pleased with + you, I’ll reward you; but if I am not, I’ll put you in a pan and fry you + in the oven—that’s what I’ll do with you, my pretty dears! You have + been gently reared, but you’ll find my work hard enough. See if you + don’t.’ + </p> + <p> + And, so saying, she set the girl down to spin yarn, and she gave the boy a + sieve in which to carry water from the well, and she herself went out into + the wood. Now, as the girl was sitting at her distaff, weeping bitterly + because she could not spin, she heard the sound of hundreds of little + feet, and from every hole and corner in the hut mice came pattering along + the floor, squeaking and saying: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Little girl, why are your eyes so red? + If you want help, then give us some bread.’ +</pre> + <p> + And the girl gave them the bread that her grandmother had given her. Then + the mice told her that the witch had a cat, and the cat was very fond of + ham; if she would give the cat her ham, it would show her the way out of + the wood, and in the meantime they would spin the yarn for her. So the + girl set out to look for the cat, and, as she was hunting about, she met + her brother, in great trouble because he could not carry water from the + well in a sieve, as it came pouring out as fast as he put it in. And as + she was trying to comfort him they heard a rustling of wings, and a flight + of wrens alighted on the ground beside them. And the wrens said: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Give us some crumbs, then you need not grieve. + + For you’ll find that water will stay in the sieve.’ +</pre> + <p> + Then the twins crumbled their bread on the ground, and the wrens pecked + it, and chirruped and chirped. And when they had eaten the last crumb they + told the boy to fill up the holes of the sieve with clay, and then to draw + water from the well. So he did what they said, and carried the sieve full + of water into the hut without spilling a drop. When they entered the hut + the cat was curled up on the floor. So they stroked her, and fed her with + ham, and said to her: + </p> + <p> + ‘Pussy, grey pussy, tell us how we are to get away from the witch?’ + </p> + <p> + Then the cat thanked them for the ham, and gave them a pocket-handkerchief + and a comb, and told them that when the witch pursued them, as she + certainly would, all they had to do was to throw the handkerchief on the + ground and run as fast as they could. As soon as the handkerchief touched + the ground a deep, broad river would spring up, which would hinder the + witch’s progress. If she managed to get across it, they must throw the + comb behind them and run for their lives, for where the comb fell a dense + forest would start up, which would delay the witch so long that they would + be able to get safely away. + </p> + <p> + The cat had scarcely finished speaking when the witch returned to see if + the children had fulfilled their tasks. + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, you have done well enough for to-day,’ she grumbled; ‘but to-morrow + you’ll have something more difficult to do, and if you don’t do it well, + you pampered brats, straight into the oven you go.’ + </p> + <p> + Half-dead with fright, and trembling in every limb, the poor children lay + down to sleep on a heap of straw in the corner of the hut; but they dared + not close their eyes, and scarcely ventured to breathe. In the morning the + witch gave the girl two pieces of linen to weave before night, and the boy + a pile of wood to cut into chips. Then the witch left them to their tasks, + and went out into the wood. As soon as she had gone out of sight the + children took the comb and the handkerchief, and, taking one another by + the hand, they started and ran, and ran, and ran. And first they met the + watch-dog, who was going to leap on them and tear them to pieces; but they + threw the remains of their bread to him, and he ate them and wagged his + tail. Then they were hindered by the birch-trees, whose branches almost + put their eyes out. But the little sister tied the twigs together with a + piece of ribbon, and they got past safely, and, after running through the + wood, came out on to the open fields. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime in the hut the cat was busy weaving the linen and tangling + the threads as it wove. And the witch returned to see how the children + were getting on; and she crept up to the window, and whispered: + </p> + <p> + ‘Are you weaving, my little dear?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, granny, I am weaving,’ answered the cat. + </p> + <p> + When the witch saw that the children had escaped her, she was furious, + and, hitting the cat with a porringer, she said: ‘Why did you let the + children leave the hut? Why did you not scratch their eyes out?’ + </p> + <p> + But the cat curled up its tail and put its back up, and answered: ‘I have + served you all these years and you never even threw me a bone, but the + dear children gave me their own piece of ham.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the witch was furious with the watch-dog and with the birch-trees, + because they had let the children pass. But the dog answered: + </p> + <p> + ‘I have served you all these years and you never gave me so much as a hard + crust, but the dear children gave me their own loaf of bread.’ + </p> + <p> + And the birch rustled its leaves, and said: ‘I have served you longer than + I can say, and you never tied a bit of twine even round my branches; and + the dear children bound them up with their brightest ribbons.’ + </p> + <p> + So the witch saw there was no help to be got from her old servants, and + that the best thing she could do was to mount on her broom and set off in + pursuit of the children. And as the children ran they heard the sound of + the broom sweeping the ground close behind them, so instantly they threw + the handkerchief down over their shoulder, and in a moment a deep, broad + river flowed behind them. + </p> + <p> + When the witch came up to it, it took her a long time before she found a + place which she could ford over on her broom-stick; but at last she got + across, and continued the chase faster than before. And as the children + ran they heard a sound, and the little sister put her ear to the ground, + and heard the broom sweeping the earth close behind them; so, quick as + thought, she threw the comb down on the ground, and in an instant, as the + cat had said, a dense forest sprung up, in which the roots and branches + were so closely intertwined, that it was impossible to force a way through + it. So when the witch came up to it on her broom she found that there was + nothing for it but to turn round and go back to her hut. + </p> + <p> + But the twins ran straight on till they reached their own home. Then they + told their father all that they had suffered, and he was so angry with + their step-mother that he drove her out of the house, and never let her + return; but he and the children lived happily together; and he took care + of them himself, and never let a stranger come near them. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE HAZEL-NUT CHILD (29) + </h2> + <h3> + (29) From the Bukowniaer. Van Wliolocki. + </h3> + <p> + There was once upon a time a couple who had no children, and they prayed + Heaven every day to send them a child, though it were no bigger than a + hazel-nut. At last Heaven heard their prayer and sent them a child exactly + the size of a hazel-nut, and it never grew an inch. The parents were very + devoted to the little creature, and nursed and tended it carefully. Their + tiny son too was as clever as he could be, and so sharp and sensible that + all the neighbours marvelled over the wise things he said and did. + </p> + <p> + When the Hazel-nut child was fifteen years old, and was sitting one day in + an egg-shell on the table beside his mother, she turned to him and said, + ‘You are now fifteen years old, and nothing can be done with you. What do + you intend to be?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘A messenger,’ answered the Hazel-nut child. + </p> + <p> + Then his mother burst out laughing and said, ‘What an idea! You a + messenger! Why, your little feet would take an hour to go the distance an + ordinary person could do in a minute!’ + </p> + <p> + But the Hazel-nut child replied, ‘Nevertheless I mean to be a messenger! + Just send me a message and you’ll see that I shall be back in next to no + time.’ + </p> + <p> + So his mother said, ‘Very well, go to your aunt in the neighbouring + village, and fetch me a comb.’ The Hazel-nut child jumped quickly out of + the egg-shell and ran out into the street. Here he found a man on + horseback who was just setting out for the neighbouring village. He crept + up the horse’s leg, sat down under the saddle, and then began to pinch the + horse and to prick it with a pin. The horse plunged and reared and then + set off at a hard gallop, which it continued in spite of its rider’s + efforts to stop it. When they reached the village, the Hazel-nut child + left off pricking the horse, and the poor tired creature pursued its way + at a snail’s pace. The Hazel-nut child took advantage of this, and crept + down the horse’s leg; then he ran to his aunt and asked her for a comb. On + the way home he met another rider, and did the return journey in exactly + the same way. When he handed his mother the comb that his aunt had given + him, she was much amazed and asked him, ‘But how did you manage to get + back so quickly?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! mother,’ he replied, ‘you see I was quite right when I said I knew a + messenger was the profession for me.’ + </p> + <p> + His father too possessed a horse which he often used to take out into the + fields to graze. One day he took the Hazel-nut child with him. At midday + the father turned to his small son and said, ‘Stay here and look after the + horse. I must go home and give your mother a message, but I shall be back + soon.’ + </p> + <p> + When his father had gone, a robber passed by and saw the horse grazing + without any one watching it, for of course he could not see the Hazel-nut + child hidden in the grass. So he mounted the horse and rode away. But the + Hazel-nut child, who was the most active little creature, climbed up the + horse’s tail and began to bite it on the back, enraging the creature to + such an extent that it paid no attention to the direction the robber tried + to make it go in, but galloped straight home. The father was much + astonished when he saw a stranger riding his horse, but the Hazel-nut + child climbed down quickly and told him all that had happened, and his + father had the robber arrested at once and put into prison. + </p> + <p> + One autumn when the Hazel-nut child was twenty years old he said to his + parents: ‘Farewell, my dear father and mother. I am going to set out into + the world, and as soon as I have become rich I will return home to you.’ + </p> + <p> + The parents laughed at the little man’s words, but did not believe him for + a moment. In the evening the Hazel-nut child crept on to the roof, where + some storks had built their nest. The storks were fast asleep, and he + climbed on to the back of the father-stork and bound a silk cord round the + joint of one of its wings, then he crept among its soft downy feathers and + fell asleep. + </p> + <p> + The next morning the storks flew towards the south, for winter was + approaching. The Hazel-nut child flew through the air on the stork’s back, + and when he wanted to rest he bound his silk cord on to the joint of the + bird’s other wing, so that it could not fly any farther. In this way he + reached the country of the black people, where the storks took up their + abode close to the capital. When the people saw the Hazel-nut child they + were much astonished, and took him with the stork to the King of the + country. The King was delighted with the little creature and kept him + always beside him, and he soon grew so fond of the little man that he gave + him a diamond four times as big as himself. The Hazel-nut child fastened + the diamond firmly under the stork’s neck with a ribbon, and when he saw + that the other storks were getting ready for their northern flight, he + untied the silk cord from his stork’s wings, and away they went, getting + nearer home every minute. At length the Hazel-nut child came to his native + village; then he undid the ribbon from the stork’s neck and the diamond + fell to the ground; he covered it first with sand and stones, and then ran + to get his parents, so that they might carry the treasure home, for he + himself was not able to lift the great diamond. + </p> + <p> + So the Hazel-nut child and his parents lived in happiness and prosperity + after this till they died. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE STORY OF BIG KLAUS AND LITTLE KLAUS + </h2> + <p> + In a certain village there lived two people who had both the same name. + Both were called Klaus, but one owned four horses and the other only one. + In order to distinguish the one from the other, the one who had four + horses was called Big Klaus, and the one who had only one horse, Little + Klaus. Now you shall hear what befell them both, for this is a true story. + </p> + <p> + The whole week through Little Klaus had to plough for Big Klaus, and lend + him his one horse; then Big Klaus lent him his four horses, but only once + a week, and that was on Sunday. Hurrah! how loudly Little Klaus cracked + his whip over all the five horses! for they were indeed as good as his on + this one day. The sun shone brightly, and all the bells in the + church-towers were pealing; the people were dressed in their best clothes, + and were going to church, with their hymn books under their arms, to hear + the minister preach. They saw Little Klaus ploughing with the five horses; + but he was so happy that he kept on cracking his whip, and calling out + ‘Gee-up, my five horses!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You mustn’t say that,’ said Big Klaus. ‘Only one horse is yours.’ + </p> + <p> + But as soon as someone else was going by Little Klaus forgot that he must + not say it, and called out ‘Gee-up, my five horses!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Now you had better stop that,’ said Big Klaus, ‘for if you say it once + more I will give your horse such a crack on the head that it will drop + down dead on the spot!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I really won’t say it again!’ said Little Klaus. But as soon as more + people passed by, and nodded him good-morning, he became so happy in + thinking how well it looked to have five horses ploughing his field that, + cracking his whip, he called out ‘Gee-up, my five horses!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I’ll see to your horses!’ said Big Klaus; and, seizing an iron bar, he + struck Little Klaus’ one horse such a blow on the head that it fell down + and died on the spot. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas! Now I have no horse!’ said Little Klaus, beginning to cry. Then he + flayed the skin off his horse, dried it, and put it in a sack, which he + threw over his shoulder, and went into the town to sell it. He had a long + way to go, and had to pass through a great dark forest. A dreadful storm + came on, in which he lost his way, and before he could get on to the right + road night came on, and it was impossible to reach the town that evening. + </p> + <p> + Right in front of him was a large farm-house. The window-shutters were + closed, but the light came through the chinks. ‘I should very much like to + be allowed to spend the night there,’ thought Little Klaus; and he went + and knocked at the door. The farmer’s wife opened it, but when she heard + what he wanted she told him to go away; her husband was not at home, and + she took in no strangers. + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, I must lie down outside,’ said Little Klaus; and the farmer’s wife + shut the door in his face. Close by stood a large haystack, and between it + and the house a little out-house, covered with a flat thatched roof. + </p> + <p> + ‘I can lie down there,’ thought Little Klaus, looking at the roof; ‘it + will make a splendid bed, if only the stork won’t fly down and bite my + legs.’ For a live stork was standing on the roof, where it had its nest. + So Little Klaus crept up into the out-house, where he lay down, and made + himself comfortable for the night. The wooden shutters over the windows + were not shut at the top, and he could just see into the room. + </p> + <p> + There stood a large table, spread with wine and roast meat and a beautiful + fish. The farmer’s wife and the sexton sat at the table, but there was no + one else. She was filling up his glass, while he stuck his fork into the + fish which was his favourite dish. + </p> + <p> + ‘If one could only get some of that!’ thought Little Klaus, stretching his + head towards the window. Ah, what delicious cakes he saw standing there! + It WAS a feast! + </p> + <p> + Then he heard someone riding along the road towards the house. It was the + farmer coming home. He was a very worthy man; but he had one great + peculiarity—namely, that he could not bear to see a sexton. If he + saw one he was made quite mad. That was why the sexton had gone to say + good-day to the farmer’s wife when he knew that her husband was not at + home, and the good woman therefore put in front of him the best food she + had. But when they heard the farmer coming they were frightened, and the + farmer’s wife begged the sexton to creep into a great empty chest. He did + so, as he knew the poor man could not bear to see a sexton. The wife + hastily hid all the beautiful food and the wine in her oven; for if her + husband had seen it, he would have been sure to ask what it all meant. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, dear! oh, dear!’ groaned Little Klaus up in the shed, when he saw the + good food disappearing. + </p> + <p> + ‘Is anybody up there?’ asked the farmer, catching sight of Little Klaus. + ‘Why are you lying there? Come with me into the house.’ + </p> + <p> + Then Little Klaus told him how he had lost his way, and begged to be + allowed to spend the night there. + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, certainly,’ said the farmer; ‘but we must first have something to + eat!’ + </p> + <p> + The wife received them both very kindly, spread a long table, and gave + them a large plate of porridge. The farmer was hungry, and ate with a good + appetite; but Little Klaus could not help thinking of the delicious dishes + of fish and roast meats and cakes which he knew were in the oven. Under + the table at his feet he had laid the sack with the horse-skin in it, for, + as we know, he was going to the town to sell it. The porridge did not + taste good to him, so he trod upon his sack, and the dry skin in the sack + squeaked loudly. + </p> + <p> + ‘Hush!’ said Little Klaus to his sack, at the same time treading on it + again so that it squeaked even louder than before. + </p> + <p> + ‘Hallo! what have you got in your sack?’ asked the farmer. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, it is a wizard!’ said Little Klaus. ‘He says we should not eat + porridge, for he has conjured the whole oven full of roast meats and fish + and cakes.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Goodness me!’ said the farmer; and opening the oven he saw all the + delicious, tempting dishes his wife had hidden there, but which he now + believed the wizard in the sack had conjured up for them. The wife could + say nothing, but she put the food at once on the table, and they ate the + fish, the roast meat, and the cakes. Little Klaus now trod again on his + sack, so that the skin squeaked. + </p> + <p> + ‘What does he say now?’ asked the farmer. + </p> + <p> + ‘He says,’ replied Little Klans, ‘that he has also conjured up for us + three bottles of wine; they are standing in the corner by the oven!’ + </p> + <p> + The wife had to fetch the wine which she had hidden, and the farmer drank + and grew very merry. He would very much like to have had such a wizard as + Little Klaus had in the sack. + </p> + <p> + ‘Can he conjure up the Devil?’ asked the farmer. ‘I should like to see him + very much, for I feel just now in very good spirits!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ said Little Klaus; ‘my wizard can do everything that I ask. Isn’t + that true?’ he asked, treading on the sack so that it squeaked. ‘Do you + hear? He says ‘’Yes;’’ but that the Devil looks so ugly that we should not + like to see him.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! I’m not at all afraid. What does he look like?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘He will show himself in the shape of a sexton!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I say!’ said the farmer, ‘he must be ugly! You must know that I can’t + bear to look at a sexton! But it doesn’t matter. I know that it is the + Devil, and I sha’n’t mind! I feel up to it now. But he must not come too + near me!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I must ask my wizard,’ said Little Klaus, treading on the sack and + putting his ear to it. + </p> + <p> + ‘What does he say?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘He says you can open the chest in the corner there, and you will see the + Devil squatting inside it; but you must hold the lid so that he shall not + escape.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Will you help me to hold him?’ begged the farmer, going towards the chest + where his wife had hidden the real sexton, who was sitting inside in a + terrible fright. The farmer opened the lid a little way, and saw him + inside. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ugh!’ he shrieked, springing back. ‘Yes, now I have seen him; he looked + just like our sexton. Oh, it was horrid!’ + </p> + <p> + So he had to drink again, and they drank till far on into the night. + </p> + <p> + ‘You MUST sell me the wizard,’ said the farmer. ‘Ask anything you like! I + will pay you down a bushelful of money on the spot.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘No, I really can’t,’ said Little Klans. ‘Just think how many things I can + get from this wizard!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! I should like to have him so much!’ said the farmer, begging very + hard. + </p> + <p> + ‘Well!’ said Little Klaus at last, ‘as you have been so good as to give me + shelter to-night, I will sell him. You shall have the wizard for a bushel + of money, but I must have full measure.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘That you shall,’ said the farmer. ‘But you must take the chest with you. + I won’t keep it another hour in the house. Who knows that he isn’t in + there still?’ + </p> + <p> + Little Klaus gave the farmer his sack with the dry skin, and got instead a + good bushelful of money. The farmer also gave him a wheelbarrow to carry + away his money and the chest. ‘Farewell,’ said Little Klaus; and away he + went with his money and the big chest, wherein sat the sexton. + </p> + <p> + On the other side of the wood was a large deep river. The water flowed so + rapidly that you could scarcely swim against the stream. + </p> + <p> + A great new bridge had been built over it, on the middle of which Little + Klaus stopped, and said aloud so that the sexton might hear: + </p> + <p> + ‘Now, what am I to do with this stupid chest? It is as heavy as if it were + filled with stones! I shall only be tired, dragging it along; I will throw + it into the river. If it swims home to me, well and good; and if it + doesn’t, it’s no matter.’ + </p> + <p> + Then he took the chest with one hand and lifted it up a little, as if he + were going to throw it into the water. + </p> + <p> + ‘No, don’t do that!’ called out the sexton in the chest. ‘Let me get out + first!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, oh!’ said Little Klaus, pretending that he was afraid. ‘He is still + in there! I must throw him quickly into the water to drown him!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! no, no!’ cried the sexton. ‘I will give you a whole bushelful of + money if you will let me go!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah, that’s quite another thing!’ said Little Klaus, opening the chest. + The sexton crept out very quickly, pushed the empty chest into the water + and went to his house, where he gave Little Klaus a bushel of money. One + he had had already from the farmer, and now he had his wheelbarrow full of + money. + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, I have got a good price for the horse!’ said he to himself when he + shook all his money out in a heap in his room. ‘This will put Big Klaus in + a rage when he hears how rich I have become through my one horse; but I + won’t tell him just yet!’ + </p> + <p> + So he sent a boy to Big Klaus to borrow a bushel measure from him. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now what can he want with it?’ thought Big Klaus; and he smeared some tar + at the bottom, so that of whatever was measured a little should remain in + it. And this is just what happened; for when he got his measure back, + three new silver five-shilling pieces were sticking to it. + </p> + <p> + What does this mean?’ said Big Klaus, and he ran off at once to Little + Klaus. + </p> + <p> + ‘Where did you get so much money from?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, that was from my horse-skin. I sold it yesterday evening.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘That’s certainly a good price!’ said Big Klaus; and running home in great + haste, he took an axe, knocked all his four horses on the head, skinned + them, and went into the town. + </p> + <p> + ‘Skins! skins! Who will buy skins?’ he cried through the streets. + </p> + <p> + All the shoemakers and tanners came running to ask him what he wanted for + them. ‘A bushel of money for each,’ said Big Klaus. + </p> + <p> + ‘Are you mad?’ they all exclaimed. ‘Do you think we have money by the + bushel?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Skins! skins! Who will buy skins?’ he cried again, and to all who asked + him what they cost, he answered, ‘A bushel of money.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘He is making game of us,’ they said; and the shoemakers seized their yard + measures and the tanners their leathern aprons and they gave Big Klaus a + good beating. ‘Skins! skins!’ they cried mockingly; yes, we will tan YOUR + skin for you! Out of the town with him!’ they shouted; and Big Klaus had + to hurry off as quickly as he could, if he wanted to save his life. + </p> + <p> + ‘Aha!’ said he when he came home, ‘Little Klaus shall pay dearly for this. + I will kill him!’ + </p> + <p> + Little Klaus’ grandmother had just died. Though she had been very unkind + to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid + her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life. There + she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, + which he had often done before. And in the night as he sat there the door + opened, and Big Klaus came in with his axe. He knew quite well where + Little Klaus’s bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on + the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be. ‘There!’ said he. + ‘Now you won’t get the best of me again!’ And he went home. + </p> + <p> + ‘What a very wicked man!’ thought Little Klaus. ‘He was going to kill me! + It was a good thing for my grandmother that she was dead already, or else + he would have killed her!’ + </p> + <p> + Then he dressed his grandmother in her Sunday clothes, borrowed a horse + from his neighbour, harnessed the cart to it, sat his grandmother on the + back seat so that she could not fall out when he drove, and away they + went. When the sun rose they were in front of a large inn. Little Klaus + got down, and went in to get something to drink. The host was very rich. + He was a very worthy but hot-tempered man. + </p> + <p> + ‘Good morning!’ said he to Little Klaus. ‘You are early on the road.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ said Little Klaus. ‘I am going to the town with my grandmother. She + is sitting outside in the cart; I cannot bring her in. Will you not give + her a glass of mead? But you will have to speak loud, for she is very hard + of hearing.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh yes, certainly I will!’ said the host; and, pouring out a large glass + of mead, he took it out to the dead grandmother, who was sitting upright + in the cart. + </p> + <p> + ‘Here is a glass of mead from your son,’ said the host. But the dead woman + did not answer a word, and sat still. ‘Don’t you hear?’ cried the host as + loud as he could. ‘Here is a glass of mead from your son!’ + </p> + <p> + Then he shouted the same thing again, and yet again, but she never moved + in her place; and at last he grew angry, threw the glass in her face, so + that she fell back into the cart, for she was not tied in her place. + </p> + <p> + ‘Hullo!’ cried Little Klaus, running out of the door, and seizing the host + by the throat. ‘You have killed my grandmother! Look! there is a great + hole in her forehead!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, what a misfortune!’ cried the host, wringing his hands. ‘It all comes + from my hot temper! Dear Little Klaus! I will give you a bushel of money, + and will bury your grandmother as if she were my own; only don’t tell + about it, or I shall have my head cut off, and that would be very + uncomfortable.’ + </p> + <p> + So Little Klaus got a bushel of money, and the host buried his grandmother + as if she had been his own. + </p> + <p> + Now when Little Klaus again reached home with so much money he sent his + boy to Big Klaus to borrow his bushel measure. + </p> + <p> + ‘What’s this?’ said Big Klaus. ‘Didn’t I kill him? I must see to this + myself!’ + </p> + <p> + So he went himself to Little Klaus with the measure. + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, now, where did you get all this money?’ asked he, opening his eyes + at the heap. + </p> + <p> + ‘You killed my grandmother—not me,’ said Little Klaus. ‘I sold her, + and got a bushel of money for her.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘That is indeed a good price!’ said Big Klaus; and, hurrying home, he took + an axe and killed his grandmother, laid her in the cart, and drove off to + the apothecary’s, and asked whether he wanted to buy a dead body. + </p> + <p> + ‘Who is it, and how did you get it?’ asked the apothecary. + </p> + <p> + ‘It is my grandmother,’ said Big Klaus. ‘I killed her in order to get a + bushel of money.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You are mad!’ said the apothecary. ‘Don’t mention such things, or you + will lose your head!’ And he began to tell him what a dreadful thing he + had done, and what a wicked man he was, and that he ought to be punished; + till Big Klaus was so frightened that he jumped into the cart and drove + home as hard as he could. The apothecary and all the people thought he + must be mad, so they let him go. + </p> + <p> + ‘You shall pay for this!’ said Big Klaus as he drove home. ‘You shall pay + for this dearly, Little Klaus!’ + </p> + <p> + So as soon as he got home he took the largest sack he could find, and went + to Little Klaus and said: ‘You have fooled me again! First I killed my + horses, then my grandmother! It is all your fault; but you sha’n’t do it + again!’ And he seized Little Klaus, pushed him in the sack, threw it over + his shoulder, crying out ‘Now I am going to drown you!’ + </p> + <p> + He had to go a long way before he came to the river, and Little Klaus was + not very light. The road passed by the church; the organ was sounding, and + the people were singing most beautifully. + </p> + <p> + Big Klaus put down the sack with Little Klaus in it by the church-door, + and thought that he might as well go in and hear a psalm before going on + farther. Little Klaus could not get out, and everybody was in church; so + he went in. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, dear! oh, dear!’ groaned Little Klaus in the sack, twisting and + turning himself. But he could not undo the string. + </p> + <p> + There came by an old, old shepherd, with snow-white hair and a long staff + in his hand. He was driving a herd of cows and oxen. These pushed against + the sack so that it was overturned. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas!’ moaned Little Klans, ‘I am so young and yet I must die!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘And I, poor man,’ said the cattle-driver, ‘I am so old and yet I cannot + die!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Open the sack,’ called out Little Klaus; ‘creep in here instead of me, + and you will die in a moment!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I will gladly do that,’ said the cattle-driver; and he opened the sack, + and Little Klaus struggled out at once. + </p> + <p> + ‘You will take care of the cattle, won’t you?’ asked the old man, creeping + into the sack, which Little Klaus fastened up and then went on with the + cows and oxen. Soon after Big Klaus came out of the church, and taking up + the sack on his shoulders it seemed to him as if it had become lighter; + for the old cattle-driver was not half as heavy as Little Klaus. + </p> + <p> + ‘How easy he is to carry now! That must be because I heard part of the + service.’ + </p> + <p> + So he went to the river, which was deep and broad, threw in the sack with + the old driver, and called after it, for he thought Little Klaus was + inside: + </p> + <p> + ‘Down you go! You won’t mock me any more now!’ + </p> + <p> + Then he went home; but when he came to the cross-roads, there he met + Little Klaus, who was driving his cattle. + </p> + <p> + ‘What’s this?’ said Big Klaus. ‘Haven’t I drowned you?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ replied Little Klaus; ‘you threw me into the river a good half-hour + ago!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘But how did you get those splendid cattle?’ asked Big Klaus. + </p> + <p> + ‘They are sea-cattle!’ said Little Klaus. ‘I will tell you the whole + story, and I thank you for having drowned me, because now I am on dry land + and really rich! How frightened I was when I was in the sack! How the wind + whistled in my ears as you threw me from the bridge into the cold water! I + sank at once to the bottom; but I did not hurt myself for underneath was + growing the most beautiful soft grass. I fell on this, and immediately the + sack opened; the loveliest maiden in snow-white garments, with a green + garland round her wet hair, took me by the hand, and said! ‘’Are you + Little Klaus? Here are some cattle for you to begin with, and a mile + farther down the road there is another herd, which I will give you as a + present!’’ Now I saw that the river was a great high-road for the + sea-people. Along it they travel underneath from the sea to the land till + the river ends. It was so beautiful, full of flowers and fresh grass; the + fishes which were swimming in the water shot past my ears as the birds do + here in the air. What lovely people there were, and what fine cattle were + grazing in the ditches and dykes!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘But why did you come up to us again?’ asked Big Klaus. ‘I should not have + done so, if it is so beautiful down below!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh!’ said Little Klaus, ‘that was just so politic of me. You heard what I + told you, that the sea-maiden said to me a mile farther along the road—and + by the road she meant the river, for she can go by no other way—there + was another herd of cattle waiting for me. But I know what windings the + river makes, now here, now there, so that it is a long way round. + Therefore it makes it much shorter if one comes on the land and drives + across the field to the river. Thus I have spared myself quite half a + mile, and have come much quicker to my sea-cattle!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, you’re a lucky fellow!’ said Big Klaus. ‘Do you think I should also + get some cattle if I went to the bottom of the river?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, yes! I think so,’ said Little Klaus. ‘But I can’t carry you in a sack + to the river; you are too heavy for me! If you like to go there yourself + and then creep into the sack, I will throw you in with the greatest of + pleasure.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Thank you,’ said Big Klaus; ‘but if I don’t get any sea-cattle when I + come there, you will have a good hiding, mind!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, no! Don’t be so hard on me!’ Then they went to the river. When the + cattle, which were thirsty, caught sight of the water, they ran as quickly + as they could to drink. + </p> + <p> + ‘Look how they are running!’ said Little Klaus. ‘They want to go to the + bottom again!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes; but help me first,’ said Big Klaus, ‘or else you shall have a + beating!’ + </p> + <p> + And so he crept into the large sack, which was lying on the back of one of + the oxen. ‘Put a stone in, for I am afraid I may not reach the bottom,’ + said Big Klaus. + </p> + <p> + ‘It goes all right!’ said Little Klaus; but still he laid a big stone in + the sack, fastened it up tight, and then pushed it in. Plump! there was + Big Klaus in the water, and he sank like lead to the bottom. + </p> + <p> + ‘I doubt if he will find any cattle!’ said Little Klaus as he drove his + own home. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0025" id="link2H_4_0025"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PRINCE RING (30) + </h2> + <h3> + (30) From the Icelandic. + </h3> + <p> + Once upon a time there was a King and his Queen in their kingdom. + </p> + <p> + They had one daughter, who was called Ingiborg, and one son, whose name + was Ring. He was less fond of adventures than men of rank usually were in + those days, and was not famous for strength or feats of arms. When he was + twelve years old, one fine winter day he rode into the forest along with + his men to enjoy himself. They went on a long way, until they caught sight + of a hind with a gold ring on its horns. The Prince was eager to catch it, + if possible, so they gave chase and rode on without stopping until all the + horses began to founder beneath them. At last the Prince’s horse gave way + too, and then there came over them a darkness so black that they could no + longer see the hind. By this time they were far away from any house, and + thought it was high time to be making their way home again, but they found + they had got lost now. At first they all kept together, but soon each + began to think that he knew the right way best; so they separated, and all + went in different directions. + </p> + <p> + The Prince, too, had got lost like the rest, and wandered on for a time + until he came to a little clearing in the forest not far from the sea, + where he saw a woman sitting on a chair and a big barrel standing beside + her. The Prince went up to her and saluted her politely, and she received + him very graciously. He looked down into the barrel then, and saw lying at + the bottom an unusually beautiful gold ring, which pleased him so much + that he could not take his eyes off it. The woman saw this, and said that + he might have it if he would take the trouble to get it; for which the + Prince thanked her, and said it was at least worth trying. So he leaned + over into the barrel, which did not seem very deep, and thought he would + easily reach the ring; but the more he stretched down after it the deeper + grew the barrel. As he was thus bending down into it the woman suddenly + rose up and pushed him in head first, saying that now he could take up his + quarters there. Then she fixed the top on the barrel and threw it out into + the sea. + </p> + <p> + The Prince thought himself in a bad plight now, as he felt the barrel + floating out from the land and tossing about on the waves. + </p> + <p> + How many days he spent thus he could not tell, but at last he felt that + the barrel was knocking against rocks, at which he was a little cheered, + thinking it was probably land and not merely a reef in the sea. Being + something of a swimmer, he at last made up his mind to kick the bottom out + of the barrel, and having done so he was able to get on shore, for the + rocks by the sea were smooth and level; but overhead there were high + cliffs. It seemed difficult to get up these, but he went along the foot of + them for a little, till at last he tried to climb up, which at last he + did. + </p> + <p> + Having got to the top, he looked round about him and saw that he was on an + island, which was covered with forest, with apples growing, and altogether + pleasant as far as the land was concerned. After he had been there several + days, he one day heard a great noise in the forest, which made him + terribly afraid, so that he ran to hide himself among the trees. Then he + saw a Giant approaching, dragging a sledge loaded with wood, and making + straight for him, so that he could see nothing for it but to lie down just + where he was. When the Giant came across him, he stood still and looked at + the Prince for a little; then he took him up in his arms and carried him + home to his house, and was exceedingly kind to him. He gave him to his + wife, saying he had found this child in the wood, and she could have it to + help her in the house. The old woman was greatly pleased, and began to + fondle the Prince with the utmost delight. He stayed there with them, and + was very willing and obedient to them in everything, while they grew + kinder to him every day. + </p> + <p> + One day the Giant took him round and showed him all his rooms except the + parlour; this made the Prince curious to have a look into it, thinking + there must be some very rare treasure there. So one day, when the Giant + had gone into the forest, he tried to get into the parlour, and managed to + get the door open half-way. Then he saw that some living creature moved + inside and ran along the floor towards him and said something, which made + him so frightened that he sprang back from the door and shut it again. As + soon as the fright began to pass off he tried it again, for he thought it + would be interesting to hear what it said; but things went just as before + with him. He then got angry with himself, and, summoning up all his + courage, tried it a third time, and opened the door of the room and stood + firm. Then he saw that it was a big Dog, which spoke to him and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Choose me, Prince Ring.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince went away rather afraid, thinking with himself that it was no + great treasure after all; but all the same what it had said to him stuck + in his mind. + </p> + <p> + It is not said how long the Prince stayed with the Giant, but one day the + latter came to him and said he would now take him over to the mainland out + of the island, for he himself had no long time to live. He also thanked + him for his good service, and told him to choose some-one of his + possessions, for he would get whatever he wanted. Ring thanked him + heartily, and said there was no need to pay him for his services, they + were so little worth; but if he did wish to give him anything he would + choose what was in the parlour. The Giant was taken by surprise, and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘There, you chose my old woman’s right hand; but I must not break my + word.’ + </p> + <p> + Upon this he went to get the Dog, which came running with signs of great + delight; but the Prince was so much afraid of it that it was all he could + do to keep from showing his alarm. + </p> + <p> + After this the Giant accompanied him down to the sea, where he saw a stone + boat which was just big enough to hold the two of them and the Dog. On + reaching the mainland the Giant took a friendly farewell of Ring, and told + him he might take possession of all that was in the island after he and + his wife died, which would happen within two weeks from that time. The + Prince thanked him for this and for all his other kindnesses, and the + Giant returned home, while Ring went up some distance from the sea; but he + did not know what land he had come to, and was afraid to speak to the Dog. + After he had walked on in silence for a time the Dog spoke to him and + said: + </p> + <p> + ‘You don’t seem to have much curiosity, seeing you never ask my name.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince then forced himself to ask, ‘What is your name?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You had best call me Snati-Snati,’ said the Dog. ‘Now we are coming to a + King’s seat, and you must ask the King to keep us all winter, and to give + you a little room for both of us.’ + </p> + <p> + The Prince now began to be less afraid of the Dog. They came to the King + and asked him to keep them all the winter, to which he agreed. When the + King’s men saw the Dog they began to laugh at it, and make as if they + would tease it; but when the Prince saw this he advised them not to do it, + or they might have the worst of it. They replied that they didn’t care a + bit what he thought. + </p> + <p> + After Ring had been with the King for some days the latter began to think + there was a great deal in him, and esteemed him more than the others. The + King, however, had a counsellor called Red, who became very jealous when + he saw how much the King esteemed Ring; and one day he talked to him, and + said he could not understand why he had so good an opinion of this + stranger, who had not yet shown himself superior to other men in anything. + The King replied that it was only a short time since he had come there. + Red then asked him to send them both to cut down wood next morning, and + see which of them could do most work. Snati-Snati heard this and told it + to Ring, advising him to ask the King for two axes, so that he might have + one in reserve if the first one got broken. Next morning the King asked + Ring and Red to go and cut down trees for him, and both agreed. Ring got + the two axes, and each went his own way; but when the Prince had got out + into the wood Snati took one of the axes and began to hew along with him. + In the evening the King came to look over their day’s work, as Red had + proposed, and found that Ring’s wood-heap was more than twice as big. + </p> + <p> + ‘I suspected,’ said the King, ‘that Ring was not quite useless; never have + I seen such a day’s work.’ + </p> + <p> + Ring was now in far greater esteem with the King than before, and Red was + all the more discontented. One day he came to the King and said, ‘If Ring + is such a mighty man, I think you might ask him to kill the wild oxen in + the wood here, and flay them the same day, and bring you the horns and the + hides in the evening.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Don’t you think that a desperate errand?’ said the King, ‘seeing they are + so dangerous, and no one has ever yet ventured to go against them?’ + </p> + <p> + Red answered that he had only one life to lose, and it would be + interesting to see how brave he was; besides, the King would have good + reason to ennoble him if he overcame them. The King at last allowed + himself, though rather unwillingly, to be won over by Red’s persistency, + and one day asked Ring to go and kill the oxen that were in the wood for + him, and bring their horns and hides to him in the evening. Not knowing + how dangerous the oxen were, Ring was quite ready, and went off at once, + to the great delight of Red, who was now sure of his death. + </p> + <p> + As soon as Ring came in sight of the oxen they came bellowing to meet him; + one of them was tremendously big, the other rather less. Ring grew + terribly afraid. + </p> + <p> + ‘How do you like them?’ asked Snati. + </p> + <p> + ‘Not well at all,’ said the Prince. + </p> + <p> + ‘We can do nothing else,’ said Snati, ‘than attack them, if it is to go + well; you will go against the little one, and I shall take the other.’ + </p> + <p> + With this Snati leapt at the big one, and was not long in bringing him + down. Meanwhile the Prince went against the other with fear and trembling, + and by the time Snati came to help him the ox had nearly got him under, + but Snati was not slow in helping his master to kill it. + </p> + <p> + Each of them then began to flay their own ox, but Ring was only half + through by the time Snati had finished his. In the evening, after they had + finished this task, the Prince thought himself unfit to carry all the + horns and both the hides, so Snati told him to lay them all on his back + until they got to the Palace gate. + </p> + <p> + The Prince agreed, and laid everything on the Dog except the skin of the + smaller ox, which he staggered along with himself. At the Palace gate he + left everything lying, went before the King, and asked him to come that + length with him, and there handed over to him the hides and horns of the + oxen. The King was greatly surprised at his valour, and said he knew no + one like him, and thanked him heartily for what he had done. + </p> + <p> + After this the King set Ring next to himself, and all esteemed him highly, + and held him to be a great hero; nor could Red any longer say anything + against him, though he grew still more determined to destroy him. One day + a good idea came into his head. He came to the King and said he had + something to say to him. + </p> + <p> + ‘What is that?’ said the King. + </p> + <p> + Red said that he had just remembered the gold cloak, gold chess-board, and + bright gold piece that the King had lost about a year before. + </p> + <p> + ‘Don’t remind me of them!’ said the King. + </p> + <p> + Red, however, went on to say that, since Ring was such a mighty man that + he could do everything, it had occurred to him to advise the King to ask + him to search for these treasures, and come back with them before + Christmas; in return the King should promise him his daughter. + </p> + <p> + The King replied that he thought it altogether unbecoming to propose such + a thing to Ring, seeing that he could not tell him where the things were; + but Red pretended not to hear the King’s excuses, and went on talking + about it until the King gave in to him. One day, a month or so before + Christmas, the King spoke to Ring, saying that he wished to ask a great + favour of him. + </p> + <p> + ‘What is that?’ said Ring. + </p> + <p> + ‘It is this,’ said the King: ‘that you find for me my gold cloak, my gold + chess-board, and my bright gold piece, that were stolen from me about a + year ago. If you can bring them to me before Christmas I will give you my + daughter in marriage.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Where am I to look for them, then?’ said Ring. + </p> + <p> + ‘That you must find out for yourself,’ said the King: ‘I don’t know.’ + </p> + <p> + Ring now left the King, and was very silent, for he saw he was in a great + difficulty: but, on the other hand, he thought it was excellent to have + such a chance of winning the King’s daughter. Snati noticed that his + master was at a loss, and said to him that he should not disregard what + the King had asked him to do; but he would have to act upon his advice, + otherwise he would get into great difficulties. The Prince assented to + this, and began to prepare for the journey. + </p> + <p> + After he had taken leave of the King, and was setting out on the search, + Snati said to him, ‘Now you must first of all go about the neighbourhood, + and gather as much salt as ever you can.’ The Prince did so, and gathered + so much salt that he could hardly carry it; but Snati said, ‘Throw it on + my back,’ which he accordingly did, and the Dog then ran on before the + Prince, until they came to the foot of a steep cliff. + </p> + <p> + ‘We must go up here,’ said Snati. + </p> + <p> + ‘I don’t think that will be child’s play,’ said the Prince. + </p> + <p> + ‘Hold fast by my tail,’ said Snati; and in this way he pulled Ring up on + the lowest shelf of the rock. The Prince began to get giddy, but up went + Snati on to the second shelf. Ring was nearly swooning by this time, but + Snati made a third effort and reached the top of the cliff, where the + Prince fell down in a faint. After a little, however, he recovered again, + and they went a short distance along a level plain, until they came to a + cave. This was on Christmas Eve. They went up above the cave, and found a + window in it, through which they looked, and saw four trolls lying asleep + beside the fire, over which a large porridge-pot was hanging. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now you must empty all the salt into the porridge-pot,’ said Snati. + </p> + <p> + Ring did so, and soon the trolls wakened up. The old hag, who was the most + frightful of them all, went first to taste the porridge. + </p> + <p> + ‘How comes this?’ she said; ‘the porridge is salt! I got the milk by + witchcraft yesterday out of four kingdoms, and now it is salt!’ + </p> + <p> + All the others then came to taste the porridge, and thought it nice, but + after they had finished it the old hag grew so thirsty that she could + stand it no longer, and asked her daughter to go out and bring her some + water from the river that ran near by. + </p> + <p> + ‘I won’t go,’ said she, ‘unless you lend me your bright gold piece.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Though I should die you shan’t have that,’ said the hag. + </p> + <p> + ‘Die, then,’ said the girl. + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, then, take it, you brat,’ said the old hag, ‘and be off with you, + and make haste with the water.’ + </p> + <p> + The girl took the gold and ran out with it, and it was so bright that it + shone all over the plain. As soon as she came to the river she lay down to + take a drink of the water, but meanwhile the two of them had got down off + the roof and thrust her, head first, into the river. + </p> + <p> + The old hag began now to long for the water, and said that the girl would + be running about with the gold piece all over the plain, so she asked her + son to go and get her a drop of water. + </p> + <p> + ‘I won’t go,’ said he, ‘unless I get the gold cloak.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Though I should die you shan’t have that,’ said the hag. + </p> + <p> + ‘Die, then,’ said the son. + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, then, take it,’ said the old hag, ‘and be off with you, but you + must make haste with the water.’ + </p> + <p> + He put on the cloak, and when he came outside it shone so bright that he + could see to go with it. On reaching the river he went to take a drink + like his sister, but at that moment Ring and Snati sprang upon him, took + the cloak from him, and threw him into the river. + </p> + <p> + The old hag could stand the thirst no longer, and asked her husband to go + for a drink for her; the brats, she said, were of course running about and + playing themselves, just as she had expected they would, little wretches + that they were. + </p> + <p> + ‘I won’t go,’ said the old troll, ‘unless you lend me the gold + chess-board.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Though I should die you shan’t have that,’ said the hag. + </p> + <p> + ‘I think you may just as well do that,’ said he, ‘since you won’t grant me + such a little favour.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Take it, then, you utter disgrace!’ said the old hag, ‘since you are just + like these two brats.’ + </p> + <p> + The old troll now went out with the gold chess-board, and down to the + river, and was about to take a drink, when Ring and Snati came upon him, + took the chess-board from him, and threw him into the river. Before they + had got back again, however, and up on top of the cave, they saw the poor + old fellow’s ghost come marching up from the river. Snati immediately + sprang upon him, and Ring assisted in the attack, and after a hard + struggle they mastered him a second time. When they got back again to the + window they saw that the old hag was moving towards the door. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now we must go in at once,’ said Snati, ‘and try to master her there, for + if she once gets out we shall have no chance with her. She is the worst + witch that ever lived, and no iron can cut her. One of us must pour + boiling porridge out of the pot on her, and the other punch her with + red-hot iron.’ + </p> + <p> + In they went then, and no sooner did the hag see them than she said, ‘So + you have come, Prince Ring; you must have seen to my husband and + children.’ + </p> + <p> + Snati saw that she was about to attack them, and sprang at her with a + red-hot iron from the fire, while Ring kept pouring boiling porridge on + her without stopping, and in this way they at last got her killed. Then + they burned the old troll and her to ashes, and explored the cave, where + they found plenty of gold and treasures. The most valuable of these they + carried with them as far as the cliff, and left them there. Then they + hastened home to the King with his three treasures, where they arrived + late on Christmas night, and Ring handed them over to him. + </p> + <p> + The King was beside himself with joy, and was astonished at how clever a + man Ring was in all kinds of feats, so that he esteemed him still more + highly than before, and betrothed his daughter to him; and the feast for + this was to last all through Christmastide. Ring thanked the King + courteously for this and all his other kindnesses, and as soon as he had + finished eating and drinking in the hall went off to sleep in his own + room. Snati, however, asked permission to sleep in the Prince’s bed for + that night, while the Prince should sleep where the Dog usually lay. Ring + said he was welcome to do so, and that he deserved more from him than that + came to. So Snati went up into the Prince’s bed, but after a time he came + back, and told Ring he could go there himself now, but to take care not to + meddle with anything that was in the bed. + </p> + <p> + Now the story comes back to Red, who came into the hall and showed the + King his right arm wanting the hand, and said that now he could see what + kind of a man his intended son-in-law was, for he had done this to him + without any cause whatever. The King became very angry, and said he would + soon find out the truth about it, and if Ring had cut off his hand without + good cause he should be hanged; but if it was otherwise, then Red should + die. So the King sent for Ring and asked him for what reason he had done + this. Snati, however, had just told Ring what had happened during the + night, and in reply he asked the King to go with him and he would show him + something. The King went with him to his sleeping-room, and saw lying on + the bed a man’s hand holding a sword. + </p> + <p> + ‘This hand,’ said Ring, ‘came over the partition during the night, and was + about to run me through in my bed, if I had not defended myself.’ + </p> + <p> + The King answered that in that case he could not blame him for protecting + his own life, and that Red was well worthy of death. So Red was hanged, + and Ring married the King’s daughter. + </p> + <p> + The first night that they went to bed together Snati asked Ring to allow + him to lie at their feet, and this Ring allowed him to do. During the + night he heard a howling and outcry beside them, struck a light in a hurry + and saw an ugly dog’s skin lying near him, and a beautiful Prince in the + bed. Ring instantly took the skin and burned it, and then shook the + Prince, who was lying unconscious, until he woke up. The bridegroom then + asked his name; he replied that he was called Ring, and was a King’s son. + In his youth he had lost his mother, and in her place his father had + married a witch, who had laid a spell on him that he should turn into a + dog, and never be released from the spell unless a Prince of the same name + as himself allowed him to sleep at his feet the first night after his + marriage. He added further, ‘As soon as she knew that you were my namesake + she tried to get you destroyed, so that you might not free me from the + spell. She was the hind that you and your companions chased; she was the + woman that you found in the clearing with the barrel, and the old hag that + we just now killed in the cave.’ + </p> + <p> + After the feasting was over the two namesakes, along with other men, went + to the cliff and brought all the treasure home to the Palace. Then they + went to the island and removed all that was valuable from it. Ring gave to + his namesake, whom he had freed from the spell, his sister Ingiborg and + his father’s kingdom to look after, but he himself stayed with his + father-in-law the King, and had half the kingdom while he lived and the + whole of it after his death. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE SWINEHERD + </h2> + <p> + There was once a poor Prince. He possessed a kingdom which, though small, + was yet large enough for him to marry on, and married he wished to be. + </p> + <p> + Now it was certainly a little audacious of him to venture to say to the + Emperor’s daughter, ‘Will you marry me?’ But he did venture to say so, for + his name was known far and wide. There were hundreds of princesses who + would gladly have said ‘Yes,’ but would she say the same? + </p> + <p> + Well, we shall see. + </p> + <p> + On the grave of the Prince’s father grew a rose-tree, a very beautiful + rose-tree. It only bloomed every five years, and then bore but a single + rose, but oh, such a rose! Its scent was so sweet that when you smelt it + you forgot all your cares and troubles. And he had also a nightingale + which could sing as if all the beautiful melodies in the world were shut + up in its little throat. This rose and this nightingale the Princess was + to have, and so they were both put into silver caskets and sent to her. + </p> + <p> + The Emperor had them brought to him in the great hall, where the Princess + was playing ‘Here comes a duke a-riding’ with her ladies-in-waiting. And + when she caught sight of the big caskets which contained the presents, she + clapped her hands for joy. + </p> + <p> + ‘If only it were a little pussy cat!’ she said. But the rose-tree with the + beautiful rose came out. + </p> + <p> + ‘But how prettily it is made!’ said all the ladies-in-waiting. + </p> + <p> + ‘It is more than pretty,’ said the Emperor, ‘it is charming!’ + </p> + <p> + But the Princess felt it, and then she almost began to cry. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ugh! Papa,’ she said, ‘it is not artificial, it is REAL!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Ugh!’ said all the ladies-in-waiting, ‘it is real!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Let us see first what is in the other casket before we begin to be + angry,’ thought the Emperor, and there came out the nightingale. It sang + so beautifully that one could scarcely utter a cross word against it. + </p> + <p> + ‘Superbe! charmant!’ said the ladies-in-waiting, for they all chattered + French, each one worse than the other. + </p> + <p> + ‘How much the bird reminds me of the musical snuff-box of the late + Empress!’ said an old courtier. ‘Ah, yes, it is the same tone, the same + execution!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ said the Emperor; and then he wept like a little child. + </p> + <p> + ‘I hope that this, at least, is not real?’ asked the Princess. + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, it is a real bird,’ said those who had brought it. + </p> + <p> + ‘Then let the bird fly away,’ said the Princess; and she would not on any + account allow the Prince to come. + </p> + <p> + ‘But he was nothing daunted. He painted his face brown and black, drew his + cap well over his face, and knocked at the door. ‘Good-day, Emperor,’ he + said. ‘Can I get a place here as servant in the castle?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ said the Emperor, ‘but there are so many who ask for a place that I + don’t know whether there will be one for you; but, still, I will think of + you. Stay, it has just occurred to me that I want someone to look after + the swine, for I have so very many of them.’ + </p> + <p> + And the Prince got the situation of Imperial Swineherd. He had a wretched + little room close to the pigsties; here he had to stay, but the whole day + he sat working, and when evening was come he had made a pretty little pot. + All round it were little bells, and when the pot boiled they jingled most + beautifully and played the old tune— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Where is Augustus dear? + Alas! he’s not here, here, here!’ +</pre> + <p> + But the most wonderful thing was, that when one held one’s finger in the + steam of the pot, then at once one could smell what dinner was ready in + any fire-place in the town. That was indeed something quite different from + the rose. + </p> + <p> + Now the Princess came walking past with all her ladies-in-waiting, and + when she heard the tune she stood still and her face beamed with joy, for + she also could play ‘Where is Augustus dear?’ + </p> + <p> + It was the only tune she knew, but that she could play with one finger. + </p> + <p> + ‘Why, that is what I play!’ she said. ‘He must be a most accomplished + Swineherd! Listen! Go down and ask him what the instrument costs.’ + </p> + <p> + And one of the ladies-in-waiting had to go down; but she put on wooden + clogs. ‘What will you take for the pot?’ asked the lady-in-waiting. + </p> + <p> + ‘I will have ten kisses from the Princess,’ answered the Swineherd. + </p> + <p> + ‘Heaven forbid!’ said the lady-in-waiting. + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, I will sell it for nothing less,’ replied the Swineherd. + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, what does he say?’ asked the Princess. + </p> + <p> + ‘I really hardly like to tell you,’ answered the lady-in-waiting. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, then you can whisper it to me.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘He is disobliging!’ said the Princess, and went away. But she had only + gone a few steps when the bells rang out so prettily— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Where is Augustus dear? + Alas! he’s not here, here, here.’ +</pre> + <p> + ‘Listen!’ said the Princess. ‘Ask him whether he will take ten kisses from + my ladies-in-waiting.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘No, thank you,’ said the Swineherd. ‘Ten kisses from the Princess, or + else I keep my pot.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘That is very tiresome!’ said the Princess. ‘But you must put yourselves + in front of me, so that no one can see.’ + </p> + <p> + And the ladies-in-waiting placed themselves in front and then spread out + their dresses; so the Swineherd got his ten kisses, and she got the pot. + </p> + <p> + What happiness that was! The whole night and the whole day the pot was + made to boil; there was not a fire-place in the whole town where they did + not know what was being cooked, whether it was at the chancellor’s or at + the shoemaker’s. + </p> + <p> + The ladies-in-waiting danced and clapped their hands. + </p> + <p> + ‘We know who is going to have soup and pancakes; we know who is going to + have porridge and sausages—isn’t it interesting?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, very interesting!’ said the first lady-in-waiting. + </p> + <p> + ‘But don’t say anything about it, for I am the Emperor’s daughter.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, no, of course we won’t!’ said everyone. + </p> + <p> + The Swineherd—that is to say, the Prince (though they did not know + he was anything but a true Swineherd)—let no day pass without making + something, and one day he made a rattle which, when it was turned round, + played all the waltzes, galops, and polkas which had ever been known since + the world began. + </p> + <p> + ‘But that is superbe!’ said the Princess as she passed by. ‘I have never + heard a more beautiful composition. Listen! Go down and ask him what this + instrument costs; but I won’t kiss him again.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘He wants a hundred kisses from the Princess,’ said the lady-in-waiting + who had gone down to ask him. + </p> + <p> + ‘I believe he is mad!’ said the Princess, and then she went on; but she + had only gone a few steps when she stopped. + </p> + <p> + ‘One ought to encourage art,’ she said. ‘I am the Emperor’s daughter! Tell + him he shall have, as before, ten kisses; the rest he can take from my + ladies-in-waiting.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘But we don’t at all like being kissed by him,’ said the + ladies-in-waiting. + </p> + <p> + ‘That’s nonsense,’ said the Princess; ‘and if I can kiss him, you can too. + Besides, remember that I give you board and lodging.’ + </p> + <p> + So the ladies-in-waiting had to go down to him again. + </p> + <p> + ‘A hundred kisses from the Princess,’ said he, ‘or each keeps his own.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Put yourselves in front of us,’ she said then; and so all the + ladies-in-waiting put themselves in front, and he began to kiss the + Princess. + </p> + <p> + ‘What can that commotion be by the pigsties?’ asked the Emperor, who was + standing on the balcony. He rubbed his eyes and put on his spectacles. + ‘Why those are the ladies-in-waiting playing their games; I must go down + to them.’ + </p> + <p> + So he took off his shoes, which were shoes though he had trodden them down + into slippers. What a hurry he was in, to be sure! + </p> + <p> + As soon as he came into the yard he walked very softly, and the + ladies-in-waiting were so busy counting the kisses and seeing fair play + that they never noticed the Emperor. He stood on tiptoe. + </p> + <p> + ‘What is that?’ he said, when he saw the kissing; and then he threw one of + his slippers at their heads just as the Swineherd was taking his + eighty-sixth kiss. + </p> + <p> + ‘Be off with you!’ said the Emperor, for he was very angry. And the + Princess and the Swineherd were driven out of the empire. + </p> + <p> + Then she stood still and wept; the Swineherd was scolding, and the rain + was streaming down. + </p> + <p> + ‘Alas, what an unhappy creature I am!’ sobbed the Princess. + </p> + <p> + ‘If only I had taken the beautiful Prince! Alas, how unfortunate I am!’ + </p> + <p> + And the Swineherd went behind a tree, washed the black and brown off his + face, threw away his old clothes, and then stepped forward in his splendid + dress, looking so beautiful that the Princess was obliged to courtesy. + </p> + <p> + ‘I now come to this. I despise you!’ he said. ‘You would have nothing to + do with a noble Prince; you did not understand the rose or the + nightingale, but you could kiss the Swineherd for the sake of a toy. This + is what you get for it!’ And he went into his kingdom and shut the door in + her face, and she had to stay outside singing— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Where’s my Augustus dear? + Alas! he’s not here, here, here! +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0027" id="link2H_4_0027"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + HOW TO TELL A TRUE PRINCESS + </h2> + <p> + There was once upon a time a Prince who wanted to marry a Princess, but + she must be a true Princess. So he travelled through the whole world to + find one, but there was always something against each. There were plenty + of Princesses, but he could not find out if they were true Princesses. In + every case there was some little defect, which showed the genuine article + was not yet found. So he came home again in very low spirits, for he had + wanted very much to have a true Princess. One night there was a dreadful + storm; it thundered and lightened and the rain streamed down in torrents. + It was fearful! There was a knocking heard at the Palace gate, and the old + King went to open it. + </p> + <p> + There stood a Princess outside the gate; but oh, in what a sad plight she + was from the rain and the storm! The water was running down from her hair + and her dress into the points of her shoes and out at the heels again. And + yet she said she was a true Princess! + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, we shall soon find that!’ thought the old Queen. But she said + nothing, and went into the sleeping-room, took off all the bed-clothes, + and laid a pea on the bottom of the bed. Then she put twenty mattresses on + top of the pea, and twenty eider-down quilts on the top of the mattresses. + And this was the bed in which the Princess was to sleep. + </p> + <p> + The next morning she was asked how she had slept. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, very badly!’ said the Princess. ‘I scarcely closed my eyes all night! + I am sure I don’t know what was in the bed. I laid on something so hard + that my whole body is black and blue. It is dreadful!’ + </p> + <p> + Now they perceived that she was a true Princess, because she had felt the + pea through the twenty mattresses and the twenty eider-down quilts. + </p> + <p> + No one but a true Princess could be so sensitive. + </p> + <p> + So the Prince married her, for now he knew that at last he had got hold of + a true Princess. And the pea was put into the Royal Museum, where it is + still to be seen if no one has stolen it. Now this is a true story. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0028" id="link2H_4_0028"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE BLUE MOUNTAINS + </h2> + <p> + There were once a Scotsman and an Englishman and an Irishman serving in + the army together, who took it into their heads to run away on the first + opportunity they could get. The chance came and they took it. They went on + travelling for two days through a great forest, without food or drink, and + without coming across a single house, and every night they had to climb up + into the trees through fear of the wild beasts that were in the wood. On + the second morning the Scotsman saw from the top of his tree a great + castle far away. He said to himself that he would certainly die if he + stayed in the forest without anything to eat but the roots of grass, which + would not keep him alive very long. As soon, then, as he got down out of + the tree he set off towards the castle, without so much as telling his + companions that he had seen it at all; perhaps the hunger and want they + had suffered had changed their nature so much that the one did not care + what became of the other if he could save himself. He travelled on most of + the day, so that it was quite late when he reached the castle, and to his + great disappointment found nothing but closed doors and no smoke rising + from the chimneys. He thought there was nothing for it but to die after + all, and had lain down beside the wall, when he heard a window being + opened high above him. At this he looked up, and saw the most beautiful + woman he had ever set eyes on. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, it is Fortune that has sent you to me,’ he said. + </p> + <p> + ‘It is indeed,’ said she. ‘What are you in need of, or what has sent you + here?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Necessity,’ said he. ‘I am dying for want of food and drink.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Come inside, then,’ she said; ‘there is plenty of both here.’ + </p> + <p> + Accordingly he went in to where she was, and she opened a large room for + him, where he saw a number of men lying asleep. She then set food before + him, and after that showed him to the room where the others were. He lay + down on one of the beds and fell sound asleep. And now we must go back to + the two that he left behind him in the wood. + </p> + <p> + When nightfall and the time of the wild beasts came upon these, the + Englishman happened to climb up into the very same tree on which the + Scotsman was when he got a sight of the castle; and as soon as the day + began to dawn and the Englishman looked to the four quarters of heaven, + what did he see but the castle too! Off he went without saying a word to + the Irishman, and everything happened to him just as it had done to the + Scotsman. + </p> + <p> + The poor Irishman was now left all alone, and did not know where the + others had gone to, so he just stayed where he was, very sad and + miserable. When night came he climbed up into the same tree as the + Englishman had been on the night before. As soon as day came he also saw + the castle, and set out towards it; but when he reached it he could see no + signs of fire or living being about it. Before long, however, he heard the + window opened above his head, looked up, and beheld the most beautiful + woman he had ever seen. He asked if she would give him food and drink, and + she answered kindly and heartily that she would, if he would only come + inside. This he did very willingly, and she set before him food and drink + that he had never seen the like of before. In the room there was a bed, + with diamond rings hanging at every loop of the curtains, and everything + that was in the room besides astonished him so much that he actually + forgot that he was hungry. When she saw that he was not eating at all, she + asked him what he wanted yet, to which he replied that he would neither + eat nor drink until he knew who she was, or where she came from, or who + had put her there. + </p> + <p> + ‘I shall tell you that,’ said she. ‘I am an enchanted Princess, and my + father has promised that the man who releases me from the spell shall have + the third of his kingdom while he is alive, and the whole of it after he + is dead, and marry me as well. If ever I saw a man who looked likely to do + this, you are the one. I have been here for sixteen years now, and no one + who ever came to the castle has asked me who I was, except yourself. Every + other man that has come, so long as I have been here, lies asleep in the + big room down there.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Tell me, then,’ said the Irishman, ‘what is the spell that has been laid + on you, and how you can be freed from it.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘There is a little room there,’ said the Princess, ‘and if I could get a + man to stay in it from ten o’clock till midnight for three nights on end I + should be freed from the spell.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I am the man for you, then,’ said he; ‘I will take on hand to do it.’ + </p> + <p> + Thereupon she brought him a pipe and tobacco, and he went into the room; + but before long he heard a hammering and knocking on the outside of the + door, and was told to open it. + </p> + <p> + ‘I won’t,’ he said. + </p> + <p> + The next moment the door came flying in, and those outside along with it. + They knocked him down, and kicked him, and knelt on his body till it came + to midnight; but as soon as the cock crew they all disappeared. The + Irishman was little more than alive by this time. As soon as daylight + appeared the Princess came, and found him lying full length on the floor, + unable to speak a word. She took a bottle, rubbed him from head to foot + with something from it, and thereupon he was as sound as ever; but after + what he had got that night he was very unwilling to try it a second time. + The Princess, however, entreated him to stay, saying that the next night + would not be so bad, and in the end he gave in and stayed. + </p> + <p> + When it was getting near midnight he heard them ordering him to open the + door, and there were three of them for every one that there had been the + previous evening. He did not make the slightest movement to go out to them + or to open the door, but before long they broke it up, and were in on top + of him. They laid hold of him, and kept throwing him between them up to + the ceiling, or jumping above him, until the cock crew, when they all + disappeared. When day came the Princess went to the room to see if he was + still alive, and taking the bottle put it to his nostrils, which soon + brought him to himself. The first thing he said then was that he was a + fool to go on getting himself killed for anyone he ever saw, and was + determined to be off and stay there no longer, When the Princess learned + his intention she entreated him to stay, reminding him that another night + would free her from the spell. ‘Besides,’ she said, ‘if there is a single + spark of life in you when the day comes, the stuff that is in this bottle + will make you as sound as ever you were.’ + </p> + <p> + With all this the Irishman decided to stay; but that night there were + three at him for every one that was there the two nights before, and it + looked very unlikely that he would be alive in the morning after all that + he got. When morning dawned, and the Princess came to see if he was still + alive, she found him lying on the floor as if dead. She tried to see if + there was breath in him, but could not quite make it out. Then she put her + hand on his pulse, and found a faint movement in it. Accordingly she + poured what was in the bottle on him, and before long he rose up on his + feet, and was as well as ever he was. So that business was finished, and + the Princess was freed from the spell. + </p> + <p> + The Princess then told the Irishman that she must go away for the present, + but would return for him in a few days in a carriage drawn by four grey + horses. He told her to ‘be aisy,’ and not speak like that to him. ‘I have + paid dear for you for the last three nights,’ he said, ‘if I have to part + with you now;’ but in the twinkling of an eye she had disappeared. He did + not know what to do with himself when he saw that she was gone, but before + she went she had given him a little rod, with which he could, when he + pleased, waken the men who had been sleeping there, some of them for + sixteen years. + </p> + <p> + After being thus left alone, he went in and stretched himself on three + chairs that were in the room, when what does he see coming in at the door + but a little fair-haired lad. + </p> + <p> + ‘Where did you come from, my lad?’ said the Irishman. + </p> + <p> + ‘I came to make ready your food for you,’ said he. + </p> + <p> + ‘Who told you to do that?’ said the Irishman. + </p> + <p> + ‘My mistress,’ answered the lad—‘the Princess that was under the + spell and is now free.’ + </p> + <p> + By this the Irishman knew that she had sent the lad to wait on him. The + lad also told him that his mistress wished him to be ready next morning at + nine o’clock, when she would come for him with the carriage, as she had + promised. He was greatly pleased at this, and next morning, when the time + was drawing near, went out into the garden; but the little fair-haired lad + took a big pin out of his pocket, and stuck it into the back of the + Irishman’s coat without his noticing it, whereupon he fell sound asleep. + </p> + <p> + Before long the Princess came with the carriage and four horses, and asked + the lad whether his master was awake. He said that he wasn’t. ‘It is bad + for him,’ said she, ‘when the night is not long enough for him to sleep. + Tell him that if he doesn’t meet me at this time to-morrow it is not + likely that he will ever see me again all his life.’ + </p> + <p> + As soon as she was gone the lad took the pin out of his master’s coat, who + instantly awoke. The first word he said to the lad was, ‘Have you seen + her?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ said he, ‘and she bade me tell you that if you don’t meet her at + nine o’clock to-morrow you will never see her again.’ + </p> + <p> + He was very sorry when he heard this, and could not understand why the + sleep should have fallen upon him just when she was coming. He decided, + however, to go early to bed that night, in order to rise in time nest + morning, and so he did. When it was getting near nine o’clock he went out + to the garden to wait till she came, and the fair-haired lad along with + him; but as soon as the lad got the chance he stuck the pin into his + master’s coat again and he fell asleep as before. Precisely at nine + o’clock came the Princess in the carriage with four horses, and asked the + lad if his master had got up yet; but he said ‘No, he was asleep, just as + he was the day before.’ ‘Dear! dear!’ said the Princess, ‘I am sorry for + him. Was the sleep he had last night not enough for him? Tell him that he + will never see me here again; and here is a sword that you will give him + in my name, and my blessing along with it.’ + </p> + <p> + With this she went off, and as soon as she had gone the lad took the pin + out of his master’s coat. He awoke instantly, and the first word he said + was, ‘Have you seen her?’ The lad said that he had, and there was the + sword she had left for him. The Irishman was ready to kill the lad out of + sheer vexation, but when he gave a glance over his shoulder not a trace of + the fair-haired lad was left. + </p> + <p> + Being thus left all alone, he thought of going into the room where all the + men were lying asleep, and there among the rest he found his two comrades + who had deserted along with him. Then he remembered what the Princess had + told him—that he had only to touch them with the rod she had given + him and they would all awake; and the first he touched were his own + comrades. They started to their feet at once, and he gave them as much + silver and gold as they could carry when they went away. There was plenty + to do before he got all the others wakened, for the two doors of the + castle were crowded with them all the day long. + </p> + <p> + The loss of the Princess, however, kept rankling in his mind day and + night, till finally he thought he would go about the world to see if he + could find anyone to give him news of her. So he took the best horse in + the stable and set out. Three years he spent travelling through forests + and wildernesses, but could find no one able to tell him anything of the + Princess. At last he fell into so great despair that he thought he would + put an end to his own life, and for this purpose laid hold of the sword + that she had given him by the hands of the fair-haired lad; but on drawing + it from its sheath he noticed that there was some writing on one side of + the blade. He looked at this, and read there, ‘You will find me in the + Blue Mountains.’ This made him take heart again, and he gave up the idea + of killing himself, thinking that he would go on in hope of meeting some + one who could tell him where the Blue Mountains were. After he had gone a + long way without thinking where he was going, he saw at last a light far + away, and made straight for it. On reaching it he found it came from a + little house, and as soon as the man inside heard the noise of the horse’s + feet he came out to see who was there. Seeing a stranger on horseback, he + asked what brought him there and where he was going. + </p> + <p> + ‘I have lived here,’ said he, ‘for three hundred years, and all that time + I have not seen a single human being but yourself.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I have been going about for the last three years,’ said the Irishman, ‘to + see if I could find anyone who can tell me where the Blue Mountains are.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Come in,’ said the old man, ‘and stay with me all night. I have a book + which contains the history of the world, which I shall go through + to-night, and if there is such a place as the Blue Mountains in it we + shall find it out.’ + </p> + <p> + The Irishman stayed there all night, and as soon as morning came rose to + go. The old man said he had not gone to sleep all night for going through + the book, but there was not a word about the Blue Mountains in it. ‘But + I’ll tell you what,’ he said, ‘if there is such a place on earth at all, I + have a brother who lives nine hundred miles from here, and he is sure to + know where they are, if anyone in this world does.’ The Irishman answered + that he could never go these nine hundred miles, for his horse was giving + in already. ‘That doesn’t matter,’ said the old man; ‘I can do better than + that. I have only to blow my whistle and you will be at my brother’s house + before nightfall.’ + </p> + <p> + So he blew the whistle, and the Irishman did not know where on earth he + was until he found himself at the other old man’s door, who also told him + that it was three hundred years since he had seen anyone, and asked him + where he was going. + </p> + <p> + ‘I am going to see if I can find anyone that can tell me where the Blue + Mountains are,’ he said. + </p> + <p> + ‘If you will stay with me to-night,’ said the old man, ‘I have a book of + the history of the world, and I shall know where they are before daylight, + if there is such a place in it at all.’ + </p> + <p> + He stayed there all night, but there was not a word in the book about the + Blue Mountains. Seeing that he was rather cast down, the old man told him + that he had a brother nine hundred miles away, and that if information + could be got about them from anyone it would be from him; ‘and I will + enable you,’ he said, ‘to reach the place where he lives before night.’ So + he blew his whistle, and the Irishman landed at the brother’s house before + nightfall. When the old man saw him he said he had not seen a single man + for three hundred years, and was very much surprised to see anyone come to + him now. + </p> + <p> + ‘Where are you going to?’ he said. + </p> + <p> + ‘I am going about asking for the Blue Mountains,’ said the Irishman. + </p> + <p> + ‘The Blue Mountains?’ said the old man. + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes,’ said the Irishman. + </p> + <p> + ‘I never heard the name before; but if they do exist I shall find them + out. I am master of all the birds in the world, and have only to blow my + whistle and every one will come to me. I shall then ask each of them to + tell where it came from, and if there is any way of finding out the Blue + Mountains that is it.’ + </p> + <p> + So he blew his whistle, and when he blew it then all the birds of the + world began to gather. The old man questioned each of them as to where + they had come from, but there was not one of them that had come from the + Blue Mountains. After he had run over them all, however, he missed a big + Eagle that was wanting, and wondered that it had not come. Soon afterwards + he saw something big coming towards him, darkening the sky. It kept coming + nearer and growing bigger, and what was this after all but the Eagle? When + she arrived the old man scolded her, and asked what had kept her so long + behind. + </p> + <p> + ‘I couldn’t help it,’ she said; ‘I had more than twenty times further to + come than any bird that has come here to-day.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Where have you come from, then?’ said the old man. + </p> + <p> + ‘From the Blue Mountains,’ said she. + </p> + <p> + ‘Indeed!’ said the old man; and what are they doing there?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘They are making ready this very day,’ said the Eagle, ‘for the marriage + of the daughter of the King of the Blue Mountains. For three years now she + has refused to marry anyone whatsoever, until she should give up all hope + of the coming of the man who released her from the spell. Now she can wait + no longer, for three years is the time that she agreed with her father to + remain without marrying.’ + </p> + <p> + The Irishman knew that it was for himself she had been waiting so long, + but he was unable to make any better of it, for he had no hope of reaching + the Blue Mountains all his life. The old man noticed how sad he grew, and + asked the Eagle what she would take for carrying this man on her back to + the Blue Mountains. + </p> + <p> + ‘I must have threescore cattle killed,’ said she, ‘and cut up into + quarters, and every time I look over my shoulder he must throw one of them + into my mouth.’ + </p> + <p> + As soon as the Irishman and the old man heard her demand they went out + hunting, and before evening they had killed three-score cattle. They made + quarters of them, as the Eagle told them, and then the old man asked her + to lie down, till they would get it all heaped up on her back. First of + all, though, they had to get a ladder of fourteen steps, to enable them to + get on to the Eagle’s back, and there they piled up the meat as well as + they could. Then the old man told the Irishman to mount, and to remember + to throw a quarter of beef to her every time she looked round. He went up, + and the old man gave the Eagle the word to be off, which she instantly + obeyed; and every time she turned her head the Irishman threw a quarter of + beef into her mouth. + </p> + <p> + As they came near the borders of the kingdom of the Blue Mountains, + however, the beef was done, and, when the Eagle looked over her shoulder, + what was the Irishman at but throwing the stone between her tail and her + neck! At this she turned a complete somersault, and threw the Irishman off + into the sea, where he fell into the bay that was right in front of the + King’s Palace. Fortunately the points of his toes just touched the bottom, + and he managed to get ashore. + </p> + <p> + When he went up into the town all the streets were gleaming with light, + and the wedding of the Princess was just about to begin. He went into the + first house he came to, and this happened to be the house of the King’s + hen-wife. He asked the old woman what was causing all the noise and light + in the town. + </p> + <p> + ‘The Princess,’ said she, ‘is going to be married to-night against her + will, for she has been expecting every day that the man who freed her from + the spell would come.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘There is a guinea for you,’ said he; ‘go and bring her here.’ + </p> + <p> + The old woman went, and soon returned along with the Princess. She and the + Irishman recognised each other, and were married, and had a great wedding + that lasted for a year and a day. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0029" id="link2H_4_0029"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE TINDER-BOX + </h2> + <p> + A soldier came marching along the high road—left, right! A left, + right! He had his knapsack on his back and a sword by his side, for he had + been to the wars and was now returning home. + </p> + <p> + An old Witch met him on the road. She was very ugly to look at: her + under-lip hung down to her breast. + </p> + <p> + ‘Good evening, Soldier!’ she said. ‘What a fine sword and knapsack you + have! You are something like a soldier! You ought to have as much money as + you would like to carry!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Thank you, old Witch,’ said the Soldier. + </p> + <p> + ‘Do you see that great tree there?’ said the Witch, pointing to a tree + beside them. ‘It is hollow within. You must climb up to the top, and then + you will see a hole through which you can let yourself down into the tree. + I will tie a rope round your waist, so that I may be able to pull you up + again when you call.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What shall I do down there?’ asked the Soldier. + </p> + <p> + ‘Get money!’ answered the Witch. ‘Listen! When you reach the bottom of the + tree you will find yourself in a large hall; it is light there, for there + are more than three hundred lamps burning. Then you will see three doors, + which you can open—the keys are in the locks. If you go into the + first room, you will see a great chest in the middle of the floor with a + dog sitting upon it; he has eyes as large as saucers, but you needn’t + trouble about him. I will give you my blue-check apron, which you must + spread out on the floor, and then go back quickly and fetch the dog and + set him upon it; open the chest and take as much money as you like. It is + copper there. If you would rather have silver, you must go into the next + room, where there is a dog with eyes as large as mill-wheels. But don’t + take any notice of him; just set him upon my apron, and help yourself to + the money. If you prefer gold, you can get that too, if you go into the + third room, and as much as you like to carry. But the dog that guards the + chest there has eyes as large as the Round Tower at Copenhagen! He is a + savage dog, I can tell you; but you needn’t be afraid of him either. Only, + put him on my apron and he won’t touch you, and you can take out of the + chest as much gold as you like!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Come, this is not bad!’ said the Soldier. ‘But what am I to give you, old + Witch; for surely you are not going to do this for nothing?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, I am!’ replied the Witch. ‘Not a single farthing will I take! For me + you shall bring nothing but an old tinder-box which my grandmother forgot + last time she was down there.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Well, tie the rope round my waist! ‘said the Soldier. + </p> + <p> + ‘Here it is,’ said the Witch, ‘and here is my blue-check apron.’ + </p> + <p> + Then the Soldier climbed up the tree, let himself down through the hole, + and found himself standing, as the Witch had said, underground in the + large hall, where the three hundred lamps were burning. + </p> + <p> + Well, he opened the first door. Ugh! there sat the dog with eyes as big as + saucers glaring at him. + </p> + <p> + ‘You are a fine fellow!’ said the Soldier, and put him on the Witch’s + apron, took as much copper as his pockets could hold; then he shut the + chest, put the dog on it again, and went into the second room. Sure enough + there sat the dog with eyes as large as mill-wheels. + </p> + <p> + ‘You had better not look at me so hard!’ said the Soldier. ‘Your eyes will + come out of their sockets!’ + </p> + <p> + And then he set the dog on the apron. When he saw all the silver in the + chest, he threw away the copper he had taken, and filled his pockets and + knapsack with nothing but silver. + </p> + <p> + Then he went into the third room. Horrors! the dog there had two eyes, + each as large as the Round Tower at Copenhagen, spinning round in his head + like wheels. + </p> + <p> + ‘Good evening!’ said the Soldier and saluted, for he had never seen a dog + like this before. But when he had examined him more closely, he thought to + himself: ‘Now then, I’ve had enough of this!’ and put him down on the + floor, and opened the chest. Heavens! what a heap of gold there was! With + all that he could buy up the whole town, and all the sugar pigs, all the + tin soldiers, whips and rocking-horses in the whole world. Now he threw + away all the silver with which he had filled his pockets and knapsack, and + filled them with gold instead—yes, all his pockets, his knapsack, + cap and boots even, so that he could hardly walk. Now he was rich indeed. + He put the dog back upon the chest, shut the door, and then called up + through the tree: + </p> + <p> + ‘Now pull me up again, old Witch!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Have you got the tinder-box also?’ asked the Witch. + </p> + <p> + ‘Botheration!’ said the Soldier, ‘I had clean forgotten it!’ And then he + went back and fetched it. + </p> + <p> + The Witch pulled him up, and there he stood again on the high road, with + pockets, knapsack, cap and boots filled with gold. + </p> + <p> + ‘What do you want to do with the tinder-box?’ asked the Soldier. + </p> + <p> + ‘That doesn’t matter to you,’ replied the Witch. ‘You have got your money, + give me my tinder-box.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘We’ll see!’ said the Soldier. ‘Tell me at once what you want to do with + it, or I will draw my sword, and cut off your head!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘No!’ screamed the Witch. + </p> + <p> + The Soldier immediately cut off her head. That was the end of her! But he + tied up all his gold in her apron, slung it like a bundle over his + shoulder, put the tinder-box in his pocket, and set out towards the town. + </p> + <p> + It was a splendid town! He turned into the finest inn, ordered the best + chamber and his favourite dinner; for now that he had so much money he was + really rich. + </p> + <p> + It certainly occurred to the servant who had to clean his boots that they + were astonishingly old boots for such a rich lord. But that was because he + had not yet bought new ones; next day he appeared in respectable boots and + fine clothes. Now, instead of a common soldier he had become a noble lord, + and the people told him about all the grand doings of the town and the + King, and what a beautiful Princess his daughter was. + </p> + <p> + ‘How can one get to see her?’ asked the Soldier. + </p> + <p> + ‘She is never to be seen at all!’ they told him; ‘she lives in a great + copper castle, surrounded by many walls and towers! No one except the King + may go in or out, for it is prophesied that she will marry a common + soldier, and the King cannot submit to that.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I should very much like to see her,’ thought the Soldier; but he could + not get permission. + </p> + <p> + Now he lived very gaily, went to the theatre, drove in the King’s garden, + and gave the poor a great deal of money, which was very nice of him; he + had experienced in former times how hard it is not to have a farthing in + the world. Now he was rich, wore fine clothes, and made many friends, who + all said that he was an excellent man, a real nobleman. And the Soldier + liked that. But as he was always spending money, and never made any more, + at last the day came when he had nothing left but two shillings, and he + had to leave the beautiful rooms in which he had been living, and go into + a little attic under the roof, and clean his own boots, and mend them with + a darning-needle. None of his friends came to visit him there, for there + were too many stairs to climb. + </p> + <p> + It was a dark evening, and he could not even buy a light. But all at once + it flashed across him that there was a little end of tinder in the + tinder-box, which he had taken from the hollow tree into which the Witch + had helped him down. He found the box with the tinder in it; but just as + he was kindling a light, and had struck a spark out of the tinder-box, the + door burst open, and the dog with eyes as large as saucers, which he had + seen down in the tree, stood before him and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘What does my lord command?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What’s the meaning of this?’ exclaimed the Soldier. ‘This is a pretty + kind of tinder-box, if I can get whatever I want like this. Get me money!’ + he cried to the dog, and hey, presto! he was off and back again, holding a + great purse full of money in his mouth. + </p> + <p> + Now the Soldier knew what a capital tinder-box this was. If he rubbed + once, the dog that sat on the chest of copper appeared; if he rubbed + twice, there came the dog that watched over the silver chest; and if he + rubbed three times, the one that guarded the gold appeared. Now, the + Soldier went down again to his beautiful rooms, and appeared once more in + splendid clothes. All his friends immediately recognised him again, and + paid him great court. + </p> + <p> + One day he thought to himself: ‘It is very strange that no one can get to + see the Princess. They all say she is very pretty, but what’s the use of + that if she has to sit for ever in the great copper castle with all the + towers? Can I not manage to see her somehow? Where is my tinder-box?’ and + so he struck a spark, and, presto! there came the dog with eyes as large + as saucers. + </p> + <p> + ‘It is the middle of the night, I know,’ said the Soldier; ‘but I should + very much like to see the Princess for a moment.’ + </p> + <p> + The dog was already outside the door, and before the Soldier could look + round, in he came with the Princess. She was lying asleep on the dog’s + back, and was so beautiful that anyone could see she was a real Princess. + The Soldier really could not refrain from kissing her—he was such a + thorough Soldier. Then the dog ran back with the Princess. But when it was + morning, and the King and Queen were drinking tea, the Princess said that + the night before she had had such a strange dream about a dog and a + Soldier: she had ridden on the dog’s back, and the Soldier had kissed her. + </p> + <p> + ‘That is certainly a fine story,’ said the Queen. But the next night one + of the ladies-in-waiting was to watch at the Princess’s bed, to see if it + was only a dream, or if it had actually happened. + </p> + <p> + The Soldier had an overpowering longing to see the Princess again, and so + the dog came in the middle of the night and fetched her, running as fast + as he could. But the lady-in-waiting slipped on india-rubber shoes and + followed them. When she saw them disappear into a large house, she thought + to herself: ‘Now I know where it is; ‘and made a great cross on the door + with a piece of chalk. Then she went home and lay down, and the dog came + back also, with the Princess. But when he saw that a cross had been made + on the door of the house where the Soldier lived, he took a piece of chalk + also, and made crosses on all the doors in the town; and that was very + clever, for now the lady-in-waiting could not find the right house, as + there were crosses on all the doors. + </p> + <p> + Early next morning the King, Queen, ladies-in-waiting, and officers came + out to see where the Princess had been. + </p> + <p> + ‘There it is!’ said the King, when he saw the first door with a cross on + it. + </p> + <p> + ‘No, there it is, my dear!’ said the Queen, when she likewise saw a door + with a cross. + </p> + <p> + ‘But here is one, and there is another!’ they all exclaimed; wherever they + looked there was a cross on the door. Then they realised that the sign + would not help them at all. + </p> + <p> + But the Queen was an extremely clever woman, who could do a great deal + more than just drive in a coach. She took her great golden scissors, cut + up a piece of silk, and made a pretty little bag of it. This she filled + with the finest buckwheat grains, and tied it round the Princess’ neck; + this done, she cut a little hole in the bag, so that the grains would + strew the whole road wherever the Princess went. + </p> + <p> + In the night the dog came again, took the Princess on his back and ran + away with her to the Soldier, who was very much in love with her, and + would have liked to have been a Prince, so that he might have had her for + his wife. + </p> + <p> + The dog did not notice how the grains were strewn right from the castle to + the Soldier’s window, where he ran up the wall with the Princess. + </p> + <p> + In the morning the King and the Queen saw plainly where their daughter had + been, and they took the Soldier and put him into prison. + </p> + <p> + There he sat. Oh, how dark and dull it was there! And they told him: + ‘To-morrow you are to be hanged.’ Hearing that did not exactly cheer him, + and he had left his tinder-box in the inn. + </p> + <p> + Next morning he could see through the iron grating in front of his little + window how the people were hurrying out of the town to see him hanged. He + heard the drums and saw the soldiers marching; all the people were running + to and fro. Just below his window was a shoemaker’s apprentice, with + leather apron and shoes; he was skipping along so merrily that one of his + shoes flew off and fell against the wall, just where the Soldier was + sitting peeping through the iron grating. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, shoemaker’s boy, you needn’t be in such a hurry!’ said the Soldier to + him. ‘There’s nothing going on till I arrive. But if you will run back to + the house where I lived, and fetch me my tinder-box, I will give you four + shillings. But you must put your best foot foremost.’ + </p> + <p> + The shoemaker’s boy was very willing to earn four shillings, and fetched + the tinder-box, gave it to the Soldier, and—yes—now you shall + hear. + </p> + <p> + Outside the town a great scaffold had been erected, and all round were + standing the soldiers, and hundreds of thousands of people. The King and + Queen were sitting on a magnificent throne opposite the judges and the + whole council. + </p> + <p> + The Soldier was already standing on the top of the ladder; but when they + wanted to put the rope round his neck, he said that the fulfilment of one + innocent request was always granted to a poor criminal before he underwent + his punishment. He would so much like to smoke a small pipe of tobacco; it + would be his last pipe in this world. + </p> + <p> + The King could not refuse him this, and so he took out his tinder-box, and + rubbed it once, twice, three times. And lo, and behold I there stood all + three dogs—the one with eyes as large as saucers, the second with + eyes as large as mill-wheels, and the third with eyes each as large as the + Round Tower of Copenhagen. + </p> + <p> + ‘Help me now, so that I may not be hanged!’ cried the Soldier. And + thereupon the dogs fell upon the judges and the whole council, seized some + by the legs, others by the nose, and threw them so high into the air that + they fell and were smashed into pieces. + </p> + <p> + ‘I won’t stand this!’ said the King; but the largest dog seized him too, + and the Queen as well, and threw them up after the others. This frightened + the soldiers, and all the people cried: ‘Good Soldier, you shall be our + King, and marry the beautiful Princess!’ + </p> + <p> + Then they put the Soldier into the King’s coach, and the three dogs danced + in front, crying ‘Hurrah!’ And the boys whistled and the soldiers + presented arms. + </p> + <p> + The Princess came out of the copper castle, and became Queen; and that + pleased her very much. + </p> + <p> + The wedding festivities lasted for eight days, and the dogs sat at table + and made eyes at everyone. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0030" id="link2H_4_0030"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE WITCH IN THE STONE BOAT(31) + </h2> + <h3> + (31) From the Icelandic. + </h3> + <p> + There were once a King and a Queen, and they had a son called Sigurd, who + was very strong and active, and good-looking. When the King came to be + bowed down with the weight of years he spoke to his son, and said that now + it was time for him to look out for a fitting match for himself, for he + did not know how long he might last now, and he would like to see him + married before he died. + </p> + <p> + Sigurd was not averse to this, and asked his father where he thought it + best to look for a wife. The King answered that in a certain country there + was a King who had a beautiful daughter, and he thought it would be most + desirable if Sigurd could get her. So the two parted, and Sigurd prepared + for the journey, and went to where his father had directed him. + </p> + <p> + He came to the King and asked his daughter’s hand, which he readily + granted him, but only on the condition that he should remain there as long + as he could, for the King himself was not strong and not very able to + govern his kingdom. Sigurd accepted this condition, but added that he + would have to get leave to go home again to his own country when he heard + news of his father’s death. After that Sigurd married the Princess, and + helped his father-in-law to govern the kingdom. He and the Princess loved + each other dearly, and after a year a son came to them, who was two years + old when word came to Sigurd that his father was dead. Sigurd now prepared + to return home with his wife and child, and went on board ship to go by + sea. + </p> + <p> + They had sailed for several days, when the breeze suddenly fell, and there + came a dead calm, at a time when they needed only one day’s voyage to + reach home. Sigurd and his Queen were one day on deck, when most of the + others on the ship had fallen asleep. There they sat and talked for a + while, and had their little son along with them. After a time Sigurd + became so heavy with sleep that he could no longer keep awake, so he went + below and lay down, leaving the Queen alone on the deck, playing with her + son. + </p> + <p> + A good while after Sigurd had gone below the Queen saw something black on + the sea, which seemed to be coming nearer. As it approached she could make + out that it was a boat, and could see the figure of some one sitting in it + and rowing it. At last the boat came alongside the ship, and now the Queen + saw that it was a stone boat, out of which there came up on board the ship + a fearfully ugly Witch. The Queen was more frightened than words can + describe, and could neither speak a word nor move from the place so as to + awaken the King or the sailors. The Witch came right up to the Queen, took + the child from her and laid it on the deck; then she took the Queen, and + stripped her of all her fine clothes, which she proceeded to put on + herself, and looked then like a human being. Last of all she took the + Queen, put her into the boat, and said— + </p> + <p> + ‘This spell I lay upon you, that you slacken not your course until you + come to my brother in the Underworld.’ + </p> + <p> + The Queen sat stunned and motionless, but the boat at once shot away from + the ship with her, and before long she was out of sight. + </p> + <p> + When the boat could no longer be seen the child began to cry, and though + the Witch tried to quiet it she could not manage it; so she went below to + where the King was sleeping with the child on her arm, and awakened him, + scolding him for leaving them alone on deck, while he and all the crew + were asleep. It was great carelessness of him, she said, to leave no one + to watch the ship with her. + </p> + <p> + Sigurd was greatly surprised to hear his Queen scold him so much, for she + had never said an angry word to him before; but he thought it was quite + excusable in this case, and tried to quiet the child along with her, but + it was no use. Then he went and wakened the sailors, and bade them hoist + the sails, for a breeze had sprung up and was blowing straight towards the + harbour. + </p> + <p> + They soon reached the land which Sigurd was to rule over, and found all + the people sorrowful for the old King’s death, but they became glad when + they got Sigurd back to the Court, and made him King over them. + </p> + <p> + The King’s son, however, hardly ever stopped crying from the time he had + been taken from his mother on the deck of the ship, although he had always + been such a good child before, so that at last the King had to get a nurse + for him—one of the maids of the Court. As soon as the child got into + her charge he stopped crying, and behaved well as before. + </p> + <p> + After the sea-voyage it seemed to the King that the Queen had altered very + much in many ways, and not for the better. He thought her much more + haughty and stubborn and difficult to deal with than she used to be. + Before long others began to notice this as well as the King. In the Court + there were two young fellows, one of eighteen years old, the other of + nineteen, who were very fond of playing chess, and often sat long inside + playing at it. Their room was next the Queen’s, and often during the day + they heard the Queen talking. + </p> + <p> + One day they paid more attention than usual when they heard her talk, and + put their ears close to a crack in the wall between the rooms, and heard + the Queen say quite plainly, ‘When I yawn a little, then I am a nice + little maiden; when I yawn half-way, then I am half a troll; and when I + yawn fully, then I am a troll altogether.’ + </p> + <p> + As she said this she yawned tremendously, and in a moment had put on the + appearance of a fearfully ugly troll. Then there came up through the floor + of the room a three-headed Giant with a trough full of meat, who saluted + her as his sister and set down the trough before her. She began to eat out + of it, and never stopped till she had finished it. The young fellows saw + all this going on, but did not hear the two of them say anything to each + other. They were astonished though at how greedily the Queen devoured the + meat, and how much she ate of it, and were no longer surprised that she + took so little when she sat at table with the King. As soon as she had + finished it the Giant disappeared with the trough by the same way as he + had come, and the Queen returned to her human shape. + </p> + <p> + Now we must go back to the King’s son after he had been put in charge of + the nurse. One evening, after she had lit a candle and was holding the + child, several planks sprang up in the floor of the room, and out at the + opening came a beautiful woman dressed in white, with an iron belt round + her waist, to which was fastened an iron chain that went down into the + ground. The woman came up to the nurse, took the child from her, and + pressed it to her breast; then she gave it back to the nurse and returned + by the same way as she had come, and the floor closed over her again. + Although the woman had not spoken a single word to her, the nurse was very + much frightened, but told no one about it. + </p> + <p> + Next evening the same thing happened again, just as before, but as the + woman was going away she said in a sad tone, ‘Two are gone, and one only + is left,’ and then disappeared as before. The nurse was still more + frightened when she heard the woman say this, and thought that perhaps + some danger was hanging over the child, though she had no ill-opinion of + the unknown woman, who, indeed, had behaved towards the child as if it + were her own. The most mysterious thing was the woman saying ‘and only one + is left;’ but the nurse guessed that this must mean that only one day was + left, since she had come for two days already. + </p> + <p> + At last the nurse made up her mind to go to the King, and told him the + whole story, and asked him to be present in person next day about the time + when the woman usually came. The King promised to do so, and came to the + nurse’s room a little before the time, and sat down on a chair with his + drawn sword in his hand. Soon after the planks in the floor sprang up as + before, and the woman came up, dressed in white, with the iron belt and + chain. The King saw at once that it was his own Queen, and immediately + hewed asunder the iron chain that was fastened to the belt. This was + followed by such noises and crashings down in the earth that all the + King’s Palace shook, so that no one expected anything else than to see + every bit of it shaken to pieces. At last, however, the noises and shaking + stopped, and they began to come to themselves again. + </p> + <p> + The King and Queen embraced each other, and she told him the whole story—how + the Witch came to the ship when they were all asleep and sent her off in + the boat. After she had gone so far that she could not see the ship, she + sailed on through darkness until she landed beside a three-headed Giant. + The Giant wished her to marry him, but she refused; whereupon he shut her + up by herself, and told her she would never get free until she consented. + After a time she began to plan how to get her freedom, and at last told + him that she would consent if he would allow her to visit her son on earth + three days on end. This he agreed to, but put on her this iron belt and + chain, the other end of which he fastened round his own waist, and the + great noises that were heard when the King cut the chain must have been + caused by the Giant’s falling down the underground passage when the chain + gave way so suddenly. The Giant’s dwelling, indeed, was right under the + Palace, and the terrible shakings must have been caused by him in his + death-throes. + </p> + <p> + The King now understood how the Queen he had had for some time past had + been so ill-tempered. He at once had a sack drawn over her head and made + her be stoned to death, and after that torn in pieces by untamed horses. + The two young fellows also told now what they had heard and seen in the + Queen’s room, for before this they had been afraid to say anything about + it, on account of the Queen’s power. + </p> + <p> + The real Queen was now restored to all her dignity, and was beloved by + all. The nurse was married to a nobleman, and the King and Queen gave her + splendid presents. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0031" id="link2H_4_0031"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THUMBELINA + </h2> + <p> + There was once a woman who wanted to have quite a tiny, little child, but + she did not know where to get one from. So one day she went to an old + Witch and said to her: ‘I should so much like to have a tiny, little + child; can you tell me where I can get one?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, we have just got one ready!’ said the Witch. ‘Here is a barley-corn + for you, but it’s not the kind the farmer sows in his field, or feeds the + cocks and hens with, I can tell you. Put it in a flower-pot, and then you + will see something happen.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, thank you!’ said the woman, and gave the Witch a shilling, for that + was what it cost. Then she went home and planted the barley-corn; + immediately there grew out of it a large and beautiful flower, which + looked like a tulip, but the petals were tightly closed as if it were + still only a bud. + </p> + <p> + ‘What a beautiful flower!’ exclaimed the woman, and she kissed the red and + yellow petals; but as she kissed them the flower burst open. It was a real + tulip, such as one can see any day; but in the middle of the blossom, on + the green velvety petals, sat a little girl, quite tiny, trim, and pretty. + She was scarcely half a thumb in height; so they called her Thumbelina. An + elegant polished walnut-shell served Thumbelina as a cradle, the blue + petals of a violet were her mattress, and a rose-leaf her coverlid. There + she lay at night, but in the day-time she used to play about on the table; + here the woman had put a bowl, surrounded by a ring of flowers, with their + stalks in water, in the middle of which floated a great tulip pedal, and + on this Thumbelina sat, and sailed from one side of the bowl to the other, + rowing herself with two white horse-hairs for oars. It was such a pretty + sight! She could sing, too, with a voice more soft and sweet than had ever + been heard before. + </p> + <p> + One night, when she was lying in her pretty little bed, an old toad crept + in through a broken pane in the window. She was very ugly, clumsy, and + clammy; she hopped on to the table where Thumbelina lay asleep under the + red rose-leaf. + </p> + <p> + ‘This would make a beautiful wife for my son,’ said the toad, taking up + the walnut-shell, with Thumbelina inside, and hopping with it through the + window into the garden. + </p> + <p> + There flowed a great wide stream, with slippery and marshy banks; here the + toad lived with her son. Ugh! how ugly and clammy he was, just like his + mother! ‘Croak, croak, croak!’ was all he could say when he saw the pretty + little girl in the walnut-shell. + </p> + <p> + ‘Don’t talk so load, or you’ll wake her,’ said the old toad. ‘She might + escape us even now; she is as light as a feather. We will put her at once + on a broad water-lily leaf in the stream. That will be quite an island for + her; she is so small and light. She can’t run away from us there, whilst + we are preparing the guest-chamber under the marsh where she shall live.’ + </p> + <p> + Outside in the brook grew many water-lilies, with broad green leaves, + which looked as if they were swimming about on the water. + </p> + <p> + The leaf farthest away was the largest, and to this the old toad swam with + Thumbelina in her walnut-shell. + </p> + <p> + The tiny Thumbelina woke up very early in the morning, and when she saw + where she was she began to cry bitterly; for on every side of the great + green leaf was water, and she could not get to the land. + </p> + <p> + The old toad was down under the marsh, decorating her room with rushes and + yellow marigold leaves, to make it very grand for her new daughter-in-law; + then she swam out with her ugly son to the leaf where Thumbelina lay. She + wanted to fetch the pretty cradle to put it into her room before + Thumbelina herself came there. The old toad bowed low in the water before + her, and said: ‘Here is my son; you shall marry him, and live in great + magnificence down under the marsh.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Croak, croak, croak!’ was all that the son could say. Then they took the + neat little cradle and swam away with it; but Thumbelina sat alone on the + great green leaf and wept, for she did not want to live with the clammy + toad, or marry her ugly son. The little fishes swimming about under the + water had seen the toad quite plainly, and heard what she had said; so + they put up their heads to see the little girl. When they saw her, they + thought her so pretty that they were very sorry she should go down with + the ugly toad to live. No; that must not happen. They assembled in the + water round the green stalk which supported the leaf on which she was + sitting, and nibbled the stem in two. Away floated the leaf down the + stream, bearing Thumbelina far beyond the reach of the toad. + </p> + <p> + On she sailed past several towns, and the little birds sitting in the + bushes saw her, and sang, ‘What a pretty little girl!’ The leaf floated + farther and farther away; thus Thumbelina left her native land. + </p> + <p> + A beautiful little white butterfly fluttered above her, and at last + settled on the leaf. Thumbelina pleased him, and she, too, was delighted, + for now the toads could not reach her, and it was so beautiful where she + was travelling; the sun shone on the water and made it sparkle like the + brightest silver. She took off her sash, and tied one end round the + butterfly; the other end she fastened to the leaf, so that now it glided + along with her faster than ever. + </p> + <p> + A great cockchafer came flying past; he caught sight of Thumbelina, and in + a moment had put his arms round her slender waist, and had flown off with + her to a tree. The green leaf floated away down the stream, and the + butterfly with it, for he was fastened to the leaf and could not get loose + from it. Oh, dear! how terrified poor little Thumbelina was when the + cockchafer flew off with her to the tree! But she was especially + distressed on the beautiful white butterfly’s account, as she had tied him + fast, so that if he could not get away he must starve to death. But the + cockchafer did not trouble himself about that; he sat down with her on a + large green leaf, gave her the honey out of the flowers to eat, and told + her that she was very pretty, although she wasn’t in the least like a + cockchafer. Later on, all the other cockchafers who lived in the same tree + came to pay calls; they examined Thumbelina closely, and remarked, ‘Why, + she has only two legs! How very miserable!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘She has no feelers!’ cried another. + </p> + <p> + ‘How ugly she is!’ said all the lady chafers—and yet Thumbelina was + really very pretty. + </p> + <p> + The cockchafer who had stolen her knew this very well; but when he heard + all the ladies saying she was ugly, he began to think so too, and would + not keep her; she might go wherever she liked. So he flew down from the + tree with her and put her on a daisy. There she sat and wept, because she + was so ugly that the cockchafer would have nothing to do with her; and yet + she was the most beautiful creature imaginable, so soft and delicate, like + the loveliest rose-leaf. + </p> + <p> + The whole summer poor little Thumbelina lived alone in the great wood. She + plaited a bed for herself of blades of grass, and hung it up under a + clover-leaf, so that she was protected from the rain; she gathered honey + from the flowers for food, and drank the dew on the leaves every morning. + Thus the summer and autumn passed, but then came winter—the long, + cold winter. All the birds who had sung so sweetly about her had flown + away; the trees shed their leaves, the flowers died; the great clover-leaf + under which she had lived curled up, and nothing remained of it but the + withered stalk. She was terribly cold, for her clothes were ragged, and + she herself was so small and thin. Poor little Thumbelina! she would + surely be frozen to death. It began to snow, and every snow-flake that + fell on her was to her as a whole shovelful thrown on one of us, for we + are so big, and she was only an inch high. She wrapt herself round in a + dead leaf, but it was torn in the middle and gave her no warmth; she was + trembling with cold. + </p> + <p> + Just outside the wood where she was now living lay a great corn-field. But + the corn had been gone a long time; only the dry, bare stubble was left + standing in the frozen ground. This made a forest for her to wander about + in. All at once she came across the door of a field-mouse, who had a + little hole under a corn-stalk. There the mouse lived warm and snug, with + a store-room full of corn, a splendid kitchen and dining-room. Poor little + Thumbelina went up to the door and begged for a little piece of barley, + for she had not had anything to eat for the last two days. + </p> + <p> + ‘Poor little creature!’ said the field-mouse, for she was a kind-hearted + old thing at the bottom. ‘Come into my warm room and have some dinner with + me.’ + </p> + <p> + As Thumbelina pleased her, she said: ‘As far as I am concerned you may + spend the winter with me; but you must keep my room clean and tidy, and + tell me stories, for I like that very much.’ + </p> + <p> + And Thumbelina did all that the kind old field-mouse asked, and did it + remarkably well too. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now I am expecting a visitor,’ said the field-mouse; ‘my neighbour comes + to call on me once a week. He is in better circumstances than I am, has + great, big rooms, and wears a fine black-velvet coat. If you could only + marry him, you would be well provided for. But he is blind. You must tell + him all the prettiest stories you know.’ + </p> + <p> + But Thumbelina did not trouble her head about him, for he was only a mole. + He came and paid them a visit in his black-velvet coat. + </p> + <p> + ‘He is so rich and so accomplished,’ the field-mouse told her. + </p> + <p> + ‘His house is twenty times larger than mine; he possesses great knowledge, + but he cannot bear the sun and the beautiful flowers, and speaks + slightingly of them, for he has never seen them.’ + </p> + <p> + Thumbelina had to sing to him, so she sang ‘Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away + home!’ and other songs so prettily that the mole fell in love with her; + but he did not say anything, he was a very cautious man. A short time + before he had dug a long passage through the ground from his own house to + that of his neighbour; in this he gave the field-mouse and Thumbelina + permission to walk as often as they liked. But he begged them not to be + afraid of the dead bird that lay in the passage: it was a real bird with + beak and feathers, and must have died a little time ago, and now laid + buried just where he had made his tunnel. The mole took a piece of rotten + wood in his mouth, for that glows like fire in the dark, and went in + front, lighting them through the long dark passage. When they came to the + place where the dead bird lay, the mole put his broad nose against the + ceiling and pushed a hole through, so that the daylight could shine down. + In the middle of the path lay a dead swallow, his pretty wings pressed + close to his sides, his claws and head drawn under his feathers; the poor + bird had evidently died of cold. Thumbelina was very sorry, for she was + very fond of all little birds; they had sung and twittered so beautifully + to her all through the summer. But the mole kicked him with his bandy legs + and said: + </p> + <p> + ‘Now he can’t sing any more! It must be very miserable to be a little + bird! I’m thankful that none of my little children are; birds always + starve in winter.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, you speak like a sensible man,’ said the field-mouse. ‘What has a + bird, in spite of all his singing, in the winter-time? He must starve and + freeze, and that must be very pleasant for him, I must say!’ + </p> + <p> + Thumbelina did not say anything; but when the other two had passed on she + bent down to the bird, brushed aside the feathers from his head, and + kissed his closed eyes gently. ‘Perhaps it was he that sang to me so + prettily in the summer,’ she thought. ‘How much pleasure he did give me, + dear little bird!’ + </p> + <p> + The mole closed up the hole again which let in the light, and then + escorted the ladies home. But Thumbelina could not sleep that night; so + she got out of bed, and plaited a great big blanket of straw, and carried + it off, and spread it over the dead bird, and piled upon it thistle-down + as soft as cotton-wool, which she had found in the field-mouse’s room, so + that the poor little thing should lie warmly buried. + </p> + <p> + ‘Farewell, pretty little bird!’ she said. ‘Farewell, and thank you for + your beautiful songs in the summer, when the trees were green, and the sun + shone down warmly on us!’ Then she laid her head against the bird’s heart. + But the bird was not dead: he had been frozen, but now that she had warmed + him, he was coming to life again. + </p> + <p> + In autumn the swallows fly away to foreign lands; but there are some who + are late in starting, and then they get so cold that they drop down as if + dead, and the snow comes and covers them over. + </p> + <p> + Thumbelina trembled, she was so frightened; for the bird was very large in + comparison with herself—only an inch high. But she took courage, + piled up the down more closely over the poor swallow, fetched her own + coverlid and laid it over his head. + </p> + <p> + Next night she crept out again to him. There he was alive, but very weak; + he could only open his eyes for a moment and look at Thumbelina, who was + standing in front of him with a piece of rotten wood in her hand, for she + had no other lantern. + </p> + <p> + ‘Thank you, pretty little child!’ said the swallow to her. ‘I am so + beautifully warm! Soon I shall regain my strength, and then I shall be + able to fly out again into the warm sunshine.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh!’ she said, ‘it is very cold outside; it is snowing and freezing! stay + in your warm bed; I will take care of you!’ + </p> + <p> + Then she brought him water in a petal, which he drank, after which he + related to her how he had torn one of his wings on a bramble, so that he + could not fly as fast as the other swallows, who had flown far away to + warmer lands. So at last he had dropped down exhausted, and then he could + remember no more. The whole winter he remained down there, and Thumbelina + looked after him and nursed him tenderly. Neither the mole nor the + field-mouse learnt anything of this, for they could not bear the poor + swallow. + </p> + <p> + When the spring came, and the sun warmed the earth again, the swallow said + farewell to Thumbelina, who opened the hole in the roof for him which the + mole had made. The sun shone brightly down upon her, and the swallow asked + her if she would go with him; she could sit upon his back. Thumbelina + wanted very much to fly far away into the green wood, but she knew that + the old field-mouse would be sad if she ran away. ‘No, I mustn’t come!’ + she said. + </p> + <p> + ‘Farewell, dear good little girl!’ said the swallow, and flew off into the + sunshine. Thumbelina gazed after him with the tears standing in her eyes, + for she was very fond of the swallow. + </p> + <p> + ‘Tweet, tweet!’ sang the bird, and flew into the green wood. Thumbelina + was very unhappy. She was not allowed to go out into the warm sunshine. + The corn which had been sowed in the field over the field-mouse’s home + grew up high into the air, and made a thick forest for the poor little + girl, who was only an inch high. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now you are to be a bride, Thumbelina!’ said the field-mouse, ‘for our + neighbour has proposed for you! What a piece of fortune for a poor child + like you! Now you must set to work at your linen for your dowry, for + nothing must be lacking if you are to become the wife of our neighbour, + the mole!’ + </p> + <p> + Thumbelina had to spin all day long, and every evening the mole visited + her, and told her that when the summer was over the sun would not shine so + hot; now it was burning the earth as hard as a stone. Yes, when the summer + had passed, they would keep the wedding. + </p> + <p> + But she was not at all pleased about it, for she did not like the stupid + mole. Every morning when the sun was rising, and every evening when it was + setting, she would steal out of the house-door, and when the breeze parted + the ears of corn so that she could see the blue sky through them, she + thought how bright and beautiful it must be outside, and longed to see her + dear swallow again. But he never came; no doubt he had flown away far into + the great green wood. + </p> + <p> + By the autumn Thumbelina had finished the dowry. + </p> + <p> + ‘In four weeks you will be married!’ said the field-mouse; ‘don’t be + obstinate, or I shall bite you with my sharp white teeth! You will get a + fine husband! The King himself has not such a velvet coat. His store-room + and cellar are full, and you should be thankful for that.’ + </p> + <p> + Well, the wedding-day arrived. The mole had come to fetch Thumbelina to + live with him deep down under the ground, never to come out into the warm + sun again, for that was what he didn’t like. The poor little girl was very + sad; for now she must say good-bye to the beautiful sun. + </p> + <p> + ‘Farewell, bright sun!’ she cried, stretching out her arms towards it, and + taking another step outside the house; for now the corn had been reaped, + and only the dry stubble was left standing. ‘Farewell, farewell!’ she + said, and put her arms round a little red flower that grew there. ‘Give my + love to the dear swallow when you see him!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Tweet, tweet!’ sounded in her ear all at once. She looked up. There was + the swallow flying past! As soon as he saw Thumbelina, he was very glad. + She told him how unwilling she was to marry the ugly mole, as then she had + to live underground where the sun never shone, and she could not help + bursting into tears. + </p> + <p> + ‘The cold winter is coming now,’ said the swallow. ‘I must fly away to + warmer lands: will you come with me? You can sit on my back, and we will + fly far away from the ugly mole and his dark house, over the mountains, to + the warm countries where the sun shines more brightly than here, where it + is always summer, and there are always beautiful flowers. Do come with me, + dear little Thumbelina, who saved my life when I lay frozen in the dark + tunnel!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, I will go with you,’ said Thumbelina, and got on the swallow’s back, + with her feet on one of his outstretched wings. Up he flew into the air, + over woods and seas, over the great mountains where the snow is always + lying. And if she was cold she crept under his warm feathers, only keeping + her little head out to admire all the beautiful things in the world + beneath. At last they came to warm lands; there the sun was brighter, the + sky seemed twice as high, and in the hedges hung the finest green and + purple grapes; in the woods grew oranges and lemons: the air was scented + with myrtle and mint, and on the roads were pretty little children running + about and playing with great gorgeous butterflies. But the swallow flew on + farther, and it became more and more beautiful. Under the most splendid + green trees besides a blue lake stood a glittering white-marble castle. + Vines hung about the high pillars; there were many swallows’ nests, and in + one of these lived the swallow who was carrying Thumbelina. + </p> + <p> + ‘Here is my house!’ said he. ‘But it won’t do for you to live with me; I + am not tidy enough to please you. Find a home for yourself in one of the + lovely flowers that grow down there; now I will set you down, and you can + do whatever you like.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘That will be splendid!’ said she, clapping her little hands. + </p> + <p> + There lay a great white marble column which had fallen to the ground and + broken into three pieces, but between these grew the most beautiful white + flowers. The swallow flew down with Thumbelina, and set her upon one of + the broad leaves. But there, to her astonishment, she found a tiny little + man sitting in the middle of the flower, as white and transparent as if he + were made of glass; he had the prettiest golden crown on his head, and the + most beautiful wings on his shoulders; he himself was no bigger than + Thumbelina. He was the spirit of the flower. In each blossom there dwelt a + tiny man or woman; but this one was the King over the others. + </p> + <p> + ‘How handsome he is!’ whispered Thumbelina to the swallow. + </p> + <p> + The little Prince was very much frightened at the swallow, for in + comparison with one so tiny as himself he seemed a giant. But when he saw + Thumbelina, he was delighted, for she was the most beautiful girl he had + ever seen. So he took his golden crown from off his head and put it on + hers, asking her her name, and if she would be his wife, and then she + would be Queen of all the flowers. Yes! he was a different kind of husband + to the son of the toad and the mole with the black-velvet coat. So she + said ‘Yes’ to the noble Prince. And out of each flower came a lady and + gentleman, each so tiny and pretty that it was a pleasure to see them. + Each brought Thumbelina a present, but the best of all was a beautiful + pair of wings which were fastened on to her back, and now she too could + fly from flower to flower. They all wished her joy, and the swallow sat + above in his nest and sang the wedding march, and that he did as well as + he could; but he was sad, because he was very fond of Thumbelina and did + not want to be separated from her. + </p> + <p> + ‘You shall not be called Thumbelina!’ said the spirit of the flower to + her; ‘that is an ugly name, and you are much too pretty for that. We will + call you May Blossom.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Farewell, farewell!’ said the little swallow with a heavy heart, and flew + away to farther lands, far, far away, right back to Denmark. There he had + a little nest above a window, where his wife lived, who can tell + fairy-stories. ‘Tweet, tweet!’ he sang to her. And that is the way we + learnt the whole story. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0032" id="link2H_4_0032"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE NIGHTINGALE + </h2> + <p> + In China, as I daresay you know, the Emperor is a Chinaman, and all his + courtiers are also Chinamen. The story I am going to tell you happened + many years ago, but it is worth while for you to listen to it, before it + is forgotten. + </p> + <p> + The Emperor’s Palace was the most splendid in the world, all made of + priceless porcelain, but so brittle and delicate that you had to take + great care how you touched it. In the garden were the most beautiful + flowers, and on the loveliest of them were tied silver bells which + tinkled, so that if you passed you could not help looking at the flowers. + Everything in the Emperor’s garden was admirably arranged with a view to + effect; and the garden was so large that even the gardener himself did not + know where it ended. If you ever got beyond it, you came to a stately + forest with great trees and deep lakes in it. The forest sloped down to + the sea, which was a clear blue. Large ships could sail under the boughs + of the trees, and in these trees there lived a Nightingale. She sang so + beautifully that even the poor fisherman who had so much to do stood and + listened when he came at night to cast his nets. ‘How beautiful it is!’ he + said; but he had to attend to his work, and forgot about the bird. But + when she sang the next night and the fisherman came there again, he said + the same thing, ‘How beautiful it is!’ + </p> + <p> + From all the countries round came travellers to the Emperor’s town, who + were astonished at the Palace and the garden. But when they heard the + Nightingale they all said, ‘This is the finest thing after all!’ + </p> + <p> + The travellers told all about it when they went home, and learned scholars + wrote many books upon the town, the Palace, and the garden. But they did + not forget the Nightingale; she was praised the most, and all the poets + composed splendid verses on the Nightingale in the forest by the deep sea. + </p> + <p> + The books were circulated throughout the world, and some of them reached + the Emperor. He sat in his golden chair, and read and read. He nodded his + head every moment, for he liked reading the brilliant accounts of the + town, the Palace, and the garden. ‘But the Nightingale is better than + all,’ he saw written. + </p> + <p> + ‘What is that?’ said the Emperor. ‘I don’t know anything about the + Nightingale! Is there such a bird in my empire, and so near as in my + garden? I have never heard it! Fancy reading for the first time about it + in a book!’ + </p> + <p> + And he called his First Lord to him. He was so proud that if anyone of + lower rank than his own ventured to speak to him or ask him anything, he + would say nothing but ‘P!’ and that does not mean anything. + </p> + <p> + ‘Here is a most remarkable bird which is called a Nightingale!’ said the + Emperor. ‘They say it is the most glorious thing in my kingdom. Why has no + one ever said anything to me about it?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I have never before heard it mentioned!’ said the First Lord. ‘I will + look for it and find it!’ + </p> + <p> + But where was it to be found? The First Lord ran up and down stairs, + through the halls and corridors; but none of those he met had ever heard + of the Nightingale. And the First Lord ran again to the Emperor, and told + him that it must be an invention on the part of those who had written the + books. + </p> + <p> + ‘Your Imperial Majesty cannot really believe all that is written! There + are some inventions called the Black Art!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘But the book in which I read this,’ said the Emperor, ‘is sent me by His + Great Majesty the Emperor of Japan; so it cannot be untrue, and I will + hear the Nightingale! She must be here this evening! She has my gracious + permission to appear, and if she does not, the whole Court shall be + trampled under foot after supper!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Tsing pe!’ said the First Lord; and he ran up and down stairs, through + the halls and corridors, and half the Court ran with him, for they did not + want to be trampled under foot. Everyone was asking after the wonderful + Nightingale which all the world knew of, except those at Court. + </p> + <p> + At last they met a poor little girl in the kitchen, who said, ‘Oh! I know + the Nightingale well. How she sings! I have permission to carry the scraps + over from the Court meals to my poor sick mother, and when I am going home + at night, tired and weary, and rest for a little in the wood, then I hear + the Nightingale singing! It brings tears to my eyes, and I feel as if my + mother were kissing me!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Little kitchenmaid!’ said the First Lord, ‘I will give you a place in the + kitchen, and you shall have leave to see the Emperor at dinner, if you can + lead us to the Nightingale, for she is invited to come to Court this + evening.’ + </p> + <p> + And so they all went into the wood where the Nightingale was wont to sing, + and half the Court went too. + </p> + <p> + When they were on the way there they heard a cow mooing. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh!’ said the Courtiers, ‘now we have found her! What a wonderful power + for such a small beast to have! I am sure we have heard her before!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘No; that is a cow mooing!’ said the little kitchenmaid. ‘We are still a + long way off!’ + </p> + <p> + Then the frogs began to croak in the marsh. ‘Splendid!’ said the Chinese + chaplain. ‘Now we hear her; it sounds like a little church-bell!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘No, no; those are frogs!’ said the little kitchenmaid. ‘But I think we + shall soon hear her now!’ + </p> + <p> + Then the Nightingale began to sing. + </p> + <p> + ‘There she is!’ cried the little girl. ‘Listen! She is sitting there!’ And + she pointed to a little dark-grey bird up in the branches. + </p> + <p> + ‘Is it possible!’ said the First Lord. ‘I should never have thought it! + How ordinary she looks! She must surely have lost her feathers because she + sees so many distinguished men round her!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Little Nightingale,’ called out the little kitchenmaid, ‘our Gracious + Emperor wants you to sing before him!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘With the greatest of pleasure!’ said the Nightingale; and she sang so + gloriously that it was a pleasure to listen. + </p> + <p> + ‘It sounds like glass bells!’ said the First Lord. ‘And look how her + little throat works! It is wonderful that we have never heard her before! + She will be a great success at Court.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Shall I sing once more for the Emperor?’ asked the Nightingale, thinking + that the Emperor was there. + </p> + <p> + ‘My esteemed little Nightingale,’ said the First Lord, ‘I have the great + pleasure to invite you to Court this evening, where His Gracious Imperial + Highness will be enchanted with your charming song!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘It sounds best in the green wood,’ said the Nightingale; but still, she + came gladly when she heard that the Emperor wished it. + </p> + <p> + At the Palace everything was splendidly prepared. The porcelain walls and + floors glittered in the light of many thousand gold lamps; the most + gorgeous flowers which tinkled out well were placed in the corridors. + There was such a hurrying and draught that all the bells jingled so much + that one could not hear oneself speak. In the centre of the great hall + where the Emperor sat was a golden perch, on which the Nightingale sat. + The whole Court was there, and the little kitchenmaid was allowed to stand + behind the door, now that she was a Court-cook. Everyone was dressed in + his best, and everyone was looking towards the little grey bird to whom + the Emperor nodded. + </p> + <p> + The Nightingale sang so gloriously that the tears came into the Emperor’s + eyes and ran down his cheeks. Then the Nightingale sang even more + beautifully; it went straight to all hearts. The Emperor was so delighted + that he said she should wear his gold slipper round her neck. But the + Nightingale thanked him, and said she had had enough reward already. ‘I + have seen tears in the Emperor’s eyes—that is a great reward. An + Emperor’s tears have such power!’ Then she sang again with her gloriously + sweet voice. + </p> + <p> + ‘That is the most charming coquetry I have ever seen!’ said all the ladies + round. And they all took to holding water in their mouths that they might + gurgle whenever anyone spoke to them. Then they thought themselves + nightingales. Yes, the lackeys and chambermaids announced that they were + pleased; which means a great deal, for they are the most difficult people + of all to satisfy. In short, the Nightingale was a real success. + </p> + <p> + She had to stay at Court now; she had her own cage, and permission to walk + out twice in the day and once at night. + </p> + <p> + She was given twelve servants, who each held a silken string which was + fastened round her leg. There was little pleasure in flying about like + this. + </p> + <p> + The whole town was talking about the wonderful bird, and when two people + met each other one would say ‘Nightin,’ and the other ‘Gale,’ and then + they would both sigh and understand one another. + </p> + <p> + Yes, and eleven grocer’s children were called after her, but not one of + them could sing a note. + </p> + <p> + One day the Emperor received a large parcel on which was written ‘The + Nightingale.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Here is another new book about our famous bird!’ said the Emperor. + </p> + <p> + But it was not a book, but a little mechanical toy, which lay in a box—an + artificial nightingale which was like the real one, only that it was set + all over with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. When it was wound up, it + could sing the piece the real bird sang, and moved its tail up and down, + and glittered with silver and gold. Round its neck was a little collar on + which was written, ‘The Nightingale of the Emperor of Japan is nothing + compared to that of the Emperor of China.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘This is magnificent!’ they all said, and the man who had brought the + clockwork bird received on the spot the title of ‘Bringer of the Imperial + First Nightingale.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Now they must sing together; what a duet we shall have!’ + </p> + <p> + And so they sang together, but their voices did not blend, for the real + Nightingale sang in her way and the clockwork bird sang waltzes. + </p> + <p> + ‘It is not its fault!’ said the bandmaster; ‘it keeps very good time and + is quite after my style!’ + </p> + <p> + Then the artificial bird had to sing alone. It gave just as much pleasure + as the real one, and then it was so much prettier to look at; it sparkled + like bracelets and necklaces. Three-and-thirty times it sang the same + piece without being tired. People would like to have heard it again, but + the Emperor thought that the living Nightingale should sing now—but + where was she? No one had noticed that she had flown out of the open + window away to her green woods. + </p> + <p> + ‘What SHALL we do!’ said the Emperor. + </p> + <p> + And all the Court scolded, and said that the Nightingale was very + ungrateful. ‘But we have still the best bird!’ they said and the + artificial bird had to sing again, and that was the thirty-fourth time + they had heard the same piece. But they did not yet know it by heart; it + was much too difficult. And the bandmaster praised the bird tremendously; + yes, he assured them it was better than a real nightingale, not only + because of its beautiful plumage and diamonds, but inside as well. ‘For + see, my Lords and Ladies and your Imperial Majesty, with the real + Nightingale one can never tell what will come out, but all is known about + the artificial bird! You can explain it, you can open it and show people + where the waltzes lie, how they go, and how one follows the other!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘That’s just what we think!’ said everyone; and the bandmaster received + permission to show the bird to the people the next Sunday. They should + hear it sing, commanded the Emperor. And they heard it, and they were as + pleased as if they had been intoxicated with tea, after the Chinese + fashion, and they all said ‘Oh!’ and held up their forefingers and nodded + time. But the poor fishermen who had heard the real Nightingale said: + ‘This one sings well enough, the tunes glide out; but there is something + wanting—I don’t know what!’ + </p> + <p> + The real Nightingale was banished from the kingdom. + </p> + <p> + The artificial bird was put on silken cushions by the Emperor’s bed, all + the presents which it received, gold and precious stones, lay round it, + and it was given the title of Imperial Night-singer, First from the left. + For the Emperor counted that side as the more distinguished, being the + side on which the heart is; the Emperor’s heart is also on the left. + </p> + <p> + And the bandmaster wrote a work of twenty-five volumes about the + artificial bird. It was so learned, long, and so full of the hardest + Chinese words that everyone said they had read it and understood it; for + once they had been very stupid about a book, and had been trampled under + foot in consequence. So a whole year passed. The Emperor, the Court, and + all the Chinese knew every note of the artificial bird’s song by heart. + But they liked it all the better for this; they could even sing with it, + and they did. The street boys sang ‘Tra-la-la-la-la, and the Emperor sang + too sometimes. It was indeed delightful. + </p> + <p> + But one evening, when the artificial bird was singing its best, and the + Emperor lay in bed listening to it, something in the bird went crack. + Something snapped! Whir-r-r! all the wheels ran down and then the music + ceased. The Emperor sprang up, and had his physician summoned, but what + could HE do! Then the clockmaker came, and, after a great deal of talking + and examining, he put the bird somewhat in order, but he said that it must + be very seldom used as the works were nearly worn out, and it was + impossible to put in new ones. Here was a calamity! Only once a year was + the artificial bird allowed to sing, and even that was almost too much for + it. But then the bandmaster made a little speech full of hard words, + saying that it was just as good as before. And so, of course, it WAS just + as good as before. So five years passed, and then a great sorrow came to + the nation. The Chinese look upon their Emperor as everything, and now he + was ill, and not likely to live it was said. + </p> + <p> + Already a new Emperor had been chosen, and the people stood outside in the + street and asked the First Lord how the old Emperor was. ‘P!’ said he, and + shook his head. + </p> + <p> + Cold and pale lay the Emperor in his splendid great bed; the whole Court + believed him dead, and one after the other left him to pay their respects + to the new Emperor. Everywhere in the halls and corridors cloth was laid + down so that no footstep could be heard, and everything was still—very, + very still. And nothing came to break the silence. + </p> + <p> + The Emperor longed for something to come and relieve the monotony of this + deathlike stillness. If only someone would speak to him! If only someone + would sing to him. Music would carry his thoughts away, and would break + the spell lying on him. The moon was streaming in at the open window; but + that, too, was silent, quite silent. + </p> + <p> + ‘Music! music!’ cried the Emperor. ‘You little bright golden bird, sing! + do sing! I gave you gold and jewels; I have hung my gold slipper round + your neck with my own hand—sing! do sing!’ But the bird was silent. + There was no one to wind it up, and so it could not sing. And all was + silent, so terribly silent! + </p> + <p> + All at once there came in at the window the most glorious burst of song. + It was the little living Nightingale, who, sitting outside on a bough, had + heard the need of her Emperor and had come to sing to him of comfort and + hope. And as she sang the blood flowed quicker and quicker in the + Emperor’s weak limbs, and life began to return. + </p> + <p> + ‘Thank you, thank you!’ said the Emperor. ‘You divine little bird! I know + you. I chased you from my kingdom, and you have given me life again! How + can I reward you?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘You have done that already!’ said the Nightingale. ‘I brought tears to + your eyes the first time I sang. I shall never forget that. They are + jewels that rejoice a singer’s heart. But now sleep and get strong again; + I will sing you a lullaby.’ And the Emperor fell into a deep, calm sleep + as she sang. + </p> + <p> + The sun was shining through the window when he awoke, strong and well. + None of his servants had come back yet, for they thought he was dead. But + the Nightingale sat and sang to him. + </p> + <p> + ‘You must always stay with me!’ said the Emperor. ‘You shall sing whenever + you like, and I will break the artificial bird into a thousand pieces.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Don’t do that!’ said the Nightingale. ‘He did his work as long as he + could. Keep him as you have done! I cannot build my nest in the Palace and + live here; but let me come whenever I like. I will sit in the evening on + the bough outside the window, and I will sing you something that will make + you feel happy and grateful. I will sing of joy, and of sorrow; I will + sing of the evil and the good which lies hidden from you. The little + singing-bird flies all around, to the poor fisherman’s hut, to the + farmer’s cottage, to all those who are far away from you and your Court. I + love your heart more than your crown, though that has about it a + brightness as of something holy. Now I will sing to you again; but you + must promise me one thing——’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Anything!’ said the Emperor, standing up in his Imperial robes, which he + had himself put on, and fastening on his sword richly embossed with gold. + </p> + <p> + ‘One thing I beg of you! Don’t tell anyone that you have a little bird who + tells you everything. It will be much better not to!’ Then the Nightingale + flew away. + </p> + <p> + The servants came in to look at their dead Emperor. + </p> + <p> + The Emperor said, ‘Good-morning!’ + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0033" id="link2H_4_0033"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + HERMOD AND HADVOR (32) + </h2> + <h3> + (32) From the Icelandic. + </h3> + <p> + Once upon a time there were a King and a Queen who had an only daughter, + called Hadvor, who was fair and beautiful, and being an only child, was + heir to the kingdom. The King and Queen had also a foster son, named + Hermod, who was just about the same age as Hadvor, and was good-looking, + as well as clever at most things. Hermod and Hadvor often played together + while they were children, and liked each other so much that while they + were still young they secretly plighted their troth to each other. + </p> + <p> + As time went on the Queen fell sick, and suspecting that it was her last + illness, sent for the King to come to her. When he came she told him that + she had no long time to live, and therefore wished to ask one thing of + him, which was, that if he married another wife he should promise to take + no other one than the Queen of Hetland the Good. The King gave the + promise, and thereafter the Queen died. + </p> + <p> + Time went past, and the King, growing tired of living alone, fitted out + his ship and sailed out to sea. As he sailed there came upon him so thick + a mist that he altogether lost his bearings, but after long trouble he + found land. There he laid his ship to, and went on shore all alone. After + walking for some time he came to a forest, into which he went a little way + and stopped. Then he heard sweet music from a harp, and went in the + direction of the sound until he came to a clearing, and there he saw three + women, one of whom sat on a golden chair, and was beautifully and grandly + dressed; she held a harp in her hands, and was very sorrowful. The second + was also finely dressed, but younger in appearance, and also sat on a + chair, but it was not so grand as the first one’s. The third stood beside + them, and was very pretty to look at; she had a green cloak over her other + clothes, and it was easy to see that she was maid to the other two. + </p> + <p> + After the King had looked at them for a little he went forward and saluted + them. The one that sat on the golden chair asked him who he was and where + he was going; and he told her all the story—how he was a king, and + had lost his queen, and was now on his way to Hetland the Good, to ask the + Queen of that country in marriage. She answered that fortune had contrived + this wonderfully, for pirates had plundered Hetland and killed the King, + and she had fled from the land in terror, and had come hither after great + trouble, and she was the very person he was looking for, and the others + were her daughter and maid. The King immediately asked her hand; she + gladly received his proposal and accepted him at once. Thereafter they all + set out, and made their way to the ship; and after that nothing is told of + their voyage until the King reached his own country. There he made a great + feast, and celebrated his marriage with this woman; and after that things + are quiet for a time. + </p> + <p> + Hermod and Hadvor took but little notice of the Queen and her daughter, + but, on the other hand, Hadvor and the Queen’s maid, whose name was Olof, + were very friendly, and Olof came often to visit Hadvor in her castle. + Before long the King went out to war, and no sooner was he away than the + Queen came to talk with Hermod, and said that she wanted him to marry her + daughter. Hermod told her straight and plain that he would not do so, at + which the Queen grew terribly angry, and said that in that case neither + should he have Hadvor, for she would now lay this spell on him, that he + should go to a desert island and there be a lion by day and a man by + night. He should also think always of Hadvor, which would cause him all + the more sorrow, and from this spell he should never be freed until Hadvor + burned the lion’s skin, and that would not happen very soon. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the Queen had finished her speech Hermod replied that he also + laid a spell on her, and that was, that as soon as he was freed from her + enchantments she should become a rat and her daughter a mouse, and fight + with each other in the hall until he killed them with his sword. + </p> + <p> + After this Hermod disappeared, and no one knew what had become of him; the + Queen caused search to be made for him, but he could nowhere be found. One + time, when Olof was in the castle beside Hadvor, she asked the Princess if + she knew where Hermod had gone to. At this Hadvor became very sad, and + said that she did not. + </p> + <p> + ‘I shall tell you then,’ said Olof, ‘for I know all about it. Hermod has + disappeared through the wicked devices of the Queen, for she is a witch, + and so is her daughter, though they have put on these beautiful forms. + Because Hermod would not fall in with the Queen’s plans, and marry her + daughter, she has laid a spell on him, to go on an island and be a lion by + day and a man by night, and never be freed from this until you burn the + lion’s skin. Besides,’ said Olof, ‘she has looked out a match for you; she + has a brother in the Underworld, a three-headed Giant, whom she means to + turn into a beautiful prince and get him married to you. This is no new + thing for the Queen; she took me away from my parents’ house and compelled + me to serve her; but she has never done me any harm, for the green cloak I + wear protects me against all mischief. + </p> + <p> + Hadvor now became still sadder than before at the thought of the marriage + destined for her, and entreated Olof to think of some plan to save her. + </p> + <p> + ‘I think,’ said Olof, ‘that your wooer will come up through the floor of + the castle to you, and so you must be prepared when you hear the noise of + his coming and the floor begins to open, and have at hand blazing pitch, + and pour plenty of it into the opening. That will prove too much for him.’ + </p> + <p> + About this time the King came home from his expedition, and thought it a + great blow that no one knew what had become of Hermod; but the Queen + consoled him as best she could, and after a time the King thought less + about his disappearance. + </p> + <p> + Hadvor remained in her castle, and had made preparations to receive her + wooer when he came. One night, not long after, a loud noise and rumbling + was heard under the castle. Hadvor at once guessed what it was, and told + her maids to be ready to help her. The noise and thundering grew louder + and louder, until the floor began to open, whereupon Hadvor made them take + the caldron of pitch and pour plenty of it into the opening. With that the + noises grew fainter and fainter, till at last they ceased altogether. + </p> + <p> + Next morning the Queen rose early, and went out to the Palace gate, and + there she found her brother the Giant lying dead. She went up to him and + said, ‘I pronounce this spell, that you become a beautiful prince, and + that Hadvor shall be unable to say anything against the charges that I + shall bring against her.’ + </p> + <p> + The body of the dead Giant now became that of a beautiful prince, and the + Queen went in again. + </p> + <p> + ‘I don’t think,’ said she to the King, ‘that your daughter is as good as + she is said to be. My brother came and asked her hand, and she has had him + put to death. I have just found his dead body lying at the Palace gate.’ + </p> + <p> + The King went along with the Queen to see the body, and thought it all + very strange; so beautiful a youth, he said, would have been a worthy + match for Hadvor, and he would readily have agreed to their marriage. The + Queen asked leave to decide what Hadvor’s punishment should be, which the + King was very willing to allow, so as to escape from punishing his own + daughter. The Queen’s decision was that the King should make a big + grave-mound for her brother, and put Hadvor into it beside him. + </p> + <p> + Olof knew all the plans of the Queen, and went to tell the Princess what + had been done, whereupon Hadvor earnestly entreated her to tell her what + to do. + </p> + <p> + ‘First and foremost,’ said Olof, ‘you must get a wide cloak to wear over + your other clothes, when you are put into the mound. The Giant’s ghost + will walk after you are both left together in there, and he will have two + dogs along with him. He will ask you to cut pieces out of his legs to give + to the dogs, but that you must not promise to do unless he tells you where + Hermod has gone to, and tells you how to find him. He will then let you + stand on his shoulders, so as to get out of the mound; but he means to + cheat you all the same, and will catch you by the cloak to pull you back + again; but you must take care to have the cloak loose on your shoulders, + so that he will only get hold of that.’ + </p> + <p> + The mound was all ready now, and the Giant laid in it, and into it Hadvor + also had to go without being allowed to make any defence. After they were + both left there everything happened just as Olof had said. The prince + became a Giant again, and asked Hadvor to cut the pieces out of his legs + for the dogs; but she refused until he told her that Hermod was in a + desert island, which she could not reach unless she took the skin off the + soles of his feet and made shoes out of that; with these shoes she could + travel both on land and sea. This Hadvor now did, and the Giant then let + her get up on his shoulders to get out of the mound. As she sprang out he + caught hold of her cloak; but she had taken care to let it lie loose on + her shoulders, and so escaped. + </p> + <p> + She now made her way down to the sea, to where she knew there was the + shortest distance over to the island in which Hermod was. This strait she + easily crossed, for the shoes kept her up. On reaching the island she + found a sandy beach all along by the sea, and high cliffs above. Nor could + she see any way to get up these, and so, being both sad at heart and tired + with the long journey, she lay down and fell asleep. As she slept she + dreamed that a tall woman came to her and said, ‘I know that you are + Princess Hadvor, and are searching for Hermod. He is on this island; but + it will be hard for you to get to him if you have no one to help you, for + you cannot climb the cliffs by your own strength. I have therefore let + down a rope, by which you will be able to climb up; and as the island is + so large that you might not find Hermod’s dwelling-place so easily, I lay + down this clew beside you. You need only hold the end of the thread, and + the clew will run on before and show you the way. I also lay this belt + beside you, to put on when you awaken; it will keep you from growing faint + with hunger.’ + </p> + <p> + The woman now disappeared, and Hadvor woke, and saw that all her dream had + been true. The rope hung down from the cliff, and the clew and belt lay + beside her. The belt she put on, the rope enabled her to climb up the + cliff, and the clew led her on till she came to the mouth of a cave, which + was not very big. She went into the cave, and saw there a low couch, under + which she crept and lay down. + </p> + <p> + When evening came she heard the noise of footsteps outside, and became + aware that the lion had come to the mouth of the cave, and shook itself + there, after which she heard a man coming towards the couch. She was sure + this was Hermod, because she heard him speaking to himself about his own + condition, and calling to mind Hadvor and other things in the old days. + Hadvor made no sign, but waited till he had fallen asleep, and then crept + out and burned the lion’s skin, which he had left outside. Then she went + back into the cave and wakened Hermod, and they had a most joyful meeting. + </p> + <p> + In the morning they talked over their plans, and were most at a loss to + know how to get out of the island. Hadvor told Hermod her dream, and said + she suspected there was some one in the island who would be able to help + them. Hermod said he knew of a Witch there, who was very ready to help + anyone, and that the only plan was to go to her. So they went to the + Witch’s cave, and found her there with her fifteen young sons, and asked + her to help them to get to the mainland. + </p> + <p> + ‘There are other things easier than that,’ said she, ‘for the Giant that + was buried will be waiting for you, and will attack you on the way, as he + has turned himself into a big whale. I shall lend you a boat, however, and + if you meet the whale and think your lives are in danger, then you can + name me by name.’ + </p> + <p> + They thanked her greatly for her help and advice, and set out from the + island, but on the way they saw a huge fish coming towards them, with + great splashing and dashing of waves. They were sure of what it was, and + thought they had as good reason as ever they would have to call on the + Witch, and so they did. The next minute they saw coming after them another + huge whale, followed by fifteen smaller ones. All of these swam past the + boat and went on to meet the whale. There was a fierce battle then, and + the sea became so stormy that it was not very easy to keep the boat from + being filled by the waves. After this fight had gone on for some time, + they saw that the sea was dyed with blood; the big whale and the fifteen + smaller ones disappeared, and they got to land safe and sound. + </p> + <p> + Now the story goes back to the King’s hall, where strange things had + happened in the meantime. The Queen and her daughter had disappeared, but + a rat and a mouse were always fighting with each other there. Ever so many + people had tried to drive them away, but no one could manage it. Thus some + time went on, while the King was almost beside himself with sorrow and + care for the loss of his Queen, and because these monsters destroyed all + mirth in the hall. + </p> + <p> + One evening, however, while they all sat dull and down-hearted, in came + Hermod with a sword by his side, and saluted the King, who received him + with the greatest joy, as if he had come back from the dead. Before Hermod + sat down, however, he went to where the rat and the mouse were fighting, + and cut them in two with his sword. All were astonished then by seeing two + witches lying dead on the floor of the hall. + </p> + <p> + Hermod now told the whole story to the King, who was very glad to be rid + of such vile creatures. Next he asked for the hand of Hadvor, which the + King readily gave him, and being now an old man, gave the kingdom to him + as well; and so Hermod became King. + </p> + <p> + Olof married a good-looking nobleman, and that is the end of the story. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0034" id="link2H_4_0034"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE STEADFAST TIN-SOLDIER + </h2> + <p> + There were once upon a time five-and twenty tin-soldiers—all + brothers, as they were made out of the same old tin spoon. Their uniform + was red and blue, and they shouldered their guns and looked straight in + front of them. The first words that they heard in this world, when the lid + of the box in which they lay was taken off, were: ‘Hurrah, tin-soldiers!’ + This was exclaimed by a little boy, clapping his hands; they had been + given to him because it was his birthday, and now he began setting them + out on the table. Each soldier was exactly like the other in shape, except + just one, who had been made last when the tin had run short; but there he + stood as firmly on his one leg as the others did on two, and he is the one + that became famous. + </p> + <p> + There were many other playthings on the table on which they were being set + out, but the nicest of all was a pretty little castle made of cardboard, + with windows through which you could see into the rooms. In front of the + castle stood some little trees surrounding a tiny mirror which looked like + a lake. Wax swans were floating about and reflecting themselves in it. + That was all very pretty; but the most beautiful thing was a little lady, + who stood in the open doorway. She was cut out of paper, but she had on a + dress of the finest muslin, with a scarf of narrow blue ribbon round her + shoulders, fastened in the middle with a glittering rose made of gold + paper, which was as large as her head. The little lady was stretching out + both her arms, for she was a Dancer, and was lifting up one leg so high in + the air that the Tin-soldier couldn’t find it anywhere, and thought that + she, too, had only one leg. + </p> + <p> + ‘That’s the wife for me!’ he thought; ‘but she is so grand, and lives in a + castle, whilst I have only a box with four-and-twenty others. This is no + place for her! But I must make her acquaintance.’ Then he stretched + himself out behind a snuff-box that lay on the table; from thence he could + watch the dainty little lady, who continued to stand on one leg without + losing her balance. + </p> + <p> + When the night came all the other tin-soldiers went into their box, and + the people of the house went to bed. Then the toys began to play at + visiting, dancing, and fighting. The tin-soldiers rattled in their box, + for they wanted to be out too, but they could not raise the lid. The + nut-crackers played at leap-frog, and the slate-pencil ran about the + slate; there was such a noise that the canary woke up and began to talk to + them, in poetry too! The only two who did not stir from their places were + the Tin-soldier and the little Dancer. She remained on tip-toe, with both + arms outstretched; he stood steadfastly on his one leg, never moving his + eyes from her face. + </p> + <p> + The clock struck twelve, and crack! off flew the lid of the snuff-box; but + there was no snuff inside, only a little black imp—that was the + beauty of it. + </p> + <p> + ‘Hullo, Tin-soldier!’ said the imp. ‘Don’t look at things that aren’t + intended for the likes of you!’ + </p> + <p> + But the Tin-soldier took no notice, and seemed not to hear. + </p> + <p> + ‘Very well, wait till to-morrow!’ said the imp. + </p> + <p> + When it was morning, and the children had got up, the Tin-soldier was put + in the window; and whether it was the wind or the little black imp, I + don’t know, but all at once the window flew open and out fell the little + Tin-soldier, head over heels, from the third-storey window! That was a + terrible fall, I can tell you! He landed on his head with his leg in the + air, his gun being wedged between two paving-stones. + </p> + <p> + The nursery-maid and the little boy came down at once to look for him, + but, though they were so near him that they almost trod on him, they did + not notice him. If the Tin-soldier had only called out ‘Here I am!’ they + must have found him; but he did not think it fitting for him to cry out, + because he had on his uniform. + </p> + <p> + Soon it began to drizzle; then the drops came faster, and there was a + regular down-pour. When it was over, two little street boys came along. + </p> + <p> + ‘Just look!’ cried one. ‘Here is a Tin-soldier! He shall sail up and down + in a boat!’ + </p> + <p> + So they made a little boat out of newspaper, put the Tin-soldier in it, + and made him sail up and down the gutter; both the boys ran along beside + him, clapping their hands. What great waves there were in the gutter, and + what a swift current! The paper-boat tossed up and down, and in the middle + of the stream it went so quick that the Tin-soldier trembled; but he + remained steadfast, showed no emotion, looked straight in front of him, + shouldering his gun. All at once the boat passed under a long tunnel that + was as dark as his box had been. + </p> + <p> + ‘Where can I be coming now?’ he wondered. ‘Oh, dear! This is the black + imp’s fault! Ah, if only the little lady were sitting beside me in the + boat, it might be twice as dark for all I should care!’ + </p> + <p> + Suddenly there came along a great water-rat that lived in the tunnel. + </p> + <p> + ‘Have you a passport?’ asked the rat. ‘Out with your passport!’ + </p> + <p> + But the Tin-soldier was silent, and grasped his gun more firmly. + </p> + <p> + The boat sped on, and the rat behind it. Ugh! how he showed his teeth, as + he cried to the chips of wood and straw: ‘Hold him, hold him! he has not + paid the toll! He has not shown his passport!’ + </p> + <p> + But the current became swifter and stronger. The Tin-soldier could already + see daylight where the tunnel ended; but in his ears there sounded a + roaring enough to frighten any brave man. Only think! at the end of the + tunnel the gutter discharged itself into a great canal; that would be just + as dangerous for him as it would be for us to go down a waterfall. + </p> + <p> + Now he was so near to it that he could not hold on any longer. On went the + boat, the poor Tin-soldier keeping himself as stiff as he could: no one + should say of him afterwards that he had flinched. The boat whirled three, + four times round, and became filled to the brim with water: it began to + sink! The Tin-soldier was standing up to his neck in water, and deeper and + deeper sank the boat, and softer and softer grew the paper; now the water + was over his head. He was thinking of the pretty little Dancer, whose face + he should never see again, and there sounded in his ears, over and over + again: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Forward, forward, soldier bold! + Death’s before thee, grim and cold!’ +</pre> + <p> + The paper came in two, and the soldier fell—but at that moment he + was swallowed by a great fish. + </p> + <p> + Oh! how dark it was inside, even darker than in the tunnel, and it was + really very close quarters! But there the steadfast little Tin-soldier lay + full length, shouldering his gun. + </p> + <p> + Up and down swam the fish, then he made the most dreadful contortions, and + became suddenly quite still. Then it was as if a flash of lightning had + passed through him; the daylight streamed in, and a voice exclaimed, ‘Why, + here is the little Tin-soldier!’ The fish had been caught, taken to + market, sold, and brought into the kitchen, where the cook had cut it open + with a great knife. She took up the soldier between her finger and thumb, + and carried him into the room, where everyone wanted to see the hero who + had been found inside a fish; but the Tin-soldier was not at all proud. + They put him on the table, and—no, but what strange things do happen + in this world!—the Tin-soldier was in the same room in which he had + been before! He saw the same children, and the same toys on the table; and + there was the same grand castle with the pretty little Dancer. She was + still standing on one leg with the other high in the air; she too was + steadfast. That touched the Tin-soldier, he was nearly going to shed + tin-tears; but that would not have been fitting for a soldier. He looked + at her, but she said nothing. + </p> + <p> + All at once one of the little boys took up the Tin-soldier, and threw him + into the stove, giving no reasons; but doubtless the little black imp in + the snuff-box was at the bottom of this too. + </p> + <p> + There the Tin-soldier lay, and felt a heat that was truly terrible; but + whether he was suffering from actual fire, or from the ardour of his + passion, he did not know. All his colour had disappeared; whether this had + happened on his travels or whether it was the result of trouble, who can + say? He looked at the little lady, she looked at him, and he felt that he + was melting; but he remained steadfast, with his gun at his shoulder. + Suddenly a door opened, the draught caught up the little Dancer, and off + she flew like a sylph to the Tin-soldier in the stove, burst into flames—and + that was the end of her! Then the Tin-soldier melted down into a little + lump, and when next morning the maid was taking out the ashes, she found + him in the shape of a heart. There was nothing left of the little Dancer + but her gilt rose, burnt as black as a cinder. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0035" id="link2H_4_0035"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BLOCKHEAD-HANS + </h2> + <p> + Far away in the country lay an old manor-house where lived an old squire + who had two sons. They thought themselves so clever, that if they had + known only half of what they did know, it would have been quite enough. + They both wanted to marry the King’s daughter, for she had proclaimed that + she would have for her husband the man who knew best how to choose his + words. + </p> + <p> + Both prepared for the wooing a whole week, which was the longest time + allowed them; but, after all, it was quite long enough, for they both had + preparatory knowledge, and everyone knows how useful that is. One knew the + whole Latin dictionary and also three years’ issue of the daily paper of + the town off by heart, so that he could repeat it all backwards or + forwards as you pleased. The other had worked at the laws of corporation, + and knew by heart what every member of the corporation ought to know, so + that he thought he could quite well speak on State matters and give his + opinion. He understood, besides this, how to embroider braces with roses + and other flowers, and scrolls, for he was very ready with his fingers. + </p> + <p> + ‘I shall win the king’s daughter!’ they both cried. + </p> + <p> + Their old father gave each of them a fine horse; the one who knew the + dictionary and the daily paper by heart had a black horse, while the other + who was so clever at corporation law had a milk-white one. Then they oiled + the corners of their mouths so that they might be able to speak more + fluently. All the servants stood in the courtyard and saw them mount their + steeds, and here by chance came the third brother; for the squire had + three sons, but nobody counted him with his brothers, for he was not so + learned as they were, and he was generally called ‘Blockhead-Hans.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, oh!’ said Blockhead-Hans. ‘Where are you off to? You are in your + Sunday-best clothes!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘We are going to Court, to woo the Princess! Don’t you know what is known + throughout all the country side?’ And they told him all about it. + </p> + <p> + ‘Hurrah! I’ll go to!’ cried Blockhead-Hans; and the brothers laughed at + him and rode off. + </p> + <p> + ‘Dear father!’ cried Blockhead-Hans, ‘I must have a horse too. What a + desire for marriage has seized me! If she will have me, she WILL have me, + and if she won’t have me, I will have her.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Stop that nonsense!’ said the old man. ‘I will not give you a horse. YOU + can’t speak; YOU don’t know how to choose your words. Your brothers! Ah! + they are very different lads!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Well,’ said Blockhead-Hans, ‘if I can’t have a horse, I will take the + goat which is mine; he can carry me!’ + </p> + <p> + And he did so. He sat astride on the goat, struck his heels into its side, + and went rattling down the high-road like a hurricane. + </p> + <p> + ‘Hoppetty hop! what a ride!’ Here I come!’ shouted Blockhead-Hans, singing + so that the echoes were roused far and near. But his brothers were riding + slowly in front. They were not speaking, but they were thinking over all + the good things they were going to say, for everything had to be thought + out. + </p> + <p> + ‘Hullo!’ bawled Blockhead-Hans, ‘here I am! Just look what I found on the + road!’—and he showed them a dead crow which he had picked up. + </p> + <p> + ‘Blockhead!’ said his brothers, ‘what are you going to do with it?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘With the crow? I shall give it to the Princess!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Do so, certainly!’ they said, laughing loudly and riding on. + </p> + <p> + ‘Slap! bang! here I am again! Look what I have just found! You don’t find + such things every day on the road!’ And the brothers turned round to see + what in the world he could have found. + </p> + <p> + ‘Blockhead!’ said they, ‘that is an old wooden shoe without the top! Are + you going to send that, too, to the Princess?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Of course I shall!’ returned Blockhead-Hans; and the brothers laughed and + rode on a good way. + </p> + <p> + ‘Slap! bang! here I am!’ cried Blockhead-Hans; ‘better and better—it + is really famous!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘What have you found now?’ asked the brothers. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh,’ said Blockhead-Hans, ‘it is really too good! How pleased the + Princess will be!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Why!’ said the brothers, ‘this is pure mud, straight from the ditch.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Of course it is!’ said Blockhead-Hans, ‘and it is the best kind! Look how + it runs through one’s fingers!’ and, so saying, he filled his pocket with + the mud. + </p> + <p> + But the brothers rode on so fast that dust and sparks flew all around, and + they reached the gate of the town a good hour before Blockhead-Hans. Here + came the suitors numbered according to their arrival, and they were ranged + in rows, six in each row, and they were so tightly packed that they could + not move their arms. This was a very good thing, for otherwise they would + have torn each other in pieces, merely because the one was in front of the + other. + </p> + <p> + All the country people were standing round the King’s throne, and were + crowded together in thick masses almost out of the windows to see the + Princess receive the suitors; and as each one came into the room all his + fine phrases went out like a candle! + </p> + <p> + ‘It doesn’t matter!’ said the Princess. ‘Away! out with him!’ + </p> + <p> + At last she came to the row in which the brother who knew the dictionary + by heart was, but he did not know it any longer; he had quite forgotten it + in the rank and file. And the floor creaked, and the ceiling was all made + of glass mirrors, so that he saw himself standing on his head, and by each + window were standing three reporters and an editor; and each of them was + writing down what was said, to publish it in the paper that came out and + was sold at the street corners for a penny. It was fearful, and they had + made up the fire so hot that it was grilling. + </p> + <p> + ‘It is hot in here, isn’t it!’ said the suitor. + </p> + <p> + ‘Of course it is! My father is roasting young chickens to-day!’ said the + Princess. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ahem!’ There he stood like an idiot. He was not prepared for such a + speech; he did not know what to say, although he wanted to say something + witty. ‘Ahem!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘It doesn’t matter!’ said the Princess. ‘Take him out!’ and out he had to + go. + </p> + <p> + Now the other brother entered. + </p> + <p> + ‘How hot it is!’ he said. + </p> + <p> + ‘Of course! We are roasting young chickens to-day!’ remarked the Princess. + </p> + <p> + ‘How do you—um!’ he said, and the reporters wrote down. ‘How do you—um.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘It doesn’t matter!’ said the Princess. ‘Take him out!’ + </p> + <p> + Now Blockhead-Hans came in; he rode his goat right into the hall. + </p> + <p> + ‘I say! How roasting hot it is here!’ said he. + </p> + <p> + ‘Of course! I am roasting young chickens to-day!’ said the Princess. + </p> + <p> + ‘That’s good!’ replied Blockhead-Hans; ‘then can I roast a crow with + them?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘With the greatest of pleasure!’ said the Princess; ‘but have you anything + you can roast them in? for I have neither pot nor saucepan.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, rather!’ said Blockhead-Hans. ‘Here is a cooking implement with tin + rings,’ and he drew out the old wooden shoe, and laid the crow in it. + </p> + <p> + ‘That is quite a meal!’ said the Princess; ‘but where shall we get the + soup from?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I’ve got that in my pocket!’ said Blockhead-Hans. ‘I have so much that I + can quite well throw some away!’ and he poured some mud out of his pocket. + </p> + <p> + ‘I like you!’ said the Princess. ‘You can answer, and you can speak, and I + will marry you; but do you know that every word which we are saying and + have said has been taken down and will be in the paper to-morrow? By each + window do you see there are standing three reporters and an old editor, + and this old editor is the worst, for he doesn’t understand anything!’ but + she only said this to tease Blockhead-Hans. And the reporters giggled, and + each dropped a blot of ink on the floor. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! are those the great people?’ said Blockhead-Hans. ‘Then I will give + the editor the best!’ So saying, he turned his pockets inside out, and + threw the mud right in his face. + </p> + <p> + ‘That was neatly done!’ said the Princess. ‘I couldn’t have done it; but I + will soon learn how to!’ + </p> + <p> + Blockhead-Hans became King, got a wife and a crown, and sat on the throne; + and this we have still damp from the newspaper of the editor and the + reporters—and they are not to be believed for a moment. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0036" id="link2H_4_0036"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A STORY ABOUT A DARNING-NEEDLE + </h2> + <p> + There was once a Darning-needle who thought herself so fine that she + believed she was an embroidery-needle. ‘Take great care to hold me tight!’ + said the Darning-needle to the Fingers who were holding her. ‘Don’t let me + fall! If I once fall on the ground I shall never be found again, I am so + fine!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘It is all right!’ said the Fingers, seizing her round the waist. + </p> + <p> + ‘Look, I am coming with my train!’ said the Darning-needle as she drew a + long thread after her; but there was no knot at the end of the thread. + </p> + <p> + The Fingers were using the needle on the cook’s shoe. The upper leather + was unstitched and had to be sewn together. + </p> + <p> + ‘This is common work!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I shall never get through + it. I am breaking! I am breaking!’ And in fact she did break. ‘Didn’t I + tell you so!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I am too fine!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Now she is good for nothing!’ said the Fingers; but they had to hold her + tight while the cook dropped some sealing-wax on the needle and stuck it + in the front of her dress. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now I am a breast-pin!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I always knew I should + be promoted. When one is something, one will become something!’ And she + laughed to herself; you can never see when a Darning-needle is laughing. + Then she sat up as proudly as if she were in a State coach, and looked all + round her. + </p> + <p> + ‘May I be allowed to ask if you are gold?’ she said to her neighbour, the + Pin. ‘You have a very nice appearance, and a peculiar head; but it is too + small! You must take pains to make it grow, for it is not everyone who has + a head of sealing-wax.’ And so saying the Darning-needle raised herself up + so proudly that she fell out of the dress, right into the sink which the + cook was rinsing out. + </p> + <p> + ‘Now I am off on my travels!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I do hope I + sha’n’t get lost!’ She did indeed get lost. + </p> + <p> + ‘I am too fine for this world!’ said she as she lay in the gutter; ‘but I + know who I am, and that is always a little satisfaction!’ + </p> + <p> + And the Darning-needle kept her proud bearing and did not lose her + good-temper. + </p> + <p> + All kinds of things swam over her—shavings, bits of straw, and + scraps of old newspapers. + </p> + <p> + ‘Just look how they sail along!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘They don’t know + what is underneath them! Here I am sticking fast! There goes a shaving + thinking of nothing in the world but of itself, a mere chip! There goes a + straw—well, how it does twist and twirl, to be sure! Don’t think so + much about yourself, or you will be knocked against a stone. There floats + a bit of newspaper. What is written on it is long ago forgotten, and yet + how proud it is! I am sitting patient and quiet. I know who I am, and that + is enough for me!’ + </p> + <p> + One day something thick lay near her which glittered so brightly that the + Darning-needle thought it must be a diamond. But it was a bit of + bottle-glass, and because it sparkled the Darning-needle spoke to it, and + gave herself out as a breast-pin. + </p> + <p> + ‘No doubt you are a diamond?’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Yes, something of that kind!’ And each believed that the other was + something very costly; and they both said how very proud the world must be + of them. + </p> + <p> + ‘I have come from a lady’s work-box,’ said Darning-needle, ‘and this lady + was a cook; she had five fingers on each hand; anything so proud as these + fingers I have never seen! And yet they were only there to take me out of + the work-box and to put me back again!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Were they of noble birth, then?’ asked the bit of bottle-glass. + </p> + <p> + ‘Of noble birth!’ said the Darning-needle; ‘no indeed, but proud! They + were five brothers, all called ‘’Fingers.‘’ They held themselves proudly + one against the other, although they were of different sizes. The outside + one, the Thumb, was short and fat; he was outside the rank, and had only + one bend in his back, and could only make one bow; but he said that if he + were cut off from a man that he was no longer any use as a soldier. + Dip-into-everything, the second finger, dipped into sweet things as well + as sour things, pointed to the sun and the moon, and guided the pen when + they wrote. Longman, the third, looked at the others over his shoulder. + Goldband, the fourth, had a gold sash round his waist; and little Playman + did nothing at all, and was the more proud. There was too much + ostentation, and so I came away.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘And now we are sitting and shining here!’ said the bit of bottle-glass. + </p> + <p> + At that moment more water came into the gutter; it streamed over the edges + and washed the bit of bottle-glass away. + </p> + <p> + ‘Ah! now he has been promoted!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I remain here; I + am too fine. But that is my pride, which is a sign of respectability!’ And + she sat there very proudly, thinking lofty thoughts. + </p> + <p> + ‘I really believe I must have been born a sunbeam, I am so fine! It seems + to me as if the sunbeams were always looking under the water for me. Ah, I + am so fine that my own mother cannot find me! If I had my old eye which + broke off, I believe I could weep; but I can’t—it is not fine to + weep!’ + </p> + <p> + One day two street-urchins were playing and wading in the gutter, picking + up old nails, pennies, and such things. It was rather dirty work, but it + was a great delight to them. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh, oh!’ cried out one, as he pricked himself with the Darning-needle; + ‘he is a fine fellow though!’ + </p> + <p> + ‘I am not a fellow; I am a young lady!’ said the Darning-needle; but no + one heard. The sealing-wax had gone, and she had become quite black; but + black makes one look very slim, and so she thought she was even finer than + before. + </p> + <p> + ‘Here comes an egg-shell sailing along!’ said the boys, and they stuck the + Darning-needle into the egg-shell. + </p> + <p> + ‘The walls white and I black—what a pretty contrast it makes!’ said + the Darning-needle. ‘Now I can be seen to advantage! If only I am not + sea-sick! I should give myself up for lost!’ + </p> + <p> + But she was not sea-sick, and did not give herself up. + </p> + <p> + ‘It is a good thing to be steeled against sea-sickness; here one has + indeed an advantage over man! Now my qualms are over. The finer one is the + more one can beat.’ + </p> + <p> + ‘Crack!’ said the egg-shell as a wagon-wheel went over it. + </p> + <p> + ‘Oh! how it presses!’ said the Darning-needle. ‘I shall indeed be sea-sick + now. I am breaking!’ But she did not break, although the wagon-wheel went + over her; she lay there at full length, and there she may lie. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Yellow Fairy Book, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 640-h.htm or 640-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/4/640/ + +Produced by David Widger, and Charles Keller for Tina + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Yellow Fairy Book + +Author: Various + +Editor: Andrew Lang + +Release Date: August, 1996 [Etext #640] +Posting Date: November 30, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Keller for Tina + + + + + +THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK + +By Various + +Edited By Andrew Lang + + + +Dedication + +TO + +JOAN, TODDLES, AND TINY + + Books Yellow, Red, and Green and Blue, + All true, or just as good as true, + And here's the Yellow Book for YOU! + + Hard is the path from A to Z, + And puzzling to a curly head, + Yet leads to Books--Green, Blue, and Red. + + For every child should understand + That letters from the first were planned + To guide us into Fairy Land + + So labour at your Alphabet, + For by that learning shall you get + To lands where Fairies may be met. + + And going where this pathway goes, + You too, at last, may find, who knows? + The Garden of the Singing Rose. + + + + +PREFACE + +The Editor thinks that children will readily forgive him for publishing +another Fairy Book. We have had the Blue, the Red, the Green, and here +is the Yellow. If children are pleased, and they are so kind as to say +that they are pleased, the Editor does not care very much for what other +people may say. Now, there is one gentleman who seems to think that it +is not quite right to print so many fairy tales, with pictures, and to +publish them in red and blue covers. He is named Mr. G. Laurence Gomme, +and he is president of a learned body called the Folk Lore Society. Once +a year he makes his address to his subjects, of whom the Editor is one, +and Mr. Joseph Jacobs (who has published many delightful fairy tales +with pretty pictures)(1) is another. Fancy, then, the dismay of Mr. +Jacobs, and of the Editor, when they heard their president say that he +did not think it very nice in them to publish fairy books, above all, +red, green, and blue fairy books! They said that they did not see any +harm in it, and they were ready to 'put themselves on their country,' +and be tried by a jury of children. And, indeed, they still see no harm +in what they have done; nay, like Father William in the poem, they are +ready 'to do it again and again.' + + +(1) You may buy them from Mr. Nutt, in the Strand. + + +Where is the harm? The truth is that the Folk Lore Society--made up of +the most clever, learned, and beautiful men and women of the country--is +fond of studying the history and geography of Fairy Land. This is +contained in very old tales, such as country people tell, and savages: + + 'Little Sioux and little Crow, + Little frosty Eskimo.' + + +These people are thought to know most about fairyland and its +inhabitants. But, in the Yellow Fairy Book, and the rest, are many tales +by persons who are neither savages nor rustics, such as Madame D'Aulnoy +and Herr Hans Christian Andersen. The Folk Lore Society, or its +president, say that THEIR tales are not so true as the rest, and should +not be published with the rest. But WE say that all the stories which +are pleasant to read are quite true enough for us; so here they are, +with pictures by Mr. Ford, and we do not think that either the pictures +or the stories are likely to mislead children. + +As to whether there are really any fairies or not, that is a difficult +question. Professor Huxley thinks there are none. The Editor never saw +any himself, but he knows several people who have seen them--in the +Highlands--and heard their music. If ever you are in Nether Lochaber, +go to the Fairy Hill, and you may hear the music yourself, as grown-up +people have done, but you must goon a fine day. Again, if there are +really no fairies, why do people believe in them, all over the world? The +ancient Greeks believed, so did the old Egyptians, and the Hindoos, and +the Red Indians, and is it likely, if there are no fairies, that so +many different peoples would have seen and heard them? The Rev. Mr. +Baring-Gould saw several fairies when he was a boy, and was travelling +in the land of the Troubadours. For these reasons, the Editor thinks +that there are certainly fairies, but they never do anyone any +harm; and, in England, they have been frightened away by smoke and +schoolmasters. As to Giants, they have died out, but real Dwarfs are +common in the forests of Africa. Probably a good many stories not +perfectly true have been told about fairies, but such stories have also +been told about Napoleon, Claverhouse, Julius Caesar, and Joan of Arc, +all of whom certainly existed. A wise child will, therefore, remember +that, if he grows up and becomes a member of the Folk Lore Society, ALL +the tales in this book were not offered to him as absolutely truthful, +but were printed merely for his entertainment. The exact facts he can +learn later, or he can leave them alone. + + +There are Russian, German, French, Icelandic, Red Indian, and other +stories here. They were translated by Miss Cheape, Miss Alma, and Miss +Thyra Alleyne, Miss Sellar, Mr. Craigie (he did the Icelandic tales), +Miss Blackley, Mrs. Dent, and Mrs. Lang, but the Red Indian stories +are copied from English versions published by the Smithsonian Bureau of +Ethnology, in America. Mr. Ford did the pictures, and it is hoped that +children will find the book not less pleasing than those which have +already been submitted to their consideration. The Editor cannot say +'good-bye' without advising them, as they pursue their studies, to read +The Rose and the Ring, by the late Mr. Thackeray, with pictures by +the author. This book he thinks quite indispensable in every child's +library, and parents should be urged to purchase it at the first +opportunity, as without it no education is complete. + + A. LANG. + + +CONTENTS + + The Cat and the Mouse in Partnership + The Six Swans + The Dragon of the North + Story of the Emperor's New Clothes + The Golden Crab + The Iron Stove + The Dragon and his Grandmother + The Donkey Cabbage + The Little Green Frog + The Seven-headed Serpent + The Grateful Beasts + The Giants and the Herd-boy + The Invisible Prince + The Crow + How Six Men travelled through the Wide World + The Wizard King + The Nixy + The Glass Mountain + Alphege, or the Green Monkey + Fairer-than-a-Fairy + The Three Brothers + The Boy and the Wolves, or the Broken Promise + The Glass Axe + The Dead Wife + In the Land of Souls + The White Duck + The Witch and her Servants + The Magic Ring + The Flower Queen's Daughter + The Flying Ship + The Snow-daughter and the Fire-son + The Story of King Frost + The Death of the Sun-hero + The Witch + The Hazel-nut Child + The Story of Big Klaus and Little Klaus + Prince Ring + The Swineherd + How to tell a True Princess + The Blue Mountains + The Tinder-box + The Witch in the Stone Boat + Thumbelina + The Nightingale + Hermod and Hadvor + The Steadfast Tin-soldier + Blockhead Hans + A Story about a Darning-needle + + + + + +THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK + + + + +THE CAT AND THE MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP + +A cat had made acquaintance with a mouse, and had spoken so much of +the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at last the Mouse +consented to live in the same house with her, and to go shares in the +housekeeping. 'But we must provide for the winter or else we shall +suffer hunger,' said the Cat. 'You, little Mouse, cannot venture +everywhere in case you run at last into a trap.' This good counsel was +followed, and a little pot of fat was bought. But they did not know +where to put it. At length, after long consultation, the Cat said, 'I +know of no place where it could be better put than in the church. No one +will trouble to take it away from there. We will hide it in a corner, +and we won't touch it till we are in want.' So the little pot was placed +in safety; but it was not long before the Cat had a great longing for +it, and said to the Mouse, 'I wanted to tell you, little Mouse, that my +cousin has a little son, white with brown spots, and she wants me to be +godmother to it. Let me go out to-day, and do you take care of the house +alone.' + +'Yes, go certainly,' replied the Mouse, 'and when you eat anything +good, think of me; I should very much like a drop of the red christening +wine.' + +But it was all untrue. The Cat had no cousin, and had not been asked to +be godmother. She went straight to the church, slunk to the little pot +of fat, began to lick it, and licked the top off. Then she took a walk +on the roofs of the town, looked at the view, stretched herself out in +the sun, and licked her lips whenever she thought of the little pot of +fat. As soon as it was evening she went home again. + +'Ah, here you are again!' said the Mouse; 'you must certainly have had +an enjoyable day.' + +'It went off very well,' answered the Cat. + +'What was the child's name?' asked the Mouse. + +'Top Off,' said the Cat drily. + +'Topoff!' echoed the Mouse, 'it is indeed a wonderful and curious name. +Is it in your family?' + +'What is there odd about it?' said the Cat. 'It is not worse than +Breadthief, as your godchild is called.' + +Not long after this another great longing came over the Cat. She said to +the Mouse, 'You must again be kind enough to look after the house alone, +for I have been asked a second time to stand godmother, and as this +child has a white ring round its neck, I cannot refuse.' + +The kind Mouse agreed, but the Cat slunk under the town wall to the +church, and ate up half of the pot of fat. 'Nothing tastes better,' said +she, 'than what one eats by oneself,' and she was very much pleased with +her day's work. When she came home the Mouse asked, 'What was this child +called?' + +'Half Gone,' answered the Cat. + +'Halfgone! what a name! I have never heard it in my life. I don't +believe it is in the calendar.' + +Soon the Cat's mouth began to water once more after her licking +business. 'All good things in threes,' she said to the Mouse; 'I have +again to stand godmother. The child is quite black, and has very white +paws, but not a single white hair on its body. This only happens once in +two years, so you will let me go out?' + +'Topoff! Halfgone!' repeated the Mouse, 'they are such curious names; +they make me very thoughtful.' + +'Oh, you sit at home in your dark grey coat and your long tail,' said +the Cat, 'and you get fanciful. That comes of not going out in the day.' + +The Mouse had a good cleaning out while the Cat was gone, and made the +house tidy; but the greedy Cat ate the fat every bit up. + +'When it is all gone one can be at rest,' she said to herself, and at +night she came home sleek and satisfied. The Mouse asked at once after +the third child's name. + +'It won't please you any better,' said the Cat, 'he was called Clean +Gone.' + +'Cleangone!' repeated the Mouse. 'I do not believe that name has been +printed any more than the others. Cleangone! What can it mean?' She +shook her head, curled herself up, and went to sleep. + +From this time on no one asked the Cat to stand godmother; but when +the winter came and there was nothing to be got outside, the Mouse +remembered their provision and said, 'Come, Cat, we will go to our pot +of fat which we have stored away; it will taste very good.' + +'Yes, indeed,' answered the Cat; 'it will taste as good to you as if +you stretched your thin tongue out of the window.' + +They started off, and when they reached it they found the pot in its +place, but quite empty! + +'Ah,' said the Mouse,' 'now I know what has happened! It has all come +out! You are a true friend to me! You have eaten it all when you stood +godmother; first the top off, then half of it gone, then----' + +'Will you be quiet!' screamed the Cat. 'Another word and I will eat you +up.' + +'Clean-gone' was already on the poor Mouse's tongue, and scarcely was it +out than the Cat made a spring at her, seized and swallowed her. + +You see that is the way of the world. + + + + +THE SIX SWANS + +A king was once hunting in a great wood, and he hunted the game so +eagerly that none of his courtiers could follow him. When evening came +on he stood still and looked round him, and he saw that he had quite +lost himself. He sought a way out, but could find none. Then he saw an +old woman with a shaking head coming towards him; but she was a witch. + +'Good woman,' he said to her, 'can you not show me the way out of the +wood?' + +'Oh, certainly, Sir King,' she replied, 'I can quite well do that, but +on one condition, which if you do not fulfil you will never get out of +the wood, and will die of hunger.' + +'What is the condition?' asked the King. + +'I have a daughter,' said the old woman, 'who is so beautiful that she +has not her equal in the world, and is well fitted to be your wife; if +you will make her lady-queen I will show you the way out of the wood.' + +The King in his anguish of mind consented, and the old woman led him +to her little house where her daughter was sitting by the fire. She +received the King as if she were expecting him, and he saw that she was +certainly very beautiful; but she did not please him, and he could not +look at her without a secret feeling of horror. As soon as he had lifted +the maiden on to his horse the old woman showed him the way, and the +King reached his palace, where the wedding was celebrated. + +The King had already been married once, and had by his first wife seven +children, six boys and one girl, whom he loved more than anything in the +world. And now, because he was afraid that their stepmother might not +treat them well and might do them harm, he put them in a lonely castle +that stood in the middle of a wood. It lay so hidden, and the way to it +was so hard to find, that he himself could not have found it out had +not a wise-woman given him a reel of thread which possessed a marvellous +property: when he threw it before him it unwound itself and showed him +the way. But the King went so often to his dear children that the Queen +was offended at his absence. She grew curious, and wanted to know what +he had to do quite alone in the wood. She gave his servants a great deal +of money, and they betrayed the secret to her, and also told her of the +reel which alone could point out the way. She had no rest now till she +had found out where the King guarded the reel, and then she made some +little white shirts, and, as she had learnt from her witch-mother, sewed +an enchantment in each of them. + +And when the King had ridden off she took the little shirts and went +into the wood, and the reel showed her the way. The children, who saw +someone coming in the distance, thought it was their dear father coming +to them, and sprang to meet him very joyfully. Then she threw over each +one a little shirt, which when it had touched their bodies changed them +into swans, and they flew away over the forest. The Queen went home +quite satisfied, and thought she had got rid of her step-children; but +the girl had not run to meet her with her brothers, and she knew nothing +of her. + +The next day the King came to visit his children, but he found no one +but the girl. + +'Where are your brothers?' asked the King. + +'Alas! dear father,' she answered, 'they have gone away and left me all +alone.' And she told him that looking out of her little window she had +seen her brothers flying over the wood in the shape of swans, and she +showed him the feathers which they had let fall in the yard, and which +she had collected. The King mourned, but he did not think that the Queen +had done the wicked deed, and as he was afraid the maiden would also be +taken from him, he wanted to take her with him. But she was afraid of +the stepmother, and begged the King to let her stay just one night +more in the castle in the wood. The poor maiden thought, 'My home is no +longer here; I will go and seek my brothers.' And when night came she +fled away into the forest. She ran all through the night and the next +day, till she could go no farther for weariness. Then she saw a little +hut, went in, and found a room with six little beds. She was afraid to +lie down on one, so she crept under one of them, lay on the hard floor, +and was going to spend the night there. But when the sun had set she +heard a noise, and saw six swans flying in at the window. They stood on +the floor and blew at one another, and blew all their feathers off, and +their swan-skin came off like a shirt. Then the maiden recognised her +brothers, and overjoyed she crept out from under the bed. Her brothers +were not less delighted than she to see their little sister again, but +their joy did not last long. + +'You cannot stay here,' they said to her. 'This is a den of robbers; if +they were to come here and find you they would kill you.' + +'Could you not protect me?' asked the little sister. + +'No,' they answered, 'for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a +quarter of an hour every evening. For this time we regain our human +forms, but then we are changed into swans again.' + +Then the little sister cried and said, 'Can you not be freed?' + +'Oh, no,' they said, 'the conditions are too hard. You must not speak or +laugh for six years, and must make in that time six shirts for us out of +star-flowers. If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour +is vain.' And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour +came to an end, and they flew away out of the window as swans. + +But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should +cost her her life. She left the hut, went into the forest, climbed +a tree, and spent the night there. The next morning she went out, +collected star-flowers, and began to sew. She could speak to no one, and +she had no wish to laugh, so she sat there, looking only at her work. + +When she had lived there some time, it happened that the King of the +country was hunting in the forest, and his hunters came to the tree on +which the maiden sat. They called to her and said 'Who are you?' + +But she gave no answer. + +'Come down to us,' they said, 'we will do you no harm.' + +But she shook her head silently. As they pressed her further with +questions, she threw them the golden chain from her neck. But they did +not leave off, and she threw them her girdle, and when this was no use, +her garters, and then her dress. The huntsmen would not leave her alone, +but climbed the tree, lifted the maiden down, and led her to the King. +The King asked, 'Who are you? What are you doing up that tree?' + +But she answered nothing. + +He asked her in all the languages he knew, but she remained as dumb as +a fish. Because she was so beautiful, however, the King's heart was +touched, and he was seized with a great love for her. He wrapped her up +in his cloak, placed her before him on his horse, and brought her to his +castle. There he had her dressed in rich clothes, and her beauty shone +out as bright as day, but not a word could be drawn from her. He set her +at table by his side, and her modest ways and behaviour pleased him +so much that he said, 'I will marry this maiden and none other in the +world,' and after some days he married her. But the King had a wicked +mother who was displeased with the marriage, and said wicked things of +the young Queen. 'Who knows who this girl is?' she said; 'she cannot +speak, and is not worthy of a king.' + +After a year, when the Queen had her first child, the old mother took +it away from her. Then she went to the King and said that the Queen had +killed it. The King would not believe it, and would not allow any harm +to be done her. But she sat quietly sewing at the shirts and troubling +herself about nothing. The next time she had a child the wicked mother +did the same thing, but the King could not make up his mind to believe +her. He said, 'She is too sweet and good to do such a thing as that. +If she were not dumb and could defend herself, her innocence would be +proved.' But when the third child was taken away, and the Queen was +again accused, and could not utter a word in her own defence, the King +was obliged to give her over to the law, which decreed that she must +be burnt to death. When the day came on which the sentence was to be +executed, it was the last day of the six years in which she must not +speak or laugh, and now she had freed her dear brothers from the power +of the enchantment. The six shirts were done; there was only the left +sleeve wanting to the last. + +When she was led to the stake, she laid the shirts on her arm, and as +she stood on the pile and the fire was about to be lighted, she looked +around her and saw six swans flying through the air. Then she knew +that her release was at hand and her heart danced for joy. The swans +fluttered round her, and hovered low so that she could throw the shirts +over them. When they had touched them the swan-skins fell off, and her +brothers stood before her living, well and beautiful. Only the youngest +had a swan's wing instead of his left arm. They embraced and kissed +each other, and the Queen went to the King, who was standing by in great +astonishment, and began to speak to him, saying, 'Dearest husband, now +I can speak and tell you openly that I am innocent and have been falsely +accused.' + +She told him of the old woman's deceit, and how she had taken the three +children away and hidden them. Then they were fetched, to the great joy +of the King, and the wicked mother came to no good end. + +But the King and the Queen with their six brothers lived many years in +happiness and peace. + + + + +THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH(2) + +(2) 'Der Norlands Drache,' from Esthnische Mahrchen. Kreutzwald. + +Very long ago, as old people have told me, there lived a terrible +monster, who came out of the North, and laid waste whole tracts +of country, devouring both men and beasts; and this monster was so +destructive that it was feared that unless help came no living creature +would be left on the face of the earth. It had a body like an ox, and +legs like a frog, two short fore-legs, and two long ones behind, and +besides that it had a tail like a serpent, ten fathoms in length. When +it moved it jumped like a frog, and with every spring it covered half a +mile of ground. Fortunately its habit, was to remain for several years +in the same place, and not to move on till the whole neighbourhood was +eaten up. Nothing could hunt it, because its whole body was covered with +scales, which were harder than stone or metal; its two great eyes shone +by night, and even by day, like the brightest lamps, and anyone who had +the ill luck to look into those eyes became as it were bewitched, and +was obliged to rush of his own accord into the monster's jaws. In this +way the Dragon was able to feed upon both men and beasts without the +least trouble to itself, as it needed not to move from the spot where it +was lying. All the neighbouring kings had offered rich rewards to +anyone who should be able to destroy the monster, either by force +or enchantment, and many had tried their luck, but all had miserably +failed. Once a great forest in which the Dragon lay had been set on +fire; the forest was burnt down, but the fire did not do the monster the +least harm. However, there was a tradition amongst the wise men of the +country that the Dragon might be overcome by one who possessed King +Solomon's signet-ring, upon which a secret writing was engraved. This +inscription would enable anyone who was wise enough to interpret it to +find out how the Dragon could be destroyed. Only no one knew where the +ring was hidden, nor was there any sorcerer or learned man to be found +who would be able to explain the inscription. + +At last a young man, with a good heart and plenty of courage, set out to +search for the ring. He took his way towards the sunrising, because he +knew that all the wisdom of old time comes from the East. After some +years he met with a famous Eastern magician, and asked for his advice in +the matter. The magician answered: + +'Mortal men have but little wisdom, and can give you no help, but the +birds of the air would be better guides to you if you could learn their +language. I can help you to understand it if you will stay with me a few +days.' + +The youth thankfully accepted the magician's offer, and said, 'I cannot +now offer you any reward for your kindness, but should my undertaking +succeed your trouble shall be richly repaid.' + +Then the magician brewed a powerful potion out of nine sorts of herbs +which he had gathered himself all alone by moonlight, and he gave the +youth nine spoonfuls of it daily for three days, which made him able to +understand the language of birds. + +At parting the magician said to him. 'If you ever find Solomon's ring +and get possession of it, then come back to me, that I may explain the +inscription on the ring to you, for there is no one else in the world +who can do this.' + +From that time the youth never felt lonely as he walked along; he always +had company, because he understood the language of birds; and in this +way he learned many things which mere human knowledge could never have +taught him. But time went on, and he heard nothing about the ring. It +happened one evening, when he was hot and tired with walking, and had +sat down under a tree in a forest to eat his supper, that he saw two +gaily-plumaged birds, that were strange to him, sitting at the top of +the tree talking to one another about him. The first bird said: + +'I know that wandering fool under the tree there, who has come so far +without finding what he seeks. He is trying to find King Solomon's lost +ring.' + +The other bird answered, 'He will have to seek help from the +Witch-maiden,(3) who will doubtless be able to put him on the right +track. If she has not got the ring herself, she knows well enough who +has it.' + +(3) Hollenmadchen. + + +'But where is he to find the Witch-maiden?' said the first bird. 'She +has no settled dwelling, but is here to-day and gone to-morrow. He might +as well try to catch the wind.' + +The other replied, 'I do not know, certainly, where she is at present, +but in three nights from now she will come to the spring to wash her +face, as she does every month when the moon is full, in order that +she may never grow old nor wrinkled, but may always keep the bloom of +youth.' + +'Well,' said the first bird, 'the spring is not far from here. Shall we +go and see how it is she does it?' + +'Willingly, if you like,' said the other. + +The youth immediately resolved to follow the birds to the spring, only +two things made him uneasy: first, lest he might be asleep when the +birds went, and secondly, lest he might lose sight of them, since he had +not wings to carry him along so swiftly. He was too tired to keep awake +all night, yet his anxiety prevented him from sleeping soundly, and when +with the earliest dawn he looked up to the tree-top, he was glad to +see his feathered companions still asleep with their heads under their +wings. He ate his breakfast, and waited until the birds should start, +but they did not leave the place all day. They hopped about from one +tree to another looking for food, all day long until the evening, when +they went back to their old perch to sleep. The next day the same thing +happened, but on the third morning one bird said to the other, 'To-day +we must go to the spring to see the Witch-maiden wash her face.' They +remained on the tree till noon; then they flew away and went towards the +south. The young man's heart beat with anxiety lest he should lose sight +of his guides, but he managed to keep the birds in view until they again +perched upon a tree. The young man ran after them until he was quite +exhausted and out of breath, and after three short rests the birds at +length reached a small open space in the forest, on the edge of which +they placed themselves on the top of a high tree. When the youth had +overtaken them, he saw that there was a clear spring in the middle of +the space. He sat down at the foot of the tree upon which the birds +were perched, and listened attentively to what they were saying to each +other. + +'The sun is not down yet,' said the first bird; 'we must wait yet awhile +till the moon rises and the maiden comes to the spring. Do you think she +will see that young man sitting under the tree?' + +'Nothing is likely to escape her eyes, certainly not a young man, said +the other bird. 'Will the youth have the sense not to let himself be +caught in her toils?' + +'We will wait,' said the first bird, 'and see how they get on together.' + +The evening light had quite faded, and the full moon was already shining +down upon the forest, when the young man heard a slight rustling sound. +After a few moments there came out of the forest a maiden, gliding over +the grass so lightly that her feet seemed scarcely to touch the ground, +and stood beside the spring. The youth could not turn away his eyes +from the maiden, for he had never in his life seen a woman so beautiful. +Without seeming to notice anything, she went to the spring, looked up +to the full moon, then knelt down and bathed her face nine times, then +looked up to the moon again and walked nine times round the well, and as +she walked she sang this song: + + 'Full-faced moon with light unshaded, + Let my beauty ne'er be faded. + Never let my cheek grow pale! + While the moon is waning nightly, + May the maiden bloom more brightly, + May her freshness never fail!' + +Then she dried her face with her long hair, and was about to go away, +when her eye suddenly fell upon the spot where the young man was +sitting, and she turned towards the tree. The youth rose and stood +waiting. Then the maiden said, 'You ought to have a heavy punishment +because you have presumed to watch my secret doings in the moonlight. +But I will forgive you this time, because you are a stranger and knew no +better. But you must tell me truly who you are and how you came to this +place, where no mortal has ever set foot before.' + +The youth answered humbly: 'Forgive me, beautiful maiden, if I have +unintentionally offended you. I chanced to come here after long +wandering, and found a good place to sleep under this tree. At your +coming I did not know what to do, but stayed where I was, because I +thought my silent watching could not offend you.' + +The maiden answered kindly, 'Come and spend this night with us. You will +sleep better on a pillow than on damp moss.' + +The youth hesitated for a little, but presently he heard the birds +saying from the top of the tree, 'Go where she calls you, but take care +to give no blood, or you will sell your soul.' So the youth went with +her, and soon they reached a beautiful garden, where stood a splendid +house, which glittered in the moonlight as if it was all built out of +gold and silver. When the youth entered he found many splendid chambers, +each one finer than the last. Hundreds of tapers burnt upon golden +candlesticks, and shed a light like the brightest day. At length they +reached a chamber where a table was spread with the most costly dishes. +At the table were placed two chairs, one of silver, the other of gold. +The maiden seated herself upon the golden chair, and offered the silver +one to her companion. They were served by maidens dressed in white, +whose feet made no sound as they moved about, and not a word was spoken +during the meal. Afterwards the youth and the Witch-maiden conversed +pleasantly together, until a woman, dressed in red, came in to remind +them that it was bedtime. The youth was now shown into another room, +containing a silken bed with down cushions, where he slept delightfully, +yet he seemed to hear a voice near his bed which repeated to him, +'Remember to give no blood!' + +The next morning the maiden asked him whether he would not like to +stay with her always in this beautiful place, and as he did not answer +immediately, she continued: 'You see how I always remain young and +beautiful, and I am under no one's orders, but can do just what I like, +so that I have never thought of marrying before. But from the moment I +saw you I took a fancy to you, so if you agree, we might be married and +might live together like princes, because I have great riches.' + +The youth could not but be tempted with the beautiful maiden's offer, +but he remembered how the birds had called her the witch, and their +warning always sounded in his ears. Therefore he answered cautiously, +'Do not be angry, dear maiden, if I do not decide immediately on this +important matter. Give me a few days to consider before we come to an +understanding.' + +'Why not?' answered the maiden. 'Take some weeks to consider if you +like, and take counsel with your own heart.' And to make the time +pass pleasantly, she took the youth over every part of her beautiful +dwelling, and showed him all her splendid treasures. But these treasures +were all produced by enchantment, for the maiden could make anything she +wished appear by the help of King Solomon's signet ring; only none of +these things remained fixed; they passed away like the wind without +leaving a trace behind. But the youth did not know this; he thought they +were all real. + +One day the maiden took him into a secret chamber, where a little gold +box was standing on a silver table. Pointing to the box, she said, 'Here +is my greatest treasure, whose like is not to be found in the whole +world. It is a precious gold ring. When you marry me, I will give you +this ring as a marriage gift, and it will make you the happiest of +mortal men. But in order that our love may last for ever, you must give +me for the ring three drops of blood from the little finger of your left +hand.' + +When the youth heard these words a cold shudder ran over him, for he +remembered that his soul was at stake. He was cunning enough, however, +to conceal his feelings and to make no direct answer, but he only asked +the maiden, as if carelessly, what was remarkable about the ring? + +She answered, 'No mortal is able entirely to understand the power +of this ring, because no one thoroughly understands the secret signs +engraved upon it. But even with my half-knowledge I can work great +wonders. If I put the ring upon the little finger of my left hand, then +I can fly like a bird through the air wherever I wish to go. If I put +it on the third finger of my left hand I am invisible, and I can see +everything that passes around me, though no one can see me. If I put the +ring upon the middle finger of my left hand, then neither fire nor water +nor any sharp weapon can hurt me. If I put it on the forefinger of my +left hand, then I can with its help produce whatever I wish. I can in a +single moment build houses or anything I desire. Finally, as long as I +wear the ring on the thumb of my left hand, that hand is so strong that +it can break down rocks and walls. Besides these, the ring has other +secret signs which, as I said, no one can understand. No doubt it +contains secrets of great importance. The ring formerly belonged to King +Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived. +But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it +is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.' + +When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of +the ring, though he did not quite believe in all its wonderful gifts. +He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not +quite like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into +the box. A few days after they were again speaking of the magic ring, +and the youth said, 'I do not think it possible that the ring can have +all the power you say it has.' + +Then the maiden opened the box and took the ring out, and it glittered +as she held it like the clearest sunbeam. She put it on the middle +finger of her left hand, and told the youth to take a knife and try as +hard as he could to cut her with it, for he would not be able to hurt +her. He was unwilling at first, but the maiden insisted. Then he tried, +at first only in play, and then seriously, to strike her with the knife, +but an invisible wall of iron seemed to be between them, and the maiden +stood before him laughing and unhurt. Then she put the ring on her third +finger, and in an instant she had vanished from his eyes. Presently she +was beside him again laughing, and holding the ring between her fingers. + +'Do let me try,' said the youth, 'whether I can do these wonderful +things.' + +The maiden, suspecting no treachery, gave him the magic ring. + +The youth pretended to have forgotten what to do, and asked what finger +he must put the ring on so that no sharp weapon could hurt him?' + +'Oh, the middle finger of your left hand,' the maiden answered, +laughing. + +She took the knife and tried to strike the youth, and he even tried to +cut himself with it, but found it impossible. Then he asked the maiden +to show him how to split stones and rocks with the help of the ring. So +she led him into a courtyard where stood a great boulder-stone. 'Now,' +she said, 'put the ring upon the thumb of your left hand, and you will +see how strong that hand has become. The youth did so, and found to his +astonishment that with a single blow of his fist the stone flew into a +thousand pieces. Then the youth bethought him that he who does not use +his luck when he has it is a fool, and that this was a chance which once +lost might never return. So while they stood laughing at the shattered +stone he placed the ring, as if in play, upon the third finger of his +left hand. + +'Now,' said the maiden, 'you are invisible to me until you take the ring +off again.' + +But the youth had no mind to do that; on the contrary, he went farther +off, then put the ring on the little finger of his left hand, and soared +into the air like a bird. + +When the maiden saw him flying away she thought at first that he was +still in play, and cried, 'Come back, friend, for now you see I have +told you the truth.' But the young man never came back. + +Then the maiden saw she was deceived, and bitterly repented that she had +ever trusted him with the ring. + +The young man never halted in his flight until he reached the dwelling +of the wise magician who had taught him the speech of birds. The +magician was delighted to find that his search had been successful, +and at once set to work to interpret the secret signs engraved upon the +ring, but it took him seven weeks to make them out clearly. Then he gave +the youth the following instructions how to overcome the Dragon of the +North: 'You must have an iron horse cast, which must have little wheels +under each foot. You must also be armed with a spear two fathoms long, +which you will be able to wield by means of the magic ring upon your +left thumb. The spear must be as thick in the middle as a large tree, +and both its ends must be sharp. In the middle of the spear you must +have two strong chains ten fathoms in length. As soon as the Dragon has +made himself fast to the spear, which you must thrust through his jaws, +you must spring quickly from the iron horse and fasten the ends of the +chains firmly to the ground with iron stakes, so that he cannot get away +from them. After two or three days the monster's strength will be so +far exhausted that you will be able to come near him. Then you can put +Solomon's ring upon your left thumb and give him the finishing stroke, +but keep the ring on your third finger until you have come close to him, +so that the monster cannot see you, else he might strike you dead with +his long tail. But when all is done, take care you do not lose the ring, +and that no one takes it from you by cunning.' + +The young man thanked the magician for his directions, and promised, +should they succeed, to reward him. But the magician answered, 'I have +profited so much by the wisdom the ring has taught me that I desire no +other reward.' Then they parted, and the youth quickly flew home through +the air. After remaining in his own home for some weeks, he heard people +say that the terrible Dragon of the North was not far off, and might +shortly be expected in the country. The King announced publicly that +he would give his daughter in marriage, as well as a large part of his +kingdom, to whosoever should free the country from the monster. The +youth then went to the King and told him that he had good hopes of +subduing the Dragon, if the King would grant him all he desired for the +purpose. The King willingly agreed, and the iron horse, the great spear, +and the chains were all prepared as the youth requested. When all was +ready, it was found that the iron horse was so heavy that a hundred men +could not move it from the spot, so the youth found there was nothing +for it but to move it with his own strength by means of the magic ring. +The Dragon was now so near that in a couple of springs he would be over +the frontier. The youth now began to consider how he should act, for if +he had to push the iron horse from behind he could not ride upon it as +the sorcerer had said he must. But a raven unexpectedly gave him this +advice: 'Ride upon the horse, and push the spear against the ground, +as if you were pushing off a boat from the land.' The youth did so, and +found that in this way he could easily move forwards. The Dragon had his +monstrous jaws wide open, all ready for his expected prey. A few paces +nearer, and man and horse would have been swallowed up by them! The +youth trembled with horror, and his blood ran cold, yet he did not lose +his courage; but, holding the iron spear upright in his hand, he brought +it down with all his might right through the monster's lower jaw. Then +quick as lightning he sprang from his horse before the Dragon had time +to shut his mouth. A fearful clap like thunder, which could be heard for +miles around, now warned him that the Dragon's jaws had closed upon +the spear. When the youth turned round he saw the point of the spear +sticking up high above the Dragon's upper jaw, and knew that the other +end must be fastened firmly to the ground; but the Dragon had got his +teeth fixed in the iron horse, which was now useless. The youth now +hastened to fasten down the chains to the ground by means of the +enormous iron pegs which he had provided. The death struggle of the +monster lasted three days and three nights; in his writhing he beat his +tail so violently against the ground, that at ten miles' distance the +earth trembled as if with an earthquake. When he at length lost power to +move his tail, the youth with the help of the ring took up a stone which +twenty ordinary men could not have moved, and beat the Dragon so hard +about the head with it that very soon the monster lay lifeless before +him. + +You can fancy how great was the rejoicing when the news was spread +abroad that the terrible monster was dead. His conqueror was received +into the city with as much pomp as if he had been the mightiest of +kings. The old King did not need to urge his daughter to marry the +slayer of the Dragon; he found her already willing to bestow her hand +upon this hero, who had done all alone what whole armies had tried in +vain to do. In a few days a magnificent wedding was celebrated, at which +the rejoicings lasted four whole weeks, for all the neighbouring kings +had met together to thank the man who had freed the world from their +common enemy. But everyone forgot amid the general joy that they ought +to have buried the Dragon's monstrous body, for it began now to have +such a bad smell that no one could live in the neighbourhood, and +before long the whole air was poisoned, and a pestilence broke out +which destroyed many hundreds of people. In this distress, the King's +son-in-law resolved to seek help once more from the Eastern magician, to +whom he at once travelled through the air like a bird by the help of +the ring. But there is a proverb which says that ill-gotten gains never +prosper, and the Prince found that the stolen ring brought him ill-luck +after all. The Witch-maiden had never rested night nor day until she had +found out where the ring was. As soon as she had discovered by means of +magical arts that the Prince in the form of a bird was on his way to the +Eastern magician, she changed herself into an eagle and watched in the +air until the bird she was waiting for came in sight, for she knew him +at once by the ring which was hung round his neck by a ribbon. Then the +eagle pounced upon the bird, and the moment she seized him in her talons +she tore the ring from his neck before the man in bird's shape had time +to prevent her. Then the eagle flew down to the earth with her prey, and +the two stood face to face once more in human form. + +'Now, villain, you are in my power!' cried the Witch-maiden. 'I favoured +you with my love, and you repaid me with treachery and theft. You stole +my most precious jewel from me, and do you expect to live happily as the +King's son-in-law? Now the tables are turned; you are in my power, and I +will be revenged on you for your crimes.' + +'Forgive me! forgive me!' cried the Prince; 'I know too well how deeply +I have wronged you, and most heartily do I repent it.' + +The maiden answered, 'Your prayers and your repentance come too late, +and if I were to spare you everyone would think me a fool. You have +doubly wronged me; first you scorned my love, and then you stole my +ring, and you must bear the punishment.' + +With these words she put the ring upon her left thumb, lifted the young +man with one hand, and walked away with him under her arm. This time +she did not take him to a splendid palace, but to a deep cave in a rock, +where there were chains hanging from the wall. The maiden now chained +the young man's hands and feet so that he could not escape; then she +said in an angry voice, 'Here you shall remain chained up until you die. +I will bring you every day enough food to prevent you dying of hunger, +but you need never hope for freedom any more.' With these words she left +him. + +The old King and his daughter waited anxiously for many weeks for the +Prince's return, but no news of him arrived. The King's daughter often +dreamed that her husband was going through some great suffering: she +therefore begged her father to summon all the enchanters and magicians, +that they might try to find out where the Prince was and how he could +be set free. But the magicians, with all their arts, could find out +nothing, except that he was still living and undergoing great suffering; +but none could tell where he was to be found. At last a celebrated +magician from Finland was brought before the King, who had found out +that the King's son-in-law was imprisoned in the East, not by men, but +by some more powerful being. The King now sent messengers to the East to +look for his son-in-law, and they by good luck met with the old magician +who had interpreted the signs on King Solomon's ring, and thus was +possessed of more wisdom than anyone else in the world. The magician +soon found out what he wished to know, and pointed out the place where +the Prince was imprisoned, but said: 'He is kept there by enchantment, +and cannot be set free without my help. I will therefore go with you +myself.' + +So they all set out, guided by birds, and after some days came to the +cave where the unfortunate Prince had been chained up for nearly seven +years. He recognised the magician immediately, but the old man did not +know him, he had grown so thin. However, he undid the chains by the +help of magic, and took care of the Prince until he recovered and became +strong enough to travel. When he reached home he found that the old King +had died that morning, so that he was now raised to the throne. And now +after his long suffering came prosperity, which lasted to the end of his +life; but he never got back the magic ring, nor has it ever again been +seen by mortal eyes. + +Now, if YOU had been the Prince, would you not rather have stayed with +the pretty witch-maiden? + + + + +STORY OF THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES(4) + +(4) Andersen. + +Many years ago there lived an Emperor who was so fond of new clothes +that he spent all his money on them in order to be beautifully dressed. +He did not care about his soldiers, he did not care about the theatre; +he only liked to go out walking to show off his new clothes. He had a +coat for every hour of the day; and just as they say of a king, 'He is +in the council-chamber,' they always said here, 'The Emperor is in the +wardrobe.' + +In the great city in which he lived there was always something going on; +every day many strangers came there. One day two impostors arrived +who gave themselves out as weavers, and said that they knew how to +manufacture the most beautiful cloth imaginable. Not only were the +texture and pattern uncommonly beautiful, but the clothes which were +made of the stuff possessed this wonderful property that they were +invisible to anyone who was not fit for his office, or who was +unpardonably stupid. + +'Those must indeed be splendid clothes,' thought the Emperor. 'If I +had them on I could find out which men in my kingdom are unfit for the +offices they hold; I could distinguish the wise from the stupid! Yes, +this cloth must be woven for me at once.' And he gave both the impostors +much money, so that they might begin their work. + +They placed two weaving-looms, and began to do as if they were working, +but they had not the least thing on the looms. They also demanded the +finest silk and the best gold, which they put in their pockets, and +worked at the empty looms till late into the night. + +'I should like very much to know how far they have got on with the +cloth,' thought the Emperor. But he remembered when he thought about it +that whoever was stupid or not fit for his office would not be able +to see it. Now he certainly believed that he had nothing to fear for +himself, but he wanted first to send somebody else in order to see how +he stood with regard to his office. Everybody in the whole town knew +what a wonderful power the cloth had, and they were all curious to see +how bad or how stupid their neighbour was. + +'I will send my old and honoured minister to the weavers,' thought +the Emperor. 'He can judge best what the cloth is like, for he has +intellect, and no one understands his office better than he.' + +Now the good old minister went into the hall where the two impostors sat +working at the empty weaving-looms. 'Dear me!' thought the old minister, +opening his eyes wide, 'I can see nothing!' But he did not say so. + +Both the impostors begged him to be so kind as to step closer, and asked +him if it were not a beautiful texture and lovely colours. They pointed +to the empty loom, and the poor old minister went forward rubbing his +eyes; but he could see nothing, for there was nothing there. + +'Dear, dear!' thought he, 'can I be stupid? I have never thought that, +and nobody must know it! Can I be not fit for my office? No, I must +certainly not say that I cannot see the cloth!' + +'Have you nothing to say about it?' asked one of the men who was +weaving. + +'Oh, it is lovely, most lovely!' answered the old minister, looking +through his spectacles. 'What a texture! What colours! Yes, I will tell +the Emperor that it pleases me very much.' + +'Now we are delighted at that,' said both the weavers, and thereupon +they named the colours and explained the make of the texture. + +The old minister paid great attention, so that he could tell the same to +the Emperor when he came back to him, which he did. + +The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in +their weaving. They put it all in their own pockets, and there came no +threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working +at the empty loom. The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to +see how the weaving was getting on, and whether the cloth would soon +be finished. It was the same with him as the first one; he looked and +looked, but because there was nothing on the empty loom he could see +nothing. + +'Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?' asked the two impostors, and +they pointed to and described the splendid material which was not there. + +'Stupid I am not!' thought the man, 'so it must be my good office for +which I am not fitted. It is strange, certainly, but no one must be +allowed to notice it.' And so he praised the cloth which he did not +see, and expressed to them his delight at the beautiful colours and the +splendid texture. 'Yes, it is quite beautiful,' he said to the Emperor. + +Everybody in the town was talking of the magnificent cloth. + +Now the Emperor wanted to see it himself while it was still on the +loom. With a great crowd of select followers, amongst whom were both +the worthy statesmen who had already been there before, he went to +the cunning impostors, who were now weaving with all their might, but +without fibre or thread. + +'Is it not splendid!' said both the old statesmen who had already been +there. 'See, your Majesty, what a texture! What colours!' And then they +pointed to the empty loom, for they believed that the others could see +the cloth quite well. + +'What!' thought the Emperor, 'I can see nothing! This is indeed +horrible! Am I stupid? Am I not fit to be Emperor? That were the most +dreadful thing that could happen to me. Oh, it is very beautiful,' he +said. 'It has my gracious approval.' And then he nodded pleasantly, and +examined the empty loom, for he would not say that he could see nothing. + +His whole Court round him looked and looked, and saw no more than the +others; but they said like the Emperor, 'Oh! it is beautiful!' And they +advised him to wear these new and magnificent clothes for the first time +at the great procession which was soon to take place. 'Splendid! Lovely! +Most beautiful!' went from mouth to mouth; everyone seemed delighted +over them, and the Emperor gave to the impostors the title of Court +weavers to the Emperor. + +Throughout the whole of the night before the morning on which the +procession was to take place, the impostors were up and were working by +the light of over sixteen candles. The people could see that they were +very busy making the Emperor's new clothes ready. They pretended they +were taking the cloth from the loom, cut with huge scissors in the +air, sewed with needles without thread, and then said at last, 'Now the +clothes are finished!' + +The Emperor came himself with his most distinguished knights, and each +impostor held up his arm just as if he were holding something, and said, +'See! here are the breeches! Here is the coat! Here the cloak!' and so +on. + +'Spun clothes are so comfortable that one would imagine one had nothing +on at all; but that is the beauty of it!' + +'Yes,' said all the knights, but they could see nothing, for there was +nothing there. + +'Will it please your Majesty graciously to take off your clothes,' said +the impostors, 'then we will put on the new clothes, here before the +mirror.' + +The Emperor took off all his clothes, and the impostors placed +themselves before him as if they were putting on each part of his new +clothes which was ready, and the Emperor turned and bent himself in +front of the mirror. + +'How beautifully they fit! How well they sit!' said everybody. 'What +material! What colours! It is a gorgeous suit!' + +'They are waiting outside with the canopy which your Majesty is wont +to have borne over you in the procession,' announced the Master of the +Ceremonies. + +'Look, I am ready,' said the Emperor. 'Doesn't it sit well!' And he +turned himself again to the mirror to see if his finery was on all +right. + +The chamberlains who were used to carry the train put their hands near +the floor as if they were lifting up the train; then they did as if they +were holding something in the air. They would not have it noticed that +they could see nothing. + +So the Emperor went along in the procession under the splendid canopy, +and all the people in the streets and at the windows said, 'How +matchless are the Emperor's new clothes! That train fastened to his +dress, how beautifully it hangs!' + +No one wished it to be noticed that he could see nothing, for then he +would have been unfit for his office, or else very stupid. None of the +Emperor's clothes had met with such approval as these had. + +'But he has nothing on!' said a little child at last. + +'Just listen to the innocent child!' said the father, and each one +whispered to his neighbour what the child had said. + +'But he has nothing on!' the whole of the people called out at last. + +This struck the Emperor, for it seemed to him as if they were right; but +he thought to himself, 'I must go on with the procession now. And the +chamberlains walked along still more uprightly, holding up the train +which was not there at all. + + + + +THE GOLDEN CRAB(5) + +(5) 'Prinz Krebs,' from Griechische Mahrchen. Schmidt. + +Once upon a time there was a fisherman who had a wife and three +children. Every morning he used to go out fishing, and whatever fish he +caught he sold to the King. One day, among the other fishes, he caught +a golden crab. When he came home he put all the fishes together into +a great dish, but he kept the Crab separate because it shone so +beautifully, and placed it upon a high shelf in the cupboard. Now while +the old woman, his wife, was cleaning the fish, and had tucked up her +gown so that her feet were visible, she suddenly heard a voice, which +said: + + 'Let down, let down thy petticoat + That lets thy feet be seen.' + +She turned round in surprise, and then she saw the little creature, the +Golden Crab. + +'What! You can speak, can you, you ridiculous crab?' she said, for she +was not quite pleased at the Crab's remarks. Then she took him up and +placed him on a dish. + +When her husband came home and they sat down to dinner, they presently +heard the Crab's little voice saying, 'Give me some too.' They were all +very much surprised, but they gave him something to eat. When the old +man came to take away the plate which had contained the Crab's dinner, +he found it full of gold, and as the same thing happened every day he +soon became very fond of the Crab. + +One day the Crab said to the fisherman's wife, 'Go to the King and tell +him I wish to marry his younger daughter.' + +The old woman went accordingly, and laid the matter before the King, who +laughed a little at the notion of his daughter marrying a crab, but did +not decline the proposal altogether, because he was a prudent monarch, +and knew that the Crab was likely to be a prince in disguise. He said, +therefore, to the fisherman's wife, 'Go, old woman, and tell the Crab I +will give him my daughter if by to-morrow morning he can build a wall in +front of my castle much higher than my tower, upon which all the flowers +of the world must grow and bloom.' + +The fisherman's wife went home and gave this message. + +Then the Crab gave her a golden rod, and said, 'Go and strike with this +rod three times upon the ground on the place which the King showed you, +and to-morrow morning the wall will be there.' + +The old woman did so and went away again. + +The next morning, when the King awoke, what do you think he saw? The +wall stood there before his eyes, exactly as he had bespoken it! + +Then the old woman went back to the King and said to him, 'Your +Majesty's orders have been fulfilled.' + +'That is all very well,' said the King, 'but I cannot give away my +daughter until there stands in front of my palace a garden in which +there are three fountains, of which the first must play gold, the second +diamonds, and the third brilliants.' + +So the old woman had to strike again three times upon the ground with +the rod, and the next morning the garden was there. The King now gave +his consent, and the wedding was fixed for the very next day. + +Then the Crab said to the old fisherman, 'Now take this rod; go and +knock with it on a certain mountain; then a black man(6) will come out +and ask you what you wish for. Answer him thus: ''Your master, the King, +has sent me to tell you that you must send him his golden garment that +is like the sun.'' Make him give you, besides, the queenly robes of gold +and precious stones which are like the flowery meadows, and bring them +both to me. And bring me also the golden cushion.' + +(6) Ein Mohr. + + +The old man went and did his errand. When he had brought the precious +robes, the Crab put on the golden garment and then crept upon the golden +cushion, and in this way the fisherman carried him to the castle, where +the Crab presented the other garment to his bride. Now the ceremony +took place, and when the married pair were alone together the Crab made +himself known to his young wife, and told her how he was the son of the +greatest king in the world, and how he was enchanted, so that he became +a crab by day and was a man only at night; and he could also change +himself into an eagle as often as he wished. No sooner had he said this +than he shook himself, and immediately became a handsome youth, but the +next morning he was forced to creep back again into his crab-shell. And +the same thing happened every day. But the Princess's affection for the +Crab, and the polite attention with which she behaved to him, surprised +the royal family very much. They suspected some secret, but though they +spied and spied, they could not discover it. Thus a year passed away, +and the Princess had a son, whom she called Benjamin. But her mother +still thought the whole matter very strange. At last she said to the +King that he ought to ask his daughter whether she would not like to +have another husband instead of the Crab? But when the daughter was +questioned she only answered: + +'I am married to the Crab, and him only will I have.' + +Then the King said to her, 'I will appoint a tournament in your honour, +and I will invite all the princes in the world to it, and if any one of +them pleases you, you shall marry him.' + +In the evening the Princess told this to the Crab, who said to her, +'Take this rod, go to the garden gate and knock with it, then a black +man will come out and say to you, ''Why have you called me, and what do +you require of me?'' Answer him thus: 'Your master the King has sent me +hither to tell you to send him his golden armour and his steed and the +silver apple.'' And bring them to me.' + +The Princess did so, and brought him what he desired. + +The following evening the Prince dressed himself for the tournament. +Before he went he said to his wife, 'Now mind you do not say when you +see me that I am the Crab. For if you do this evil will come of it. +Place yourself at the window with your sisters; I will ride by and throw +you the silver apple. Take it in your hand, but if they ask you who I +am, say that you do not know.' So saying, he kissed her, repeated his +warning once more, and went away. + +The Princess went with her sisters to the window and looked on at the +tournament. Presently her husband rode by and threw the apple up to her. +She caught it in her hand and went with it to her room, and by-and-by +her husband came back to her. But her father was much surprised that she +did not seem to care about any of the Princes; he therefore appointed a +second tournament. + +The Crab then gave his wife the same directions as before, only this +time the apple which she received from the black man was of gold. But +before the Prince went to the tournament he said to his wife, 'Now I +know you will betray me to-day.' + +But she swore to him that she would not tell who he was. He then +repeated his warning and went away. + +In the evening, while the Princess, with her mother and sisters, was +standing at the window, the Prince suddenly galloped past on his steed +and threw her the golden apple. + +Then her mother flew into a passion, gave her a box on the ear, and +cried out, 'Does not even that prince please you, you fool?' + +The Princess in her fright exclaimed, 'That is the Crab himself!' + +Her mother was still more angry because she had not been told sooner, +ran into her daughter's room where the crab-shell was still lying, took +it up and threw it into the fire. Then the poor Princess cried bitterly, +but it was of no use; her husband did not come back. + +Now we must leave the Princess and turn to the other persons in the +story. One day an old man went to a stream to dip in a crust of bread +which he was going to eat, when a dog came out of the water, snatched +the bread from his hand, and ran away. The old man ran after him, +but the dog reached a door, pushed it open, and ran in, the old man +following him. He did not overtake the dog, but found himself above a +staircase, which he descended. Then he saw before him a stately palace, +and, entering, he found in a large hall a table set for twelve persons. +He hid himself in the hall behind a great picture, that he might see +what would happen. At noon he heard a great noise, so that he trembled +with fear. When he took courage to look out from behind the picture, +he saw twelve eagles flying in. At this sight his fear became still +greater. The eagles flew to the basin of a fountain that was there and +bathed themselves, when suddenly they were changed into twelve handsome +youths. Now they seated themselves at the table, and one of them took +up a goblet filled with wine, and said, 'A health to my father!' And +another said, 'A health to my mother!' and so the healths went round. +Then one of them said: + + 'A health to my dearest lady, + Long may she live and well! + But a curse on the cruel mother + That burnt my golden shell!' + +And so saying he wept bitterly. Then the youths rose from the table, +went back to the great stone fountain, turned themselves into eagles +again, and flew away. + +Then the old man went away too, returned to the light of day, and went +home. Soon after he heard that the Princess was ill, and that the only +thing that did her good was having stories told to her. He therefore +went to the royal castle, obtained an audience of the Princess, and told +her about the strange things he had seen in the underground palace. No +sooner had he finished than the Princess asked him whether he could find +the way to that palace. + +'Yes,' he answered, 'certainly.' + +And now she desired him to guide her thither at once. The old man did +so, and when they came to the palace he hid her behind the great picture +and advised her to keep quite still, and he placed himself behind +the picture also. Presently the eagles came flying in, and changed +themselves into young men, and in a moment the Princess recognised her +husband amongst them all, and tried to come out of her hiding-place; but +the old man held her back. The youths seated themselves at the table; +and now the Prince said again, while he took up the cup of wine: + + 'A health to my dearest lady, + Long may she live and well! + But a curse on the cruel mother + That burnt my golden shell!' + +Then the Princess could restrain herself no longer, but ran forward and +threw her arms round her husband. And immediately he knew her again, and +said: + +'Do you remember how I told you that day that you would betray me? +Now you see that I spoke the truth. But all that bad time is past. Now +listen to me: I must still remain enchanted for three months. Will you +stay here with me till that time is over?' + +So the Princess stayed with him, and said to the old man, 'Go back to +the castle and tell my parents that I am staying here.' + +Her parents were very much vexed when the old man came back and told +them this, but as soon as the three months of the Prince's enchantment +were over, he ceased to be an eagle and became once more a man, and they +returned home together. And then they lived happily, and we who hear the +story are happier still. + + + + +THE IRON STOVE(7) + +(7) Grimm. + +Once upon a time when wishes came true there was a king's son who was +enchanted by an old witch, so that he was obliged to sit in a large iron +stove in a wood. There he lived for many years, and no one could free +him. At last a king's daughter came into the wood; she had lost her way, +and could not find her father's kingdom again. She had been wandering +round and round for nine days, and she came at last to the iron case. A +voice came from within and asked her, 'Where do you come from, and where +do you want to go?' She answered, 'I have lost my way to my father's +kingdom, and I shall never get home again.' Then the voice from the iron +stove said, 'I will help you to find your home again, and that in a very +short time, if you will promise to do what I ask you. I am a greater +prince than you are a princess, and I will marry you.' Then she grew +frightened, and thought, 'What can a young lassie do with an iron +stove?' But as she wanted very much to go home to her father, she +promised to do what he wished. + +He said, 'You must come again, and bring a knife with you to scrape a +hole in the iron.' + +Then he gave her someone for a guide, who walked near her and said +nothing, but he brought her in two hours to her house. There was great +joy in the castle when the Princess came back, and the old King fell on +her neck and kissed her. But she was very much troubled, and said, 'Dear +father, listen to what has befallen me! I should never have come home +again out of the great wild wood if I had not come to an iron stove, +to whom I have had to promise that I will go back to free him and marry +him!' The old King was so frightened that he nearly fainted, for she was +his only daughter. So they consulted together, and determined that the +miller's daughter, who was very beautiful, should take her place. They +took her there, gave her a knife, and said she must scrape at the iron +stove. She scraped for twenty-four hours, but did not make the least +impression. When the day broke, a voice called from the iron stove, 'It +seems to me that it is day outside.' Then she answered, 'It seems so to +me; I think I hear my father's mill rattling.' + +'So you are a miller's daughter! Then go away at once, and tell the +King's daughter to come.' + +Then she went away, and told the old King that the thing inside the +iron stove would not have her, but wanted the Princess. The old King was +frightened, and his daughter wept. But they had a swineherd's daughter +who was even more beautiful than the miller's daughter, and they gave +her a piece of gold to go to the iron stove instead of the Princess. +Then she was taken out, and had to scrape for four-and-twenty hours, but +she could make no impression. As soon as the day broke the voice from +the stove called out, 'It seems to be daylight outside.' Then she +answered, 'It seems so to me too; I think I hear my father blowing his +horn.' 'So you are a swineherd's daughter! Go away at once, and let the +King's daughter come. And say to her that what I foretell shall come to +pass, and if she does not come everything in the kingdom shall fall into +ruin, and not one stone shall be left upon another.' When the Princess +heard this she began to cry, but it was no good; she had to keep her +word. She took leave of her father, put a knife in her belt, and went +to the iron stove in the wood. As soon as she reached it she began to +scrape, and the iron gave way and before two hours had passed she had +made a little hole. Then she peeped in and saw such a beautiful youth +all shining with gold and precious stones that she fell in love with him +on the spot. So she scraped away harder than ever, and made the hole +so large that he could get out. Then he said, 'You are mine, and I am +thine; you are my bride and have set me free!' He wanted to take her +with him to his kingdom, but she begged him just to let her go once more +to her father; and the Prince let her go, but told her not to say more +than three words to her father, then to come back again. So she went +home, but alas! she said MORE THAN THREE WORDS; and immediately the iron +stove vanished and went away over a mountain of glass and sharp swords. +But the Prince was free, and was no longer shut up in it. Then she said +good-bye to her father, and took a little money with her, and went again +into the great wood to look for the iron stove; but she could not find +it. She sought it for nine days, and then her hunger became so great +that she did not know how she could live any longer. And when it was +evening she climbed a little tree and wished that the night would not +come, because she was afraid of the wild beasts. When midnight came she +saw afar off a little light, and thought, 'Ah! if only I could reach +that!' Then she got down from the tree and went towards the light. She +came to a little old house with a great deal of grass growing round, and +stood in front of a little heap of wood. She thought, 'Alas! what am I +coming to?' and peeped through the window; but she saw nothing inside +except big and little toads, and a table beautifully spread with roast +meats and wine, and all the dishes and drinking-cups were of silver. +Then she took heart and knocked. Then a fat toad called out: + + 'Little green toad with leg like crook, + Open wide the door, and look + Who it was the latch that shook.' + +And a little toad came forward and let her in. When she entered they +all bid her welcome, and made her sit down. They asked her how she came +there and what she wanted. Then she told everything that had happened +to her, and how, because she had exceeded her permission only to speak +three words, the stove had disappeared with the Prince; and how she had +searched a very long time, and must wander over mountain and valley till +she found him. + +Then the old toad said: + + 'Little green toad whose leg doth twist, + Go to the corner of which you wist, + And bring to me the large old kist.' + +And the little toad went and brought out a great chest. Then they gave +her food and drink, and led her to a beautifully made bed of silk and +samite, on which she lay down and slept soundly. When the day dawned she +arose, and the old toad gave her three things out of the huge chest to +take with her. She would have need of them, for she had to cross a high +glass mountain, three cutting swords, and a great lake. When she had +passed these she would find her lover again. So she was given three +large needles, a plough-wheel, and three nuts, which she was to take +great care of. She set out with these things, and when she came to the +glass mountain which was so slippery she stuck the three needles behind +her feet and then in front, and so got over it, and when she was on the +other side put them carefully away. + +Then she reached the three cutting swords, and got on her plough-wheel +and rolled over them. At last she came to a great lake, and, when she +had crossed that, arrived at a beautiful castle. She went in and gave +herself out as a servant, a poor maid who would gladly be engaged. But +she knew that the Prince whom she had freed from the iron stove in the +great wood was in the castle. So she was taken on as a kitchen-maid for +very small wages. Now the Prince was about to marry another princess, +for he thought she was dead long ago. + +In the evening, when she had washed up and was ready, she felt in her +pocket and found the three nuts which the old toad had given her. She +cracked one and was going to eat the kernel, when behold! there was a +beautiful royal dress inside it! When the bride heard of this, she came +and begged for the dress, and wanted to buy it, saying that it was not a +dress for a serving-maid. Then she said she would not sell it unless she +was granted one favour--namely, to sleep by the Prince's door. The bride +granted her this, because the dress was so beautiful and she had so few +like it. When it was evening she said to her bridegroom, 'That stupid +maid wants to sleep by your door.' + +'If you are contented, I am,' he said. But she gave him a glass of wine +in which she had poured a sleeping-draught. Then they both went to his +room, but he slept so soundly that she could not wake him. The maid wept +all night long, and said, 'I freed you in the wild wood out of the iron +stove; I have sought you, and have crossed a glassy mountain, three +sharp swords, and a great lake before I found you, and will you not hear +me now?' The servants outside heard how she cried the whole night, and +they told their master in the morning. + +When she had washed up the next evening she bit the second nut, and +there was a still more beautiful dress inside. When the bride saw it she +wanted to buy it also. But the maid did not want money, and asked that +she should sleep again by the Prince's door. The bride, however, gave +him a sleeping-draught, and he slept so soundly that he heard nothing. +But the kitchen-maid wept the whole night long, and said, 'I have freed +you in a wood and from an iron stove; I sought you and have crossed a +glassy mountain, three sharp swords, and a great lake to find you, and +now you will not hear me!' The servants outside heard how she cried the +whole night, and in the morning they told their master. + +And when she had washed up on the third night she bit the third nut, +and there was a still more beautiful dress inside that was made of pure +gold. When the bride saw it she wanted to have it, but the maid would +only give it her on condition that she should sleep for the third +time by the Prince's door. But the Prince took care not to drink +the sleeping-draught. When she began to weep and to say, 'Dearest +sweetheart, I freed you in the horrible wild wood, and from an iron +stove,' he jumped up and said, 'You are right. You are mine, and I am +thine.' Though it was still night, he got into a carriage with her, and +they took the false bride's clothes away, so that she could not follow +them. When they came to the great lake they rowed across, and when they +reached the three sharp swords they sat on the plough-wheel, and on the +glassy mountain they stuck the three needles in. So they arrived at last +at the little old house, but when they stepped inside it turned into +a large castle. The toads were all freed, and were beautiful King's +children, running about for joy. There they were married, and they +remained in the castle, which was much larger than that of the +Princess's father's. But because the old man did not like being left +alone, they went and fetched him. So they had two kingdoms and lived in +great wealth. + + A mouse has run, + My story's done. + + + + +THE DRAGON AND HIS GRANDMOTHER + +There was once a great war, and the King had a great many soldiers, but +he gave them so little pay that they could not live upon it. Then three +of them took counsel together and determined to desert. + +One of them said to the others, 'If we are caught, we shall be hanged +on the gallows; how shall we set about it?' The other said, 'Do you see +that large cornfield there? If we were to hide ourselves in that, no +one could find us. The army cannot come into it, and to-morrow it is to +march on.' + +They crept into the corn, but the army did not march on, but remained +encamped close around them. They sat for two days and two nights in +the corn, and grew so hungry that they nearly died; but if they were to +venture out, it was certain death. + +They said at last, 'What use was it our deserting? We must perish here +miserably.' + +Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air. It +hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there. + +They answered, 'We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay +was so small. Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we +move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.' + +'If you will serve me for seven years,' said the dragon, I will lead you +through the midst of the army so that no one shall catch you.' 'We have +no choice, and must take your offer,' said they. Then the dragon seized +them in his claws, took them through the air over the army, and set them +down on the earth a long way from it. + +He gave them a little whip, saying, 'Whip and slash with this, and as +much money as you want will jump up before you. You can then live as +great lords, keep horses, and drive about in carriages. But after seven +years you are mine.' Then he put a book before them, which he made all +three of them sign. 'I will then give you a riddle,' he said; 'if you +guess it, you shall be free and out of my power.' The dragon then flew +away, and they journeyed on with their little whip. They had as much +money as they wanted, wore grand clothes, and made their way into the +world. Wherever they went they lived in merrymaking and splendour, drove +about with horses and carriages, ate and drank, but did nothing wrong. + +The time passed quickly away, and when the seven years were nearly ended +two of them grew terribly anxious and frightened, but the third +made light of it, saying, 'Don't be afraid, brothers, I wasn't born +yesterday; I will guess the riddle.' + +They went into a field, sat down, and the two pulled long faces. An old +woman passed by, and asked them why they were so sad. 'Alas! what have +you to do with it? You cannot help us.' 'Who knows?' she answered. 'Only +confide your trouble in me.' + +Then they told her that they had become the servants of the Dragon for +seven long years, and how he had given them money as plentifully as +blackberries; but as they had signed their names they were his, unless +when the seven years had passed they could guess a riddle. The old woman +said, 'If you would help yourselves, one of you must go into the wood, +and there he will come upon a tumble-down building of rocks which looks +like a little house. He must go in, and there he will find help.' + +The two melancholy ones thought, 'That won't save us!' and they remained +where they were. But the third and merry one jumped up and went into the +wood till he found the rock hut. In the hut sat a very old woman, who +was the Dragon's grandmother. She asked him how he came, and what was +his business there. He told her all that happened, and because she was +pleased with him she took compassion on him, and said she would help +him. + +She lifted up a large stone which lay over the cellar, saying, 'Hide +yourself there; you can hear all that is spoken in this room. Only sit +still and don't stir. When the Dragon comes, I will ask him what the +riddle is, for he tells me everything; then listen carefully what he +answers.' + +At midnight the Dragon flew in, and asked for his supper. His +grandmother laid the table, and brought out food and drink till he was +satisfied, and they ate and drank together. Then in the course of the +conversation she asked him what he had done in the day, and how many +souls he had conquered. + +'I haven't had much luck to-day,' he said, 'but I have a tight hold on +three soldiers.' + +'Indeed! three soldiers!' said she. 'Who cannot escape you?' + +'They are mine,' answered the Dragon scornfully, 'for I shall only give +them one riddle which they will never be able to guess.' + +'What sort of a riddle is it?' she asked. + +'I will tell you this. In the North Sea lies a dead sea-cat--that shall +be their roast meat; and the rib of a whale--that shall be their +silver spoon; and the hollow foot of a dead horse--that shall be their +wineglass.' + +When the Dragon had gone to bed, his old grandmother pulled up the stone +and let out the soldier. + +'Did you pay attention to everything?' + +'Yes,' he replied, 'I know enough, and can help myself splendidly.' + +Then he went by another way through the window secretly, and in all +haste back to his comrades. He told them how the Dragon had been +outwitted by his grandmother, and how he had heard from his own lips the +answer to the riddle. + +Then they were all delighted and in high spirits, took out their whip, +and cracked so much money that it came jumping up from the ground. +When the seven years had quite gone, the Fiend came with his book, and, +pointing at the signatures, said, 'I will take you underground with me; +you shall have a meal there. If you can tell me what you will get for +your roast meat, you shall be free, and shall also keep the whip.' + +Then said the first soldier, 'In the North Sea lies a dead sea-cat; that +shall be the roast meat.' + +The Dragon was much annoyed, and hummed and hawed a good deal, and asked +the second, 'But what shall be your spoon?' + +'The rib of a whale shall be our silver spoon.' + +The Dragon-made a face, and growled again three times, 'Hum, hum, hum,' +and said to the third, 'Do you know what your wineglass shall be?' + +'An old horse's hoof shall be our wineglass.' + +Then the Dragon flew away with a loud shriek, and had no more power over +them. But the three soldiers took the little whip, whipped as much money +as they wanted, and lived happily to their lives end. + + + +THE DONKEY CABBAGE + +There was once a young Hunter who went boldly into the forest. He had a +merry and light heart, and as he went whistling along there came an ugly +old woman, who said to him, 'Good-day, dear hunter! You are very merry +and contented, but I suffer hunger and thirst, so give me a trifle.' The +Hunter was sorry for the poor old woman, and he felt in his pocket and +gave her all he could spare. He was going on then, but the old woman +stopped him and said, 'Listen, dear hunter, to what I say. Because of +your kind heart I will make you a present. Go on your way, and in a +short time you will come to a tree on which sit nine birds who have a +cloak in their claws and are quarrelling over it. Then take aim with +your gun and shoot in the middle of them; they will let the cloak fall, +but one of the birds will be hit and will drop down dead. Take the cloak +with you; it is a wishing-cloak, and when you throw it on your shoulders +you have only to wish yourself at a certain place, and in the twinkling +of an eye you are there. Take the heart out of the dead bird and swallow +it whole, and early every morning when you get up you will find a gold +piece under your pillow.' + +The Hunter thanked the wise woman, and thought to himself 'These are +splendid things she has promised me, if only they come to pass!' So +he walked on about a hundred yards, and then he heard above him in the +branches such a screaming and chirping that he looked up, and there +he saw a heap of birds tearing a cloth with their beaks and feet, +shrieking, tugging, and fighting, as if each wanted it for himself. +'Well,' said the Hunter, 'this is wonderful! It is just as the old woman +said'; and he took his gun on his shoulder, pulled the trigger, and +shot into the midst of them, so that their feathers flew about. Then the +flock took flight with much screaming, but one fell dead, and the cloak +fluttered down. Then the Hunter did as the old woman had told him: he +cut open the bird, found its heart, swallowed it, and took the cloak +home with him. The next morning when he awoke he remembered the promise, +and wanted to see if it had come true. But when he lifted up his pillow, +there sparkled the gold piece, and the next morning he found another, +and so on every time he got up. He collected a heap of gold, but at +last he thought to himself, 'What good is all my gold to me if I stay +at home? I will travel and look a bit about me in the world.' So he took +leave of his parents, slung his hunting knapsack and his gun round him, +and journeyed into the world. + +It happened that one day he went through a thick wood, and when he came +to the end of it there lay in the plain before him a large castle. At +one of the windows in it stood an old woman with a most beautiful maiden +by her side, looking out. But the old woman was a witch, and she said to +the girl, 'There comes one out of the wood who has a wonderful treasure +in his body which we must manage to possess ourselves of, darling +daughter; we have more right to it than he. He has a bird's heart in +him, and so every morning there lies a gold piece under his pillow.' + +She told her how they could get hold of it, and how she was to coax it +from him, and at last threatened her angrily, saying, 'And if you do not +obey me, you shall repent it!' + +When the Hunter came nearer he saw the maiden, and said to himself, 'I +have travelled so far now that I will rest, and turn into this beautiful +castle; money I have in plenty.' But the real reason was that he had +caught sight of the lovely face. + +He went into the house, and was kindly received and hospitably +entertained. It was not long before he was so much in love with the +witch-maiden that he thought of nothing else, and only looked in her +eyes, and whatever she wanted, that he gladly did. Then the old witch +said, 'Now we must have the bird-heart; he will not feel when it is +gone.' She prepared a drink, and when it was ready she poured it in a +goblet and gave it to the maiden, who had to hand it to the hunter. + +'Drink to me now, my dearest,' she said. Then he took the goblet, and +when he had swallowed the drink the bird-heart came out of his mouth. +The maiden had to get hold of it secretly and then swallow it herself, +for the old witch wanted to have it. Thenceforward he found no more gold +under his pillow, and it lay under the maiden's; but he was so much in +love and so much bewitched that he thought of nothing except spending +all his time with the maiden. + +Then the old witch said, 'We have the bird-heart, but we must also get +the wishing-cloak from him.' + +The maiden answered, 'We will leave him that; he has already lost his +wealth!' + +The old witch grew angry, and said, 'Such a cloak is a wonderful thing, +it is seldom to be had in the world, and have it I must and will.' She +beat the maiden, and said that if she did not obey it would go ill with +her. + +So she did her mother's bidding, and, standing one day by the window, +she looked away into the far distance as if she were very sad. + +'Why are you standing there looking so sad?' asked the Hunter. + +'Alas, my love,' she replied, 'over there lies the granite mountain +where the costly precious stones grow. I have a great longing to go +there, so that when I think of it I am very sad. For who can fetch them? +Only the birds who fly; a man, never.' + +'If you have no other trouble,' said the Hunter, 'that one I can easily +remove from your heart.' + +So he wrapped her round in his cloak and wished themselves to the +granite mountain, and in an instant there they were, sitting on it! The +precious stones sparkled so brightly on all sides that it was a pleasure +to see them, and they collected the most beautiful and costly together. +But now the old witch had through her caused the Hunter's eyes to become +heavy. + +He said to the maiden, 'We will sit down for a little while and rest; I +am so tired that I can hardly stand on my feet.' + +So they sat down, and he laid his head on her lap and fell asleep. As +soon as he was sound asleep she unfastened the cloak from his shoulders, +threw it on her own, left the granite and stones, and wished herself +home again. + +But when the Hunter had finished his sleep and awoke, he found that his +love had betrayed him and left him alone on the wild mountain. 'Oh,' +said he, 'why is faithlessness so great in the world?' and he sat down +in sorrow and trouble, not knowing what to do. + +But the mountain belonged to fierce and huge giants, who lived on it +and traded there, and he had not sat long before he saw three of them +striding towards him. So he lay down as if he had fallen into a deep +sleep. + +The giants came up, and the first pushed him with his foot, and said, +'What sort of an earthworm is that?' + +The second said, 'Crush him dead.' + +But the third said contemptuously, 'It is not worth the trouble! Let him +live; he cannot remain here, and if he goes higher up the mountain the +clouds will take him and carry him off.' + +Talking thus they went away. But the Hunter had listened to their talk, +and as soon as they had gone he rose and climbed to the summit. When he +had sat there a little while a cloud swept by, and, seizing him, carried +him away. It travelled for a time in the sky, and then it sank down and +hovered over a large vegetable garden surrounded by walls, so that he +came safely to the ground amidst cabbages and vegetables. The Hunter +then looked about him, saying, 'If only I had something to eat! I am so +hungry, and it will go badly with me in the future, for I see here +not an apple or pear or fruit of any kind--nothing but vegetables +everywhere.' At last he thought, 'At a pinch I can eat a salad; it does +not taste particularly nice, but it will refresh me.' So he looked about +for a good head and ate it, but no sooner had he swallowed a couple +of mouthfuls than he felt very strange, and found himself wonderfully +changed. Four legs began to grow on him, a thick head, and two long +ears, and he saw with horror that he had changed into a donkey. But as +he was still very hungry and this juicy salad tasted very good to his +present nature, he went on eating with a still greater appetite. At last +he got hold of another kind of cabbage, but scarcely had swallowed it +when he felt another change, and he once more regained his human form. + +The Hunter now lay down and slept off his weariness. When he awoke +the next morning he broke off a head of the bad and a head of the good +cabbage, thinking, 'This will help me to regain my own, and to punish +faithlessness.' Then he put the heads in his pockets, climbed the wall, +and started off to seek the castle of his love. When he had wandered +about for a couple of days he found it quite easily. He then browned his +face quickly, so that his own mother would not have known him, and went +into the castle, where he begged for a lodging. + +'I am so tired,' he said, 'I can go no farther.' + +The witch asked, 'Countryman, who are you, and what is your business?' + +He answered, 'I am a messenger of the King, and have been sent to seek +the finest salad that grows under the sun. I have been so lucky as to +find it, and am bringing it with me; but the heat of the sun is so great +that the tender cabbage threatens to grow soft, and I do not know if I +shall be able to bring it any farther.' + +When the old witch heard of the fine salad she wanted to eat it, and +said, 'Dear countryman, just let me taste the wonderful salad.' + +'Why not?' he answered; 'I have brought two heads with me, and will give +you one.' + +So saying, he opened his sack and gave her the bad one. The witch +suspected no evil, and her mouth watered to taste the new dish, so that +she went into the kitchen to prepare it herself. When it was ready she +could not wait till it was served at the table, but she immediately took +a couple of leaves and put them in her mouth. No sooner, however, had +she swallowed them than she lost human form, and ran into the courtyard +in the shape of a donkey. + +Now the servant came into the kitchen, and when she saw the salad +standing there ready cooked she was about to carry it up, but on the +way, according to her old habit, she tasted it and ate a couple of +leaves. Immediately the charm worked, and she became a donkey, and ran +out to join the old witch, and the dish with the salad in it fell to +the ground. In the meantime, the messenger was sitting with the lovely +maiden, and as no one came with the salad, and she wanted very much to +taste it, she said, 'I don't know where the salad is.' + +Then thought the Hunter, 'The cabbage must have already begun to work.' +And he said, 'I will go to the kitchen and fetch it myself.' + +When he came there he saw the two donkeys running about in the +courtyard, but the salad was lying on the ground. + +'That's all right,' said he; 'two have had their share!' And lifting the +remaining leaves up, he laid them on the dish and brought them to the +maiden. + +'I am bringing you the delicious food my own self,' he said, 'so that +you need not wait any longer.' + +Then she ate, and, as the others had done, she at once lost her human +form, and ran as a donkey into the yard. + +When the Hunter had washed his face, so that the changed ones might know +him, he went into the yard, saying, 'Now you shall receive a reward for +your faithlessness.' + +He tied them all three with a rope, and drove them away till he came to +a mill. He knocked at the window, and the miller put his head out and +asked what he wanted. + +'I have three tiresome animals,' he answered, 'which I don't want to +keep any longer. If you will take them, give them food and stabling, and +do as I tell you with them, I will pay you as much as you want.' + +The miller replied, 'Why not? What shall I do with them?' + +Then the Hunter said that to the old donkey, which was the witch, three +beatings and one meal; to the younger one, which was the servant, one +beating and three meals; and to the youngest one, which was the maiden, +no beating and three meals; for he could not find it in his heart to let +the maiden be beaten. + +Then he went back into the castle, and he found there all that he +wanted. After a couple of days the miller came and said that he must +tell him that the old donkey which was to have three beatings and only +one meal had died. 'The two others,' he added, 'are certainly not dead, +and get their three meals every day, but they are so sad that they +cannot last much longer.' + +Then the Hunter took pity on them, laid aside his anger, and told the +miller to drive them back again. And when they came he gave them some +of the good cabbage to eat, so that they became human again. Then the +beautiful maiden fell on her knees before him, saying, 'Oh, my dearest, +forgive me the ill I have done you! My mother compelled me to do it; +it was against my will, for I love you dearly. Your wishing-cloak is +hanging in a cupboard, and as for the bird-heart I will make a drink and +give it back to you.' + +But he changed his mind, and said, 'Keep it; it makes no difference, for +I will take you to be my own dear true wife.' + +And the wedding was celebrated, and they lived happy together till +death. + + + + + THE LITTLE GREEN FROG(8) + +(8) Cabinet des Fees. + +In a part of the world whose name I forget lived once upon a time two +kings, called Peridor and Diamantino. They were cousins as well as +neighbours, and both were under the protection of the fairies; though it +is only fair to say that the fairies did not love them half so well as +their wives did. + +Now it often happens that as princes can generally manage to get their +own way it is harder for them to be good than it is for common people. +So it was with Peridor and Diamantino; but of the two, the fairies +declared that Diamantino was much the worst; indeed, he behaved so badly +to his wife Aglantino, that the fairies would not allow him to live any +longer; and he died, leaving behind him a little daughter. As she was an +only child, of course this little girl was the heiress of the kingdom, +but, being still only a baby, her mother, the widow of Diamantino, was +proclaimed regent. The Queen-dowager was wise and good, and tried her +best to make her people happy. The only thing she had to vex her was +the absence of her daughter; for the fairies, for reasons of their own, +determined to bring up the little Princess Serpentine among themselves. + +As to the other King, he was really fond of his wife, Queen Constance, +but he often grieved her by his thoughtless ways, and in order to punish +him for his carelessness, the fairies caused her to die quite suddenly. +When she was gone the King felt how much he had loved her, and his grief +was so great (though he never neglected his duties) that his subjects +called him Peridor the Sorrowful. It seems hardly possible that any +man should live like Peridor for fifteen years plunged in such depth of +grief, and most likely he would have died too if it had not been for the +fairies. + +The one comfort the poor King had was his son, Prince Saphir, who was +only three years old at the time of his mother's death, and great care +was given to his education. By the time he was fifteen Saphir had learnt +everything that a prince should know, and he was, besides, charming and +agreeable. + +It was about this time that the fairies suddenly took fright lest his +love for his father should interfere with the plans they had made for +the young prince. So, to prevent this, they placed in a pretty little +room of which Saphir was very fond a little mirror in a black frame, +such as were often brought from Venice. The Prince did not notice +for some days that there was anything new in the room, but at last +he perceived it, and went up to look at it more closely. What was his +surprise to see reflected in the mirror, not his own face, but that of +a young girl as lovely as the morning! And, better still, every movement +of the girl, just growing out of childhood, was also reflected in the +wonderful glass. + +As might have been expected, the young Prince lost his heart completely +to the beautiful image, and it was impossible to get him out of the +room, so busy was he in watching the lovely unknown. Certainly it was +very delightful to be able to see her whom he loved at any moment he +chose, but his spirits sometimes sank when he wondered what was to be +the end of this adventure. + +The magic mirror had been for about a year in the Prince's possession, +when one day a new subject of disquiet seized upon him. As usual, he was +engaged in looking at the girl, when suddenly he thought he saw a second +mirror reflected in the first, exactly like his own, and with the same +power. And in this he was perfectly right. The young girl had only +possessed it for a short time, and neglected all her duties for the sake +of the mirror. Now it was not difficult for Saphir to guess the reason +of the change in her, nor why the new mirror was consulted so often; +but try as he would he could never see the face of the person who was +reflected in it, for the young girl's figure always came between. All he +knew was that the face was that of a man, and this was quite enough to +make him madly jealous. This was the doing of the fairies, and we must +suppose that they had their reasons for acting as they did. + +When these things happened Saphir was about eighteen years old, and +fifteen years had passed away since the death of his mother. King +Peridor had grown more and more unhappy as time went on, and at last he +fell so ill that it seemed as if his days were numbered. He was so much +beloved by his subjects that this sad news was heard with despair by the +nation, and more than all by the Prince. + +During his whole illness the King never spoke of anything but the Queen, +his sorrow at having grieved her, and his hope of one day seeing her +again. All the doctors and all the water-cures in the kingdom had been +tried, and nothing would do him any good. At last he persuaded them to +let him lie quietly in his room, where no one came to trouble him. + +Perhaps the worst pain he had to bear was a sort of weight on his chest, +which made it very hard for him to breathe. So he commanded his servants +to leave the windows open in order that he might get more air. One day, +when he had been left alone for a few minutes, a bird with brilliant +plumage came and fluttered round the window, and finally rested on the +sill. His feathers were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such +glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made +the brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown. I +cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that +it was still more splendid than all the rest. As to his voice I can +say nothing about that, for the bird never sang at all. In fact, he did +nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt +his strength come back to him. In a little while the bird flew into the +room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the +strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well +as he used to be before the Queen died. Filled with joy at his cure, +he tried to seize the bird to whom he owed it all, but, swifter than a +swallow, it managed to avoid him. In vain he described the bird to +his attendants, who rushed at his first call; in vain they sought the +wonderful creature both on horse and foot, and summoned the fowlers to +their aid: the bird could nowhere be found. The love the people bore +King Peridor was so strong, and the reward he promised was so large, +that in the twinkling of an eye every man, woman, and child had fled +into the fields, and the towns were quite empty. + +All this bustle, however, ended in nothing but confusion, and, what +was worse, the King soon fell back into the same condition as he was in +before. Prince Saphir, who loved his father very dearly, was so unhappy +at this that he persuaded himself that he might succeed where the others +had failed, and at once prepared himself for a more distant search. +In spite of the opposition he met with, he rode away, followed by his +household, trusting to chance to help him. He had formed no plan, and +there was no reason that he should choose one path more than another. +His only idea was to make straight for those spots which were the +favourite haunts of birds. But in vain he examined all the hedges and +all the thickets; in vain he questioned everyone he met along the road. +The more he sought the less he found. + +At last he came to one of the largest forests in all the world, composed +entirely of cedars. But in spite of the deep shadows cast by the +wide-spreading branches of the trees, the grass underneath was soft and +green, and covered with the rarest flowers. It seemed to Saphir that +this was exactly the place where the birds would choose to live, and +he determined not to quit the wood until he had examined it from end to +end. And he did more. He ordered some nets to be prepared and painted of +the same colours as the bird's plumage, thinking that we are all easily +caught by what is like ourselves. In this he had to help him not only +the fowlers by profession, but also his attendants, who excelled in this +art. For a man is not a courtier unless he can do everything. + +After searching as usual for nearly a whole day Prince Saphir began +to feel overcome with thirst. He was too tired to go any farther, +when happily he discovered a little way off a bubbling fountain of the +clearest water. Being an experienced traveller, he drew from his pocket +a little cup (without which no one should ever take a journey), and was +just about to dip it in the water, when a lovely little green frog, +much prettier than frogs generally are, jumped into the cup. Far from +admiring its beauty, Saphir shook it impatiently off; but it was no +good, for quick as lightning the frog jumped back again. Saphir, who was +raging with thirst, was just about to shake it off anew, when the little +creature fixed upon him the most beautiful eyes in the world, and said, +'I am a friend of the bird you are seeking, and when you have quenched +your thirst listen to me.' + +So the Prince drank his fill, and then, by the command of the Little +Green Frog, he lay down on the grass to rest himself. + +'Now,' she began, 'be sure you do exactly in every respect what I tell +you. First you must call together your attendants, and order them to +remain in a little hamlet close by until you want them. Then go, quite +alone, down a road that you will find on your right hand, looking +southwards. This road is planted all the way with cedars of Lebanon; and +after going down it a long way you will come at last to a magnificent +castle. And now,' she went on, 'attend carefully to what I am going to +say. Take this tiny grain of sand, and put it into the ground as close +as you can to the gate of the castle. It has the virtue both of opening +the gate and also of sending to sleep all the inhabitants. Then go at +once to the stable, and pay no heed to anything except what I tell you. +Choose the handsomest of all the horses, leap quickly on its back, and +come to me as fast as you can. Farewell, Prince; I wish you good +luck,' and with these words the Little Frog plunged into the water and +disappeared. + +The Prince, who felt more hopeful than he had done since he left home, +did precisely as he had been ordered. He left his attendants in the +hamlet, found the road the frog had described to him, and followed it +all alone, and at last he arrived at the gate of the castle, which was +even more splendid than he had expected, for it was built of crystal, +and all its ornaments were of massive gold. However, he had no thoughts +to spare for its beauty, and quickly buried his grain of sand in the +earth. In one instant the gates flew open, and all the dwellers inside +fell sound asleep. Saphir flew straight to the stable, and already had +his hand on the finest horse it contained, when his eye was caught by +a suit of magnificent harness hanging up close by. It occurred to +him directly that the harness belonged to the horse, and without ever +thinking of harm (for indeed he who steals a horse can hardly be blamed +for taking his saddle), he hastily placed it on the animal's back. +Suddenly the people in the castle became broad awake, and rushed to the +stable. They flung themselves on the Prince, seized him, and dragged him +before their lord; but, luckily for the Prince, who could only find very +lame excuses for his conduct, the lord of the castle took a fancy to his +face, and let him depart without further questions. + +Very sad, and very much ashamed of himself poor Saphir crept back to the +fountain, where the Frog was awaiting him with a good scolding. + +'Whom do you take me for?' she exclaimed angrily. 'Do you really believe +that it was just for the pleasure of talking that I gave you the advice +you have neglected so abominably?' + +But the Prince was so deeply grieved, and apologised so very humbly, +that after some time the heart of the good little Frog was softened, and +she gave him another tiny little grain, but instead of being sand it was +now a grain of gold. She directed him to do just as he had done before, +with only this difference, that instead of going to the stable which +had been the ruin of his hopes, he was to enter right into the castle +itself, and to glide as fast as he could down the passages till he came +to a room filled with perfume, where he would find a beautiful maiden +asleep on a bed. He was to wake the maiden instantly and carry her off, +and to be sure not to pay any heed to whatever resistance she might +make. + +The Prince obeyed the Frog's orders one by one, and all went well for +this second time also. The gate opened, the inhabitants fell sound +asleep, and he walked down the passage till he found the girl on her +bed, exactly as he had been told he would. He woke her, and begged her +firmly, but politely, to follow him quickly. After a little persuasion +the maiden consented, but only on condition that she was allowed first +to put on her dress. This sounded so reasonable and natural that it did +not enter the Prince's head to refuse her request. + +But the maiden's hand had hardly touched the dress when the palace +suddenly awoke from its sleep, and the Prince was seized and bound. He +was so vexed with his own folly, and so taken aback at the disaster, +that he did not attempt to explain his conduct, and things would have +gone badly with him if his friends the fairies had not softened the +hearts of his captors, so that they once more allowed him to leave +quietly. However, what troubled him most was the idea of having to meet +the Frog who had been his benefactress. How was he ever to appear before +her with this tale? Still, after a long struggle with himself, he made +up his mind that there was nothing else to be done, and that he deserved +whatever she might say to him. And she said a great deal, for she had +worked herself into a terrible passion; but the Prince humbly implored +her pardon, and ventured to point out that it would have been very hard +to refuse the young lady's reasonable request. 'You must learn to do as +you are told,' was all the Frog would reply. + +But poor Saphir was so unhappy, and begged so hard for forgiveness, that +at last the Frog's anger gave way, and she held up to him a tiny diamond +stone. 'Go back,' she said, 'to the castle, and bury this little diamond +close to the door. But be careful not to return to the stable or to the +bedroom; they have proved too fatal to you. Walk straight to the garden +and enter through a portico, into a small green wood, in the midst of +which is a tree with a trunk of gold and leaves of emeralds. Perched on +this tree you will see the beautiful bird you have been seeking so long. +You must cut the branch on which it is sitting, and bring it back to +me without delay. But I warn you solemnly that if you disobey my +directions, as you have done twice before, you have nothing more to +expect either of me or anyone else.' + +With these words she jumped into the water, and the Prince, who had +taken her threats much to heart, took his departure, firmly resolved not +to deserve them. He found it all just as he had been told: the portico, +the wood, the magnificent tree, and the beautiful bird, which was +sleeping soundly on one of the branches. He speedily lopped off the +branch, and though he noticed a splendid golden cage hanging close by, +which would have been very useful for the bird to travel in, he left it +alone, and came back to the fountain, holding his breath and walking on +tip-toe all the way, for fear lest he should awake his prize. But what +was his surprise, when instead of finding the fountain in the spot where +he had left it, he saw in its place a little rustic palace built in +the best taste, and standing in the doorway a charming maiden, at whose +sight his mind seemed to give way. + +'What! Madam!' he cried, hardly knowing what he said. 'What! Is it you?' + +The maiden blushed and answered: 'Ah, my lord, it is long since I first +beheld your face, but I did not think you had ever seen mine.' + +'Oh, madam,' replied he, 'you can never guess the days and the hours I +have passed lost in admiration of you.' And after these words they each +related all the strange things that had happened, and the more they +talked the more they felt convinced of the truth of the images they +had seen in their mirrors. After some time spent in the most tender +conversation, the Prince could not restrain himself from asking the +lovely unknown by what lucky chance she was wandering in the forest; +where the fountain had gone; and if she knew anything of the Frog to +whom he owed all his happiness, and to whom he must give up the bird, +which, somehow or other, was still sound asleep. + +'Ah, my lord,' she replied, with rather an awkward air, 'as to the Frog, +she stands before you. Let me tell you my story; it is not a long one. I +know neither my country nor my parents, and the only thing I can say for +certain is that I am called Serpentine. The fairies, who have taken +care of me ever since I was born, wished me to be in ignorance as to my +family, but they have looked after my education, and have bestowed on me +endless kindness. I have always lived in seclusion, and for the last two +years I have wished for nothing better. I had a mirror'--here shyness +and embarrassment choked her words--but regaining her self-control, +she added, 'You know that fairies insist on being obeyed without +questioning. It was they who changed the little house you saw before you +into the fountain for which you are now asking, and, having turned me +into a frog, they ordered me to say to the first person who came to the +fountain exactly what I repeated to you. But, my lord, when you stood +before me, it was agony to my heart, filled as it was with thoughts of +you, to appear to your eyes under so monstrous a form. However, there +was no help for it, and, painful as it was, I had to submit. I desired +your success with all my soul, not only for your own sake, but also for +my own, because I could not get back my proper shape till you had become +master of the beautiful bird, though I am quite ignorant as to your +reason for seeking it.' + +On this Saphir explained about the state of his father's health, and all +that has been told before. + +On hearing this story Serpentine grew very sad, and her lovely eyes +filled with tears. + +'Ah, my lord,' she said, 'you know nothing of me but what you have seen +in the mirror; and I, who cannot even name my parents, learn that you +are a king's son.' + +In vain Saphir declared that love made them equal; Serpentine would only +reply: 'I love you too much to allow you to marry beneath your rank. I +shall be very unhappy, of course, but I shall never alter my mind. If +I do not find from the fairies that my birth is worthy of you, then, +whatever be my feelings, I will never accept your hand.' + +The conversation was at this point, and bid fair to last some time +longer, when one of the fairies appeared in her ivory car, accompanied +by a beautiful woman past her early youth. At this moment the bird +suddenly awakened, and, flying on to Saphir's shoulder (which it never +afterwards left), began fondling him as well as a bird can do. The fairy +told Serpentine that she was quite satisfied with her conduct, and made +herself very agreeable to Saphir, whom she presented to the lady she had +brought with her, explaining that the lady was no other than his Aunt +Aglantine, widow of Diamantino. + +Then they all fell into each other's arms, till the fairy mounted her +chariot, placed Aglantine by her side, and Saphir and Serpentine on the +front seat. She also sent a message to the Prince's attendants that +they might travel slowly back to the Court of King Peridor, and that +the beautiful bird had really been found. This matter being comfortably +arranged, she started off her chariot. But in spite of the swiftness +with which they flew through the air, the time passed even quicker for +Saphir and Serpentine, who had so much to think about. + +They were still quite confused with the pleasure of seeing each other, +when the chariot arrived at King Peridor's palace. He had had himself +carried to a room on the roof, where his nurses thought that he would +die at any moment. Directly the chariot drew within sight of the castle +the beautiful bird took flight, and, making straight for the dying King, +at once cured him of his sickness. Then she resumed her natural shape, +and he found that the bird was no other than the Queen Constance, whom +he had long believed to be dead. Peridor was rejoiced to embrace his +wife and his son once more, and with the help of the fairies began to +make preparations for the marriage of Saphir and Serpentine, who turned +out to be the daughter of Aglantine and Diamantino, and as much a +princess as he was a prince. The people of the kingdom were delighted, +and everybody lived happy and contented to the end of their lives. + + + + + THE SEVEN-HEADED SERPENT(9) + +(9) 'Die Siebenkopfige Schlange,' from Schmidt's Griechische Mahrchen. + +Once upon a time there was a king who determined to take a long voyage. +He assembled his fleet and all the seamen, and set out. They went +straight on night and day, until they came to an island which was +covered with large trees, and under every tree lay a lion. As soon as +the King had landed his men, the lions all rose up together and tried +to devour them. After a long battle they managed to overcome the +wild beasts, but the greater number of the men were killed. Those who +remained alive now went on through the forest and found on the other +side of it a beautiful garden, in which all the plants of the world +flourished together. + +There were also in the garden three springs: the first flowed with +silver, the second with gold, and the third with pearls. The men +unbuckled their knapsacks and filled them with those precious things. In +the middle of the garden they found a large lake, and when they reached +the edge of it the Lake began to speak, and said to them, 'What men are +you, and what brings you here? Are you come to visit our king?' But they +were too much frightened to answer. + +Then the Lake said, 'You do well to be afraid, for it is at your peril +that you are come hither. Our king, who has seven heads, is now asleep, +but in a few minutes he will wake up and come to me to take his bath! +Woe to anyone who meets him in the garden, for it is impossible to +escape from him. This is what you must do if you wish to save your +lives. Take off your clothes and spread them on the path which leads +from here to the castle. The King will then glide over something soft, +which he likes very much, and he will be so pleased with that that he +will not devour you. He will give you some punishment, but then he will +let you go.' + +The men did as the Lake advised them, and waited for a time. At noon the +earth began to quake, and opened in many places, and out of the openings +appeared lions, tigers, and other wild beasts, which surrounded the +castle, and thousands and thousands of beasts came out of the castle +following their king, the Seven-headed Serpent. The Serpent glided over +the clothes which were spread for him, came to the Lake, and asked it +who had strewed those soft things on the path? The Lake answered that +it had been done by people who had come to do him homage. The King +commanded that the men should be brought before him. They came humbly on +their knees, and in a few words told him their story. Then he spoke to +them with a mighty and terrible voice, and said, 'Because you have dared +to come here, I lay upon you the punishment. Every year you must bring +me from among your people twelve youths and twelve maidens, that I may +devour them. If you do not do this, I will destroy your whole nation.' + +Then he desired one of his beasts to show the men the way out of the +garden, and dismissed them. They then left the island and went back to +their own country, where they related what had happened to them. Soon +the time came round when the king of the beasts would expect the +youths and maidens to be brought to him. The King therefore issued +a proclamation inviting twelve youths and twelve maidens to offer +themselves up to save their country; and immediately many young people, +far more than enough, hastened to do so. A new ship was built, and set +with black sails, and in it the youths and maidens who were appointed +for the king of the beasts embarked and set out for his country. When +they arrived there they went at once to the Lake, and this time the +lions did not stir, nor did the springs flow, and neither did the Lake +speak. So they waited then, and it was not long before the earth quaked +even more terribly than the first time. The Seven-headed Serpent came +without his train of beasts, saw his prey waiting for him, and devoured +it at one mouthful. Then the ship's crew returned home, and the same +thing happened yearly until many years had passed. + +Now the King of this unhappy country was growing old, and so was the +Queen, and they had no children. One day the Queen was sitting at the +window weeping bitterly because she was childless, and knew that the +crown would therefore pass to strangers after the King's death. Suddenly +a little old woman appeared before her, holding an apple in her hand, +and said, 'Why do you weep, my Queen, and what makes you so unhappy?' + +'Alas, good mother,' answered the Queen, 'I am unhappy because I have no +children.' + +'Is that what vexes you?' said the old woman. 'Listen to me. I am a nun +from the Spinning Convent,(10) and my mother when she died left me this +apple. Whoever eats this apple shall have a child.' + +(10) Convent Gnothi. + + +The Queen gave money to the old woman, and bought the apple from her. +Then she peeled it, ate it, and threw the rind out of the window, and it +so happened that a mare that was running loose in the court below ate up +the rind. After a time the Queen had a little boy, and the mare also had +a male foal. The boy and the foal grew up together and loved each other +like brothers. In course of time the King died, and so did the Queen, +and their son, who was now nineteen years old, was left alone. One day, +when he and his horse were talking together, the Horse said to him, +'Listen to me, for I love you and wish for your good and that of the +country. If you go on every year sending twelve youths and twelve +maidens to the King of the Beasts, your country will very soon be +ruined. Mount upon my back: I will take you to a woman who can direct +you how to kill the Seven-headed Serpent.' + +Then the youth mounted his horse, who carried him far away to a mountain +which was hollow, for in its side was a great underground cavern. In the +cavern sat an old woman spinning. This was the cloister of the nuns, and +the old woman was the Abbess. They all spent their time in spinning, and +that is why the convent has this name. All round the walls of the cavern +there were beds cut out of the solid rock, upon which the nuns slept, +and in the middle a light was burning. It was the duty of the nuns to +watch the light in turns, that it might never go out, and if anyone of +them let it go out the others put her to death. + +As soon as the King's son saw the old Abbess spinning he threw himself +at her feet and entreated her to tell him how he could kill the +Seven-headed Serpent. + +She made the youth rise, embraced him, and said, 'Know, my son, that it +is I who sent the nun to your mother and caused you to be born, and with +you the horse, with whose help you will be able to free the world from +the monster. I will tell you what you have to do. Load your horse with +cotton, and go by a secret passage which I will show you, which is +hidden from the wild beasts, to the Serpent's palace. You will find the +King asleep upon his bed, which is all hung round with bells, and +over his bed you will see a sword hanging. With this sword only it is +possible to kill the Serpent, because even if its blade breaks a new one +will grow again for every head the monster has. Thus you will be able +to cut off all his seven heads. And this you must also do in order to +deceive the King: you must slip into his bed-chamber very softly, and +stop up all the bells which are round his bed with cotton. Then take +down the sword gently, and quickly give the monster a blow on his tail +with it. This will make him waken up, and if he catches sight of you he +will seize you. But you must quickly cut off his first head, and then +wait till the next one comes up. Then strike it off also, and so go on +till you have cut off all his seven heads.' + +The old Abbess then gave the Prince her blessing, and he set out upon +his enterprise, arrived at the Serpent's castle by following the secret +passage which she had shown him, and by carefully attending to all her +directions he happily succeeded in killing the monster. As soon as +the wild beasts heard of their king's death, they all hastened to the +castle, but the youth had long since mounted his horse and was already +far out of their reach. They pursued him as fast as they could, but they +found it impossible to overtake him, and he reached home in safety. Thus +he freed his country from this terrible oppression. + + + +THE GRATEFUL BEASTS(11) + +(11) From the Hungarian. Kletke. + +There was once upon a time a man and woman who had three fine-looking +sons, but they were so poor that they had hardly enough food for +themselves, let alone their children. So the sons determined to set out +into the world and to try their luck. Before starting their mother gave +them each a loaf of bread and her blessing, and having taken a tender +farewell of her and their father the three set forth on their travels. + +The youngest of the three brothers, whose name was Ferko, was a +beautiful youth, with a splendid figure, blue eyes, fair hair, and a +complexion like milk and roses. His two brothers were as jealous of him +as they could be, for they thought that with his good looks he would be +sure to be more fortunate than they would ever be. + +One day all the three were sitting resting under a tree, for the sun +was hot and they were tired of walking. Ferko fell fast asleep, but the +other two remained awake, and the eldest said to the second brother, +'What do you say to doing our brother Ferko some harm? He is so +beautiful that everyone takes a fancy to him, which is more than they do +to us. If we could only get him out of the way we might succeed better.' + +'I quite agree with you,' answered the second brother, 'and my advice +is to eat up his loaf of bread, and then to refuse to give him a bit +of ours until he has promised to let us put out his eyes or break his +legs.' + +His eldest brother was delighted with this proposal, and the two wicked +wretches seized Ferko's loaf and ate it all up, while the poor boy was +still asleep. + +When he did awake he felt very hungry and turned to eat his bread, but +his brothers cried out, 'You ate your loaf in your sleep, you glutton, +and you may starve as long as you like, but you won't get a scrap of +ours.' + +Ferko was at a loss to understand how he could have eaten in his sleep, +but he said nothing, and fasted all that day and the next night. But +on the following morning he was so hungry that he burst into tears, and +implored his brothers to give him a little bit of their bread. Then the +cruel creatures laughed, and repeated what they had said the day before; +but when Ferko continued to beg and beseech them, the eldest said at +last, 'If you will let us put out one of your eyes and break one of your +legs, then we will give you a bit of our bread.' + +At these words poor Ferko wept more bitterly than before, and bore the +torments of hunger till the sun was high in the heavens; then he could +stand it no longer, and he consented to allow his left eye to be put out +and his left leg to be broken. When this was done he stretched out his +hand eagerly for the piece of bread, but his brothers gave him such a +tiny scrap that the starving youth finished it in a moment and besought +them for a second bit. + +But the more Ferko wept and told his brothers that he was dying of +hunger, the more they laughed and scolded him for his greed. So he +endured the pangs of starvation all that day, but when night came his +endurance gave way, and he let his right eye be put out and his right +leg broken for a second piece of bread. + +After his brothers had thus successfully maimed and disfigured him for +life, they left him groaning on the ground and continued their journey +without him. + +Poor Ferko ate up the scrap of bread they had left him and wept +bitterly, but no one heard him or came to his help. Night came on, and +the poor blind youth had no eyes to close, and could only crawl along +the ground, not knowing in the least where he was going. But when the +sun was once more high in the heavens, Ferko felt the blazing heat +scorch him, and sought for some cool shady place to rest his aching +limbs. He climbed to the top of a hill and lay down in the grass, and as +he thought under the shadow of a big tree. But it was no tree he leant +against, but a gallows on which two ravens were seated. The one was +saying to the other as the weary youth lay down, 'Is there anything the +least wonderful or remarkable about this neighbourhood?' + +'I should just think there was,' replied the other; 'many things that +don't exist anywhere else in the world. There is a lake down there below +us, and anyone who bathes in it, though he were at death's door, becomes +sound and well on the spot, and those who wash their eyes with the dew +on this hill become as sharp-sighted as the eagle, even if they have +been blind from their youth.' + +'Well,' answered the first raven, 'my eyes are in no want of this +healing bath, for, Heaven be praised, they are as good as ever they +were; but my wing has been very feeble and weak ever since it was shot +by an arrow many years ago, so let us fly at once to the lake that I may +be restored to health and strength again.' And so they flew away. + +Their words rejoiced Ferko's heart, and he waited impatiently till +evening should come and he could rub the precious dew on his sightless +eyes. + +At last it began to grow dusk, and the sun sank behind the mountains; +gradually it became cooler on the hill, and the grass grew wet with dew. +Then Ferko buried his face in the ground till his eyes were damp with +dewdrops, and in a moment he saw clearer than he had ever done in his +life before. The moon was shining brightly, and lighted him to the lake +where he could bathe his poor broken legs. + +Then Ferko crawled to the edge of the lake and dipped his limbs in the +water. No sooner had he done so than his legs felt as sound and strong +as they had been before, and Ferko thanked the kind fate that had led +him to the hill where he had overheard the ravens' conversation. He +filled a bottle with the healing water, and then continued his journey +in the best of spirits. + +He had not gone far before he met a wolf, who was limping disconsolately +along on three legs, and who on perceiving Ferko began to howl dismally. + +'My good friend,' said the youth, 'be of good cheer, for I can soon heal +your leg,' and with these words he poured some of the precious water +over the wolf's paw, and in a minute the animal was springing about +sound and well on all fours. The grateful creature thanked his +benefactor warmly, and promised Ferko to do him a good turn if he should +ever need it. + +Ferko continued his way till he came to a ploughed field. Here he +noticed a little mouse creeping wearily along on its hind paws, for its +front paws had both been broken in a trap. + +Ferko felt so sorry for the little beast that he spoke to it in the most +friendly manner, and washed its small paws with the healing water. In +a moment the mouse was sound and whole, and after thanking the kind +physician it scampered away over the ploughed furrows. + +Ferko again proceeded on his journey, but he hadn't gone far before a +queen bee flew against him, trailing one wing behind her, which had been +cruelly torn in two by a big bird. Ferko was no less willing to help +her than he had been to help the wolf and the mouse, so he poured some +healing drops over the wounded wing. On the spot the queen bee was +cured, and turning to Ferko she said, 'I am most grateful for your +kindness, and shall reward you some day.' And with these words she flew +away humming, gaily. + +Then Ferko wandered on for many a long day, and at length reached +a strange kingdom. Here, he thought to himself, he might as well +go straight to the palace and offer his services to the King of the +country, for he had heard that the King's daughter was as beautiful as +the day. + +So he went to the royal palace, and as he entered the door the first +people he saw were his two brothers who had so shamefully ill-treated +him. They had managed to obtain places in the King's service, and when +they recognised Ferko with his eyes and legs sound and well they were +frightened to death, for they feared he would tell the King of their +conduct, and that they would be hung. + +No sooner had Ferko entered the palace than all eyes were turned on the +handsome youth, and the King's daughter herself was lost in admiration, +for she had never seen anyone so handsome in her life before. His +brothers noticed this, and envy and jealousy were added to their fear, +so much so that they determined once more to destroy him. They went to +the King and told him that Ferko was a wicked magician, who had come to +the palace with the intention of carrying off the Princess. + +Then the King had Ferko brought before him, and said, 'You are accused +of being a magician who wishes to rob me of my daughter, and I condemn +you to death; but if you can fulfil three tasks which I shall set you to +do your life shall be spared, on condition you leave the country; but if +you cannot perform what I demand you shall be hung on the nearest tree.' + +And turning to the two wicked brothers he said, 'Suggest something for +him to do; no matter how difficult, he must succeed in it or die.' + +They did not think long, but replied, 'Let him build your Majesty in one +day a more beautiful palace than this, and if he fails in the attempt +let him be hung.' + +The King was pleased with this proposal, and commanded Ferko to set to +work on the following day. The two brothers were delighted, for they +thought they had now got rid of Ferko for ever. The poor youth himself +was heart-broken, and cursed the hour he had crossed the boundary of +the King's domain. As he was wandering disconsolately about the meadows +round the palace, wondering how he could escape being put to death, a +little bee flew past, and settling on his shoulder whispered in his ear, +'What is troubling you, my kind benefactor? Can I be of any help to you? +I am the bee whose wing you healed, and would like to show my gratitude +in some way.' + +Ferko recognised the queen bee, and said, 'Alas! how could you help me? +for I have been set to do a task which no one in the whole world could +do, let him be ever such a genius! To-morrow I must build a palace more +beautiful than the King's, and it must be finished before evening.' + +'Is that all?' answered the bee, 'then you may comfort yourself; for +before the sun goes down to-morrow night a palace shall be built unlike +any that King has dwelt in before. Just stay here till I come again and +tell you that it is finished.' Having said this she flew merrily away, +and Ferko, reassured by her words, lay down on the grass and slept +peacefully till the next morning. + +Early on the following day the whole town was on its feet, and everyone +wondered how and where the stranger would build the wonderful palace. +The Princess alone was silent and sorrowful, and had cried all night +till her pillow was wet, so much did she take the fate of the beautiful +youth to heart. + +Ferko spent the whole day in the meadows waiting the return of the bee. +And when evening was come the queen bee flew by, and perching on his +shoulder she said, 'The wonderful palace is ready. Be of good cheer, +and lead the King to the hill just outside the city walls.' And humming +gaily she flew away again. + +Ferko went at once to the King and told him the palace was finished. The +whole court went out to see the wonder, and their astonishment was great +at the sight which met their eyes. A splendid palace reared itself on +the hill just outside the walls of the city, made of the most exquisite +flowers that ever grew in mortal garden. The roof was all of crimson +roses, the windows of lilies, the walls of white carnations, the floors +of glowing auriculas and violets, the doors of gorgeous tulips and +narcissi with sunflowers for knockers, and all round hyacinths and other +sweet-smelling flowers bloomed in masses, so that the air was perfumed +far and near and enchanted all who were present. + +This splendid palace had been built by the grateful queen bee, who had +summoned all the other bees in the kingdom to help her. + +The King's amazement knew no bounds, and the Princess's eyes beamed with +delight as she turned them from the wonderful building on the delighted +Ferko. But the two brothers had grown quite green with envy, and only +declared the more that Ferko was nothing but a wicked magician. + +The King, although he had been surprised and astonished at the way his +commands had been carried out, was very vexed that the stranger should +escape with his life, and turning to the two brothers he said, 'He has +certainly accomplished the first task, with the aid no doubt of his +diabolical magic; but what shall we give him to do now? Let us make it +as difficult as possible, and if he fails he shall die.' + +Then the eldest brother replied, 'The corn has all been cut, but it has +not yet been put into barns; let the knave collect all the grain in the +kingdom into one big heap before to-morrow night, and if as much as a +stalk of corn is left let him be put to death. + +The Princess grew white with terror when she heard these words; but +Ferko felt much more cheerful than he had done the first time, and +wandered out into the meadows again, wondering how he was to get out of +the difficulty. But he could think of no way of escape. The sun sank to +rest and night came on, when a little mouse started out of the grass +at Ferko's feet, and said to him, 'I'm delighted to see you, my kind +benefactor; but why are you looking so sad? Can I be of any help to you, +and thus repay your great kindness to me?' + +Then Ferko recognised the mouse whose front paws he had healed, and +replied, 'Alas I how can you help me in a matter that is beyond any +human power! Before to-morrow night all the grain in the kingdom has +to be gathered into one big heap, and if as much as a stalk of corn is +wanting I must pay for it with my life.' + +'Is that all?' answered the mouse; 'that needn't distress you much. Just +trust in me, and before the sun sets again you shall hear that your task +is done.' And with these words the little creature scampered away into +the fields. + +Ferko, who never doubted that the mouse would be as good as its word, +lay down comforted on the soft grass and slept soundly till next +morning. The day passed slowly, and with the evening came the little +mouse and said, 'Now there is not a single stalk of corn left in any +field; they are all collected in one big heap on the hill out there.' + +Then Ferko went joyfully to the King and told him that all he demanded +had been done. And the whole Court went out to see the wonder, and were +no less astonished than they had been the first time. For in a heap +higher than the King's palace lay all the grain of the country, and not +a single stalk of corn had been left behind in any of the fields. And +how had all this been done? The little mouse had summoned every other +mouse in the land to its help, and together they had collected all the +grain in the kingdom. + +The King could not hide his amazement, but at the same time his wrath +increased, and he was more ready than ever to believe the two brothers, +who kept on repeating that Ferko was nothing more nor less than a wicked +magician. Only the beautiful Princess rejoiced over Ferko's success, and +looked on him with friendly glances, which the youth returned. + +The more the cruel King gazed on the wonder before him, the more +angry he became, for he could not, in the face of his promise, put the +stranger to death. He turned once more to the two brothers and said, +'His diabolical magic has helped him again, but now what third task +shall we set him to do? No matter how impossible it is, he must do it or +die.' + +The eldest answered quickly, 'Let him drive all the wolves of the +kingdom on to this hill before to-morrow night. If he does this he may +go free; if not he shall be hung as you have said.' + +At these words the Princess burst into tears, and when the King saw this +he ordered her to be shut up in a high tower and carefully guarded till +the dangerous magician should either have left the kingdom or been hung +on the nearest tree. + +Ferko wandered out into the fields again, and sat down on the stump of +a tree wondering what he should do next. Suddenly a big wolf ran up to +him, and standing still said, 'I'm very glad to see you again, my kind +benefactor. What are you thinking about all alone by yourself? If I can +help you in any way only say the word, for I would like to give you a +proof of my gratitude.' + +Ferko at once recognised the wolf whose broken leg he had healed, and +told him what he had to do the following day if he wished to escape with +his life. 'But how in the world,' he added, 'am I to collect all the +wolves of the kingdom on to that hill over there?' + +'If that's all you want done,' answered the wolf, 'you needn't worry +yourself. I'll undertake the task, and you'll hear from me again before +sunset to-morrow. Keep your spirits up.' And with these words he trotted +quickly away. + +Then the youth rejoiced greatly, for now he felt that his life was safe; +but he grew very sad when he thought of the beautiful Princess, and that +he would never see her again if he left the country. He lay down once +more on the grass and soon fell fast asleep. + +All the next day he spent wandering about the fields, and toward +evening the wolf came running to him in a great hurry and said, 'I have +collected together all the wolves in the kingdom, and they are waiting +for you in the wood. Go quickly to the King, and tell him to go to the +hill that he may see the wonder you have done with his own eyes. Then +return at once to me and get on my back, and I will help you to drive +all the wolves together.' + +Then Ferko went straight to the palace and told the King that he was +ready to perform the third task if he would come to the hill and see it +done. Ferko himself returned to the fields, and mounting on the wolf's +back he rode to the wood close by. + +Quick as lightning the wolf flew round the wood, and in a minute many +hundred wolves rose up before him, increasing in number every moment, +till they could be counted by thousands. He drove them all before him on +to the hill, where the King and his whole Court and Ferko's two brothers +were standing. Only the lovely Princess was not present, for she was +shut up in her tower weeping bitterly. + +The wicked brothers stamped and foamed with rage when they saw the +failure of their wicked designs. But the King was overcome by a sudden +terror when he saw the enormous pack of wolves approaching nearer and +nearer, and calling out to Ferko he said, 'Enough, enough, we don't want +any more.' + +But the wolf on whose back Ferko sat, said to its rider, 'Go on! go +on!' and at the same moment many more wolves ran up the hill, howling +horribly and showing their white teeth. + +The King in his terror called out, 'Stop a moment; I will give you half +my kingdom if you will drive all the wolves away.' But Ferko pretended +not to hear, and drove some more thousands before him, so that everyone +quaked with horror and fear. + +Then the King raised his voice again and called out, 'Stop! you shall +have my whole kingdom, if you will only drive these wolves back to the +places they came from.' + +But the wolf kept on encouraging Ferko, and said, 'Go on! go on!' So he +led the wolves on, till at last they fell on the King and on the wicked +brothers, and ate them and the whole Court up in a moment. + +Then Ferko went straight to the palace and set the Princess free, and on +the same day he married her and was crowned King of the country. And the +wolves all went peacefully back to their own homes, and Ferko and his +bride lived for many years in peace and happiness together, and were +much beloved by great and small in the land. + + + + + THE GIANTS AND THE HERD-BOY(12) + +(12) From the Bukowniaer. Von Wliolocki. + +There was once upon a time a poor boy who had neither father nor mother. +In order to gain a living he looked after the sheep of a great Lord. Day +and night he spent out in the open fields, and only when it was very +wet and stormy did he take refuge in a little hut on the edge of a +big forest. Now one night, when he was sitting on the grass beside his +flocks, he heard not very far from him the sound as of some one crying. +He rose up and followed the direction of the noise. To his dismay and +astonishment he found a Giant lying at the entrance of the wood; he was +about to run off as fast as his legs could carry him, when the Giant +called out: 'Don't be afraid, I won't harm you. On the contrary, I will +reward you handsomely if you will bind up my foot. I hurt it when I was +trying to root up an oak-tree.' The Herd-boy took off his shirt, and +bound up the Giant's wounded foot with it. Then the Giant rose up and +said, 'Now come and I will reward you. We are going to celebrate a +marriage to-day, and I promise you we shall have plenty of fun. Come and +enjoy yourself, but in order that my brothers mayn't see you, put this +band round your waist and then you'll be invisible.' With these words +he handed the Herd-boy a belt, and walking on in front he led him to +a fountain where hundreds of Giants and Giantesses were assembled +preparing to hold a wedding. They danced and played different games till +midnight; then one of the Giants tore up a plant by its roots, and all +the Giants and Giantesses made themselves so thin that they disappeared +into the earth through the hole made by the uprooting of the plant. The +wounded Giant remained behind to the last and called out, 'Herd-boy, +where are you?' 'Here I am, close to you,' was the reply. 'Touch me,' +said the Giant, 'so that you too may come with us under ground.' The +Herd-boy did as he was told, and before he could have believed it +possible he found himself in a big hall, where even the walls were +made of pure gold. Then to his astonishment he saw that the hall was +furnished with the tables and chairs that belonged to his master. In a +few minutes the company began to eat and drink. + +The banquet was a very gorgeous one, and the poor youth fell to and ate +and drank lustily. When he had eaten and drunk as much as he could he +thought to himself, 'Why shouldn't I put a loaf of bread in my pocket? +I shall be glad of it to-morrow.' So he seized a loaf when no one was +looking and stowed it away under his tunic. No sooner had he done so +than the wounded Giant limped up to him and whispered softly, 'Herd-boy, +where are you?' 'Here I am,' replied the youth. 'Then hold on to me,' +said the Giant, 'so that I may lead you up above again.' So the Herd-boy +held on to the Giant, and in a few moments he found himself on the earth +once more, but the Giant had vanished. The Herd-boy returned to his +sheep, and took off the invisible belt which he hid carefully in his +bag. + +The next morning the lad felt hungry, and thought he would cut off a +piece of the loaf he had carried away from the Giants' wedding feast, +and eat it. But although he tried with all his might, he couldn't cut +off the smallest piece. Then in despair he bit the loaf, and what was +his astonishment when a piece of gold fell out of his mouth and rolled +at his feet. He bit the bread a second and third time, and each time a +piece of gold fell out of his mouth; but the bread remained untouched. +The Herd-boy was very much delighted over his stroke of good fortune, +and, hiding the magic loaf in his bag, he hurried off to the nearest +village to buy himself something to eat, and then returned to his sheep. + +Now the Lord whose sheep the Herd-boy looked after had a very lovely +daughter, who always smiled and nodded to the youth when she walked with +her father in his fields. For a long time the Herd-boy had made up his +mind to prepare a surprise for this beautiful creature on her birthday. +So when the day approached he put on his invisible belt, took a sack of +gold pieces with him, and slipping into her room in the middle of the +night, he placed the bag of gold beside her bed and returned to his +sheep. The girl's joy was great, and so was her parents' next day when +they found the sack full of gold pieces. The Herd-boy was so pleased to +think what pleasure he had given that the next night he placed another +bag of gold beside the girl's bed. And this he continued to do for seven +nights, and the girl and her parents made up their minds that it must +be a good Fairy who brought the gold every night. But one night they +determined to watch, and see from their hiding place who the bringer of +the sack of gold really was. + +On the eighth night a fearful storm of wind and rain came on while the +Herd-boy was on his way to bring the beautiful girl another bag of gold. +Then for the first time he noticed, just as he reached his master's +house, that he had forgotten the belt which made him invisible. He +didn't like the idea of going back to his hut in the wind and wet, so +he just stepped as he was into the girl's room, laid the sack of +gold beside her, and was turning to leave the room, when his master +confronted him and said, 'You young rogue, so you were going to steal +the gold that a good Fairy brings every night, were you?' The Herd-boy +was so taken aback by his words, that he stood trembling before him, +and did not dare to explain his presence. Then his master spoke. 'As you +have hitherto always behaved well in my service I will not send you to +prison; but leave your place instantly and never let me see your face +again.' So the Herd-boy went back to his hut, and taking his loaf and +belt with him, he went to the nearest town. There he bought himself +some fine clothes, and a beautiful coach with four horses, hired two +servants, and drove back to his master. You may imagine how astonished +he was to see his Herd-boy returning to him in this manner! Then the +youth told him of the piece of good luck that had befallen him, and +asked him for the hand of his beautiful daughter. This was readily +granted, and the two lived in peace and happiness to the end of their +lives. + + + + + THE INVISIBLE PRINCE + +Once upon a time there lived a Fairy who had power over the earth, the +sea, fire, and the air; and this Fairy had four sons. The eldest, who +was quick and lively, with a vivid imagination, she made Lord of Fire, +which was in her opinion the noblest of all the elements. To the second +son, whose wisdom and prudence made amends for his being rather dull, +she gave the government of the earth. The third was wild and savage, and +of monstrous stature; and the Fairy, his mother, who was ashamed of +his defects, hoped to hide them by creating him King of the Seas. The +youngest, who was the slave of his passions and of a very uncertain +temper, became Prince of the Air. + +Being the youngest, he was naturally his mother's favourite; but this +did not blind her to his weaknesses, and she foresaw that some day he +would suffer much pain through falling in love. So she thought the best +thing she could do was to bring him up with a horror of women; and, to +her great delight, she saw this dislike only increased as he grew older. +From his earliest childhood he heard nothing but stories of princes who +had fallen into all sorts of troubles through love; and she drew +such terrible pictures of poor little Cupid that the young man had no +difficulty in believing that he was the root of all evil. + +All the time that this wise mother could spare from filling her son +with hatred for all womenkind she passed in giving him a love of the +pleasures of the chase, which henceforth became his chief joy. For his +amusement she had made a new forest, planted with the most splendid +trees, and turned loose in it every animal that could be found in any of +the four quarters of the globe. In the midst of this forest she built a +palace which had not its equal for beauty in the whole world, and then +she considered that she had done enough to make any prince happy. + +Now it is all very well to abuse the God of Love, but a man cannot +struggle against his fate. In his secret heart the Prince got tired of +his mother's constant talk on this subject; and when one day she quitted +the palace to attend to some business, begging him never to go beyond +the grounds, he at once jumped at the chance of disobeying her. + +Left to himself the Prince soon forgot the wise counsels of his mother, +and feeling very much bored with his own company, he ordered some of +the spirits of the air to carry him to the court of a neighbouring +sovereign. This kingdom was situated in the Island of Roses, where the +climate is so delicious that the grass is always green and the flowers +always sweet. The waves, instead of beating on the rocks, seemed to die +gently on the shore; clusters of golden bushes covered the land, and the +vines were bent low with grapes. + +The King of this island had a daughter named Rosalie, who was more +lovely than any girl in the whole world. No sooner had the eyes of the +Prince of the Air rested on her than he forgot all the terrible woes +which had been prophesied to him ever since he was born, for in one +single moment the plans of years are often upset. He instantly began to +think how best to make himself happy, and the shortest way that occurred +to him was to have Rosalie carried off by his attendant spirits. + +It is easy to imagine the feelings of the King when he found that his +daughter had vanished. He wept her loss night and day, and his only +comfort was to talk over it with a young and unknown prince, who had +just arrived at the Court. Alas! he did not know what a deep interest +the stranger had in Rosalie, for he too had seen her, and had fallen a +victim to her charms. + +One day the King, more sorrowful than usual, was walking sadly along +the sea-shore, when after a long silence the unknown Prince, who was his +only companion, suddenly spoke. 'There is no evil without a remedy,' he +said to the unhappy father; 'and if you will promise me your daughter in +marriage, I will undertake to bring her back to you.' + +'You are trying to soothe me by vain promises,' answered the King. 'Did +I not see her caught up into the air, in spite of cries which would have +softened the heart of any one but the barbarian who has robbed me of +her? The unfortunate girl is pining away in some unknown land, where +perhaps no foot of man has ever trod, and I shall see her no more. But +go, generous stranger; bring back Rosalie if you can, and live happy +with her ever after in this country, of which I now declare you heir.' + +Although the stranger's name and rank were unknown to Rosalie's father, +he was really the son of the King of the Golden Isle, which had for +capital a city that extended from one sea to another. The walls, washed +by the quiet waters, were covered with gold, which made one think of the +yellow sands. Above them was a rampart of orange and lemon trees, and +all the streets were paved with gold. + +The King of this beautiful island had one son, for whom a life of +adventure had been foretold at his birth. This so frightened his father +and mother that in order to comfort them a Fairy, who happened to be +present at the time, produced a little pebble which she told them to +keep for the Prince till he grew up, as by putting it in his mouth he +would become invisible, as long as he did not try to speak, for if he +did the stone would lose all its virtue. In this way the good fairy +hoped that the Prince would be protected against all dangers. + +No sooner did the Prince begin to grow out of boyhood than he longed to +see if the other countries of the world were as splendid as the one in +which he lived. So, under pretence of visiting some small islands that +belonged to his father, he set out. But a frightful storm drove his ship +on to unknown shores, where most of his followers were put to death by +the savages, and the Prince himself only managed to escape by making use +of his magic pebble. By this means he passed through the midst of them +unseen, and wandered on till he reached the coast, where he re-embarked +on board his ship. + +The first land he sighted was the Island of Roses, and he went at once +to the court of the King, Rosalie's father. The moment his eyes beheld +the Princess, he fell in love with her like everyone else. + +He had already spent several months in this condition when the Prince of +the Air whirled her away, to the grief and despair of every man on the +island. But sad though everybody was, the Prince of the Golden Isle was +perfectly inconsolable, and he passed both days and nights in bemoaning +his loss. + +'Alas!' he cried; 'shall I never see my lovely Princess again?' Who +knows where she may be, and what fairy may have her in his keeping? I am +only a man, but I am strong in my love, and I will seek the whole world +through till I find her.' + +So saying, he left the court, and made ready for his journey. + +He travelled many weary days without hearing a single word of the lost +Princess, till one morning, as he was walking through a thick forest, +he suddenly perceived a magnificent palace standing at the end of a +pine avenue, and his heart bounded to think that he might be gazing on +Rosalie's prison. He hastened his steps, and quickly arrived at the gate +of the palace, which was formed of a single agate. The gate swung +open to let him through, and he next passed successively three courts, +surrounded by deep ditches filled with running water, with birds of +brilliant plumage flying about the banks. Everything around was rare and +beautiful, but the Prince scarcely raised his eyes to all these wonders. +He thought only of the Princess and where he should find her, but in +vain he opened every door and searched in every corner; he neither saw +Rosalie nor anyone else. At last there was no place left for him to +search but a little wood, which contained in the centre a sort of hall +built entirely of orange-trees, with four small rooms opening out of +the corners. Three of these were empty except for statues and wonderful +things, but in the fourth the Invisible Prince caught sight of Rosalie. +His joy at beholding her again was, however, somewhat lessened by seeing +that the Prince of the Air was kneeling at her feet, and pleading his +own cause. But it was in vain that he implored her to listen; she only +shook her head. 'No,' was all she would say; 'you snatched me from +my father whom I loved, and all the splendour in the world can never +console me. Go! I can never feel anything towards you but hate and +contempt.' With these words she turned away and entered her own +apartments. + +Unknown to herself the Invisible Prince had followed her, but fearing to +be discovered by the Princess in the presence of others, he made up his +mind to wait quietly till dark; and employed the long hours in writing a +poem to the Princess, which he laid on the bed beside her. This done, he +thought of nothing but how best to deliver Rosalie, and he resolved to +take advantage of a visit which the Prince of the Air paid every year to +his mother and brothers in order to strike the blow. + +One day Rosalie was sitting alone in her room thinking of her troubles +when she suddenly saw a pen get up from off the desk and begin to write +all by itself on a sheet of white paper. As she did not know that it was +guided by an invisible hand she was very much astonished, and the moment +that the pen had ceased to move she instantly went over to the table, +where she found some lovely verses, telling her that another shared her +distresses, whatever they might be, and loved her with all his heart; +and that he would never rest until he had delivered her from the hands +of the man she hated. Thus encouraged, she told him all her story, and +of the arrival of a young stranger in her father's palace, whose looks +had so charmed her that since that day she had thought of no one else. +At these words the Prince could contain himself no longer. He took the +pebble from his mouth, and flung himself at Rosalie's feet. + +When they had got over the first rapture of meeting they began to make +plans to escape from the power of the Prince of the Air. But this did +not prove easy, for the magic stone would only serve for one person at +a time, and in order to save Rosalie the Prince of the Golden Isle would +have to expose himself to the fury of his enemy. But Rosalie would not +hear of this. + +'No, Prince,' she said; 'since you are here this island no longer feels +a prison. Besides, you are under the protection of a Fairy, who always +visits your father's court at this season. Go instantly and seek her, +and when she is found implore the gift of another stone with similar +powers. Once you have that, there will be no further difficulty in the +way of escape.' + +The Prince of the Air returned a few days later from his mother's +palace, but the Invisible Prince had already set out. He had, however, +entirely forgotten the road by which he had come, and lost himself for +so long in the forest, that when at last he reached home the Fairy had +already left, and, in spite of all his grief, there was nothing for it +but to wait till the Fairy's next visit, and allow Rosalie to suffer +three months longer. This thought drove him to despair, and he had +almost made up his mind to return to the place of her captivity, when +one day, as he was strolling along an alley in the woods, he saw a +huge oak open its trunk, and out of it step two Princes in earnest +conversation. As our hero had the magic stone in his mouth they imagined +themselves alone, and did not lower their voices. + +'What!' said one, 'are you always going to allow yourself to be +tormented by a passion which can never end happily, and in your whole +kingdom can you find nothing else to satisfy you?' + +'What is the use,' replied the other, 'of being Prince of the Gnomes, +and having a mother who is queen over all the four elements, if I cannot +win the love of the Princess Argentine? From the moment that I first saw +her, sitting in the forest surrounded by flowers, I have never ceased +to think of her night and day, and, although I love her, I am quite +convinced that she will never care for me. You know that I have in my +palace the cabinets of the years. In the first, great mirrors reflect +the past; in the second, we contemplate the present; in the third, the +future can be read. It was here that I fled after I had gazed on the +Princess Argentine, but instead of love I only saw scorn and contempt. +Think how great must be my devotion, when, in spite of my fate, I still +love on!' + +Now the Prince of the Golden Isle was enchanted with this conversation, +for the Princess Argentine was his sister, and he hoped, by means of her +influence over the Prince of the Gnomes, to obtain from his brother +the release of Rosalie. So he joyfully returned to his father's palace, +where he found his friend the Fairy, who at once presented him with +a magic pebble like his own. As may be imagined, he lost no time in +setting out to deliver Rosalie, and travelled so fast that he soon +arrived at the forest, in the midst of which she lay a captive. But +though he found the palace he did not find Rosalie. He hunted high and +low, but there was no sign of her, and his despair was so great that +he was ready, a thousand times over, to take his own life. At last he +remembered the conversation of the two Princes about the cabinets of the +years, and that if he could manage to reach the oak tree, he would be +certain to discover what had become of Rosalie. Happily, he soon found +out the secret of the passage and entered the cabinet of the present, +where he saw reflected in the mirrors the unfortunate Rosalie sitting +on the floor weeping bitterly, and surrounded with genii, who never left +her night or day. + +This sight only increased the misery of the Prince, for he did not +know where the castle was, nor how to set about finding it. However, +he resolved to seek the whole world through till he came to the right +place. He began by setting sail in a favourable wind, but his bad luck +followed him even on the sea. He had scarcely lost sight of the land +when a violent storm arose, and after several hours of beating about, +the vessel was driven on to some rocks, on which it dashed itself +to bits. The Prince was fortunate enough to be able to lay hold of a +floating spar, and contrived to keep himself afloat; and, after a long +struggle with the winds and waves, he was cast upon a strange island. +But what was his surprise, on reaching the shore, to hear sounds of the +most heartrending distress, mingled with the sweetest songs which had +ever charmed him! His curiosity was instantly roused, and he advanced +cautiously till he saw two huge dragons guarding the gate of a wood. +They were terrible indeed to look upon. Their bodies were covered with +glittering scales; their curly tails extended far over the land; flames +darted from their mouths and noses, and their eyes would have made the +bravest shudder; but as the Prince was invisible and they did not see +him, he slipped past them into the wood. He found himself at once in a +labyrinth, and wandered about for a long time without meeting anyone; in +fact, the only sight he saw was a circle of human hands, sticking out +of the ground above the wrist, each with a bracelet of gold, on which +a name was written. The farther he advanced in the labyrinth the more +curious he became, till he was stopped by two corpses lying in the +midst of a cypress alley, each with a scarlet cord round his neck and a +bracelet on his arm on which were engraved their own names, and those of +two Princesses. + +The invisible Prince recognised these dead men as Kings of two large +islands near his own home, but the names of the Princesses were unknown +to him. He grieved for their unhappy fate, and at once proceeded to bury +them; but no sooner had he laid them in their graves, than their hands +started up through the earth and remained sticking up like those of +their fellows. + +The Prince went on his way, thinking about this strange adventure, when +suddenly at the turn of the walk he perceived a tall man whose face was +the picture of misery, holding in his hands a silken cord of the exact +colour of those round the necks of the dead men. A few steps further +this man came up with another as miserable to the full as he himself; +they silently embraced, and then without a word passed the cords round +their throats, and fell dead side by side. In vain the Prince rushed to +their assistance and strove to undo the cord. He could not loosen it; so +he buried them like the others and continued his path. + +He felt, however, that great prudence was necessary, or he himself might +become the victim of some enchantment; and he was thankful to slip past +the dragons, and enter a beautiful park, with clear streams and sweet +flowers, and a crowd of men and maidens. But he could not forget +the terrible things he had seen, and hoped eagerly for a clue to the +mystery. Noticing two young people talking together, he drew near +thinking that he might get some explanation of what puzzled him. And so +he did. + +'You swear,' said the Prince, 'that you will love me till you die, but I +fear your faithless heart, and I feel that I shall soon have to seek the +Fairy Despair, ruler of half this island. She carries off the lovers +who have been cast away by their mistresses, and wish to have done with +life. She places them in a labyrinth where they are condemned to walk +for ever, with a bracelet on their arms and a cord round their necks, +unless they meet another as miserable as themselves. Then the cord is +pulled and they lie where they fall, till they are buried by the first +passer by. Terrible as this death would be,' added the Prince, 'it would +be sweeter than life if I had lost your love.' + +The sight of all these happy lovers only made the Prince grieve the +more, and he wandered along the seashore spending his days; but one day +he was sitting on a rock bewailing his fate, and the impossibility +of leaving the island, when all in a moment the sea appeared to raise +itself nearly to the skies, and the caves echoed with hideous screams. +As he looked a woman rose from the depths of the sea, flying madly +before a furious giant. The cries she uttered softened the heart of +the Prince; he took the stone from his mouth, and drawing his sword +he rushed after the giant, so as to give the lady time to escape. But +hardly had he come within reach of the enemy, than the giant touched him +with a ring that he held in his hand, and the Prince remained immovable +where he stood. The giant then hastily rejoined his prey, and, seizing +her in his arms, he plunged her into the sea. Then he sent some tritons +to bind chains about the Prince of the Golden Isle, and he too felt +himself borne to the depths of the ocean, and without the hope of ever +again seeing the Princess. + +Now the giant whom the invisible had so rashly attacked was the Lord +of the Sea, and the third son of the Queen of the Elements, and he had +touched the youth with a magic ring which enabled a mortal to live under +water. So the Prince of the Golden Isle found, when bound in chains by +the tritons, he was carried through the homes of strange monsters +and past immense seaweed forests, till he reached a vast sandy space, +surrounded by huge rocks. On the tallest of the rocks sat the giant as +on a throne. + +'Rash mortal,' said he, when the Prince was dragged before him, 'you +have deserved death, but you shall live only to suffer more cruelly. Go, +and add to the number of those whom it is my pleasure to torture.' + +At these words the unhappy Prince found himself tied to a rock; but he +was not alone in his misfortunes, for all round him were chained Princes +and Princesses, whom the giant had led captive. Indeed, it was his chief +delight to create a storm, in order to add to the list of his prisoners. + +As his hands were fastened, it was impossible for the Prince of the +Golden Isle to make use of his magic stone, and he passed his nights and +days dreaming of Rosalie. But at last the time came when the giant took +it into his head to amuse himself by arranging fights between some +of his captives. Lots were drawn, and one fell upon our Prince, whose +chains were immediately loosened. The moment he was set free, he +snatched up his stone, and became invisible. + +The astonishment of the giant at the sudden disappearance of the Prince +may well be imagined. He ordered all the passages to be watched, but it +was too late, for the Prince had already glided between two rocks. He +wandered for a long while through the forests, where he met nothing but +fearful monsters; he climbed rock after rock, steered his way from tree +to tree, till at length he arrived at the edge of the sea, at the foot +of a mountain that he remembered to have seen in the cabinet of the +present, where Rosalie was held captive. + +Filled with joy, he made his way to the top of the mountain which +pierced the clouds, and there he found a palace. He entered, and in the +middle of a long gallery he discovered a crystal room, in the midst of +which sat Rosalie, guarded night and day by genii. There was no door +anywhere, nor any window. At this sight the Prince became more puzzled +than ever, for he did not know how he was to warn Rosalie of his return. +Yet it broke his heart to see her weeping from dawn till dark. + +One day, as Rosalie was walking up and down her room, she was surprised +to see that the crystal which served for a wall had grown cloudy, as if +some one had breathed on it, and, what was more, wherever she moved +the brightness of the crystal always became clouded. This was enough to +cause the Princess to suspect that her lover had returned. In order +to set the Prince of the Air's mind at rest she began by being very +gracious to him, so that when she begged that her captivity might be a +little lightened she should not be refused. At first the only favour she +asked was to be allowed to walk for one hour every day up and down the +long gallery. This was granted, and the Invisible Prince speedily took +the opportunity of handing her the stone, which she at once slipped +into her mouth. No words can paint the fury of her captor at her +disappearance. He ordered the spirits of the air to fly through all +space, and to bring back Rosalie wherever she might be. They instantly +flew off to obey his commands, and spread themselves over the whole +earth. + +Meantime Rosalie and the Invisible Prince had reached, hand in hand, +a door of the gallery which led through a terrace into the gardens. In +silence they glided along, and thought themselves already safe, when +a furious monster dashed itself by accident against Rosalie and the +Invisible Prince, and in her fright she let go his hand. No one can +speak as long as he is invisible, and besides, they knew that the +spirits were all around them, and at the slightest sound they would +be recognised; so all they could do was to feel about in the hope that +their hands might once more meet. + +But, alas! the joy of liberty lasted but a short time. The Princess, +having wandered in vain up and down the forest, stopped at last on the +edge of a fountain. As she walked she wrote on the trees: 'If ever the +Prince, my lover, comes this way, let him know that it is here I dwell, +and that I sit daily on the edge of this fountain, mingling my tears +with its waters.' + +These words were read by one of the genii, who repeated them to his +master. The Prince of the Air, in his turn making himself invisible, was +led to the fountain, and waited for Rosalie. When she drew near he +held out his hand, which she grasped eagerly, taking it for that of her +lover; and, seizing his opportunity, the Prince passed a cord round her +arms, and throwing off his invisibility cried to his spirits to drag her +into the lowest pit. + +It was at this moment that the Invisible Prince appeared, and at the +sight of the Prince of the Genii mounting into the air, holding a silken +cord, he guessed instantly that he was carrying off Rosalie. + +He felt so overwhelmed by despair that he thought for an instant of +putting an end to his life. 'Can I survive my misfortunes?' he cried. 'I +fancied I had come to an end of my troubles, and now they are worse than +ever. What will become of me? Never can I discover the place where this +monster will hide Rosalie.' + +The unhappy youth had determined to let himself die, and indeed his +sorrow alone was enough to kill him, when the thought that by means +of the cabinets of the years he might find out where the Princess was +imprisoned, gave him a little ray of comfort. So he continued to walk +on through the forest, and after some hours he arrived at the gate of a +temple, guarded by two huge lions. Being invisible, he was able to enter +unharmed. In the middle of the temple was an altar, on which lay a book, +and behind the altar hung a great curtain. The Prince approached the +altar and opened the book, which contained the names of all the lovers +in the world: and in it he read that Rosalie had been carried off by the +Prince of the Air to an abyss which had no entrance except the one that +lay by way of the Fountain of Gold. + +Now, as the Prince had not the smallest idea where this fountain was to +be found, it might be thought that he was not much nearer Rosalie than +before. This was not, however, the view taken by the Prince. + +'Though every step that I take may perhaps lead me further from her,' +he said to himself, 'I am still thankful to know that she is alive +somewhere.' + +On leaving the temple the Invisible Prince saw six paths lying before +him, each of which led through the wood. He was hesitating which to +choose, when he suddenly beheld two people coming towards him, down +the track which lay most to his right. They turned out to be the Prince +Gnome and his friend, and the sudden desire to get some news of his +sister, Princess Argentine, caused the Invisible Prince to follow them +and to listen to their conversation. + +'Do you think,' the Prince Gnome was saying, 'do you think that I would +not break my chains if I could? I know that the Princess Argentine will +never love me, yet each day I feel her dearer still. And as if this +were not enough, I have the horror of feeling that she probably loves +another. So I have resolved to put myself out of my pain by means of the +Golden Fountain. A single drop of its water falling on the sand around +will trace the name of my rival in her heart. I dread the test, and yet +this very dread convinces me of my misfortune.' + +It may be imagined that after listening to these words the Invisible +Prince followed Prince Gnome like his shadow, and after walking some +time they arrived at the Golden Fountain. The unhappy lover stooped down +with a sigh, and dipping his finger in the water let fall a drop on +the sand. It instantly wrote the name of Prince Flame, his brother. The +shock of this discovery was so real, that Prince Gnome sank fainting +into the arms of his friend. + +Meanwhile the Invisible Prince was turning over in his mind how he could +best deliver Rosalie. As, since he had been touched by the Giant's ring, +he had the power to live in the water as well as on land, he at once +dived into the fountain. He perceived in one corner a door leading into +the mountain, and at the foot of the mountain was a high rock on which +was fixed an iron ring with a cord attached. The Prince promptly guessed +that the cord was used to chain the Princess, and drew his sword and cut +it. In a moment he felt the Princess's hand in his, for she had +always kept her magic pebble in her mouth, in spite of the prayers and +entreaties of the Prince of the Air to make herself visible. + +So hand in hand the invisible Prince and Rosalie crossed the mountain; +but as the Princess had no power of living under water, she could not +pass the Golden Fountain. Speechless and invisible they clung together +on the brink, trembling at the frightful tempest the Prince of the Air +had raised in his fury. The storm had already lasted many days when +tremendous heat began to make itself felt. The lightning flashed, the +thunder rattled, fire bolts fell from heaven, burning up the forests and +even the fields of corn. In one instant the very streams were dried up, +and the Prince, seizing his opportunity, carried the Princess over the +Golden Fountain. + +It took them a long time still to reach the Golden Isle, but at last +they got there, and we may be quite sure they never wanted to leave it +any more. + + + + + THE CROW(13) + +(13) From the Polish. Kletke. + +Once upon a time there were three Princesses who were all three young +and beautiful; but the youngest, although she was not fairer than the +other two, was the most loveable of them all. + +About half a mile from the palace in which they lived there stood a +castle, which was uninhabited and almost a ruin, but the garden which +surrounded it was a mass of blooming flowers, and in this garden the +youngest Princess used often to walk. + +One day when she was pacing to and fro under the lime trees, a black +crow hopped out of a rose-bush in front of her. The poor beast was all +torn and bleeding, and the kind little Princess was quite unhappy about +it. When the crow saw this it turned to her and said: + +'I am not really a black crow, but an enchanted Prince, who has been +doomed to spend his youth in misery. If you only liked, Princess, you +could save me. But you would have to say good-bye to all your own people +and come and be my constant companion in this ruined castle. There is +one habitable room in it, in which there is a golden bed; there you will +have to live all by yourself, and don't forget that whatever you may see +or hear in the night you must not scream out, for if you give as much as +a single cry my sufferings will be doubled.' + +The good-natured Princess at once left her home and her family and +hurried to the ruined castle, and took possession of the room with the +golden bed. + +When night approached she lay down, but though she shut her eyes tight +sleep would not come. At midnight she heard to her great horror some one +coming along the passage, and in a minute her door was flung wide open +and a troop of strange beings entered the room. They at once proceeded +to light a fire in the huge fireplace; then they placed a great cauldron +of boiling water on it. When they had done this, they approached the +bed on which the trembling girl lay, and, screaming and yelling all +the time, they dragged her towards the cauldron. She nearly died with +fright, but she never uttered a sound. Then of a sudden the cock crew, +and all the evil spirits vanished. + +At the same moment the crow appeared and hopped all round the room with +joy. It thanked the Princess most heartily for her goodness, and said +that its sufferings had already been greatly lessened. + +Now one of the Princess's elder sisters, who was very inquisitive, had +found out about everything, and went to pay her youngest sister a visit +in the ruined castle. She implored her so urgently to let her spend the +night with her in the golden bed, that at last the good-natured little +Princess consented. But at midnight, when the odd folk appeared, the +elder sister screamed with terror, and from this time on the youngest +Princess insisted always on keeping watch alone. + +So she lived in solitude all the daytime, and at night she would have +been frightened, had she not been so brave; but every day the crow came +and thanked her for her endurance, and assured her that his sufferings +were far less than they had been. + +And so two years passed away, when one day the crow came to the Princess +and said: 'In another year I shall be freed from the spell I am under +at present, because then the seven years will be over. But before I +can resume my natural form, and take possession of the belongings of +my forefathers, you must go out into the world and take service as a +maidservant.' + +The young Princess consented at once, and for a whole year she served as +a maid; but in spite of her youth and beauty she was very badly treated, +and suffered many things. One evening, when she was spinning flax, and +had worked her little white hands weary, she heard a rustling beside her +and a cry of joy. Then she saw a handsome youth standing beside her; who +knelt down at her feet and kissed the little weary white hands. + +'I am the Prince,' he said, 'who you in your goodness, when I was +wandering about in the shape of a black crow, freed from the most awful +torments. Come now to my castle with me, and let us live there happily +together.' + +So they went to the castle where they had both endured so much. But when +they reached it, it was difficult to believe that it was the same, for +it had all been rebuilt and done up again. And there they lived for a +hundred years, a hundred years of joy and happiness. + + + + +HOW SIX MEN TRAVELLED THROUGH THE WIDE WORLD + +There was once upon a time a man who understood all sorts of arts; he +served in the war, and bore himself bravely and well; but when the war +was over, he got his discharge, and set out on his travels with three +farthings of his pay in his pocket. 'Wait,' he said; 'that does not +please me; only let me find the right people, and the King shall yet +give me all the treasures of his kingdom.' He strode angrily into the +forest, and there he saw a man standing who had uprooted six trees as +if they were straws. He said to him, 'Will you be my servant and travel +with me?' + +'Yes,' he answered; 'but first of all I will take this little bundle +of sticks home to my mother,' and he took one of the trees and wound +it round the other five, raised the bundle on his shoulders and bore it +off. Then he came back and went with his master, who said, 'We two ought +to be able to travel through the wide world!' And when they had gone a +little way they came upon a hunter, who was on his knees, his gun on his +shoulder, aiming at something. The master said to him, 'Hunter, what are +you aiming at?' + +He answered, 'Two miles from this place sits a fly on a branch of an +oak; I want to shoot out its left eye.' + +'Oh, go with me,' said the man; 'if we three are together we shall +easily travel through the wide world.' + +The hunter agreed and went with him, and they came to seven windmills +whose sails were going round quite fast, and yet there was not a breath +of wind, nor was a leaf moving. The man said, 'I don't know what is +turning those windmills; there is not the slightest breeze blowing.' So +he walked on with his servants, and when they had gone two miles they +saw a man sitting on a tree, holding one of his nostrils and blowing out +of the other. + +'Fellow, what are you puffing at up there?' asked the man. + +He replied, 'Two miles from this place are standing seven windmills; +see, I am blowing to drive them round.' + +'Oh, go with me,' said the man; 'if we four are together we shall easily +travel through the wide world.' + +So the blower got down and went with him, and after a time they saw a +man who was standing on one leg, and had unstrapped the other and +laid it near him. Then said the master, 'You have made yourself very +comfortable to rest!' + +'I am a runner,' answered he; 'and so that I shall not go too quickly, +I have unstrapped one leg; when I run with two legs, I go faster than a +bird flies.' + +'Oh, go with me; if we five are together, we shall easily travel through +the wide world.' So he went with him, and, not long afterwards, they met +a man who wore a little hat, but he had it slouched over one ear. + +'Manners, manners!' said the master to him; 'don't hang your hat over +one ear; you look like a madman!' + +'I dare not,' said the other, 'for if I were to put my hat on straight, +there would come such a frost that the very birds in the sky would +freeze and fall dead on the earth.' + +'Oh, go with me,' said the master; 'if we six are together, we shall +easily travel through the wide world. + +Now the Six came to a town in which the King had proclaimed that whoever +should run with his daughter in a race, and win, should become her +husband; but if he lost, he must lose his head. This was reported to +the man who declared he would compete, 'but,' he said, 'I shall let my +servant run for me.' + +The King replied, 'Then both your heads must be staked, and your head +and his must be guaranteed for the winner.' + +When this was agreed upon and settled, the man strapped on the runner's +other leg, saying to him, 'Now be nimble, and see that we win!' It was +arranged that whoever should first bring water out of a stream a long +way off, should be the victor. Then the runner got a pitcher, and the +King's daughter another, and they began to run at the same time; but in +a moment, when the King's daughter was only just a little way off, +no spectator could see the runner, and it seemed as if the wind had +whistled past. In a short time he reached the stream, filled his +pitcher with water, and turned round again. But, half way home, a great +drowsiness came over him; he put down his pitcher, lay down, and fell +asleep. He had, however, put a horse's skull which was lying on the +ground, for his pillow, so that he should not be too comfortable and +might soon wake up. + +In the meantime the King's daughter, who could also run well, as well +as an ordinary man could, reached the stream, and hastened back with her +pitcher full of water. When she saw the runner lying there asleep, she +was delighted, and said, 'My enemy is given into my hands!' She emptied +his pitcher and ran on. + +Everything now would have been lost, if by good luck the hunter had not +been standing on the castle tower and had seen everything with his sharp +eyes. + +'Ah,' said he, 'the King's daughter shall not overreach us;' and, +loading his gun, he shot so cleverly, that he shot away the horse's +skull from under the runner's head, without its hurting him. Then the +runner awoke, jumped up, and saw that his pitcher was empty and the +King's daughter far ahead. But he did not lose courage, and ran back +to the stream with his pitcher, filled it once more with water, and was +home ten minutes before the King's daughter arrived. + +'Look,' said he, 'I have only just exercised my legs; that was nothing +of a run.' + +But the King was angry, and his daughter even more so, that she should +be carried away by a common, discharged soldier. They consulted together +how they could destroy both him and his companions. + +'Then,' said the King to her, 'I have found a way. Don't be frightened; +they shall not come home again.' He said to them, 'You must now make +merry together, and eat and drink,' and he led them into a room which +had a floor of iron; the doors were also of iron, and the windows were +barred with iron. In the room was a table spread with delicious food. +The King said to them, 'Go in and enjoy yourselves,' and as soon as +they were inside he had the doors shut and bolted. Then he made the cook +come, and ordered him to keep up a large fire under the room until the +iron was red-hot. The cook did so, and the Six sitting round the table +felt it grow very warm, and they thought this was because of their good +fare; but when the heat became still greater and they wanted to go out, +but found the doors and windows fastened, then they knew that the King +meant them harm and was trying to suffocate them. + +'But he shall not succeed,' cried he of the little hat, 'I will make a +frost come which shall make the fire ashamed and die out!' So he put his +hat on straight, and at once there came such a frost that all the heat +disappeared and the food on the dishes began to freeze. When a couple of +hours had passed, and the King thought they must be quite dead from the +heat, he had the doors opened and went in himself to see. + +But when the doors were opened, there stood all Six, alive and well, +saying they were glad they could come out to warm themselves, for the +great cold in the room had frozen all the food hard in the dishes. Then +the King went angrily to the cook, and scolded him, and asked him why he +had not done what he was told. + +But the cook answered, 'There is heat enough there; see for yourself.' +Then the King saw a huge fire burning under the iron room, and +understood that he could do no harm to the Six in this way. The King +now began again to think how he could free himself from his unwelcome +guests. He commanded the master to come before him, and said, 'If you +will take gold, and give up your right to my daughter, you shall have as +much as you like.' + +'Oh, yes, your Majesty,' answered he, 'give me as much as my servant can +carry, and I will give up your daughter.' + +The King was delighted, and the man said, 'I will come and fetch it in +fourteen days.' + +Then he called all the tailors in the kingdom together, and made them +sit down for fourteen days sewing at a sack. When it was finished, he +made the strong man who had uprooted the trees take the sack on his +shoulder and go with him to the King. Then the King said, 'What a +powerful fellow that is, carrying that bale of linen as large as a house +on his shoulder!' and he was much frightened, and thought 'What a lot of +gold he will make away with!' Then he had a ton of gold brought, which +sixteen of the strongest men had to carry; but the strong man seized it +with one hand, put it in the sack, saying, 'Why don't you bring me more? +That scarcely covers the bottom!' Then the King had to send again and +again to fetch his treasures, which the strong man shoved into the sack, +and the sack was only half full. + +'Bring more,' he cried, 'these crumbs don't fill it.' So seven thousand +waggons of the gold of the whole kingdom were driven up; these the +strong man shoved into the sack, oxen and all. + +'I will no longer be particular,' he said, 'and will take what comes, so +that the sack shall be full.' + +When everything was put in and there was not yet enough, he said, 'I +will make an end of this; it is easy to fasten a sack when it is not +full.' Then he threw it on his back and went with his companions. + +Now, when the King saw how a single man was carrying away the wealth +of the whole country he was very angry, and made his cavalry mount +and pursue the Six, and bring back the strong man with the sack. Two +regiments soon overtook them, and called to them, 'You are prisoners! +lay down the sack of gold or you shall be cut down.' + +'What do you say?' said the blower, 'we are prisoners? Before that, you +shall dance in the air!' And he held one nostril and blew with the other +at the two regiments; they were separated and blown away in the blue sky +over the mountains, one this way, and the other that. A sergeant-major +cried for mercy, saying he had nine wounds, and was a brave fellow, and +did not deserve this disgrace. So the blower let him off, and he came +down without hurt. Then he said to him, 'Now go home to the King, and +say that if he sends any more cavalry I will blow them all into the +air.' + +When the King received the message, he said, 'Let the fellows go; they +are bewitched.' Then the Six brought the treasure home, shared it among +themselves, and lived contentedly till the end of their days. + + + + + THE WIZARD KING(14) + +(14) From Les fees illustres. + +In very ancient times there lived a King, whose power lay not only in +the vast extent of his dominions, but also in the magic secrets of which +he was master. After spending the greater part of his early youth in +pleasure, he met a Princess of such remarkable beauty that he at once +asked her hand in marriage, and, having obtained it, considered himself +the happiest of men. + +After a year's time a son was born, worthy in every way of such +distinguished parents, and much admired by the whole Court. As soon as +the Queen thought him strong enough for a journey she set out with him +secretly to visit her Fairy godmother. I said secretly, because the +Fairy had warned the Queen that the King was a magician; and as from +time immemorial there had been a standing feud between the Fairies and +the Wizards, he might not have approved of his wife's visit. + +The Fairy godmother, who took the deepest interest in all the Queen's +concerns, and who was much pleased with the little Prince, endowed him +with the power of pleasing everybody from his cradle, as well as with +a wonderful ease in learning everything which could help to make him +a perfectly accomplished Prince. Accordingly, to the delight of his +teachers, he made the most rapid progress in his education, constantly +surpassing everyone's expectations. Before he was many years old, +however, he had the great sorrow of losing his mother, whose last words +were to advise him never to undertake anything of importance without +consulting the Fairy under whose protection she had placed him. + +The Prince's grief at the death of his mother was great, but it +was nothing compared to that of the King, his father, who was quite +inconsolable for the loss of his dear wife. Neither time nor reason +seemed to lighten his sorrow, and the sight of all the familiar faces +and things about him only served to remind him of his loss. He therefore +resolved to travel for change, and by means of his magic art was able +to visit every country he came to see under different shapes, returning +every few weeks to the place where he had left a few followers. + +Having travelled from land to land in this fashion without finding +anything to rivet his attention, it occurred to him to take the form of +an eagle, and in this shape he flew across many countries and arrived +at length in a new and lovely spot, where the air seemed filled with the +scent of jessamine and orange flowers with which the ground was thickly +planted. Attracted by the sweet perfume he flew lower, and perceived +some large and beautiful gardens filled with the rarest flowers, and +with fountains throwing up their clear waters into the air in a hundred +different shapes. A wide stream flowed through the garden, and on it +floated richly ornamented barges and gondolas filled with people dressed +in the most elegant manner and covered with jewels. + +In one of these barges sat the Queen of that country with her only +daughter, a maiden more beautiful than the Day Star, and attended by +the ladies of the Court. No more exquisitely lovely mortal was ever seen +than this Princess, and it needed all an eagle's strength of sight to +prevent the King being hopelessly dazzled. He perched on the top of a +large orange tree, whence he was able to survey the scene and to gaze at +pleasure on the Princess's charms. + +Now, an eagle with a King's heart in his breast is apt to be bold, +and accordingly he instantly made up his mind to carry off the lovely +damsel, feeling sure that having once seen her he could not live without +her. + +He waited till he saw her in the act of stepping ashore, when, suddenly +swooping down, he carried her off before her equerry in attendance had +advanced to offer her his hand. The Princess, on finding herself in an +eagle's talons, uttered the most heart-breaking shrieks and cries; but +her captor, though touched by her distress, would not abandon his lovely +prey, and continued to fly through the air too fast to allow of his +saying anything to comfort her. + +At length, when he thought they had reached a safe distance, he began +to lower his flight, and gradually descending to earth, deposited +his burden in a flowery meadow. He then entreated her pardon for his +violence, and told her that he was about to carry her to a great kingdom +over which he ruled, and where he desired she should rule with him, +adding many tender and consoling expressions. + +For some time the Princess remained speechless; but recovering herself +a little, she burst into a flood of tears. The King, much moved, said, +'Adorable Princess, dry your tears. I implore you. My only wish is to +make you the happiest person in the world.' + +'If you speak truth, my lord,' replied the Princess, 'restore to me the +liberty you have deprived me of. Otherwise I can only look on you as my +worst enemy.' + +The King retorted that her opposition filled him with despair, but that +he hoped to carry her to a place where all around would respect her, and +where every pleasure would surround her. So saying, he seized her once +more, and in spite of all her cries he rapidly bore her off to the +neighbourhood of his capital. Here he gently placed her on a lawn, and +as he did so she saw a magnificent palace spring up at her feet. The +architecture was imposing, and in the interior the rooms were handsome +and furnished in the best possible taste. + +The Princess, who expected to be quite alone, was pleased at finding +herself surrounded by a number of pretty girls, all anxious to wait on +her, whilst a brilliantly-coloured parrot said the most agreeable things +in the world. + +On arriving at this palace the King had resumed his own form, and +though no longer young, he might well have pleased any other than this +Princess, who had been so prejudiced against him by his violence that +she could only regard him with feelings of hatred, which she was at +no pains to conceal. The King hoped, however, that time might not only +soften her anger, but accustom her to his sight. He took the precaution +of surrounding the palace with a dense cloud, and then hastened to his +Court, where his prolonged absence was causing much anxiety. + +The Prince and all the courtiers were delighted to see their beloved +King again, but they had to submit themselves to more frequent absences +than ever on his part. He made business a pretext for shutting himself +up in his study, but it was really in order to spend the time with the +Princess, who remained inflexible. + +Not being able to imagine what could be the cause of so much obstinacy +the King began to fear, lest, in spite of all his precautions, she might +have heard of the charms of the Prince his son, whose goodness, youth +and beauty, made him adored at Court. This idea made him horribly +uneasy, and he resolved to remove the cause of his fears by sending the +Prince on his travels escorted by a magnificent retinue. + +The Prince, after visiting several Courts, arrived at the one where the +lost Princess was still deeply mourned. The King and Queen received him +most graciously, and some festivities were revived to do him honour. + +One day when the Prince was visiting the Queen in her own apartments he +was much struck by a most beautiful portrait. He eagerly inquired whose +it was, and the Queen, with many tears, told him it was all that was +left her of her beloved daughter, who had suddenly been carried off, she +knew neither where nor how. + +The Prince was deeply moved, and vowed that he would search the world +for the Princess, and take no rest till he had found and restored her to +her mother's arms. The Queen assured him of her eternal gratitude, +and promised, should he succeed, to give him her daughter in marriage, +together with all the estates she herself owned. + +The Prince, far more attracted by the thoughts of possessing the +Princess than her promised dower, set forth in his quest after taking +leave of the King and Queen, the latter giving him a miniature of her +daughter which she was in the habit of wearing. His first act was +to seek the Fairy under whose protection he had been placed, and he +implored her to give him all the assistance of her art and counsel in +this important matter. + +After listening attentively to the whole adventure, the Fairy asked +for time to consult her books. After due consideration she informed the +Prince that the object of his search was not far distant, but that it +was too difficult for him to attempt to enter the enchanted palace where +she was, as the King his father had surrounded it with a thick cloud, +and that the only expedient she could think of would be to gain +possession of the Princess's parrot. This, she added, did not +appear impossible, as it often flew about to some distance in the +neighbourhood. + +Having told the Prince all this, the Fairy went out in hopes of seeing +the parrot, and soon returned with the bird in her hand. She promptly +shut it up in a cage, and, touching the Prince with her wand, +transformed him into an exactly similar parrot; after which, she +instructed him how to reach the Princess. + +The Prince reached the palace in safety, but was so dazzled at first by +the Princess's beauty, which far surpassed his expectations, that he +was quite dumb for a time. The Princess was surprised and anxious, and +fearing the parrot, who was her greatest comfort, had fallen ill, she +took him in her hand and caressed him. This soon reassured the Prince, +and encouraged him to play his part well, and he began to say a thousand +agreeable things which charmed the Princess. + +Presently the King appeared, and the parrot noticed with joy how much +he was disliked. As soon as the King left, the Princess retired to her +dressing-room, the parrot flew after her and overheard her lamentations +at the continued persecutions of the King, who had pressed her to +consent to their marriage. The parrot said so many clever and tender +things to comfort her that she began to doubt whether this could indeed +be her own parrot. + +When he saw her well-disposed towards him, he exclaimed: 'Madam, I +have a most important secret to confide to you, and I beg you not to be +alarmed by what I am about to say. I am here on behalf of the Queen your +mother, with the object of delivering your Highness; to prove which, +behold this portrait which she gave me herself.' So saying he drew forth +the miniature from under his wing. The Princess's surprise was great, +but after what she had seen and heard it was impossible not to indulge +in hope, for she had recognised the likeness of herself which her mother +always wore. + +The parrot, finding she was not much alarmed, told her who he was, all +that her mother had promised him and the help he had already received +from a Fairy who had assured him that she would give him means to +transport the Princess to her mother's arms. + +When he found her listening attentively to him, he implored the Princess +to allow him to resume his natural shape. She did not speak, so he drew +a feather from his wing, and she beheld before her a Prince of such +surpassing beauty that it was impossible not to hope that she might owe +her liberty to so charming a person. + +Meantime the Fairy had prepared a chariot, to which she harnessed two +powerful eagles; then placing the cage, with the parrot in it, +she charged the bird to conduct it to the window of the Princess's +dressing-room. This was done in a few minutes, and the Princess, +stepping into the chariot with the Prince, was delighted to find her +parrot again. + +As they rose through the air the Princess remarked a figure mounted on +an eagle's back flying in front of the chariot. She was rather alarmed, +but the Prince reassured her, telling her it was the good Fairy to +whom she owed so much, and who was now conducting her in safety to her +mother. + +That same morning the King woke suddenly from a troubled sleep. He +had dreamt that the Princess was being carried off from him, and, +transforming himself into an eagle, he flew to the palace. When he +failed to find her he flew into a terrible rage, and hastened home to +consult his books, by which means he discovered that it was his son +who had deprived him of this precious treasure. Immediately he took the +shape of a harpy, and, filled with rage, was determined to devour his +son, and even the Princess too, if only he could overtake them. + +He set out at full speed; but he started too late, and was further +delayed by a strong wind which the Fairy raised behind the young couple +so as to baffle any pursuit. + +You may imagine the rapture with which the Queen received the daughter +she had given up for lost, as well as the amiable Prince who had rescued +her. The Fairy entered with them, and warned the Queen that the Wizard +King would shortly arrive, infuriated by his loss, and that nothing +could preserve the Prince and Princess from his rage and magic unless +they were actually married. + +The Queen hastened to inform the King her husband, and the wedding took +place on the spot. + +As the ceremony was completed the Wizard King arrived. His despair at +being so late bewildered him so entirely that he appeared in his natural +form and attempted to sprinkle some black liquid over the bride and +bridegroom, which was intended to kill them, but the Fairy stretched out +her wand and the liquid dropped on the Magician himself. He fell down +senseless, and the Princess's father, deeply offended at the cruel +revenge which had been attempted, ordered him to be removed and locked +up in prison. + +Now as magicians lose all their power as soon as they are in prison, the +King felt himself much embarrassed at being thus at the mercy of +those he had so greatly offended. The Prince implored and obtained his +father's pardon, and the prison doors were opened. + +No sooner was this done than the Wizard King was seen in the air under +the form of some unknown bird, exclaiming as he flew off that he would +never forgive either his son or the Fairy the cruel wrong they had done +him. + +Everyone entreated the Fairy to settle in the kingdom where she now was, +to which she consented. She built herself a magnificent palace, to which +she transported her books and fairy secrets, and where she enjoyed the +sight of the perfect happiness she had helped to bestow on the entire +royal family. + + + + + THE NIXY(15) + +(15) From the German. Kletke. + +There was once upon a time a miller who was very well off, and had as +much money and as many goods as he knew what to do with. But sorrow +comes in the night, and the miller all of a sudden became so poor +that at last he could hardly call the mill in which he sat his own. He +wandered about all day full of despair and misery, and when he lay down +at night he could get no rest, but lay awake all night sunk in sorrowful +thoughts. + +One morning he rose up before dawn and went outside, for he thought his +heart would be lighter in the open air. As he wandered up and down on +the banks of the mill-pond he heard a rustling in the water, and when he +looked near he saw a white woman rising up from the waves. + +He realised at once that this could be none other than the nixy of the +mill-pond, and in his terror he didn't know if he should fly away or +remain where he was. While he hesitated the nixy spoke, called him by +his name, and asked him why he was so sad. + +When the miller heard how friendly her tone was, he plucked up heart and +told her how rich and prosperous he had been all his life up till now, +when he didn't know what he was to do for want and misery. + +Then the nixy spoke comforting words to him, and promised that she would +make him richer and more prosperous than he had ever been in his life +before, if he would give her in return the youngest thing in his house. + +The miller thought she must mean one of his puppies or kittens, so +promised the nixy at once what she asked, and returned to his mill full +of hope. On the threshold he was greeted by a servant with the news that +his wife had just given birth to a boy. + +The poor miller was much horrified by these tidings, and went in to +his wife with a heavy heart to tell her and his relations of the fatal +bargain he had just struck with the nixy. 'I would gladly give up all +the good fortune she promised me,' he said, 'if I could only save my +child.' But no one could think of any advice to give him, beyond taking +care that the child never went near the mill-pond. + +So the boy throve and grew big, and in the meantime all prospered with +the miller, and in a few years he was richer than he had ever been +before. But all the same he did not enjoy his good fortune, for he could +not forget his compact with the nixy, and he knew that sooner or later +she would demand his fulfilment of it. But year after year went by, and +the boy grew up and became a great hunter, and the lord of the land took +him into his service, for he was as smart and bold a hunter as you would +wish to see. In a short time he married a pretty young wife, and lived +with her in great peace and happiness. + +One day when he was out hunting a hare sprang up at his feet, and ran +for some way in front of him in the open field. The hunter pursued it +hotly for some time, and at last shot it dead. Then he proceeded to +skin it, never noticing that he was close to the mill-pond, which from +childhood up he had been taught to avoid. He soon finished the skinning, +and went to the water to wash the blood off his hands. He had hardly +dipped them in the pond when the nixy rose up in the water, and seizing +him in her wet arms she dragged him down with her under the waves. + +When the hunter did not come home in the evening his wife grew very +anxious, and when his game bag was found close to the mill-pond she +guessed at once what had befallen him. She was nearly beside herself +with grief, and roamed round and round the pond calling on her husband +without ceasing. At last, worn out with sorrow and fatigue, she fell +asleep and dreamt that she was wandering along a flowery meadow, when +she came to a hut where she found an old witch, who promised to restore +her husband to her. + +When she awoke next morning she determined to set out and find the +witch; so she wandered on for many a day, and at last she reached the +flowery meadow and found the hut where the old witch lived. The poor +wife told her all that had happened and how she had been told in a dream +of the witch's power to help her. + +The witch counselled her to go to the pond the first time there was a +full moon, and to comb her black hair with a golden comb, and then to +place the comb on the bank. The hunter's wife gave the witch a handsome +present, thanked her heartily, and returned home. + +Time dragged heavily till the time of the full moon, but it passed at +last, and as soon as it rose the young wife went to the pond, combed +her black hair with a golden comb, and when she had finished, placed the +comb on the bank; then she watched the water impatiently. Soon she heard +a rushing sound, and a big wave rose suddenly and swept the comb off the +bank, and a minute after the head of her husband rose from the pond and +gazed sadly at her. But immediately another wave came, and the head sank +back into the water without having said a word. The pond lay still and +motionless, glittering in the moonshine, and the hunter's wife was not a +bit better off than she had been before. + +In despair she wandered about for days and nights, and at last, worn out +by fatigue, she sank once more into a deep sleep, and dreamt exactly the +same dream about the old witch. So next morning she went again to the +flowery meadow and sought the witch in her hut, and told her of her +grief. The old woman counselled her to go to the mill-pond the next +full moon and play upon a golden flute, and then to lay the flute on the +bank. + +As soon as the next moon was full the hunter's wife went to the +mill-pond, played on a golden flute, and when she had finished placed it +on the bank. Then a rushing sound was heard, and a wave swept the flute +off the bank, and soon the head of the hunter appeared and rose up +higher and higher till he was half out of the water. Then he gazed sadly +at his wife and stretched out his arms towards her. But another rushing +wave arose and dragged him under once more. The hunter's wife, who had +stood on the bank full of joy and hope, sank into despair when she saw +her husband snatched away again before her eyes. + +But for her comfort she dreamt the same dream a third time, and betook +herself once more to the old witch's hut in the flowery meadow. This +time the old woman told her to go the next full moon to the mill-pond, +and to spin there with a golden spinning-wheel, and then to leave the +spinning-wheel on the bank. + +The hunter's wife did as she was advised, and the first night the moon +was full she sat and spun with a golden spinning-wheel, and then left +the wheel on the bank. In a few minutes a rushing sound was heard in the +waters, and a wave swept the spinning-wheel from the bank. Immediately +the head of the hunter rose up from the pond, getting higher and higher +each moment, till at length he stepped on to the bank and fell on his +wife's neck. + +But the waters of the pond rose up suddenly, overflowed the bank where +the couple stood, and dragged them under the flood. In her despair the +young wife called on the old witch to help her, and in a moment the +hunter was turned into a frog and his wife into a toad. But they were +not able to remain together, for the water tore them apart, and when the +flood was over they both resumed their own shapes again, but the hunter +and the hunter's wife found themselves each in a strange country, and +neither knew what had become of the other. + +The hunter determined to become a shepherd, and his wife too became a +shepherdess. So they herded their sheep for many years in solitude and +sadness. + +Now it happened once that the shepherd came to the country where the +shepherdess lived. The neighbourhood pleased him, and he saw that the +pasture was rich and suitable for his flocks. So he brought his sheep +there, and herded them as before. The shepherd and shepherdess became +great friends, but they did not recognise each other in the least. + +But one evening when the moon was full they sat together watching their +flocks, and the shepherd played upon his flute. Then the shepherdess +thought of that evening when she had sat at the full moon by the +mill-pond and had played on the golden flute; the recollection was too +much for her, and she burst into tears. The shepherd asked her why she +was crying, and left her no peace till she told him all her story. Then +the scales fell from the shepherd's eyes, and he recognised his wife, +and she him. So they returned joyfully to their own home, and lived in +peace and happiness ever after. + + + + +THE GLASS MOUNTAIN(16) + +(16) From the Polish. Kletke. + +Once upon a time there was a Glass Mountain at the top of which stood +a castle made of pure gold, and in front of the castle there grew an +apple-tree on which there were golden apples. + +Anyone who picked an apple gained admittance into the golden castle, and +there in a silver room sat an enchanted Princess of surpassing fairness +and beauty. She was as rich too as she was beautiful, for the cellars of +the castle were full of precious stones, and great chests of the finest +gold stood round the walls of all the rooms. + +Many knights had come from afar to try their luck, but it was in vain +they attempted to climb the mountain. In spite of having their horses +shod with sharp nails, no one managed to get more than half-way up, and +then they all fell back right down to the bottom of the steep slippery +hill. Sometimes they broke an arm, sometimes a leg, and many a brave man +had broken his neck even. + +The beautiful Princess sat at her window and watched the bold knights +trying to reach her on their splendid horses. The sight of her always +gave men fresh courage, and they flocked from the four quarters of the +globe to attempt the work of rescuing her. But all in vain, and for +seven years the Princess had sat now and waited for some one to scale +the Glass Mountain. + +A heap of corpses both of riders and horses lay round the mountain, and +many dying men lay groaning there unable to go any farther with their +wounded limbs. The whole neighbourhood had the appearance of a vast +churchyard. In three more days the seven years would be at an end, +when a knight in golden armour and mounted on a spirited steed was seen +making his way towards the fatal hill. + +Sticking his spurs into his horse he made a rush at the mountain, and +got up half-way, then he calmly turned his horse's head and came down +again without a slip or stumble. The following day he started in the +same way; the horse trod on the glass as if it had been level earth, +and sparks of fire flew from its hoofs. All the other knights gazed in +astonishment, for he had almost gained the summit, and in another moment +he would have reached the apple-tree; but of a sudden a huge eagle rose +up and spread its mighty wings, hitting as it did so the knight's horse +in the eye. + +The beast shied, opened its wide nostrils and tossed its mane, then +rearing high up in the air, its hind feet slipped and it fell with its +rider down the steep mountain side. Nothing was left of either of them +except their bones, which rattled in the battered golden armour like dry +peas in a pod. + +And now there was only one more day before the close of the seven years. +Then there arrived on the scene a mere schoolboy--a merry, happy-hearted +youth, but at the same time strong and well-grown. He saw how many +knights had broken their necks in vain, but undaunted he approached the +steep mountain on foot and began the ascent. + +For long he had heard his parents speak of the beautiful Princess who +sat in the golden castle at the top of the Glass Mountain. He listened +to all he heard, and determined that he too would try his luck. But +first he went to the forest and caught a lynx, and cutting off the +creature's sharp claws, he fastened them on to his own hands and feet. + +Armed with these weapons he boldly started up the Glass Mountain. + +The sun was nearly going down, and the youth had not got more than +half-way up. He could hardly draw breath he was so worn out, and his +mouth was parched by thirst. A huge black cloud passed over his head, +but in vain did he beg and beseech her to let a drop of water fall on +him. He opened his mouth, but the black cloud sailed past and not as +much as a drop of dew moistened his dry lips. + +His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his +hands. Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to see if he could +behold the top of the mountain. Then he gazed beneath him, and what a +sight met his eyes! A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at +the bottom, reeking with half-decayed bodies of horses and riders! And +this had been the end of all the other brave men who like himself had +attempted the ascent. + +It was almost pitch dark now, and only the stars lit up the Glass +Mountain. The poor boy still clung on as if glued to the glass by his +blood-stained hands. He made no struggle to get higher, for all his +strength had left him, and seeing no hope he calmly awaited death. +Then all of a sudden he fell into a deep sleep, and forgetful of his +dangerous position, he slumbered sweetly. But all the same, although he +slept, he had stuck his sharp claws so firmly into the glass that he was +quite safe not to fall. + +Now the golden apple-tree was guarded by the eagle which had overthrown +the golden knight and his horse. Every night it flew round the Glass +Mountain keeping a careful look-out, and no sooner had the moon emerged +from the clouds than the bird rose up from the apple-tree, and circling +round in the air, caught sight of the sleeping youth. + +Greedy for carrion, and sure that this must be a fresh corpse, the bird +swooped down upon the boy. But he was awake now, and perceiving the +eagle, he determined by its help to save himself. + +The eagle dug its sharp claws into the tender flesh of the youth, but he +bore the pain without a sound, and seized the bird's two feet with his +hands. The creature in terror lifted him high up into the air and began +to circle round the tower of the castle. The youth held on bravely. He +saw the glittering palace, which by the pale rays of the moon looked +like a dim lamp; and he saw the high windows, and round one of them a +balcony in which the beautiful Princess sat lost in sad thoughts. Then +the boy saw that he was close to the apple-tree, and drawing a small +knife from his belt, he cut off both the eagle's feet. The bird rose up +in the air in its agony and vanished into the clouds, and the youth fell +on to the broad branches of the apple-tree. + +Then he drew out the claws of the eagle's feet that had remained in his +flesh, and put the peel of one of the golden apples on the wound, and +in one moment it was healed and well again. He pulled several of the +beautiful apples and put them in his pocket; then he entered the castle. +The door was guarded by a great dragon, but as soon as he threw an apple +at it, the beast vanished. + +At the same moment a gate opened, and the youth perceived a courtyard +full of flowers and beautiful trees, and on a balcony sat the lovely +enchanted Princess with her retinue. + +As soon as she saw the youth, she ran towards him and greeted him as her +husband and master. She gave him all her treasures, and the youth became +a rich and mighty ruler. But he never returned to the earth, for only +the mighty eagle, who had been the guardian of the Princess and of the +castle, could have carried on his wings the enormous treasure down to +the world. But as the eagle had lost its feet it died, and its body was +found in a wood on the Glass Mountain. + +. . . . . . . + +One day when the youth was strolling about in the palace garden with the +Princess, his wife, he looked down over the edge of the Glass Mountain +and saw to his astonishment a great number of people gathered there. He +blew his silver whistle, and the swallow who acted as messenger in the +golden castle flew past. + +'Fly down and ask what the matter is,' he said to the little bird, who +sped off like lightning and soon returned saying: + +'The blood of the eagle has restored all the people below to life. All +those who have perished on this mountain are awakening up to-day, as +it were from a sleep, and are mounting their horses, and the whole +population are gazing on this unheard-of wonder with joy and amazement.' + + + + + ALPHEGE, OR THE GREEN MONKEY + +Many years ago there lived a King, who was twice married. His first +wife, a good and beautiful woman, died at the birth of her little son, +and the King her husband was so overwhelmed with grief at her loss that +his only comfort was in the sight of his heir. + +When the time for the young Prince's christening came the King chose +as godmother a neighbouring Princess, so celebrated for her wisdom and +goodness that she was commonly called 'the Good Queen.' She named the +baby Alphege, and from that moment took him to her heart. + +Time wipes away the greatest griefs, and after two or three years the +King married again. His second wife was a Princess of undeniable beauty, +but by no means of so amiable a disposition as the first Queen. In due +time a second Prince was born, and the Queen was devoured with rage at +the thought that Prince Alphege came between her son and the throne. She +took care however to conceal her jealous feelings from the King. + +At length she could control herself no longer, so she sent a trusty +servant to her old and faithful friend the Fairy of the Mountain, to beg +her to devise some means by which she might get rid of her stepson. + +The Fairy replied that, much as she desired to be agreeable to the Queen +in every way, it was impossible for her to attempt anything against the +young Prince, who was under the protection of some greater Power than +her own. + +The 'Good Queen' on her side watched carefully over her godson. She was +obliged to do so from a distance, her own country being a remote one, +but she was well informed of all that went on and knew all about the +Queen's wicked designs. She therefore sent the Prince a large and +splendid ruby, with injunctions to wear it night and day as it would +protect him from all attacks, but added that the talisman only retained +its power as long as the Prince remained within his father's dominions. +The Wicked Queen knowing this made every attempt to get the Prince out +of the country, but her efforts failed, till one day accident did what +she was unable to accomplish. + +The King had an only sister who was deeply attached to him, and who was +married to the sovereign of a distant country. She had always kept up +a close correspondence with her brother, and the accounts she heard of +Prince Alphege made her long to become acquainted with so charming a +nephew. She entreated the King to allow the Prince to visit her, and +after some hesitation which was overruled by his wife, he finally +consented. + +Prince Alphege was at this time fourteen years old, and the handsomest +and most engaging youth imaginable. In his infancy he had been placed +in the charge of one of the great ladies of the Court, who, according +to the prevailing custom, acted first as his head nurse and then as his +governess. When he outgrew her care her husband was appointed as his +tutor and governor, so that he had never been separated from this +excellent couple, who loved him as tenderly as they did their only +daughter Zayda, and were warmly loved by him in return. + +When the Prince set forth on his travels it was but natural that this +devoted couple should accompany him, and accordingly he started with +them and attended by a numerous retinue. + +For some time he travelled through his father's dominions and all went +well; but soon after passing the frontier they had to cross a desert +plain under a burning sun. They were glad to take shelter under a group +of trees near, and here the Prince complained of burning thirst. Luckily +a tiny stream ran close by and some water was soon procured, but no +sooner had he tasted it than he sprang from his carriage and disappeared +in a moment. In vain did his anxious followers seek for him, he was +nowhere to be found. + +As they were hunting and shouting through the trees a black monkey +suddenly appeared on a point of rock and said: 'Poor sorrowing people, +you are seeking your Prince in vain. Return to your own country and know +that he will not be restored to you till you have for some time failed +to recognise him.' + +With these words he vanished, leaving the courtiers sadly perplexed; but +as all their efforts to find the Prince were useless they had no choice +but to go home, bringing with them the sad news, which so greatly +distressed the King that he fell ill and died not long after. + +The Queen, whose ambition was boundless, was delighted to see the crown +on her son's head and to have the power in her own hands. Her hard rule +made her very unpopular, and it was commonly believed that she had +made away with Prince Alphege. Indeed, had the King her son not been +deservedly beloved a revolution would certainly have arisen. + +Meantime the former governess of the unfortunate Alphege, who had lost +her husband soon after the King's death, retired to her own house with +her daughter, who grew up a lovely and most loveable girl, and both +continued to mourn the loss of their dear Prince. + +The young King was devoted to hunting, and often indulged in his +favourite pastime, attended by the noblest youths in his kingdom. + +One day, after a long morning's chase he stopped to rest near a brook in +the shade of a little wood, where a splendid tent had been prepared +for him. Whilst at luncheon he suddenly spied a little monkey of the +brightest green sitting on a tree and gazing so tenderly at him that +he felt quite moved. He forbade his courtiers to frighten it, and the +monkey, noticing how much attention was being paid him, sprang from +bough to bough, and at length gradually approached the King, who offered +him some food. The monkey took it very daintily and finally came to the +table. The King took him on his knees, and, delighted with his capture, +brought him home with him. He would trust no one else with its care, and +the whole Court soon talked of nothing but the pretty green monkey. + +One morning, as Prince Alphege's governess and her daughter were alone +together, the little monkey sprang in through an open window. He had +escaped from the palace, and his manners were so gentle and caressing +that Zayda and her mother soon got over the first fright he had given +them. He had spent some time with them and quite won their hearts by +his insinuating ways, when the King discovered where he was and sent to +fetch him back. But the monkey made such piteous cries, and seemed so +unhappy when anyone attempted to catch him, that the two ladies begged +the King to leave him a little longer with them, to which he consented. + +One evening, as they sat by the fountain in the garden, the little +monkey kept gazing at Zayda with such sad and loving eyes that she and +her mother could not think what to make of it, and they were still more +surprised when they saw big tears rolling down his cheeks. + +Next day both mother and daughter were sitting in a jessamine bower in +the garden, and they began to talk of the green monkey and his strange +ways. The mother said, 'My dear child, I can no longer hide my feelings +from you. I cannot get the thought out of my mind that the green monkey +is no other than our beloved Prince Alphege, transformed in this strange +fashion. I know the idea sounds wild, but I cannot get it out of my +heart, and it leaves me no peace.' + +As she spoke she glanced up, and there sat the little monkey, whose +tears and gestures seemed to confirm her words. + +The following night the elder lady dreamt that she saw the Good Queen, +who said, 'Do not weep any longer but follow my directions. Go into +your garden and lift up the little marble slab at the foot of the great +myrtle tree. You will find beneath it a crystal vase filled with a +bright green liquid. Take it with you and place the thing which is at +present most in your thoughts into a bath filled with roses and rub it +well with the green liquid.' + +At these words the sleeper awoke, and lost no time in rising and +hurrying to the garden, where she found all as the Good Queen had +described. Then she hastened to rouse her daughter and together they +prepared the bath, for they would not let their women know what they +were about. Zayda gathered quantities of roses, and when all was ready +they put the monkey into a large jasper bath, where the mother rubbed +him all over with the green liquid. + +Their suspense was not long, for suddenly the monkey skin dropped off, +and there stood Prince Alphege, the handsomest and most charming of +men. The joy of such a meeting was beyond words. After a time the ladies +begged the Prince to relate his adventures, and he told them of all his +sufferings in the desert when he was first transformed. His only comfort +had been in visits from the Good Queen, who had at length put him in the +way of meeting his brother. + +Several days were spent in these interesting conversations, but at +length Zayda's mother began to think of the best means for placing the +Prince on the throne, which was his by right. + +The Queen on her side was feeling very anxious. She had felt sure from +the first that her son's pet monkey was no other than Prince Alphege, +and she longed to put an end to him. Her suspicions were confirmed by +the Fairy of the Mountain, and she hastened in tears to the King, her +son. + +'I am informed,' she cried, 'that some ill-disposed people have raised +up an impostor in the hopes of dethroning you. You must at once have him +put to death.' + +The King, who was very brave, assured the Queen that he would soon +punish the conspirators. He made careful inquiries into the matter, and +thought it hardly probable that a quiet widow and a young girl would +think of attempting anything of the nature of a revolution. + +He determined to go and see them, and to find out the truth for himself; +so one night, without saying anything to the Queen or his ministers, he +set out for the palace where the two ladies lived, attended only by a +small band of followers. + +The two ladies were at the moment deep in conversation with Prince +Alphege, and hearing a knocking so late at night begged him to keep out +of sight for a time. What was their surprise when the door was opened to +see the King and his suite. + +'I know,' said the King, 'that you are plotting against my crown and +person, and I have come to have an explanation with you.' + +As she was about to answer Prince Alphege, who had heard all, came +forward and said, 'It is from me you must ask an explanation, brother.' +He spoke with such grace and dignity that everyone gazed at him with +mute surprise. + +At length the King, recovering from his astonishment at recognising the +brother who had been lost some years before, exclaimed, 'Yes, you are +indeed my brother, and now that I have found you, take the throne to +which I have no longer a right.' So saying, he respectfully kissed the +Prince's hand. + +Alphege threw himself into his arms, and the brothers hastened to the +royal palace, where in the presence of the entire court he received +the crown from his brother's hand. To clear away any possible doubt, he +showed the ruby which the Good Queen had given him in his childhood. As +they were gazing at it, it suddenly split with a loud noise, and at the +same moment the Wicked Queen expired. + +King Alphege lost no time in marrying his dear and lovely Zayda, and +his joy was complete when the Good Queen appeared at his wedding. She +assured him that the Fairy of the Mountain had henceforth lost all +power over him, and after spending some time with the young couple, +and bestowing the most costly presents on them, she retired to her own +country. + +King Alphege insisted on his brother sharing his throne, and they all +lived to a good old age, universally beloved and admired. + + + + + FAIRER-THAN-A-FAIRY + +Once there lived a King who had no children for many years after his +marriage. At length heaven granted him a daughter of such remarkable +beauty that he could think of no name so appropriate for her as +'Fairer-than-a-Fairy.' + +It never occurred to the good-natured monarch that such a name was +certain to call down the hatred and jealousy of the fairies in a body on +the child, but this was what happened. No sooner had they heard of this +presumptuous name than they resolved to gain possession of her who bore +it, and either to torment her cruelly, or at least to conceal her from +the eyes of all men. + +The eldest of their tribe was entrusted to carry out their revenge. This +Fairy was named Lagree; she was so old that she only had one eye and one +tooth left, and even these poor remains she had to keep all night in a +strengthening liquid. She was also so spiteful that she gladly devoted +all her time to carrying out all the mean or ill-natured tricks of the +whole body of fairies. + +With her large experience, added to her native spite, she found but +little difficulty in carrying off Fairer-than-a-Fairy. The poor child, +who was only seven years old, nearly died of fear on finding herself +in the power of this hideous creature. However, when after an hour's +journey underground she found herself in a splendid palace with lovely +gardens, she felt a little reassured, and was further cheered when she +discovered that her pet cat and dog had followed her. + +The old Fairy led her to a pretty room which she said should be hers, at +the same time giving her the strictest orders never to let out the fire +which was burning brightly in the grate. She then gave two glass bottles +into the Princess's charge, desiring her to take the greatest care of +them, and having enforced her orders with the most awful threats in case +of disobedience, she vanished, leaving the little girl at liberty to +explore the palace and grounds and a good deal relieved at having only +two apparently easy tasks set her. + +Several years passed, during which time the Princess grew accustomed to +her lonely life, obeyed the Fairy's orders, and by degrees forgot all +about the court of the King her father. + +One day, whilst passing near a fountain in the garden, she noticed +that the sun's rays fell on the water in such a manner as to produce +a brilliant rainbow. She stood still to admire it, when, to her great +surprise, she heard a voice addressing her which seemed to come from the +centre of its rays. The voice was that of a young man, and its sweetness +of tone and the agreeable things it uttered, led one to infer that its +owner must be equally charming; but this had to be a mere matter of +fancy, for no one was visible. + +The beautiful Rainbow informed Fairer-than-a-Fairy that he was young, +the son of a powerful king, and that the Fairy, Lagree, who owed his +parents a grudge, had revenged herself by depriving him of his natural +shape for some years; that she had imprisoned him in the palace, where +he had found his confinement hard to bear for some time, but now, he +owned, he no longer sighed for freedom since he had seen and learned to +love Fairer-than-a-Fairy. + +He added many other tender speeches to this declaration, and the +Princess, to whom such remarks were a new experience, could not help +feeling pleased and touched by his attentions. + +The Prince could only appear or speak under the form of a Rainbow, and +it was therefore necessary that the sun should shine on water so as to +enable the rays to form themselves. + +Fairer-than-a-Fairy lost no moment in which she could meet her lover, +and they enjoyed many long and interesting interviews. One day, however, +their conversation became so absorbing and time passed so quickly that +the Princess forgot to attend to the fire, and it went out. Lagree, on +her return, soon found out the neglect, and seemed only too pleased to +have the opportunity of showing her spite to her lovely prisoner. She +ordered Fairer-than-a-Fairy to start next day at dawn to ask Locrinos +for fire with which to relight the one she had allowed to go out. + +Now this Locrinos was a cruel monster who devoured everyone he came +across, and especially enjoyed a chance of catching and eating any young +girls. Our heroine obeyed with great sweetness, and without having been +able to take leave of her lover she set off to go to Locrinos as to +certain death. As she was crossing a wood a bird sang to her to pick up +a shining pebble which she would find in a fountain close by, and to use +it when needed. She took the bird's advice, and in due time arrived at +the house of Locrinos. Luckily she only found his wife at home, who was +much struck by the Princess's youth and beauty and sweet gentle manners, +and still further impressed by the present of the shining pebble. + +She readily let Fairer-than-a-Fairy have the fire, and in return for +the stone she gave her another, which, she said, might prove useful some +day. Then she sent her away without doing her any harm. + +Lagree was as much surprised as displeased at the happy result of this +expedition, and Fairer-than-a Fairy waited anxiously for an opportunity +of meeting Prince Rainbow and telling him her adventures. She found, +however, that he had already been told all about them by a Fairy who +protected him, and to whom he was related. + +The dread of fresh dangers to his beloved Princess made him devise +some more convenient way of meeting than by the garden fountain, and +Fairer-than-a-Fairy carried out his plan daily with entire success. +Every morning she placed a large basin full of water on her window-sill, +and as soon as the sun's rays fell on the water the Rainbow appeared +as clearly as it had ever done in the fountain. By this means they were +able to meet without losing sight of the fire or of the two bottles in +which the old Fairy kept her eye and her tooth at night, and for some +time the lovers enjoyed every hour of sunshine together. + +One day Prince Rainbow appeared in the depths of woe. He had just heard +that he was to be banished from this lovely spot, but he had no idea +where he was to go. The poor young couple were in despair, and only +parted with the last ray of sunshine, and in hopes of meeting next +morning. Alas! next day was dark and gloomy, and it was only late in the +afternoon that the sun broke through the clouds for a few minutes. + +Fairer-than-a-Fairy eagerly ran to the window, but in her haste she +upset the basin, and spilt all the water with which she had carefully +filled it overnight. No other water was at hand except that in the two +bottles. It was the only chance of seeing her lover before they were +separated, and she did not hesitate to break the bottle and pour their +contents into the basin, when the Rainbow appeared at once. Their +farewells were full of tenderness; the Prince made the most ardent and +sincere protestations, and promised to neglect nothing which might help +to deliver his dear Fairer-than-a-Fairy from her captivity, and implored +her to consent to their marriage as soon as they should both be free. +The Princess, on her side, vowed to have no other husband, and declared +herself willing to brave death itself in order to rejoin him. + +They were not allowed much time for their adieus; the Rainbow vanished, +and the Princess, resolved to run all risks, started off at once, taking +nothing with her but her dog, her cat, a sprig of myrtle, and the stone +which the wife of Locrinos gave her. + +When Lagree became aware of her prisoner's flight she was furious, and +set off at full speed in pursuit. She overtook her just as the poor +girl, overcome by fatigue, had lain down to rest in a cave which the +stone had formed itself into to shelter her. The little dog who was +watching her mistress promptly flew at Lagree and bit her so severely +that she stumbled against a corner of the cave and broke off her only +tooth. Before she had recovered from the pain and rage this caused her, +the Princess had time to escape, and was some way on her road. Fear gave +her strength for some time, but at last she could go no further, and +sank down to rest. As she did so, the sprig of myrtle she carried +touched the ground, and immediately a green and shady bower sprang up +round her, in which she hoped to sleep in peace. + +But Lagree had not given up her pursuit, and arrived just as +Fairer-than-a-Fairy had fallen fast asleep. This time she made sure of +catching her victim, but the cat spied her out, and, springing from one +of the boughs of the arbour she flew at Lagree's face and tore out her +only eye, thus delivering the Princess for ever from her persecutor. + +One might have thought that all would now be well, but no sooner had +Lagree been put to fight than our heroine was overwhelmed with hunger +and thirst. She felt as though she should certainly expire, and it was +with some difficulty that she dragged herself as far as a pretty little +green and white house, which stood at no great distance. Here she was +received by a beautiful lady dressed in green and white to match the +house, which apparently belonged to her, and of which she seemed the +only inhabitant. + +She greeted the fainting Princess most kindly, gave her an excellent +supper, and after a long night's rest in a delightful bed told her that +after many troubles she should finally attain her desire. + +As the green and white lady took leave of the Princess she gave her a +nut, desiring her only to open it in the most urgent need. + +After a long and tiring journey Fairer-than-a-Fairy was once more +received in a house, and by a lady exactly like the one she had quitted. +Here again she received a present with the same injunctions, but instead +of a nut this lady gave her a golden pomegranate. The mournful Princess +had to continue her weary way, and after many troubles and hardships she +again found rest and shelter in a third house exactly similar to the two +others. + +These houses belonged to three sisters, all endowed with fairy gifts, +and all so alike in mind and person that they wished their houses and +garments to be equally alike. Their occupation consisted in helping +those in misfortune, and they were as gentle and benevolent as Lagree +had been cruel and spiteful. + +The third Fairy comforted the poor traveller, begged her not to lose +heart, and assured her that her troubles should be rewarded. + +She accompanied her advice by the gift of a crystal smelling-bottle, +with strict orders only to open it in case of urgent need. +Fairer-than-a-Fairy thanked her warmly, and resumed her way cheered by +pleasant thoughts. + +After a time her road led through a wood, full of soft airs and sweet +odours, and before she had gone a hundred yards she saw a wonderful +silver Castle suspended by strong silver chains to four of the +largest trees. It was so perfectly hung that a gentle breeze rocked it +sufficiently to send you pleasantly to sleep. + +Fairer-than-a-Fairy felt a strong desire to enter this Castle, but +besides being hung a little above the ground there seemed to be neither +doors nor windows. She had no doubt (though really I cannot think why) +that the moment had come in which to use the nut which had been given +her. She opened it, and out came a diminutive hall porter at whose belt +hung a tiny chain, at the end of which was a golden key half as long as +the smallest pin you ever saw. + +The Princess climbed up one of the silver chains, holding in her hand +the little porter who, in spite of his minute size, opened a secret door +with his golden key and let her in. She entered a magnificent room which +appeared to occupy the entire Castle, and which was lighted by gold and +jewelled stars in the ceiling. In the midst of this room stood a couch, +draped with curtains of all the colours of the rainbow, and suspended by +golden cords so that it swayed with the Castle in a manner which rocked +its occupant delightfully to sleep. + +On this elegant couch lay Prince Rainbow, looking more beautiful than +ever, and sunk in profound slumber, in which he had been held ever since +his disappearance. + +Fairy-than-a-Fairy, who now saw him for the first time in his real +shape, hardly dared to gaze at him, fearing lest his appearance might +not be in keeping with the voice and language which had won her heart. +At the same time she could not help feeling rather hurt at the apparent +indifference with which she was received. + +She related all the dangers and difficulties she had gone through, and +though she repeated the story twenty times in a loud clear voice, the +Prince slept on and took no heed. She then had recourse to the golden +pomegranate, and on opening it found that all the seeds were as many +little violins which flew up in the vaulted roof and at once began +playing melodiously. + +The Prince was not completely roused, but he opened his eyes a little +and looked all the handsomer. + +Impatient at not being recognised, Fairer-than-a-Fairy now drew out her +third present, and on opening the crystal scent-bottle a little syren +flew out, who silenced the violins and then sang close to the Prince's +ear the story of all his lady love had suffered in her search for him. +She added some gentle reproaches to her tale, but before she had got +far he was wide awake, and transported with joy threw himself at the +Princess's feet. At the same moment the walls of the room expanded and +opened out, revealing a golden throne covered with jewels. A magnificent +Court now began to assemble, and at the same time several elegant +carriages filled with ladies in magnificent dresses drove up. In the +first and most splendid of these carriages sat Prince Rainbow's mother. +She fondly embraced her son, after which she informed him that his +father had been dead for some years, that the anger of the Fairies was +at length appeased, and that he might return in peace to reign over his +people, who were longing for his presence. + +The Court received the new King with joyful acclamations which would +have delighted him at any other time, but all his thoughts were full of +Fairer-than-a-Fairy. He was just about to present her to his mother and +the Court, feeling sure that her charms would win all hearts, when the +three green and white sisters appeared. + +They declared the secret of Fairy-than-a-Fairy's royal birth, and the +Queen taking the two lovers in her carriage set off with them for the +capital of the kingdom. + +Here they were received with tumultuous joy. The wedding was celebrated +without delay, and succeeding years diminished neither the virtues, +beauty, nor the mutual affection of King Rainbow and his Queen, +Fairer-than-a-Fairy. + + + + + THE THREE BROTHERS(17) + +(17) From the Polish. Kletke. + +There was once upon a time a witch, who in the shape of a hawk used +every night to break the windows of a certain village church. In the +same village there lived three brothers, who were all determined to kill +the mischievous hawk. But in vain did the two eldest mount guard in the +church with their guns; as soon as the bird appeared high above their +heads, sleep overpowered them, and they only awoke to hear the windows +crashing in. + +Then the youngest brother took his turn of guarding the windows, and to +prevent his being overcome by sleep he placed a lot of thorns under his +chin, so that if he felt drowsy and nodded his head, they would prick +him and keep him awake. + +The moon was already risen, and it was as light as day, when suddenly he +heard a fearful noise, and at the same time a terrible desire to sleep +overpowered him. + +His eyelids closed, and his head sank on his shoulders, but the thorns +ran into him and were so painful that he awoke at once. He saw the hawk +swooping down upon the church, and in a moment he had seized his gun +and shot at the bird. The hawk fell heavily under a big stone, severely +wounded in its right wing. The youth ran to look at it, and saw that +a huge abyss had opened below the stone. He went at once to fetch his +brothers, and with their help dragged a lot of pine-wood and ropes to +the spot. They fastened some of the burning pine-wood to the end of the +rope, and let it slowly down to the bottom of the abyss. At first it was +quite dark, and the flaming torch only lit up dirty grey stone walls. +But the youngest brother determined to explore the abyss, and letting +himself down by the rope he soon reached the bottom. Here he found a +lovely meadow full of green trees and exquisite flowers. + +In the middle of the meadow stood a huge stone castle, with an iron gate +leading to it, which was wide open. Everything in the castle seemed +to be made of copper, and the only inhabitant he could discover was +a lovely girl, who was combing her golden hair; and he noticed that +whenever one of her hairs fell on the ground it rang out like pure +metal. The youth looked at her more closely, and saw that her skin was +smooth and fair, her blue eyes bright and sparkling, and her hair as +golden as the sun. He fell in love with her on the spot, and kneeling at +her feet, he implored her to become his wife. + +The lovely girl accepted his proposal gladly; but at the same time she +warned him that she could never come up to the world above till her +mother, the old witch, was dead. And she went on to tell him that the +only way in which the old creature could be killed was with the sword +that hung up in the castle; but the sword was so heavy that no one could +lift it. + +Then the youth went into a room in the castle where everything was made +of silver, and here he found another beautiful girl, the sister of his +bride. She was combing her silver hair, and every hair that fell on the +ground rang out like pure metal. The second girl handed him the sword, +but though he tried with all his strength he could not lift it. At last +a third sister came to him and gave him a drop of something to drink, +which she said would give him the needful strength. He drank one drop, +but still he could not lift the sword; then he drank a second, and the +sword began to move; but only after he had drunk a third drop was he +able to swing the sword over his head. + +Then he hid himself in the castle and awaited the old witch's arrival. +At last as it was beginning to grow dark she appeared. She swooped down +upon a big apple-tree, and after shaking some golden apples from it, she +pounced down upon the earth. As soon as her feet touched the ground she +became transformed from a hawk into a woman. This was the moment the +youth was waiting for, and he swung his mighty sword in the air with all +his strength and the witch's head fell off, and her blood spurted up on +the walls. + +Without fear of any further danger, he packed up all the treasures of +the castle into great chests, and gave his brothers a signal to pull +them up out of the abyss. First the treasures were attached to the rope +and then the three lovely girls. And now everything was up above and +only he himself remained below. But as he was a little suspicious of his +brothers, he fastened a heavy stone on to the rope and let them pull it +up. At first they heaved with a will, but when the stone was half way +up they let it drop suddenly, and it fell to the bottom broken into a +hundred pieces. + +'So that's what would have happened to my bones had I trusted myself to +them,' said the youth sadly; and he began to cry bitterly, not because +of the treasures, but because of the lovely girl with her swanlike neck +and golden hair. + +For a long time he wandered sadly all through the beautiful underworld, +and one day he met a magician who asked him the cause of his tears. The +youth told him all that had befallen him, and the magician said: + +'Do not grieve, young man! If you will guard the children who are hidden +in the golden apple-tree, I will bring you at once up to the earth. +Another magician who lives in this land always eats my children up. It +is in vain that I have hidden them under the earth and locked them into +the castle. Now I have hidden them in the apple-tree; hide yourself +there too, and at midnight you will see my enemy.' + +The youth climbed up the tree, and picked some of the beautiful golden +apples, which he ate for his supper. + +At midnight the wind began to rise, and a rustling sound was heard at +the foot of the tree. The youth looked down and beheld a long thick +serpent beginning to crawl up the tree. It wound itself round the stem +and gradually got higher and higher. It stretched its huge head, in +which the eyes glittered fiercely, among the branches, searching for the +nest in which the little children lay. They trembled with terror when +they saw the hideous creature, and hid themselves beneath the leaves. + +Then the youth swung his mighty sword in the air, and with one blow cut +off the serpent's head. He cut up the rest of the body into little bits +and strewed them to the four winds. + +The father of the rescued children was so delighted over the death of +his enemy that he told the youth to get on his back, and in this way he +carried him up to the world above. + +With what joy did he hurry now to his brothers' house! He burst into a +room where they were all assembled, but no one knew who he was. Only his +bride, who was serving as cook to her sisters, recognised her lover at +once. + +His brothers, who had quite believed he was dead, yielded him up his +treasures at once, and flew into the woods in terror. But the good youth +forgave them all they had done, and divided his treasures with them. +Then he built himself a big castle with golden windows, and there he +lived happily with his golden-haired wife till the end of their lives. + + + + + THE BOY AND THE WOLVES, OR THE BROKEN PROMISE(18) + +(18) A North American Indian story. + +Once upon a time an Indian hunter built himself a house in the middle +of a great forest, far away from all his tribe; for his heart was gentle +and kind, and he was weary of the treachery and cruel deeds of those +who had been his friends. So he left them, and took his wife and three +children, and they journeyed on until they found a spot near to a clear +stream, where they began to cut down trees, and to make ready their +wigwam. For many years they lived peacefully and happily in this +sheltered place, never leaving it except to hunt the wild animals, which +served them both for food and clothes. At last, however, the strong man +felt sick, and before long he knew he must die. + +So he gathered his family round him, and said his last words to them. +'You, my wife, the companion of my days, will follow me ere many moons +have waned to the island of the blest. But for you, O my children, whose +lives are but newly begun, the wickedness, unkindness, and ingratitude +from which I fled are before you. Yet I shall go hence in peace, my +children, if you will promise always to love each other, and never to +forsake your youngest brother. + +'Never!' they replied, holding out their hands. And the hunter died +content. + +Scarcely eight moons had passed when, just as he had said, the wife went +forth, and followed her husband; but before leaving her children she +bade the two elder ones think of their promise never to forsake the +younger, for he was a child, and weak. And while the snow lay thick upon +the ground, they tended him and cherished him; but when the earth showed +green again, the heart of the young man stirred within him, and he +longed to see the wigwams of the village where his father's youth was +spent. + +Therefore he opened all his heart to his sister, who answered: 'My +brother, I understand your longing for our fellow-men, whom here we +cannot see. But remember our father's words. Shall we not seek our own +pleasures, and forget the little one?' + +But he would not listen, and, making no reply, he took his bow and +arrows and left the hut. The snows fell and melted, yet he never +returned; and at last the heart of the girl grew cold and hard, and her +little boy became a burden in her eyes, till one day she spoke thus to +him: 'See, there is food for many days to come. Stay here within the +shelter of the hut. I go to seek our brother, and when I have found him +I shall return hither.' + +But when, after hard journeying, she reached the village where her +brother dwelt, and saw that he had a wife and was happy, and when she, +too, was sought by a young brave, then she also forgot the boy alone in +the forest, and thought only of her husband. + +Now as soon as the little boy had eaten all the food which his sister +had left him, he went out into the woods, and gathered berries and dug +up roots, and while the sun shone he was contented and had his fill. But +when the snows began and the wind howled, then his stomach felt empty +and his limbs cold, and he hid in trees all the night, and only crept +out to eat what the wolves had left behind. And by-and-by, having no +other friends, he sought their company, and sat by while they devoured +their prey, and they grew to know him, and gave him food. And without +them he would have died in the snow. + +But at last the snows melted, and the ice upon the great lake, and +as the wolves went down to the shore, the boy went after them. And it +happened one day that his big brother was fishing in his canoe near the +shore, and he heard the voice of a child singing in the Indian tone-- + + 'My brother, my brother! + I am becoming a wolf, + I am becoming a wolf!' + +And when he had so sung he howled as wolves howl. Then the heart of +the elder sunk, and he hastened towards him, crying, 'Brother, little +brother, come to me;' but he, being half a wolf, only continued his +song. And the louder the elder called him, 'Brother, little brother, +come to me,' the swifter he fled after his brothers the wolves, and +the heavier grew his skin, till, with a long howl, he vanished into the +depths of the forest. + +So, with shame and anguish in his soul, the elder brother went back to +his village, and, with his sister, mourned the little boy and the broken +promise till the end of his life. + + + + + THE GLASS AXE(19) + +(19) From the Hungarian. Kletke. + +There was once upon a time a King and Queen who had everything they +could possibly wish for in this world except a child. At last, after +twelve years, the Queen gave birth to a son; but she did not live long +to enjoy her happiness, for on the following day she died. But before +her death she called her husband to her and said, 'Never let the child +put his feet on the ground, for as soon as he does so he will fall into +the power of a wicked Fairy, who will do him much harm.' And these were +the last words the poor Queen spoke. + +The boy throve and grew big, and when he was too heavy for his nurse +to carry, a chair was made for him on little wheels, in which he could +wander through the palace gardens without help; at other times he was +carried about on a litter, and he was always carefully watched and +guarded for fear he should at any time put his feet to the ground. + +But as this sort of life was bad for his health, the doctors ordered him +horse exercise, and he soon became a first-rate rider, and used to go +out for long excursions on horseback, accompanied always by his father's +stud-groom and a numerous retinue. + +Every day he rode through the neighbouring fields and woods, and always +returned home in the evening safe and well. In this way many years +passed, and the Prince grew to manhood, and hardly anyone remembered the +Queen's warning, though precautions were still taken, more from use and +wont than for any other reason. + +One day the Prince and his suite went out for a ride in a wood where his +father sometimes held a hunt. Their way led through a stream whose banks +were overgrown with thick brushwood. Just as the horsemen were about +to ford the river, a hare, startled by the sound of the horses' hoofs, +started up from the grass and ran towards the thicket. The young Prince +pursued the little creature, and had almost overtaken it, when the girth +of his saddle suddenly broke in two and he fell heavily to the ground. +No sooner had his foot touched the earth than he disappeared before the +eyes of the horrified courtiers. + +They sought for him far and near, but all in vain, and they were forced +to recognise the power of the evil Fairy, against which the Queen had +warned them on her death-bed. The old King was much grieved when they +brought him the news of his son's disappearance, but as he could do +nothing to free him from his fate, he gave himself up to an old age of +grief and loneliness, cherishing at the same time the hope that some +lucky chance might one day deliver the youth out of the hands of his +enemy. + +Hardly had the Prince touched the ground than he felt himself violently +seized by an unseen power, and hurried away he knew not whither. A whole +new world stretched out before him, quite unlike the one he had left. +A splendid castle surrounded by a huge lake was the abode of the Fairy, +and the only approach to it was over a bridge of clouds. On the other +side of the lake high mountains rose up, and dark woods stretched +along the banks; over all hung a thick mist, and deep silence reigned +everywhere. + +No sooner had the Fairy reached her own domain than she made herself +visible, and turning to the Prince she told him that unless he obeyed +all her commands down to the minutest detail he would be severely +punished. Then she gave him an axe made of glass, and bade him cross the +bridge of clouds and go into the wood beyond and cut down all the trees +there before sunset. At the same time she cautioned him with many angry +words against speaking to a black girl he would most likely meet in the +wood. + +The Prince listened to her words meekly, and when she had finished took +up the glass axe and set out for the forest. At every step he seemed to +sink into the clouds, but fear gave wings to his feet, and he crossed +the lake in safety and set to work at once. + +But no sooner had he struck the first blow with his axe than it broke +into a thousand pieces against the tree. The poor youth was so terrified +he did not know what to do, for he was in mortal dread of the punishment +the wicked old Fairy would inflict on him. He wandered to and fro in the +wood, not knowing where he was going, and at last, worn out by fatigue +and misery, he sank on the ground and fell fast asleep. + +He did not know how long he had slept when a sudden sound awoke him, and +opening his eyes he saw a black girl standing beside him. Mindful of +the Fairy's warning he did not dare to address her, but she on her part +greeted him in the most friendly manner, and asked him at once if he +were under the power of the wicked Fairy. The Prince nodded his head +silently in answer. + +Then the black girl told him that she too was in the power of the Fairy, +who had doomed her to wander about in her present guise until some youth +should take pity on her and bear her in safety to the other side of the +river which they saw in the distance, and on the other side of which the +Fairy's domain and power ended. + +The girl's words so inspired the Prince with confidence that he told her +all his tale of woe, and ended up by asking her advice as to how he was +to escape the punishment the Fairy would be sure to inflict on him when +she discovered that he had not cut down the trees in the wood and that +he had broken her axe. + +'You must know,' answered the black girl, 'that the Fairy in whose power +we both are is my own mother, but you must not betray this secret, for +it would cost me my life. If you will only promise to try and free me +I will stand by you, and will accomplish for you all the tasks which my +mother sets you.' + +The Prince promised joyfully all she asked; then having once more warned +him not to betray her confidence, she handed him a draught to drink +which very soon sunk his senses in a deep slumber. + +His astonishment was great when he awoke to find the glass axe whole and +unbroken at his side, and all the trees of the wood lying felled around +him! + +He made all haste across the bridge of clouds, and told the Fairy that +her commands were obeyed. She was much amazed when she heard that all +the wood was cut down, and saw the axe unbroken in his hand, and +since she could not believe that he had done all this by himself, she +questioned him narrowly if he had seen or spoken to the black girl. But +the Prince lied manfully, and swore he had never looked up from his work +for a moment. Seeing she could get nothing more out of him, she gave him +a little bread and water, and showing him to a small dark cupboard she +told him he might sleep there. + +Morning had hardly dawned when the Fairy awoke the Prince, and giving +him the glass axe again she told him to cut up all the wood he had +felled the day before, and to put it in bundles ready for firewood; at +the same time she warned him once more against approaching or speaking a +word to the black girl if he met her in the wood. + +Although his task was no easier than that of the day before, the youth +set out much more cheerfully, because he knew he could count an the help +of the black girl. With quicker and lighter step he crossed the bridge +of clouds, and hardly had he reached the other side than his friend +stood before him and greeted him cheerfully. When she heard what the +Fairy demanded this time, she answered smilingly, 'Never fear,' and +handed him another draught, which very soon caused the Prince to sink +into a deep sleep. + +When he awoke everything, was done. All the trees of the wood were cut +up into firewood and arranged in bundles ready for use. + +He returned to the castle as quickly as he could, and told the Fairy +that her commands were obeyed. She was even more amazed than she had +been before, and asked him again if he had either seen or spoken to the +black girl; but the Prince knew better than to betray his word, and once +more lied freely. + +On the following day the Fairy set him a third task to do, even harder +than the other two. She told him he must build a castle on the other +side of the lake, made of nothing but gold, silver, and precious stones, +and unless he could accomplish this within an hour, the most frightful +doom awaited him. + +The Prince heard her words without anxiety, so entirely did he rely on +the help of his black friend. Full of hope he hurried across the bridge, +and recognised at once the spot where the castle was to stand, for +spades, hammers, axes, and every other building implement lay scattered +on the ground ready for the workman's hand, but of gold, silver, and +precious stones there was not a sign. But before the Prince had time +to feel despondent the black girl beckoned to him in the distance from +behind a rock, where she had hidden herself for fear her mother should +catch sight of her. Full of joy the youth hurried towards her, and +begged her aid and counsel in the new piece of work he had been given to +do. + +But this time the Fairy had watched the Prince's movements from +her window, and she saw him hiding himself behind the rock with her +daughter. She uttered a piercing shriek so that the mountains re-echoed +with the sound of it, and the terrified pair had hardly dared to look +out from their hiding-place when the enraged woman, with her dress and +hair flying in the wind, hurried over the bridge of clouds. The Prince +at once gave himself up for lost, but the girl told him to be of good +courage and to follow her as quickly as he could. But before they left +their shelter she broke off a little bit of the rock, spoke some magic +words over it, and threw it in the direction her mother was coming from. +In a moment a glittering palace arose before the eyes of the Fairy which +blinded her with its dazzling splendour, and with its many doors and +passages prevented her for some time from finding her way out of it. + +In the meantime the black girl hurried on with the Prince, hastening to +reach the river, where once on the other side they would for ever be out +of the wicked Fairy's power. But before they had accomplished half the +way they heard again the rustle of her garments and her muttered curses +pursuing them closely. + +The Prince was terrified; he dared not look back, and he felt his +strength giving way. But before he had time to despair the girl uttered +some more magic words, and immediately she herself was changed into a +pond, and the Prince into a duck swimming on its surface. + +When the Fairy saw this her rage knew no bounds, and she used all her +magic wits to make the pond disappear; she caused a hill of sand to +arise at her feet, meaning it to dry up the water at once. But the sand +hill only drove the pond a little farther away, and its waters seemed to +increase instead of diminishing. When the old woman saw that the powers +of her magic were of so little avail, she had recourse to cunning. She +threw a lot of gold nuts into the pond, hoping in this way to catch +the duck, but all her efforts were fruitless, for the little creature +refused to let itself be caught. + +Then a new idea struck the wicked old woman, and hiding herself behind +the rock which had sheltered the fugitives, she waited behind it, +watching carefully for the moment when the Prince and her daughter +should resume their natural forms and continue their journey. + +She had not to wait long, for as soon as the girl thought her mother was +safely out of the way, she changed herself and the Prince once more into +their human shape, and set out cheerfully for the river. + +But they had not gone many steps when the wicked Fairy hurried after +them, a drawn dagger in her hand, and was close upon them, when +suddenly, instead of the Prince and her daughter, she found herself in +front of a great stone church, whose entrance was carefully guarded by a +huge monk. + +Breathless with rage and passion, she tried to plunge her dagger into +the monk's heart, but it fell shattered in pieces at her feet. In her +desperation she determined to pull down the church, and thus to destroy +her two victims for ever. She stamped three times on the ground, and the +earth trembled, and both the church and the monk began to shake. As soon +as the Fairy saw this she retreated to some distance from the building, +so as not to be hurt herself by its fall. But once more her scheme was +doomed to failure, for hardly had she gone a yard from the church than +both it and the monk disappeared, and she found herself in a wood black +as night, and full of wolves and bears and wild animals of all sorts and +descriptions. + +Then her wrath gave place to terror, for she feared every moment to be +torn in pieces by the beasts who one and all seemed to defy her power. +She thought it wisest to make her way as best she could out of the +forest, and then to pursue the fugitives once more and accomplish their +destruction either by force or cunning. + +In the meantime the Prince and the black girl had again assumed their +natural forms, and were hurrying on as fast as they could to reach the +river. But when they got there they found that there was no way in which +they could cross it, and the girl's magic art seemed no longer to +have any power. Then turning to the Prince she said, 'The hour for my +deliverance has not yet come, but as you promised to do all you could to +free me, you must do exactly as I bid you now. Take this bow and arrow +and kill every beast you see with them, and be sure you spare no living +creature.' + +With these words she disappeared, and hardly had she done so than a +huge wild boar started out of the thicket near and made straight for the +Prince. But the youth did not lose his presence of mind, and drawing +his bow he pierced the beast with his arrow right through the skull. The +creature fell heavily on the ground, and out of its side sprang a little +hare, which ran like the wind along the river bank. The Prince drew his +bow once more, and the hare lay dead at his feet; but at the same moment +a dove rose up in the air, and circled round the Prince's head in the +most confiding manner. But mindful of the black girl's commands, he +dared not spare the little creature's life, and taking another arrow +from his quiver he laid it as dead as the boar and the hare. But when +he went to look at the body of the bird he found instead of the dove a +round white egg lying on the ground. + +While he was gazing on it and wondering what it could mean, he heard the +sweeping of wings above him, and looking up he saw a huge vulture with +open claws swooping down upon him. In a moment he seized the egg and +flung it at the bird with all his might, and lo and behold! instead of +the ugly monster the most beautiful girl he had ever seen stood before +the astonished eyes of the Prince. + +But while all this was going on the wicked old Fairy had managed to +make her way out of the wood, and was now using the last resource in her +power to overtake her daughter and the Prince. As soon as she was in the +open again she mounted her chariot, which was drawn by a fiery dragon, +and flew through the air in it. But just as she got to the river she saw +the two lovers in each other's arms swimming through the water as easily +as two fishes. + +Quick as lightning, and forgetful of every danger, she flew down upon +them. But the waters seized her chariot and sunk it in the lowest +depths, and the waves bore the wicked old woman down the stream till she +was caught in some thorn bushes, where she made a good meal for all the +little fishes that were swimming about. + +And so at last the Prince and his lovely Bride were free. They hurried +as quickly as they could to the old King, who received them with joy and +gladness. On the following day a most gorgeous wedding feast was held, +and as far as we know the Prince and his bride lived happily for ever +afterwards. + + + + +THE DEAD WIFE(20) + +(20) From the Iroquois. + +Once upon a time there were a man and his wife who lived in the forest, +very far from the rest of the tribe. Very often they spent the day in +hunting together, but after a while the wife found that she had so many +things to do that she was obliged to stay at home; so he went alone, +though he found that when his wife was not with him he never had any +luck. One day, when he was away hunting, the woman fell ill, and in a +few days she died. + +Her husband grieved bitterly, and buried her in the house where she had +passed her life; but as the time went on he felt so lonely without her +that he made a wooden doll about her height and size for company, and +dressed it in her clothes. He seated it in front of the fire, and tried +to think he had his wife back again. The next day he went out to hunt, +and when he came home the first thing he did was to go up to the doll +and brush off some of the ashes from the fire which had fallen on its +face. But he was very busy now, for he had to cook and mend, besides +getting food, for there was no one to help him. And so a whole year +passed away. + +At the end of that time he came back from hunting one night and found +some wood by the door and a fire within. The next night there was not +only wood and fire, but a piece of meat in the kettle, nearly ready for +eating. He searched all about to see who could have done this, but could +find no one. The next time he went to hunt he took care not to go far, +and came in quite early. And while he was still a long way off he saw a +woman going into the house with wood on her shoulders. So he made haste, +and opened the door quickly, and instead of the wooden doll, his wife +sat in front of the fire. + +Then she spoke to him and said, 'The Great Spirit felt sorry for you, +because you would not be comforted, so he let me come back to you, but +you must not stretch out your hand to touch me till we have seen the +rest of our people. If you do, I shall die.' + +So the man listened to her words, and the woman dwelt there, and brought +the wood and kindled the fire, till one day her husband said to her, 'It +is now two years since you died. Let us now go back to our tribe. Then +you will be well, and I can touch you.' + +And with that he prepared food for the journey, a string of deer's flesh +for her to carry, and one for himself; and so they started. Now the camp +of the tribe was distant six days' journey, and when they were yet one +day's journey off it began to snow, and they felt weary and longed for +rest. Therefore they made a fire, cooked some food, and spread out their +skins to sleep. + +Then the heart of the man was greatly stirred, and he stretched out his +arms to his wife, but she waved her hands and said, 'We have seen no one +yet; it is too soon.' + +But he would not listen to her, and caught her to him, and behold! he +was clasping the wooden doll. And when he saw it was the doll he pushed +it from him in his misery and rushed away to the camp, and told them all +his story. And some doubted, and they went back with him to the place +where he and his wife had stopped to rest, and there lay the doll, and +besides, they saw in the snow the steps of two people, and the foot of +one was like the foot of the doll. And the man grieved sore all the days +of his life. + + + + +IN THE LAND OF SOULS (21) + +(21) From the Red Indian. + +Far away, in North America, where the Red Indians dwell, there lived a +long time ago a beautiful maiden, who was lovelier than any other girl +in the whole tribe. Many of the young braves sought her in marriage, but +she would listen to one only--a handsome chief, who had taken her fancy +some years before. So they were to be married, and great rejoicings were +made, and the two looked forward to a long life of happiness together, +when the very night before the wedding feast a sudden illness seized the +girl, and, without a word to her friends who were weeping round her, she +passed silently away. + +The heart of her lover had been set upon her, and the thought of her +remained with him night and day. He put aside his bow, and went neither +to fight nor to hunt, but from sunrise to sunset he sat by the place +where she was laid, thinking of his happiness that was buried there. +At last, after many days, a light seemed to come to him out of the +darkness. He remembered having heard from the old, old people of the +tribe, that there was a path that led to the Land of Souls--that if you +sought carefully you could find it. + +So the next morning he got up early, and put some food in his pouch and +slung an extra skin over his shoulders, for he knew not how long +his journey would take, nor what sort of country he would have to go +through. Only one thing he knew, that if the path was there, he would +find it. At first he was puzzled, as there seemed no reason he should go +in one direction more than another. Then all at once he thought he had +heard one of the old men say that the Land of Souls lay to the south, +and so, filled with new hope and courage, he set his face southwards. +For many, many miles the country looked the same as it did round his own +home. The forests, the hills, and the rivers all seemed exactly like the +ones he had left. The only thing that was different was the snow, which +had lain thick upon the hills and trees when he started, but grew less +and less the farther he went south, till it disappeared altogether. Soon +the trees put forth their buds, and flowers sprang up under his feet, +and instead of thick clouds there was blue sky over his head, and +everywhere the birds were singing. Then he knew that he was in the right +road. + +The thought that he should soon behold his lost bride made his heart +beat for joy, and he sped along lightly and swiftly. Now his way led +through a dark wood, and then over some steep cliffs, and on the top of +these he found a hut or wigwam. An old man clothed in skins, and holding +a staff in his hand, stood in the doorway; and he said to the young +chief who was beginning to tell his story, 'I was waiting for you, +wherefore you have come I know. It is but a short while since she whom +you seek was here. Rest in my hut, as she also rested, and I will tell +you what you ask, and whither you should go.' + +On hearing these words, the young man entered the hut, but his heart was +too eager within him to suffer him to rest, and when he arose, the old +man rose too, and stood with him at the door. 'Look,' he said, 'at the +water which lies far out yonder, and the plains which stretch beyond. +That is the Land of Souls, but no man enters it without leaving his body +behind him. So, lay down your body here; your bow and arrows, your skin +and your dog. They shall be kept for you safely.' + +Then he turned away, and the young chief, light as air, seemed hardly to +touch the ground; and as he flew along the scents grew sweeter and the +flowers more beautiful, while the animals rubbed their noses against +him, instead of hiding as he approached, and birds circled round him, +and fishes lifted up their heads and looked as he went by. Very soon he +noticed with wonder, that neither rocks nor trees barred his path. He +passed through them without knowing it, for indeed, they were not rocks +and trees at all, but only the souls of them; for this was the Land of +Shadows. + +So he went on with winged feet till he came to the shores of a great +lake, with a lovely island in the middle of it; while on the bank of the +lake was a canoe of glittering stone, and in the canoe were two shining +paddles. + +The chief jumped straight into the canoe, and seizing the paddles pushed +off from the shore, when to his joy and wonder he saw following him in +another canoe exactly like his own the maiden for whose sake he had made +this long journey. But they could not touch each other, for between them +rolled great waves, which looked as if they would sink the boats, yet +never did. And the young man and the maiden shrank with fear, for down +in the depths of the water they saw the bones of those who had died +before, and in the waves themselves men and women were struggling, and +but few passed over. Only the children had no fear, and reached the +other side in safety. Still, though the chief and the young girl quailed +in terror at these horrible sights and sounds, no harm came to them, +for their lives had been free from evil, and the Master of Life had said +that no evil should happen unto them. So they reached unhurt the shore +of the Happy Island, and wandered through the flowery fields and by the +banks of rushing streams, and they knew not hunger nor thirst; neither +cold nor heat. The air fed them and the sun warmed them, and they forgot +the dead, for they saw no graves, and the young man's thoughts turned +not to wars, neither to the hunting of animals. And gladly would these +two have walked thus for ever, but in the murmur of the wind he heard +the Master of Life saying to him, 'Return whither you came, for I have +work for you to do, and your people need you, and for many years you +shall rule over them. At the gate my messenger awaits you, and you shall +take again your body which you left behind, and he will show you what +you are to do. Listen to him, and have patience, and in time to come you +shall rejoin her whom you must now leave, for she is accepted, and will +remain ever young and beautiful, as when I called her hence from the +Land of Snows.' + + + + +THE WHITE DUCK + +Once upon a time a great and powerful King married a lovely Princess. No +couple were ever so happy; but before their honeymoon was over they were +forced to part, for the King had to go on a warlike expedition to a far +country, and leave his young wife alone at home. Bitter were the tears +she shed, while her husband sought in vain to soothe her with words of +comfort and counsel, warning her, above all things, never to leave +the castle, to hold no intercourse with strangers, to beware of evil +counsellors, and especially to be on her guard against strange women. +And the Queen promised faithfully to obey her royal lord and master in +these four matters. + +So when the King set out on his expedition she shut herself up with +her ladies in her own apartments, and spent her time in spinning and +weaving, and in thinking of her royal husband. Often she was very sad +and lonely, and it happened that one day while she was seated at the +window, letting salt tears drop on her work, an old woman, a kind, +homely-looking old body, stepped up to the window, and, leaning upon her +crutch, addressed the Queen in friendly, flattering tones, saying: + +'Why are you sad and cast down, fair Queen? You should not mope all day +in your rooms, but should come out into the green garden, and hear the +birds sing with joy among the trees, and see the butterflies fluttering +above the flowers, and hear the bees and insects hum, and watch +the sunbeams chase the dew-drops through the rose-leaves and in the +lily-cups. All the brightness outside would help to drive away your +cares, O Queen.' + +For long the Queen resisted her coaxing words, remembering the promise +she had given the King, her husband; but at last she thought to herself: +After all, what harm would it do if I were to go into the garden for a +short time and enjoy myself among the trees and flowers, and the singing +birds and fluttering butterflies and humming insects, and look at +the dew-drops hiding from the sunbeams in the hearts of the roses and +lilies, and wander about in the sunshine, instead of remaining all +day in this room? For she had no idea that the kind-looking old woman +leaning on her crutch was in reality a wicked witch, who envied the +Queen her good fortune, and was determined to ruin her. And so, in all +ignorance, the Queen followed her out into the garden and listened to +her smooth, flattering words. Now, in the middle of the garden there was +a pond of water, clear as crystal, and the old woman said to the Queen: + +'The day is so warm, and the sun's rays so scorching, that the water in +the pond looks very cool and inviting. Would you not like to bathe in +it, fair Queen?' + +'No, I think not,' answered the Queen; but the next moment she regretted +her words, and thought to herself: Why shouldn't I bathe in that cool, +fresh water? No harm could come of it. And, so saying, she slipped off +her robes and stepped into the water. But scarcely had her tender feet +touched the cool ripples when she felt a great shove on her shoulders, +and the wicked witch had pushed her into the deep water, exclaiming: + +'Swim henceforth, White Duck!' + +And the witch herself assumed the form of the Queen, and decked herself +out in the royal robes, and sat among the Court ladies, awaiting the +King's return. And suddenly the tramp of horses' hoofs was heard, and +the barking of dogs, and the witch hastened forward to meet the royal +carriages, and, throwing her arms round the King's neck, kissed him. +And in his great joy the King did not know that the woman he held in his +arms was not his own dear wife, but a wicked witch. + +In the meantime, outside the palace walls, the poor White Duck swam up +and down the pond; and near it laid three eggs, out of which there came +one morning two little fluffy ducklings and a little ugly drake. And the +White Duck brought the little creatures up, and they paddled after her +in the pond, and caught gold-fish, and hopped upon the bank and waddled +about, ruffling their feathers and saying 'Quack, quack' as they +strutted about on the green banks of the pond. But their mother used to +warn them not to stray too far, telling them that a wicked witch lived +in the castle beyond the garden, adding, 'She has ruined me, and she +will do her best to ruin you.' But the young ones did not listen to +their mother, and, playing about the garden one day, they strayed close +up to the castle windows. The witch at once recognised them by their +smell, and ground her teeth with anger; but she hid her feelings, and, +pretending to be very kind she called them to her and joked with them, +and led them into a beautiful room, where she gave them food to eat, and +showed them a soft cushion on which they might sleep. Then she left them +and went down into the palace kitchens, where she told the servants to +sharpen the knives, and to make a great fire ready, and hang a large +kettleful of water over it. + +In the meantime the two little ducklings had fallen asleep, and the +little drake lay between them, covered up by their wings, to be kept +warm under their feathers. But the little drake could not go to sleep, +and as he lay there wide awake in the night he heard the witch come to +the door and say: + +'Little ones, are you asleep?' + +And the little drake answered for the other two: + + 'We cannot sleep, we wake and weep, + Sharp is the knife, to take our life; + The fire is hot, now boils the pot, + And so we wake, and lie and quake.' + +'They are not asleep yet,' muttered the witch to herself; and she walked +up and down in the passage, and then came back to the door, and said: + +'Little ones, are you asleep?' + +And again the little drake answered for his sisters: + + 'We cannot sleep, we wake and weep, + Sharp is the knife, to take our life; + The fire is hot, now boils the pot, + And so we wake, and lie and quake.' + +'Just the same answer,' muttered the witch; 'I think I'll go in and +see.' So she opened the door gently, and seeing the two little ducklings +sound asleep, she there and then killed them. + +The next morning the White Duck wandered round the pond in a distracted +manner, looking for her little ones; she called and she searched, but +could find no trace of them. And in her heart she had a foreboding that +evil had befallen them, and she fluttered up out of the water and flew +to the palace. And there, laid out on the marble floor of the court, +dead and stone cold, were her three children. The White Duck threw +herself upon them, and, covering up their little bodies with her wings, +she cried: + + 'Quack, quack--my little loves! + Quack, quack--my turtle-doves! + I brought you up with grief and pain, + And now before my eyes you're slain. + + I gave you always of the best; + I kept you warm in my soft nest. + I loved and watched you day and night-- + You were my joy, my one delight.' + + +The King heard the sad complaint of the White Duck, and called to the +witch: 'Wife, what a wonder is this? Listen to that White Duck.' + +But the witch answered, 'My dear husband, what do you mean? There is +nothing wonderful in a duck's quacking. Here, servants! Chase that duck +out of the courtyard.' But though the servants chased and chevied, they +could not get rid of the duck; for she circled round and round, and +always came back to the spot where her children lay, crying: + + 'Quack, quack--my little loves! + Quack, quack--my turtle-doves! + The wicked witch your lives did take-- + The wicked witch, the cunning snake. + First she stole my King away, + Then my children did she slay. + Changed me, from a happy wife, + To a duck for all my life. + Would I were the Queen again; + Would that you had never been slain.' + +And as the King heard her words he began to suspect that he had been +deceived, and he called out to the servants, 'Catch that duck, and bring +it here.' But, though they ran to and fro, the duck always fled past +them, and would not let herself be caught. So the King himself stepped +down amongst them, and instantly the duck fluttered down into his hands. +And as he stroked her wings she was changed into a beautiful woman, and +he recognised his dear wife. And she told him that a bottle would be +found in her nest in the garden, containing some drops from the spring +of healing. And it was brought to her; and the ducklings and little +drake were sprinkled with the water, and from the little dead bodies +three lovely children arose. And the King and Queen were overjoyed when +they saw their children, and they all lived happily together in the +beautiful palace. But the wicked witch was taken by the King's command, +and she came to no good end. + + + + +THE WITCH AND HER SERVANTS(22) + +(22) From the Russian. Kletke. + +Long time ago there lived a King who had three sons; the eldest was +called Szabo, the second Warza, and the youngest Iwanich. + +One beautiful spring morning the King was walking through his +gardens with these three sons, gazing with admiration at the various +fruit-trees, some of which were a mass of blossom, whilst others were +bowed to the ground laden with rich fruit. During their wanderings they +came unperceived on a piece of waste land where three splendid trees +grew. The King looked on them for a moment, and then, shaking his head +sadly, he passed on in silence. + +The sons, who could not understand why he did this, asked him the reason +of his dejection, and the King told them as follows: + +'These three trees, which I cannot see without sorrow, were planted by +me on this spot when I was a youth of twenty. A celebrated magician, who +had given the seed to my father, promised him that they would grow into +the three finest trees the world had ever seen. My father did not live +to see his words come true; but on his death-bed he bade me transplant +them here, and to look after them with the greatest care, which I +accordingly did. At last, after the lapse of five long years, I noticed +some blossoms on the branches, and a few days later the most exquisite +fruit my eyes had ever seen. + +'I gave my head-gardener the strictest orders to watch the trees +carefully, for the magician had warned my father that if one unripe +fruit were plucked from the tree, all the rest would become rotten at +once. When it was quite ripe the fruit would become a golden yellow. + +'Every day I gazed on the lovely fruit, which became gradually more +and more tempting-looking, and it was all I could do not to break the +magician's commands. + +'One night I dreamt that the fruit was perfectly ripe; I ate some of it, +and it was more delicious than anything I had ever tasted in real life. +As soon as I awoke I sent for the gardener and asked him if the fruit on +the three trees had not ripened in the night to perfection. + +'But instead of replying, the gardener threw himself at my feet and +swore that he was innocent. He said that he had watched by the trees all +night, but in spite of it, and as if by magic, the beautiful trees had +been robbed of all their fruit. + +'Grieved as I was over the theft, I did not punish the gardener, of +whose fidelity I was well assured, but I determined to pluck off all the +fruit in the following year before it was ripe, as I had not much belief +in the magician's warning. + +'I carried out my intention, and had all the fruit picked off the tree, +but when I tasted one of the apples it was bitter and unpleasant, and +the next morning the rest of the fruit had all rotted away. + +'After this I had the beautiful fruit of these trees carefully guarded +by my most faithful servants; but every year, on this very night, the +fruit was plucked and stolen by an invisible hand, and next morning not +a single apple remained on the trees. For some time past I have given up +even having the trees watched.' + +When the King had finished his story, Szabo, his eldest son, said to +him: 'Forgive me, father, if I say I think you are mistaken. I am sure +there are many men in your kingdom who could protect these trees from +the cunning arts of a thieving magician; I myself, who as your eldest +son claim the first right to do so, will mount guard over the fruit this +very night.' + +The King consented, and as soon as evening drew on Szabo climbed up on +to one of the trees, determined to protect the fruit even if it cost him +his life. So he kept watch half the night; but a little after midnight +he was overcome by an irresistible drowsiness, and fell fast asleep. +He did not awake till it was bright daylight, and all the fruit on the +trees had vanished. + +The following year Warza, the second brother, tried his luck, but with +the same result. Then it came to the turn of the third and youngest son. + +Iwanich was not the least discouraged by the failure of his elder +brothers, though they were both much older and stronger than he was, +and when night came climbed up the tree as they had done, The moon had +risen, and with her soft light lit up the whole neighbourhood, so that +the observant Prince could distinguish the smallest object distinctly. + +At midnight a gentle west wind shook the tree, and at the same moment +a snow-white swan-like bird sank down gently on his breast. The +Prince hastily seized the bird's wings in his hands, when, lo! to his +astonishment he found he was holding in his arms not a bird but the most +beautiful girl he had ever seen. + +'You need not fear Militza,' said the beautiful girl, looking at the +Prince with friendly eyes. 'An evil magician has not robbed you of your +fruit, but he stole the seed from my mother, and thereby caused her +death. When she was dying she bade me take the fruit, which you have no +right to possess, from the trees every year as soon as it was ripe. +This I would have done to-night too, if you had not seized me with such +force, and so broken the spell I was under.' + +Iwanich, who had been prepared to meet a terrible magician and not a +lovely girl, fell desperately in love with her. They spent the rest of +the night in pleasant conversation, and when Militza wished to go away +he begged her not to leave him. + +'I would gladly stay with you longer,' said Militza, 'but a wicked witch +once cut off a lock of my hair when I was asleep, which has put me in +her power, and if morning were still to find me here she would do me +some harm, and you, too, perhaps.' + +Having said these words, she drew a sparkling diamond ring from her +finger, which she handed to the Prince, saying: 'Keep this ring in +memory of Militza, and think of her sometimes if you never see her +again. But if your love is really true, come and find me in my own +kingdom. I may not show you the way there, but this ring will guide you. + +'If you have love and courage enough to undertake this journey, whenever +you come to a cross-road always look at this diamond before you settle +which way you are going to take. If it sparkles as brightly as ever go +straight on, but if its lustre is dimmed choose another path.' + +Then Militza bent over the Prince and kissed him on his forehead, and +before he had time to say a word she vanished through the branches of +the tree in a little white cloud. + +Morning broke, and the Prince, still full of the wonderful apparition, +left his perch and returned to the palace like one in a dream, without +even knowing if the fruit had been taken or not; for his whole mind was +absorbed by thoughts of Militza and how he was to find her. + +As soon as the head-gardener saw the Prince going towards the palace he +ran to the trees, and when he saw them laden with ripe fruit he hastened +to tell the King the joyful news. The King was beside himself for joy, +and hurried at once to the garden and made the gardener pick him some of +the fruit. He tasted it, and found the apple quite as luscious as it +had been in his dream. He went at once to his son Iwanich, and after +embracing him tenderly and heaping praises on him, he asked him how +he had succeeded in protecting the costly fruit from the power of the +magician. + +This question placed Iwanich in a dilemma. But as he did not want the +real story to be known, he said that about midnight a huge wasp had +flown through the branches, and buzzed incessantly round him. He had +warded it off with his sword, and at dawn, when he was becoming quite +worn out, the wasp had vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. + +The King, who never doubted the truth of this tale, bade his son go to +rest at once and recover from the fatigues of the night; but he himself +went and ordered many feasts to be held in honour of the preservation of +the wonderful fruit. + +The whole capital was in a stir, and everyone shared in the King's joy; +the Prince alone took no part in the festivities. + +While the King was at a banquet, Iwanich took some purses of gold, and +mounting the quickest horse in the royal stable, he sped off like the +wind without a single soul being any the wiser. + +It was only on the next day that they missed him; the King was very +distressed at his disappearance, and sent search-parties all over the +kingdom to look for him, but in vain; and after six months they gave him +up as dead, and in another six months they had forgotten all about him. +But in the meantime the Prince, with the help of his ring, had had a +most successful journey, and no evil had befallen him. + +At the end of three months he came to the entrance of a huge forest, +which looked as if it had never been trodden by human foot before, and +which seemed to stretch out indefinitely. The Prince was about to enter +the wood by a little path he had discovered, when he heard a voice +shouting to him: 'Hold, youth! Whither are you going?' + +Iwanich turned round, and saw a tall, gaunt-looking man, clad in +miserable rags, leaning on a crooked staff and seated at the foot of +an oak tree, which was so much the same colour as himself that it was +little wonder the Prince had ridden past the tree without noticing him. + +'Where else should I be going,' he said, 'than through the wood?' + +'Through the wood?' said the old man in amazement. 'It's easily seen +that you have heard nothing of this forest, that you rush so blindly to +meet your doom. Well, listen to me before you ride any further; let me +tell you that this wood hides in its depths a countless number of the +fiercest tigers, hyenas, wolves, bears, and snakes, and all sorts of +other monsters. If I were to cut you and your horse up into tiny morsels +and throw them to the beasts, there wouldn't be one bit for each hundred +of them. Take my advice, therefore, and if you wish to save your life +follow some other path.' + +The Prince was rather taken aback by the old man's words, and considered +for a minute what he should do; then looking at his ring, and perceiving +that it sparkled as brightly as ever, he called out: 'If this wood held +even more terrible things than it does, I cannot help myself, for I must +go through it.' + +Here he spurred his horse and rode on; but the old beggar screamed so +loudly after him that the Prince turned round and rode back to the oak +tree. + +'I am really sorry for you,' said the beggar, 'but if you are quite +determined to brave the dangers of the forest, let me at least give you +a piece of advice which will help you against these monsters. + +'Take this bagful of bread-crumbs and this live hare. I will make you +a present of them both, as I am anxious to save your life; but you must +leave your horse behind you, for it would stumble over the fallen trees +or get entangled in the briers and thorns. When you have gone about a +hundred yards into the wood the wild beasts will surround you. Then you +must instantly seize your bag, and scatter the bread-crumbs among them. +They will rush to eat them up greedily, and when you have scattered the +last crumb you must lose no time in throwing the hare to them; as soon +as the hare feels itself on the ground it will run away as quickly as +possible, and the wild beasts will turn to pursue it. In this way you +will be able to get through the wood unhurt.' + +Iwanich thanked the old man for his counsel, dismounted from his horse, +and, taking the bag and the hare in his arms, he entered the forest. He +had hardly lost sight of his gaunt grey friend when he heard growls and +snarls in the thicket close to him, and before he had time to think he +found himself surrounded by the most dreadful-looking creatures. On +one side he saw the glittering eye of a cruel tiger, on the other the +gleaming teeth of a great she-wolf; here a huge bear growled fiercely, +and there a horrible snake coiled itself in the grass at his feet. + +But Iwanich did not forget the old man's advice, and quickly put his +hand into the bag and took out as many bread-crumbs as he could hold in +his hand at a time. He threw them to the beasts, but soon the bag grew +lighter and lighter, and the Prince began to feel a little frightened. +And now the last crumb was gone, and the hungry beasts thronged round +him, greedy for fresh prey. Then he seized the hare and threw it to +them. + +No sooner did the little creature feel itself on the ground than it +lay back its ears and flew through the wood like an arrow from a bow, +closely pursued by the wild beasts, and the Prince was left alone. He +looked at his ring, and when he saw that it sparkled as brightly as ever +he went straight on through the forest. + +He hadn't gone very far when he saw a most extraordinary looking man +coming towards him. He was not more than three feet high, his legs +were quite crooked, and all his body was covered with prickles like a +hedgehog. Two lions walked with him, fastened to his side by the two +ends of his long beard. + +He stopped the Prince and asked him in a harsh voice: 'Are you the man +who has just fed my body-guard?' + +Iwanich was so startled that he could hardly reply, but the little man +continued: 'I am most grateful to you for your kindness; what can I give +you as a reward?' + +'All I ask,' replied Iwanich, 'is, that I should be allowed to go +through this wood in safety.' + +'Most certainly,' answered the little man; 'and for greater security I +will give you one of my lions as a protector. But when you leave this +wood and come near a palace which does not belong to my domain, let the +lion go, in order that he may not fall into the hands of an enemy and be +killed.' + +With these words he loosened the lion from his beard and bade the beast +guard the youth carefully. + +With this new protector Iwanich wandered on through the forest, and +though he came upon a great many more wolves, hyenas, leopards, and +other wild beasts, they always kept at a respectful distance when they +saw what sort of an escort the Prince had with him. + +Iwanich hurried through the wood as quickly as his legs would carry him, +but, nevertheless, hour after hour went by and not a trace of a green +field or a human habitation met his eyes. At length, towards evening, +the mass of trees grew more transparent, and through the interlaced +branches a wide plain was visible. + +At the exit of the wood the lion stood still, and the Prince took leave +of him, having first thanked him warmly for his kind protection. It had +become quite dark, and Iwanich was forced to wait for daylight before +continuing his journey. + +He made himself a bed of grass and leaves, lit a fire of dry branches, +and slept soundly till the next morning. + +Then he got up and walked towards a beautiful white palace which he saw +gleaming in the distance. In about an hour he reached the building, and +opening the door he walked in. + +After wandering through many marble halls, he came to a huge staircase +made of porphyry, leading down to a lovely garden. + +The Prince burst into a shout of joy when he suddenly perceived Militza +in the centre of a group of girls who were weaving wreaths of flowers +with which to deck their mistress. + +As soon as Militza saw the Prince she ran up to him and embraced him +tenderly; and after he had told her all his adventures, they went into +the palace, where a sumptuous meal awaited them. Then the Princess +called her court together, and introduced Iwanich to them as her future +husband. + +Preparations were at once made for the wedding, which was held soon +after with great pomp and magnificence. + +Three months of great happiness followed, when Militza received one day +an invitation to visit her mother's sister. + +Although the Princess was very unhappy at leaving her husband, she did +not like to refuse the invitation, and, promising to return in seven +days at the latest, she took a tender farewell of the Prince, and +said: 'Before I go I will hand you over all the keys of the castle. Go +everywhere and do anything you like; only one thing I beg and beseech +you, do not open the little iron door in the north tower, which is +closed with seven locks and seven bolts; for if you do, we shall both +suffer for it.' + +Iwanich promised what she asked, and Militza departed, repeating her +promise to return in seven days. + +When the Prince found himself alone he began to be tormented by pangs +of curiosity as to what the room in the tower contained. For two days he +resisted the temptation to go and look, but on the third he could stand +it no longer, and taking a torch in his hand he hurried to the tower, +and unfastened one lock after the other of the little iron door until it +burst open. + +What an unexpected sight met his gaze! The Prince perceived a small room +black with smoke, lit up feebly by a fire from which issued long blue +flames. Over the fire hung a huge cauldron full of boiling pitch, and +fastened into the cauldron by iron chains stood a wretched man screaming +with agony. + +Iwanich was much horrified at the sight before him, and asked the man +what terrible crime he had committed to be punished in this dreadful +fashion. + +'I will tell you everything,' said the man in the cauldron; 'but first +relieve my torments a little, I implore you.' + +'And how can I do that?' asked the Prince. + +'With a little water,' replied the man; 'only sprinkle a few drops over +me and I shall feel better.' + +The Prince, moved by pity, without thinking what he was doing, ran +to the courtyard of the castle, and filled a jug with water, which he +poured over the man in the cauldron. + +In a moment a most fearful crash was heard, as if all the pillars of the +palace were giving way, and the palace itself, with towers and doors, +windows and the cauldron, whirled round the bewildered Prince's head. +This continued for a few minutes, and then everything vanished into +thin air, and Iwanich found himself suddenly alone upon a desolate heath +covered with rocks and stones. + +The Prince, who now realised what his heedlessness had done, cursed too +late his spirit of curiosity. In his despair he wandered on over the +heath, never looking where he put his feet, and full of sorrowful +thoughts. At last he saw a light in the distance, which came from a +miserable-looking little hut. + +The owner of it was none other than the kind-hearted gaunt grey beggar +who had given the Prince the bag of bread-crumbs and the hare. Without +recognising Iwanich, he opened the door when he knocked and gave him +shelter for the night. + +On the following morning the Prince asked his host if he could get him +any work to do, as he was quite unknown in the neighbourhood, and had +not enough money to take him home. + +'My son,' replied the old man, 'all this country round here is +uninhabited; I myself have to wander to distant villages for my living, +and even then I do not very often find enough to satisfy my hunger. But +if you would like to take service with the old witch Corva, go straight +up the little stream which flows below my hut for about three hours, and +you will come to a sand-hill on the left-hand side; that is where she +lives.' + +Iwanich thanked the gaunt grey beggar for his information, and went on +his way. + +After walking for about three hours the Prince came upon a +dreary-looking grey stone wall; this was the back of the building and +did not attract him; but when he came upon the front of the house +he found it even less inviting, for the old witch had surrounded her +dwelling with a fence of spikes, on every one of which a man's skull was +stuck. In this horrible enclosure stood a small black house, which had +only two grated windows, all covered with cobwebs, and a battered iron +door. + +The Prince knocked, and a rasping woman's voice told him to enter. + +Iwanich opened the door, and found himself in a smoke-begrimed kitchen, +in the presence of a hideous old woman who was warming her skinny hands +at a fire. The Prince offered to become her servant, and the old hag +told him she was badly in want of one, and he seemed to be just the +person to suit her. + +When Iwanich asked what his work, and how much his wages would be, the +witch bade him follow her, and led the way through a narrow damp +passage into a vault, which served as a stable. Here he perceived two +pitch-black horses in a stall. + +'You see before you,' said the old woman, 'a mare and her foal; you have +nothing to do but to lead them out to the fields every day, and to see +that neither of them runs away from you. If you look after them both for +a whole year I will give you anything you like to ask; but if, on the +other hand, you let either of the animals escape you, your last hour is +come, and your head shall be stuck on the last spike of my fence. The +other spikes, as you see, are already adorned, and the skulls are all +those of different servants I have had who have failed to do what I +demanded.' + +Iwanich, who thought he could not be much worse off than he was already, +agreed to the witch's proposal. + +At daybreak nest morning he drove his horses to the field, and brought +them back in the evening without their ever having attempted to break +away from him. The witch stood at her door and received him kindly, and +set a good meal before him. + +So it continued for some time, and all went well with the Prince. + +Early every morning he led the horses out to the fields, and brought +them home safe and sound in the evening. + +One day, while he was watching the horses, he came to the banks of a +river, and saw a big fish, which through some mischance had been cast on +the land, struggling hard to get back into the water. + +Iwanich, who felt sorry for the poor creature, seized it in his arms and +flung it into the stream. But no sooner did the fish find itself in the +water again, than, to the Prince's amazement, it swam up to the bank and +said: + +'My kind benefactor, how can I reward you for your goodness?' + +'I desire nothing,' answered the Prince. 'I am quite content to have +been able to be of some service to you.' + +'You must do me the favour,' replied the fish, 'to take a scale from my +body, and keep it carefully. If you should ever need my help, throw it +into the river, and I will come to your aid at once.' + +Iwanich bowed, loosened a scale from the body of the grateful beast, put +it carefully away, and returned home. + +A short time after this, when he was going early one morning to the +usual grazing place with his horses, he noticed a flock of birds +assembled together making a great noise and flying wildly backwards and +forwards. + +Full of curiosity, Iwanich hurried up to the spot, and saw that a large +number of ravens had attacked an eagle, and although the eagle was big +and powerful and was making a brave fight, it was overpowered at last by +numbers, and had to give in. + +But the Prince, who was sorry for the poor bird, seized the branch of +a tree and hit out at the ravens with it; terrified at this unexpected +onslaught they flew away, leaving many of their number dead or wounded +on the battlefield. + +As soon as the eagle saw itself free from its tormentors it plucked a +feather from its wing, and, handing it to the Prince, said: 'Here, my +kind benefactor, take this feather as a proof of my gratitude; should +you ever be in need of my help blow this feather into the air, and I +will help you as much as is in my power.' + +Iwanich thanked the bird, and placing the feather beside the scale he +drove the horses home. + +Another day he had wandered farther than usual, and came close to a +farmyard; the place pleased the Prince, and as there was plenty of good +grass for the horses he determined to spend the day there. Just as he +was sitting down under a tree he heard a cry close to him, and saw a fox +which had been caught in a trap placed there by the farmer. + +In vain did the poor beast try to free itself; then the good-natured +Prince came once more to the rescue, and let the fox out of the trap. + +The fox thanked him heartily, tore two hairs out of his bushy tail, and +said: 'Should you ever stand in need of my help throw these two hairs +into the fire, and in a moment I shall be at your side ready to obey +you.' + +Iwanich put the fox's hairs with the scale and the feather, and as it +was getting dark he hastened home with his horses. + +In the meantime his service was drawing near to an end, and in three +more days the year was up, and he would be able to get his reward and +leave the witch. + +On the first evening of these last three days, when he came home and was +eating his supper, he noticed the old woman stealing into the stables. + +The Prince followed her secretly to see what she was going to do. He +crouched down in the doorway and heard the wicked witch telling the +horses to wait next morning till Iwanich was asleep, and then to go and +hide themselves in the river, and to stay there till she told them to +return; and if they didn't do as she told them the old woman threatened +to beat them till they bled. + +When Iwanich heard all this he went back to his room, determined that +nothing should induce him to fall asleep next day. On the following +morning he led the mare and foal to the fields as usual, but bound a +cord round them both which he kept in his hand. + +But after a few hours, by the magic arts of the old witch, he was +overpowered by sleep, and the mare and foal escaped and did as they had +been told to do. The Prince did not awake till late in the evening; and +when he did, he found, to his horror, that the horses had disappeared. +Filled with despair, he cursed the moment when he had entered the +service of the cruel witch, and already he saw his head sticking up on +the sharp spike beside the others. + +Then he suddenly remembered the fish's scale, which, with the eagle's +feather and the fox's hairs, he always carried about with him. He drew +the scale from his pocket, and hurrying to the river he threw it in. In +a minute the grateful fish swam towards the bank on which Iwanich was +standing, and said: 'What do you command, my friend and benefactor?' + +The Prince replied: 'I had to look after a mare and foal, and they have +run away from me and have hidden themselves in the river; if you wish to +save my life drive them back to the land.' + +'Wait a moment,' answered the fish, 'and I and my friends will soon +drive them out of the water.' With these words the creature disappeared +into the depths of the stream. + +Almost immediately a rushing hissing sound was heard in the waters, the +waves dashed against the banks, the foam was tossed into the air, and +the two horses leapt suddenly on to the dry land, trembling and shaking +with fear. + +Iwanich sprang at once on to the mare's back, seized the foal by its +bridle, and hastened home in the highest spirits. + +When the witch saw the Prince bringing the horses home she could hardly +conceal her wrath, and as soon as she had placed Iwanich's supper before +him she stole away again to the stables. The Prince followed her, and +heard her scolding the beasts harshly for not having hidden themselves +better. She bade them wait next morning till Iwanich was asleep and then +to hide themselves in the clouds, and to remain there till she called. +If they did not do as she told them she would beat them till they bled. + +The next morning, after Iwanich had led his horses to the fields, he +fell once more into a magic sleep. The horses at once ran away and hid +themselves in the clouds, which hung down from the mountains in soft +billowy masses. + +When the Prince awoke and found that both the mare and the foal had +disappeared, he bethought him at once of the eagle, and taking the +feather out of his pocket he blew it into the air. + +In a moment the bird swooped down beside him and asked: 'What do you +wish me to do?' + +'My mare and foal,' replied the Prince, 'have run away from me, and have +hidden themselves in the clouds; if you wish to save my life, restore +both animals to me.' + +'Wait a minute,' answered the eagle; 'with the help of my friends I will +soon drive them back to you.' + +With these words the bird flew up into the air and disappeared among the +clouds. + +Almost directly Iwanich saw his two horses being driven towards him by +a host of eagles of all sizes. He caught the mare and foal, and having +thanked the eagle he drove them cheerfully home again. + +The old witch was more disgusted than ever when she saw him appearing, +and having set his supper before him she stole into the stables, and +Iwanich heard her abusing the horses for not having hidden themselves +better in the clouds. Then she bade them hide themselves next morning, +as soon as Iwanich was asleep, in the King's hen-house, which stood on +a lonely part of the heath, and to remain there till she called. If they +failed to do as she told them she would certainly beat them this time +till they bled. + +On the following morning the Prince drove his horses as usual to the +fields. After he had been overpowered by sleep, as on the former days, +the mare and foal ran away and hid themselves in the royal hen house. + +When the Prince awoke and found the horses gone he determined to appeal +to the fox; so, lighting a fire, he threw the two hairs into it, and +in a few moments the fox stood beside him and asked: 'In what way can I +serve you?' + +'I wish to know,' replied Iwanich, 'where the King's hen-house is.' + +'Hardly an hour's walk from here,' answered the fox, and offered to show +the Prince the way to it. + +While they were walking along the fox asked him what he wanted to do +at the royal hen-house. The Prince told him of the misfortune that had +befallen him, and of the necessity of recovering the mare and foal. + +'That is no easy matter,' replied the fox. 'But wait a moment. I have +an idea. Stand at the door of the hen-house, and wait there for your +horses. In the meantime I will slip in among the hens through a hole in +the wall and give them a good chase, so that the noise they make will +arouse the royal henwives, and they will come to see what is the matter. +When they see the horses they will at once imagine them to be the cause +of the disturbance, and will drive them out. Then you must lay hands on +the mare and foal and catch them. + +All turned out exactly as the sly fox had foreseen. The Prince swung +himself on the mare, seized the foal by its bridle, and hurried home. + +While he was riding over the heath in the highest of spirits the mare +suddenly said to her rider: 'You are the first person who has ever +succeeded in outwitting the old witch Corva, and now you may ask what +reward you like for your service. If you promise never to betray me I +will give you a piece of advice which you will do well to follow.' + +The Prince promised never to betray her confidence, and the mare +continued: 'Ask nothing else as a reward than my foal, for it has not +its like in the world, and is not to be bought for love or money; for it +can go from one end of the earth to another in a few minutes. Of course +the cunning Corva will do her best to dissuade you from taking the foal, +and will tell you that it is both idle and sickly; but do not believe +her, and stick to your point.' + +Iwanich longed to possess such an animal, and promised the mare to +follow her advice. + +This time Corva received him in the most friendly manner, and set a +sumptuous repast before him. As soon as he had finished she asked him +what reward he demanded for his year's service. + +'Nothing more nor less,' replied the Prince, 'than the foal of your +mare.' + +The witch pretended to be much astonished at his request, and said that +he deserved something much better than the foal, for the beast was lazy +and nervous, blind in one eye, and, in short, was quite worthless. + +But the Prince knew what he wanted, and when the old witch saw that he +had made up his mind to have the foal, she said, 'I am obliged to keep +my promise and to hand you over the foal; and as I know who you are and +what you want, I will tell you in what way the animal will be useful to +you. The man in the cauldron of boiling pitch, whom you set free, is a +mighty magician; through your curiosity and thoughtlessness Militza came +into his power, and he has transported her and her castle and belongings +into a distant country. + +'You are the only person who can kill him; and in consequence he fears +you to such an extent that he has set spies to watch you, and they +report your movements to him daily. + +'When you have reached him, beware of speaking a single word to him, or +you will fall into the power of his friends. Seize him at once by the +beard and dash him to the ground.' + +Iwanich thanked the old witch, mounted his foal, put spurs to its sides, +and they flew like lightning through the air. + +Already it was growing dark, when Iwanich perceived some figures in the +distance; they soon came up to them, and then the Prince saw that it +was the magician and his friends who were driving through the air in a +carriage drawn by owls. + +When the magician found himself face to face with Iwanich, without hope +of escape, he turned to him with false friendliness and said: 'Thrice my +kind benefactor!' + +But the Prince, without saying a word, seized him at once by his beard +and dashed him to the ground. At the same moment the foal sprang on the +top of the magician and kicked and stamped on him with his hoofs till he +died. + +Then Iwanich found himself once more in the palace of his bride, and +Militza herself flew into his arms. + +From this time forward they lived in undisturbed peace and happiness +till the end of their lives. + + + + +THE MAGIC RING + +Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had one son called +Martin. Now when the old man's time had come, he stretched himself out +on his bed and died. Though all his life long he had toiled and moiled, +he only left his widow and son two hundred florins. The old woman +determined to put by the money for a rainy day; but alas! the rainy day +was close at hand, for their meal was all consumed, and who is prepared +to face starvation with two hundred florins at their disposal? So the +old woman counted out a hundred of her florins, and giving them to +Martin, told him to go into the town and lay in a store of meal for a +year. + +So Martin started off for the town. When he reached the meat-market he +found the whole place in turmoil, and a great noise of angry voices and +barking of dogs. Mixing in the crowd, he noticed a stag-hound which the +butchers had caught and tied to a post, and which was being flogged in +a merciless manner. Overcome with pity, Martin spoke to the butchers, +saying: + +'Friends, why are you beating the poor dog so cruelly?' + +'We have every right to beat him,' they replied; 'he has just devoured a +newly-killed pig.' + +'Leave off beating him,' said Martin, 'and sell him to me instead.' + +'If you choose to buy him,' answered the butchers derisively; 'but for +such a treasure we won't take a penny less than a hundred florins.' + +'A hundred!' exclaimed Martin. 'Well, so be it, if you will not take +less;' and, taking the money out of his pocket, he handed it over in +exchange for the dog, whose name was Schurka. + +When Martin got home, his mother met him with the question: + +'Well, what have you bought?' + +'Schurka, the dog,' replied Martin, pointing to his new possession. +Whereupon his mother became very angry, and abused him roundly. He ought +to be ashamed of himself, when there was scarcely a handful of meal in +the house, to have spent the money on a useless brute like that. On the +following day she sent him back to the town, saying, 'Here, take our +last hundred florins, and buy provisions with them. I have just emptied +the last grains of meal out of the chest, and baked a bannock; but it +won't last over to-morrow.' + +Just as Martin was entering the town he met a rough-looking peasant who +was dragging a cat after him by a string which was fastened round the +poor beast's neck. + +'Stop,' cried Martin; 'where are you dragging that poor cat?' + +'I mean to drown him,' was the answer. + +'What harm has the poor beast done?' said Martin. + +'It has just killed a goose,' replied the peasant. + +'Don't drown him, sell him to me instead,' begged Martin. + +'Not for a hundred florins,' was the answer. + +'Surely for a hundred florins you'll sell it?' said Martin. 'See! here +is the money;' and, so saying, he handed him the hundred florins, which +the peasant pocketed, and Martin took possession of the cat, which was +called Waska. + +When he reached his home his mother greeted him with the question: + +'Well, what have you brought back?' + +'I have brought this cat, Waska,' answered Martin. + +'And what besides?' + +'I had no money over to buy anything else with,' replied Martin. + +'You useless ne'er-do-weel!' exclaimed his mother in a great passion. +'Leave the house at once, and go and beg your bread among strangers;' +and as Martin did not dare to contradict her, he called Schurka and +Waska and started off with them to the nearest village in search of +work. On the way he met a rich peasant, who asked him where he was +going. + +'I want to get work as a day labourer,' he answered. + +'Come along with me, then. But I must tell you I engage my labourers +without wages. If you serve me faithfully for a year, I promise you it +shall be for your advantage.' + +So Martin consented, and for a year he worked diligently, and served +his master faithfully, not sparing himself in any way. When the day of +reckoning had come the peasant led him into a barn, and pointing to two +full sacks, said: 'Take whichever of these you choose.' + +Martin examined the contents of the sacks, and seeing that one was full +of silver and the other of sand, he said to himself: + +'There must be some trick about this; I had better take the sand.' And +throwing the sack over his shoulders he started out into the world, +in search of fresh work. On and on he walked, and at last he reached +a great gloomy wood. In the middle of the wood he came upon a meadow, +where a fire was burning, and in the midst of the fire, surrounded by +flames, was a lovely damsel, more beautiful than anything that Martin +had ever seen, and when she saw him she called to him: + +'Martin, if you would win happiness, save my life. Extinguish the flames +with the sand that you earned in payment of your faithful service.' + +'Truly,' thought Martin to himself, 'it would be more sensible to save a +fellow-being's life with this sand than to drag it about on one's back, +seeing what a weight it is.' And forthwith he lowered the sack from his +shoulders and emptied its contents on the flames, and instantly the +fire was extinguished; but at the same moment lo! and behold the lovely +damsel turned into a Serpent, and, darting upon him, coiled itself round +his neck, and whispered lovingly in his ear: + +'Do not be afraid of me, Martin; I love you, and will go with you +through the world. But first you must follow me boldly into my Father's +Kingdom, underneath the earth; and when we get there, remember this--he +will offer you gold and silver, and dazzling gems, but do not touch +them. Ask him, instead, for the ring which he wears on his little +finger, for in that ring lies a magic power; you have only to throw it +from one hand to the other, and at once twelve young men will appear, +who will do your bidding, no matter how difficult, in a single night.' + +So they started on their way, and after much wandering they reached +a spot where a great rock rose straight up in the middle of the road. +Instantly the Serpent uncoiled itself from his neck, and, as it touched +the damp earth, it resumed the shape of the lovely damsel. Pointing to +the rock, she showed him an opening just big enough for a man to wriggle +through. Passing into it, they entered a long underground passage, which +led out on to a wide field, above which spread a blue sky. In the middle +of the field stood a magnificent castle, built out of porphyry, with a +roof of gold and with glittering battlements. And his beautiful guide +told him that this was the palace in which her father lived and reigned +over his kingdom in the Under-world. + +Together they entered the palace, and were received by the King with +great kindness. Turning to his daughter, he said: + +'My child, I had almost given up the hope of ever seeing you again. +Where have you been all these years?' + +'My father,' she replied, 'I owe my life to this youth, who saved me +from a terrible death.' + +Upon which the King turned to Martin with a gracious smile, saying: 'I +will reward your courage by granting you whatever your heart desires. +Take as much gold, silver, and precious stones as you choose.' + +'I thank you, mighty King, for your gracious offer,' answered Martin,' +'but I do not covet either gold, silver, or precious stones; yet if you +will grant me a favour, give me, I beg, the ring from off the little +finger of your royal hand. Every time my eye falls on it I shall think +of your gracious Majesty, and when I marry I shall present it to my +bride.' + +So the King took the ring from his finger and gave it to Martin, saying: +'Take it, good youth; but with it I make one condition--you are never +to confide to anyone that this is a magic ring. If you do, you will +straightway bring misfortune on yourself.' + +Martin took the ring, and, having thanked the King, he set out on the +same road by which he had come down into the Under-world. When he had +regained the upper air he started for his old home, and having found his +mother still living in the old house where he had left her, they settled +down together very happily. So uneventful was their life that it +almost seemed as if it would go on in this way always, without let or +hindrance. But one day it suddenly came into his mind that he would like +to get married, and, moreover, that he would choose a very grand wife--a +King's daughter, in short. But as he did not trust himself as a wooer, +he determined to send his old mother on the mission. + +'You must go to the King,' he said to her, 'and demand the hand of his +lovely daughter in marriage for me.' + +'What are you thinking of, my son?' answered the old woman, aghast at +the idea. 'Why cannot you marry someone in your own rank? That would be +far more fitting than to send a poor old woman like me a-wooing to the +King's Court for the hand of a Princess. Why, it is as much as our heads +are worth. Neither my life nor yours would be worth anything if I went +on such a fool's errand.' + +'Never fear, little mother,' answered Martin. 'Trust me; all will be +well. But see that you do not come back without an answer of some kind.' + +And so, obedient to her son's behest, the old woman hobbled off to the +palace, and, without being hindered, reached the courtyard, and began to +mount the flight of steps leading to the royal presence chamber. At +the head of the landing rows of courtiers were collected in magnificent +attire, who stared at the queer old figure, and called to her, and +explained to her, with every kind of sign, that it was strictly +forbidden to mount those steps. But their stern words and forbidding +gestures made no impression whatever on the old woman, and she +resolutely continued to climb the stairs, bent on carrying out her son's +orders. Upon this some of the courtiers seized her by the arms, and held +her back by sheer force, at which she set up such a yell that the King +himself heard it, and stepped out on to the balcony to see what was the +matter. When he beheld the old woman flinging her arms wildly about, and +heard her scream that she would not leave the place till she had laid +her case before the King, he ordered that she should be brought into +his presence. And forthwith she was conducted into the golden presence +chamber, where, leaning back amongst cushions of royal purple, the King +sat, surrounded by his counsellors and courtiers. Courtesying low, the +old woman stood silent before him. 'Well, my good old dame, what can I +do for you?' asked the King. + +'I have come,' replied Martin's mother--'and your Majesty must not be +angry with me--I have come a-wooing.' + +'Is the woman out of her mind?' said the King, with an angry frown. + +But Martin's mother answered boldly: 'If the King will only listen +patiently to me, and give me a straightforward answer, he will see that +I am not out of my mind. You, O King, have a lovely daughter to give +in marriage. I have a son--a wooer--as clever a youth and as good a +son-in-law as you will find in your whole kingdom. There is nothing that +he cannot do. Now tell me, O King, plump and plain, will you give your +daughter to my son as wife?' The King listened to the end of the old +woman's strange request, but every moment his face grew blacker, and his +features sterner; till all at once he thought to himself, 'Is it worth +while that I, the King, should be angry with this poor old fool?' And +all the courtiers and counsellors were amazed when they saw the hard +lines round his mouth and the frown on his brow grow smooth, and heard +the mild but mocking tones in which he answered the old woman, saying: + +'If your son is as wonderfully clever as you say, and if there is +nothing in the world that he cannot do, let him build a magnificent +castle, just opposite my palace windows, in four and twenty hours. The +palace must be joined together by a bridge of pure crystal. On each +side of the bridge there must be growing trees, having golden and silver +apples, and with birds of Paradise among the branches. At the right of +the bridge there must be a church, with five golden cupolas; in this +church your son shall be wedded to my daughter, and we will keep the +wedding festivities in the new castle. But if he fails to execute this +my royal command, then, as a just but mild monarch, I shall give orders +that you and he are taken, and first dipped in tar and then in feathers, +and you shall be executed in the market-place for the entertainment of +my courtiers.' + +And a smile played round the King's lips as he finished speaking, and +his courtiers and counsellors shook with laughter when they thought of +the old woman's folly, and praised the King's wise device, and said to +each other, 'What a joke it will be when we see the pair of them tarred +and feathered! The son is just as able to grow a beard on the palm of +his hand as to execute such a task in twenty-four hours.' + +Now the poor old woman was mortally afraid and, in a trembling voice she +asked: + +'Is that really your royal will, O King? Must I take this order to my +poor son?' + +'Yes, old dame; such is my command. If your son carries out my order, +he shall be rewarded with my daughter; but if he fails, away to the +tar-barrel and the stake with you both!' + +On her way home the poor old woman shed bitter tears, and when she saw +Martin she told him what the King had said, and sobbed out: + +'Didn't I tell you, my son, that you should marry someone of your own +rank? It would have been better for us this day if you had. As I told +you, my going to Court has been as much as our lives are worth, and +now we will both be tarred and feathered, and burnt in the public +market-place. It is terrible!' and she moaned and cried. + +'Never fear, little mother,' answered Martin; 'trust me, and you will +see all will be well. You may go to sleep with a quiet mind.' + +And, stepping to the front of the hut, Martin threw his ring from the +palm of one hand into the other, upon which twelve youths instantly +appeared, and demanded what he wanted them to do. Then he told them the +King's commands, and they answered that by next morning all should be +accomplished exactly as the King had ordered. + +Next morning when the King awoke, and looked out of his window, to his +amazement he beheld a magnificent castle, just opposite his own palace, +and joined to it a bridge of pure crystal. + +At each side of the bridge trees were growing, from whose branches hung +golden and silver apples, among which birds of Paradise perched. At the +right, gleaming in the sun, were the five golden cupolas of a splendid +church, whose bells rang out, as if they would summon people from all +corners of the earth to come and behold the wonder. Now, though the King +would much rather have seen his future son-in-law tarred, feathered, and +burnt at the stake, he remembered his royal oath, and had to make the +best of a bad business. So he took heart of grace, and made Martin a +Duke, and gave his daughter a rich dowry, and prepared the grandest +wedding-feast that had ever been seen, so that to this day the old +people in the country still talk of it. + +After the wedding Martin and his royal bride went to dwell in the +magnificent new palace, and here Martin lived in the greatest comfort +and luxury, such luxury as he had never imagined. But though he was as +happy as the day was long, and as merry as a grig, the King's daughter +fretted all day, thinking of the indignity that had been done her in +making her marry Martin, the poor widow's son, instead of a rich young +Prince from a foreign country. So unhappy was she that she spent all her +time wondering how she should get rid of her undesirable husband. +And first she determined to learn the secret of his power, and, with +flattering, caressing words, she tried to coax him to tell her how he +was so clever that there was nothing in the world that he could not do. +At first he would tell her nothing; but once, when he was in a yielding +mood, she approached him with a winning smile on her lovely face, and, +speaking flattering words to him, she gave him a potion to drink, with +a sweet, strong taste. And when he had drunk it Martin's lips were +unsealed, and he told her that all his power lay in the magic ring that +he wore on his finger, and he described to her how to use it, and, still +speaking, he fell into a deep sleep. And when she saw that the potion +had worked, and that he was sound asleep, the Princess took the magic +ring from his finger, and, going into the courtyard, she threw it from +the palm of one hand into the other. + +On the instant the twelve youths appeared, and asked her what she +commanded them to do. Then she told them that by the next morning they +were to do away with the castle, and the bridge, and the church, and +put in their stead the humble hut in which Martin used to live with his +mother, and that while he slept her husband was to be carried to his old +lowly room; and that they were to bear her away to the utmost ends of +the earth, where an old King lived who would make her welcome in his +palace, and surround her with the state that befitted a royal Princess. + +'You shall be obeyed,' answered the twelve youths at the same moment. +And lo and behold! the following morning, when the King awoke and looked +out of his window he beheld to his amazement that the palace, bridge, +church, and trees had all vanished, and there was nothing in their place +but a bare, miserable-looking hut. + +Immediately the King sent for his son-in-law, and commanded him to +explain what had happened. But Martin looked at his royal father-in-law, +and answered never a word. Then the King was very angry, and, calling +a council together, he charged Martin with having been guilty of +witchcraft, and of having deceived the King, and having made away with +the Princess; and he was condemned to imprisonment in a high stone +tower, with neither meat nor drink, till he should die of starvation. + +Then, in the hour of his dire necessity, his old friends Schurka (the +dog) and Waska (the cat) remembered how Martin had once saved them from +a cruel death; and they took counsel together as to how they should help +him. And Schurka growled, and was of opinion that he would like to tear +everyone in pieces; but Waska purred meditatively, and scratched the +back of her ear with a velvet paw, and remained lost in thought. At the +end of a few minutes she had made up her mind, and, turning to Schurka, +said: 'Let us go together into the town, and the moment we meet a baker +you must make a rush between his legs and upset the tray from off his +head; I will lay hold of the rolls, and will carry them off to our +master.' No sooner said than done. Together the two faithful creatures +trotted off into the town, and very soon they met a baker bearing a tray +on his head, and looking round on all sides, while he cried: + + 'Fresh rolls, sweet cake, + Fancy bread of every kind. + Come and buy, come and take, + Sure you'll find it to your mind,' + + +At that moment Schurka made a rush between his legs--the baker stumbled, +the tray was upset, the rolls fell to the ground, and, while the man +angrily pursued Schurka, Waska managed to drag the rolls out of sight +behind a bush. And when a moment later Schurka joined her, they set off +at full tilt to the stone tower where Martin was a prisoner, taking the +rolls with them. Waska, being very agile, climbed up by the outside to +the grated window, and called in an anxious voice: + +'Are you alive, master?' + +'Scarcely alive--almost starved to death,' answered Martin in a weak +voice. 'I little thought it would come to this, that I should die of +hunger.' + +'Never fear, dear master. Schurka and I will look after you,' said +Waska. And in another moment she had climbed down and brought him back a +roll, and then another, and another, till she had brought him the whole +tray-load. Upon which she said: 'Dear master, Schurka and I are going +off to a distant kingdom at the utmost ends of the earth to fetch you +back your magic ring. You must be careful that the rolls last till our +return.' + +And Waska took leave of her beloved master, and set off with Schurka +on their journey. On and on they travelled, looking always to right +and left for traces of the Princess, following up every track, making +inquiries of every cat and dog they met, listening to the talk of every +wayfarer they passed; and at last they heard that the kingdom at the +utmost ends of the earth where the twelve youths had borne the Princess +was not very far off. And at last one day they reached that distant +kingdom, and, going at once to the palace, they began to make friends +with all the dogs and cats in the place, and to question them about +the Princess and the magic ring; but no one could tell them much about +either. Now one day it chanced that Waska had gone down to the palace +cellar to hunt for mice and rats, and seeing an especially fat, well-fed +mouse, she pounced upon it, buried her claws in its soft fur, and was +just going to gobble it up, when she was stopped by the pleading tones +of the little creature, saying, 'If you will only spare my life I may be +of great service to you. I will do everything in my power for you; for I +am the King of the Mice, and if I perish the whole race will die out.' + +'So be it,' said Waska. 'I will spare your life; but in return you must +do something for me. In this castle there lives a Princess, the wicked +wife of my dear master. She has stolen away his magic ring. You must get +it away from her at whatever cost; do you hear? Till you have done this +I won't take my claws out of your fur.' + +'Good!' replied the mouse; 'I will do what you ask.' And, so saying, +he summoned all the mice in his kingdom together. A countless number +of mice, small and big, brown and grey, assembled, and formed a circle +round their king, who was a prisoner under Waska's claws. Turning to +them he said: 'Dear and faithful subjects, who ever among you will steal +the magic ring from the strange Princess will release me from a cruel +death; and I shall honour him above all the other mice in the kingdom.' + +Instantly a tiny mouse stepped forward and said: 'I often creep about +the Princess's bedroom at night, and I have noticed that she has a ring +which she treasures as the apple of her eye. All day she wears it on her +finger, and at night she keeps it in her mouth. I will undertake, sire, +to steal away the ring for you.' + +And the tiny mouse tripped away into the bedroom of the Princess, and +waited for nightfall; then, when the Princess had fallen asleep, it +crept up on to her bed, and gnawed a hole in the pillow, through which +it dragged one by one little down feathers, and threw them under the +Princess's nose. And the fluff flew into the Princess's nose, and into +her mouth, and starting up she sneezed and coughed, and the ring fell +out of her mouth on to the coverlet. In a flash the tiny mouse had +seized it, and brought it to Waska as a ransom for the King of the Mice. +Thereupon Waska and Schurka started off, and travelled night and day +till they reached the stone tower where Martin was imprisoned; and the +cat climbed up the window, and called out to him: + +'Martin, dear master, are you still alive?' + +'Ah! Waska, my faithful little cat, is that you?' replied a weak voice. +'I am dying of hunger. For three days I have not tasted food.' + +'Be of good heart, dear master,' replied Waska; 'from this day forth you +will know nothing but happiness and prosperity. If this were a moment to +trouble you with riddles, I would make you guess what Schurka and I have +brought you back. Only think, we have got you your ring!' + +At these words Martin's joy knew no bounds, and he stroked her fondly, +and she rubbed up against him and purred happily, while below Schurka +bounded in the air, and barked joyfully. Then Martin took the ring, and +threw it from one hand into the other, and instantly the twelve youths +appeared and asked what they were to do. + +'Fetch me first something to eat and drink, as quickly as possible; and +after that bring musicians hither, and let us have music all day long.' + +Now when the people in the town and palace heard music coming from the +tower they were filled with amazement, and came to the King with the +news that witchcraft must be going on in Martin's Tower, for, instead +of dying of starvation, he was seemingly making merry to the sound of +music, and to the clatter of plates, and glass, and knives and forks; +and the music was so enchantingly sweet that all the passers-by stood +still to listen to it. On this the King sent at once a messenger to +the Starvation Tower, and he was so astonished with what he saw that he +remained rooted to the spot. Then the King sent his chief counsellors, +and they too were transfixed with wonder. At last the King came himself, +and he likewise was spellbound by the beauty of the music. + +Then Martin summoned the twelve youths, spoke to them, saying, 'Build up +my castle again, and join it to the King's Palace with a crystal bridge; +do not forget the trees with the golden and silver apples, and with the +birds of Paradise in the branches; and put back the church with the five +cupolas, and let the bells ring out, summoning the people from the four +corners of the kingdom. And one thing more: bring back my faithless +wife, and lead her into the women's chamber.' + +And it was all done as he commanded, and, leaving the Starvation Tower, +he took the King, his father-in-law, by the arm, and led him into the +new palace, where the Princess sat in fear and trembling, awaiting her +death. And Martin spoke to the King, saying, 'King and royal father, I +have suffered much at the hands of your daughter. What punishment shall +be dealt to her?' + +Then the mild King answered: 'Beloved Prince and son-in-law, if you love +me, let your anger be turned to grace--forgive my daughter, and restore +her to your heart and favour.' + +And Martin's heart was softened and he forgave his wife, and they lived +happily together ever after. And his old mother came and lived with him, +and he never parted with Schurka and Waska; and I need hardly tell you +that he never again let the ring out of his possession. + + + + +THE FLOWER QUEEN'S DAUGHTER(23) + +(23) From the Bukowinaer. Von Wliolocki. + +A young Prince was riding one day through a meadow that stretched for +miles in front of him, when he came to a deep open ditch. He was turning +aside to avoid it, when he heard the sound of someone crying in the +ditch. He dismounted from his horse, and stepped along in the direction +the sound came from. To his astonishment he found an old woman, who +begged him to help her out of the ditch. The Prince bent down and lifted +her out of her living grave, asking her at the same time how she had +managed to get there. + +'My son,' answered the old woman, 'I am a very poor woman, and soon +after midnight I set out for the neighbouring town in order to sell my +eggs in the market on the following morning; but I lost my way in the +dark, and fell into this deep ditch, where I might have remained for +ever but for your kindness.' + +Then the Prince said to her, 'You can hardly walk; I will put you on my +horse and lead you home. Where do you live?' + +'Over there, at the edge of the forest in the little hut you see in the +distance,' replied the old woman. + +The Prince lifted her on to his horse, and soon they reached the hut, +where the old woman got down, and turning to the Prince said, 'Just wait +a moment, and I will give you something.' And she disappeared into her +hut, but returned very soon and said, 'You are a mighty Prince, but +at the same time you have a kind heart, which deserves to be rewarded. +Would you like to have the most beautiful woman in the world for your +wife?' + +'Most certainly I would,' replied the Prince. + +So the old woman continued, 'The most beautiful woman in the whole world +is the daughter of the Queen of the Flowers, who has been captured by a +dragon. If you wish to marry her, you must first set her free, and this +I will help you to do. I will give you this little bell: if you ring it +once, the King of the Eagles will appear; if you ring it twice, the King +of the Foxes will come to you; and if you ring it three times, you will +see the King of the Fishes by your side. These will help you if you are +in any difficulty. Now farewell, and heaven prosper your undertaking.' +She handed him the little bell, and there disappeared hut and all, as +though the earth had swallowed her up. + +Then it dawned on the Prince that he had been speaking to a good fairy, +and putting the little bell carefully in his pocket, he rode home and +told his father that he meant to set the daughter of the Flower Queen +free, and intended setting out on the following day into the wide world +in search of the maid. + +So the next morning the Prince mounted his fine horse and left his home. +He had roamed round the world for a whole year, and his horse had died +of exhaustion, while he himself had suffered much from want and misery, +but still he had come on no trace of her he was in search of. At last +one day he came to a hut, in front of which sat a very old man. The +Prince asked him, 'Do you not know where the Dragon lives who keeps the +daughter of the Flower Queen prisoner?' + +'No, I do not,' answered the old man. 'But if you go straight along +this road for a year, you will reach a hut where my father lives, and +possibly he may be able to tell you.' + +The Prince thanked him for his information, and continued his journey +for a whole year along the same road, and at the end of it came to +the little hut, where he found a very old man. He asked him the same +question, and the old man answered, 'No, I do not know where the Dragon +lives. But go straight along this road for another year, and you will +come to a hut in which my father lives. I know he can tell you.' + +And so the Prince wandered on for another year, always on the same road, +and at last reached the hut where he found the third old man. He put +the same question to him as he had put to his son and grandson; but this +time the old man answered, 'The Dragon lives up there on the mountain, +and he has just begun his year of sleep. For one whole year he is always +awake, and the next he sleeps. But if you wish to see the Flower Queen's +daughter go up the second mountain: the Dragon's old mother lives there, +and she has a ball every night, to which the Flower Queen's daughter +goes regularly.' + +So the Prince went up the second mountain, where he found a castle all +made of gold with diamond windows. He opened the big gate leading into +the courtyard, and was just going to walk in, when seven dragons rushed +on him and asked him what he wanted? + +The Prince replied, 'I have heard so much of the beauty and kindness of +the Dragon's Mother, and would like to enter her service.' + +This flattering speech pleased the dragons, and the eldest of them said, +'Well, you may come with me, and I will take you to the Mother Dragon.' + +They entered the castle and walked through twelve splendid halls, all +made of gold and diamonds. In the twelfth room they found the Mother +Dragon seated on a diamond throne. She was the ugliest woman under the +sun, and, added to it all, she had three heads. Her appearance was a +great shock to the Prince, and so was her voice, which was like the +croaking of many ravens. She asked him, 'Why have you come here?' + +The Prince answered at once, 'I have heard so much of your beauty and +kindness, that I would very much like to enter your service.' + +'Very well,' said the Mother Dragon; 'but if you wish to enter my +service, you must first lead my mare out to the meadow and look after +her for three days; but if you don't bring her home safely every +evening, we will eat you up.' + +The Prince undertook the task and led the mare out to the meadow. + +But no sooner had they reached the grass than she vanished. The Prince +sought for her in vain, and at last in despair sat down on a big stone +and contemplated his sad fate. As he sat thus lost in thought, he +noticed an eagle flying over his head. Then he suddenly bethought him of +his little bell, and taking it out of his pocket he rang it once. In a +moment he heard a rustling sound in the air beside him, and the King of +the Eagles sank at his feet. + +'I know what you want of me,' the bird said. 'You are looking for the +Mother Dragon's mare who is galloping about among the clouds. I will +summon all the eagles of the air together, and order them to catch the +mare and bring her to you.' And with these words the King of the Eagles +flew away. Towards evening the Prince heard a mighty rushing sound in +the air, and when he looked up he saw thousands of eagles driving the +mare before them. They sank at his feet on to the ground and gave the +mare over to him. Then the Prince rode home to the old Mother Dragon, +who was full of wonder when she saw him, and said, 'You have succeeded +to-day in looking after my mare, and as a reward you shall come to my +ball to-night.' She gave him at the same time a cloak made of copper, +and led him to a big room where several young he-dragons and she-dragons +were dancing together. Here, too, was the Flower Queen's beautiful +daughter. Her dress was woven out of the most lovely flowers in the +world, and her complexion was like lilies and roses. As the Prince was +dancing with her he managed to whisper in her ear, 'I have come to set +you free!' + +Then the beautiful girl said to him, 'If you succeed in bringing the +mare back safely the third day, ask the Mother Dragon to give you a foal +of the mare as a reward.' + +The ball came to an end at midnight, and early next morning the Prince +again led the Mother Dragon's mare out into the meadow. But again she +vanished before his eyes. Then he took out his little bell and rang it +twice. + +In a moment the King of the Foxes stood before him and said: 'I know +already what you want, and will summon all the foxes of the world +together to find the mare who has hidden herself in a hill.' + +With these words the King of the Foxes disappeared, and in the evening +many thousand foxes brought the mare to the Prince. + +Then he rode home to the Mother-Dragon, from whom he received this time +a cloak made of silver, and again she led him to the ball-room. + +The Flower Queen's daughter was delighted to see him safe and sound, +and when they were dancing together she whispered in his ear: 'If you +succeed again to-morrow, wait for me with the foal in the meadow. After +the ball we will fly away together.' + +On the third day the Prince led the mare to the meadow again; but once +more she vanished before his eyes. Then the Prince took out his little +bell and rang it three times. + +In a moment the King of the Fishes appeared, and said to him: 'I know +quite well what you want me to do, and I will summon all the fishes +of the sea together, and tell them to bring you back the mare, who is +hiding herself in a river.' + +Towards evening the mare was returned to him, and when he led her home +to the Mother Dragon she said to him: + +'You are a brave youth, and I will make you my body-servant. But what +shall I give you as a reward to begin with?' + +The Prince begged for a foal of the mare, which the Mother Dragon at +once gave him, and over and above, a cloak made of gold, for she had +fallen in love with him because he had praised her beauty. + +So in the evening he appeared at the ball in his golden cloak; but +before the entertainment was over he slipped away, and went straight to +the stables, where he mounted his foal and rode out into the meadow to +wait for the Flower Queen's daughter. Towards midnight the beautiful +girl appeared, and placing her in front of him on his horse, the +Prince and she flew like the wind till they reached the Flower Queen's +dwelling. But the dragons had noticed their flight, and woke their +brother out of his year's sleep. He flew into a terrible rage when +he heard what had happened, and determined to lay siege to the Flower +Queen's palace; but the Queen caused a forest of flowers as high as the +sky to grow up round her dwelling, through which no one could force a +way. + +When the Flower Queen heard that her daughter wanted to marry the +Prince, she said to him: 'I will give my consent to your marriage +gladly, but my daughter can only stay with you in summer. In winter, +when everything is dead and the ground covered with snow, she must come +and live with me in my palace underground.' The Prince consented to +this, and led his beautiful bride home, where the wedding was held with +great pomp and magnificence. The young couple lived happily together +till winter came, when the Flower Queen's daughter departed and went +home to her mother. In summer she returned to her husband, and their +life of joy and happiness began again, and lasted till the approach of +winter, when the Flower Queen's daughter went back again to her mother. +This coming and going continued all her life long, and in spite of it +they always lived happily together. + + + + +THE FLYING SHIP(24) + +(24) From the Russian. + +Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had three sons; the two +elder were clever, but the third was a regular dunce. The clever sons +were very fond of their mother, gave her good clothes, and always spoke +pleasantly to her; but the youngest was always getting in her way, +and she had no patience with him. Now, one day it was announced in the +village that the King had issued a decree, offering his daughter, the +Princess, in marriage to whoever should build a ship that could fly. +Immediately the two elder brothers determined to try their luck, and +asked their parents' blessing. So the old mother smartened up their +clothes, and gave them a store of provisions for their journey, not +forgetting to add a bottle of brandy. When they had gone the poor +Simpleton began to tease his mother to smarten him up and let him start +off. + +'What would become of a dolt like you?' she answered. 'Why, you would be +eaten up by wolves.' + +But the foolish youth kept repeating, 'I will go, I will go, I will go!' + +Seeing that she could do nothing with him, the mother gave him a crust +of bread and a bottle of water, and took no further heed of him. + +So the Simpleton set off on his way. When he had gone a short distance +he met a little old manikin. They greeted one another, and the manikin +asked him where he was going. + +'I am off to the King's Court,' he answered. 'He has promised to give +his daughter to whoever can make a flying ship.' + +'And can you make such a ship?' + +'Not I.' + +'Then why in the world are you going?' + +'Can't tell,' replied the Simpleton. + +'Well, if that is the case,' said the manikin, 'sit down beside me; we +can rest for a little and have something to eat. Give me what you have +got in your satchel.' + +Now, the poor Simpleton was ashamed to show what was in it. However, he +thought it best not to make a fuss, so he opened the satchel, and could +scarcely believe his own eyes, for, instead of the hard crust, he saw +two beautiful fresh rolls and some cold meat. He shared them with the +manikin, who licked his lips and said: + +'Now, go into that wood, and stop in front of the first tree, bow three +times, and then strike the tree with your axe, fall on your knees on +the ground, with your face on the earth, and remain there till you are +raised up. You will then find a ship at your side, step into it and fly +to the King's Palace. If you meet anyone on the way, take him with you.' + +The Simpleton thanked the manikin very kindly, bade him farewell, and +went into the road. When he got to the first tree he stopped in front of +it, did everything just as he had been told, and, kneeling on the ground +with his face to the earth, fell asleep. After a little time he was +aroused; he awoke and, rubbing his eyes, saw a ready-made ship at his +side, and at once got into it. + +And the ship rose and rose, and in another minute was flying through the +air, when the Simpleton, who was on the look out, cast his eyes down to +the earth and saw a man beneath him on the road, who was kneeling with +his ear upon the damp ground. + +'Hallo!' he called out, 'what are you doing down there?' + +'I am listening to what is going on in the world,' replied the man. + +'Come with me in my ship,' said the Simpleton. + +So the man was only too glad, and got in beside him; and the ship flew, +and flew, and flew through the air, till again from his outlook the +Simpleton saw a man on the road below, who was hopping on one leg, while +his other leg was tied up behind his ear. So he hailed him, calling out: + +'Hallo! what are you doing, hopping on one leg?' + +'I can't help it,' replied the man. 'I walk so fast that unless I tied +up one leg I should be at the end of the earth in a bound.' + +'Come with us on my ship,' he answered; and the man made no objections, +but joined them; and the ship flew on, and on, and on, till suddenly the +Simpleton, looking down on the road below, beheld a man aiming with a +gun into the distance. + +'Hallo!' he shouted to him, 'what are you aiming at? As far as eye can +see, there is no bird in sight.' + +'What would be the good of my taking a near shot?' replied the man; 'I +can hit beast or bird at a hundred miles' distance. That is the kind of +shot I enjoy.' + +'Come into the ship with us,' answered the Simpleton; and the man was +only too glad to join them, and he got in; and the ship flew on, farther +and farther, till again the Simpleton from his outlook saw a man on the +road below, carrying on his back a basket full of bread. And he waved to +him, calling out: + +'Hallo! where are you going?' + +'To fetch bread for my breakfast.' + +'Bread? Why, you have got a whole basket-load of it on your back.' + +'That's nothing,' answered the man; 'I should finish that in one +mouthful.' + +'Come along with us in my ship, then.' + +And so the glutton joined the party, and the ship mounted again into the +air, and flew up and onward, till the Simpleton from his outlook saw +a man walking by the shore of a great lake, and evidently looking for +something. + +'Hallo!' he cried to him,' what are you seeking? + +'I want water to drink, I'm so thirsty,' replied the man. + +'Well, there's a whole lake in front of you; why don't you drink some of +that?' + +'Do you call that enough?' answered the other. 'Why, I should drink it +up in one gulp.' + +'Well, come with us in the ship.' + +And so the mighty drinker was added to the company; and the ship flew +farther, and even farther, till again the Simpleton looked out, and this +time he saw a man dragging a bundle of wood, walking through the forest +beneath them. + +'Hallo!' he shouted to him, 'why are you carrying wood through a +forest?' + +'This is not common wood,' answered the other. + +'What sort of wood is it, then?' said the Simpleton. + +'If you throw it upon the ground,' said the man, 'it will be changed +into an army of soldiers.' + +'Come into the ship with us, then.' + +And so he too joined them; and away the ship flew on, and on, and on, +and once more the Simpleton looked out, and this time he saw a man +carrying straw upon his back. + +'Hallo! Where are you carrying that straw to?' + +'To the village,' said the man. + +'Do you mean to say there is no straw in the village?' + +'Ah! but this is quite a peculiar straw. If you strew it about even in +the hottest summer the air at once becomes cold, and snow falls, and the +people freeze.' + +Then the Simpleton asked him also to join them. + +At last the ship, with its strange crew, arrived at the King's Court. +The King was having his dinner, but he at once despatched one of his +courtiers to find out what the huge, strange new bird could be that had +come flying through the air. The courtier peeped into the ship, and, +seeing what it was, instantly went back to the King and told him that it +was a flying ship, and that it was manned by a few peasants. + +Then the King remembered his royal oath; but he made up his mind that +he would never consent to let the Princess marry a poor peasant. So he +thought and thought, and then said to himself: + +'I will give him some impossible tasks to perform; that will be the best +way of getting rid of him.' And he there and then decided to despatch +one of his courtiers to the Simpleton, with the command that he was +to fetch the King the healing water from the world's end before he had +finished his dinner. + +But while the King was still instructing the courtier exactly what +he was to say, the first man of the ship's company, the one with the +miraculous power of hearing, had overheard the King's words, and hastily +reported them to the poor Simpleton. + +'Alas, alas!' he cried; 'what am I to do now? It would take me quite a +year, possibly my whole life, to find the water.' + +'Never fear,' said his fleet-footed comrade, 'I will fetch what the King +wants.' + +Just then the courtier arrived, bearing the King's command. + +'Tell his Majesty,' said the Simpleton, 'that his orders shall be +obeyed; 'and forthwith the swift runner unbound the foot that was strung +up behind his ear and started off, and in less than no time had reached +the world's end and drawn the healing water from the well. + +'Dear me,' he thought to himself, 'that's rather tiring! I'll just rest +for a few minutes; it will be some little time yet before the King has +got to dessert.' So he threw himself down on the grass, and, as the sun +was very dazzling, he closed his eyes, and in a few seconds had fallen +sound asleep. + +In the meantime all the ship's crew were anxiously awaiting him; the +King's dinner would soon be finished, and their comrade had not yet +returned. So the man with the marvellous quick hearing lay down and, +putting his ear to the ground, listened. + +'That's a nice sort of fellow!' he suddenly exclaimed. 'He's lying on +the ground, snoring hard!' + +At this the marksman seized his gun, took aim, and fired in the +direction of the world's end, in order to awaken the sluggard. And a +moment later the swift runner reappeared, and, stepping on board the +ship, handed the healing water to the Simpleton. So while the King was +still sitting at table finishing his dinner news was brought to him that +his orders had been obeyed to the letter. + +What was to be done now? The King determined to think of a still more +impossible task. So he told another courtier to go to the Simpleton with +the command that he and his comrades were instantly to eat up twelve +oxen and twelve tons of bread. Once more the sharp-eared comrade +overheard the King's words while he was still talking to the courtier, +and reported them to the Simpleton. + +'Alas, alas!' he sighed; 'what in the world shall I do? Why, it would +take us a year, possibly our whole lives, to eat up twelve oxen and +twelve tons of bread.' + +'Never fear,' said the glutton. 'It will scarcely be enough for me, I'm +so hungry.' + +So when the courtier arrived with the royal message he was told to take +back word to the King that his orders should be obeyed. Then twelve +roasted oxen and twelve tons of bread were brought alongside of the +ship, and at one sitting the glutton had devoured it all. + +'I call that a small meal,' he said. 'I wish they'd brought me some +more.' + +Next, the King ordered that forty casks of wine, containing forty +gallons each, were to be drunk up on the spot by the Simpleton and his +party. When these words were overheard by the sharp-eared comrade and +repeated to the Simpleton, he was in despair. + +'Alas, alas!' he exclaimed; 'what is to be done? It would take us a +year, possibly our whole lives, to drink so much.' + +'Never fear,' said his thirsty comrade. 'I'll drink it all up at a +gulp, see if I don't.' And sure enough, when the forty casks of wine +containing forty gallons each were brought alongside of the ship, they +disappeared down the thirsty comrade's throat in no time; and when they +were empty he remarked: + +'Why, I'm still thirsty. I should have been glad of two more casks.' + +Then the King took counsel with himself and sent an order to the +Simpleton that he was to have a bath, in a bath-room at the royal +palace, and after that the betrothal should take place. Now the +bath-room was built of iron, and the King gave orders that it was to +be heated to such a pitch that it would suffocate the Simpleton. And so +when the poor silly youth entered the room, he discovered that the iron +walls were red hot. But, fortunately, his comrade with the straw on his +back had entered behind him, and when the door was shut upon them he +scattered the straw about, and suddenly the red-hot walls cooled down, +and it became so very cold that the Simpleton could scarcely bear to +take a bath, and all the water in the room froze. So the Simpleton +climbed up upon the stove, and, wrapping himself up in the bath +blankets, lay there the whole night. And in the morning when they opened +the door there he lay sound and safe, singing cheerfully to himself. + +Now when this strange tale was told to the King he became quite sad, +not knowing what he should do to get rid of so undesirable a son-in-law, +when suddenly a brilliant idea occurred to him. + +'Tell the rascal to raise me an army, now at this instant!' he exclaimed +to one of his courtiers. 'Inform him at once of this, my royal will.' +And to himself he added, 'I think I shall do for him this time.' + +As on former occasions, the quick-eared comrade had overheard the King's +command and repeated it to the Simpleton. + +'Alas, alas!' he groaned; 'now I am quite done for.' + +'Not at all,' replied one of his comrades (the one who had dragged the +bundle of wood through the forest). 'Have you quite forgotten me?' + +In the meantime the courtier, who had run all the way from the palace, +reached the ship panting and breathless, and delivered the King's +message. + +'Good!' remarked the Simpleton. 'I will raise an army for the King,' and +he drew himself up. 'But if, after that, the King refuses to accept me +as his son-in-law, I will wage war against him, and carry the Princess +off by force.' + +During the night the Simpleton and his comrade went, together into a big +field, not forgetting to take the bundle of wood with them, which the +man spread out in all directions--and in a moment a mighty army stood +upon the spot, regiment on regiment of foot and horse soldiers; the +bugles sounded and the drums beat, the chargers neighed, and their +riders put their lances in rest, and the soldiers presented arms. + +In the morning when the King awoke he was startled by these warlike +sounds, the bugles and the drums, and the clatter of the horses, and the +shouts of the soldiers. And, stepping to the window, he saw the lances +gleam in the sunlight and the armour and weapons glitter. And the proud +monarch said to himself, 'I am powerless in comparison with this man.' +So he sent him royal robes and costly jewels, and commanded him to come +to the palace to be married to the Princess. And his son-in-law put +on the royal robes, and he looked so grand and stately that it was +impossible to recognise the poor Simpleton, so changed was he; and the +Princess fell in love with him as soon as ever she saw him. + +Never before had so grand a wedding been seen, and there was so much +food and wine that even the glutton and the thirsty comrade had enough +to eat and drink. + + + + +THE SNOW-DAUGHTER AND THE FIRE-SON(25) + +(25) From the Bukowinaer Tales and Legends. Von Wliolocki. + +There was once upon a time a man and his wife, and they had no children, +which was a great grief to them. One winter's day, when the sun was +shining brightly, the couple were standing outside their cottage, and +the woman was looking at all the little icicles which hung from the +roof. She sighed, and turning to her husband said, 'I wish I had as many +children as there are icicles hanging there.' 'Nothing would please me +more either,' replied her husband. Then a tiny icicle detached itself +from the roof, and dropped into the woman's mouth, who swallowed it with +a smile, and said, 'Perhaps I shall give birth to a snow child now!' Her +husband laughed at his wife's strange idea, and they went back into the +house. + +But after a short time the woman gave birth to a little girl, who was +as white as snow and as cold as ice. If they brought the child anywhere +near the fire, it screamed loudly till they put it back into some cool +place. The little maid throve wonderfully, and in a few months she could +run about and speak. But she was not altogether easy to bring up, and +gave her parents much trouble and anxiety, for all summer she insisted +on spending in the cellar, and in the winter she would sleep outside in +the snow, and the colder it was the happier she seemed to be. Her father +and mother called her simply 'Our Snow-daughter,' and this name stuck to +her all her life. + +One day her parents sat by the fire, talking over the extraordinary +behaviour of their daughter, who was disporting herself in the snowstorm +that raged outside. The woman sighed deeply and said, 'I wish I had +given birth to a Fire-son!' As she said these words, a spark from the +big wood fire flew into the woman's lap, and she said with a laugh, 'Now +perhaps I shall give birth to a Fire-son!' The man laughed at his wife's +words, and thought it was a good joke. But he ceased to think it a +joke when his wife shortly afterwards gave birth to a boy, who screamed +lustily till he was put quite close to the fire, and who nearly yelled +himself into a fit if the Snow-daughter came anywhere near him. The +Snow-daughter herself avoided him as much as she could, and always crept +into a corner as far away from him as possible. The parents called the +boy simply 'Our Fire-son,' a name which stuck to him all his life. They +had a great deal of trouble and worry with him too; but he throve and +grew very quickly, and before he was a year old he could run about and +talk. He was as red as fire, and as hot to touch, and he always sat on +the hearth quite close to the fire, and complained of the cold; if his +sister were in the room he almost crept into the flames, while the girl +on her part always complained of the great heat if her brother were +anywhere near. In summer the boy always lay out in the sun, while the +girl hid herself in the cellar: so it happened that the brother and +sister came very little into contact with each other--in fact, they +carefully avoided it. + +Just as the girl grew up into a beautiful woman, her father and mother +both died one after the other. Then the Fire-son, who had grown up in +the meantime into a fine, strong young man, said to his sister, 'I am +going out into the world, for what is the use of remaining on here?' + +'I shall go with you,' she answered, 'for, except you, I have no one in +the world, and I have a feeling that if we set out together we shall be +lucky.' + +The Fire-son said, 'I love you with all my heart, but at the same time +I always freeze if you are near me, and you nearly die of heat if I +approach you! How shall we travel about together without being odious +the one to the other?' + +'Don't worry about that,' replied the girl, 'for I've thought it all +over, and have settled on a plan which will make us each able to bear +with the other! See, I have had a fur cloak made for each of us, and if +we put them on I shall not feel the heat so much nor you the cold.' So +they put on the fur cloaks, and set out cheerfully on their way, and for +the first time in their lives quite happy in each other's company. + +For a long time the Fire-son and the Snow-daughter wandered through the +world, and when at the beginning of winter they came to a big wood they +determined to stay there till spring. The Fire-son built himself a hut +where he always kept up a huge fire, while his sister with very few +clothes on stayed outside night and day. Now it happened one day that +the King of the land held a hunt in this wood, and saw the Snow-daughter +wandering about in the open air. He wondered very much who the beautiful +girl clad in such garments could be, and he stopped and spoke to her. +He soon learnt that she could not stand heat, and that her brother could +not endure cold. The King was so charmed by the Snow-daughter, that he +asked her to be his wife. The girl consented, and the wedding was held +with much state. The King had a huge house of ice made for his wife +underground, so that even in summer it did not melt. But for his +brother-in-law he had a house built with huge ovens all round it, that +were kept heated all day and night. The Fire-son was delighted, but +the perpetual heat in which he lived made his body so hot, that it was +dangerous to go too close to him. + +One day the King gave a great feast, and asked his brother-in-law +among the other guests. The Fire-son did not appear till everyone had +assembled, and when he did, everyone fled outside to the open air, so +intense was the heat he gave forth. Then the King was very angry and +said, 'If I had known what a lot of trouble you would have been, I would +never have taken you into my house.' Then the Fire-son replied with a +laugh, 'Don't be angry, dear brother! I love heat and my sister loves +cold--come here and let me embrace you, and then I'll go home at once.' +And before the King had time to reply, the Fire-son seized him in a +tight embrace. The King screamed aloud in agony, and when his wife, the +Snow-daughter, who had taken refuge from her brother in the next room, +hurried to him, the King lay dead on the ground burnt to a cinder. When +the Snow-daughter saw this she turned on her brother and flew at him. +Then a fight began, the like of which had never been seen on earth. When +the people, attracted by the noise, hurried to the spot, they saw the +Snow-daughter melting into water and the Fire-son burn to a cinder. And +so ended the unhappy brother and sister. + + + + +THE STORY OF KING FROST (26) + +(26) From the Russian. + +There was once upon a time a peasant-woman who had a daughter and a +step-daughter. The daughter had her own way in everything, and whatever +she did was right in her mother's eyes; but the poor step-daughter had +a hard time. Let her do what she would, she was always blamed, and got +small thanks for all the trouble she took; nothing was right, everything +wrong; and yet, if the truth were known, the girl was worth her weight +in gold--she was so unselfish and good-hearted. But her step-mother did +not like her, and the poor girl's days were spent in weeping; for it +was impossible to live peacefully with the woman. The wicked shrew was +determined to get rid of the girl by fair means or foul, and kept saying +to her father: 'Send her away, old man; send her away--anywhere so that +my eyes sha'n't be plagued any longer by the sight of her, or my ears +tormented by the sound of her voice. Send her out into the fields, and +let the cutting frost do for her.' + +In vain did the poor old father weep and implore her pity; she was firm, +and he dared not gainsay her. So he placed his daughter in a sledge, +not even daring to give her a horse-cloth to keep herself warm with, and +drove her out on to the bare, open fields, where he kissed her and left +her, driving home as fast as he could, that he might not witness her +miserable death. + +Deserted by her father, the poor girl sat down under a fir-tree at the +edge of the forest and began to weep silently. Suddenly she heard a +faint sound: it was King Frost springing from tree to tree, and cracking +his fingers as he went. At length he reached the fir-tree beneath which +she was sitting, and with a crisp crackling sound he alighted beside +her, and looked at her lovely face. + +'Well, maiden,' he snapped out, 'do you know who I am? I am King Frost, +king of the red-noses.' + +'All hail to you, great King!' answered the girl, in a gentle, trembling +voice. 'Have you come to take me?' + +'Are you warm, maiden?' he replied. + +'Quite warm, King Frost,' she answered, though she shivered as she +spoke. + +Then King Frost stooped down, and bent over the girl, and the crackling +sound grew louder, and the air seemed to be full of knives and darts; +and again he asked: + +'Maiden, are you warm? Are you warm, you beautiful girl?' + +And though her breath was almost frozen on her lips, she whispered +gently, 'Quite warm, King Frost.' + +Then King Frost gnashed his teeth, and cracked his fingers, and his eyes +sparkled, and the crackling, crisp sound was louder than ever, and for +the last time he asked her: + +'Maiden, are you still warm? Are you still warm, little love?' + +And the poor girl was so stiff and numb that she could just gasp, 'Still +warm, O King!' + +Now her gentle, courteous words and her uncomplaining ways touched +King Frost, and he had pity on her, and he wrapped her up in furs, and +covered her with blankets, and he fetched a great box, in which were +beautiful jewels and a rich robe embroidered in gold and silver. And she +put it on, and looked more lovely than ever, and King Frost stepped with +her into his sledge, with six white horses. + +In the meantime the wicked step-mother was waiting at home for news of +the girl's death, and preparing pancakes for the funeral feast. And she +said to her husband: 'Old man, you had better go out into the fields and +find your daughter's body and bury her.' Just as the old man was leaving +the house the little dog under the table began to bark, saying: + + 'YOUR daughter shall live to be your delight; + HER daughter shall die this very night.' + +'Hold your tongue, you foolish beast!' scolded the woman. 'There's a +pancake for you, but you must say: + + "HER daughter shall have much silver and gold; + HIS daughter is frozen quite stiff and cold."' + +But the doggie ate up the pancake and barked, saying: + + 'His daughter shall wear a crown on her head; + Her daughter shall die unwooed, unwed.' + + +Then the old woman tried to coax the doggie with more pancakes and +to terrify it with blows, but he barked on, always repeating the same +words. And suddenly the door creaked and flew open, and a great heavy +chest was pushed in, and behind it came the step-daughter, radiant and +beautiful, in a dress all glittering with silver and gold. For a moment +the step-mother's eyes were dazzled. Then she called to her husband: +'Old man, yoke the horses at once into the sledge, and take my daughter +to the same field and leave her on the same spot exactly; 'and so the +old man took the girl and left her beneath the same tree where he had +parted from his daughter. In a few minutes King Frost came past, and, +looking at the girl, he said: + +'Are you warm, maiden?' + +'What a blind old fool you must be to ask such a question!' she answered +angrily. 'Can't you see that my hands and feet are nearly frozen?' + +Then King Frost sprang to and fro in front of her, questioning her, and +getting only rude, rough words in reply, till at last he got very angry, +and cracked his fingers, and gnashed his teeth, and froze her to death. + +But in the hut her mother was waiting for her return, and as she grew +impatient she said to her husband: 'Get out the horses, old man, to go +and fetch her home; but see that you are careful not to upset the sledge +and lose the chest.' + +But the doggie beneath the table began to bark, saying: + + 'Your daughter is frozen quite stiff and cold, + And shall never have a chest full of gold.' + +'Don't tell such wicked lies!' scolded the woman. 'There's a cake for +you; now say: + + "HER daughter shall marry a mighty King." + +At that moment the door flew open, and she rushed out to meet her +daughter, and as she took her frozen body in her arms she too was +chilled to death. + + + + +THE DEATH OF THE SUN-HERO (27) + +(27) From the Bukowinaer Tales and Legends. Von Wliolocki. + +Many, many thousand years ago there lived a mighty King whom heaven had +blessed with a clever and beautiful son. When he was only ten years old +the boy was cleverer than all the King's counsellors put together, and +when he was twenty he was the greatest hero in the whole kingdom. His +father could not make enough of his son, and always had him clothed in +golden garments which shone and sparkled like the sun; and his mother +gave him a white horse, which never slept, and which flew like the +wind. All the people in the land loved him dearly, and called him the +Sun-Hero, for they did not think his like existed under the sun. Now +it happened one night that both his parents had the same extraordinary +dream. They dreamt that a girl all dressed in red had come to them and +said: 'If you wish that your son should really become the Sun-Hero in +deed and not only in name, let him go out into the world and search for +the Tree of the Sun, and when he has found it, let him pluck a golden +apple from it and bring it home.' + +When the King and Queen had each related their dreams to the other, +they were much amazed that they should both have dreamt exactly the same +about their son, and the King said to his wife, 'This is clearly a sign +from heaven that we should send our son out into the world in order that +he may come home the great Sun-Hero, as the Red Girl said, not only in +name but in deed.' + +The Queen consented with many tears, and the King at once bade his son +set forth in search of the Tree of the Sun, from which he was to pluck +a golden apple. The Prince was delighted at the prospect, and set out on +his travels that very day. + +For a long time he wandered all through the world, and it was not till +the ninety-ninth day after he started that he found an old man who +was able to tell him where the Tree of the Sun grew. He followed his +directions, and rode on his way, and after another ninety-nine days +he arrived at a golden castle, which stood in the middle of a vast +wilderness. He knocked at the door, which was opened noiselessly and by +invisible hands. Finding no one about, the Prince rode on, and came to +a great meadow, where the Sun-Tree grew. When he reached the tree he put +out his hand to pick a golden apple; but all of a sudden the tree grew +higher, so that he could not reach its fruit. Then he heard some one +behind him laughing. Turning round, he saw the girl in red walking +towards him, who addressed him in these words: + +'Do you really imagine, brave son of the earth, that you can pluck an +apple so easily from the Tree of the Sun? Before you can do that, you +have a difficult task before you. You must guard the tree for nine days +and nine nights from the ravages of two wild black wolves, who will try +to harm it. Do you think you can undertake this?' + +'Yes,' answered the Sun-Hero, 'I will guard the Tree of the Sun nine +days and nine nights.' + +Then the girl continued: 'Remember, though, if you do not succeed the +Sun will kill you. Now begin your watch.' + +With these words the Red Girl went back into the golden castle. She had +hardly left him when the two black wolves appeared: but the Sun-Hero +beat them off with his sword, and they retired, only, however, to +reappear in a very short time. The Sun-Hero chased them away once more, +but he had hardly sat down to rest when the two black wolves were on +the scene again. This went on for seven days and nights, when the white +horse, who had never done such a thing before, turned to the Sun-Hero +and said in a human voice: 'Listen to what I am going to say. A Fairy +gave me to your mother in order that I might be of service to you; so +let me tell you, that if you go to sleep and let the wolves harm the +tree, the Sun will surely kill you. The Fairy, foreseeing this, put +everyone in the world under a spell, which prevents their obeying the +Sun's command to take your life. But all the same, she has forgotten +one person, who will certainly kill you if you fall asleep and let the +wolves damage the tree. So watch and keep the wolves away.' + +Then the Sun-Hero strove with all his might and kept the black wolves +at bay, and conquered his desire to sleep; but on the eighth night his +strength failed him, and he fell fast asleep. When he awoke a woman in +black stood beside him, who said: 'You have fulfilled your task very +badly, for you have let the two black wolves damage the Tree of the Sun. +I am the mother of the Sun, and I command you to ride away from here at +once, and I pronounce sentence of death upon you, for you proudly let +yourself be called the Sun-Hero without having done anything to deserve +the name.' + +The youth mounted his horse sadly, and rode home. The people all +thronged round him on his return, anxious to hear his adventures, but +he told them nothing, and only to his mother did he confide what had +befallen him. But the old Queen laughed, and said to her son: 'Don't +worry, my child; you see, the Fairy has protected you so far, and the +Sun has found no one to kill you. So cheer up and be happy.' + +After a time the Prince forgot all about his adventure, and married a +beautiful Princess, with whom he lived very happily for some time. But +one day when he was out hunting he felt very thirsty, and coming to a +stream he stooped down to drink from it, and this caused his death, for +a crab came swimming up, and with its claws tore out his tongue. He was +carried home in a dying condition, and as he lay on his death-bed +the black woman appeared and said: 'So the Sun has, after all, found +someone, who was not under the Fairy's spell, who has caused your death. +And a similar fate will overtake everyone under the Sun who wrongfully +assumes a title to which he has no right.' + + + + +THE WITCH (28) + +(28) From the Russian. + +Once upon a time there was a peasant whose wife died, leaving him with +two children--twins--a boy and a girl. For some years the poor man +lived on alone with the children, caring for them as best he could; but +everything in the house seemed to go wrong without a woman to look after +it, and at last he made up his mind to marry again, feeling that a +wife would bring peace and order to his household and take care of his +motherless children. So he married, and in the following years several +children were born to him; but peace and order did not come to the +household. For the step-mother was very cruel to the twins, and beat +them, and half-starved them, and constantly drove them out of the house; +for her one idea was to get them out of the way. All day she thought +of nothing but how she should get rid of them; and at last an evil idea +came into her head, and she determined to send them out into the great +gloomy wood where a wicked witch lived. And so one morning she spoke to +them, saying: + +'You have been such good children that I am going to send you to visit +my granny, who lives in a dear little hut in the wood. You will have to +wait upon her and serve her, but you will be well rewarded, for she will +give you the best of everything.' + +So the children left the house together; and the little sister, who was +very wise for her years, said to the brother: + +'We will first go and see our own dear grandmother, and tell her where +our step-mother is sending us.' + +And when the grandmother heard where they were going, she cried and +said: + +'You poor motherless children! How I pity you; and yet I can do nothing +to help you! Your step-mother is not sending you to her granny, but to +a wicked witch who lives in that great gloomy wood. Now listen to me, +children. You must be civil and kind to everyone, and never say a cross +word to anyone, and never touch a crumb belonging to anyone else. Who +knows if, after all, help may not be sent to you?' + +And she gave her grandchildren a bottle of milk and a piece of ham and +a loaf of bread, and they set out for the great gloomy wood. When they +reached it they saw in front of them, in the thickest of the trees, a +queer little hut, and when they looked into it, there lay the witch, +with her head on the threshold of the door, with one foot in one corner +and the other in the other corner, and her knees cocked up, almost +touching the ceiling. + +'Who's there?' she snarled, in an awful voice, when she saw the +children. + +And they answered civilly, though they were so terrified that they hid +behind one another, and said: + +'Good-morning, granny; our step-mother has sent us to wait upon you, and +serve you.' + +'See that you do it well, then,' growled the witch. 'If I am pleased +with you, I'll reward you; but if I am not, I'll put you in a pan and +fry you in the oven--that's what I'll do with you, my pretty dears! You +have been gently reared, but you'll find my work hard enough. See if you +don't.' + +And, so saying, she set the girl down to spin yarn, and she gave the boy +a sieve in which to carry water from the well, and she herself went +out into the wood. Now, as the girl was sitting at her distaff, weeping +bitterly because she could not spin, she heard the sound of hundreds +of little feet, and from every hole and corner in the hut mice came +pattering along the floor, squeaking and saying: + + 'Little girl, why are your eyes so red? + If you want help, then give us some bread.' + +And the girl gave them the bread that her grandmother had given her. +Then the mice told her that the witch had a cat, and the cat was very +fond of ham; if she would give the cat her ham, it would show her the +way out of the wood, and in the meantime they would spin the yarn for +her. So the girl set out to look for the cat, and, as she was hunting +about, she met her brother, in great trouble because he could not carry +water from the well in a sieve, as it came pouring out as fast as he +put it in. And as she was trying to comfort him they heard a rustling of +wings, and a flight of wrens alighted on the ground beside them. And the +wrens said: + + 'Give us some crumbs, then you need not grieve. + + For you'll find that water will stay in the sieve.' + +Then the twins crumbled their bread on the ground, and the wrens pecked +it, and chirruped and chirped. And when they had eaten the last crumb +they told the boy to fill up the holes of the sieve with clay, and then +to draw water from the well. So he did what they said, and carried the +sieve full of water into the hut without spilling a drop. When they +entered the hut the cat was curled up on the floor. So they stroked her, +and fed her with ham, and said to her: + +'Pussy, grey pussy, tell us how we are to get away from the witch?' + +Then the cat thanked them for the ham, and gave them a +pocket-handkerchief and a comb, and told them that when the witch +pursued them, as she certainly would, all they had to do was to throw +the handkerchief on the ground and run as fast as they could. As soon as +the handkerchief touched the ground a deep, broad river would spring up, +which would hinder the witch's progress. If she managed to get across +it, they must throw the comb behind them and run for their lives, for +where the comb fell a dense forest would start up, which would delay the +witch so long that they would be able to get safely away. + +The cat had scarcely finished speaking when the witch returned to see if +the children had fulfilled their tasks. + +'Well, you have done well enough for to-day,' she grumbled; 'but +to-morrow you'll have something more difficult to do, and if you don't +do it well, you pampered brats, straight into the oven you go.' + +Half-dead with fright, and trembling in every limb, the poor children +lay down to sleep on a heap of straw in the corner of the hut; but they +dared not close their eyes, and scarcely ventured to breathe. In the +morning the witch gave the girl two pieces of linen to weave before +night, and the boy a pile of wood to cut into chips. Then the witch left +them to their tasks, and went out into the wood. As soon as she had +gone out of sight the children took the comb and the handkerchief, and, +taking one another by the hand, they started and ran, and ran, and ran. +And first they met the watch-dog, who was going to leap on them and tear +them to pieces; but they threw the remains of their bread to him, and +he ate them and wagged his tail. Then they were hindered by the +birch-trees, whose branches almost put their eyes out. But the little +sister tied the twigs together with a piece of ribbon, and they got past +safely, and, after running through the wood, came out on to the open +fields. + +In the meantime in the hut the cat was busy weaving the linen and +tangling the threads as it wove. And the witch returned to see how the +children were getting on; and she crept up to the window, and whispered: + +'Are you weaving, my little dear?' + +'Yes, granny, I am weaving,' answered the cat. + +When the witch saw that the children had escaped her, she was furious, +and, hitting the cat with a porringer, she said: 'Why did you let the +children leave the hut? Why did you not scratch their eyes out?' + +But the cat curled up its tail and put its back up, and answered: 'I +have served you all these years and you never even threw me a bone, but +the dear children gave me their own piece of ham.' + +Then the witch was furious with the watch-dog and with the birch-trees, +because they had let the children pass. But the dog answered: + +'I have served you all these years and you never gave me so much as a +hard crust, but the dear children gave me their own loaf of bread.' + +And the birch rustled its leaves, and said: 'I have served you longer +than I can say, and you never tied a bit of twine even round my +branches; and the dear children bound them up with their brightest +ribbons.' + +So the witch saw there was no help to be got from her old servants, and +that the best thing she could do was to mount on her broom and set off +in pursuit of the children. And as the children ran they heard the sound +of the broom sweeping the ground close behind them, so instantly they +threw the handkerchief down over their shoulder, and in a moment a deep, +broad river flowed behind them. + +When the witch came up to it, it took her a long time before she found a +place which she could ford over on her broom-stick; but at last she got +across, and continued the chase faster than before. And as the children +ran they heard a sound, and the little sister put her ear to the ground, +and heard the broom sweeping the earth close behind them; so, quick as +thought, she threw the comb down on the ground, and in an instant, +as the cat had said, a dense forest sprung up, in which the roots and +branches were so closely intertwined, that it was impossible to force a +way through it. So when the witch came up to it on her broom she found +that there was nothing for it but to turn round and go back to her hut. + +But the twins ran straight on till they reached their own home. Then +they told their father all that they had suffered, and he was so angry +with their step-mother that he drove her out of the house, and never let +her return; but he and the children lived happily together; and he took +care of them himself, and never let a stranger come near them. + + + + +THE HAZEL-NUT CHILD (29) + +(29) From the Bukowniaer. Van Wliolocki. + +There was once upon a time a couple who had no children, and they prayed +Heaven every day to send them a child, though it were no bigger than +a hazel-nut. At last Heaven heard their prayer and sent them a child +exactly the size of a hazel-nut, and it never grew an inch. The parents +were very devoted to the little creature, and nursed and tended it +carefully. Their tiny son too was as clever as he could be, and so sharp +and sensible that all the neighbours marvelled over the wise things he +said and did. + +When the Hazel-nut child was fifteen years old, and was sitting one day +in an egg-shell on the table beside his mother, she turned to him and +said, 'You are now fifteen years old, and nothing can be done with you. +What do you intend to be?' + +'A messenger,' answered the Hazel-nut child. + +Then his mother burst out laughing and said, 'What an idea! You a +messenger! Why, your little feet would take an hour to go the distance +an ordinary person could do in a minute!' + +But the Hazel-nut child replied, 'Nevertheless I mean to be a messenger! +Just send me a message and you'll see that I shall be back in next to no +time.' + +So his mother said, 'Very well, go to your aunt in the neighbouring +village, and fetch me a comb.' The Hazel-nut child jumped quickly out +of the egg-shell and ran out into the street. Here he found a man on +horseback who was just setting out for the neighbouring village. He +crept up the horse's leg, sat down under the saddle, and then began to +pinch the horse and to prick it with a pin. The horse plunged and reared +and then set off at a hard gallop, which it continued in spite of its +rider's efforts to stop it. When they reached the village, the Hazel-nut +child left off pricking the horse, and the poor tired creature pursued +its way at a snail's pace. The Hazel-nut child took advantage of this, +and crept down the horse's leg; then he ran to his aunt and asked her +for a comb. On the way home he met another rider, and did the return +journey in exactly the same way. When he handed his mother the comb that +his aunt had given him, she was much amazed and asked him, 'But how did +you manage to get back so quickly?' + +'Ah! mother,' he replied, 'you see I was quite right when I said I knew +a messenger was the profession for me.' + +His father too possessed a horse which he often used to take out into +the fields to graze. One day he took the Hazel-nut child with him. At +midday the father turned to his small son and said, 'Stay here and look +after the horse. I must go home and give your mother a message, but I +shall be back soon.' + +When his father had gone, a robber passed by and saw the horse grazing +without any one watching it, for of course he could not see the +Hazel-nut child hidden in the grass. So he mounted the horse and rode +away. But the Hazel-nut child, who was the most active little creature, +climbed up the horse's tail and began to bite it on the back, enraging +the creature to such an extent that it paid no attention to the +direction the robber tried to make it go in, but galloped straight home. +The father was much astonished when he saw a stranger riding his horse, +but the Hazel-nut child climbed down quickly and told him all that had +happened, and his father had the robber arrested at once and put into +prison. + +One autumn when the Hazel-nut child was twenty years old he said to his +parents: 'Farewell, my dear father and mother. I am going to set out +into the world, and as soon as I have become rich I will return home to +you.' + +The parents laughed at the little man's words, but did not believe him +for a moment. In the evening the Hazel-nut child crept on to the roof, +where some storks had built their nest. The storks were fast asleep, +and he climbed on to the back of the father-stork and bound a silk cord +round the joint of one of its wings, then he crept among its soft downy +feathers and fell asleep. + +The next morning the storks flew towards the south, for winter was +approaching. The Hazel-nut child flew through the air on the stork's +back, and when he wanted to rest he bound his silk cord on to the joint +of the bird's other wing, so that it could not fly any farther. In this +way he reached the country of the black people, where the storks took +up their abode close to the capital. When the people saw the Hazel-nut +child they were much astonished, and took him with the stork to the King +of the country. The King was delighted with the little creature and kept +him always beside him, and he soon grew so fond of the little man that +he gave him a diamond four times as big as himself. The Hazel-nut child +fastened the diamond firmly under the stork's neck with a ribbon, and +when he saw that the other storks were getting ready for their northern +flight, he untied the silk cord from his stork's wings, and away they +went, getting nearer home every minute. At length the Hazel-nut child +came to his native village; then he undid the ribbon from the stork's +neck and the diamond fell to the ground; he covered it first with sand +and stones, and then ran to get his parents, so that they might carry +the treasure home, for he himself was not able to lift the great +diamond. + +So the Hazel-nut child and his parents lived in happiness and prosperity +after this till they died. + + + + +THE STORY OF BIG KLAUS AND LITTLE KLAUS + +In a certain village there lived two people who had both the same name. +Both were called Klaus, but one owned four horses and the other only +one. In order to distinguish the one from the other, the one who had +four horses was called Big Klaus, and the one who had only one horse, +Little Klaus. Now you shall hear what befell them both, for this is a +true story. + +The whole week through Little Klaus had to plough for Big Klaus, and +lend him his one horse; then Big Klaus lent him his four horses, but +only once a week, and that was on Sunday. Hurrah! how loudly Little +Klaus cracked his whip over all the five horses! for they were indeed as +good as his on this one day. The sun shone brightly, and all the bells +in the church-towers were pealing; the people were dressed in their best +clothes, and were going to church, with their hymn books under their +arms, to hear the minister preach. They saw Little Klaus ploughing with +the five horses; but he was so happy that he kept on cracking his whip, +and calling out 'Gee-up, my five horses!' + +'You mustn't say that,' said Big Klaus. 'Only one horse is yours.' + +But as soon as someone else was going by Little Klaus forgot that he +must not say it, and called out 'Gee-up, my five horses!' + +'Now you had better stop that,' said Big Klaus, 'for if you say it once +more I will give your horse such a crack on the head that it will drop +down dead on the spot!' + +'I really won't say it again!' said Little Klaus. But as soon as more +people passed by, and nodded him good-morning, he became so happy in +thinking how well it looked to have five horses ploughing his field +that, cracking his whip, he called out 'Gee-up, my five horses!' + +'I'll see to your horses!' said Big Klaus; and, seizing an iron bar, he +struck Little Klaus' one horse such a blow on the head that it fell down +and died on the spot. + +'Alas! Now I have no horse!' said Little Klaus, beginning to cry. Then +he flayed the skin off his horse, dried it, and put it in a sack, which +he threw over his shoulder, and went into the town to sell it. He had a +long way to go, and had to pass through a great dark forest. A dreadful +storm came on, in which he lost his way, and before he could get on to +the right road night came on, and it was impossible to reach the town +that evening. + +Right in front of him was a large farm-house. The window-shutters were +closed, but the light came through the chinks. 'I should very much like +to be allowed to spend the night there,' thought Little Klaus; and he +went and knocked at the door. The farmer's wife opened it, but when she +heard what he wanted she told him to go away; her husband was not at +home, and she took in no strangers. + +'Well, I must lie down outside,' said Little Klaus; and the farmer's +wife shut the door in his face. Close by stood a large haystack, +and between it and the house a little out-house, covered with a flat +thatched roof. + +'I can lie down there,' thought Little Klaus, looking at the roof; 'it +will make a splendid bed, if only the stork won't fly down and bite my +legs.' For a live stork was standing on the roof, where it had its nest. +So Little Klaus crept up into the out-house, where he lay down, and made +himself comfortable for the night. The wooden shutters over the windows +were not shut at the top, and he could just see into the room. + +There stood a large table, spread with wine and roast meat and a +beautiful fish. The farmer's wife and the sexton sat at the table, but +there was no one else. She was filling up his glass, while he stuck his +fork into the fish which was his favourite dish. + +'If one could only get some of that!' thought Little Klaus, stretching +his head towards the window. Ah, what delicious cakes he saw standing +there! It WAS a feast! + +Then he heard someone riding along the road towards the house. It was +the farmer coming home. He was a very worthy man; but he had one great +peculiarity--namely, that he could not bear to see a sexton. If he +saw one he was made quite mad. That was why the sexton had gone to say +good-day to the farmer's wife when he knew that her husband was not at +home, and the good woman therefore put in front of him the best food she +had. But when they heard the farmer coming they were frightened, and the +farmer's wife begged the sexton to creep into a great empty chest. He +did so, as he knew the poor man could not bear to see a sexton. The wife +hastily hid all the beautiful food and the wine in her oven; for if her +husband had seen it, he would have been sure to ask what it all meant. + +'Oh, dear! oh, dear!' groaned Little Klaus up in the shed, when he saw +the good food disappearing. + +'Is anybody up there?' asked the farmer, catching sight of Little Klaus. +'Why are you lying there? Come with me into the house.' + +Then Little Klaus told him how he had lost his way, and begged to be +allowed to spend the night there. + +'Yes, certainly,' said the farmer; 'but we must first have something to +eat!' + +The wife received them both very kindly, spread a long table, and gave +them a large plate of porridge. The farmer was hungry, and ate with a +good appetite; but Little Klaus could not help thinking of the delicious +dishes of fish and roast meats and cakes which he knew were in the oven. +Under the table at his feet he had laid the sack with the horse-skin in +it, for, as we know, he was going to the town to sell it. The porridge +did not taste good to him, so he trod upon his sack, and the dry skin in +the sack squeaked loudly. + +'Hush!' said Little Klaus to his sack, at the same time treading on it +again so that it squeaked even louder than before. + +'Hallo! what have you got in your sack?' asked the farmer. + +'Oh, it is a wizard!' said Little Klaus. 'He says we should not eat +porridge, for he has conjured the whole oven full of roast meats and +fish and cakes.' + +'Goodness me!' said the farmer; and opening the oven he saw all the +delicious, tempting dishes his wife had hidden there, but which he now +believed the wizard in the sack had conjured up for them. The wife could +say nothing, but she put the food at once on the table, and they ate the +fish, the roast meat, and the cakes. Little Klaus now trod again on his +sack, so that the skin squeaked. + +'What does he say now?' asked the farmer. + +'He says,' replied Little Klans, 'that he has also conjured up for us +three bottles of wine; they are standing in the corner by the oven!' + +The wife had to fetch the wine which she had hidden, and the farmer +drank and grew very merry. He would very much like to have had such a +wizard as Little Klaus had in the sack. + +'Can he conjure up the Devil?' asked the farmer. 'I should like to see +him very much, for I feel just now in very good spirits!' + +'Yes,' said Little Klaus; 'my wizard can do everything that I ask. Isn't +that true?' he asked, treading on the sack so that it squeaked. 'Do you +hear? He says ''Yes;'' but that the Devil looks so ugly that we should +not like to see him.' + +'Oh! I'm not at all afraid. What does he look like?' + +'He will show himself in the shape of a sexton!' + +'I say!' said the farmer, 'he must be ugly! You must know that I can't +bear to look at a sexton! But it doesn't matter. I know that it is the +Devil, and I sha'n't mind! I feel up to it now. But he must not come too +near me!' + +'I must ask my wizard,' said Little Klaus, treading on the sack and +putting his ear to it. + +'What does he say?' + +'He says you can open the chest in the corner there, and you will see +the Devil squatting inside it; but you must hold the lid so that he +shall not escape.' + +'Will you help me to hold him?' begged the farmer, going towards the +chest where his wife had hidden the real sexton, who was sitting inside +in a terrible fright. The farmer opened the lid a little way, and saw +him inside. + +'Ugh!' he shrieked, springing back. 'Yes, now I have seen him; he looked +just like our sexton. Oh, it was horrid!' + +So he had to drink again, and they drank till far on into the night. + +'You MUST sell me the wizard,' said the farmer. 'Ask anything you like! +I will pay you down a bushelful of money on the spot.' + +'No, I really can't,' said Little Klans. 'Just think how many things I +can get from this wizard!' + +'Ah! I should like to have him so much!' said the farmer, begging very +hard. + +'Well!' said Little Klaus at last, 'as you have been so good as to give +me shelter to-night, I will sell him. You shall have the wizard for a +bushel of money, but I must have full measure.' + +'That you shall,' said the farmer. 'But you must take the chest with +you. I won't keep it another hour in the house. Who knows that he isn't +in there still?' + +Little Klaus gave the farmer his sack with the dry skin, and got instead +a good bushelful of money. The farmer also gave him a wheelbarrow to +carry away his money and the chest. 'Farewell,' said Little Klaus; and +away he went with his money and the big chest, wherein sat the sexton. + +On the other side of the wood was a large deep river. The water flowed +so rapidly that you could scarcely swim against the stream. + +A great new bridge had been built over it, on the middle of which Little +Klaus stopped, and said aloud so that the sexton might hear: + +'Now, what am I to do with this stupid chest? It is as heavy as if it +were filled with stones! I shall only be tired, dragging it along; I +will throw it into the river. If it swims home to me, well and good; and +if it doesn't, it's no matter.' + +Then he took the chest with one hand and lifted it up a little, as if he +were going to throw it into the water. + +'No, don't do that!' called out the sexton in the chest. 'Let me get out +first!' + +'Oh, oh!' said Little Klaus, pretending that he was afraid. 'He is still +in there! I must throw him quickly into the water to drown him!' + +'Oh! no, no!' cried the sexton. 'I will give you a whole bushelful of +money if you will let me go!' + +'Ah, that's quite another thing!' said Little Klaus, opening the chest. +The sexton crept out very quickly, pushed the empty chest into the water +and went to his house, where he gave Little Klaus a bushel of money. One +he had had already from the farmer, and now he had his wheelbarrow full +of money. + +'Well, I have got a good price for the horse!' said he to himself when +he shook all his money out in a heap in his room. 'This will put Big +Klaus in a rage when he hears how rich I have become through my one +horse; but I won't tell him just yet!' + +So he sent a boy to Big Klaus to borrow a bushel measure from him. + +'Now what can he want with it?' thought Big Klaus; and he smeared some +tar at the bottom, so that of whatever was measured a little should +remain in it. And this is just what happened; for when he got his +measure back, three new silver five-shilling pieces were sticking to it. + +What does this mean?' said Big Klaus, and he ran off at once to Little +Klaus. + +'Where did you get so much money from?' + +'Oh, that was from my horse-skin. I sold it yesterday evening.' + +'That's certainly a good price!' said Big Klaus; and running home in +great haste, he took an axe, knocked all his four horses on the head, +skinned them, and went into the town. + +'Skins! skins! Who will buy skins?' he cried through the streets. + +All the shoemakers and tanners came running to ask him what he wanted +for them. 'A bushel of money for each,' said Big Klaus. + +'Are you mad?' they all exclaimed. 'Do you think we have money by the +bushel?' + +'Skins! skins! Who will buy skins?' he cried again, and to all who asked +him what they cost, he answered, 'A bushel of money.' + +'He is making game of us,' they said; and the shoemakers seized their +yard measures and the tanners their leathern aprons and they gave Big +Klaus a good beating. 'Skins! skins!' they cried mockingly; yes, we will +tan YOUR skin for you! Out of the town with him!' they shouted; and Big +Klaus had to hurry off as quickly as he could, if he wanted to save his +life. + +'Aha!' said he when he came home, 'Little Klaus shall pay dearly for +this. I will kill him!' + +Little Klaus' grandmother had just died. Though she had been very unkind +to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid +her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to life. +There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a +chair, which he had often done before. And in the night as he sat there +the door opened, and Big Klaus came in with his axe. He knew quite +well where Little Klaus's bed stood, and going up to it he struck the +grandmother on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be. +'There!' said he. 'Now you won't get the best of me again!' And he went +home. + +'What a very wicked man!' thought Little Klaus. 'He was going to kill +me! It was a good thing for my grandmother that she was dead already, or +else he would have killed her!' + +Then he dressed his grandmother in her Sunday clothes, borrowed a horse +from his neighbour, harnessed the cart to it, sat his grandmother on the +back seat so that she could not fall out when he drove, and away they +went. When the sun rose they were in front of a large inn. Little Klaus +got down, and went in to get something to drink. The host was very rich. +He was a very worthy but hot-tempered man. + +'Good morning!' said he to Little Klaus. 'You are early on the road.' + +'Yes,' said Little Klaus. 'I am going to the town with my grandmother. +She is sitting outside in the cart; I cannot bring her in. Will you not +give her a glass of mead? But you will have to speak loud, for she is +very hard of hearing.' + +'Oh yes, certainly I will!' said the host; and, pouring out a large +glass of mead, he took it out to the dead grandmother, who was sitting +upright in the cart. + +'Here is a glass of mead from your son,' said the host. But the dead +woman did not answer a word, and sat still. 'Don't you hear?' cried the +host as loud as he could. 'Here is a glass of mead from your son!' + +Then he shouted the same thing again, and yet again, but she never moved +in her place; and at last he grew angry, threw the glass in her face, so +that she fell back into the cart, for she was not tied in her place. + +'Hullo!' cried Little Klaus, running out of the door, and seizing the +host by the throat. 'You have killed my grandmother! Look! there is a +great hole in her forehead!' + +'Oh, what a misfortune!' cried the host, wringing his hands. 'It all +comes from my hot temper! Dear Little Klaus! I will give you a bushel of +money, and will bury your grandmother as if she were my own; only don't +tell about it, or I shall have my head cut off, and that would be very +uncomfortable.' + +So Little Klaus got a bushel of money, and the host buried his +grandmother as if she had been his own. + +Now when Little Klaus again reached home with so much money he sent his +boy to Big Klaus to borrow his bushel measure. + +'What's this?' said Big Klaus. 'Didn't I kill him? I must see to this +myself!' + +So he went himself to Little Klaus with the measure. + +'Well, now, where did you get all this money?' asked he, opening his +eyes at the heap. + +'You killed my grandmother--not me,' said Little Klaus. 'I sold her, and +got a bushel of money for her.' + +'That is indeed a good price!' said Big Klaus; and, hurrying home, he +took an axe and killed his grandmother, laid her in the cart, and drove +off to the apothecary's, and asked whether he wanted to buy a dead body. + +'Who is it, and how did you get it?' asked the apothecary. + +'It is my grandmother,' said Big Klaus. 'I killed her in order to get a +bushel of money.' + +'You are mad!' said the apothecary. 'Don't mention such things, or you +will lose your head!' And he began to tell him what a dreadful thing +he had done, and what a wicked man he was, and that he ought to be +punished; till Big Klaus was so frightened that he jumped into the cart +and drove home as hard as he could. The apothecary and all the people +thought he must be mad, so they let him go. + +'You shall pay for this!' said Big Klaus as he drove home. 'You shall +pay for this dearly, Little Klaus!' + +So as soon as he got home he took the largest sack he could find, and +went to Little Klaus and said: 'You have fooled me again! First I killed +my horses, then my grandmother! It is all your fault; but you sha'n't do +it again!' And he seized Little Klaus, pushed him in the sack, threw it +over his shoulder, crying out 'Now I am going to drown you!' + +He had to go a long way before he came to the river, and Little Klaus +was not very light. The road passed by the church; the organ was +sounding, and the people were singing most beautifully. + +Big Klaus put down the sack with Little Klaus in it by the church-door, +and thought that he might as well go in and hear a psalm before going on +farther. Little Klaus could not get out, and everybody was in church; so +he went in. + +'Oh, dear! oh, dear!' groaned Little Klaus in the sack, twisting and +turning himself. But he could not undo the string. + +There came by an old, old shepherd, with snow-white hair and a long +staff in his hand. He was driving a herd of cows and oxen. These pushed +against the sack so that it was overturned. + +'Alas!' moaned Little Klans, 'I am so young and yet I must die!' + +'And I, poor man,' said the cattle-driver, 'I am so old and yet I cannot +die!' + +'Open the sack,' called out Little Klaus; 'creep in here instead of me, +and you will die in a moment!' + +'I will gladly do that,' said the cattle-driver; and he opened the sack, +and Little Klaus struggled out at once. + +'You will take care of the cattle, won't you?' asked the old man, +creeping into the sack, which Little Klaus fastened up and then went on +with the cows and oxen. Soon after Big Klaus came out of the church, and +taking up the sack on his shoulders it seemed to him as if it had become +lighter; for the old cattle-driver was not half as heavy as Little +Klaus. + +'How easy he is to carry now! That must be because I heard part of the +service.' + +So he went to the river, which was deep and broad, threw in the sack +with the old driver, and called after it, for he thought Little Klaus +was inside: + +'Down you go! You won't mock me any more now!' + +Then he went home; but when he came to the cross-roads, there he met +Little Klaus, who was driving his cattle. + +'What's this?' said Big Klaus. 'Haven't I drowned you?' + +'Yes,' replied Little Klaus; 'you threw me into the river a good +half-hour ago!' + +'But how did you get those splendid cattle?' asked Big Klaus. + +'They are sea-cattle!' said Little Klaus. 'I will tell you the whole +story, and I thank you for having drowned me, because now I am on dry +land and really rich! How frightened I was when I was in the sack! How +the wind whistled in my ears as you threw me from the bridge into the +cold water! I sank at once to the bottom; but I did not hurt myself for +underneath was growing the most beautiful soft grass. I fell on this, +and immediately the sack opened; the loveliest maiden in snow-white +garments, with a green garland round her wet hair, took me by the hand, +and said! ''Are you Little Klaus? Here are some cattle for you to begin +with, and a mile farther down the road there is another herd, which +I will give you as a present!'' Now I saw that the river was a great +high-road for the sea-people. Along it they travel underneath from +the sea to the land till the river ends. It was so beautiful, full of +flowers and fresh grass; the fishes which were swimming in the water +shot past my ears as the birds do here in the air. What lovely people +there were, and what fine cattle were grazing in the ditches and dykes!' + +'But why did you come up to us again?' asked Big Klaus. 'I should not +have done so, if it is so beautiful down below!' + +'Oh!' said Little Klaus, 'that was just so politic of me. You heard +what I told you, that the sea-maiden said to me a mile farther along the +road--and by the road she meant the river, for she can go by no other +way--there was another herd of cattle waiting for me. But I know what +windings the river makes, now here, now there, so that it is a long way +round. Therefore it makes it much shorter if one comes on the land and +drives across the field to the river. Thus I have spared myself quite +half a mile, and have come much quicker to my sea-cattle!' + +'Oh, you're a lucky fellow!' said Big Klaus. 'Do you think I should also +get some cattle if I went to the bottom of the river?' + +'Oh, yes! I think so,' said Little Klaus. 'But I can't carry you in a +sack to the river; you are too heavy for me! If you like to go there +yourself and then creep into the sack, I will throw you in with the +greatest of pleasure.' + +'Thank you,' said Big Klaus; 'but if I don't get any sea-cattle when I +come there, you will have a good hiding, mind!' + +'Oh, no! Don't be so hard on me!' Then they went to the river. When +the cattle, which were thirsty, caught sight of the water, they ran as +quickly as they could to drink. + +'Look how they are running!' said Little Klaus. 'They want to go to the +bottom again!' + +'Yes; but help me first,' said Big Klaus, 'or else you shall have a +beating!' + +And so he crept into the large sack, which was lying on the back of +one of the oxen. 'Put a stone in, for I am afraid I may not reach the +bottom,' said Big Klaus. + +'It goes all right!' said Little Klaus; but still he laid a big stone in +the sack, fastened it up tight, and then pushed it in. Plump! there was +Big Klaus in the water, and he sank like lead to the bottom. + +'I doubt if he will find any cattle!' said Little Klaus as he drove his +own home. + + + + +PRINCE RING (30) + +(30) From the Icelandic. + +Once upon a time there was a King and his Queen in their kingdom. + +They had one daughter, who was called Ingiborg, and one son, whose name +was Ring. He was less fond of adventures than men of rank usually were +in those days, and was not famous for strength or feats of arms. When he +was twelve years old, one fine winter day he rode into the forest along +with his men to enjoy himself. They went on a long way, until they +caught sight of a hind with a gold ring on its horns. The Prince was +eager to catch it, if possible, so they gave chase and rode on without +stopping until all the horses began to founder beneath them. At last the +Prince's horse gave way too, and then there came over them a darkness so +black that they could no longer see the hind. By this time they were far +away from any house, and thought it was high time to be making their way +home again, but they found they had got lost now. At first they all kept +together, but soon each began to think that he knew the right way best; +so they separated, and all went in different directions. + +The Prince, too, had got lost like the rest, and wandered on for a time +until he came to a little clearing in the forest not far from the sea, +where he saw a woman sitting on a chair and a big barrel standing +beside her. The Prince went up to her and saluted her politely, and she +received him very graciously. He looked down into the barrel then, and +saw lying at the bottom an unusually beautiful gold ring, which pleased +him so much that he could not take his eyes off it. The woman saw this, +and said that he might have it if he would take the trouble to get it; +for which the Prince thanked her, and said it was at least worth trying. +So he leaned over into the barrel, which did not seem very deep, and +thought he would easily reach the ring; but the more he stretched down +after it the deeper grew the barrel. As he was thus bending down into it +the woman suddenly rose up and pushed him in head first, saying that +now he could take up his quarters there. Then she fixed the top on the +barrel and threw it out into the sea. + +The Prince thought himself in a bad plight now, as he felt the barrel +floating out from the land and tossing about on the waves. + +How many days he spent thus he could not tell, but at last he felt that +the barrel was knocking against rocks, at which he was a little cheered, +thinking it was probably land and not merely a reef in the sea. Being +something of a swimmer, he at last made up his mind to kick the bottom +out of the barrel, and having done so he was able to get on shore, for +the rocks by the sea were smooth and level; but overhead there were high +cliffs. It seemed difficult to get up these, but he went along the foot +of them for a little, till at last he tried to climb up, which at last +he did. + +Having got to the top, he looked round about him and saw that he was +on an island, which was covered with forest, with apples growing, and +altogether pleasant as far as the land was concerned. After he had been +there several days, he one day heard a great noise in the forest, which +made him terribly afraid, so that he ran to hide himself among the +trees. Then he saw a Giant approaching, dragging a sledge loaded with +wood, and making straight for him, so that he could see nothing for it +but to lie down just where he was. When the Giant came across him, he +stood still and looked at the Prince for a little; then he took him up +in his arms and carried him home to his house, and was exceedingly kind +to him. He gave him to his wife, saying he had found this child in the +wood, and she could have it to help her in the house. The old woman was +greatly pleased, and began to fondle the Prince with the utmost delight. +He stayed there with them, and was very willing and obedient to them in +everything, while they grew kinder to him every day. + +One day the Giant took him round and showed him all his rooms except the +parlour; this made the Prince curious to have a look into it, thinking +there must be some very rare treasure there. So one day, when the Giant +had gone into the forest, he tried to get into the parlour, and managed +to get the door open half-way. Then he saw that some living creature +moved inside and ran along the floor towards him and said something, +which made him so frightened that he sprang back from the door and shut +it again. As soon as the fright began to pass off he tried it again, for +he thought it would be interesting to hear what it said; but things went +just as before with him. He then got angry with himself, and, summoning +up all his courage, tried it a third time, and opened the door of the +room and stood firm. Then he saw that it was a big Dog, which spoke to +him and said: + +'Choose me, Prince Ring.' + +The Prince went away rather afraid, thinking with himself that it was no +great treasure after all; but all the same what it had said to him stuck +in his mind. + +It is not said how long the Prince stayed with the Giant, but one +day the latter came to him and said he would now take him over to the +mainland out of the island, for he himself had no long time to live. He +also thanked him for his good service, and told him to choose some-one +of his possessions, for he would get whatever he wanted. Ring thanked +him heartily, and said there was no need to pay him for his services, +they were so little worth; but if he did wish to give him anything he +would choose what was in the parlour. The Giant was taken by surprise, +and said: + +'There, you chose my old woman's right hand; but I must not break my +word.' + +Upon this he went to get the Dog, which came running with signs of great +delight; but the Prince was so much afraid of it that it was all he +could do to keep from showing his alarm. + +After this the Giant accompanied him down to the sea, where he saw a +stone boat which was just big enough to hold the two of them and the +Dog. On reaching the mainland the Giant took a friendly farewell of +Ring, and told him he might take possession of all that was in the +island after he and his wife died, which would happen within two weeks +from that time. The Prince thanked him for this and for all his other +kindnesses, and the Giant returned home, while Ring went up some +distance from the sea; but he did not know what land he had come to, and +was afraid to speak to the Dog. After he had walked on in silence for a +time the Dog spoke to him and said: + +'You don't seem to have much curiosity, seeing you never ask my name.' + +The Prince then forced himself to ask, 'What is your name?' + +'You had best call me Snati-Snati,' said the Dog. 'Now we are coming to +a King's seat, and you must ask the King to keep us all winter, and to +give you a little room for both of us.' + +The Prince now began to be less afraid of the Dog. They came to the King +and asked him to keep them all the winter, to which he agreed. When the +King's men saw the Dog they began to laugh at it, and make as if they +would tease it; but when the Prince saw this he advised them not to do +it, or they might have the worst of it. They replied that they didn't +care a bit what he thought. + +After Ring had been with the King for some days the latter began to +think there was a great deal in him, and esteemed him more than the +others. The King, however, had a counsellor called Red, who became very +jealous when he saw how much the King esteemed Ring; and one day he +talked to him, and said he could not understand why he had so good an +opinion of this stranger, who had not yet shown himself superior to +other men in anything. The King replied that it was only a short time +since he had come there. Red then asked him to send them both to cut +down wood next morning, and see which of them could do most work. +Snati-Snati heard this and told it to Ring, advising him to ask the King +for two axes, so that he might have one in reserve if the first one +got broken. Next morning the King asked Ring and Red to go and cut down +trees for him, and both agreed. Ring got the two axes, and each went his +own way; but when the Prince had got out into the wood Snati took one of +the axes and began to hew along with him. In the evening the King came +to look over their day's work, as Red had proposed, and found that +Ring's wood-heap was more than twice as big. + +'I suspected,' said the King, 'that Ring was not quite useless; never +have I seen such a day's work.' + +Ring was now in far greater esteem with the King than before, and Red +was all the more discontented. One day he came to the King and said, 'If +Ring is such a mighty man, I think you might ask him to kill the wild +oxen in the wood here, and flay them the same day, and bring you the +horns and the hides in the evening.' + +'Don't you think that a desperate errand?' said the King, 'seeing they +are so dangerous, and no one has ever yet ventured to go against them?' + +Red answered that he had only one life to lose, and it would be +interesting to see how brave he was; besides, the King would have good +reason to ennoble him if he overcame them. The King at last allowed +himself, though rather unwillingly, to be won over by Red's persistency, +and one day asked Ring to go and kill the oxen that were in the wood for +him, and bring their horns and hides to him in the evening. Not knowing +how dangerous the oxen were, Ring was quite ready, and went off at once, +to the great delight of Red, who was now sure of his death. + +As soon as Ring came in sight of the oxen they came bellowing to meet +him; one of them was tremendously big, the other rather less. Ring grew +terribly afraid. + +'How do you like them?' asked Snati. + +'Not well at all,' said the Prince. + +'We can do nothing else,' said Snati, 'than attack them, if it is to go +well; you will go against the little one, and I shall take the other.' + +With this Snati leapt at the big one, and was not long in bringing +him down. Meanwhile the Prince went against the other with fear and +trembling, and by the time Snati came to help him the ox had nearly got +him under, but Snati was not slow in helping his master to kill it. + +Each of them then began to flay their own ox, but Ring was only half +through by the time Snati had finished his. In the evening, after they +had finished this task, the Prince thought himself unfit to carry all +the horns and both the hides, so Snati told him to lay them all on his +back until they got to the Palace gate. + +The Prince agreed, and laid everything on the Dog except the skin of the +smaller ox, which he staggered along with himself. At the Palace gate he +left everything lying, went before the King, and asked him to come that +length with him, and there handed over to him the hides and horns of the +oxen. The King was greatly surprised at his valour, and said he knew no +one like him, and thanked him heartily for what he had done. + +After this the King set Ring next to himself, and all esteemed him +highly, and held him to be a great hero; nor could Red any longer say +anything against him, though he grew still more determined to destroy +him. One day a good idea came into his head. He came to the King and +said he had something to say to him. + +'What is that?' said the King. + +Red said that he had just remembered the gold cloak, gold chess-board, +and bright gold piece that the King had lost about a year before. + +'Don't remind me of them!' said the King. + +Red, however, went on to say that, since Ring was such a mighty man that +he could do everything, it had occurred to him to advise the King to +ask him to search for these treasures, and come back with them before +Christmas; in return the King should promise him his daughter. + +The King replied that he thought it altogether unbecoming to propose +such a thing to Ring, seeing that he could not tell him where the things +were; but Red pretended not to hear the King's excuses, and went on +talking about it until the King gave in to him. One day, a month or so +before Christmas, the King spoke to Ring, saying that he wished to ask a +great favour of him. + +'What is that?' said Ring. + +'It is this,' said the King: 'that you find for me my gold cloak, my +gold chess-board, and my bright gold piece, that were stolen from me +about a year ago. If you can bring them to me before Christmas I will +give you my daughter in marriage.' + +'Where am I to look for them, then?' said Ring. + +'That you must find out for yourself,' said the King: 'I don't know.' + +Ring now left the King, and was very silent, for he saw he was in a +great difficulty: but, on the other hand, he thought it was excellent +to have such a chance of winning the King's daughter. Snati noticed that +his master was at a loss, and said to him that he should not disregard +what the King had asked him to do; but he would have to act upon his +advice, otherwise he would get into great difficulties. The Prince +assented to this, and began to prepare for the journey. + +After he had taken leave of the King, and was setting out on the +search, Snati said to him, 'Now you must first of all go about the +neighbourhood, and gather as much salt as ever you can.' The Prince did +so, and gathered so much salt that he could hardly carry it; but Snati +said, 'Throw it on my back,' which he accordingly did, and the Dog then +ran on before the Prince, until they came to the foot of a steep cliff. + +'We must go up here,' said Snati. + +'I don't think that will be child's play,' said the Prince. + +'Hold fast by my tail,' said Snati; and in this way he pulled Ring up on +the lowest shelf of the rock. The Prince began to get giddy, but up went +Snati on to the second shelf. Ring was nearly swooning by this time, but +Snati made a third effort and reached the top of the cliff, where the +Prince fell down in a faint. After a little, however, he recovered +again, and they went a short distance along a level plain, until they +came to a cave. This was on Christmas Eve. They went up above the cave, +and found a window in it, through which they looked, and saw four +trolls lying asleep beside the fire, over which a large porridge-pot was +hanging. + +'Now you must empty all the salt into the porridge-pot,' said Snati. + +Ring did so, and soon the trolls wakened up. The old hag, who was the +most frightful of them all, went first to taste the porridge. + +'How comes this?' she said; 'the porridge is salt! I got the milk by +witchcraft yesterday out of four kingdoms, and now it is salt!' + +All the others then came to taste the porridge, and thought it nice, but +after they had finished it the old hag grew so thirsty that she could +stand it no longer, and asked her daughter to go out and bring her some +water from the river that ran near by. + +'I won't go,' said she, 'unless you lend me your bright gold piece.' + +'Though I should die you shan't have that,' said the hag. + +'Die, then,' said the girl. + +'Well, then, take it, you brat,' said the old hag, 'and be off with you, +and make haste with the water.' + +The girl took the gold and ran out with it, and it was so bright that it +shone all over the plain. As soon as she came to the river she lay down +to take a drink of the water, but meanwhile the two of them had got down +off the roof and thrust her, head first, into the river. + +The old hag began now to long for the water, and said that the girl +would be running about with the gold piece all over the plain, so she +asked her son to go and get her a drop of water. + +'I won't go,' said he, 'unless I get the gold cloak.' + +'Though I should die you shan't have that,' said the hag. + +'Die, then,' said the son. + +'Well, then, take it,' said the old hag, 'and be off with you, but you +must make haste with the water.' + +He put on the cloak, and when he came outside it shone so bright that he +could see to go with it. On reaching the river he went to take a drink +like his sister, but at that moment Ring and Snati sprang upon him, took +the cloak from him, and threw him into the river. + +The old hag could stand the thirst no longer, and asked her husband +to go for a drink for her; the brats, she said, were of course running +about and playing themselves, just as she had expected they would, +little wretches that they were. + +'I won't go,' said the old troll, 'unless you lend me the gold +chess-board.' + +'Though I should die you shan't have that,' said the hag. + +'I think you may just as well do that,' said he, 'since you won't grant +me such a little favour.' + +'Take it, then, you utter disgrace!' said the old hag, 'since you are +just like these two brats.' + +The old troll now went out with the gold chess-board, and down to the +river, and was about to take a drink, when Ring and Snati came upon him, +took the chess-board from him, and threw him into the river. Before they +had got back again, however, and up on top of the cave, they saw +the poor old fellow's ghost come marching up from the river. Snati +immediately sprang upon him, and Ring assisted in the attack, and after +a hard struggle they mastered him a second time. When they got back +again to the window they saw that the old hag was moving towards the +door. + +'Now we must go in at once,' said Snati, 'and try to master her there, +for if she once gets out we shall have no chance with her. She is the +worst witch that ever lived, and no iron can cut her. One of us must +pour boiling porridge out of the pot on her, and the other punch her +with red-hot iron.' + +In they went then, and no sooner did the hag see them than she said, +'So you have come, Prince Ring; you must have seen to my husband and +children.' + +Snati saw that she was about to attack them, and sprang at her with a +red-hot iron from the fire, while Ring kept pouring boiling porridge on +her without stopping, and in this way they at last got her killed. Then +they burned the old troll and her to ashes, and explored the cave, where +they found plenty of gold and treasures. The most valuable of these they +carried with them as far as the cliff, and left them there. Then they +hastened home to the King with his three treasures, where they arrived +late on Christmas night, and Ring handed them over to him. + +The King was beside himself with joy, and was astonished at how clever +a man Ring was in all kinds of feats, so that he esteemed him still more +highly than before, and betrothed his daughter to him; and the feast +for this was to last all through Christmastide. Ring thanked the King +courteously for this and all his other kindnesses, and as soon as he had +finished eating and drinking in the hall went off to sleep in his own +room. Snati, however, asked permission to sleep in the Prince's bed for +that night, while the Prince should sleep where the Dog usually lay. +Ring said he was welcome to do so, and that he deserved more from him +than that came to. So Snati went up into the Prince's bed, but after a +time he came back, and told Ring he could go there himself now, but to +take care not to meddle with anything that was in the bed. + +Now the story comes back to Red, who came into the hall and showed the +King his right arm wanting the hand, and said that now he could see what +kind of a man his intended son-in-law was, for he had done this to him +without any cause whatever. The King became very angry, and said he +would soon find out the truth about it, and if Ring had cut off his hand +without good cause he should be hanged; but if it was otherwise, then +Red should die. So the King sent for Ring and asked him for what reason +he had done this. Snati, however, had just told Ring what had happened +during the night, and in reply he asked the King to go with him and he +would show him something. The King went with him to his sleeping-room, +and saw lying on the bed a man's hand holding a sword. + +'This hand,' said Ring, 'came over the partition during the night, and +was about to run me through in my bed, if I had not defended myself.' + +The King answered that in that case he could not blame him for +protecting his own life, and that Red was well worthy of death. So Red +was hanged, and Ring married the King's daughter. + +The first night that they went to bed together Snati asked Ring to allow +him to lie at their feet, and this Ring allowed him to do. During the +night he heard a howling and outcry beside them, struck a light in a +hurry and saw an ugly dog's skin lying near him, and a beautiful Prince +in the bed. Ring instantly took the skin and burned it, and then shook +the Prince, who was lying unconscious, until he woke up. The bridegroom +then asked his name; he replied that he was called Ring, and was a +King's son. In his youth he had lost his mother, and in her place his +father had married a witch, who had laid a spell on him that he should +turn into a dog, and never be released from the spell unless a Prince +of the same name as himself allowed him to sleep at his feet the first +night after his marriage. He added further, 'As soon as she knew that +you were my namesake she tried to get you destroyed, so that you +might not free me from the spell. She was the hind that you and your +companions chased; she was the woman that you found in the clearing with +the barrel, and the old hag that we just now killed in the cave.' + +After the feasting was over the two namesakes, along with other men, +went to the cliff and brought all the treasure home to the Palace. Then +they went to the island and removed all that was valuable from it. +Ring gave to his namesake, whom he had freed from the spell, his sister +Ingiborg and his father's kingdom to look after, but he himself stayed +with his father-in-law the King, and had half the kingdom while he lived +and the whole of it after his death. + + + + +THE SWINEHERD + +There was once a poor Prince. He possessed a kingdom which, though +small, was yet large enough for him to marry on, and married he wished +to be. + +Now it was certainly a little audacious of him to venture to say to the +Emperor's daughter, 'Will you marry me?' But he did venture to say so, +for his name was known far and wide. There were hundreds of princesses +who would gladly have said 'Yes,' but would she say the same? + +Well, we shall see. + +On the grave of the Prince's father grew a rose-tree, a very beautiful +rose-tree. It only bloomed every five years, and then bore but a single +rose, but oh, such a rose! Its scent was so sweet that when you smelt +it you forgot all your cares and troubles. And he had also a nightingale +which could sing as if all the beautiful melodies in the world were shut +up in its little throat. This rose and this nightingale the Princess was +to have, and so they were both put into silver caskets and sent to her. + +The Emperor had them brought to him in the great hall, where +the Princess was playing 'Here comes a duke a-riding' with her +ladies-in-waiting. And when she caught sight of the big caskets which +contained the presents, she clapped her hands for joy. + +'If only it were a little pussy cat!' she said. But the rose-tree with +the beautiful rose came out. + +'But how prettily it is made!' said all the ladies-in-waiting. + +'It is more than pretty,' said the Emperor, 'it is charming!' + +But the Princess felt it, and then she almost began to cry. + +'Ugh! Papa,' she said, 'it is not artificial, it is REAL!' + +'Ugh!' said all the ladies-in-waiting, 'it is real!' + +'Let us see first what is in the other casket before we begin to be +angry,' thought the Emperor, and there came out the nightingale. It sang +so beautifully that one could scarcely utter a cross word against it. + +'Superbe! charmant!' said the ladies-in-waiting, for they all chattered +French, each one worse than the other. + +'How much the bird reminds me of the musical snuff-box of the late +Empress!' said an old courtier. 'Ah, yes, it is the same tone, the same +execution!' + +'Yes,' said the Emperor; and then he wept like a little child. + +'I hope that this, at least, is not real?' asked the Princess. + +'Yes, it is a real bird,' said those who had brought it. + +'Then let the bird fly away,' said the Princess; and she would not on +any account allow the Prince to come. + +'But he was nothing daunted. He painted his face brown and black, +drew his cap well over his face, and knocked at the door. 'Good-day, +Emperor,' he said. 'Can I get a place here as servant in the castle?' + +'Yes,' said the Emperor, 'but there are so many who ask for a place that +I don't know whether there will be one for you; but, still, I will think +of you. Stay, it has just occurred to me that I want someone to look +after the swine, for I have so very many of them.' + +And the Prince got the situation of Imperial Swineherd. He had a +wretched little room close to the pigsties; here he had to stay, but the +whole day he sat working, and when evening was come he had made a pretty +little pot. All round it were little bells, and when the pot boiled they +jingled most beautifully and played the old tune-- + + 'Where is Augustus dear? + Alas! he's not here, here, here!' + +But the most wonderful thing was, that when one held one's finger in the +steam of the pot, then at once one could smell what dinner was ready in +any fire-place in the town. That was indeed something quite different +from the rose. + +Now the Princess came walking past with all her ladies-in-waiting, and +when she heard the tune she stood still and her face beamed with joy, +for she also could play 'Where is Augustus dear?' + +It was the only tune she knew, but that she could play with one finger. + +'Why, that is what I play!' she said. 'He must be a most accomplished +Swineherd! Listen! Go down and ask him what the instrument costs.' + +And one of the ladies-in-waiting had to go down; but she put on wooden +clogs. 'What will you take for the pot?' asked the lady-in-waiting. + +'I will have ten kisses from the Princess,' answered the Swineherd. + +'Heaven forbid!' said the lady-in-waiting. + +'Yes, I will sell it for nothing less,' replied the Swineherd. + +'Well, what does he say?' asked the Princess. + +'I really hardly like to tell you,' answered the lady-in-waiting. + +'Oh, then you can whisper it to me.' + +'He is disobliging!' said the Princess, and went away. But she had only +gone a few steps when the bells rang out so prettily-- + + 'Where is Augustus dear? + Alas! he's not here, here, here.' + +'Listen!' said the Princess. 'Ask him whether he will take ten kisses +from my ladies-in-waiting.' + +'No, thank you,' said the Swineherd. 'Ten kisses from the Princess, or +else I keep my pot.' + +'That is very tiresome!' said the Princess. 'But you must put yourselves +in front of me, so that no one can see.' + +And the ladies-in-waiting placed themselves in front and then spread out +their dresses; so the Swineherd got his ten kisses, and she got the pot. + +What happiness that was! The whole night and the whole day the pot was +made to boil; there was not a fire-place in the whole town where they +did not know what was being cooked, whether it was at the chancellor's +or at the shoemaker's. + +The ladies-in-waiting danced and clapped their hands. + +'We know who is going to have soup and pancakes; we know who is going to +have porridge and sausages--isn't it interesting?' + +'Yes, very interesting!' said the first lady-in-waiting. + +'But don't say anything about it, for I am the Emperor's daughter.' + +'Oh, no, of course we won't!' said everyone. + +The Swineherd--that is to say, the Prince (though they did not know +he was anything but a true Swineherd)--let no day pass without making +something, and one day he made a rattle which, when it was turned round, +played all the waltzes, galops, and polkas which had ever been known +since the world began. + +'But that is superbe!' said the Princess as she passed by. 'I have never +heard a more beautiful composition. Listen! Go down and ask him what +this instrument costs; but I won't kiss him again.' + +'He wants a hundred kisses from the Princess,' said the lady-in-waiting +who had gone down to ask him. + +'I believe he is mad!' said the Princess, and then she went on; but she +had only gone a few steps when she stopped. + +'One ought to encourage art,' she said. 'I am the Emperor's daughter! +Tell him he shall have, as before, ten kisses; the rest he can take from +my ladies-in-waiting.' + +'But we don't at all like being kissed by him,' said the +ladies-in-waiting. + +'That's nonsense,' said the Princess; 'and if I can kiss him, you can +too. Besides, remember that I give you board and lodging.' + +So the ladies-in-waiting had to go down to him again. + +'A hundred kisses from the Princess,' said he, 'or each keeps his own.' + +'Put yourselves in front of us,' she said then; and so all the +ladies-in-waiting put themselves in front, and he began to kiss the +Princess. + +'What can that commotion be by the pigsties?' asked the Emperor, who was +standing on the balcony. He rubbed his eyes and put on his spectacles. +'Why those are the ladies-in-waiting playing their games; I must go down +to them.' + +So he took off his shoes, which were shoes though he had trodden them +down into slippers. What a hurry he was in, to be sure! + +As soon as he came into the yard he walked very softly, and the +ladies-in-waiting were so busy counting the kisses and seeing fair play +that they never noticed the Emperor. He stood on tiptoe. + +'What is that?' he said, when he saw the kissing; and then he threw +one of his slippers at their heads just as the Swineherd was taking his +eighty-sixth kiss. + +'Be off with you!' said the Emperor, for he was very angry. And the +Princess and the Swineherd were driven out of the empire. + +Then she stood still and wept; the Swineherd was scolding, and the rain +was streaming down. + +'Alas, what an unhappy creature I am!' sobbed the Princess. + +'If only I had taken the beautiful Prince! Alas, how unfortunate I am!' + +And the Swineherd went behind a tree, washed the black and brown off +his face, threw away his old clothes, and then stepped forward in his +splendid dress, looking so beautiful that the Princess was obliged to +courtesy. + +'I now come to this. I despise you!' he said. 'You would have nothing +to do with a noble Prince; you did not understand the rose or the +nightingale, but you could kiss the Swineherd for the sake of a toy. +This is what you get for it!' And he went into his kingdom and shut the +door in her face, and she had to stay outside singing-- + + 'Where's my Augustus dear? + Alas! he's not here, here, here! + + + + +HOW TO TELL A TRUE PRINCESS + +There was once upon a time a Prince who wanted to marry a Princess, but +she must be a true Princess. So he travelled through the whole world to +find one, but there was always something against each. There were plenty +of Princesses, but he could not find out if they were true Princesses. +In every case there was some little defect, which showed the genuine +article was not yet found. So he came home again in very low spirits, +for he had wanted very much to have a true Princess. One night there was +a dreadful storm; it thundered and lightened and the rain streamed down +in torrents. It was fearful! There was a knocking heard at the Palace +gate, and the old King went to open it. + +There stood a Princess outside the gate; but oh, in what a sad plight +she was from the rain and the storm! The water was running down from +her hair and her dress into the points of her shoes and out at the heels +again. And yet she said she was a true Princess! + +'Well, we shall soon find that!' thought the old Queen. But she said +nothing, and went into the sleeping-room, took off all the bed-clothes, +and laid a pea on the bottom of the bed. Then she put twenty mattresses +on top of the pea, and twenty eider-down quilts on the top of the +mattresses. And this was the bed in which the Princess was to sleep. + +The next morning she was asked how she had slept. + +'Oh, very badly!' said the Princess. 'I scarcely closed my eyes all +night! I am sure I don't know what was in the bed. I laid on something +so hard that my whole body is black and blue. It is dreadful!' + +Now they perceived that she was a true Princess, because she had felt +the pea through the twenty mattresses and the twenty eider-down quilts. + +No one but a true Princess could be so sensitive. + +So the Prince married her, for now he knew that at last he had got hold +of a true Princess. And the pea was put into the Royal Museum, where it +is still to be seen if no one has stolen it. Now this is a true story. + + + + +THE BLUE MOUNTAINS + +There were once a Scotsman and an Englishman and an Irishman serving in +the army together, who took it into their heads to run away on the first +opportunity they could get. The chance came and they took it. They +went on travelling for two days through a great forest, without food or +drink, and without coming across a single house, and every night they +had to climb up into the trees through fear of the wild beasts that were +in the wood. On the second morning the Scotsman saw from the top of his +tree a great castle far away. He said to himself that he would certainly +die if he stayed in the forest without anything to eat but the roots of +grass, which would not keep him alive very long. As soon, then, as he +got down out of the tree he set off towards the castle, without so much +as telling his companions that he had seen it at all; perhaps the hunger +and want they had suffered had changed their nature so much that the +one did not care what became of the other if he could save himself. He +travelled on most of the day, so that it was quite late when he reached +the castle, and to his great disappointment found nothing but closed +doors and no smoke rising from the chimneys. He thought there was +nothing for it but to die after all, and had lain down beside the wall, +when he heard a window being opened high above him. At this he looked +up, and saw the most beautiful woman he had ever set eyes on. + +'Oh, it is Fortune that has sent you to me,' he said. + +'It is indeed,' said she. 'What are you in need of, or what has sent you +here?' + +'Necessity,' said he. 'I am dying for want of food and drink.' + +'Come inside, then,' she said; 'there is plenty of both here.' + +Accordingly he went in to where she was, and she opened a large room for +him, where he saw a number of men lying asleep. She then set food before +him, and after that showed him to the room where the others were. He lay +down on one of the beds and fell sound asleep. And now we must go back +to the two that he left behind him in the wood. + +When nightfall and the time of the wild beasts came upon these, the +Englishman happened to climb up into the very same tree on which the +Scotsman was when he got a sight of the castle; and as soon as the day +began to dawn and the Englishman looked to the four quarters of heaven, +what did he see but the castle too! Off he went without saying a word to +the Irishman, and everything happened to him just as it had done to the +Scotsman. + +The poor Irishman was now left all alone, and did not know where +the others had gone to, so he just stayed where he was, very sad and +miserable. When night came he climbed up into the same tree as the +Englishman had been on the night before. As soon as day came he also saw +the castle, and set out towards it; but when he reached it he could +see no signs of fire or living being about it. Before long, however, he +heard the window opened above his head, looked up, and beheld the most +beautiful woman he had ever seen. He asked if she would give him food +and drink, and she answered kindly and heartily that she would, if he +would only come inside. This he did very willingly, and she set before +him food and drink that he had never seen the like of before. In the +room there was a bed, with diamond rings hanging at every loop of the +curtains, and everything that was in the room besides astonished him so +much that he actually forgot that he was hungry. When she saw that he +was not eating at all, she asked him what he wanted yet, to which he +replied that he would neither eat nor drink until he knew who she was, +or where she came from, or who had put her there. + +'I shall tell you that,' said she. 'I am an enchanted Princess, and my +father has promised that the man who releases me from the spell shall +have the third of his kingdom while he is alive, and the whole of it +after he is dead, and marry me as well. If ever I saw a man who looked +likely to do this, you are the one. I have been here for sixteen years +now, and no one who ever came to the castle has asked me who I was, +except yourself. Every other man that has come, so long as I have been +here, lies asleep in the big room down there.' + +'Tell me, then,' said the Irishman, 'what is the spell that has been +laid on you, and how you can be freed from it.' + +'There is a little room there,' said the Princess, 'and if I could get a +man to stay in it from ten o'clock till midnight for three nights on end +I should be freed from the spell.' + +'I am the man for you, then,' said he; 'I will take on hand to do it.' + +Thereupon she brought him a pipe and tobacco, and he went into the room; +but before long he heard a hammering and knocking on the outside of the +door, and was told to open it. + +'I won't,' he said. + +The next moment the door came flying in, and those outside along with +it. They knocked him down, and kicked him, and knelt on his body till it +came to midnight; but as soon as the cock crew they all disappeared. The +Irishman was little more than alive by this time. As soon as daylight +appeared the Princess came, and found him lying full length on the +floor, unable to speak a word. She took a bottle, rubbed him from head +to foot with something from it, and thereupon he was as sound as ever; +but after what he had got that night he was very unwilling to try it a +second time. The Princess, however, entreated him to stay, saying +that the next night would not be so bad, and in the end he gave in and +stayed. + +When it was getting near midnight he heard them ordering him to open the +door, and there were three of them for every one that there had been the +previous evening. He did not make the slightest movement to go out to +them or to open the door, but before long they broke it up, and were in +on top of him. They laid hold of him, and kept throwing him between them +up to the ceiling, or jumping above him, until the cock crew, when they +all disappeared. When day came the Princess went to the room to see if +he was still alive, and taking the bottle put it to his nostrils, which +soon brought him to himself. The first thing he said then was that he +was a fool to go on getting himself killed for anyone he ever saw, and +was determined to be off and stay there no longer, When the Princess +learned his intention she entreated him to stay, reminding him that +another night would free her from the spell. 'Besides,' she said, 'if +there is a single spark of life in you when the day comes, the stuff +that is in this bottle will make you as sound as ever you were.' + +With all this the Irishman decided to stay; but that night there were +three at him for every one that was there the two nights before, and +it looked very unlikely that he would be alive in the morning after all +that he got. When morning dawned, and the Princess came to see if he was +still alive, she found him lying on the floor as if dead. She tried to +see if there was breath in him, but could not quite make it out. +Then she put her hand on his pulse, and found a faint movement in it. +Accordingly she poured what was in the bottle on him, and before long +he rose up on his feet, and was as well as ever he was. So that business +was finished, and the Princess was freed from the spell. + +The Princess then told the Irishman that she must go away for the +present, but would return for him in a few days in a carriage drawn by +four grey horses. He told her to 'be aisy,' and not speak like that to +him. 'I have paid dear for you for the last three nights,' he said, 'if +I have to part with you now;' but in the twinkling of an eye she had +disappeared. He did not know what to do with himself when he saw that +she was gone, but before she went she had given him a little rod, with +which he could, when he pleased, waken the men who had been sleeping +there, some of them for sixteen years. + +After being thus left alone, he went in and stretched himself on three +chairs that were in the room, when what does he see coming in at the +door but a little fair-haired lad. + +'Where did you come from, my lad?' said the Irishman. + +'I came to make ready your food for you,' said he. + +'Who told you to do that?' said the Irishman. + +'My mistress,' answered the lad--'the Princess that was under the spell +and is now free.' + +By this the Irishman knew that she had sent the lad to wait on him. The +lad also told him that his mistress wished him to be ready next morning +at nine o'clock, when she would come for him with the carriage, as she +had promised. He was greatly pleased at this, and next morning, when +the time was drawing near, went out into the garden; but the little +fair-haired lad took a big pin out of his pocket, and stuck it into the +back of the Irishman's coat without his noticing it, whereupon he fell +sound asleep. + +Before long the Princess came with the carriage and four horses, and +asked the lad whether his master was awake. He said that he wasn't. 'It +is bad for him,' said she, 'when the night is not long enough for him to +sleep. Tell him that if he doesn't meet me at this time to-morrow it is +not likely that he will ever see me again all his life.' + +As soon as she was gone the lad took the pin out of his master's coat, +who instantly awoke. The first word he said to the lad was, 'Have you +seen her?' + +'Yes,' said he, 'and she bade me tell you that if you don't meet her at +nine o'clock to-morrow you will never see her again.' + +He was very sorry when he heard this, and could not understand why the +sleep should have fallen upon him just when she was coming. He decided, +however, to go early to bed that night, in order to rise in time nest +morning, and so he did. When it was getting near nine o'clock he went +out to the garden to wait till she came, and the fair-haired lad along +with him; but as soon as the lad got the chance he stuck the pin into +his master's coat again and he fell asleep as before. Precisely at nine +o'clock came the Princess in the carriage with four horses, and asked +the lad if his master had got up yet; but he said 'No, he was asleep, +just as he was the day before.' 'Dear! dear!' said the Princess, 'I am +sorry for him. Was the sleep he had last night not enough for him? Tell +him that he will never see me here again; and here is a sword that you +will give him in my name, and my blessing along with it.' + +With this she went off, and as soon as she had gone the lad took the pin +out of his master's coat. He awoke instantly, and the first word he said +was, 'Have you seen her?' The lad said that he had, and there was the +sword she had left for him. The Irishman was ready to kill the lad out +of sheer vexation, but when he gave a glance over his shoulder not a +trace of the fair-haired lad was left. + +Being thus left all alone, he thought of going into the room where all +the men were lying asleep, and there among the rest he found his two +comrades who had deserted along with him. Then he remembered what the +Princess had told him--that he had only to touch them with the rod she +had given him and they would all awake; and the first he touched were +his own comrades. They started to their feet at once, and he gave them +as much silver and gold as they could carry when they went away. There +was plenty to do before he got all the others wakened, for the two doors +of the castle were crowded with them all the day long. + +The loss of the Princess, however, kept rankling in his mind day and +night, till finally he thought he would go about the world to see if he +could find anyone to give him news of her. So he took the best horse in +the stable and set out. Three years he spent travelling through forests +and wildernesses, but could find no one able to tell him anything of the +Princess. At last he fell into so great despair that he thought he would +put an end to his own life, and for this purpose laid hold of the sword +that she had given him by the hands of the fair-haired lad; but on +drawing it from its sheath he noticed that there was some writing on one +side of the blade. He looked at this, and read there, 'You will find me +in the Blue Mountains.' This made him take heart again, and he gave up +the idea of killing himself, thinking that he would go on in hope of +meeting some one who could tell him where the Blue Mountains were. After +he had gone a long way without thinking where he was going, he saw at +last a light far away, and made straight for it. On reaching it he found +it came from a little house, and as soon as the man inside heard the +noise of the horse's feet he came out to see who was there. Seeing a +stranger on horseback, he asked what brought him there and where he was +going. + +'I have lived here,' said he, 'for three hundred years, and all that +time I have not seen a single human being but yourself.' + +'I have been going about for the last three years,' said the Irishman, +'to see if I could find anyone who can tell me where the Blue Mountains +are.' + +'Come in,' said the old man, 'and stay with me all night. I have a +book which contains the history of the world, which I shall go through +to-night, and if there is such a place as the Blue Mountains in it we +shall find it out.' + +The Irishman stayed there all night, and as soon as morning came rose +to go. The old man said he had not gone to sleep all night for going +through the book, but there was not a word about the Blue Mountains +in it. 'But I'll tell you what,' he said, 'if there is such a place on +earth at all, I have a brother who lives nine hundred miles from here, +and he is sure to know where they are, if anyone in this world does.' +The Irishman answered that he could never go these nine hundred miles, +for his horse was giving in already. 'That doesn't matter,' said the old +man; 'I can do better than that. I have only to blow my whistle and you +will be at my brother's house before nightfall.' + +So he blew the whistle, and the Irishman did not know where on earth he +was until he found himself at the other old man's door, who also told +him that it was three hundred years since he had seen anyone, and asked +him where he was going. + +'I am going to see if I can find anyone that can tell me where the Blue +Mountains are,' he said. + +'If you will stay with me to-night,' said the old man, 'I have a book +of the history of the world, and I shall know where they are before +daylight, if there is such a place in it at all.' + +He stayed there all night, but there was not a word in the book about +the Blue Mountains. Seeing that he was rather cast down, the old man +told him that he had a brother nine hundred miles away, and that if +information could be got about them from anyone it would be from him; +'and I will enable you,' he said, 'to reach the place where he lives +before night.' So he blew his whistle, and the Irishman landed at the +brother's house before nightfall. When the old man saw him he said he +had not seen a single man for three hundred years, and was very much +surprised to see anyone come to him now. + +'Where are you going to?' he said. + +'I am going about asking for the Blue Mountains,' said the Irishman. + +'The Blue Mountains?' said the old man. + +'Yes,' said the Irishman. + +'I never heard the name before; but if they do exist I shall find them +out. I am master of all the birds in the world, and have only to blow my +whistle and every one will come to me. I shall then ask each of them to +tell where it came from, and if there is any way of finding out the Blue +Mountains that is it.' + +So he blew his whistle, and when he blew it then all the birds of the +world began to gather. The old man questioned each of them as to where +they had come from, but there was not one of them that had come from the +Blue Mountains. After he had run over them all, however, he missed a +big Eagle that was wanting, and wondered that it had not come. Soon +afterwards he saw something big coming towards him, darkening the sky. +It kept coming nearer and growing bigger, and what was this after all +but the Eagle? When she arrived the old man scolded her, and asked what +had kept her so long behind. + +'I couldn't help it,' she said; 'I had more than twenty times further to +come than any bird that has come here to-day.' + +'Where have you come from, then?' said the old man. + +'From the Blue Mountains,' said she. + +'Indeed!' said the old man; and what are they doing there?' + +'They are making ready this very day,' said the Eagle, 'for the marriage +of the daughter of the King of the Blue Mountains. For three years now +she has refused to marry anyone whatsoever, until she should give up all +hope of the coming of the man who released her from the spell. Now she +can wait no longer, for three years is the time that she agreed with her +father to remain without marrying.' + +The Irishman knew that it was for himself she had been waiting so +long, but he was unable to make any better of it, for he had no hope of +reaching the Blue Mountains all his life. The old man noticed how sad he +grew, and asked the Eagle what she would take for carrying this man on +her back to the Blue Mountains. + +'I must have threescore cattle killed,' said she, 'and cut up into +quarters, and every time I look over my shoulder he must throw one of +them into my mouth.' + +As soon as the Irishman and the old man heard her demand they went out +hunting, and before evening they had killed three-score cattle. They +made quarters of them, as the Eagle told them, and then the old man +asked her to lie down, till they would get it all heaped up on her back. +First of all, though, they had to get a ladder of fourteen steps, to +enable them to get on to the Eagle's back, and there they piled up the +meat as well as they could. Then the old man told the Irishman to mount, +and to remember to throw a quarter of beef to her every time she looked +round. He went up, and the old man gave the Eagle the word to be off, +which she instantly obeyed; and every time she turned her head the +Irishman threw a quarter of beef into her mouth. + +As they came near the borders of the kingdom of the Blue Mountains, +however, the beef was done, and, when the Eagle looked over her +shoulder, what was the Irishman at but throwing the stone between her +tail and her neck! At this she turned a complete somersault, and threw +the Irishman off into the sea, where he fell into the bay that was right +in front of the King's Palace. Fortunately the points of his toes just +touched the bottom, and he managed to get ashore. + +When he went up into the town all the streets were gleaming with light, +and the wedding of the Princess was just about to begin. He went into +the first house he came to, and this happened to be the house of the +King's hen-wife. He asked the old woman what was causing all the noise +and light in the town. + +'The Princess,' said she, 'is going to be married to-night against her +will, for she has been expecting every day that the man who freed her +from the spell would come.' + +'There is a guinea for you,' said he; 'go and bring her here.' + +The old woman went, and soon returned along with the Princess. She and +the Irishman recognised each other, and were married, and had a great +wedding that lasted for a year and a day. + + + + +THE TINDER-BOX + +A soldier came marching along the high road--left, right! A left, right! +He had his knapsack on his back and a sword by his side, for he had been +to the wars and was now returning home. + +An old Witch met him on the road. She was very ugly to look at: her +under-lip hung down to her breast. + +'Good evening, Soldier!' she said. 'What a fine sword and knapsack you +have! You are something like a soldier! You ought to have as much money +as you would like to carry!' + +'Thank you, old Witch,' said the Soldier. + +'Do you see that great tree there?' said the Witch, pointing to a tree +beside them. 'It is hollow within. You must climb up to the top, and +then you will see a hole through which you can let yourself down into +the tree. I will tie a rope round your waist, so that I may be able to +pull you up again when you call.' + +'What shall I do down there?' asked the Soldier. + +'Get money!' answered the Witch. 'Listen! When you reach the bottom of +the tree you will find yourself in a large hall; it is light there, for +there are more than three hundred lamps burning. Then you will see three +doors, which you can open--the keys are in the locks. If you go into the +first room, you will see a great chest in the middle of the floor with +a dog sitting upon it; he has eyes as large as saucers, but you needn't +trouble about him. I will give you my blue-check apron, which you must +spread out on the floor, and then go back quickly and fetch the dog and +set him upon it; open the chest and take as much money as you like. It +is copper there. If you would rather have silver, you must go into the +next room, where there is a dog with eyes as large as mill-wheels. +But don't take any notice of him; just set him upon my apron, and help +yourself to the money. If you prefer gold, you can get that too, if you +go into the third room, and as much as you like to carry. But the dog +that guards the chest there has eyes as large as the Round Tower at +Copenhagen! He is a savage dog, I can tell you; but you needn't be +afraid of him either. Only, put him on my apron and he won't touch you, +and you can take out of the chest as much gold as you like!' + +'Come, this is not bad!' said the Soldier. 'But what am I to give you, +old Witch; for surely you are not going to do this for nothing?' + +'Yes, I am!' replied the Witch. 'Not a single farthing will I take! For +me you shall bring nothing but an old tinder-box which my grandmother +forgot last time she was down there.' + +'Well, tie the rope round my waist! 'said the Soldier. + +'Here it is,' said the Witch, 'and here is my blue-check apron.' + +Then the Soldier climbed up the tree, let himself down through the hole, +and found himself standing, as the Witch had said, underground in the +large hall, where the three hundred lamps were burning. + +Well, he opened the first door. Ugh! there sat the dog with eyes as big +as saucers glaring at him. + +'You are a fine fellow!' said the Soldier, and put him on the Witch's +apron, took as much copper as his pockets could hold; then he shut the +chest, put the dog on it again, and went into the second room. Sure +enough there sat the dog with eyes as large as mill-wheels. + +'You had better not look at me so hard!' said the Soldier. 'Your eyes +will come out of their sockets!' + +And then he set the dog on the apron. When he saw all the silver in the +chest, he threw away the copper he had taken, and filled his pockets and +knapsack with nothing but silver. + +Then he went into the third room. Horrors! the dog there had two eyes, +each as large as the Round Tower at Copenhagen, spinning round in his +head like wheels. + +'Good evening!' said the Soldier and saluted, for he had never seen +a dog like this before. But when he had examined him more closely, he +thought to himself: 'Now then, I've had enough of this!' and put him +down on the floor, and opened the chest. Heavens! what a heap of gold +there was! With all that he could buy up the whole town, and all the +sugar pigs, all the tin soldiers, whips and rocking-horses in the whole +world. Now he threw away all the silver with which he had filled his +pockets and knapsack, and filled them with gold instead--yes, all his +pockets, his knapsack, cap and boots even, so that he could hardly walk. +Now he was rich indeed. He put the dog back upon the chest, shut the +door, and then called up through the tree: + +'Now pull me up again, old Witch!' + +'Have you got the tinder-box also?' asked the Witch. + +'Botheration!' said the Soldier, 'I had clean forgotten it!' And then he +went back and fetched it. + +The Witch pulled him up, and there he stood again on the high road, with +pockets, knapsack, cap and boots filled with gold. + +'What do you want to do with the tinder-box?' asked the Soldier. + +'That doesn't matter to you,' replied the Witch. 'You have got your +money, give me my tinder-box.' + +'We'll see!' said the Soldier. 'Tell me at once what you want to do with +it, or I will draw my sword, and cut off your head!' + +'No!' screamed the Witch. + +The Soldier immediately cut off her head. That was the end of her! But +he tied up all his gold in her apron, slung it like a bundle over his +shoulder, put the tinder-box in his pocket, and set out towards the +town. + +It was a splendid town! He turned into the finest inn, ordered the best +chamber and his favourite dinner; for now that he had so much money he +was really rich. + +It certainly occurred to the servant who had to clean his boots that +they were astonishingly old boots for such a rich lord. But that +was because he had not yet bought new ones; next day he appeared in +respectable boots and fine clothes. Now, instead of a common soldier +he had become a noble lord, and the people told him about all the grand +doings of the town and the King, and what a beautiful Princess his +daughter was. + +'How can one get to see her?' asked the Soldier. + +'She is never to be seen at all!' they told him; 'she lives in a great +copper castle, surrounded by many walls and towers! No one except the +King may go in or out, for it is prophesied that she will marry a common +soldier, and the King cannot submit to that.' + +'I should very much like to see her,' thought the Soldier; but he could +not get permission. + +Now he lived very gaily, went to the theatre, drove in the King's +garden, and gave the poor a great deal of money, which was very nice +of him; he had experienced in former times how hard it is not to have a +farthing in the world. Now he was rich, wore fine clothes, and made many +friends, who all said that he was an excellent man, a real nobleman. And +the Soldier liked that. But as he was always spending money, and never +made any more, at last the day came when he had nothing left but two +shillings, and he had to leave the beautiful rooms in which he had been +living, and go into a little attic under the roof, and clean his own +boots, and mend them with a darning-needle. None of his friends came to +visit him there, for there were too many stairs to climb. + +It was a dark evening, and he could not even buy a light. But all at +once it flashed across him that there was a little end of tinder in the +tinder-box, which he had taken from the hollow tree into which the Witch +had helped him down. He found the box with the tinder in it; but just as +he was kindling a light, and had struck a spark out of the tinder-box, +the door burst open, and the dog with eyes as large as saucers, which he +had seen down in the tree, stood before him and said: + +'What does my lord command?' + +'What's the meaning of this?' exclaimed the Soldier. 'This is a pretty +kind of tinder-box, if I can get whatever I want like this. Get me +money!' he cried to the dog, and hey, presto! he was off and back again, +holding a great purse full of money in his mouth. + +Now the Soldier knew what a capital tinder-box this was. If he rubbed +once, the dog that sat on the chest of copper appeared; if he rubbed +twice, there came the dog that watched over the silver chest; and if +he rubbed three times, the one that guarded the gold appeared. Now, the +Soldier went down again to his beautiful rooms, and appeared once more +in splendid clothes. All his friends immediately recognised him again, +and paid him great court. + +One day he thought to himself: 'It is very strange that no one can get +to see the Princess. They all say she is very pretty, but what's the use +of that if she has to sit for ever in the great copper castle with +all the towers? Can I not manage to see her somehow? Where is my +tinder-box?' and so he struck a spark, and, presto! there came the dog +with eyes as large as saucers. + +'It is the middle of the night, I know,' said the Soldier; 'but I should +very much like to see the Princess for a moment.' + +The dog was already outside the door, and before the Soldier could look +round, in he came with the Princess. She was lying asleep on the +dog's back, and was so beautiful that anyone could see she was a real +Princess. The Soldier really could not refrain from kissing her--he was +such a thorough Soldier. Then the dog ran back with the Princess. But +when it was morning, and the King and Queen were drinking tea, the +Princess said that the night before she had had such a strange dream +about a dog and a Soldier: she had ridden on the dog's back, and the +Soldier had kissed her. + +'That is certainly a fine story,' said the Queen. But the next night one +of the ladies-in-waiting was to watch at the Princess's bed, to see if +it was only a dream, or if it had actually happened. + +The Soldier had an overpowering longing to see the Princess again, and +so the dog came in the middle of the night and fetched her, running as +fast as he could. But the lady-in-waiting slipped on india-rubber shoes +and followed them. When she saw them disappear into a large house, she +thought to herself: 'Now I know where it is; 'and made a great cross on +the door with a piece of chalk. Then she went home and lay down, and the +dog came back also, with the Princess. But when he saw that a cross had +been made on the door of the house where the Soldier lived, he took a +piece of chalk also, and made crosses on all the doors in the town; and +that was very clever, for now the lady-in-waiting could not find the +right house, as there were crosses on all the doors. + +Early next morning the King, Queen, ladies-in-waiting, and officers came +out to see where the Princess had been. + +'There it is!' said the King, when he saw the first door with a cross on +it. + +'No, there it is, my dear!' said the Queen, when she likewise saw a door +with a cross. + +'But here is one, and there is another!' they all exclaimed; wherever +they looked there was a cross on the door. Then they realised that the +sign would not help them at all. + +But the Queen was an extremely clever woman, who could do a great deal +more than just drive in a coach. She took her great golden scissors, cut +up a piece of silk, and made a pretty little bag of it. This she filled +with the finest buckwheat grains, and tied it round the Princess' neck; +this done, she cut a little hole in the bag, so that the grains would +strew the whole road wherever the Princess went. + +In the night the dog came again, took the Princess on his back and ran +away with her to the Soldier, who was very much in love with her, and +would have liked to have been a Prince, so that he might have had her +for his wife. + +The dog did not notice how the grains were strewn right from the castle +to the Soldier's window, where he ran up the wall with the Princess. + +In the morning the King and the Queen saw plainly where their daughter +had been, and they took the Soldier and put him into prison. + +There he sat. Oh, how dark and dull it was there! And they told him: +'To-morrow you are to be hanged.' Hearing that did not exactly cheer +him, and he had left his tinder-box in the inn. + +Next morning he could see through the iron grating in front of his +little window how the people were hurrying out of the town to see him +hanged. He heard the drums and saw the soldiers marching; all the +people were running to and fro. Just below his window was a shoemaker's +apprentice, with leather apron and shoes; he was skipping along so +merrily that one of his shoes flew off and fell against the wall, just +where the Soldier was sitting peeping through the iron grating. + +'Oh, shoemaker's boy, you needn't be in such a hurry!' said the Soldier +to him. 'There's nothing going on till I arrive. But if you will run +back to the house where I lived, and fetch me my tinder-box, I will give +you four shillings. But you must put your best foot foremost.' + +The shoemaker's boy was very willing to earn four shillings, and fetched +the tinder-box, gave it to the Soldier, and--yes--now you shall hear. + +Outside the town a great scaffold had been erected, and all round were +standing the soldiers, and hundreds of thousands of people. The King and +Queen were sitting on a magnificent throne opposite the judges and the +whole council. + +The Soldier was already standing on the top of the ladder; but when they +wanted to put the rope round his neck, he said that the fulfilment of +one innocent request was always granted to a poor criminal before he +underwent his punishment. He would so much like to smoke a small pipe of +tobacco; it would be his last pipe in this world. + +The King could not refuse him this, and so he took out his tinder-box, +and rubbed it once, twice, three times. And lo, and behold I there stood +all three dogs--the one with eyes as large as saucers, the second with +eyes as large as mill-wheels, and the third with eyes each as large as +the Round Tower of Copenhagen. + +'Help me now, so that I may not be hanged!' cried the Soldier. And +thereupon the dogs fell upon the judges and the whole council, seized +some by the legs, others by the nose, and threw them so high into the +air that they fell and were smashed into pieces. + +'I won't stand this!' said the King; but the largest dog seized him +too, and the Queen as well, and threw them up after the others. This +frightened the soldiers, and all the people cried: 'Good Soldier, you +shall be our King, and marry the beautiful Princess!' + +Then they put the Soldier into the King's coach, and the three dogs +danced in front, crying 'Hurrah!' And the boys whistled and the soldiers +presented arms. + +The Princess came out of the copper castle, and became Queen; and that +pleased her very much. + +The wedding festivities lasted for eight days, and the dogs sat at table +and made eyes at everyone. + + + + +THE WITCH IN THE STONE BOAT(31) + +(31) From the Icelandic. + +There were once a King and a Queen, and they had a son called Sigurd, +who was very strong and active, and good-looking. When the King came +to be bowed down with the weight of years he spoke to his son, and +said that now it was time for him to look out for a fitting match for +himself, for he did not know how long he might last now, and he would +like to see him married before he died. + +Sigurd was not averse to this, and asked his father where he thought +it best to look for a wife. The King answered that in a certain country +there was a King who had a beautiful daughter, and he thought it would +be most desirable if Sigurd could get her. So the two parted, and Sigurd +prepared for the journey, and went to where his father had directed him. + +He came to the King and asked his daughter's hand, which he readily +granted him, but only on the condition that he should remain there as +long as he could, for the King himself was not strong and not very able +to govern his kingdom. Sigurd accepted this condition, but added that +he would have to get leave to go home again to his own country when +he heard news of his father's death. After that Sigurd married the +Princess, and helped his father-in-law to govern the kingdom. He and the +Princess loved each other dearly, and after a year a son came to them, +who was two years old when word came to Sigurd that his father was dead. +Sigurd now prepared to return home with his wife and child, and went on +board ship to go by sea. + +They had sailed for several days, when the breeze suddenly fell, and +there came a dead calm, at a time when they needed only one day's voyage +to reach home. Sigurd and his Queen were one day on deck, when most of +the others on the ship had fallen asleep. There they sat and talked for +a while, and had their little son along with them. After a time Sigurd +became so heavy with sleep that he could no longer keep awake, so he +went below and lay down, leaving the Queen alone on the deck, playing +with her son. + +A good while after Sigurd had gone below the Queen saw something black +on the sea, which seemed to be coming nearer. As it approached she +could make out that it was a boat, and could see the figure of some one +sitting in it and rowing it. At last the boat came alongside the ship, +and now the Queen saw that it was a stone boat, out of which there +came up on board the ship a fearfully ugly Witch. The Queen was more +frightened than words can describe, and could neither speak a word nor +move from the place so as to awaken the King or the sailors. The Witch +came right up to the Queen, took the child from her and laid it on the +deck; then she took the Queen, and stripped her of all her fine clothes, +which she proceeded to put on herself, and looked then like a human +being. Last of all she took the Queen, put her into the boat, and said-- + +'This spell I lay upon you, that you slacken not your course until you +come to my brother in the Underworld.' + +The Queen sat stunned and motionless, but the boat at once shot away +from the ship with her, and before long she was out of sight. + +When the boat could no longer be seen the child began to cry, and though +the Witch tried to quiet it she could not manage it; so she went below +to where the King was sleeping with the child on her arm, and awakened +him, scolding him for leaving them alone on deck, while he and all the +crew were asleep. It was great carelessness of him, she said, to leave +no one to watch the ship with her. + +Sigurd was greatly surprised to hear his Queen scold him so much, for +she had never said an angry word to him before; but he thought it was +quite excusable in this case, and tried to quiet the child along with +her, but it was no use. Then he went and wakened the sailors, and +bade them hoist the sails, for a breeze had sprung up and was blowing +straight towards the harbour. + +They soon reached the land which Sigurd was to rule over, and found all +the people sorrowful for the old King's death, but they became glad when +they got Sigurd back to the Court, and made him King over them. + +The King's son, however, hardly ever stopped crying from the time he +had been taken from his mother on the deck of the ship, although he had +always been such a good child before, so that at last the King had to +get a nurse for him--one of the maids of the Court. As soon as the child +got into her charge he stopped crying, and behaved well as before. + +After the sea-voyage it seemed to the King that the Queen had altered +very much in many ways, and not for the better. He thought her much more +haughty and stubborn and difficult to deal with than she used to be. +Before long others began to notice this as well as the King. In the +Court there were two young fellows, one of eighteen years old, the other +of nineteen, who were very fond of playing chess, and often sat long +inside playing at it. Their room was next the Queen's, and often during +the day they heard the Queen talking. + +One day they paid more attention than usual when they heard her talk, +and put their ears close to a crack in the wall between the rooms, and +heard the Queen say quite plainly, 'When I yawn a little, then I am a +nice little maiden; when I yawn half-way, then I am half a troll; and +when I yawn fully, then I am a troll altogether.' + +As she said this she yawned tremendously, and in a moment had put on +the appearance of a fearfully ugly troll. Then there came up through the +floor of the room a three-headed Giant with a trough full of meat, who +saluted her as his sister and set down the trough before her. She began +to eat out of it, and never stopped till she had finished it. The young +fellows saw all this going on, but did not hear the two of them say +anything to each other. They were astonished though at how greedily the +Queen devoured the meat, and how much she ate of it, and were no longer +surprised that she took so little when she sat at table with the King. +As soon as she had finished it the Giant disappeared with the trough by +the same way as he had come, and the Queen returned to her human shape. + +Now we must go back to the King's son after he had been put in charge of +the nurse. One evening, after she had lit a candle and was holding the +child, several planks sprang up in the floor of the room, and out at the +opening came a beautiful woman dressed in white, with an iron belt round +her waist, to which was fastened an iron chain that went down into the +ground. The woman came up to the nurse, took the child from her, +and pressed it to her breast; then she gave it back to the nurse and +returned by the same way as she had come, and the floor closed over her +again. Although the woman had not spoken a single word to her, the nurse +was very much frightened, but told no one about it. + +Next evening the same thing happened again, just as before, but as the +woman was going away she said in a sad tone, 'Two are gone, and one +only is left,' and then disappeared as before. The nurse was still more +frightened when she heard the woman say this, and thought that perhaps +some danger was hanging over the child, though she had no ill-opinion of +the unknown woman, who, indeed, had behaved towards the child as if it +were her own. The most mysterious thing was the woman saying 'and only +one is left;' but the nurse guessed that this must mean that only one +day was left, since she had come for two days already. + +At last the nurse made up her mind to go to the King, and told him the +whole story, and asked him to be present in person next day about the +time when the woman usually came. The King promised to do so, and came +to the nurse's room a little before the time, and sat down on a chair +with his drawn sword in his hand. Soon after the planks in the floor +sprang up as before, and the woman came up, dressed in white, with the +iron belt and chain. The King saw at once that it was his own Queen, and +immediately hewed asunder the iron chain that was fastened to the belt. +This was followed by such noises and crashings down in the earth that +all the King's Palace shook, so that no one expected anything else than +to see every bit of it shaken to pieces. At last, however, the noises +and shaking stopped, and they began to come to themselves again. + +The King and Queen embraced each other, and she told him the whole +story--how the Witch came to the ship when they were all asleep and sent +her off in the boat. After she had gone so far that she could not see +the ship, she sailed on through darkness until she landed beside a +three-headed Giant. The Giant wished her to marry him, but she refused; +whereupon he shut her up by herself, and told her she would never get +free until she consented. After a time she began to plan how to get her +freedom, and at last told him that she would consent if he would allow +her to visit her son on earth three days on end. This he agreed to, but +put on her this iron belt and chain, the other end of which he fastened +round his own waist, and the great noises that were heard when the King +cut the chain must have been caused by the Giant's falling down the +underground passage when the chain gave way so suddenly. The Giant's +dwelling, indeed, was right under the Palace, and the terrible shakings +must have been caused by him in his death-throes. + +The King now understood how the Queen he had had for some time past had +been so ill-tempered. He at once had a sack drawn over her head and made +her be stoned to death, and after that torn in pieces by untamed horses. +The two young fellows also told now what they had heard and seen in the +Queen's room, for before this they had been afraid to say anything about +it, on account of the Queen's power. + +The real Queen was now restored to all her dignity, and was beloved by +all. The nurse was married to a nobleman, and the King and Queen gave +her splendid presents. + + + + +THUMBELINA + +There was once a woman who wanted to have quite a tiny, little child, +but she did not know where to get one from. So one day she went to an +old Witch and said to her: 'I should so much like to have a tiny, little +child; can you tell me where I can get one?' + +'Oh, we have just got one ready!' said the Witch. 'Here is a barley-corn +for you, but it's not the kind the farmer sows in his field, or feeds +the cocks and hens with, I can tell you. Put it in a flower-pot, and +then you will see something happen.' + +'Oh, thank you!' said the woman, and gave the Witch a shilling, for +that was what it cost. Then she went home and planted the barley-corn; +immediately there grew out of it a large and beautiful flower, which +looked like a tulip, but the petals were tightly closed as if it were +still only a bud. + +'What a beautiful flower!' exclaimed the woman, and she kissed the red +and yellow petals; but as she kissed them the flower burst open. It +was a real tulip, such as one can see any day; but in the middle of the +blossom, on the green velvety petals, sat a little girl, quite tiny, +trim, and pretty. She was scarcely half a thumb in height; so they +called her Thumbelina. An elegant polished walnut-shell served +Thumbelina as a cradle, the blue petals of a violet were her mattress, +and a rose-leaf her coverlid. There she lay at night, but in the +day-time she used to play about on the table; here the woman had put a +bowl, surrounded by a ring of flowers, with their stalks in water, in +the middle of which floated a great tulip pedal, and on this Thumbelina +sat, and sailed from one side of the bowl to the other, rowing herself +with two white horse-hairs for oars. It was such a pretty sight! She +could sing, too, with a voice more soft and sweet than had ever been +heard before. + +One night, when she was lying in her pretty little bed, an old toad +crept in through a broken pane in the window. She was very ugly, clumsy, +and clammy; she hopped on to the table where Thumbelina lay asleep under +the red rose-leaf. + +'This would make a beautiful wife for my son,' said the toad, taking up +the walnut-shell, with Thumbelina inside, and hopping with it through +the window into the garden. + +There flowed a great wide stream, with slippery and marshy banks; here +the toad lived with her son. Ugh! how ugly and clammy he was, just like +his mother! 'Croak, croak, croak!' was all he could say when he saw the +pretty little girl in the walnut-shell. + +'Don't talk so load, or you'll wake her,' said the old toad. 'She might +escape us even now; she is as light as a feather. We will put her at +once on a broad water-lily leaf in the stream. That will be quite an +island for her; she is so small and light. She can't run away from us +there, whilst we are preparing the guest-chamber under the marsh where +she shall live.' + +Outside in the brook grew many water-lilies, with broad green leaves, +which looked as if they were swimming about on the water. + +The leaf farthest away was the largest, and to this the old toad swam +with Thumbelina in her walnut-shell. + +The tiny Thumbelina woke up very early in the morning, and when she saw +where she was she began to cry bitterly; for on every side of the great +green leaf was water, and she could not get to the land. + +The old toad was down under the marsh, decorating her room with +rushes and yellow marigold leaves, to make it very grand for her new +daughter-in-law; then she swam out with her ugly son to the leaf where +Thumbelina lay. She wanted to fetch the pretty cradle to put it into her +room before Thumbelina herself came there. The old toad bowed low in the +water before her, and said: 'Here is my son; you shall marry him, and +live in great magnificence down under the marsh.' + +'Croak, croak, croak!' was all that the son could say. Then they took +the neat little cradle and swam away with it; but Thumbelina sat alone +on the great green leaf and wept, for she did not want to live with the +clammy toad, or marry her ugly son. The little fishes swimming about +under the water had seen the toad quite plainly, and heard what she had +said; so they put up their heads to see the little girl. When they saw +her, they thought her so pretty that they were very sorry she should +go down with the ugly toad to live. No; that must not happen. They +assembled in the water round the green stalk which supported the leaf +on which she was sitting, and nibbled the stem in two. Away floated the +leaf down the stream, bearing Thumbelina far beyond the reach of the +toad. + +On she sailed past several towns, and the little birds sitting in the +bushes saw her, and sang, 'What a pretty little girl!' The leaf floated +farther and farther away; thus Thumbelina left her native land. + +A beautiful little white butterfly fluttered above her, and at +last settled on the leaf. Thumbelina pleased him, and she, too, +was delighted, for now the toads could not reach her, and it was so +beautiful where she was travelling; the sun shone on the water and made +it sparkle like the brightest silver. She took off her sash, and tied +one end round the butterfly; the other end she fastened to the leaf, so +that now it glided along with her faster than ever. + +A great cockchafer came flying past; he caught sight of Thumbelina, and +in a moment had put his arms round her slender waist, and had flown off +with her to a tree. The green leaf floated away down the stream, and +the butterfly with it, for he was fastened to the leaf and could not get +loose from it. Oh, dear! how terrified poor little Thumbelina was when +the cockchafer flew off with her to the tree! But she was especially +distressed on the beautiful white butterfly's account, as she had tied +him fast, so that if he could not get away he must starve to death. But +the cockchafer did not trouble himself about that; he sat down with her +on a large green leaf, gave her the honey out of the flowers to eat, and +told her that she was very pretty, although she wasn't in the least like +a cockchafer. Later on, all the other cockchafers who lived in the same +tree came to pay calls; they examined Thumbelina closely, and remarked, +'Why, she has only two legs! How very miserable!' + +'She has no feelers!' cried another. + +'How ugly she is!' said all the lady chafers--and yet Thumbelina was +really very pretty. + +The cockchafer who had stolen her knew this very well; but when he heard +all the ladies saying she was ugly, he began to think so too, and would +not keep her; she might go wherever she liked. So he flew down from the +tree with her and put her on a daisy. There she sat and wept, because +she was so ugly that the cockchafer would have nothing to do with her; +and yet she was the most beautiful creature imaginable, so soft and +delicate, like the loveliest rose-leaf. + +The whole summer poor little Thumbelina lived alone in the great wood. +She plaited a bed for herself of blades of grass, and hung it up under a +clover-leaf, so that she was protected from the rain; she gathered +honey from the flowers for food, and drank the dew on the leaves every +morning. Thus the summer and autumn passed, but then came winter--the +long, cold winter. All the birds who had sung so sweetly about her had +flown away; the trees shed their leaves, the flowers died; the great +clover-leaf under which she had lived curled up, and nothing remained of +it but the withered stalk. She was terribly cold, for her clothes were +ragged, and she herself was so small and thin. Poor little Thumbelina! +she would surely be frozen to death. It began to snow, and every +snow-flake that fell on her was to her as a whole shovelful thrown on +one of us, for we are so big, and she was only an inch high. She wrapt +herself round in a dead leaf, but it was torn in the middle and gave her +no warmth; she was trembling with cold. + +Just outside the wood where she was now living lay a great corn-field. +But the corn had been gone a long time; only the dry, bare stubble was +left standing in the frozen ground. This made a forest for her to wander +about in. All at once she came across the door of a field-mouse, who had +a little hole under a corn-stalk. There the mouse lived warm and snug, +with a store-room full of corn, a splendid kitchen and dining-room. Poor +little Thumbelina went up to the door and begged for a little piece of +barley, for she had not had anything to eat for the last two days. + +'Poor little creature!' said the field-mouse, for she was a kind-hearted +old thing at the bottom. 'Come into my warm room and have some dinner +with me.' + +As Thumbelina pleased her, she said: 'As far as I am concerned you may +spend the winter with me; but you must keep my room clean and tidy, and +tell me stories, for I like that very much.' + +And Thumbelina did all that the kind old field-mouse asked, and did it +remarkably well too. + +'Now I am expecting a visitor,' said the field-mouse; 'my neighbour +comes to call on me once a week. He is in better circumstances than I +am, has great, big rooms, and wears a fine black-velvet coat. If you +could only marry him, you would be well provided for. But he is blind. +You must tell him all the prettiest stories you know.' + +But Thumbelina did not trouble her head about him, for he was only a +mole. He came and paid them a visit in his black-velvet coat. + +'He is so rich and so accomplished,' the field-mouse told her. + +'His house is twenty times larger than mine; he possesses great +knowledge, but he cannot bear the sun and the beautiful flowers, and +speaks slightingly of them, for he has never seen them.' + +Thumbelina had to sing to him, so she sang 'Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly +away home!' and other songs so prettily that the mole fell in love with +her; but he did not say anything, he was a very cautious man. A short +time before he had dug a long passage through the ground from his own +house to that of his neighbour; in this he gave the field-mouse and +Thumbelina permission to walk as often as they liked. But he begged them +not to be afraid of the dead bird that lay in the passage: it was a real +bird with beak and feathers, and must have died a little time ago, and +now laid buried just where he had made his tunnel. The mole took a piece +of rotten wood in his mouth, for that glows like fire in the dark, and +went in front, lighting them through the long dark passage. When they +came to the place where the dead bird lay, the mole put his broad nose +against the ceiling and pushed a hole through, so that the daylight +could shine down. In the middle of the path lay a dead swallow, his +pretty wings pressed close to his sides, his claws and head drawn under +his feathers; the poor bird had evidently died of cold. Thumbelina was +very sorry, for she was very fond of all little birds; they had sung +and twittered so beautifully to her all through the summer. But the mole +kicked him with his bandy legs and said: + +'Now he can't sing any more! It must be very miserable to be a little +bird! I'm thankful that none of my little children are; birds always +starve in winter.' + +'Yes, you speak like a sensible man,' said the field-mouse. 'What has +a bird, in spite of all his singing, in the winter-time? He must starve +and freeze, and that must be very pleasant for him, I must say!' + +Thumbelina did not say anything; but when the other two had passed on +she bent down to the bird, brushed aside the feathers from his head, +and kissed his closed eyes gently. 'Perhaps it was he that sang to me so +prettily in the summer,' she thought. 'How much pleasure he did give me, +dear little bird!' + +The mole closed up the hole again which let in the light, and then +escorted the ladies home. But Thumbelina could not sleep that night; +so she got out of bed, and plaited a great big blanket of straw, and +carried it off, and spread it over the dead bird, and piled upon +it thistle-down as soft as cotton-wool, which she had found in the +field-mouse's room, so that the poor little thing should lie warmly +buried. + +'Farewell, pretty little bird!' she said. 'Farewell, and thank you for +your beautiful songs in the summer, when the trees were green, and the +sun shone down warmly on us!' Then she laid her head against the bird's +heart. But the bird was not dead: he had been frozen, but now that she +had warmed him, he was coming to life again. + +In autumn the swallows fly away to foreign lands; but there are some who +are late in starting, and then they get so cold that they drop down as +if dead, and the snow comes and covers them over. + +Thumbelina trembled, she was so frightened; for the bird was very large +in comparison with herself--only an inch high. But she took courage, +piled up the down more closely over the poor swallow, fetched her own +coverlid and laid it over his head. + +Next night she crept out again to him. There he was alive, but very +weak; he could only open his eyes for a moment and look at Thumbelina, +who was standing in front of him with a piece of rotten wood in her +hand, for she had no other lantern. + +'Thank you, pretty little child!' said the swallow to her. 'I am so +beautifully warm! Soon I shall regain my strength, and then I shall be +able to fly out again into the warm sunshine.' + +'Oh!' she said, 'it is very cold outside; it is snowing and freezing! +stay in your warm bed; I will take care of you!' + +Then she brought him water in a petal, which he drank, after which he +related to her how he had torn one of his wings on a bramble, so that he +could not fly as fast as the other swallows, who had flown far away +to warmer lands. So at last he had dropped down exhausted, and then he +could remember no more. The whole winter he remained down there, and +Thumbelina looked after him and nursed him tenderly. Neither the mole +nor the field-mouse learnt anything of this, for they could not bear the +poor swallow. + +When the spring came, and the sun warmed the earth again, the swallow +said farewell to Thumbelina, who opened the hole in the roof for him +which the mole had made. The sun shone brightly down upon her, and the +swallow asked her if she would go with him; she could sit upon his back. +Thumbelina wanted very much to fly far away into the green wood, but +she knew that the old field-mouse would be sad if she ran away. 'No, I +mustn't come!' she said. + +'Farewell, dear good little girl!' said the swallow, and flew off into +the sunshine. Thumbelina gazed after him with the tears standing in her +eyes, for she was very fond of the swallow. + +'Tweet, tweet!' sang the bird, and flew into the green wood. Thumbelina +was very unhappy. She was not allowed to go out into the warm sunshine. +The corn which had been sowed in the field over the field-mouse's home +grew up high into the air, and made a thick forest for the poor little +girl, who was only an inch high. + +'Now you are to be a bride, Thumbelina!' said the field-mouse, 'for our +neighbour has proposed for you! What a piece of fortune for a poor child +like you! Now you must set to work at your linen for your dowry, for +nothing must be lacking if you are to become the wife of our neighbour, +the mole!' + +Thumbelina had to spin all day long, and every evening the mole visited +her, and told her that when the summer was over the sun would not shine +so hot; now it was burning the earth as hard as a stone. Yes, when the +summer had passed, they would keep the wedding. + +But she was not at all pleased about it, for she did not like the stupid +mole. Every morning when the sun was rising, and every evening when it +was setting, she would steal out of the house-door, and when the breeze +parted the ears of corn so that she could see the blue sky through them, +she thought how bright and beautiful it must be outside, and longed to +see her dear swallow again. But he never came; no doubt he had flown +away far into the great green wood. + +By the autumn Thumbelina had finished the dowry. + +'In four weeks you will be married!' said the field-mouse; 'don't be +obstinate, or I shall bite you with my sharp white teeth! You will get +a fine husband! The King himself has not such a velvet coat. His +store-room and cellar are full, and you should be thankful for that.' + +Well, the wedding-day arrived. The mole had come to fetch Thumbelina +to live with him deep down under the ground, never to come out into the +warm sun again, for that was what he didn't like. The poor little girl +was very sad; for now she must say good-bye to the beautiful sun. + +'Farewell, bright sun!' she cried, stretching out her arms towards it, +and taking another step outside the house; for now the corn had +been reaped, and only the dry stubble was left standing. 'Farewell, +farewell!' she said, and put her arms round a little red flower that +grew there. 'Give my love to the dear swallow when you see him!' + +'Tweet, tweet!' sounded in her ear all at once. She looked up. There was +the swallow flying past! As soon as he saw Thumbelina, he was very glad. +She told him how unwilling she was to marry the ugly mole, as then she +had to live underground where the sun never shone, and she could not +help bursting into tears. + +'The cold winter is coming now,' said the swallow. 'I must fly away to +warmer lands: will you come with me? You can sit on my back, and we will +fly far away from the ugly mole and his dark house, over the mountains, +to the warm countries where the sun shines more brightly than here, +where it is always summer, and there are always beautiful flowers. +Do come with me, dear little Thumbelina, who saved my life when I lay +frozen in the dark tunnel!' + +'Yes, I will go with you,' said Thumbelina, and got on the swallow's +back, with her feet on one of his outstretched wings. Up he flew into +the air, over woods and seas, over the great mountains where the snow +is always lying. And if she was cold she crept under his warm feathers, +only keeping her little head out to admire all the beautiful things in +the world beneath. At last they came to warm lands; there the sun was +brighter, the sky seemed twice as high, and in the hedges hung the +finest green and purple grapes; in the woods grew oranges and lemons: +the air was scented with myrtle and mint, and on the roads were +pretty little children running about and playing with great gorgeous +butterflies. But the swallow flew on farther, and it became more and +more beautiful. Under the most splendid green trees besides a blue +lake stood a glittering white-marble castle. Vines hung about the high +pillars; there were many swallows' nests, and in one of these lived the +swallow who was carrying Thumbelina. + +'Here is my house!' said he. 'But it won't do for you to live with me; I +am not tidy enough to please you. Find a home for yourself in one of the +lovely flowers that grow down there; now I will set you down, and you +can do whatever you like.' + +'That will be splendid!' said she, clapping her little hands. + +There lay a great white marble column which had fallen to the ground +and broken into three pieces, but between these grew the most beautiful +white flowers. The swallow flew down with Thumbelina, and set her upon +one of the broad leaves. But there, to her astonishment, she found +a tiny little man sitting in the middle of the flower, as white and +transparent as if he were made of glass; he had the prettiest golden +crown on his head, and the most beautiful wings on his shoulders; he +himself was no bigger than Thumbelina. He was the spirit of the flower. +In each blossom there dwelt a tiny man or woman; but this one was the +King over the others. + +'How handsome he is!' whispered Thumbelina to the swallow. + +The little Prince was very much frightened at the swallow, for in +comparison with one so tiny as himself he seemed a giant. But when he +saw Thumbelina, he was delighted, for she was the most beautiful girl he +had ever seen. So he took his golden crown from off his head and put it +on hers, asking her her name, and if she would be his wife, and then +she would be Queen of all the flowers. Yes! he was a different kind of +husband to the son of the toad and the mole with the black-velvet coat. +So she said 'Yes' to the noble Prince. And out of each flower came a +lady and gentleman, each so tiny and pretty that it was a pleasure to +see them. Each brought Thumbelina a present, but the best of all was a +beautiful pair of wings which were fastened on to her back, and now she +too could fly from flower to flower. They all wished her joy, and the +swallow sat above in his nest and sang the wedding march, and that he +did as well as he could; but he was sad, because he was very fond of +Thumbelina and did not want to be separated from her. + +'You shall not be called Thumbelina!' said the spirit of the flower to +her; 'that is an ugly name, and you are much too pretty for that. We +will call you May Blossom.' + +'Farewell, farewell!' said the little swallow with a heavy heart, and +flew away to farther lands, far, far away, right back to Denmark. There +he had a little nest above a window, where his wife lived, who can tell +fairy-stories. 'Tweet, tweet!' he sang to her. And that is the way we +learnt the whole story. + + + + +THE NIGHTINGALE + +In China, as I daresay you know, the Emperor is a Chinaman, and all his +courtiers are also Chinamen. The story I am going to tell you happened +many years ago, but it is worth while for you to listen to it, before it +is forgotten. + +The Emperor's Palace was the most splendid in the world, all made of +priceless porcelain, but so brittle and delicate that you had to take +great care how you touched it. In the garden were the most beautiful +flowers, and on the loveliest of them were tied silver bells which +tinkled, so that if you passed you could not help looking at the +flowers. Everything in the Emperor's garden was admirably arranged with +a view to effect; and the garden was so large that even the gardener +himself did not know where it ended. If you ever got beyond it, you came +to a stately forest with great trees and deep lakes in it. The forest +sloped down to the sea, which was a clear blue. Large ships could +sail under the boughs of the trees, and in these trees there lived a +Nightingale. She sang so beautifully that even the poor fisherman who +had so much to do stood and listened when he came at night to cast his +nets. 'How beautiful it is!' he said; but he had to attend to his work, +and forgot about the bird. But when she sang the next night and the +fisherman came there again, he said the same thing, 'How beautiful it +is!' + +From all the countries round came travellers to the Emperor's town, who +were astonished at the Palace and the garden. But when they heard the +Nightingale they all said, 'This is the finest thing after all!' + +The travellers told all about it when they went home, and learned +scholars wrote many books upon the town, the Palace, and the garden. But +they did not forget the Nightingale; she was praised the most, and all +the poets composed splendid verses on the Nightingale in the forest by +the deep sea. + +The books were circulated throughout the world, and some of them reached +the Emperor. He sat in his golden chair, and read and read. He nodded +his head every moment, for he liked reading the brilliant accounts of +the town, the Palace, and the garden. 'But the Nightingale is better +than all,' he saw written. + +'What is that?' said the Emperor. 'I don't know anything about the +Nightingale! Is there such a bird in my empire, and so near as in my +garden? I have never heard it! Fancy reading for the first time about it +in a book!' + +And he called his First Lord to him. He was so proud that if anyone of +lower rank than his own ventured to speak to him or ask him anything, he +would say nothing but 'P!' and that does not mean anything. + +'Here is a most remarkable bird which is called a Nightingale!' said the +Emperor. 'They say it is the most glorious thing in my kingdom. Why has +no one ever said anything to me about it?' + +'I have never before heard it mentioned!' said the First Lord. 'I will +look for it and find it!' + +But where was it to be found? The First Lord ran up and down stairs, +through the halls and corridors; but none of those he met had ever heard +of the Nightingale. And the First Lord ran again to the Emperor, and +told him that it must be an invention on the part of those who had +written the books. + +'Your Imperial Majesty cannot really believe all that is written! There +are some inventions called the Black Art!' + +'But the book in which I read this,' said the Emperor, 'is sent me by +His Great Majesty the Emperor of Japan; so it cannot be untrue, and I +will hear the Nightingale! She must be here this evening! She has my +gracious permission to appear, and if she does not, the whole Court +shall be trampled under foot after supper!' + +'Tsing pe!' said the First Lord; and he ran up and down stairs, through +the halls and corridors, and half the Court ran with him, for they +did not want to be trampled under foot. Everyone was asking after the +wonderful Nightingale which all the world knew of, except those at +Court. + +At last they met a poor little girl in the kitchen, who said, 'Oh! I +know the Nightingale well. How she sings! I have permission to carry the +scraps over from the Court meals to my poor sick mother, and when I am +going home at night, tired and weary, and rest for a little in the wood, +then I hear the Nightingale singing! It brings tears to my eyes, and I +feel as if my mother were kissing me!' + +'Little kitchenmaid!' said the First Lord, 'I will give you a place in +the kitchen, and you shall have leave to see the Emperor at dinner, if +you can lead us to the Nightingale, for she is invited to come to Court +this evening.' + +And so they all went into the wood where the Nightingale was wont to +sing, and half the Court went too. + +When they were on the way there they heard a cow mooing. + +'Oh!' said the Courtiers, 'now we have found her! What a wonderful power +for such a small beast to have! I am sure we have heard her before!' + +'No; that is a cow mooing!' said the little kitchenmaid. 'We are still a +long way off!' + +Then the frogs began to croak in the marsh. 'Splendid!' said the Chinese +chaplain. 'Now we hear her; it sounds like a little church-bell!' + +'No, no; those are frogs!' said the little kitchenmaid. 'But I think we +shall soon hear her now!' + +Then the Nightingale began to sing. + +'There she is!' cried the little girl. 'Listen! She is sitting there!' +And she pointed to a little dark-grey bird up in the branches. + +'Is it possible!' said the First Lord. 'I should never have thought it! +How ordinary she looks! She must surely have lost her feathers because +she sees so many distinguished men round her!' + +'Little Nightingale,' called out the little kitchenmaid, 'our Gracious +Emperor wants you to sing before him!' + +'With the greatest of pleasure!' said the Nightingale; and she sang so +gloriously that it was a pleasure to listen. + +'It sounds like glass bells!' said the First Lord. 'And look how her +little throat works! It is wonderful that we have never heard her +before! She will be a great success at Court.' + +'Shall I sing once more for the Emperor?' asked the Nightingale, +thinking that the Emperor was there. + +'My esteemed little Nightingale,' said the First Lord, 'I have the +great pleasure to invite you to Court this evening, where His Gracious +Imperial Highness will be enchanted with your charming song!' + +'It sounds best in the green wood,' said the Nightingale; but still, she +came gladly when she heard that the Emperor wished it. + +At the Palace everything was splendidly prepared. The porcelain walls +and floors glittered in the light of many thousand gold lamps; the most +gorgeous flowers which tinkled out well were placed in the corridors. +There was such a hurrying and draught that all the bells jingled so much +that one could not hear oneself speak. In the centre of the great hall +where the Emperor sat was a golden perch, on which the Nightingale sat. +The whole Court was there, and the little kitchenmaid was allowed to +stand behind the door, now that she was a Court-cook. Everyone was +dressed in his best, and everyone was looking towards the little grey +bird to whom the Emperor nodded. + +The Nightingale sang so gloriously that the tears came into the +Emperor's eyes and ran down his cheeks. Then the Nightingale sang even +more beautifully; it went straight to all hearts. The Emperor was so +delighted that he said she should wear his gold slipper round her neck. +But the Nightingale thanked him, and said she had had enough reward +already. 'I have seen tears in the Emperor's eyes--that is a great +reward. An Emperor's tears have such power!' Then she sang again with +her gloriously sweet voice. + +'That is the most charming coquetry I have ever seen!' said all the +ladies round. And they all took to holding water in their mouths that +they might gurgle whenever anyone spoke to them. Then they thought +themselves nightingales. Yes, the lackeys and chambermaids announced +that they were pleased; which means a great deal, for they are the most +difficult people of all to satisfy. In short, the Nightingale was a real +success. + +She had to stay at Court now; she had her own cage, and permission to +walk out twice in the day and once at night. + +She was given twelve servants, who each held a silken string which was +fastened round her leg. There was little pleasure in flying about like +this. + +The whole town was talking about the wonderful bird, and when two people +met each other one would say 'Nightin,' and the other 'Gale,' and then +they would both sigh and understand one another. + +Yes, and eleven grocer's children were called after her, but not one of +them could sing a note. + +One day the Emperor received a large parcel on which was written 'The +Nightingale.' + +'Here is another new book about our famous bird!' said the Emperor. + +But it was not a book, but a little mechanical toy, which lay in a +box--an artificial nightingale which was like the real one, only that it +was set all over with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. When it was wound +up, it could sing the piece the real bird sang, and moved its tail +up and down, and glittered with silver and gold. Round its neck was a +little collar on which was written, 'The Nightingale of the Emperor of +Japan is nothing compared to that of the Emperor of China.' + +'This is magnificent!' they all said, and the man who had brought +the clockwork bird received on the spot the title of 'Bringer of the +Imperial First Nightingale.' + +'Now they must sing together; what a duet we shall have!' + +And so they sang together, but their voices did not blend, for the real +Nightingale sang in her way and the clockwork bird sang waltzes. + +'It is not its fault!' said the bandmaster; 'it keeps very good time and +is quite after my style!' + +Then the artificial bird had to sing alone. It gave just as much +pleasure as the real one, and then it was so much prettier to look at; +it sparkled like bracelets and necklaces. Three-and-thirty times it sang +the same piece without being tired. People would like to have heard it +again, but the Emperor thought that the living Nightingale should sing +now--but where was she? No one had noticed that she had flown out of the +open window away to her green woods. + +'What SHALL we do!' said the Emperor. + +And all the Court scolded, and said that the Nightingale was very +ungrateful. 'But we have still the best bird!' they said and the +artificial bird had to sing again, and that was the thirty-fourth time +they had heard the same piece. But they did not yet know it by heart; +it was much too difficult. And the bandmaster praised the bird +tremendously; yes, he assured them it was better than a real +nightingale, not only because of its beautiful plumage and diamonds, but +inside as well. 'For see, my Lords and Ladies and your Imperial Majesty, +with the real Nightingale one can never tell what will come out, but all +is known about the artificial bird! You can explain it, you can open it +and show people where the waltzes lie, how they go, and how one follows +the other!' + +'That's just what we think!' said everyone; and the bandmaster received +permission to show the bird to the people the next Sunday. They should +hear it sing, commanded the Emperor. And they heard it, and they were +as pleased as if they had been intoxicated with tea, after the Chinese +fashion, and they all said 'Oh!' and held up their forefingers and +nodded time. But the poor fishermen who had heard the real Nightingale +said: 'This one sings well enough, the tunes glide out; but there is +something wanting--I don't know what!' + +The real Nightingale was banished from the kingdom. + +The artificial bird was put on silken cushions by the Emperor's bed, all +the presents which it received, gold and precious stones, lay round +it, and it was given the title of Imperial Night-singer, First from the +left. For the Emperor counted that side as the more distinguished, being +the side on which the heart is; the Emperor's heart is also on the left. + +And the bandmaster wrote a work of twenty-five volumes about the +artificial bird. It was so learned, long, and so full of the hardest +Chinese words that everyone said they had read it and understood it; for +once they had been very stupid about a book, and had been trampled under +foot in consequence. So a whole year passed. The Emperor, the Court, and +all the Chinese knew every note of the artificial bird's song by heart. +But they liked it all the better for this; they could even sing with +it, and they did. The street boys sang 'Tra-la-la-la-la, and the Emperor +sang too sometimes. It was indeed delightful. + +But one evening, when the artificial bird was singing its best, and the +Emperor lay in bed listening to it, something in the bird went crack. +Something snapped! Whir-r-r! all the wheels ran down and then the music +ceased. The Emperor sprang up, and had his physician summoned, but +what could HE do! Then the clockmaker came, and, after a great deal of +talking and examining, he put the bird somewhat in order, but he said +that it must be very seldom used as the works were nearly worn out, and +it was impossible to put in new ones. Here was a calamity! Only once a +year was the artificial bird allowed to sing, and even that was almost +too much for it. But then the bandmaster made a little speech full +of hard words, saying that it was just as good as before. And so, of +course, it WAS just as good as before. So five years passed, and then a +great sorrow came to the nation. The Chinese look upon their Emperor as +everything, and now he was ill, and not likely to live it was said. + +Already a new Emperor had been chosen, and the people stood outside in +the street and asked the First Lord how the old Emperor was. 'P!' said +he, and shook his head. + +Cold and pale lay the Emperor in his splendid great bed; the whole +Court believed him dead, and one after the other left him to pay their +respects to the new Emperor. Everywhere in the halls and corridors cloth +was laid down so that no footstep could be heard, and everything was +still--very, very still. And nothing came to break the silence. + +The Emperor longed for something to come and relieve the monotony of +this deathlike stillness. If only someone would speak to him! If only +someone would sing to him. Music would carry his thoughts away, and +would break the spell lying on him. The moon was streaming in at the +open window; but that, too, was silent, quite silent. + +'Music! music!' cried the Emperor. 'You little bright golden bird, sing! +do sing! I gave you gold and jewels; I have hung my gold slipper round +your neck with my own hand--sing! do sing!' But the bird was silent. +There was no one to wind it up, and so it could not sing. And all was +silent, so terribly silent! + +All at once there came in at the window the most glorious burst of song. +It was the little living Nightingale, who, sitting outside on a bough, +had heard the need of her Emperor and had come to sing to him of comfort +and hope. And as she sang the blood flowed quicker and quicker in the +Emperor's weak limbs, and life began to return. + +'Thank you, thank you!' said the Emperor. 'You divine little bird! +I know you. I chased you from my kingdom, and you have given me life +again! How can I reward you?' + +'You have done that already!' said the Nightingale. 'I brought tears +to your eyes the first time I sang. I shall never forget that. They +are jewels that rejoice a singer's heart. But now sleep and get strong +again; I will sing you a lullaby.' And the Emperor fell into a deep, +calm sleep as she sang. + +The sun was shining through the window when he awoke, strong and well. +None of his servants had come back yet, for they thought he was dead. +But the Nightingale sat and sang to him. + +'You must always stay with me!' said the Emperor. 'You shall sing +whenever you like, and I will break the artificial bird into a thousand +pieces.' + +'Don't do that!' said the Nightingale. 'He did his work as long as he +could. Keep him as you have done! I cannot build my nest in the Palace +and live here; but let me come whenever I like. I will sit in the +evening on the bough outside the window, and I will sing you something +that will make you feel happy and grateful. I will sing of joy, and of +sorrow; I will sing of the evil and the good which lies hidden from you. +The little singing-bird flies all around, to the poor fisherman's hut, +to the farmer's cottage, to all those who are far away from you and your +Court. I love your heart more than your crown, though that has about it +a brightness as of something holy. Now I will sing to you again; but you +must promise me one thing----' + +'Anything!' said the Emperor, standing up in his Imperial robes, which +he had himself put on, and fastening on his sword richly embossed with +gold. + +'One thing I beg of you! Don't tell anyone that you have a little bird +who tells you everything. It will be much better not to!' Then the +Nightingale flew away. + +The servants came in to look at their dead Emperor. + +The Emperor said, 'Good-morning!' + + + + +HERMOD AND HADVOR (32) + +(32) From the Icelandic. + +Once upon a time there were a King and a Queen who had an only daughter, +called Hadvor, who was fair and beautiful, and being an only child, was +heir to the kingdom. The King and Queen had also a foster son, named +Hermod, who was just about the same age as Hadvor, and was good-looking, +as well as clever at most things. Hermod and Hadvor often played +together while they were children, and liked each other so much that +while they were still young they secretly plighted their troth to each +other. + +As time went on the Queen fell sick, and suspecting that it was her last +illness, sent for the King to come to her. When he came she told him +that she had no long time to live, and therefore wished to ask one thing +of him, which was, that if he married another wife he should promise to +take no other one than the Queen of Hetland the Good. The King gave the +promise, and thereafter the Queen died. + +Time went past, and the King, growing tired of living alone, fitted +out his ship and sailed out to sea. As he sailed there came upon him +so thick a mist that he altogether lost his bearings, but after long +trouble he found land. There he laid his ship to, and went on shore all +alone. After walking for some time he came to a forest, into which he +went a little way and stopped. Then he heard sweet music from a harp, +and went in the direction of the sound until he came to a clearing, and +there he saw three women, one of whom sat on a golden chair, and was +beautifully and grandly dressed; she held a harp in her hands, and +was very sorrowful. The second was also finely dressed, but younger +in appearance, and also sat on a chair, but it was not so grand as the +first one's. The third stood beside them, and was very pretty to look +at; she had a green cloak over her other clothes, and it was easy to see +that she was maid to the other two. + +After the King had looked at them for a little he went forward and +saluted them. The one that sat on the golden chair asked him who he +was and where he was going; and he told her all the story--how he was +a king, and had lost his queen, and was now on his way to Hetland the +Good, to ask the Queen of that country in marriage. She answered that +fortune had contrived this wonderfully, for pirates had plundered +Hetland and killed the King, and she had fled from the land in terror, +and had come hither after great trouble, and she was the very person +he was looking for, and the others were her daughter and maid. The +King immediately asked her hand; she gladly received his proposal and +accepted him at once. Thereafter they all set out, and made their way to +the ship; and after that nothing is told of their voyage until the King +reached his own country. There he made a great feast, and celebrated his +marriage with this woman; and after that things are quiet for a time. + +Hermod and Hadvor took but little notice of the Queen and her daughter, +but, on the other hand, Hadvor and the Queen's maid, whose name was +Olof, were very friendly, and Olof came often to visit Hadvor in her +castle. Before long the King went out to war, and no sooner was he away +than the Queen came to talk with Hermod, and said that she wanted him to +marry her daughter. Hermod told her straight and plain that he would +not do so, at which the Queen grew terribly angry, and said that in that +case neither should he have Hadvor, for she would now lay this spell on +him, that he should go to a desert island and there be a lion by day and +a man by night. He should also think always of Hadvor, which would cause +him all the more sorrow, and from this spell he should never be freed +until Hadvor burned the lion's skin, and that would not happen very +soon. + +As soon as the Queen had finished her speech Hermod replied that he also +laid a spell on her, and that was, that as soon as he was freed from her +enchantments she should become a rat and her daughter a mouse, and fight +with each other in the hall until he killed them with his sword. + +After this Hermod disappeared, and no one knew what had become of him; +the Queen caused search to be made for him, but he could nowhere be +found. One time, when Olof was in the castle beside Hadvor, she asked +the Princess if she knew where Hermod had gone to. At this Hadvor became +very sad, and said that she did not. + +'I shall tell you then,' said Olof, 'for I know all about it. Hermod has +disappeared through the wicked devices of the Queen, for she is a witch, +and so is her daughter, though they have put on these beautiful forms. +Because Hermod would not fall in with the Queen's plans, and marry her +daughter, she has laid a spell on him, to go on an island and be a lion +by day and a man by night, and never be freed from this until you burn +the lion's skin. Besides,' said Olof, 'she has looked out a match for +you; she has a brother in the Underworld, a three-headed Giant, whom she +means to turn into a beautiful prince and get him married to you. This +is no new thing for the Queen; she took me away from my parents' house +and compelled me to serve her; but she has never done me any harm, for +the green cloak I wear protects me against all mischief. + +Hadvor now became still sadder than before at the thought of the +marriage destined for her, and entreated Olof to think of some plan to +save her. + +'I think,' said Olof, 'that your wooer will come up through the floor of +the castle to you, and so you must be prepared when you hear the noise +of his coming and the floor begins to open, and have at hand blazing +pitch, and pour plenty of it into the opening. That will prove too much +for him.' + +About this time the King came home from his expedition, and thought it +a great blow that no one knew what had become of Hermod; but the Queen +consoled him as best she could, and after a time the King thought less +about his disappearance. + +Hadvor remained in her castle, and had made preparations to receive her +wooer when he came. One night, not long after, a loud noise and rumbling +was heard under the castle. Hadvor at once guessed what it was, and told +her maids to be ready to help her. The noise and thundering grew louder +and louder, until the floor began to open, whereupon Hadvor made them +take the caldron of pitch and pour plenty of it into the opening. With +that the noises grew fainter and fainter, till at last they ceased +altogether. + +Next morning the Queen rose early, and went out to the Palace gate, and +there she found her brother the Giant lying dead. She went up to him and +said, 'I pronounce this spell, that you become a beautiful prince, and +that Hadvor shall be unable to say anything against the charges that I +shall bring against her.' + +The body of the dead Giant now became that of a beautiful prince, and +the Queen went in again. + +'I don't think,' said she to the King, 'that your daughter is as good as +she is said to be. My brother came and asked her hand, and she has had +him put to death. I have just found his dead body lying at the Palace +gate.' + +The King went along with the Queen to see the body, and thought it all +very strange; so beautiful a youth, he said, would have been a worthy +match for Hadvor, and he would readily have agreed to their marriage. +The Queen asked leave to decide what Hadvor's punishment should be, +which the King was very willing to allow, so as to escape from punishing +his own daughter. The Queen's decision was that the King should make a +big grave-mound for her brother, and put Hadvor into it beside him. + +Olof knew all the plans of the Queen, and went to tell the Princess what +had been done, whereupon Hadvor earnestly entreated her to tell her what +to do. + +'First and foremost,' said Olof, 'you must get a wide cloak to wear over +your other clothes, when you are put into the mound. The Giant's ghost +will walk after you are both left together in there, and he will have +two dogs along with him. He will ask you to cut pieces out of his legs +to give to the dogs, but that you must not promise to do unless he tells +you where Hermod has gone to, and tells you how to find him. He will +then let you stand on his shoulders, so as to get out of the mound; but +he means to cheat you all the same, and will catch you by the cloak to +pull you back again; but you must take care to have the cloak loose on +your shoulders, so that he will only get hold of that.' + +The mound was all ready now, and the Giant laid in it, and into it +Hadvor also had to go without being allowed to make any defence. After +they were both left there everything happened just as Olof had said. The +prince became a Giant again, and asked Hadvor to cut the pieces out of +his legs for the dogs; but she refused until he told her that Hermod was +in a desert island, which she could not reach unless she took the skin +off the soles of his feet and made shoes out of that; with these shoes +she could travel both on land and sea. This Hadvor now did, and the +Giant then let her get up on his shoulders to get out of the mound. As +she sprang out he caught hold of her cloak; but she had taken care to +let it lie loose on her shoulders, and so escaped. + +She now made her way down to the sea, to where she knew there was the +shortest distance over to the island in which Hermod was. This strait +she easily crossed, for the shoes kept her up. On reaching the island +she found a sandy beach all along by the sea, and high cliffs above. Nor +could she see any way to get up these, and so, being both sad at heart +and tired with the long journey, she lay down and fell asleep. As she +slept she dreamed that a tall woman came to her and said, 'I know that +you are Princess Hadvor, and are searching for Hermod. He is on this +island; but it will be hard for you to get to him if you have no one to +help you, for you cannot climb the cliffs by your own strength. I have +therefore let down a rope, by which you will be able to climb up; and as +the island is so large that you might not find Hermod's dwelling-place +so easily, I lay down this clew beside you. You need only hold the end +of the thread, and the clew will run on before and show you the way. I +also lay this belt beside you, to put on when you awaken; it will keep +you from growing faint with hunger.' + +The woman now disappeared, and Hadvor woke, and saw that all her dream +had been true. The rope hung down from the cliff, and the clew and belt +lay beside her. The belt she put on, the rope enabled her to climb up +the cliff, and the clew led her on till she came to the mouth of a cave, +which was not very big. She went into the cave, and saw there a low +couch, under which she crept and lay down. + +When evening came she heard the noise of footsteps outside, and became +aware that the lion had come to the mouth of the cave, and shook itself +there, after which she heard a man coming towards the couch. She was +sure this was Hermod, because she heard him speaking to himself about +his own condition, and calling to mind Hadvor and other things in the +old days. Hadvor made no sign, but waited till he had fallen asleep, and +then crept out and burned the lion's skin, which he had left outside. +Then she went back into the cave and wakened Hermod, and they had a most +joyful meeting. + +In the morning they talked over their plans, and were most at a loss +to know how to get out of the island. Hadvor told Hermod her dream, and +said she suspected there was some one in the island who would be able to +help them. Hermod said he knew of a Witch there, who was very ready to +help anyone, and that the only plan was to go to her. So they went to +the Witch's cave, and found her there with her fifteen young sons, and +asked her to help them to get to the mainland. + +'There are other things easier than that,' said she, 'for the Giant that +was buried will be waiting for you, and will attack you on the way, +as he has turned himself into a big whale. I shall lend you a boat, +however, and if you meet the whale and think your lives are in danger, +then you can name me by name.' + +They thanked her greatly for her help and advice, and set out from the +island, but on the way they saw a huge fish coming towards them, with +great splashing and dashing of waves. They were sure of what it was, and +thought they had as good reason as ever they would have to call on +the Witch, and so they did. The next minute they saw coming after them +another huge whale, followed by fifteen smaller ones. All of these swam +past the boat and went on to meet the whale. There was a fierce battle +then, and the sea became so stormy that it was not very easy to keep the +boat from being filled by the waves. After this fight had gone on for +some time, they saw that the sea was dyed with blood; the big whale +and the fifteen smaller ones disappeared, and they got to land safe and +sound. + +Now the story goes back to the King's hall, where strange things had +happened in the meantime. The Queen and her daughter had disappeared, +but a rat and a mouse were always fighting with each other there. Ever +so many people had tried to drive them away, but no one could manage it. +Thus some time went on, while the King was almost beside himself with +sorrow and care for the loss of his Queen, and because these monsters +destroyed all mirth in the hall. + +One evening, however, while they all sat dull and down-hearted, in came +Hermod with a sword by his side, and saluted the King, who received +him with the greatest joy, as if he had come back from the dead. Before +Hermod sat down, however, he went to where the rat and the mouse were +fighting, and cut them in two with his sword. All were astonished then +by seeing two witches lying dead on the floor of the hall. + +Hermod now told the whole story to the King, who was very glad to be rid +of such vile creatures. Next he asked for the hand of Hadvor, which the +King readily gave him, and being now an old man, gave the kingdom to him +as well; and so Hermod became King. + +Olof married a good-looking nobleman, and that is the end of the story. + + + + +THE STEADFAST TIN-SOLDIER + +There were once upon a time five-and twenty tin-soldiers--all brothers, +as they were made out of the same old tin spoon. Their uniform was red +and blue, and they shouldered their guns and looked straight in front of +them. The first words that they heard in this world, when the lid of the +box in which they lay was taken off, were: 'Hurrah, tin-soldiers!' This +was exclaimed by a little boy, clapping his hands; they had been given +to him because it was his birthday, and now he began setting them out on +the table. Each soldier was exactly like the other in shape, except just +one, who had been made last when the tin had run short; but there he +stood as firmly on his one leg as the others did on two, and he is the +one that became famous. + +There were many other playthings on the table on which they were being +set out, but the nicest of all was a pretty little castle made of +cardboard, with windows through which you could see into the rooms. In +front of the castle stood some little trees surrounding a tiny mirror +which looked like a lake. Wax swans were floating about and reflecting +themselves in it. That was all very pretty; but the most beautiful thing +was a little lady, who stood in the open doorway. She was cut out of +paper, but she had on a dress of the finest muslin, with a scarf of +narrow blue ribbon round her shoulders, fastened in the middle with a +glittering rose made of gold paper, which was as large as her head. The +little lady was stretching out both her arms, for she was a Dancer, and +was lifting up one leg so high in the air that the Tin-soldier couldn't +find it anywhere, and thought that she, too, had only one leg. + +'That's the wife for me!' he thought; 'but she is so grand, and lives in +a castle, whilst I have only a box with four-and-twenty others. This is +no place for her! But I must make her acquaintance.' Then he stretched +himself out behind a snuff-box that lay on the table; from thence he +could watch the dainty little lady, who continued to stand on one leg +without losing her balance. + +When the night came all the other tin-soldiers went into their box, +and the people of the house went to bed. Then the toys began to play at +visiting, dancing, and fighting. The tin-soldiers rattled in their box, +for they wanted to be out too, but they could not raise the lid. The +nut-crackers played at leap-frog, and the slate-pencil ran about the +slate; there was such a noise that the canary woke up and began to talk +to them, in poetry too! The only two who did not stir from their places +were the Tin-soldier and the little Dancer. She remained on tip-toe, +with both arms outstretched; he stood steadfastly on his one leg, never +moving his eyes from her face. + +The clock struck twelve, and crack! off flew the lid of the snuff-box; +but there was no snuff inside, only a little black imp--that was the +beauty of it. + +'Hullo, Tin-soldier!' said the imp. 'Don't look at things that aren't +intended for the likes of you!' + +But the Tin-soldier took no notice, and seemed not to hear. + +'Very well, wait till to-morrow!' said the imp. + +When it was morning, and the children had got up, the Tin-soldier was +put in the window; and whether it was the wind or the little black imp, +I don't know, but all at once the window flew open and out fell the +little Tin-soldier, head over heels, from the third-storey window! That +was a terrible fall, I can tell you! He landed on his head with his leg +in the air, his gun being wedged between two paving-stones. + +The nursery-maid and the little boy came down at once to look for him, +but, though they were so near him that they almost trod on him, they did +not notice him. If the Tin-soldier had only called out 'Here I am!' they +must have found him; but he did not think it fitting for him to cry out, +because he had on his uniform. + +Soon it began to drizzle; then the drops came faster, and there was a +regular down-pour. When it was over, two little street boys came along. + +'Just look!' cried one. 'Here is a Tin-soldier! He shall sail up and +down in a boat!' + +So they made a little boat out of newspaper, put the Tin-soldier in it, +and made him sail up and down the gutter; both the boys ran along beside +him, clapping their hands. What great waves there were in the gutter, +and what a swift current! The paper-boat tossed up and down, and in the +middle of the stream it went so quick that the Tin-soldier trembled; but +he remained steadfast, showed no emotion, looked straight in front +of him, shouldering his gun. All at once the boat passed under a long +tunnel that was as dark as his box had been. + +'Where can I be coming now?' he wondered. 'Oh, dear! This is the black +imp's fault! Ah, if only the little lady were sitting beside me in the +boat, it might be twice as dark for all I should care!' + +Suddenly there came along a great water-rat that lived in the tunnel. + +'Have you a passport?' asked the rat. 'Out with your passport!' + +But the Tin-soldier was silent, and grasped his gun more firmly. + +The boat sped on, and the rat behind it. Ugh! how he showed his teeth, +as he cried to the chips of wood and straw: 'Hold him, hold him! he has +not paid the toll! He has not shown his passport!' + +But the current became swifter and stronger. The Tin-soldier could +already see daylight where the tunnel ended; but in his ears there +sounded a roaring enough to frighten any brave man. Only think! at the +end of the tunnel the gutter discharged itself into a great canal; that +would be just as dangerous for him as it would be for us to go down a +waterfall. + +Now he was so near to it that he could not hold on any longer. On went +the boat, the poor Tin-soldier keeping himself as stiff as he could: no +one should say of him afterwards that he had flinched. The boat whirled +three, four times round, and became filled to the brim with water: it +began to sink! The Tin-soldier was standing up to his neck in water, and +deeper and deeper sank the boat, and softer and softer grew the paper; +now the water was over his head. He was thinking of the pretty little +Dancer, whose face he should never see again, and there sounded in his +ears, over and over again: + + 'Forward, forward, soldier bold! + Death's before thee, grim and cold!' + +The paper came in two, and the soldier fell--but at that moment he was +swallowed by a great fish. + +Oh! how dark it was inside, even darker than in the tunnel, and it was +really very close quarters! But there the steadfast little Tin-soldier +lay full length, shouldering his gun. + +Up and down swam the fish, then he made the most dreadful contortions, +and became suddenly quite still. Then it was as if a flash of lightning +had passed through him; the daylight streamed in, and a voice exclaimed, +'Why, here is the little Tin-soldier!' The fish had been caught, taken +to market, sold, and brought into the kitchen, where the cook had cut it +open with a great knife. She took up the soldier between her finger and +thumb, and carried him into the room, where everyone wanted to see the +hero who had been found inside a fish; but the Tin-soldier was not at +all proud. They put him on the table, and--no, but what strange things +do happen in this world!--the Tin-soldier was in the same room in which +he had been before! He saw the same children, and the same toys on +the table; and there was the same grand castle with the pretty little +Dancer. She was still standing on one leg with the other high in the +air; she too was steadfast. That touched the Tin-soldier, he was nearly +going to shed tin-tears; but that would not have been fitting for a +soldier. He looked at her, but she said nothing. + +All at once one of the little boys took up the Tin-soldier, and threw +him into the stove, giving no reasons; but doubtless the little black +imp in the snuff-box was at the bottom of this too. + +There the Tin-soldier lay, and felt a heat that was truly terrible; but +whether he was suffering from actual fire, or from the ardour of his +passion, he did not know. All his colour had disappeared; whether this +had happened on his travels or whether it was the result of trouble, who +can say? He looked at the little lady, she looked at him, and he felt +that he was melting; but he remained steadfast, with his gun at his +shoulder. Suddenly a door opened, the draught caught up the little +Dancer, and off she flew like a sylph to the Tin-soldier in the stove, +burst into flames--and that was the end of her! Then the Tin-soldier +melted down into a little lump, and when next morning the maid was +taking out the ashes, she found him in the shape of a heart. There was +nothing left of the little Dancer but her gilt rose, burnt as black as a +cinder. + + + + +BLOCKHEAD-HANS + +Far away in the country lay an old manor-house where lived an old squire +who had two sons. They thought themselves so clever, that if they had +known only half of what they did know, it would have been quite enough. +They both wanted to marry the King's daughter, for she had proclaimed +that she would have for her husband the man who knew best how to choose +his words. + +Both prepared for the wooing a whole week, which was the longest time +allowed them; but, after all, it was quite long enough, for they both +had preparatory knowledge, and everyone knows how useful that is. One +knew the whole Latin dictionary and also three years' issue of the daily +paper of the town off by heart, so that he could repeat it all backwards +or forwards as you pleased. The other had worked at the laws of +corporation, and knew by heart what every member of the corporation +ought to know, so that he thought he could quite well speak on State +matters and give his opinion. He understood, besides this, how to +embroider braces with roses and other flowers, and scrolls, for he was +very ready with his fingers. + +'I shall win the king's daughter!' they both cried. + +Their old father gave each of them a fine horse; the one who knew the +dictionary and the daily paper by heart had a black horse, while the +other who was so clever at corporation law had a milk-white one. Then +they oiled the corners of their mouths so that they might be able to +speak more fluently. All the servants stood in the courtyard and saw +them mount their steeds, and here by chance came the third brother; for +the squire had three sons, but nobody counted him with his brothers, +for he was not so learned as they were, and he was generally called +'Blockhead-Hans.' + +'Oh, oh!' said Blockhead-Hans. 'Where are you off to? You are in your +Sunday-best clothes!' + +'We are going to Court, to woo the Princess! Don't you know what is +known throughout all the country side?' And they told him all about it. + +'Hurrah! I'll go to!' cried Blockhead-Hans; and the brothers laughed at +him and rode off. + +'Dear father!' cried Blockhead-Hans, 'I must have a horse too. What a +desire for marriage has seized me! If she will have me, she WILL have +me, and if she won't have me, I will have her.' + +'Stop that nonsense!' said the old man. 'I will not give you a horse. +YOU can't speak; YOU don't know how to choose your words. Your brothers! +Ah! they are very different lads!' + +'Well,' said Blockhead-Hans, 'if I can't have a horse, I will take the +goat which is mine; he can carry me!' + +And he did so. He sat astride on the goat, struck his heels into its +side, and went rattling down the high-road like a hurricane. + +'Hoppetty hop! what a ride!' Here I come!' shouted Blockhead-Hans, +singing so that the echoes were roused far and near. But his brothers +were riding slowly in front. They were not speaking, but they were +thinking over all the good things they were going to say, for everything +had to be thought out. + +'Hullo!' bawled Blockhead-Hans, 'here I am! Just look what I found on +the road!'--and he showed them a dead crow which he had picked up. + +'Blockhead!' said his brothers, 'what are you going to do with it?' + +'With the crow? I shall give it to the Princess!' + +'Do so, certainly!' they said, laughing loudly and riding on. + +'Slap! bang! here I am again! Look what I have just found! You don't +find such things every day on the road!' And the brothers turned round +to see what in the world he could have found. + +'Blockhead!' said they, 'that is an old wooden shoe without the top! Are +you going to send that, too, to the Princess?' + +'Of course I shall!' returned Blockhead-Hans; and the brothers laughed +and rode on a good way. + +'Slap! bang! here I am!' cried Blockhead-Hans; 'better and better--it is +really famous!' + +'What have you found now?' asked the brothers. + +'Oh,' said Blockhead-Hans, 'it is really too good! How pleased the +Princess will be!' + +'Why!' said the brothers, 'this is pure mud, straight from the ditch.' + +'Of course it is!' said Blockhead-Hans, 'and it is the best kind! Look +how it runs through one's fingers!' and, so saying, he filled his pocket +with the mud. + +But the brothers rode on so fast that dust and sparks flew all around, +and they reached the gate of the town a good hour before Blockhead-Hans. +Here came the suitors numbered according to their arrival, and they were +ranged in rows, six in each row, and they were so tightly packed +that they could not move their arms. This was a very good thing, for +otherwise they would have torn each other in pieces, merely because the +one was in front of the other. + +All the country people were standing round the King's throne, and were +crowded together in thick masses almost out of the windows to see the +Princess receive the suitors; and as each one came into the room all his +fine phrases went out like a candle! + +'It doesn't matter!' said the Princess. 'Away! out with him!' + +At last she came to the row in which the brother who knew the dictionary +by heart was, but he did not know it any longer; he had quite forgotten +it in the rank and file. And the floor creaked, and the ceiling was all +made of glass mirrors, so that he saw himself standing on his head, and +by each window were standing three reporters and an editor; and each +of them was writing down what was said, to publish it in the paper that +came out and was sold at the street corners for a penny. It was fearful, +and they had made up the fire so hot that it was grilling. + +'It is hot in here, isn't it!' said the suitor. + +'Of course it is! My father is roasting young chickens to-day!' said the +Princess. + +'Ahem!' There he stood like an idiot. He was not prepared for such a +speech; he did not know what to say, although he wanted to say something +witty. 'Ahem!' + +'It doesn't matter!' said the Princess. 'Take him out!' and out he had +to go. + +Now the other brother entered. + +'How hot it is!' he said. + +'Of course! We are roasting young chickens to-day!' remarked the +Princess. + +'How do you--um!' he said, and the reporters wrote down. 'How do +you--um.' + +'It doesn't matter!' said the Princess. 'Take him out!' + +Now Blockhead-Hans came in; he rode his goat right into the hall. + +'I say! How roasting hot it is here!' said he. + +'Of course! I am roasting young chickens to-day!' said the Princess. + +'That's good!' replied Blockhead-Hans; 'then can I roast a crow with +them?' + +'With the greatest of pleasure!' said the Princess; 'but have you +anything you can roast them in? for I have neither pot nor saucepan.' + +'Oh, rather!' said Blockhead-Hans. 'Here is a cooking implement with tin +rings,' and he drew out the old wooden shoe, and laid the crow in it. + +'That is quite a meal!' said the Princess; 'but where shall we get the +soup from?' + +'I've got that in my pocket!' said Blockhead-Hans. 'I have so much that +I can quite well throw some away!' and he poured some mud out of his +pocket. + +'I like you!' said the Princess. 'You can answer, and you can speak, and +I will marry you; but do you know that every word which we are saying +and have said has been taken down and will be in the paper to-morrow? +By each window do you see there are standing three reporters and an +old editor, and this old editor is the worst, for he doesn't understand +anything!' but she only said this to tease Blockhead-Hans. And the +reporters giggled, and each dropped a blot of ink on the floor. + +'Ah! are those the great people?' said Blockhead-Hans. 'Then I will give +the editor the best!' So saying, he turned his pockets inside out, and +threw the mud right in his face. + +'That was neatly done!' said the Princess. 'I couldn't have done it; but +I will soon learn how to!' + +Blockhead-Hans became King, got a wife and a crown, and sat on the +throne; and this we have still damp from the newspaper of the editor and +the reporters--and they are not to be believed for a moment. + + + + +A STORY ABOUT A DARNING-NEEDLE + +There was once a Darning-needle who thought herself so fine that she +believed she was an embroidery-needle. 'Take great care to hold me +tight!' said the Darning-needle to the Fingers who were holding her. +'Don't let me fall! If I once fall on the ground I shall never be found +again, I am so fine!' + +'It is all right!' said the Fingers, seizing her round the waist. + +'Look, I am coming with my train!' said the Darning-needle as she drew a +long thread after her; but there was no knot at the end of the thread. + +The Fingers were using the needle on the cook's shoe. The upper leather +was unstitched and had to be sewn together. + +'This is common work!' said the Darning-needle. 'I shall never get +through it. I am breaking! I am breaking!' And in fact she did break. +'Didn't I tell you so!' said the Darning-needle. 'I am too fine!' + +'Now she is good for nothing!' said the Fingers; but they had to hold +her tight while the cook dropped some sealing-wax on the needle and +stuck it in the front of her dress. + +'Now I am a breast-pin!' said the Darning-needle. 'I always knew I +should be promoted. When one is something, one will become something!' +And she laughed to herself; you can never see when a Darning-needle is +laughing. Then she sat up as proudly as if she were in a State coach, +and looked all round her. + +'May I be allowed to ask if you are gold?' she said to her neighbour, +the Pin. 'You have a very nice appearance, and a peculiar head; but +it is too small! You must take pains to make it grow, for it is +not everyone who has a head of sealing-wax.' And so saying the +Darning-needle raised herself up so proudly that she fell out of the +dress, right into the sink which the cook was rinsing out. + +'Now I am off on my travels!' said the Darning-needle. 'I do hope I +sha'n't get lost!' She did indeed get lost. + +'I am too fine for this world!' said she as she lay in the gutter; 'but +I know who I am, and that is always a little satisfaction!' + +And the Darning-needle kept her proud bearing and did not lose her +good-temper. + +All kinds of things swam over her--shavings, bits of straw, and scraps +of old newspapers. + +'Just look how they sail along!' said the Darning-needle. 'They don't +know what is underneath them! Here I am sticking fast! There goes a +shaving thinking of nothing in the world but of itself, a mere chip! +There goes a straw--well, how it does twist and twirl, to be sure! Don't +think so much about yourself, or you will be knocked against a stone. +There floats a bit of newspaper. What is written on it is long ago +forgotten, and yet how proud it is! I am sitting patient and quiet. I +know who I am, and that is enough for me!' + +One day something thick lay near her which glittered so brightly that +the Darning-needle thought it must be a diamond. But it was a bit of +bottle-glass, and because it sparkled the Darning-needle spoke to it, +and gave herself out as a breast-pin. + +'No doubt you are a diamond?' + +'Yes, something of that kind!' And each believed that the other was +something very costly; and they both said how very proud the world must +be of them. + +'I have come from a lady's work-box,' said Darning-needle, 'and this +lady was a cook; she had five fingers on each hand; anything so proud as +these fingers I have never seen! And yet they were only there to take me +out of the work-box and to put me back again!' + +'Were they of noble birth, then?' asked the bit of bottle-glass. + +'Of noble birth!' said the Darning-needle; 'no indeed, but proud! They +were five brothers, all called ''Fingers.'' They held themselves proudly +one against the other, although they were of different sizes. The +outside one, the Thumb, was short and fat; he was outside the rank, and +had only one bend in his back, and could only make one bow; but he said +that if he were cut off from a man that he was no longer any use as +a soldier. Dip-into-everything, the second finger, dipped into sweet +things as well as sour things, pointed to the sun and the moon, and +guided the pen when they wrote. Longman, the third, looked at the others +over his shoulder. Goldband, the fourth, had a gold sash round his +waist; and little Playman did nothing at all, and was the more proud. +There was too much ostentation, and so I came away.' + +'And now we are sitting and shining here!' said the bit of bottle-glass. + +At that moment more water came into the gutter; it streamed over the +edges and washed the bit of bottle-glass away. + +'Ah! now he has been promoted!' said the Darning-needle. 'I remain here; +I am too fine. But that is my pride, which is a sign of respectability!' +And she sat there very proudly, thinking lofty thoughts. + +'I really believe I must have been born a sunbeam, I am so fine! It +seems to me as if the sunbeams were always looking under the water for +me. Ah, I am so fine that my own mother cannot find me! If I had my old +eye which broke off, I believe I could weep; but I can't--it is not fine +to weep!' + +One day two street-urchins were playing and wading in the gutter, +picking up old nails, pennies, and such things. It was rather dirty +work, but it was a great delight to them. + +'Oh, oh!' cried out one, as he pricked himself with the Darning-needle; +'he is a fine fellow though!' + +'I am not a fellow; I am a young lady!' said the Darning-needle; but no +one heard. The sealing-wax had gone, and she had become quite black; but +black makes one look very slim, and so she thought she was even finer +than before. + +'Here comes an egg-shell sailing along!' said the boys, and they stuck +the Darning-needle into the egg-shell. + +'The walls white and I black--what a pretty contrast it makes!' said +the Darning-needle. 'Now I can be seen to advantage! If only I am not +sea-sick! I should give myself up for lost!' + +But she was not sea-sick, and did not give herself up. + +'It is a good thing to be steeled against sea-sickness; here one has +indeed an advantage over man! Now my qualms are over. The finer one is +the more one can beat.' + +'Crack!' said the egg-shell as a wagon-wheel went over it. + +'Oh! how it presses!' said the Darning-needle. 'I shall indeed be +sea-sick now. I am breaking!' But she did not break, although the +wagon-wheel went over her; she lay there at full length, and there she +may lie. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Yellow Fairy Book, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 640.txt or 640.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/4/640/ + +Produced by Charles Keller for Tina + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Scanned by Charles Keller for Tina with +OmniPage Professional OCR software +donated by Caere Corporation, 1-800-535-7226. +Contact Mike Lough <Mikel@caere.com> + + + + + +THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK + +Edited by +ANDREW LANG + + + + +Dedication + +TO + +JOAN, TODDLES, AND TINY + + Books Yellow, Red, and Green and Blue, + All true, or just as good as true, + And here's the Yellow Book for YOU! + + Hard is the path from A to Z, + And puzzling to a curly head, + Yet leads to Books--Green, Blue, and Red. + + For every child should understand + That letters from the first were planned + To guide us into Fairy Land + + So labour at your Alphabet, + For by that learning shall you get + To lands where Fairies may be met. + + And going where this pathway goes, + You too, at last, may find, who knows? + The Garden of the Singing Rose. + + + +PREFACE + +The Editor thinks that children will readily forgive him for +publishing another Fairy Book. We have had the Blue, the Red, +the Green, and here is the Yellow. If children are pleased, and +they are so kind as to say that they are pleased, the Editor does +not care very much for what other people may say. Now, there is +one gentleman who seems to think that it is not quite right to +print so many fairy tales, with pictures, and to publish them in +red and blue covers. He is named Mr. G. Laurence Gomme, and he +is president of a learned body called the Folk Lore Society. +Once a year he makes his address to his subjects, of whom the +Editor is one, and Mr. Joseph Jacobs (who has published many +delightful fairy tales with pretty pictures)[1] is another. +Fancy, then, the dismay of Mr. Jacobs, and of the Editor, when +they heard their president say that he did not think it very nice +in them to publish fairy books, above all, red, green, and blue +fairy books! They said that they did not see any harm in it, +and they were ready to 'put themselves on their country,' and be +tried by a jury of children. And, indeed, they still see no harm +in what they have done; nay, like Father William in the poem, +they are ready 'to do it again and again.' + + +[1] You may buy them from Mr. Nutt, in the Strand. + + +Where is the harm? The truth is that the Folk Lore Society--made +up of the most clever, learned, and beautiful men and women of +the country--is fond of studying the history and geography of +Fairy Land. This is contained in very old tales, such as country +people tell, and savages: + + 'Little Sioux and little Crow, + Little frosty Eskimo.' + + +These people are thought to know most about fairyland and its +inhabitants. But, in the Yellow Fairy Book, and the rest, are +many tales by persons who are neither savages nor rustics, such +as Madame D'Aulnoy and Herr Hans Christian Andersen. The Folk +Lore Society, or its president, say that THEIR tales are not so +true as the rest, and should not be published with the rest. But +WE say that all the stories which are pleasant to read are quite +true enough for us; so here they are, with pictures by Mr. Ford, +and we do not think that either the pictures or the stories are +likely to mislead children. + +As to whether there are really any fairies or not, that is a +difficult question. Professor Huxley thinks there are none. The +Editor never saw any himself, but he knows several people who +have seen them--in the Highlands--and heard their music. If ever +you are in Nether Lochaber, go to the Fairy Hill, and you may +hearthe music yourself, as grown-up people have done, but you +must goon a fine day. Again, if there are really no fairies, why +dopeople believe in them, all over the world? The ancient Greeks +believed, so did the old Egyptians, and the Hindoos, and the Red +Indians, and is it likely, if there are no fairies, that so many +different peoples would have seen and heard them? The Rev. Mr. +Baring-Gould saw several fairies when he was a boy, and was +travelling in the land of the Troubadours. For these reasons, +the Editor thinks that there are certainly fairies, but they +never do anyone any harm; and, in England, they have been +frightened away by smoke and schoolmasters. As to Giants, they +have died out, but real Dwarfs are common in the forests of +Africa. Probably a good many stories not perfectly true have +been told about fairies, but such stories have also been told +about Napoleon, Claverhouse, Julius Caesar, and Joan of Arc, all +of whom certainly existed. A wise child will, therefore, +remember that, if he grows up and becomes a member of the Folk +Lore Society, ALL the tales in this book were not offered to him +as absolutely truthful, but were printed merely for his +entertainment. The exact facts he can learn later, or he can +leave them alone. + + +There are Russian, German, French, Icelandic, Red Indian, and +other stories here. They were translated by Miss Cheape, Miss +Alma, and Miss Thyra Alleyne, Miss Sellar, Mr. Craigie (he did +the Icelandic tales), Miss Blackley, Mrs. Dent, and Mrs. Lang, +but the Red Indian stories are copied from English versions +published by the Smithsonian Bureau of Ethnology, in America. +Mr. Ford did the pictures, and it is hoped that children will +find the book not less pleasing than those which have already +been submitted to their consideration. The Editor cannot say +'good-bye' without advising them, as they pursue their studies, +to read The Rose and the Ring, by the late Mr. Thackeray, with +pictures by the author. This book he thinks quite indispensable +in every child's library, and parents should be urged to purchase +it at the first opportunity, as without it no education is +complete. + + A. LANG. + + +CONTENTS + +The Cat and the Mouse in Partnership +The Six Swans +The Dragon of the North +Story of the Emperor's New Clothes +The Golden Crab +The Iron Stove +The Dragon and his Grandmother +The Donkey Cabbage +The Little Green Frog +The Seven-headed Serpent +The Grateful Beasts +The Giants and the Herd-boy +The Invisible Prince +The Crow +How Six Men travelled through the Wide World +The Wizard King +The Nixy +The Glass Mountain +Alphege, or the Green Monkey +Fairer-than-a-Fairy +The Three Brothers +The Boy and the Wolves, or the Broken Promise +The Glass Axe +The Dead Wife +In the Land of Souls +The White Duck +The Witch and her Servants +The Magic Ring +The Flower Queen's Daughter +The Flying Ship +The Snow-daughter and the Fire-son +The Story of King Frost +The Death of the Sun-hero +The Witch +The Hazel-nut Child +The Story of Big Klaus and Little Klaus +Prince Ring +The Swineherd +How to tell a True Princess +The Blue Mountains +The Tinder-box +The Witch in the Stone Boat +Thumbelina +The Nightingale +Hermod and Hadvor +The Steadfast Tin-soldier +Blockhead Hans +A Story about a Darning-needle + + + +THE YELLOW FAIRY BOOK + + +THE CAT AND THE MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP + +A cat had made acquaintance with a mouse, and had spoken so much +of the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at last +the Mouse consented to live in the same house with her, and to go +shares in the housekeeping. 'But we must provide for the winter +or else we shall suffer hunger,' said the Cat. 'You, little +Mouse, cannot venture everywhere in case you run at last into a +trap.' This good counsel was followed, and a little pot of fat +was bought. But they did not know where to put it. At length, +after long consultation, the Cat said, 'I know of no place where +it could be better put than in the church. No one will trouble +to take it away from there. We will hide it in a corner, and we +won't touch it till we are in want.' So the little pot was +placed in safety; but it was not long before the Cat had a great +longing for it, and said to the Mouse, 'I wanted to tell you, +little Mouse, that my cousin has a little son, white with brown +spots, and she wants me to be godmother to it. Let me go out +to-day, and do you take care of the house alone.' + +'Yes, go certainly,' replied the Mouse, 'and when you eat +anything good, think of me; I should very much like a drop of the +red christening wine.' + +But it was all untrue. The Cat had no cousin, and had not been +asked to be godmother. She went straight to the church, slunk to +the little pot of fat, began to lick it, and licked the top off. +Then she took a walk on the roofs of the town, looked at the +view, stretched herself out in the sun, and licked her lips +whenever she thought of the little pot of fat. As soon as it was +evening she went home again. + +'Ah, here you are again!' said the Mouse; 'you must certainly +have had an enjoyable day.' + +'It went off very well,' answered the Cat. + +'What was the child's name?' asked the Mouse. + +'Top Off,' said the Cat drily. + +'Topoff!' echoed the Mouse, 'it is indeed a wonderful and curious +name. Is it in your family?' + +'What is there odd about it?' said the Cat. 'It is not worse +than Breadthief, as your godchild is called.' + +Not long after this another great longing came over the Cat. She +said to the Mouse, 'You must again be kind enough to look after +the house alone, for I have been asked a second time to stand +godmother, and as this child has a white ring round its neck, I +cannot refuse.' + +The kind Mouse agreed, but the Cat slunk under the town wall to +the church, and ate up half of the pot of fat. 'Nothing tastes +better,' said she, 'than what one eats by oneself,' and she was +very much pleased with her day's work. When she came home the +Mouse asked, 'What was this child called?' + +'Half Gone,' answered the Cat. + +'Halfgone! what a name! I have never heard it in my life. I +don't believe it is in the calendar.' + +Soon the Cat's mouth began to water once more after her licking +business. 'All good things in threes,' she said to the Mouse; 'I +have again to stand godmother. The child is quite black, and has +very white paws, but not a single white hair on its body. This +only happens once in two years, so you will let me go out?' + +'Topoff! Halfgone!' repeated the Mouse, 'they are such curious +names; they make me very thoughtful.' + +'Oh, you sit at home in your dark grey coat and your long tail,' +said the Cat, 'and you get fanciful. That comes of not going out +in the day.' + +The Mouse had a good cleaning out while the Cat was gone, and +made the house tidy; but the greedy Cat ate the fat every bit up. + +'When it is all gone one can be at rest,' she said to herself, +and at night she came home sleek and satisfied. The Mouse asked +at once after the third child's name. + +'It won't please you any better,' said the Cat, 'he was called +Clean Gone.' + +'Cleangone!' repeated the Mouse. 'I do not believe that name has +been printed any more than the others. Cleangone! What can it +mean?' She shook her head, curled herself up, and went to sleep. + +From this time on no one asked the Cat to stand godmother; but +when the winter came and there was nothing to be got outside, the +Mouse remembered their provision and said, 'Come, Cat, we will go +to our pot of fat which we have stored away; it will taste very +good.' + +'Yes, indeed,' answered the Cat; ' it will taste as good to you +as if you stretched your thin tongue out of the window.' + +They started off, and when they reached it they found the pot in +its place, but quite empty! + +'Ah,' said the Mouse,' 'now I know what has happened! It has all +come out! You are a true friend to me! You have eaten it all +when you stood godmother; first the top off, then half of it +gone, then----' + +'Will you be quiet!' screamed the Cat. 'Another word and I will +eat you up.' + +'Cleangone' was already on the poor Mouse's tongue, and scarcely +was it out than the Cat made a spring at her, seized and +swallowed her. + +You see that is the way of the world. + + + +THE SIX SWANS + +A king was once hunting in a great wood, and he hunted the game +so eagerly that none of his courtiers could follow him. When +evening came on he stood still and looked round him, and he saw +that he had quite lost himself. He sought a way out, but could +find none. Then he saw an old woman with a shaking head coming +towards him; but she was a witch. + +'Good woman,' he said to her, 'can you not show me the way out of +the wood?' + +'Oh, certainly, Sir King,' she replied, 'I can quite well do +that, but on one condition, which if you do not fulfil you will +never get out of the wood, and will die of hunger.' + +'What is the condition?' asked the King. + +'I have a daughter,' said the old woman, 'who is so beautiful +that she has not her equal in the world, and is well fitted to be +your wife; if you will make her lady-queen I will show you the +way out of the wood.' + +The King in his anguish of mind consented, and the old woman led +him to her little house where her daughter was sitting by the +fire. She received the King as if she were expecting him, and he +saw that she was certainly very beautiful; but she did not please +him, and he could not look at her without a secret feeling of +horror. As soon as he had lifted the maiden on to his horse the +old woman showed him the way, and the King reached his palace, +where the wedding was celebrated. + +The King had already been married once, and had by his first wife +seven children, six boys and one girl, whom he loved more than +anything in the world. And now, because he was afraid that their +stepmother might not treat them well and might do them harm, he +put them in a lonely castle that stood in the middle of a wood. +It lay so hidden, and the way to it was so hard to find, that he +himself could not have found it out had not a wise-woman given +him a reel of thread which possessed a marvellous property: when +he threw it before him it unwound itself and showed him the way. +But the King went so often to his dear children that the Queen +was offended at his absence. She grew curious, and wanted to +know what he had to do quite alone in the wood. She gave his +servants a great deal of money, and they betrayed the secret to +her, and also told her of the reel which alone could point out +the way. She had no rest now till she had found out where the +King guarded the reel, and then she made some little white +shirts, and, as she had learnt from her witch-mother, sewed an +enchantment in each of them. + +And when the King had ridden off she took the little shirts and +went into the wood, and the reel showed her the way. The +children, who saw someone coming in the distance, thought it was +their dear father coming to them, and sprang to meet him very +joyfully. Then she threw over each one a little shirt, which +when it had touched their bodies changed them into swans, and +they flew away over the forest. The Queen went home quite +satisfied, and thought she had got rid of her step-children; but +the girl had not run to meet her with her brothers, and she knew +nothing of her. + +The next day the King came to visit his children, but he found no +one but the girl. + +'Where are your brothers?' asked the King. + +'Alas! dear father,' she answered, 'they have gone away and left +me all alone.' And she told him that looking out of her little +window she had seen her brothers flying over the wood in the +shape of swans, and she showed him the feathers which they had +let fall in the yard, and which she had collected. The King +mourned, but he did not think that the Queen had done the wicked +deed, and as he was afraid the maiden would also be taken from +him, he wanted to take her with him. But she was afraid of the +stepmother, and begged the King to let her stay just one night +more in the castle in the wood. The poor maiden thought, 'My +home is no longer here; I will go and seek my brothers.' And +when night came she fled away into the forest. She ran all +through the night and the next day, till she could go no farther +for weariness. Then she saw a little hut, went in, and found a +room with six little beds. She was afraid to lie down on one, so +she crept under one of them, lay on the hard floor, and was going +to spend the night there. But when the sun had set she heard a +noise, and saw six swans flying in at the window. They stood on +the floor and blew at one another, and blew all their feathers +off, and their swan-skin came off like a shirt. Then the maiden +recognised her brothers, and overjoyed she crept out from under +the bed. Her brothers were not less delighted than she to see +their little sister again, but their joy did not last long. + +'You cannot stay here,' they said to her. 'This is a den of +robbers; if they were to come here and find you they would kill +you.' + +'Could you not protect me?' asked the little sister. + +'No,' they answered, 'for we can only lay aside our swan skins +for a quarter of an hour every evening. For this time we regain +our human forms, but then we are changed into swans again.' + +Then the little sister cried and said, 'Can you not be freed?' + +'Oh, no,' they said, 'the conditions are too hard. You must not +speak or laugh for six years, and must make in that time six +shirts for us out of star-flowers. If a single word comes out of +your mouth, all your labour is vain.' And when the brothers had +said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew +away out of the window as swans. + +But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it +should cost her her life. She left the hut, went into the +forest, climbed a tree, and spent the night there. The next +morning she went out, collected star-flowers, and began to sew. +She could speak to no one, and she had no wish to laugh, so she +sat there, looking only at her work. + +When she had lived there some time, it happened that the King of +the country was hunting in the forest, and his hunters came to +the tree on which the maiden sat. They called to her and said +'Who are you?' + +But she gave no answer. + +'Come down to us,' they said, 'we will do you no harm.' + +But she shook her head silently. As they pressed her further +with questions, she threw them the golden chain from her neck. +But they did not leave off, and she threw them her girdle, and +when this was no use, her garters, and then her dress. The +huntsmen would not leave her alone, but climbed the tree, lifted +the maiden down, and led her to the King. The King asked, 'Who +are you? What are you doing up that tree?' + +But she answered nothing. + +He asked her in all the languages he knew, but she remained as +dumb as a fish. Because she was so beautiful, however, the +King's heart was touched, and he was seized with a great love for +her. He wrapped her up in his cloak, placed her before him on +his horse. and brought her to his castle. There he had her +dressed in rich clothes, and her beauty shone out as bright as +day, but not a word could be drawn from her. He set her at table +by his side, and her modest ways and behaviour pleased him so +much that he said, 'I will marry this maiden and none other in +the world,' and after some days he married her. But the King had +a wicked mother who was displeased with the marriage, and said +wicked things of the young Queen. 'Who knows who this girl is?' +she said; 'she cannot speak, and is not worthy of a king.' + +After a year, when the Queen had her first child, the old mother +took it away from her. Then she went to the King and said that +the Queen had killed it. The King would not believe it, and +would not allow any harm to be done her. But she sat quietly +sewing at the shirts and troubling herself about nothing. The +next time she had a child the wicked mother did the same thing, +but the King could not make up his mind to believe her. He said, +'She is too sweet and good to do such a thing as that. If she +were not dumb and could defend herself, her innocence would be +proved.' But when the third child was taken away, and the Queen +was again accused, and could not utter a word in her own defence, +the King was obliged to give her over to the law, which decreed +that she must be burnt to death. When the day came on which the +sentence was to be executed, it was the last day of the six years +in which she must not speak or laugh, and now she had freed her +dear brothers from the power of the enchantment. The six shirts +were done; there was only the left sleeve wanting to the last. + +When she was led to the stake, she laid the shirts on her arm, +and as she stood on the pile and the fire was about to be +lighted, she looked around her and saw six swans flying through +the air. Then she knew that her release was at hand and her +heart danced for joy. The swans fluttered round her, and hovered +low so that she could throw the shirts over them. When they had +touched them the swan-skins fell off, and her brothers stood +before her living, well and beautiful. Only the youngest had a +swan's wing instead of his left arm. They embraced and kissed +each other, and the Queen went to the King, who was standing by +in great astonishment, and began to speak to him, saying, +'Dearest husband, now I can speak and tell you openly that I am +innocent and have been falsely accused.' + +She told him of the old woman's deceit, and how she had taken the +three children away and hidden them. Then they were fetched, to +the great joy of the King, and the wicked mother came to no good +end. + +But the King and the Queen with their six brothers lived many +years in happiness and peace. + + + +THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH[2] + +[2] 'Der Norlands Drache,' from Esthnische Mahrchen. Kreutzwald, + +Very long ago, as old people have told me, there lived a terrible +monster, who came out of the North, and laid waste whole tracts +of country, devouring both men and beasts; and this monster was +so destructive that it was feared that unless help came no living +creature would be left on the face of the earth. It had a body +like an ox, and legs like a frog, two short fore-legs, and two +long ones behind, and besides that it had a tail like a serpent, +ten fathoms in length. When it moved it jumped like a frog, and +with every spring it covered half a mile of ground. Fortunately +its habit, was to remain for several years in the same place, and +not to move on till the whole neighbourhood was eaten up. +Nothing could hunt it, because its whole body was covered with +scales, which were harder than stone or metal; its two great eyes +shone by night, and even by day, like the brightest lamps, and +anyone who had the ill luck to look into those eyes became as it +were bewitched, and was obliged to rush of his own accord into +the monster's jaws. In this way the Dragon was able to feed upon +both men and beasts without the least trouble to itself, as it +needed not to move from the spot where it was lying. All the +neighbouring kings had offered rich rewards to anyone who should +be able to destroy the monster, either by force or enchantment, +and many had tried their luck, but all had miserably failed. +Once a great forest in which the Dragon lay had been set on fire; +the forest was burnt down, but the fire did not do the monster +the least harm. However, there was a tradition amongst the wise +men of the country that the Dragon might be overcome by one who +possessed King Solomon's signet-ring, upon which a secret writing +was engraved. This inscription would enable anyone who was wise +enough to interpret it to find out how the Dragon could be +destroyed. Only no one knew where the ring was hidden, nor was +there any sorcerer or learned man to be found who would be able +to explain the inscription. + +At last a young man, with a good heart and plenty of courage, set +out to search for the ring. He took his way towards the +sunrising, because he knew that all the wisdom of old time comes +from the East. After some years he met with a famous Eastern +magician, and asked for his advice in the matter. The magician +answered: + +'Mortal men have but little wisdom, and can give you no help, but +the birds of the air would be better guides to you if you could +learn their language. I can help you to understand it if you +will stay with me a few days.' + +The youth thankfully accepted the magician's offer, and said, 'I +cannot now offer you any reward for your kindness, but should my +undertaking succeed your trouble shall be richly repaid.' + +Then the magician brewed a powerful potion out of nine sorts of +herbs which he had gathered himself all alone by moonlight, and +he gave the youth nine spoonfuls of it daily for three days, +which made him able to understand the language of birds. + +At parting the magician said to him. 'If you ever find Solomon's +ring and get possession of it, then come back to me, that I may +explain the inscription on the ring to you, for there is no one +else in the world who can do this.' + +From that time the youth never felt lonely as he walked along; he +always had company, because he understood the language of birds; +and in this way he learned many things which mere human knowledge +could never have taught him. But time went on, and he heard +nothing about the ring. It happened one evening, when he was hot +and tired with walking, and had sat down under a tree in a forest +to eat his supper, that he saw two gaily-plumaged birds, that +were strange to him, sitting at the top of the tree talking to +one another about him. The first bird said: + +'I know that wandering fool under the tree there, who has come so +far without finding what he seeks. He is trying to find King +Solomon's lost ring.' + +The other bird answered, 'He will have to seek help from the +Witch-maiden,[3] who will doubtless be able to put him on the +right track. If she has not got the ring herself, she knows well +enough who has it.' + +[3] Hollenmadchen. + + +'But where is he to find the Witch-maiden?' said the first bird. +'She has no settled dwelling, but is here to-day and gone +to-morrow. He might as well try to catch the wind.' + +The other replied, 'I do not know, certainly, where she is at +present, but in three nights from now she will come to the spring +to wash her face, as she does every month when the moon is full, +in order that she may never grow old nor wrinkled, but may always +keep the bloom of youth.' + +'Well,' said the first bird, 'the spring is not far from here. +Shall we go and see how it is she does it?' + +'Willingly, if you like,' said the other. + +The youth immediately resolved to follow the birds to the spring, +only two things made him uneasy: first, lest he might be asleep +when the birds went, and secondly, lest he might lose sight of +them, since he had not wings to carry him along so swiftly. He +was too tired to keep awake all night, yet his anxiety prevented +him from sleeping soundly, and when with the earliest dawn he +looked up to the tree-top, he was glad to see his feathered +companions still asleep with their heads under their wings. He +ate his breakfast, and waited until the birds should start, but +they did not leave the place all day. They hopped about from one +tree to another looking for food, all day long until the evening, +when they went back to their old perch to sleep. The next day +the same thing happened, but on the third morning one bird said +to the other, 'To-day we must go to the spring to see the +Witch-maiden wash her face.' They remained on the tree till +noon; then they flew away and went towards the south. The young +man's heart beat with anxiety lest he should lose sight of his +guides, but he managed to keep the birds in view until they again +perched upon a tree. The young man ran after them until he was +quite exhausted and out of breath, and after three short rests +the birds at length reached a small open space in the forest, on +the edge of which they placed themselves on the top of a high +tree. When the youth had overtaken them, he saw that there was a +clear spring in the middle of the space. He sat down at the foot +of the tree upon which the birds were perched, and listened +attentively to what they were saying to each other. + +'The sun is not down yet,' said the first bird; 'we must wait yet +awhile till the moon rises and the maiden comes to the spring. +Do you think she will see that young man sitting under the tree?' + +'Nothing is likely to escape her eyes, certainly not a young man, +said the other bird. 'Will the youth have the sense not to let +himself be caught in her toils?' + +'We will wait,' said the first bird, 'and see how they get on +together.' + +The evening light had quite faded, and the full moon was already +shining down upon the forest, when the young man heard a slight +rustling sound. After a few moments there came out of the forest +a maiden, gliding over the grass so lightly that her feet seemed +scarcely to touch the ground, and stood beside the spring. The +youth could not turn away his eyes from the maiden, for he had +never in his life seen a woman so beautiful. Without seeming to +notice anything, she went to the spring, looked up to the full +moon, then knelt down and bathed her face nine times, then looked +up to the moon again and walked nine times round the well, and as +she walked she sang this song: + + 'Full-faced moon with light unshaded, + Let my beauty ne'er be faded. + Never let my cheek grow pale! + While the moon is waning nightly, + May the maiden bloom more brightly, + May her freshness never fail!' + +Then she dried her face with her long hair, and was about to go +away, when her eye suddenly fell upon the spot where the young +man was sitting, and she turned towards the tree. The youth rose +and stood waiting. Then the maiden said, 'You ought to have a +heavy punishment because you have presumed to watch my secret +doings in the moonlight. But I will forgive you this time, +because you are a stranger and knew no better. But you must tell +me truly who you are and how you came to this place, where no +mortal has ever set foot before.' + +The youth answered humbly: 'Forgive me, beautiful maiden, if I +have unintentionally offended you. I chanced to come here after +long wandering, and found a good place to sleep under this tree. +At your coming I did not know what to do, but stayed where I was, +because I thought my silent watching could not offend you.' + +The maiden answered kindly, 'Come and spend this night with us. +You will sleep better on a pillow than on damp moss.' + +The youth hesitated for a little, but presently he heard the +birds saying from the top of the tree, 'Go where she calls you, +but take care to give no blood, or you will sell your soul.' So +the youth went with her, and soon they reached a beautiful +garden, where stood a splendid house, which glittered in the +moonlight as if it was all built out of gold and silver. When +the youth entered he found many splendid chambers, each one finer +than the last. Hundreds of tapers burnt upon golden +candlesticks, and shed a light like the brightest day. At length +they reached a chamber where a table was spread with the most +costly dishes. At the table were placed two chairs, one of +silver, the other of gold. The maiden seated herself upon the +golden chair, and offered the silver one to her companion. They +were served by maidens dressed in white, whose feet made no sound +as they moved about, and not a word was spoken during the meal. +Afterwards the youth and the Witch-maiden conversed pleasantly +together, until a woman, dressed in red, came in to remind them +that it was bedtime. The youth was now shown into another room, +containing a silken bed with down cushions, where he slept +delightfully, yet he seemed to hear a voice near his bed which +repeated to him, 'Remember to give no blood!' + +The next morning the maiden asked him whether he would not like +to stay with her always in this beautiful place, and as he did +not answer immediately, she continued: 'You see how I always +remain young and beautiful, and I am under no one's orders, but +can do just what I like, so that I have never thought of marrying +before. But from the moment I saw you I took a fancy to you, so +if you agree, we might be married and might live together like +princes, because I have great riches.' + +The youth could not but be tempted with the beautiful maiden's +offer, but he remembered how the birds had called her the witch, +and their warning always sounded in his ears. Therefore he +answered cautiously, 'Do not be angry, dear maiden, if I do not +decide immediately on this important matter. Give me a few days +to consider before we come to an understanding.' + +'Why not?' answered the maiden. 'Take some weeks to consider if +you like, and take counsel with your own heart.' And to make the +time pass pleasantly, she took the youth over every part of her +beautiful dwelling, and showed him all her splendid treasures. +But these treasures were all produced by enchantment, for the +maiden could make anything she wished appear by the help of King +Solomon's signet ring; only none of these things remained fixed; +they passed away like the wind without leaving a trace behind. +But the youth did not know this; he thought they were all real. + +One day the maiden took him into a secret chamber, where a little +gold box was standing on a silver table. Pointing to the box, +she said, 'Here is my greatest treasure, whose like is not to be +found in the whole world. It is a precious gold ring. When you +marry me, I will give you this ring as a marriage gift, and it +will make you the happiest of mortal men. But in order that our +love may last for ever, you must give me for the ring three drops +of blood from the little finger of your left hand.' + +When the youth heard these words a cold shudder ran over him, for +he remembered that his soul was at stake. He was cunning enough, +however, to conceal his feelings and to make no direct answer, +but he only asked the maiden, as if carelessly, what was +remarkable about the ring? + +She answered, 'No mortal is able entirely to understand the power +of this ring, because no one thoroughly understands the secret +signs engraved upon it. But even with my half-knowledge I can +work great wonders. If I put the ring upon the little finger of +my left hand, then I can fly like a bird through the air wherever +I wish to go. If I put it on the third finger of my left hand I +am invisible, and I can see everything that passes around me, +though no one can see me. If I put the ring upon the middle +finger of my left hand, then neither fire nor water nor any sharp +weapon can hurt me. If I put it on the forefinger of my left +hand, then I can with its help produce whatever I wish. I can in +a single moment build houses or anything I desire. Finally, as +long as I wear the ring on the thumb of my left hand, that hand +is so strong that it can break down rocks and walls. Besides +these, the ring has other secret signs which, as I said, no one +can understand. No doubt it contains secrets of great +importance. The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the +wisest of kings, during whose reign the wisest men lived. But it +is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it +is supposed that an angel gave it to the wise King.' + +When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get +possession of the ring, though he did not quite believe in all +its wonderful gifts. He wished the maiden would let him have it +in his hand, but he did not quite like to ask her to do so, and +after a while she put it back into the box. A few days after +they were again speaking of the magic ring, and the youth said, +'I do not think it possible that the ring can have all the power +you say it has.' + +Then the maiden opened the box and took the ring out, and it +glittered as she held it like the clearest sunbeam. She put it +on the middle finger of her left hand, and told the youth to take +a knife and try as hard as he could to cut her with it, for he +would not be able to hurt her. He was unwilling at first, but +the maiden insisted. Then he tried, at first only in play, and +then seriously, to strike her with the knife, but an invisible +wall of iron seemed to be between them, and the maiden stood +before him laughing and unhurt. Then she put the ring on her +third finger, and in an instant she had vanished from his eyes. +Presently she was beside him again laughing, and holding the ring +between her fingers. + +'Do let me try,' said the youth, 'whether I can do these +wonderful things.' + +The maiden, suspecting no treachery, gave him the magic ring. + +The youth pretended to have forgotten what to do, and asked what +finger he must put the ring on so that no sharp weapon could hurt +him?' + +'Oh, the middle finger of your left hand,' the maiden answered, +laughing. + +She took the knife and tried to strike the youth, and he even +tried to cut himself with it, but found it impossible. Then he +asked the maiden to show him how to split stones and rocks with +the help of the ring. So she led him into a courtyard where +stood a great boulder-stone. 'Now,' she said, 'put the ring upon +the thumb of your left hand, and you will see how strong that +hand has become. The youth did so, and found to his astonishment +that with a single blow of his fist the stone flew into a +thousand pieces. Then the youth bethought him that he who does +not use his luck when he has it is a fool, and that this was a +chance which once lost might never return. So while they stood +laughing at the shattered stone he placed the ring, as if in +play, upon the third finger of his left hand. + +'Now,' said the maiden, 'you are invisible to me until you take +the ring off again.' + +But the youth had no mind to do that; on the contrary, he went +farther off, then put the ring on the little finger of his left +hand, and soared into the air like a bird. + +When the maiden saw him flying away she thought at first that he +was still in play, and cried, 'Come back, friend, for now you see +I have told you the truth.' But the young man never came back. + +Then the maiden saw she was deceived, and bitterly repented that +she had ever trusted him with the ring. + +The young man never halted in his flight until he reached the +dwelling of the wise magician who had taught him the speech of +birds. The magician was delighted to find that his search had +been successful, and at once set to work to interpret the secret +signs engraved upon the ring, but it took him seven weeks to make +them out clearly. Then he gave the youth the following +instructions how to overcome the Dragon of the North: 'You must +have an iron horse cast, which must have little wheels under each +foot. You must also be armed with a spear two fathoms long, +which you will be able to wield by means of the magic ring upon +your left thumb. The spear must be as thick in the middle as a +large tree, and both its ends must be sharp. In the middle of +the spear you must have two strong chains ten fathoms in length. +As soon as the Dragon has made himself fast to the spear, which +you must thrust through his jaws, you must spring quickly from +the iron horse and fasten the ends of the chains firmly to the +ground with iron stakes, so that he cannot get away from them. +After two or three days the monster's strength will be so far +exhausted that you will be able to come near him. Then you can +put Solomon's ring upon your left thumb and give him the +finishing stroke, but keep the ring on your third finger until +you have come close to him, so that the monster cannot see you, +else he might strike you dead with his long tail. But when all +is done, take care you do not lose the ring, and that no one +takes it from you by cunning.' + +The young man thanked the magician for his directions, and +promised, should they succeed, to reward him. But the magician +answered, 'I have profited so much by the wisdom the ring has +taught me that I desire no other reward.' Then they parted, and +the youth quickly flew home through the air. After remaining in +his own home for some weeks, he heard people say that the +terrible Dragon of the North was not far off, and might shortly +be expected in the country. The King announced publicly that he +would give his daughter in marriage, as well as a large part of +his kingdom, to whosoever should free the country from the +monster. The youth then went to the King and told him that he +had good hopes of subduing the Dragon, if the King would grant +him all he desired for the purpose. The King willingly agreed, +and the iron horse, the great spear, and the chains were all +prepared as the youth requested. When all was ready, it was +found that the iron horse was so heavy that a hundred men could +not move it from the spot, so the youth found there was nothing +for it but to move it with his own strength by means of the +magic ring. The Dragon was now so near that in a couple of +springs he would be over the frontier. The youth now began to +consider how he should act, for if he had to push the iron horse +from behind he could not ride upon it as the sorcerer had said he +must. But a raven unexpectedly gave him this advice: 'Ride upon +the horse, and push the spear against the ground, as if you were +pushing off a boat from the land.' The youth did so, and found +that in this way he could easily move forwards. The Dragon had +his monstrous jaws wide open, all ready for his expected prey. A +few paces nearer, and man and horse would have been swallowed up +by them! The youth trembled with horror, and his blood ran cold, +yet he did not lose his courage; but, holding the iron spear +upright in his hand, he brought it down with all his might right +through the monster's lower jaw. Then quick as lightning he +sprang from his horse before the Dragon had time to shut his +mouth. A fearful clap like thunder, which could be heard for +miles around, now warned him that the Dragon's jaws had closed +upon the spear. When the youth turned round he saw the point of +the spear sticking up high above the Dragon's upper jaw, and knew +that the other end must be fastened firmly to the ground; but the +Dragon had got his teeth fixed in the iron horse, which was now +useless. The youth now hastened to fasten down the chains to the +ground by means of the enormous iron pegs which he had provided. +The death struggle of the monster lasted three days and three +nights; in his writhing he beat his tail so violently against the +ground, that at ten miles' distance the earth trembled as if with +an earthquake. When he at length lost power to move his tail, +the youth with the help of the ring took up a stone which twenty +ordinary men could not have moved, and beat the Dragon so hard +about the head with it that very soon the monster lay lifeless +before him. + +You can fancy how great was the rejoicing when the news was +spread abroad that the terrible monster was dead. His conqueror +was received into the city with as much pomp as if he had been +the mightiest of kings. The old King did not need to urge his +daughter to marry the slayer of the Dragon; he found her already +willing to bestow her hand upon this hero, who had done all alone +what whole armies had tried in vain to do. In a few days a +magnificent wedding was celebrated, at which the rejoicings +lasted four whole weeks, for all the neighbouring kings had met +together to thank the man who had freed the world from their +common enemy. But everyone forgot amid the general joy that they +ought to have buried the Dragon's monstrous body, for it began +now to have such a bad smell that no one could live in the +neighbourhood, and before long the whole air was poisoned, and a +pestilence broke out which destroyed many hundreds of people. In +this distress, the King's son-in-law resolved to seek help once +more from the Eastern magician, to whom he at once travelled +through the air like a bird by the help of the ring. But there +is a proverb which says that ill-gotten gains never prosper, and +the Prince found that the stolen ring brought him ill-luck after +all. The Witch-maiden had never rested night nor day until she +had found out where the ring was. As soon as she had discovered +by means of magical arts that the Prince in the form of a bird +was on his way to the Eastern magician, she changed herself into +an eagle and watched in the air until the bird she was waiting +for came in sight, for she knew him at once by the ring which was +hung round his neck by a ribbon. Then the eagle pounced upon the +bird, and the moment she seized him in her talons she tore the +ring from his neck before the man in bird's shape had time to +prevent her. Then the eagle flew down to the earth with her +prey, and the two stood face to face once more in human form. + +'Now, villain, you are in my power!' cried the Witch-maiden. 'I +favoured you with my love, and you repaid me with treachery and +theft. You stole my most precious jewel from me, and do you +expect to live happily as the King's son-in-law? Now the tables +are turned; you are in my power, and I will be revenged on you +for your crimes.' + +'Forgive me! forgive me!' cried the Prince; 'I know too well how +deeply I have wronged you, and most heartily do I repent it.' + +The maiden answered, 'Your prayers and your repentance come too +late, and if I were to spare you everyone would think me a fool. +You have doubly wronged me; first you scorned my love, and then +you stole my ring, and you must bear the punishment.' + +With these words she put the ring upon her left thumb, lifted the +young man with one hand, and walked away with him under her arm. +This time she did not take him to a splendid palace, but to a +deep cave in a rock, where there were chains hanging from the +wall. The maiden now chained the young man's hands and feet so +that he could not escape; then she said in an angry voice, 'Here +you shall remain chained up until you die. I will bring you +every day enough food to prevent you dying of hunger, but you +need never hope for freedom any more.' With these words she left +him. + +The old King and his daughter waited anxiously for many weeks for +the Prince's return, but no news of him arrived. The King's +daughter often dreamed that her husband was going through some +great suffering: she therefore begged her father to summon all +the enchanters and magicians, that they might try to find out +where the Prince was and how he could be set free. But the +magicians, with all their arts, could find out nothing, except +that he was still living and undergoing great suffering; but none +could tell where he was to be found. At last a celebrated +magician from Finland was brought before the King, who had found +out that the King's son-in-law was imprisoned in the East, not by +men, but by some more powerful being. The King now sent +messengers to the East to look for his son-in-law, and they by +good luck met with the old magician who had interpreted the signs +on King Solomon's ring, and thus was possessed of more wisdom +than anyone else in the world. The magician soon found out what +he wished to know, and pointed out the place where the Prince was +imprisoned, but said: 'He is kept there by enchantment, and +cannot be set free without my help. I will therefore go with you +myself.' + +So they all set out, guided by birds, and after some days came to +the cave where the unfortunate Prince had been chained up for +nearly seven years. He recognised the magician immediately, but +the old man did not know him, he had grown so thin. However, he +undid the chains by the help of magic, and took care of the +Prince until he recovered and became strong enough to travel. +When he reached home he found that the old King had died that +morning, so that he was now raised to the throne. And now after +his long suffering came prosperity, which lasted to the end of +his life; but he never got back the magic ring, nor has it ever +again been seen by mortal eyes. + +Now, if YOU had been the Prince, would you not rather have stayed +with the pretty witch-maiden? + + + +STORY OF THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES[4] + +[4] Andersen. + +Many years ago there lived an Emperor who was so fond of new +clothes that he spent all his money on them in order to be +beautifully dressed. He did not care about his soldiers, he did +not care about the theatre; he only liked to go out walking to +show off his new clothes. He had a coat for every hour of the +day; and just as they say of a king, 'He is in the +council-chamber,' they always said here, 'The Emperor is in the +wardrobe.' + +In the great city in which he lived there was always something +going on; every day many strangers came there. One day two +impostors arrived who gave themselves out as weavers, and said +that they knew how to manufacture the most beautiful cloth +imaginable. Not only were the texture and pattern uncommonly +beautiful, but the clothes which were made of the stuff possessed +this wonderful property that they were invisible to anyone who +was not fit for his office, or who was unpardonably stupid. + +'Those must indeed be splendid clothes,' thought the Emperor. +'If I had them on I could find out which men in my kingdom are +unfit for the offices they hold; I could distinguish the wise +from the stupid! Yes, this cloth must be woven for me at once.' +And he gave both the impostors much money, so that they might +begin their work. + +They placed two weaving-looms, and began to do as if they were +working, but they had not the least thing on the looms. They +also demanded the finest silk and the best gold, which they put +in their pockets, and worked at the empty looms till late into +the night. + +'I should like very much to know how far they have got on with +the cloth,' thought the Emperor. But he remembered when he +thought about it that whoever was stupid or not fit for his +office would not be able to see it. Now he certainly believed +that he had nothing to fear for himself, but he wanted first to +send somebody else in order to see how he stood with regard to +his office. Everybody in the whole town knew what a wonderful +power the cloth had, and they were all curious to see how bad or +how stupid their neighbour was. + +'I will send my old and honoured minister to the weavers,' +thought the Emperor. 'He can judge best what the cloth is like, +for he has intellect, and no one understands his office better +than he.' + +Now the good old minister went into the hall where the two +impostors sat working at the empty weaving-looms. 'Dear me!' +thought the old minister, opening his eyes wide, 'I can see +nothing!' But he did not say so. + +Both the impostors begged him to be so kind as to step closer, +and asked him if it were not a beautiful texture and lovely +colours. They pointed to the empty loom, and the poor old +minister went forward rubbing his eyes; but he could see nothing, +for there was nothing there. + +'Dear, dear!' thought he, 'can I be stupid? I have never thought +that, and nobody must know it! Can I be not fit for my office? +No, I must certainly not say that I cannot see the cloth!' + +'Have you nothing to say about it?' asked one of the men who was +weaving. + +'Oh, it is lovely, most lovely!' answered the old minister, +looking through his spectacles. 'What a texture! What colours! +Yes, I will tell the Emperor that it pleases me very much.' + +'Now we are delighted at that,' said both the weavers, and +thereupon they named the colours and explained the make of the +texture. + +The old minister paid great attention, so that he could tell the +same to the Emperor when he came back to him, which he did. + +The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to +use in their weaving. They put it all in their own pockets, and +there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had +done before, working at the empty loom. The Emperor soon sent +another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on, +and whether the cloth would soon be finished. It was the same +with him as the first one; he looked and looked, but because +there was nothing on the empty loom he could see nothing. + +'Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?' asked the two impostors, +and they pointed to and described the splendid material which was +not there. + +'Stupid I am not!' thought the man, 'so it must be my good office +for which I am not fitted. It is strange, certainly, but no one +must be allowed to notice it.' And so he praised the cloth which +he did not see, and expressed to them his delight at the +beautiful colours and the splendid texture. 'Yes, it is quite +beautiful,' he said to the Emperor. + +Everybody in the town was talking of the magnificent cloth. + +Now the Emperor wanted to see it himself while it was still on +the loom. With a great crowd of select followers, amongst whom +were both the worthy statesmen who had already been there before, +he went to the cunning impostors, who were now weaving with all +their might, but without fibre or thread. + +'Is it not splendid!' said both the old statesmen who had already +been there. 'See, your Majesty, what a texture! What colours!' +And then they pointed to the empty loom, for they believed that +the others could see the cloth quite well. + +'What!' thought the Emperor, 'I can see nothing! This is indeed +horrible! Am I stupid? Am I not fit to be Emperor? That were +the most dreadful thing that could happen to me. Oh, it is very +beautiful,' he said. 'It has my gracious approval.' And then he +nodded pleasantly, and examined the empty loom, for he would not +say that he could see nothing. + +His whole Court round him looked and looked, and saw no more than +the others; but they said like the Emperor, 'Oh! it is +beautiful!' And they advised him to wear these new and +magnificent clothes for the first time at the great procession +which was soon to take place. 'Splendid! Lovely! Most +beautiful!' went from mouth to mouth; everyone seemed delighted +over them, and the Emperor gave to the impostors the title of +Court weavers to the Emperor. + +Throughout the whole of the night before the morning on which the +procession was to take place, the impostors were up and were +working by the light of over sixteen candles. The people could +see that they were very busy making the Emperor's new clothes +ready. They pretended they were taking the cloth from the loom, +cut with huge scissors in the air, sewed with needles without +thread, and then said at last, 'Now the clothes are finished!' + +The Emperor came himself with his most distinguished knights, and +each impostor held up his arm just as if he were holding +something, and said, 'See! here are the breeches! Here is the +coat! Here the cloak!' and so on. + +'Spun clothes are so comfortable that one would imagine one had +nothing on at all; but that is the beauty of it!' + +'Yes,' said all the knights, but they could see nothing, for +there was nothing there. + +'Will it please your Majesty graciously to take off your +clothes,' said the impostors, 'then we will put on the new +clothes, here before the mirror.' + +The Emperor took off all his clothes, and the impostors placed +themselves before him as if they were putting on each part of his +new clothes which was ready, and the Emperor turned and bent +himself in front of the mirror. + +'How beautifully they fit! How well they sit!' said everybody. +'What material! What colours! It is a gorgeous suit!' + +'They are waiting outside with the canopy which your Majesty is +wont to have borne over you in the procession,' announced the +Master of the Ceremonies. + +'Look, I am ready,' said the Emperor. 'Doesn't it sit well!' And +he turned himself again to the mirror to see if his finery was on +all right. + +The chamberlains who were used to carry the train put their hands +near the floor as if they were lifting up the train; then they +did as if they were holding something in the air. They would not +have it noticed that they could see nothing. + +So the Emperor went along in the procession under the splendid +canopy, and all the people in the streets and at the windows +said, 'How matchless are the Emperor's new clothes! That train +fastened to his dress, how beautifully it hangs!' + +No one wished it to be noticed that he could see nothing, for +then he would have been unfit for his office, or else very +stupid. None of the Emperor's clothes had met with such approval +as these had. + +'But he has nothing on!' said a little child at last. + +'Just listen to the innocent child!' said the father, and each +one whispered to his neighbour what the child had said. + +'But he has nothing on!' the whole of the people called out at +last. + +This struck the Emperor, for it seemed to him as if they were +right; but he thought to himself, 'I must go on with the +procession now. And the chamberlains walked along still more +uprightly, holding up the train which was not there at all. + + + +THE GOLDEN CRAB[5] + +[5] 'Prinz Krebs,' from Griechische Mahrchen. Schmidt. + +Once upon a time there was a fisherman who had a wife and three +children. Every morning he used to go out fishing, and whatever +fish he caught he sold to the King. One day, among the other +fishes, he caught a golden crab. When he came home he put all +the fishes together into a great dish, but he kept the Crab +separate because it shone so beautifully, and placed it upon a +high shelf in the cupboard. Now while the old woman, his wife, +was cleaning the fish, and had tucked up her gown so that her +feet were visible, she suddenly heard a voice, which said: + + 'Let down, let down thy petticoat + That lets thy feet be seen.' + +She turned round in surprise, and then she saw the little +creature, the Golden Crab. + +'What! You can speak, can you, you ridiculous crab?' she said, +for she was not quite pleased at the Crab's remarks. Then she +took him up and placed him on a dish. + +When her husband came home and they sat down to dinner, they +presently heard the Crab's little voice saying, 'Give me some +too.' They were all very much surprised, but they gave him +something to eat. When the old man came to take away the plate +which had contained the Crab's dinner, he found it full of gold, +and as the same thing happened every day he soon became very fond +of the Crab. + +One day the Crab said to the fisherman's wife, 'Go to the King +and tell him I wish to marry his younger daughter.' + +The old woman went accordingly, and laid the matter before the +King, who laughed a little at the notion of his daughter marrying +a crab, but did not decline the proposal altogether, because he +was a prudent monarch, and knew that the Crab was likely to be a +prince in disguise. He said, therefore, to the fisherman's wife, +'Go, old woman, and tell the Crab I will give him my daughter if +by to-morrow morning he can build a wall in front of my castle +much higher than my tower, upon which all the flowers of the +world must grow and bloom.' + +The fisherman's wife went home and gave this message. + +Then the Crab gave her a golden rod, and said, 'Go and strike +with this rod three times upon the ground on the place which the +King showed you, and to-morrow morning the wall will be there.' + +The old woman did so and went away again. + +The next morning, when the King awoke, what do you think he saw? +The wall stood there before his eyes, exactly as he had bespoken +it! + +Then the old woman went back to the King and said to him, 'Your +Majesty's orders have been fulfilled.' + +'That is all very well,' said the King, 'but I cannot give away +my daughter until there stands in front of my palace a garden in +which there are three fountains, of which the first must play +gold, the second diamonds, and the third brilliants.' + +So the old woman had to strike again three times upon the ground +with the rod, and the next morning the garden was there. The +King now gave his consent, and the wedding was fixed for the very +next day. + +Then the Crab said to the old fisherman, 'Now take this rod; go +and knock with it on a certain mountain; then a black man[6] will +come out and ask you what you wish for. Answer him thus: ''Your +master, the King, has sent me to tell you that you must send him +his golden garment that is like the sun.'' Make him give you, +besides, the queenly robes of gold and precious stones which are +like the flowery meadows, and bring them both to me. And bring +me also the golden cushion.' + +[6] Ein Mohr. + + +The old man went and did his errand. When he had brought the +precious robes, the Crab put on the golden garment and then crept +upon the golden cushion, and in this way the fisherman carried +him to the castle, where the Crab presented the other garment to +his bride. Now the ceremony took place, and when the married +pair were alone together the Crab made himself known to his young +wife, and told her how he was the son of the greatest king in the +world, and how he was enchanted, so that he became a crab by day +and was a man only at night; and he could also change himself +into an eagle as often as he wished. No sooner had he said this +than he shook himself, and immediately became a handsome youth, +but the next morning he was forced to creep back again into his +crab-shell. And the same thing happened every day. But the +Princess's affection for the Crab, and the polite attention with +which she behaved to him, surprised the royal family very much. +They suspected some secret, but though they spied and spied, they +could not discover it. Thus a year passed away, and the Princess +had a son, whom she called Benjamin. But her mother still +thought the whole matter very strange. At last she said to the +King that he ought to ask his daughter whether she would not like +to have another husband instead of the Crab? But when the +daughter was questioned she only answered: + +'I am married to the Crab, and him only will I have.' + +Then the King said to her, 'I will appoint a tournament in your +honour, and I will invite all the princes in the world to it, and +if any one of them pleases you, you shall marry him.' + +In the evening the Princess told this to the Crab, who said to +her, 'Take this rod, go to the garden gate and knock with it, +then a black man will come out and say to you, ''Why have you +called me, and what do you require of me?'' Answer him thus: +'Your master the King has sent me hither to tell you to send him +his golden armour and his steed and the silver apple.'' And bring +them to me.' + +The Princess did so, and brought him what he desired. + +The following evening the Prince dressed himself for the +tournament. Before he went he said to his wife, 'Now mind you do +not say when you see me that I am the Crab. For if you do this +evil will come of it. Place yourself at the window with your +sisters; I will ride by and throw you the silver apple. Take it +in your hand, but if they ask you who I am, say that you do not +know.' So saying, he kissed her, repeated his warning once more, +and went away. + +The Princess went with her sisters to the window and looked on at +the tournament. Presently her husband rode by and threw the +apple up to her. She caught it in her hand and went with it to +her room, and by-and-by her husband came back to her. But her +father was much surprised that she did not seem to care about any +of the Princes; he therefore appointed a second tournament. + +The Crab then gave his wife the same directions as before, only +this time the apple which she received from the black man was of +gold. But before the Prince went to the tournament he said to +his wife, 'Now I know you will betray me to-day.' + +But she swore to him that she would not tell who he was. He then +repeated his warning and went away. + +In the evening, while the Princess, with her mother and sisters, +was standing at the window, the Prince suddenly galloped past on +his steed and threw her the golden apple. + +Then her mother flew into a passion, gave her a box on the ear, +and cried out, 'Does not even that prince please you, you fool?' + +The Princess in her fright exclaimed, 'That is the Crab himself!' + +Her mother was still more angry because she had not been told +sooner, ran into her daughter's room where the crab-shell was +still lying, took it up and threw it into the fire. Then the +poor Princess cried bitterly, but it was of no use; her husband +did not come back. + +Now we must leave the Princess and turn to the other persons in +the story. One day an old man went to a stream to dip in a crust +of bread which he was going to eat, when a dog came out of the +water, snatched the bread from his hand, and ran away. The old +man ran after him, but the dog reached a door, pushed it open, +and ran in, the old man following him. He did not overtake the +dog, but found himself above a staircase, which he descended. +Then he saw before him a stately palace, and, entering, he found +in a large hall a table set for twelve persons. He hid himself +in the hall behind a great picture, that he might see what would +happen. At noon he heard a great noise, so that he trembled with +fear. When he took courage to look out from behind the picture, +he saw twelve eagles flying in. At this sight his fear became +still greater. The eagles flew to the basin of a fountain that +was there and bathed themselves, when suddenly they were changed +into twelve handsome youths. Now they seated themselves at the +table, and one of them took up a goblet filled with wine, and +said, 'A health to my father!' And another said, 'A health to my +mother!' and so the healths went round. Then one of them said: + + 'A health to my dearest lady, + Long may she live and well! + But a curse on the cruel mother + That burnt my golden shell!' + +And so saying he wept bitterly. Then the youths rose from the +table, went back to the great stone fountain, turned themselves +into eagles again, and flew away. + +Then the old man went away too, returned to the light of day, and +went home. Soon after he heard that the Princess was ill, and +that the only thing that did her good was having stories told to +her. He therefore went to the royal castle, obtained an audience +of the Princess, and told her about the strange things he bad +seen in the underground palace. No sooner had he finished than +the Princess asked him whether he could find the way to that +palace. + +'Yes,' he answered, 'certainly.' + +And now she desired him to guide her thither at once. The old +man did so, and when they came to the palace he hid her behind +the great picture and advised her to keep quite still, and he +placed himself behind the picture also. Presently the eagles +came flying in, and changed themselves into young men, and in a +moment the Princess recognised her husband amongst them all, and +tried to come out of her hiding-place; but the old man held her +back. The youths seated themselves at the table; and now the +Prince said again, while he took up the cup of wine: + + 'A health to my dearest lady, + Long may she live and well! + But a curse on the cruel mother + That burnt my golden shell!' + +Then the Princess could restrain herself no longer, but ran +forward and threw her arms round her husband. And immediately he +knew her again, and said: + +'Do you remember how I told you that day that you would betray +me? Now you see that I spoke the truth. But all that bad time +is past. Now listen to me: I must still remain enchanted for +three months. Will you stay here with me till that time is +over?' + +So the Princess stayed with him, and said to the old man, 'Go +back to the castle and tell my parents that I am staying here.' + +Her parents were very much vexed when the old man came back and +told them this, but as soon as the three months of the Prince's +enchantment were over, he ceased to be an eagle and became once +more a man, and they returned home together. And then they lived +happily, and we who hear the story are happier still. + + + +THE IRON STOVE[7] + +[7] Grimm. + +Once upon a time when wishes came true there was a king's son who +was enchanted by an old witch, so that he was obliged to sit in a +large iron stove in a wood. There he lived for many years, and +no one could free him. At last a king's daughter came into the +wood; she had lost her way, and could not find her father's +kingdom again. She had been wandering round and round for nine +days, and she came at last to the iron case. A voice came from +within and asked her, 'Where do you come from, and where do you +want to go?' She answered, 'I have lost my way to my father's +kingdom, and I shall never get home again.' Then the voice from +the iron stove said, 'I will help you to find your home again, +and that in a very short time, if you will promise to do what I +ask you. I am a greater prince than you are a princess, and I +will marry you.' Then she grew frightened, and thought, 'What +can a young lassie do with an iron stove?' But as she wanted very +much to go home to her father, she promised to do what he wished. + +He said, 'You must come again, and bring a knife with you to +scrape a hole in the iron.' + +Then he gave her someone for a guide, who walked near her and +said nothing, but he brought her in two hours to her house. +There was great joy in the castle when the Princess came back, +and the old King fell on her neck and kissed her. But she was +very much troubled, and said, 'Dear father, listen to what has +befallen me! I should never have come home again out of the +great wild wood if I had not come to an iron stove, to whom I +have had to promise that I will go back to free him and marry +him!' The old King was so frightened that he nearly fainted, for +she was his only daughter. So they consulted together, and +determined that the miller's daughter, who was very beautiful, +should take her place. They took her there, gave her a knife, +and said she must scrape at the iron stove. She scraped for +twenty-four hours, but did not make the least impression. When +the day broke, a voice called from the iron stove, 'It seems to +me that it is day outside.' Then she answered, 'It seems so to +me; I think I hear my father's mill rattling.' + +'So you are a miller's daughter! Then go away at once, and tell +the King's daughter to come.' + +Then she went away, and told the old King that the thing inside +the iron stove would not have her, but wanted the Princess. The +old King was frightened, and his daughter wept. But they had a +swineherd's daughter who was even more beautiful than the +miller's daughter, and they gave her a piece of gold to go to the +iron stove instead of the Princess. Then she was taken out, and +had to scrape for four-and-twenty hours, but she could make no +impression. As soon as the day broke the voice from the stove +called out, 'It seems to be daylight outside.' Then she +answered, ' It seems so to me too; I think I hear my father +blowing his horn.' 'So you are a swineherd's daughter! Go away +at once, and let the King's daughter come. And say to her that +what I foretell shall come to pass, and if she does not come +everything in the kingdom shall fall into ruin, and not one stone +shall be left upon another.' When the Princess heard this she +began to cry, but it was no good; she had to keep her word. She +took leave of her father, put a knife in her belt, and went to +the iron stove in the wood. As soon as she reached it she began +to scrape, and the iron gave way and before two hours had passed +she had made a little hole. Then she peeped in and saw such a +beautiful youth all shining with gold and precious stones that +she fell in love with him on the spot. So she scraped away +harder than ever, and made the hole so large that he could get +out. Then he said, 'You are mine, and I am thine; you are my +bride and have set me free!' He wanted to take her with him to +his kingdom, but she begged him just to let her go once more to +her father; and the Prince let her go, but told her not to say +more than three words to her father, then to come back again. So +she went home, but alas! she said MORE THAN THREE WORDS; and +immediately the iron stove vanished and went away over a mountain +of glass and sharp swords. But the Prince was free, and was no +longer shut up in it. Then she said good-bye to her father, and +took a little money with her, and went again into the great wood +to look for the iron stove; but she could not find it. She +sought it for nine days, and then her hunger became so great that +she did not know how she could live any longer. And when it was +evening she climbed a little tree and wished that the night would +not come, because she was afraid of the wild beasts. When +midnight came she saw afar off a little light, and thought, 'Ah! +if only I could reach that!' Then she got down from the tree and +went towards the light. She came to a little old house with a +great deal of grass growing round, and stood in front of a little +heap of wood. She thought, 'Alas! what am I coming to?' and +peeped through the window; but she saw nothing inside except big +and little toads, and a table beautifully spread with roast meats +and wine, and all the dishes and drinking-cups were of silver. +Then she took heart and knocked. Then a fat toad called out: + + 'Little green toad with leg like crook, + Open wide the door, and look + Who it was the latch that shook.' + +And a little toad came forward and let her in. When she entered +they all bid her welcome, and made her sit down. They asked her +how she came there and what she wanted. Then she told everything +that had happened to her, and how, because she had exceeded her +permission only to speak three words, the stove had disappeared +with the Prince; and how she had searched a very long time, and +must wander over mountain and valley till she found him. + +Then the old toad said: + + 'Little green toad whose leg doth twist, + Go to the corner of which you wist, + And bring to me the large old kist.' + +And the little toad went and brought out a great chest. Then +they gave her food and drink, and led her to a beautifully made +bed of silk and samite, on which she lay down and slept soundly. +When the day dawned she arose, and the old toad gave her three +things out of the huge chest to take with her. She would have +need of them, for she had to cross a high glass mountain, three +cutting swords, and a great lake. When she had passed these she +would find her lover again. So she was given three large +needles, a plough-wheel, and three nuts, which she was to take +great care of. She set out with these things, and when she came +to the glass mountain which was so slippery she stuck the three +needles behind her feet and then in front, and so got over it, +and when she was on the other side put them carefully away. + +Then she reached the three cutting swords, and got on her +plough-wheel and rolled over them. At last she came to a great +lake, and, when she had crossed that, arrived at a beautiful +castle. She went in and gave herself out as a servant, a poor +maid who would gladly be engaged. But she knew that the Prince +whom she had freed from the iron stove in the great wood was in +the castle. So she was taken on as a kitchen-maid for very small +wages. Now the Prince was about to marry another princess, for +he thought she was dead long ago. + +In the evening, when she had washed up and was ready, she felt in +her pocket and found the three nuts which the old toad had given +her. She cracked one and was going to eat the kernel, when +behold! there was a beautiful royal dress inside it! When the +bride heard of this, she came and begged for the dress, and +wanted to buy it, saying that it was not a dress for a +serving-maid. Then she said she would not sell it unless she was +granted one favour--namely, to sleep by the Prince's door. The +bride granted her this, because the dress was so beautiful and +she had so few like it. When it was evening she said to her +bridegroom, 'That stupid maid wants to sleep by your door.' + +'If you are contented, I am,' he said. But she gave him a glass +of wine in which she had poured a sleeping-draught. Then they +both went to his room, but he slept so soundly that she could not +wake him. The maid wept all night long, and said, 'I freed you +in the wild wood out of the iron stove; I have sought you, and +have crossed a glassy mountain, three sharp swords, and a great +lake before I found you, and will you not hear me now?' The +servants outside heard how she cried the whole night, and they +told their master in the morning. + +When she had washed up the next evening she bit the second nut, +and there was a still more beautiful dress inside. When the +bride saw it she wanted to buy it also. But the maid did not +want money, and asked that she should sleep again by the Prince's +door. The bride, however, gave him a sleeping-draught, and he +slept so soundly that he heard nothing. But the kitchen-maid +wept the whole night long, and said, 'I have freed you in a wood +and from an iron stove; I sought you and have crossed a glassy +mountain, three sharp swords, and a great lake to find you, and +now you will not hear me!' The servants outside heard how she +cried the whole night, and in the morning they told their master. + +And when she had washed up on the third night she bit the third +nut, and there was a still more beautiful dress inside that was +made of pure gold. When the bride saw it she wanted to have it, +but the maid would only give it her on condition that she should +sleep for the third time by the Prince's door. But the Prince +took care not to drink the sleeping-draught. When she began to +weep and to say, 'Dearest sweetheart, I freed you in the horrible +wild wood, and from an iron stove,' he jumped up and said, 'You +are right. You are mine, and I am thine.' Though it was still +night, he got into a carriage with her, and they took the false +bride's clothes away, so that she could not follow them. When +they came to the great lake they rowed across, and when they +reached the three sharp swords they sat on the plough-wheel, and +on the glassy mountain they stuck the three needles in. So they +arrived at last at the little old house, but when they stepped +inside it turned into a large castle. The toads were all freed, +and were beautiful King's children, running about for joy. There +they were married, and they remained in the castle, which was +much larger than that of the Princess's father's. But because +the old man did not like being left alone, they went and fetched +him. So they had two kingdoms and lived in great wealth. + + A mouse has run, + My story's done. + + + +THE DRAGON AND HIS GRANDMOTHER + +There was once a great war, and the King had a great many +soldiers, but he gave them so little pay that they could not live +upon it. Then three of them took counsel together and determined +to desert. + +One of them said to the others, 'If we are caught, we shall be +hanged on the gallows; how shall we set about it?' The other +said, 'Do you see that large cornfield there? If we were to hide +ourselves in that, no one could find us. The army cannot come +into it, and to-morrow it is to march on.' + +They crept into the corn, but the army did not march on, but +remained encamped close around them. They sat for two days and +two nights in the corn, and grew so hungry that they nearly died; +but if they were to venture out, it was certain death. + +They said at last, 'What use was it our deserting? We must +perish here miserably.' + +Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the +air. It hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there. + +They answered, 'We are three soldiers, and have deserted because +our pay was so small. Now if we remain here we shall die of +hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.' + +'If you will serve me for seven years,' said the dragon, I will +lead you through the midst of the army so that no one shall catch +you.' 'We have no choice, and must take your offer,' said they. +Then the dragon seized them in his claws, took them through the +air over the army, and set them down on the earth a long way from +it. + +He gave them a little whip, saying, 'Whip and slash with this, +and as much money as you want will jump up before you. You can +then live as great lords, keep horses, and drive about in +carriages. But after seven years you are mine.' Then he put a +book before them, which he made all three of them sign. 'I will +then give you a riddle,' he said; 'if you guess it, you shall be +free and out of my power.' The dragon then flew away, and they +journeyed on with their little whip. They had as much money as +they wanted, wore grand clothes, and made their way into the +world. Wherever they went they lived in merrymaking and +splendour, drove about with horses and carriages, ate and drank, +but did nothing wrong. + +The time passed quickly away, and when the seven years were +nearly ended two of them grew terribly anxious and frightened, +but the third made light of it, saying, 'Don't be afraid, +brothers, I wasn't born yesterday; I will guess the riddle.' + +They went into a field, sat down, and the two pulled long faces. +An old woman passed by, and asked them why they were so sad. +'Alas! what have you to do with it? You cannot help us.' 'Who +knows?' she answered. 'Only confide your trouble in me.' + +Then they told her that they had become the servants of the +Dragon for seven long years, and how he had given them money as +plentifully as blackberries; but as they had signed their names +they were his, unless when the seven years had passed they could +guess a riddle. The old woman said, 'If you would help +yourselves, one of you must go into the wood, and there he will +come upon a tumble-down building of rocks which looks like a +little house. He must go in, and there he will find help.' + +The two melancholy ones thought, 'That won't save us!' and they +remained where they were. But the third and merry one jumped up +and went into the wood till he found the rock hut. In the hut +sat a very old woman, who was the Dragon's grandmother. She +asked him how he came, and what was his business there. He told +her all that happened, and because she was pleased with him she +took compassion on him, and said she would help him. + +She lifted up a large stone which lay over the cellar, saying, +'Hide yourself there; you can hear all that is spoken in this +room. Only sit still and don't stir. When the Dragon comes, I +will ask him what the riddle is, for he tells me everything; then +listen carefully what he answers.' + +At midnight the Dragon flew in, and asked for his supper. His +grandmother laid the table, and brought out food and drink till +he was satisfied, and they ate and drank together. Then in the +course of the conversation she asked him what he had done in the +day, and how many souls he had conquered. + +'I haven't had much luck to-day,' he said, 'but I have a tight +hold on three soldiers.' + +'Indeed! three soldiers!' said she. 'Who cannot escape you?' + +'They are mine,' answered the Dragon scornfully, 'for I shall +only give them one riddle which they will never be able to +guess.' + +'What sort of a riddle is it?' she asked. + +'I will tell you this. In the North Sea lies a dead sea-cat-- +that shall be their roast meat; and the rib of a whale--that +shall be their silver spoon; and the hollow foot of a dead +horse--that shall be their wineglass.' + +When the Dragon had gone to bed, his old grandmother pulled up +the stone and let out the soldier. + +'Did you pay attention to everything?' + +'Yes,' he replied, 'I know enough, and can help myself +splendidly.' + +Then he went by another way through the window secretly, and in +all haste back to his comrades. He told them how the Dragon had +been outwitted by his grandmother, and how he had heard from his +own lips the answer to the riddle. + +Then they were all delighted and in high spirits, took out their +whip, and cracked so much money that it came jumping up from the +ground. When the seven years had quite gone, the Fiend came with +his book, and, pointing at the signatures, said, 'I will take +you underground with me; you shall have a meal there. If you can +tell me what you will get for your roast meat, you shall be free, +and shall also keep the whip.' + +Then said the first soldier, 'In the North Sea lies a dead sea- +cat; that shall be the roast meat.' + +The Dragon was much annoyed, and hummed and hawed a good deal, +and asked the second, 'But what shall be your spoon?' + +'The rib of a whale shall be our silver spoon.' + +The Dragon-made a face, and growled again three times, 'Hum, hum, +hum,' and said to the third, 'Do you know what your wineglass +shall be?' + +'An old horse's hoof shall be our wineglass.' + +Then the Dragon flew away with a loud shriek, and had no more +power over them. But the three soldiers took the little whip, +whipped as much money as they wanted, and lived happily to their +lives end. + + + +THE DONKEY CABBAGE + +There was once a young Hunter who went boldly into the forest. +He had a merry and light heart, and as he went whistling along +there came an ugly old woman, who said to him, 'Good-day, dear +hunter! You are very merry and contented, but I suffer hunger +and thirst, so give me a trifle.' The Hunter was sorry for the +poor old woman, and he felt in his pocket and gave her all he +could spare. He was going on then, but the old woman stopped him +and said, 'Listen, dear hunter, to what I say. Because of your +kind heart I will make you a present. Go on your way, and in a +short time you will come to a tree on which sit nine birds who +have a cloak in their claws and are quarrelling over it. Then +take aim with your gun and shoot in the middle of them; they will +let the cloak fall, but one of the birds will be hit and will +drop down dead. Take the cloak with you; it is a wishing-cloak, +and when you throw it on your shoulders you have only to wish +yourself at a certain place, and in the twinkling of an eye you +are there. Take the heart out of the dead bird and swallow it +whole, and early every morning when you get up you will find a +gold piece under your pillow.' + +The Hunter thanked the wise woman, and thought to himself 'These +are splendid things she has promised me, if only they come to +pass!' So he walked on about a hundred yards, and then he heard +above him in the branches such a screaming and chirping that he +looked up, and there he saw a heap of birds tearing a cloth with +their beaks and feet, shrieking, tugging, and fighting, as if +each wanted it for himself. 'Well,' said the Hunter, 'this is +wonderful! It is just as the old woman said'; and he took his +gun on his shoulder, pulled the trigger, and shot into the midst +of them, so that their feathers flew about. Then the flock took +flight with much screaming, but one fell dead, and the cloak +fluttered down. Then the Hunter did as the old woman had told +him: he cut open the bird, found its heart, swallowed it, and +took the cloak home with him. The next morning when he awoke he +remembered the promise, and wanted to see if it had come true. +But when he lifted up his pillow, there sparkled the gold piece, +and the next morning he found another, and so on every time he +got up. He collected a heap of gold, but at last he thought to +himself, 'What good is all my gold to me if I stay at home? I +will travel and look a bit about me in the world.' So he took +leave of his parents, slung his hunting knapsack and his gun +round him, and journeyed into the world. + +It happened that one day he went through a thick wood, and when +he came to the end of it there lay in the plain before him a +large castle. At one of the windows in it stood an old woman +with a most beautiful maiden by her side, looking out. But the +old woman was a witch, and she said to the girl, 'There comes one +out of the wood who has a wonderful treasure in his body which we +must manage to possess ourselves of, darling daughter; we have +more right to it than he. He has a bird's heart in him, and so +every morning there lies a gold piece under his pillow.' + +She told her how they could get hold of it, and how she was to +coax it from him, and at last threatened her angrily, saying, +'And if you do not obey me, you shall repent it!' + +When the Hunter came nearer he saw the maiden, and said to +himself, 'I have travelled so far now that I will rest, and turn +into this beautiful castle; money I have in plenty.' But the +real reason was that he had caught sight of the lovely face. + +He went into the house, and was kindly received and hospitably +entertained. It was not long before he was so much in love with +the witch-maiden that he thought of nothing else, and only looked +in her eyes, and whatever she wanted, that he gladly did. Then +the old witch said, 'Now we must have the bird-heart; he will not +feel when it is gone.' She prepared a drink, and when it was +ready she poured it in a goblet and gave it to the maiden, who +had to hand it to the hunter. + +'Drink to me now, my dearest,' she said. Then he took the +goblet, and when he had swallowed the drink the bird-heart came +out of his mouth. The maiden had to get hold of it secretly and +then swallow it herself, for the old witch wanted to have it. +Thenceforward he found no more gold under his pillow, and it lay +under the maiden's; but he was so much in love and so much +bewitched that he thought of nothing except spending all his time +with the maiden. + +Then the old witch said, 'We have the bird-heart, but we must +also get the wishing-cloak from him.' + +The maiden answered, 'We will leave him that; he has already lost +his wealth!' + +The old witch grew angry, and said, 'Such a cloak is a wonderful +thing, it is seldom to be had in the world, and have it I must +and will.' She beat the maiden, and said that if she did not +obey it would go ill with her. + +So she did her mother's bidding, and, standing one day by the +window, she looked away into the far distance as if she were very +sad. + +'Why are you standing there looking so sad?' asked the Hunter. + +'Alas, my love,' she replied, ' over there lies the granite +mountain where the costly precious stones grow. I have a great +longing to go there, so that when I think of it I am very sad. +For who can fetch them? Only the birds who fly; a man, never.' + +'If you have no other trouble,' said the Hunter, 'that one I can +easily remove from your heart.' + +So he wrapped her round in his cloak and wished themselves to the +granite mountain, and in an instant there they were, sitting on +it! The precious stones sparkled so brightly on all sides that +it was a pleasure to see them, and they collected the most +beautiful and costly together. But now the old witch had through +her caused the Hunter's eyes to become heavy. + +He said to the maiden, 'We will sit down for a little while and +rest; I am so tired that I can hardly stand on my feet.' + +So they sat down, and he laid his head on her lap and fell +asleep. As soon as he was sound asleep she unfastened the cloak +from his shoulders, threw it on her own, left the granite and +stones, and wished herself home again. + +But when the Hunter had finished his sleep and awoke, he found +that his love had betrayed him and left him alone on the wild +mountain. 'Oh,' said he, 'why is faithlessness so great in the +world?' and he sat down in sorrow and trouble, not knowing what +to do. + +But the mountain belonged to fierce and huge giants, who lived on +it and traded there, and he had not sat long before he saw three +of them striding towards him. So he lay down as if he had fallen +into a deep sleep. + +The giants came up, and the first pushed him with his foot, and +said, 'What sort of an earthworm is that?' + +The second said, 'Crush him dead.' + +But the third said contemptuously, 'It is not worth the trouble! +Let him live; he cannot remain here, and if he goes higher up the +mountain the clouds will take him and carry him off.' + +Talking thus they went away. But the Hunter had listened to +their talk, and as soon as they had gone he rose and climbed to +the summit. When he had sat there a little while a cloud swept +by, and, seizing him, carried him away. It travelled for a time +in the sky, and then it sank down and hovered over a large +vegetable garden surrounded by walls, so that he came safely to +the ground amidst cabbages and vegetables. The Hunter then +looked about him, saying, 'If only I had something to eat! I am +so hungry, and it will go badly with me in the future, for I see +here not an apple or pear or fruit of any kind--nothing but +vegetables everywhere.' At last he thought, 'At a pinch I can +eat a salad; it does not taste particularly nice, but it will +refresh me.' So he looked about for a good head and ate it, but +no sooner had he swallowed a couple of mouthfuls than he felt +very strange, and found himself wonderfully changed. Four legs +began to grow on him, a thick head, and two long ears, and he saw +with horror that he had changed into a donkey. But as he was +still very hungry and this juicy salad tasted very good to his +present nature, he went on eating with a still greater appetite. +At last he got hold of another kind of cabbage, but scarcely had +swallowed it when he felt another change, and he once more +regained his human form. + +The Hunter now lay down and slept off his weariness. When he +awoke the next morning he broke off a head of the bad and a head +of the good cabbage, thinking, 'This will help me to regain my +own, and to punish faithlessness.' Then he put the heads in his +pockets, climbed the wall, and started off to seek the castle of +his love. When he had wandered about for a couple of days he +found it quite easily. He then browned his face quickly, so that +his own mother would not have known him, and went into the +castle, where he begged for a lodging. + +'I am so tired,' he said, 'I can go no farther.' + +The witch asked, 'Countryman, who are you, and what is your +business?' + +He answered, 'I am a messenger of the King, and have been sent to +seek the finest salad that grows under the sun. I have been so +lucky as to find it, and am bringing it with me; but the heat of +the sun is so great that the tender cabbage threatens to grow +soft, and I do not know if I shall be able to bring it any +farther.' + +When the old witch heard of the fine salad she wanted to eat it, +and said, 'Dear countryman, just let me taste the wonderful +salad.' + +'Why not?' he answered; 'I have brought two heads with me, and +will give you one.' + +So saying, he opened his sack and gave her the bad one. The +witch suspected no evil, and her mouth watered to taste the new +dish, so that she went into the kitchen to prepare it herself. +When it was ready she could not wait till it was served at the +table, but she immediately took a couple of leaves and put them +in her mouth. No sooner, however, had she swallowed them than +she lost human form, and ran into the courtyard in the shape of a +donkey. + +Now the servant came into the kitchen, and when she saw the salad +standing there ready cooked she was about to carry it up, but on +the way, according to her old habit, she tasted it and ate a +couple of leaves. Immediately the charm worked, and she became a +donkey, and ran out to join the old witch, and the dish with the +salad in it fell to the ground. In the meantime, the messenger +was sitting with the lovely maiden, and as no one came with the +salad, and she wanted very much to taste it, she said, 'I don't +know where the salad is.' + +Then thought the Hunter, 'The cabbage must have already begun to +work.' And he said, 'I will go to the kitchen and fetch it +myself.' + +When he came there he saw the two donkeys running about in the +courtyard, but the salad was lying on the ground. + +'That's all right,' said he; 'two have had their share!' And +lifting the remaining leaves up, he laid them on the dish and +brought them to the maiden. + +'I am bringing you the delicious food my own self,' he said, 'so +that you need not wait any longer.' + +Then she ate, and, as the others had done, she at once lost her +human form, and ran as a donkey into the yard. + +When the Hunter had washed his face, so that the changed ones +might know him, he went into the yard, saying, 'Now you shall +receive a reward for your faithlessness.' + +He tied them all three with a rope, and drove them away till he +came to a mill. He knocked at the window, and the miller put his +head out and asked what he wanted. + +'I have three tiresome animals,' he answered, 'which I don't want +to keep any longer. If you will take them, give them food and +stabling, and do as I tell you with them, I will pay you as much +as you want.' + +The miller replied, 'Why not? What shall I do with them?' + +Then the Hunter said that to the old donkey, which was the witch, +three beatings and one meal; to the younger one, which was the +servant, one beating and three meals; and to the youngest one, +which was the maiden, no beating and three meals; for he could +not find it in his heart to let the maiden be beaten. + +Then he went back into the castle, and he found there all that he +wanted. After a couple of days the miller came and said that he +must tell him that the old donkey which was to have three +beatings and only one meal had died. 'The two others,' he added, +'are certainly not dead, and get their three meals every day, but +they are so sad that they cannot last much longer.' + +Then the Hunter took pity on them, laid aside his anger, and told +the miller to drive them back again. And when they came he gave +them some of the good cabbage to eat, so that they became human +again. Then the beautiful maiden fell on her knees before him, +saying, 'Oh, my dearest, forgive me the ill I have done you! My +mother compelled me to do it; it was against my will, for I love +you dearly. Your wishing-cloak is hanging in a cupboard, and as +for the bird-heart I will make a drink and give it back to you.' + +But he changed his mind, and said, 'Keep it; it makes no +difference, for I will take you to be my own dear true wife.' + +And the wedding was celebrated, and they lived happy together +till death. + + + + THE LITTLE GREEN FROG[8] + +[8] Cabinet des Fees. + +In a part of the world whose name I forget lived once upon a time +two kings, called Peridor and Diamantino. They were cousins as +well as neighbours, and both were under the protection of the +fairies; though it is only fair to say that the fairies did not +love them half so well as their wives did. + +Now it often happens that as princes can generally manage to get +their own way it is harder for them to be good than it is for +common people. So it was with Peridor and Diamantino; but of the +two, the fairies declared that Diamantino was much the worst; +indeed, he behaved so badly to his wife Aglantino, that the +fairies would not allow him to live any longer; and he died, +leaving behind him a little daughter. As she was an only child, +of course this little girl was the heiress of the kingdom, but, +being still only a baby, her mother, the widow of Diamantino, was +proclaimed regent. The Queen-dowager was wise and good, and +tried her best to make her people happy. The only thing she had +to vex her was the absence of her daughter; for the fairies, for +reasons of their own, determined to bring up the little Princess +Serpentine among themselves. + +As to the other King, he was really fond of his wife, Queen +Constance, but he often grieved her by his thoughtless ways, and +in order to punish him for his carelessness, the fairies caused +her to die quite suddenly. When she was gone the King felt how +much he had loved her, and his grief was so great (though he +never neglected his duties) that his subjects called him Peridor +the Sorrowful. It seems hardly possible that any man should live +like Peridor for fifteen years plunged in such depth of grief, +and most likely he would have died too if it had not been for the +fairies. + +The one comfort the poor King had was his son, Prince Saphir, who +was only three years old at the time of his mother's death, and +great care was given to his education. By the time he was +fifteen Saphir had learnt everything that a prince should know, +and he was, besides, charming and agreeable. + +It was about this time that the fairies suddenly took fright lest +his love for his father should interfere with the plans they had +made for the young prince. So, to prevent this, they placed in a +pretty little room of which Saphir was very fond a little mirror +in a black frame, such as were often brought from Venice. The +Prince did not notice for some days that there was anything new +in the room, but at last he perceived it, and went up to look at +it more closely. What was his surprise to see reflected in the +mirror, not his own face, but that of a young girl as lovely as +the morning! And, better still, every movement of the girl, just +growing out of childhood, was also reflected in the wonderful +glass. + +As might have been expected, the young Prince lost his heart +completely to the beautiful image, and it was impossible to get +him out of the room, so busy was he in watching the lovely +unknown. Certainly it was very delightful to be able to see her +whom he loved at any moment he chose, but his spirits sometimes +sank when he wondered what was to be the end of this adventure. + +The magic mirror had been for about a year in the Prince's +possession, when one day a new subject of disquiet seized upon +him. As usual, he was engaged in looking at the girl, when +suddenly he thought he saw a second mirror reflected in the +first, exactly like his own, and with the same power. And in +this he was perfectly right. The young girl had only possessed +it for a short time, and neglected all her duties for the sake of +the mirror. Now it was not difficult for Saphir to guess the +reason of the change in her, nor why the new mirror was consulted +so often; but try as he would he could never see the face of the +person who was reflected in it, for the young girl's figure +always came between. All he knew was that the face was that of a +man, and this was quite enough to make him madly jealous. This +was the doing of the fairies, and we must suppose that they had +their reasons for acting as they did. + +When these things happened Saphir was about eighteen years old, +and fifteen years had passed away since the death of his mother. +King Peridor had grown more and more unhappy as time went on, and +at last he fell so ill that it seemed as if his days were +numbered. He was so much beloved by his subjects that this sad +news was heard with despair by the nation, and more than all by +the Prince. + +During his whole illness the King never spoke of anything but the +Queen, his sorrow at having grieved her, and his hope of one day +seeing her again. All the doctors and all the water-cures in the +kingdom had been tried, and nothing would do him any good. At +last he persuaded them to let him lie quietly in his room, where +no one came to trouble him. + +Perhaps the worst pain he had to bear was a sort of weight on his +chest, which made it very hard for him to breathe. So he +commanded his servants to leave the windows open in order that he +might get more air. One day, when he had been left alone for a +few minutes, a bird with brilliant plumage came and fluttered +round the window, and finally rested on the sill. His feathers +were sky-blue and gold, his feet and his beak of such glittering +rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the +brightest diamonds look dull, and on his head he wore a crown. I +cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite +certain that it was still more splendid than all the rest. As to +his voice I can say nothing about that, for the bird never sang +at all. In fact, he did nothing but gaze steadily at the King, +and as he gazed, the King felt his strength come back to him. In +a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes +fixed on the King, and at every glance the strength of the sick +man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to +be before the Queen died. Filled with joy at his cure, he tried +to seize the bird to whom he owed it all, but, swifter than a +swallow, it managed to avoid him. In vain he described the bird +to his attendants, who rushed at his first call; in vain they +sought the wonderful creature both on horse and foot, and +summoned the fowlers to their aid: the bird could nowhere be +found. The love the people bore King Peridor was so strong, and +the reward he promised was so large, that in the twinkling of an +eye every man, woman, and child had fled into the fields, and the +towns were quite empty. + +All this bustle, however, ended in nothing but confusion, and, +what was worse, the King soon fell back into the same condition +as he was in before. Prince Saphir, who loved his father very +dearly, was so unhappy at this that he persuaded himself that he +might succeed where the others had failed, and at once prepared +himself for a more distant search. In spite of the opposition he +met with, he rode away, followed by his household, trusting to +chance to help him. He had formed no plan, and there was no +reason that he should choose one path more than another. His +only idea was to make straight for those spots which were the +favourite haunts of birds. But in vain he examined all the +hedges and all the thickets; in vain he questioned everyone he +met along the road. The more he sought the less he found. + +At last he came to one of the largest forests in all the world, +composed entirely of cedars. But in spite of the deep shadows +cast by the wide-spreading branches of the trees, the grass +underneath was soft and green, and covered with the rarest +flowers. It seemed to Saphir that this was exactly the place +where the birds would choose to live, and he determined not to +quit the wood until he had examined it from end to end. And he +did more. He ordered some nets to be prepared and painted of the +same colours as the bird's plumage, thinking that we are all +easily caught by what is like ourselves. In this he had to help +him not only the fowlers by profession, but also his attendants, +who excelled in this art. For a man is not a courtier unless he +can do everything. + +After searching as usual for nearly a whole day Prince Saphir +began to feel overcome with thirst. He was too tired to go any +farther, when happily he discovered a little way off a bubbling +fountain of the clearest water. Being an experienced traveller, +he drew from his pocket a little cup (without which no one should +ever take a journey), and was just about to dip it in the water, +when a lovely little green frog, much prettier than frogs +generally are, jumped into the cup. Far from admiring its +beauty, Saphir shook it impatiently off; but it was no good, for +quick as lightning the frog jumped back again. Saphir, who was +raging with thirst, was just about to shake it off anew, when the +little creature fixed upon him the most beautiful eyes in the +world, and said, 'I am a friend of the bird you are seeking, and +when you have quenched your thirst listen to me.' + +So the Prince drank his fill, and then, by the command of the +Little Green Frog, he lay down on the grass to rest himself. + +'Now,' she began, 'be sure you do exactly in every respect what I +tell you. First you must call together your attendants, and +order them to remain in a little hamlet close by until you want +them. Then go, quite alone, down a road that you will find on +your right hand, looking southwards. This road is planted all +the way with cedars of Lebanon; and after going down it a long +way you will come at last to a magnificent castle. And now,' she +went on, 'attend carefully to what I am going to say. Take this +tiny grain of sand, and put it into the ground as close as you +can to the gate of the castle. It has the virtue both of opening +the gate and also of sending to sleep all the inhabitants. Then +go at once to the stable, and pay no heed to anything except what +I tell you. Choose the handsomest of all the horses, leap +quickly on its back, and come to me as fast as you can. +Farewell, Prince; I wish you good luck,' and with these words the +Little Frog plunged into the water and disappeared. + +The Prince, who felt more hopeful than he had done since he left +home, did precisely as he had been ordered. He left his +attendants in the hamlet, found the road the frog had described +to him, and followed it all alone, and at last he arrived at the +gate of the castle, which was even more splendid than he had +expected, for it was built of crystal, and all its ornaments were +of massive gold. However, he had no thoughts to spare for its +beauty, and quickly buried his grain of sand in the earth. In +one instant the gates flew open, and all the dwellers inside fell +sound asleep. Saphir flew straight to the stable, and already +had his hand on the finest horse it contained, when his eye was +caught by a suit of magnificent harness hanging up close by. It +occurred to him directly that the harness belonged to the horse, +and without ever thinking of harm (for indeed he who steals a +horse can hardly be blamed for taking his saddle), he hastily +placed it on the animal's back. Suddenly the people in the +castle became broad awake, and rushed to the stable. They flung +themselves on the Prince, seized him, and dragged him before +their lord; but, luckily for the Prince, who could only find very +lame excuses for his conduct, the lord of the castle took a fancy +to his face, and let him depart without further questions. + +Very sad, and very much ashamed of himself poor Saphir crept back +to the fountain, where the Frog was awaiting him with a good +scolding. + +'Whom do you take me for?' she exclaimed angrily. 'Do you really +believe that it was just for the pleasure of talking that I gave +you the advice you have neglected so abominably?' + +But the Prince was so deeply grieved, and apologised so very +humbly, that after some time the heart of the good little Frog +was softened, and she gave him another tiny little grain, but +instead of being sand it was now a grain of gold. She directed +him to do just as he had done before, with only this difference, +that instead of going to the stable which had been the ruin of +his hopes, he was to enter right into the castle itself, and to +glide as fast as he could down the passages till he came to a +room filled with perfume, where he would find a beautiful maiden +asleep on a bed. He was to wake the maiden instantly and carry +her off, and to be sure not to pay any heed to whatever +resistance she might make. + +The Prince obeyed the Frog's orders one by one, and all went well +for this second time also. The gate opened, the inhabitants fell +sound asleep, and he walked down the passage till he found the +girl on her bed, exactly as he had been told he would. He woke +her, and begged her firmly, but politely, to follow him quickly. +After a little persuasion the maiden consented, but only on +condition that she was allowed first to put on her dress. This +sounded so reasonable and natural that it did not enter the +Prince's head to refuse her request. + +But the maiden's hand had hardly touched the dress when the +palace suddenly awoke from its sleep, and the Prince was seized +and bound. He was so vexed with his own folly, and so taken +aback at the disaster, that he did not attempt to explain his +conduct, and things would have gone badly with him if his friends +the fairies had not softened the hearts of his captors, so that +they once more allowed him to leave quietly. However, what +troubled him most was the idea of having to meet the Frog who had +been his benefactress. How was he ever to appear before her with +this tale? Still, after a long struggle with himself, he made up +his mind that there was nothing else to be done, and that he +deserved whatever she might say to him. And she said a great +deal, for she had worked herself into a terrible passion; but the +Prince humbly implored her pardon, and ventured to point out that +it would have been very hard to refuse the young lady's +reasonable request. 'You must learn to do as you are told,' was +all the Frog would reply. + +But poor Saphir was so unhappy, and begged so hard for +forgiveness, that at last the Frog's anger gave way, and she held +up to him a tiny diamond stone. 'Go back,' she said, 'to the +castle, and bury this little diamond close to the door. But be +careful not to return to the stable or to the bedroom; they have +proved too fatal to you. Walk straight to the garden and enter +through a portico, into a small green wood, in the midst of which +is a tree with a trunk of gold and leaves of emeralds. Perched +on this tree you will see the beautiful bird you have been +seeking so long. You must cut the branch on which it is sitting, +and bring it back to me without delay. But I warn you solemnly +that if you disobey my directions, as you have done twice before, +you have nothing more to expect either of me or anyone else.' + +With these words she jumped into the water, and the Prince, who +had taken her threats much to heart, took his departure, firmly +resolved not to deserve them. He found it all just as he had +been told: the portico, the wood, the magnificent tree, and the +beautiful bird, which was sleeping soundly on one of the +branches. He speedily lopped off the branch, and though he +noticed a splendid golden cage hanging close by, which would have +been very useful for the bird to travel in, he left it alone, and +came back to the fountain, holding his breath and walking on +tip-toe all the way, for fear lest he should awake his prize. +But what was his surprise, when instead of finding the fountain +in the spot where he had left it, he saw in its place a little +rustic palace built in the best taste, and standing in the +doorway a charming maiden, at whose sight his mind seemed to give +way. + +'What! Madam!' he cried, hardly knowing what he said. 'What! +Is it you?' + +The maiden blushed and answered: 'Ah, my lord, it is long since I +first beheld your face, but I did not think you had ever seen +mine.' + +'Oh, madam,' replied he, 'you can never guess the days and the +hours I have passed lost in admiration of you.' And after these +words they each related all the strange things that had happened, +and the more they talked the more they felt convinced of the +truth of the images they had seen in their mirrors. After some +time spent in the most tender conversation, the Prince could not +restrain himself from asking the lovely unknown by what lucky +chance she was wandering in the forest; where the fountain had +gone; and if she knew anything of the Frog to whom he owed all +his happiness, and to whom he must give up the bird, which, +somehow or other, was still sound asleep. + +'Ah, my lord,' she replied, with rather an awkward air, 'as to +the Frog, she stands before you. Let me tell you my story; it is +not a long one. I know neither my country nor my parents, and +the only thing I can say for certain is that I am called +Serpentine. The fairies, who have taken care of me ever since I +was born, wished me to be in ignorance as to my family, but they +have looked after my education, and have bestowed on me endless +kindness. I have always lived in seclusion, and for the last two +years I have wished for nothing better. I had a mirror'--here +shyness and embarrassment choked her words--but regaining her +self-control, she added, 'You know that fairies insist on being +obeyed without questioning. It was they who changed the little +house you saw before you into the fountain for which you are now +asking, and, having turned me into a frog, they ordered me to say +to the first person who came to the fountain exactly what I +repeated to you. But, my lord, when you stood before me, it was +agony to my heart, filled as it was with thoughts of you, to +appear to your eyes under so monstrous a form. However, there +was no help for it, and, painful as it was, I had to submit. I +desired your success with all my soul, not only for your own +sake, but also for my own, because I could not get back my proper +shape till you had become master of the beautiful bird, though I +am quite ignorant as to your reason for seeking it.' + +On this Saphir explained about the state of his father's health, +and all that has been told before. + +On hearing this story Serpentine grew very sad, and her lovely +eyes filled with tears. + +'Ah, my lord,' she said, 'you know nothing of me but what you +have seen in the mirror; and I, who cannot even name my parents, +learn that you are a king's son.' + +In vain Saphir declared that love made them equal; Serpentine +would only reply: 'I love you too much to allow you to marry +beneath your rank. I shall be very unhappy, of course, but I +shall never alter my mind. If I do not find from the fairies +that my birth is worthy of you, then, whatever be my feelings, I +will never accept your hand.' + +The conversation was at this point, and bid fair to last some +time longer, when one of the fairies appeared in her ivory car, +accompanied by a beautiful woman past her early youth. At this +moment the bird suddenly awakened, and, flying on to Saphir's +shoulder (which it never afterwards left), began fondling him as +well as a bird can do. The fairy told Serpentine that she was +quite satisfied with her conduct, and made herself very agreeable +to Saphir, whom she presented to the lady she had brought with +her, explaining that the lady was no other than his Aunt +Aglantine, widow of Diamantino. + +Then they all fell into each other's arms, till the fairy mounted +her chariot, placed Aglantine by her side, and Saphir and +Serpentine on the front seat. She also sent a message to the +Prince's attendants that they might travel slowly back to the +Court of King Peridor, and that the beautiful bird had really +been found. This matter being comfortably arranged, she started +off her chariot. But in spite of the swiftness with which they +flew through the air, the time passed even quicker for Saphir and +Serpentine, who had so much to think about. + +They were still quite confused with the pleasure of seeing each +other, when the chariot arrived at King Peridor's palace. He had +had himself carried to a room on the roof, where his nurses +thought that he would die at any moment. Directly the chariot +drew within sight of the castle the beautiful bird took flight, +and, making straight for the dying King, at once cured him of his +sickness. Then she resumed her natural shape, and he found that +the bird was no other than the Queen Constance, whom he had long +believed to be dead. Peridor was rejoiced to embrace his wife +and his son once more, and with the help of the fairies began to +make preparations for the marriage of Saphir and Serpentine, who +turned out to be the daughter of Aglantine and Diamantino, and as +much a princess as he was a prince. The people of the kingdom +were delighted, and everybody lived happy and contented to the +end of their lives. + + + + THE SEVEN-HEADED SERPENT[9] + +[9] 'Die Siebenkopfige Schlange,' from Schmidt's Griechische +Mahrchen. + +Once upon a time there was a king who determined to take a long +voyage. He assembled his fleet and all the seamen, and set out. +They went straight on night and day, until they came to an island +which was covered with large trees, and under every tree lay a +lion. As soon as the King had landed his men, the lions all rose +up together and tried to devour them. After a long battle they +managed to overcome the wild beasts, but the greater number of +the men were killed. Those who remained alive now went on +through the forest and found on the other side of it a beautiful +garden, in which all the plants of the world flourished together. + +There were also in the garden three springs: the first flowed +with silver, the second with gold, and the third with pearls. +The men unbuckled their knapsacks and filled them with those +precious things. In the middle of the garden they found a large +lake, and when they reached the edge of it the Lake began to +speak, and said to them, 'What men are you, and what brings you +here? Are you come to visit our king?' But they were too much +frightened to answer. + +Then the Lake said, 'You do well to be afraid, for it is at your +peril that you are come hither. Our king, who has seven heads, +is now asleep, but in a few minutes he will wake up and come to +me to take his bath! Woe to anyone who meets him in the garden, +for it is impossible to escape from him. This is what you must +do if you wish to save your lives. Take off your clothes and +spread them on the path which leads from here to the castle. The +King will then glide over something soft, which he likes very +much, and he will be so pleased with that that he will not devour +you. He will give you some punishment, but then he will let you +go.' + +The men did as the Lake advised them, and waited for a time. At +noon the earth began to quake, and opened in many places, and out +of the openings appeared lions, tigers, and other wild beasts, +which surrounded the castle, and thousands and thousands of +beasts came out of the castle following their king, the +Seven-headed Serpent. The Serpent glided over the clothes which +were spread for him, came to the Lake, and asked it who had +strewed those soft things on the path? The Lake answered that it +had been done by people who had come to do him homage. The King +commanded that the men should be brought before him. They came +humbly on their knees, and in a few words told him their story. +Then he spoke to them with a mighty and terrible voice, and said, +'Because you have dared to come here, I lay upon you the +punishment. Every year you must bring me from among your people +twelve youths and twelve maidens, that I may devour them. If you +do not do this, I will destroy your whole nation.' + +Then he desired one of his beasts to show the men the way out of +the garden, and dismissed them. They then left the island and +went back to their own country, where they related what had +happened to them. Soon the time came round when the king of the +beasts would expect the youths and maidens to be brought to him. +The King therefore issued a proclamation inviting twelve youths +and twelve maidens to offer themselves up to save their country; +and immediately many young people, far more than enough, hastened +to do so. A new ship was built, and set with black sails, and in +it the youths and maidens who were appointed for the king of the +beasts embarked and set out for his country. When they arrived +there they went at once to the Lake, and this time the lions did +not stir, nor did the springs flow, and neither did the Lake +speak. So they waited then, and it was not long before the earth +quaked even more terribly than the first time. The Seven-headed +Serpent came without his train of beasts, saw his prey waiting +for him, and devoured it at one mouthful. Then the ship's crew +returned home, and the same thing happened yearly until many +years had passed. + +Now the King of this unhappy country was growing old, and so was +the Queen, and they had no children. One day the Queen was +sitting at the window weeping bitterly because she was childless, +and knew that the crown would therefore pass to strangers after +the King's death. Suddenly a little old woman appeared before +her, holding an apple in her hand, and said, 'Why do you weep, my +Queen, and what makes you so unhappy?' + +'Alas, good mother,' answered the Queen, 'I am unhappy because I +have no children.' + +'Is that what vexes you?' said the old woman. 'Listen to me. I +am a nun from the Spinning Convent,[10] and my mother when she +died left me this apple. Whoever eats this apple shall have a +child.' + +[10] Convent Gnothi. + + +The Queen gave money to the old woman, and bought the apple from +her. Then she peeled it, ate it, and threw the rind out of the +window, and it so happened that a mare that was running loose in +the court below ate up the rind. After a time the Queen had a +little boy, and the mare also had a male foal. The boy and the +foal grew up together and loved each other like brothers. In +course of time the King died, and so did the Queen, and their +son, who was now nineteen years old, was left alone. One day, +when he and his horse were talking together, the Horse said to +him, 'Listen to me, for I love you and wish for your good and +that of the country. If you go on every year sending twelve +youths and twelve maidens to the King of the Beasts, your country +will very soon be ruined. Mount upon my back: I will take you to +a woman who can direct you how to kill the Seven-headed Serpent.' + +Then the youth mounted his horse, who carried him far away to a +mountain which was hollow, for in its side was a great +underground cavern. In the cavern sat an old woman spinning. +This was the cloister of the nuns, and the old woman was the +Abbess. They all spent their time in spinning, and that is why +the convent has this name. All round the walls of the cavern +there were beds cut out of the solid rock, upon which the nuns +slept, and in the middle a light was burning. It was the duty of +the nuns to watch the light in turns, that it might never go out, +and if anyone of them let it go out the others put her to death. + +As soon as the King's son saw the old Abbess spinning he threw +himself at her feet and entreated her to tell him how he could +kill the Seven-headed Serpent. + +She made the youth rise, embraced him, and said, 'Know, my son, +that it is I who sent the nun to your mother and caused you to be +born, and with you the horse, with whose help you will be able to +free the world from the monster. I will tell you what you have +to do. Load your horse with cotton, and go by a secret passage +which I will show you, which is hidden from the wild beasts, to +the Serpent's palace. You will find the King asleep upon his +bed, which is all hung round with bells, and over his bed you +will see a sword hanging. With this sword only it is possible to +kill the Serpent, because even if its blade breaks a new one will +grow again for every head the monster has. Thus you will be able +to cut off all his seven heads. And this you must also do in +order to deceive the King: you must slip into his bed-chamber +very softly, and stop up all the bells which are round his bed +with cotton. Then take down the sword gently, and quickly give +the monster a blow on his tail with it. This will make him waken +up, and if he catches sight of you he will seize you. But you +must quickly cut off his first head, and then wait till the next +one comes up. Then strike it off also, and so go on till you +have cut off all his seven heads.' + +The old Abbess then gave the Prince her blessing, and he set out +upon his enterprise, arrived at the Serpent's castle by following +the secret passage which she had shown him, and by carefully +attending to all her directions he happily succeeded in killing +the monster. As soon as the wild beasts heard of their king's +death, they all hastened to the castle, but the youth had long +since mounted his horse and was already far out of their reach. +They pursued him as fast as they could, but they found it +impossible to overtake him, and he reached home in safety. Thus +he freed his country from this terrible oppression. + + + +THE GRATEFUL BEASTS[11] + +[11] From the Hungarian. Kletke. + +There was once upon a time a man and woman who had three +fine-looking sons, but they were so poor that they had hardly +enough food for themselves, let alone their children. So the +sons determined to set out into the world and to try their luck. +Before starting their mother gave them each a loaf of bread and +her blessing, and having taken a tender farewell of her and their +father the three set forth on their travels. + +The youngest of the three brothers, whose name was Ferko, was a +beautiful youth, with a splendid figure, blue eyes, fair hair, +and a complexion like milk and roses. His two brothers were as +jealous of him as they could be, for they thought that with his +good looks he would be sure to be more fortunate than they would +ever be. + +One day all the three were sitting resting under a tree, for the +sun was hot and they were tired of walking. Ferko fell fast +asleep, but the other two remained awake, and the eldest said to +the second brother, 'What do you say to doing our brother Ferko +some harm? He is so beautiful that everyone takes a fancy to +him, which is more than they do to us. If we could only get him +out of the way we might succeed better.' + +'I quite agree with you,' answered the second brother, 'and my +advice is to eat up his loaf of bread, and then to refuse to give +him a bit of ours until he has promised to let us put out his +eyes or break his legs.' + +His eldest brother was delighted with this proposal, and the two +wicked wretches seized Ferko's loaf and ate it all up, while the +poor boy was still asleep. + +When he did awake he felt very hungry and turned to eat his +bread, but his brothers cried out, 'You ate your loaf in your +sleep, you glutton, and you may starve as long as you like, but +you won't get a scrap of ours.' + +Ferko was at a loss to understand how he could have eaten in his +sleep, but he said nothing, and fasted all that day and the next +night. But on the following morning he was so hungry that he +burst into tears, and implored his brothers to give him a little +bit of their bread. Then the cruel creatures laughed, and +repeated what they had said the day before; but when Ferko +continued to beg and beseech them, the eldest said at last, 'If +you will let us put out one of your eyes and break one of your +legs, then we will give you a bit of our bread.' + +At these words poor Ferko wept more bitterly than before, and +bore the torments of hunger till the sun was high in the heavens; +then he could stand it no longer, and he consented to allow his +left eye to be put out and his left leg to be broken. When this +was done he stretched out his hand eagerly for the piece of +bread, but his brothers gave him such a tiny scrap that the +starving youth finished it in a moment and besought them for a +second bit. + +But the more Ferko wept and told his brothers that he was dying +of hunger, the more they laughed and scolded him for his greed. +So he endured the pangs of starvation all that day, but when +night came his endurance gave way, and he let his right eye be +put out and his right leg broken for a second piece of bread. + +After his brothers had thus successfully maimed and disfigured +him for life, they left him groaning on the ground and continued +their journey without him. + +Poor Ferko ate up the scrap of bread they had left him and wept +bitterly, but no one heard him or came to his help. Night came +on, and the poor blind youth had no eyes to close, and could only +crawl along the ground, not knowing in the least where he was +going. But when the sun was once more high in the heavens, Ferko +felt the blazing heat scorch him, and sought for some cool shady +place to rest his aching limbs. He climbed to the top of a hill +and lay down in the grass, and as he thought under the shadow of +a big tree. But it was no tree he leant against, but a gallows +on which two ravens were seated. The one was saying to the other +as the weary youth lay down, 'Is there anything the least +wonderful or remarkable about this neighbourhood?' + +'I should just think there was,' replied the other; 'many things +that don't exist anywhere else in the world. There is a lake +down there below us, and anyone who bathes in it, though he were +at death's door, becomes sound and well on the spot, and those +who wash their eyes with the dew on this hill become as +sharp-sighted as the eagle, even if they have been blind from +their youth.' + +'Well,' answered the first raven, 'my eyes are in no want of this +healing bath, for, Heaven be praised, they are as good as ever +they were; but my wing has been very feeble and weak ever since +it was shot by an arrow many years ago, so let us fly at once to +the lake that I may be restored to health and strength again.' +And so they flew away. + +Their words rejoiced Ferko's heart, and he waited impatiently +till evening should come and he could rub the precious dew on his +sightless eyes. + +At last it began to grow dusk, and the sun sank behind the +mountains; gradually it became cooler on the hill, and the grass +grew wet with dew. Then Ferko buried his face in the ground till +his eyes were damp with dewdrops, and in a moment he saw clearer +than he had ever done in his life before. The moon was shining +brightly, and lighted him to the lake where he could bathe his +poor broken legs. + +Then Ferko crawled to the edge of the lake and dipped his limbs +in the water. No sooner had he done so than his legs felt as +sound and strong as they had been before, and Ferko thanked the +kind fate that had led him to the hill where he had overheard the +ravens' conversation. He filled a bottle with the healing water, +and then continued his journey in the best of spirits. + +He had not gone far before he met a wolf, who was limping +disconsolately along on three legs, and who on perceiving Ferko +began to howl dismally. + +'My good friend,' said the youth, 'be of good cheer, for I can +soon heal your leg,' and with these words he poured some of the +precious water over the wolf's paw, and in a minute the animal +was springing about sound and well on all fours. The grateful +creature thanked his benefactor warmly, and promised Ferko to do +him a good turn if he should ever need it. + +Ferko continued his way till he came to a ploughed field. Here +he noticed a little mouse creeping wearily along on its hind +paws, for its front paws had both been broken in a trap. + +Ferko felt so sorry for the little beast that he spoke to it in +the most friendly manner, and washed its small paws with the +healing water. In a moment the mouse was sound and whole, and +after thanking the kind physician it scampered away over the +ploughed furrows. + +Ferko again proceeded on his journey, but he hadn't gone far +before a queen bee flew against him, trailing one wing behind +her, which had been cruelly torn in two by a big bird. Ferko +was no less willing to help her than he had been to help the wolf +and the mouse, so he poured some healing drops over the wounded +wing. On the spot the queen bee was cured, and turning to Ferko +she said, 'I am most grateful for your kindness, and shall reward +you some day.' And with these words she flew away humming, +gaily. + +Then Ferko wandered on for many a long day, and at length reached +a strange kingdom. Here, he thought to himself, he might as well +go straight to the palace and offer his services to the King of +the country, for he had heard that the King's daughter was as +beautiful as the day. + +So he went to the royal palace, and as he entered the door the +first people he saw were his two brothers who had so shamefully +ill-treated him. They had managed to obtain places in the King's +service, and when they recognised Ferko with his eyes and legs +sound and well they were frightened to death, for they feared he +would tell the King of their conduct, and that they would be +hung. + +No sooner had Ferko entered the palace than all eyes were turned +on the handsome youth, and the King's daughter herself was lost +in admiration, for she had never seen anyone so handsome in her +life before. His brothers noticed this, and envy and jealousy +were added to their fear, so much so that they determined once +more to destroy him. They went to the King and told him that +Ferko was a wicked magician, who had come to the palace with the +intention of carrying off the Princess. + +Then the King had Ferko brought before him, and said, 'You are +accused of being a magician who wishes to rob me of my daughter, +and I condemn you to death; but if you can fulfil three tasks +which I shall set you to do your life shall be spared, on +condition you leave the country; but if you cannot perform what I +demand you shall be hung on the nearest tree.' + +And turning to the two wicked brothers he said, 'Suggest +something for him to do; no matter how difficult, he must succeed +in it or die.' + +They did not think long, but replied, 'Let him build your Majesty +in one day a more beautiful palace than this, and if he fails in +the attempt let him be hung.' + +The King was pleased with this proposal, and commanded Ferko to +set to work on the following day. The two brothers were +delighted, for they thought they had now got rid of Ferko for +ever. The poor youth himself was heart-broken, and cursed the +hour he had crossed the boundary of the King's domain. As he was +wandering disconsolately about the meadows round the palace, +wondering how he could escape being put to death, a little bee +flew past, and settling on his shoulder whispered in his ear, +'What is troubling you, my kind benefactor? Can I be of any help +to you? I am the bee whose wing you healed, and would like to +show my gratitude in some way.' + +Ferko recognised the queen bee, and said, 'Alas! how could you +help me? for I have been set to do a task which no one in the +whole world could do, let him be ever such a genius! To-morrow I +must build a palace more beautiful than the King's, and it must +be finished before evening.' + +'Is that all?' answered the bee, 'then you may comfort yourself; +for before the sun goes down to-morrow night a palace shall be +built unlike any that King has dwelt in before. Just stay here +till I come again and tell you that it is finished.' Having said +this she flew merrily away, and Ferko, reassured by her words, +lay down on the grass and slept peacefully till the next morning. + +Early on the following day the whole town was on its feet, and +everyone wondered how and where the stranger would build the +wonderful palace. The Princess alone was silent and sorrowful, +and had cried all night till her pillow was wet, so much did she +take the fate of the beautiful youth to heart. + +Ferko spent the whole day in the meadows waiting the return of +the bee. And when evening was come the queen bee flew by, and +perching on his shoulder she said, 'The wonderful palace is +ready. Be of good cheer, and lead the King to the hill just +outside the city walls.' And humming gaily she flew away again. + +Ferko went at once to the King and told him the palace was +finished. The whole court went out to see the wonder, and their +astonishment was great at the sight which met their eyes. A +splendid palace reared itself on the hill just outside the walls +of the city, made of the most exquisite flowers that ever grew in +mortal garden. The roof was all of crimson roses, the windows of +lilies, the walls of white carnations, the floors of glowing +auriculas and violets, the doors of gorgeous tulips and narcissi +with sunflowers for knockers, and all round hyacinths and other +sweet-smelling flowers bloomed in masses, so that the air was +perfumed far and near and enchanted all who were present. + +This splendid palace had been built by the grateful queen bee, +who had summoned all the other bees in the kingdom to help her. + +The King's amazement knew no bounds, and the Princess's eyes +beamed with delight as she turned them from the wonderful +building on the delighted Ferko. But the two brothers had grown +quite green with envy, and only declared the more that Ferko was +nothing but a wicked magician. + +The King, although he had been surprised and astonished at the +way his commands had been carried out, was very vexed that the +stranger should escape with his life, and turning to the two +brothers he said, 'He has certainly accomplished the first task, +with the aid no doubt of his diabolical magic; but what shall we +give him to do now? Let us make it as difficult as possible, and +if he fails he shall die.' + +Then the eldest brother replied, 'The corn has all been cut, but +it has not yet been put into barns; let the knave collect all the +grain in the kingdom into one big heap before to-morrow night, +and if as much as a stalk of corn is left let him be put to +death. + +The Princess grew white with terror when she heard these words; +but Ferko felt much more cheerful than he had done the first +time, and wandered out into the meadows again, wondering how he +was to get out of the difficulty. But he could think of no way +of escape. The sun sank to rest and night came on, when a little +mouse started out of the grass at Ferko's feet, and said to him, +'I'm delighted to see you, my kind benefactor; but why are you +looking so sad? Can I be of any help to you, and thus repay your +great kindness to me?' + +Then Ferko recognised the mouse whose front paws he had healed, +and replied, 'Alas I how can you help me in a matter that is +beyond any human power! Before to-morrow night all the grain in +the kingdom has to be gathered into one big heap, and if as much +as a stalk of corn is wanting I must pay for it with my life.' + +'Is that all?' answered the mouse; 'that needn't distress you +much. Just trust in me, and before the sun sets again you shall +hear that your task is done.' And with these words the little +creature scampered away into the fields. + +Ferko, who never doubted that the mouse would be as good as its +word, lay down comforted on the soft grass and slept soundly till +next morning. The day passed slowly, and with the evening came +the little mouse and said, 'Now there is not a single stalk of +corn left in any field; they are all collected in one big heap on +the hill out there.' + +Then Ferko went joyfully to the King and told him that all he +demanded had been done. And the whole Court went out to see the +wonder, and were no less astonished than they had been the first +time. For in a heap higher than the King's palace lay all the +grain of the country, and not a single stalk of corn had been +left behind in any of the fields. And how had all this been +done? The little mouse had summoned every other mouse in the +land to its help, and together they had collected all the grain +in the kingdom. + +The King could not hide his amazement, but at the same time his +wrath increased, and he was more ready than ever to believe the +two brothers, who kept on repeating that Ferko was nothing more +nor less than a wicked magician. Only the beautiful Princess +rejoiced over Ferko's success, and looked on him with friendly +glances, which the youth returned. + +The more the cruel King gazed on the wonder before him, the more +angry he became, for he could not, in the face of his promise, +put the stranger to death. He turned once more to the two +brothers and said, 'His diabolical magic has helped him again, +but now what third task shall we set him to do? No matter how +impossible it is, he must do it or die.' + +The eldest answered quickly, 'Let him drive all the wolves of the +kingdom on to this hill before to-morrow night. If he does this +he may go free; if not he shall be hung as you have said.' + +At these words the Princess burst into tears, and when the King +saw this he ordered her to be shut up in a high tower and +carefully guarded till the dangerous magician should either have +left the kingdom or been hung on the nearest tree. + +Ferko wandered out into the fields again, and sat down on the +stump of a tree wondering what he should do next. Suddenly a big +wolf ran up to him, and standing still said, 'I'm very glad to +see you again, my kind benefactor. What are you thinking about +all alone by yourself? If I can help you in any way only say the +word, for I would like to give you a proof of my gratitude.' + +Ferko at once recognised the wolf whose broken leg he had healed, +and told him what he had to do the following day if he wished to +escape with his life. 'But how in the world,' he added, 'am I to +collect all the wolves of the kingdom on to that hill over +there?' + +'If that's all you want done,' answered the wolf, 'you needn't +worry yourself. I'll undertake the task, and you'll hear from me +again before sunset to-morrow. Keep your spirits up.' And with +these words he trotted quickly away. + +Then the youth rejoiced greatly, for now he felt that his life +was safe; but he grew very sad when he thought of the beautiful +Princess, and that he would never see her again if he left the +country. He lay down once more on the grass and soon fell fast +asleep. + +All the next day he spent wandering about the fields, and toward +evening the wolf came running to him in a great hurry and said, +'I have collected together all the wolves in the kingdom, and +they are waiting for you in the wood. Go quickly to the King, +and tell him to go to the hill that he may see the wonder you +have done with his own eyes. Then return at once to me and get +on my back, and I will help you to drive all the wolves +together.' + +Then Ferko went straight to the palace and told the King that he +was ready to perform the third task if he would come to the hill +and see it done. Ferko himself returned to the fields, and +mounting on the wolf's back he rode to the wood close by. + +Quick as lightning the wolf flew round the wood, and in a minute +many hundred wolves rose up before him, increasing in number +every moment, till they could be counted by thousands. He drove +them all before him on to the hill, where the King and his whole +Court and Ferko's two brothers were standing. Only the lovely +Princess was not present, for she was shut up in her tower +weeping bitterly. + +The wicked brothers stamped and foamed with rage when they saw +the failure of their wicked designs. But the King was overcome +by a sudden terror when he saw the enormous pack of wolves +approaching nearer and nearer, and calling out to Ferko he said, +'Enough, enough, we don't want any more.' + +But the wolf on whose back Ferko sat, said to its rider, 'Go on! +go on!' and at the same moment many more wolves ran up the hill, +howling horribly and showing their white teeth. + +The King in his terror called out, 'Stop a moment; I will give +you half my kingdom if you will drive all the wolves away.' But +Ferko pretended not to hear, and drove some more thousands before +him, so that everyone quaked with horror and fear. + +Then the King raised his voice again and called out, 'Stop! you +shall have my whole kingdom, if you will only drive these wolves +back to the places they came from.' + +But the wolf kept on encouraging Ferko, and said, 'Go on! go +on!' So he led the wolves on, till at last they fell on the King +and on the wicked brothers, and ate them and the whole Court up +in a moment. + +Then Ferko went straight to the palace and set the Princess free, +and on the same day he married her and was crowned King of the +country. And the wolves all went peacefully back to their own +homes, and Ferko and his bride lived for many years in peace and +happiness together, and were much beloved by great and small in +the land. + + + + THE GIANTS AND THE HERD-BOY[12] + +[12] From the Bukowniaer. Von Wliolocki. + +There was once upon a time a poor boy who had neither father nor +mother. In order to gain a living he looked after the sheep of a +great Lord. Day and night he spent out in the open fields, and +only when it was very wet and stormy did he take refuge in a +little hut on the edge of a big forest. Now one night, when he +was sitting on the grass beside his flocks, he heard not very far +from him the sound as of some one crying. He rose up and +followed the direction of the noise. To his dismay and +astonishment he found a Giant lying at the entrance of the wood; +he was about to run off as fast as his legs could carry him, when +the Giant called out: 'Don't be afraid, I won't harm you. On the +contrary, I will reward you handsomely if you will bind up my +foot. I hurt it when I was trying to root up an oak-tree.' The +Herd-boy took off his shirt, and bound up the Giant's wounded +foot with it. Then the Giant rose up and said, 'Now come and I +will reward you. We are going to celebrate a marriage to-day, +and I promise you we shall have plenty of fun. Come and enjoy +yourself, but in order that my brothers mayn't see you, put this +band round your waist and then you'll be invisible.' With these +words he handed the Herd-boy a belt, and walking on in front he +led him to a fountain where hundreds of Giants and Giantesses +were assembled preparing to hold a wedding. They danced and +played different games till midnight; then one of the Giants tore +up a plant by its roots, and all the Giants and Giantesses made +themselves so thin that they disappeared into the earth through +the hole made by the uprooting of the plant. The wounded Giant +remained behind to the last and called out, 'Herd-boy, where are +you?' 'Here I am, close to you,' was the reply. 'Touch me,' said +the Giant, 'so that you too may come with us under ground.' The +Herd-boy did as he was told, and before he could have believed it +possible he found himself in a big hall, where even the walls +were made of pure gold. Then to his astonishment he saw that the +hall was furnished with the tables and chairs that belonged to +his master. In a few minutes the company began to eat and drink. + +The banquet was a very gorgeous one, and the poor youth fell to +and ate and drank lustily. When he had eaten and drunk as much +as he could he thought to himself, 'Why shouldn't I put a loaf of +bread in my pocket? I shall be glad of it to-morrow.' So he +seized a loaf when no one was looking and stowed it away under +his tunic. No sooner had he done so than the wounded Giant +limped up to him and whispered softly, 'Herd-boy, where are you?' +'Here I am,' replied the youth. 'Then hold on to me,' said the +Giant, 'so that I may lead you up above again.' So the Herd-boy +held on to the Giant, and in a few moments he found himself on +the earth once more, but the Giant had vanished. The Herd-boy +returned to his sheep, and took off the invisible belt which he +hid carefully in his bag. + +The next morning the lad felt hungry, and thought he would cut +off a piece of the loaf he had carried away from the Giants' +wedding feast, and eat it. But although he tried with all his +might, he couldn't cut off the smallest piece. Then in despair +he bit the loaf, and what was his astonishment when a piece of +gold fell out of his mouth and rolled at his feet. He bit the +bread a second and third time, and each time a piece of gold fell +out of his mouth; but the bread remained untouched. The Herd-boy +was very much delighted over his stroke of good fortune, and, +hiding the magic loaf in his bag, he hurried off to the nearest +village to buy himself something to eat, and then returned to his +sheep. + +Now the Lord whose sheep the Herd-boy looked after had a very +lovely daughter, who always smiled and nodded to the youth when +she walked with her father in his fields. For a long time the +Herd-boy had made up his mind to prepare a surprise for this +beautiful creature on her birthday. So when the day approached +he put on his invisible belt, took a sack of gold pieces with +him, and slipping into her room in the middle of the night, he +placed the bag of gold beside her bed and returned to his sheep. +The girl's joy was great, and so was her parents' next day when +they found the sack full of gold pieces. The Herd-boy was so +pleased to think what pleasure he had given that the next night +he placed another bag of gold beside the girl's bed. And this he +continued to do for seven nights, and the girl and her parents +made up their minds that it must be a good Fairy who brought the +gold every night. But one night they determined to watch, and +see from their hiding place who the bringer of the sack of gold +really was. + +On the eighth night a fearful storm of wind and rain came on +while the Herd-boy was on his way to bring the beautiful girl +another bag of gold. Then for the first time he noticed, just as +he reached his master's house, that he had forgotten the belt +which made him invisible. He didn't like the idea of going back +to his hut in the wind and wet, so he just stepped as he was into +the girl's room, laid the sack of gold beside her, and was +turning to leave the room, when his master confronted him and +said, 'You young rogue, so you were going to steal the gold that +a good Fairy brings every night, were you?' The Herd-boy was so +taken aback by his words, that he stood trembling before him, and +did not dare to explain his presence. Then his master spoke. +'As you have hitherto always behaved well in my service I will +not send you to prison; but leave your place instantly and never +let me see your face again.' So the Herd-boy went back to his +hut, and taking his loaf and belt with him, he went to the +nearest town. There he bought himself some fine clothes, and a +beautiful coach with four horses, hired two servants, and drove +back to his master. You may imagine how astonished he was to see +his Herd-boy returning to him in this manner! Then the youth +told him of the piece of good luck that had befallen him, and +asked him for the hand of his beautiful daughter. This was +readily granted, and the two lived in peace and happiness to the +end of their lives. + + + + THE INVISIBLE PRINCE + +Once upon a time there lived a Fairy who had power over the +earth, the sea, fire, and the air; and this Fairy had four sons. +The eldest, who was quick and lively, with a vivid imagination, +she made Lord of Fire, which was in her opinion the noblest of +all the elements. To the second son, whose wisdom and prudence +made amends for his being rather dull, she gave the government of +the earth. The third was wild and savage, and of monstrous +stature; and the Fairy, his mother, who was ashamed of his +defects, hoped to hide them by creating him King of the Seas. +The youngest, who was the slave of his passions and of a very +uncertain temper, became Prince of the Air. + +Being the youngest, he was naturally his mother's favourite; but +this did not blind her to his weaknesses, and she foresaw that +some day he would suffer much pain through falling in love. So +she thought the best thing she could do was to bring him up with +a horror of women; and, to her great delight, she saw this +dislike only increased as he grew older. From his earliest +childhood he heard nothing but stories of princes who had fallen +into all sorts of troubles through love; and she drew such +terrible pictures of poor little Cupid that the young man had no +difficulty in believing that he was the root of all evil. + +All the time that this wise mother could spare from filling her +son with hatred for all womenkind she passed in giving him a love +of the pleasures of the chase, which henceforth became his chief +joy. For his amusement she had made a new forest, planted with +the most splendid trees, and turned loose in it every animal that +could be found in any of the four quarters of the globe. In the +midst of this forest she built a palace which had not its equal +for beauty in the whole world, and then she considered that she +had done enough to make any prince happy. + +Now it is all very well to abuse the God of Love, but a man +cannot struggle against his fate. In his secret heart the Prince +got tired of his mother's constant talk on this subject; and when +one day she quitted the palace to attend to some business, +begging him never to go beyond the grounds, he at once jumped at +the chance of disobeying her. + +Left to himself the Prince soon forgot the wise counsels of his +mother, and feeling very much bored with his own company, he +ordered some of the spirits of the air to carry him to the court +of a neighbouring sovereign. This kingdom was situated in the +Island of Roses, where the climate is so delicious that the grass +is always green and the flowers always sweet. The waves, instead +of beating on the rocks, seemed to die gently on the shore; +clusters of golden bushes covered the land, and the vines were +bent low with grapes. + +The King of this island had a daughter named Rosalie, who was +more lovely than any girl in the whole world. No sooner had the +eyes of the Prince of the Air rested on her than he forgot all +the terrible woes which had been prophesied to him ever since he +was born, for in one single moment the plans of years are often +upset. He instantly began to think how best to make himself +happy, and the shortest way that occurred to him was to have +Rosalie carried off by his attendant spirits. + +It is easy to imagine the feelings of the King when he found that +his daughter had vanished. He wept her loss night and day, and +his only comfort was to talk over it with a young and unknown +prince, who had just arrived at the Court. Alas! he did not +know what a deep interest the stranger had in Rosalie, for he too +had seen her, and had fallen a victim to her charms. + +One day the King, more sorrowful than usual, was walking sadly +along the sea-shore, when after a long silence the unknown +Prince, who was his only companion, suddenly spoke. 'There is no +evil without a remedy,' he said to the unhappy father; 'and if +you will promise me your daughter in marriage, I will undertake +to bring her back to you.' + +'You are trying to soothe me by vain promises,' answered the +King. 'Did I not see her caught up into the air, in spite of +cries which would have softened the heart of any one but the +barbarian who has robbed me of her? The unfortunate girl is +pining away in some unknown land, where perhaps no foot of man +has ever trod, and I shall see her no more. But go, generous +stranger; bring back Rosalie if you can, and live happy with her +ever after in this country, of which I now declare you heir.' + +Although the stranger's name and rank were unknown to Rosalie's +father, he was really the son of the King of the Golden Isle, +which had for capital a city that extended from one sea to +another. The walls, washed by the quiet waters, were covered +with gold, which made one think of the yellow sands. Above them +was a rampart of orange and lemon trees, and all the streets were +paved with gold. + +The King of this beautiful island had one son, for whom a life of +adventure had been foretold at his birth. This so frightened his +father and mother that in order to comfort them a Fairy, who +happened to be present at the time, produced a little pebble +which she told them to keep for the Prince till he grew up, as by +putting it in his mouth he would become invisible, as long as he +did not try to speak, for if he did the stone would lose all its +virtue. In this way the good fairy hoped that the Prince would +be protected against all dangers. + +No sooner did the Prince begin to grow out of boyhood than he +longed to see if the other countries of the world were as +splendid as the one in which he lived. So, under pretence of +visiting some small islands that belonged to his father, he set +out. But a frightful storm drove his ship on to unknown shores, +where most of his followers were put to death by the savages, and +the Prince himself only managed to escape by making use of his +magic pebble. By this means he passed through the midst of them +unseen, and wandered on till he reached the coast, where he +re-embarked on board his ship. + +The first land he sighted was the Island of Roses, and he went at +once to the court of the King, Rosalie's father. The moment his +eyes beheld the Princess, he fell in love with her like everyone +else. + +He had already spent several months in this condition when the +Prince of the Air whirled her away, to the grief and despair of +every man on the island. But sad though everybody was, the +Prince of the Golden Isle was perfectly inconsolable, and he +passed both days and nights in bemoaning his loss. + +'Alas!' he cried; 'shall I never see my lovely Princess again?' +Who knows where she may be, and what fairy may have her in his +keeping? I am only a man, but I am strong in my love, and I will +seek the whole world through till I find her.' + +So saying, he left the court, and made ready for his journey. + +He travelled many weary days without hearing a single word of the +lost Princess, till one morning, as he was walking through a +thick forest, he suddenly perceived a magnificent palace standing +at the end of a pine avenue, and his heart bounded to think that +he might be gazing on Rosalie's prison. He hastened his steps, +and quickly arrived at the gate of the palace, which was formed +of a single agate. The gate swung open to let him through, and +he next passed successively three courts, surrounded by deep +ditches filled with running water, with birds of brilliant +plumage flying about the banks. Everything around was rare and +beautiful, but the Prince scarcely raised his eyes to all these +wonders. He thought only of the Princess and where he should +find her, but in vain he opened every door and searched in every +corner; he neither saw Rosalie nor anyone else. At last there +was no place left for him to search but a little wood, which +contained in the centre a sort of hall built entirely of +orange-trees, with four small rooms opening out of the corners. +Three of these were empty except for statues and wonderful +things, but in the fourth the Invisible Prince caught sight of +Rosalie. His joy at beholding her again was, however, somewhat +lessened by seeing that the Prince of the Air was kneeling at her +feet, and pleading his own cause. But it was in vain that he +implored her to listen; she only shook her head. 'No,' was all +she would say; 'you snatched me from my father whom I loved, and +all the splendour in the world can never console me. Go! I can +never feel anything towards you but hate and contempt.' With +these words she turned away and entered her own apartments. + +Unknown to herself the Invisible Prince had followed her, but +fearing to be discovered by the Princess in the presence of +others, he made up his mind to wait quietly till dark; and +employed the long hours in writing a poem to the Princess, which +he laid on the bed beside her. This done, he thought of nothing +but how best to deliver Rosalie, and he resolved to take +advantage of a visit which the Prince of the Air paid every year +to his mother and brothers in order to strike the blow. + +One day Rosalie was sitting alone in her room thinking of her +troubles when she suddenly saw a pen get up from off the desk and +begin to write all by itself on a sheet of white paper. As she +did not know that it was guided by an invisible hand she was very +much astonished, and the moment that the pen had ceased to move +she instantly went over to the table, where she found some lovely +verses, telling her that another shared her distresses, whatever +they might be, and loved her with all his heart; and that he +would never rest until he had delivered her from the hands of the +man she hated. Thus encouraged, she told him all her story, and +of the arrival of a young stranger in her father's palace, whose +looks had so charmed her that since that day she had thought of +no one else. At these words the Prince could contain himself no +longer. He took the pebble from his mouth, and flung himself at +Rosalie's feet. + +When they had got over the first rapture of meeting they began to +make plans to escape from the power of the Prince of the Air. +But this did not prove easy, for the magic stone would only serve +for one person at a time, and in order to save Rosalie the Prince +of the Golden Isle would have to expose himself to the fury of +his enemy. But Rosalie would not hear of this. + +'No, Prince,' she said; 'since you are here this island no +longer feels a prison. Besides, you are under the protection of +a Fairy, who always visits your father's court at this season. +Go instantly and seek her, and when she is found implore the gift +of another stone with similar powers. Once you have that, there +will be no further difficulty in the way of escape.' + +The Prince of the Air returned a few days later from his mother's +palace, but the Invisible Prince had already set out. He had, +however, entirely forgotten the road by which he had come, and +lost himself for so long in the forest, that when at last he +reached home the Fairy had already left, and, in spite of all his +grief, there was nothing for it but to wait till the Fairy's next +visit, and allow Rosalie to suffer three months longer. This +thought drove him to despair, and he had almost made up his mind +to return to the place of her captivity, when one day, as he was +strolling along an alley in the woods, he saw a huge oak open its +trunk, and out of it step two Princes in earnest conversation. +As our hero had the magic stone in his mouth they imagined +themselves alone, and did not lower their voices. + +'What!' said one, 'are you always going to allow yourself to be +tormented by a passion which can never end happily, and in your +whole kingdom can you find nothing else to satisfy you?' + +'What is the use,' replied the other, 'of being Prince of the +Gnomes, and having a mother who is queen over all the four +elements, if I cannot win the love of the Princess Argentine? +From the moment that I first saw her, sitting in the forest +surrounded by flowers, I have never ceased to think of her night +and day, and, although I love her, I am quite convinced that she +will never care for me. You know that I have in my palace the +cabinets of the years. In the first, great mirrors reflect the +past; in the second, we contemplate the present; in the third, +the future can be read. It was here that I fled after I had +gazed on the Princess Argentine, but instead of love I only saw +scorn and contempt. Think how great must be my devotion, when, +in spite of my fate, I still love on!' + +Now the Prince of the Golden Isle was enchanted with this +conversation, for the Princess Argentine was his sister, and he +hoped, by means of her influence over the Prince of the Gnomes, +to obtain from his brother the release of Rosalie. So he +joyfully returned to his father's palace, where he found his +friend the Fairy, who at once presented him with a magic pebble +like his own. As may be imagined, he lost no time in setting out +to deliver Rosalie, and travelled so fast that he soon arrived at +the forest, in the midst of which she lay a captive. But though +he found the palace he did not find Rosalie. He hunted high and +low, but there was no sign of her, and his despair was so great +that he was ready, a thousand times over, to take his own life. +At last he remembered the conversation of the two Princes about +the cabinets of the years, and that if he could manage to reach +the oak tree, he would be certain to discover what had become of +Rosalie. Happily, he soon found out the secret of the passage +and entered the cabinet of the present, where he saw reflected in +the mirrors the unfortunate Rosalie sitting on the floor weeping +bitterly, and surrounded with genii, who never left her night or +day. + +This sight only increased the misery of the Prince, for he did +not know where the castle was, nor how to set about finding it. +However, he resolved to seek the whole world through till he came +to the right place. He began by setting sail in a favourable +wind, but his bad luck followed him even on the sea. He had +scarcely lost sight of the land when a violent storm arose, and +after several hours of beating about, the vessel was driven on to +some rocks, on which it dashed itself to bits. The Prince was +fortunate enough to be able to lay hold of a floating spar, and +contrived to keep himself afloat; and, after a long struggle with +the winds and waves, he was cast upon a strange island. But what +was his surprise, on reaching the shore, to hear sounds of the +most heartrending distress, mingled with the sweetest songs which +had ever charmed him! His curiosity was instantly roused, and he +advanced cautiously till he saw two huge dragons guarding the +gate of a wood. They were terrible indeed to look upon. Their +bodies were covered with glittering scales; their curly tails +extended far over the land; flames darted from their mouths and +noses, and their eyes would have made the bravest shudder; but as +the Prince was invisible and they did not see him, he slipped +past them into the wood. He found himself at once in a +labyrinth, and wandered about for a long time without meeting +anyone; in fact, the only sight he saw was a circle of human +hands, sticking out of the ground above the wrist, each with a +bracelet of gold, on which a name was written. The farther he +advanced in the labyrinth the more curious he became, till he was +stopped by two corpses lying in the midst of a cypress alley, +each with a scarlet cord round his neck and a bracelet on his arm +on which were engraved their own names, and those of two +Princesses. + +The invisible Prince recognised these dead men as Kings of two +large islands near his own home, but the names of the Princesses +were unknown to him. He grieved for their unhappy fate, and at +once proceeded to bury them; but no sooner had he laid them in +their graves, than their hands started up through the earth and +remained sticking up like those of their fellows. + +The Prince went on his way, thinking about this strange +adventure, when suddenly at the turn of the walk he perceived a +tall man whose face was the picture of misery, holding in his +hands a silken cord of the exact colour of those round the necks +of the dead men. A few steps further this man came up with +another as miserable to the full as he himself; they silently +embraced, and then without a word passed the cords round their +throats, and fell dead side by side. In vain the Prince rushed +to their assistance and strove to undo the cord. He could not +loosen it; so he buried them like the others and continued his +path. + +He felt, however, that great prudence was necessary, or he +himself might become the victim of some enchantment; and he was +thankful to slip past the dragons, and enter a beautiful park, +with clear streams and sweet flowers, and a crowd of men and +maidens. But he could not forget the terrible things he had +seen, and hoped eagerly for a clue to the mystery. Noticing two +young people talking together, he drew near thinking that he +might get some explanation of what puzzled him. And so he did. + +'You swear,' said the Prince, 'that you will love me till you +die, but I fear your faithless heart, and I feel that I shall +soon have to seek the Fairy Despair, ruler of half this island. +She carries off the lovers who have been cast away by their +mistresses, and wish to have done with life. She places them in +a labyrinth where they are condemned to walk for ever, with a +bracelet on their arms and a cord round their necks, unless they +meet another as miserable as themselves. Then the cord is pulled +and they lie where they fall, till they are buried by the first +passer by. Terrible as this death would be,' added the Prince, +'it would be sweeter than life if I had lost your love.' + +The sight of all these happy lovers only made the Prince grieve +the more, and he wandered along the seashore spending his days; +but one day he was sitting on a rock bewailing his fate, and the +impossibility of leaving the island, when all in a moment the sea +appeared to raise itself nearly to the skies, and the caves +echoed with hideous screams. As he looked a woman rose from the +depths of the sea, flying madly before a furious giant. The +cries she uttered softened the heart of the Prince; he took the +stone from his mouth, and drawing his sword he rushed after the +giant, so as to give the lady time to escape. But hardly had he +come within reach of the enemy, than the giant touched him with a +ring that he held in his hand, and the Prince remained immovable +where he stood. The giant then hastily rejoined his prey, and, +seizing her in his arms, he plunged her into the sea. Then he +sent some tritons to bind chains about the Prince of the Golden +Isle, and he too felt himself borne to the depths of the ocean, +and without the hope of ever again seeing the Princess. + +Now the giant whom the invisible had so rashly attacked was the +Lord of the Sea, and the third son of the Queen of the Elements, +and he had touched the youth with a magic ring which enabled a +mortal to live under water. So the Prince of the Golden Isle +found, when bound in chains by the tritons, he was carried +through the homes of strange monsters and past immense seaweed +forests, till he reached a vast sandy space, surrounded by huge +rocks. On the tallest of the rocks sat the giant as on a throne. + +'Rash mortal,' said he, when the Prince was dragged before him, +'you have deserved death, but you shall live only to suffer more +cruelly. Go, and add to the number of those whom it is my +pleasure to torture.' + +At these words the unhappy Prince found himself tied to a rock; +but he was not alone in his misfortunes, for all round him were +chained Princes and Princesses, whom the giant had led captive. +Indeed, it was his chief delight to create a storm, in order to +add to the list of his prisoners. + +As his hands were fastened, it was impossible for the Prince of +the Golden Isle to make use of his magic stone, and he passed his +nights and days dreaming of Rosalie. But at last the time came +when the giant took it into his head to amuse himself by +arranging fights between some of his captives. Lots were drawn, +and one fell upon our Prince, whose chains were immediately +loosened. The moment he was set free, he snatched up his stone, +and became invisible. + +The astonishment of the giant at the sudden disappearance of the +Prince may well be imagined. He ordered all the passages to be +watched, but it was too late, for the Prince had already glided +between two rocks. He wandered for a long while through the +forests, where he met nothing but fearful monsters; he climbed +rock after rock, steered his way from tree to tree, till at +length he arrived at the edge of the sea, at the foot of a +mountain that he remembered to have seen in the cabinet of the +present, where Rosalie was held captive. + +Filled with joy, he made his way to the top of the mountain which +pierced the clouds, and there he found a palace. He entered, and +in the middle of a long gallery he discovered a crystal room, in +the midst of which sat Rosalie, guarded night and day by genii. +There was no door anywhere, nor any window. At this sight the +Prince became more puzzled than ever, for he did not know how he +was to warn Rosalie of his return. Yet it broke his heart to see +her weeping from dawn till dark. + +One day, as Rosalie was walking up and down her room, she was +surprised to see that the crystal which served for a wall had +grown cloudy, as if some one had breathed on it, and, what was +more, wherever she moved the brightness of the crystal always +became clouded. This was enough to cause the Princess to suspect +that her lover had returned. In order to set the Prince of the +Air's mind at rest she began by being very gracious to him, so +that when she begged that her captivity might be a little +lightened she should not be refused. At first the only favour +she asked was to be allowed to walk for one hour every day up and +down the long gallery. This was granted, and the Invisible +Prince speedily took the opportunity of handing her the stone, +which she at once slipped into her mouth. No words can paint the +fury of her captor at her disappearance. He ordered the spirits +of the air to fly through all space, and to bring back Rosalie +wherever she might be. They instantly flew off to obey his +commands, and spread themselves over the whole earth. + +Meantime Rosalie and the Invisible Prince had reached, hand in +hand, a door of the gallery which led through a terrace into the +gardens. In silence they glided along, and thought themselves +already safe, when a furious monster dashed itself by accident +against Rosalie and the Invisible Prince, and in her fright she +let go his hand. No one can speak as long as he is invisible, +and besides, they knew that the spirits were all around them, and +at the slightest sound they would be recognised; so all they +could do was to feel about in the hope that their hands might +once more meet. + +But, alas! the joy of liberty lasted but a short time. The +Princess, having wandered in vain up and down the forest, stopped +at last on the edge of a fountain. As she walked she wrote on +the trees: 'If ever the Prince, my lover, comes this way, let him +know that it is here I dwell, and that I sit daily on the edge of +this fountain, mingling my tears with its waters.' + +These words were read by one of the genii, who repeated them to +his master. The Prince of the Air, in his turn making himself +invisible, was led to the fountain, and waited for Rosalie. When +she drew near he held out his hand, which she grasped eagerly, +taking it for that of her lover; and, seizing his opportunity, +the Prince passed a cord round her arms, and throwing off his +invisibility cried to his spirits to drag her into the lowest +pit. + +It was at this moment that the Invisible Prince appeared, and at +the sight of the Prince of the Genii mounting into the air, +holding a silken cord, he guessed instantly that he was carrying +off Rosalie. + +He felt so overwhelmed by despair that he thought for an instant +of putting an end to his life. 'Can I survive my misfortunes?' +he cried. 'I fancied I had come to an end of my troubles, and +now they are worse than ever. What will become of me? Never can +I discover the place where this monster will hide Rosalie.' + +The unhappy youth had determined to let himself die, and indeed +his sorrow alone was enough to kill him, when the thought that by +means of the cabinets of the years he might find out where the +Princess was imprisoned, gave him a little ray of comfort. So he +continued to walk on through the forest, and after some hours he +arrived at the gate of a temple, guarded by two huge lions. +Being invisible, he was able to enter unharmed. In the middle of +the temple was an altar, on which lay a book, and behind the +altar hung a great curtain. The Prince approached the altar and +opened the book, which contained the names of all the lovers in +the world: and in it he read that Rosalie had been carried off by +the Prince of the Air to an abyss which had no entrance except +the one that lay by way of the Fountain of Gold. + +Now, as the Prince had not the smallest idea where this fountain +was to be found, it might be thought that he was not much nearer +Rosalie than before. This was not, however, the view taken by +the Prince. + +'Though every step that I take may perhaps lead me further from +her,' he said to himself, 'I am still thankful to know that she +is alive somewhere.' + +On leaving the temple the Invisible Prince saw six paths lying +before him, each of which led through the wood. He was +hesitating which to choose, when he suddenly beheld two people +coming towards him, down the track which lay most to his right. +They turned out to be the Prince Gnome and his friend, and the +sudden desire to get some news of his sister, Princess Argentine, +caused the Invisible Prince to follow them and to listen to their +conversation. + +'Do you think,' the Prince Gnome was saying, 'do you think that I +would not break my chains if I could? I know that the Princess +Argentine will never love me, yet each day I feel her dearer +still. And as if this were not enough, I have the horror of +feeling that she probably loves another. So I have resolved to +put myself out of my pain by means of the Golden Fountain. A +single drop of its water falling on the sand around will trace +the name of my rival in her heart. I dread the test, and yet +this very dread convinces me of my misfortune.' + +It may be imagined that after listening to these words the +Invisible Prince followed Prince Gnome like his shadow, and after +walking some time they arrived at the Golden Fountain. The +unhappy lover stooped down with a sigh, and dipping his finger in +the water let fall a drop on the sand. It instantly wrote the +name of Prince Flame, his brother. The shock of this discovery +was so real, that Prince Gnome sank fainting into the arms of his +friend. + +Meanwhile the Invisible Prince was turning over in his mind how +he could best deliver Rosalie. As, since he had been touched by +the Giant's ring, he had the power to live in the water as well +as on land, he at once dived into the fountain. He perceived in +one corner a door leading into the mountain, and at the foot of +the mountain was a high rock on which was fixed an iron ring with +a cord attached. The Prince promptly guessed that the cord was +used to chain the Princess, and drew his sword and cut it. In a +moment he felt the Princess's hand in his, for she had always +kept her magic pebble in her mouth, in spite of the prayers and +entreaties of the Prince of the Air to make herself visible. + +So hand in hand the invisible Prince and Rosalie crossed the +mountain; but as the Princess had no power of living under water, +she could not pass the Golden Fountain. Speechless and invisible +they clung together on the brink, trembling at the frightful +tempest the Prince of the Air had raised in his fury. The storm +had already lasted many days when tremendous heat began to make +itself felt. The lightning flashed, the thunder rattled, fire +bolts fell from heaven, burning up the forests and even the +fields of corn. In one instant the very streams were dried up, +and the Prince, seizing his opportunity, carried the Princess +over the Golden Fountain. + +It took them a long time still to reach the Golden Isle, but at +last they got there, and we may be quite sure they never wanted +to leave it any more. + + + + THE CROW[13] + +[13] From the Polish. Kletke. + +Once upon a time there were three Princesses who were all three +young and beautiful; but the youngest, although she was not +fairer than the other two, was the most loveable of them all. + +About half a mile from the palace in which they lived there stood +a castle, which was uninhabited and almost a ruin, but the garden +which surrounded it was a mass of blooming flowers, and in this +garden the youngest Princess used often to walk. + +One day when she was pacing to and fro under the lime trees, a +black crow hopped out of a rose-bush in front of her. The poor +beast was all torn and bleeding, and the kind little Princess was +quite unhappy about it. When the crow saw this it turned to her +and said: + +'I am not really a black crow, but an enchanted Prince, who has +been doomed to spend his youth in misery. If you only liked, +Princess, you could save me. But you would have to say good-bye +to all your own people and come and be my constant companion in +this ruined castle. There is one habitable room in it, in which +there is a golden bed; there you will have to live all by +yourself, and don't forget that whatever you may see or hear in +the night you must not scream out, for if you give as much as a +single cry my sufferings will be doubled.' + +The good-natured Princess at once left her home and her family +and hurried to the ruined castle, and took possession of the room +with the golden bed. + +When night approached she lay down, but though she shut her eyes +tight sleep would not come. At midnight she heard to her great +horror some one coming along the passage, and in a minute her +door was flung wide open and a troop of strange beings entered +the room. They at once proceeded to light a fire in the huge +fireplace; then they placed a great cauldron of boiling water on +it. When they had done this, they approached the bed on which +the trembling girl lay, and, screaming and yelling all the time, +they dragged her towards the cauldron. She nearly died with +fright, but she never uttered a sound. Then of a sudden the cock +crew, and all the evil spirits vanished. + +At the same moment the crow appeared and hopped all round the +room with joy. It thanked the Princess most heartily for her +goodness, and said that its sufferings had already been greatly +lessened. + +Now one of the Princess's elder sisters, who was very +inquisitive, had found out about everything, and went to pay her +youngest sister a visit in the ruined castle. She implored her +so urgently to let her spend the night with her in the golden +bed, that at last the good-natured little Princess consented. +But at midnight, when the odd folk appeared, the elder sister +screamed with terror, and from this time on the youngest Princess +insisted always on keeping watch alone. + +So she lived in solitude all the daytime, and at night she would +have been frightened, had she not been so brave; but every day +the crow came and thanked her for her endurance, and assured her +that his sufferings were far less than they had been. + +And so two years passed away, when one day the crow came to the +Princess and said: 'In another year I shall be freed from the +spell I am under at present, because then the seven years will be +over. But before I can resume my natural form, and take +possession of the belongings of my forefathers, you must go out +into the world and take service as a maidservant.' + +The young Princess consented at once, and for a whole year she +served as a maid; but in spite of her youth and beauty she was +very badly treated, and suffered many things. One evening, when +she was spinning flax, and had worked her little white hands +weary, she heard a rustling beside her and a cry of joy. Then +she saw a handsome youth standing beside her; who knelt down at +her feet and kissed the little weary white hands. + +'I am the Prince,' he said, 'who you in your goodness, when I was +wandering about in the shape of a black crow, freed from the most +awful torments. Come now to my castle with me, and let us live +there happily together.' + +So they went to the castle where they had both endured so much. +But when they reached it, it was difficult to believe that it was +the same, for it had all been rebuilt and done up again. And +there they lived for a hundred years, a hundred years of joy and +happiness. + + + +HOW SIX MEN TRAVELLED THROUGH THE WIDE WORLD + +There was once upon a time a man who understood all sorts of +arts; he served in the war, and bore himself bravely and well; +but when the war was over, he got his discharge, and set out on +his travels with three farthings of his pay in his pocket. +'Wait,' he said; 'that does not please me; only let me find the +right people, and the King shall yet give me all the treasures of +his kingdom.' He strode angrily into the forest, and there he +saw a man standing who had uprooted six trees as if they were +straws. He said to him, 'Will you be my servant and travel with +me?' + +'Yes,' he answered; 'but first of all I will take this little +bundle of sticks home to my mother,' and he took one of the trees +and wound it round the other five, raised the bundle on his +shoulders and bore it off. Then he came back and went with his +master, who said, 'We two ought to be able to travel through the +wide world!' And when they had gone a little way they came upon +a hunter, who was on his knees, his gun on his shoulder, aiming +at something. The master said to him, 'Hunter, what are you +aiming at?' + +He answered, 'Two miles from this place sits a fly on a branch of +an oak; I want to shoot out its left eye.' + +'Oh, go with me,' said the man; 'if we three are together we +shall easily travel through the wide world.' + +The hunter agreed and went with him, and they came to seven +windmills whose sails were going round quite fast, and yet there +was not a breath of wind, nor was a leaf moving. The man said, +'I don't know what is turning those windmills; there is not the +slightest breeze blowing.' So he walked on with his servants, +and when they had gone two miles they saw a man sitting on a +tree, holding one of his nostrils and blowing out of the other. + +'Fellow, what are you puffing at up there?' asked the man. + +He replied, 'Two miles from this place are standing seven +windmills; see, I am blowing to drive them round.' + +'Oh, go with me,' said the man; 'if we four are together we shall +easily travel through the wide world.' + +So the blower got down and went with him, and after a time they +saw a man who was standing on one leg, and had unstrapped the +other and laid it near him. Then said the master, 'You have made +yourself very comfortable to rest!' + +'I am a runner,' answered he; 'and so that I shall not go too +quickly, I have unstrapped one leg; when I run with two legs, I +go faster than a bird flies.' + +'Oh, go with me; if we five are together, we shall easily travel +through the wide world.' So he went with him, and, not long +afterwards, they met a man who wore a little hat, but he had it +slouched over one ear. + +'Manners, manners!' said the master to him; 'don't hang your hat +over one ear; you look like a madman!' + +'I dare not,' said the other, 'for if I were to put my hat on +straight, there would come such a frost that the very birds in +the sky would freeze and fall dead on the earth.' + +'Oh, go with me,' said the master; 'if we six are together, we +shall easily travel through the wide world. + +Now the Six came to a town in which the King had proclaimed that +whoever should run with his daughter in a race, and win, should +become her husband; but if he lost, he must lose his head. This +was reported to the man who declared he would compete, 'but,' he +said, 'I shall let my servant run for me.' + +The King replied, 'Then both your heads must be staked, and your +head and his must be guaranteed for the winner.' + +When this was agreed upon and settled, the man strapped on the +runner's other leg, saying to him, 'Now be nimble, and see that +we win!' It was arranged that whoever should first bring water +out of a stream a long way off, should be the victor. Then the +runner got a pitcher, and the King's daughter another, and they +began to run at the same time; but in a moment, when the King's +daughter was only just a little way off, no spectator could see +the runner, and it seemed as if the wind had whistled past. In a +short time he reached the stream, filled his pitcher with water, +and turned round again. But, half way home, a great drowsiness +came over him; he put down his pitcher, lay down, and fell +asleep. He had, however, put a horse's skull which was lying on +the ground, for his pillow, so that he should not be too +comfortable and might soon wake up. + +In the meantime the King's daughter, who could also run well, as +well as an ordinary man could, reached the stream, and hastened +back with her pitcher full of water. When she saw the runner +lying there asleep, she was delighted, and said, 'My enemy is +given into my hands!' She emptied his pitcher and ran on. + +Everything now would have been lost, if by good luck the hunter +had not been standing on the castle tower and had seen everything +with his sharp eyes. + +'Ah,' said he, 'the King's daughter shall not overreach us;' and, +loading his gun, he shot so cleverly, that he shot away the +horse's skull from under the runner's head, without its hurting +him. Then the runner awoke, jumped up, and saw that his pitcher +was empty and the King's daughter far ahead. But he did not lose +courage, and ran back to the stream with his pitcher, filled it +once more with water, and was home ten minutes before the King's +daughter arrived. + +'Look,' said he, 'I have only just exercised my legs; that was +nothing of a run.' + +But the King was angry, and his daughter even more so, that she +should be carried away by a common, discharged soldier. They +consulted together how they could destroy both him and his +companions. + +'Then,' said the King to her, 'I have found a way. Don't be +frightened; they shall not come home again.' He said to them, +'You must now make merry together, and eat and drink,' and he led +them into a room which had a floor of iron; the doors were also +of iron, and the windows were barred with iron. In the room was +a table spread with delicious food. The King said to them, 'Go +in and enjoy yourselves,' and as soon as they were inside he had +the doors shut and bolted. Then he made the cook come, and +ordered him to keep up a large fire under the room until the iron +was red-hot. The cook did so, and the Six sitting round the +table felt it grow very warm, and they thought this was because +of their good fare; but when the heat became still greater and +they wanted to go out, but found the doors and windows fastened, +then they knew that the King meant them harm and was trying to +suffocate them. + +'But he shall not succeed,' cried he of the little hat, 'I will +make a frost come which shall make the fire ashamed and die out!' +So he put his hat on straight, and at once there came such a +frost that all the heat disappeared and the food on the dishes +began to freeze. When a couple of hours had passed, and the King +thought they must be quite dead from the heat, he had the doors +opened and went in himself to see. + +But when the doors were opened, there stood all Six, alive and +well, saying they were glad they could come out to warm +themselves, for the great cold in the room had frozen all the +food hard in the dishes. Then the King went angrily to the cook, +and scolded him, and asked him why he had not done what he was +told. + +But the cook answered, 'There is heat enough there; see for +yourself.' Then the King saw a huge fire burning under the iron +room, and understood that he could do no harm to the Six in this +way. The King now began again to think how he could free himself +from his unwelcome guests. He commanded the master to come +before him, and said, 'If you will take gold, and give up your +right to my daughter, you shall have as much as you like.' + +'Oh, yes, your Majesty,' answered he, 'give me as much as my +servant can carry, and I will give up your daughter.' + +The King was delighted, and the man said, 'I will come and fetch +it in fourteen days.' + +Then he called all the tailors in the kingdom together, and made +them sit down for fourteen days sewing at a sack. When it was +finished, he made the strong man who had uprooted the trees take +the sack on his shoulder and go with him to the King. Then the +King said, 'What a powerful fellow that is, carrying that bale of +linen as large as a house on his shoulder!' and he was much +frightened, and thought 'What a lot of gold he will make away +with!' Then he had a ton of gold brought, which sixteen of the +strongest men had to carry; but the strong man seized it with one +hand, put it in the sack, saying, 'Why don't you bring me more? +That scarcely covers the bottom!' Then the King had to send +again and again to fetch his treasures, which the strong man +shoved into the sack, and the sack was only half full. + +'Bring more,' he cried, 'these crumbs don't fill it.' So seven +thousand waggons of the gold of the whole kingdom were driven up; +these the strong man shoved into the sack, oxen and all. + +'I will no longer be particular,' he said, 'and will take what +comes, so that the sack shall be full.' + +When everything was put in and there was not yet enough, he said, +'I will make an end of this; it is easy to fasten a sack when it +is not full.' Then he threw it on his back and went with his +companions. + +Now, when the King saw how a single man was carrying away the +wealth of the whole country he was very angry, and made his +cavalry mount and pursue the Six, and bring back the strong man +with the sack. Two regiments soon overtook them, and called to +them, 'You are prisoners! lay down the sack of gold or you shall +be cut down.' + +'What do you say?' said the blower, 'we are prisoners? Before +that, you shall dance in the air!' And he held one nostril and +blew with the other at the two regiments; they were separated and +blown away in the blue sky over the mountains, one this way, and +the other that. A sergeant-major cried for mercy, saying he had +nine wounds, and was a brave fellow, and did not deserve this +disgrace. So the blower let him off, and he came down without +hurt. Then he said to him, 'Now go home to the King, and say +that if he sends any more cavalry I will blow them all into the +air.' + +When the King received the message, he said, 'Let the fellows go; +they are bewitched.' Then the Six brought the treasure home, +shared it among themselves, and lived contentedly till the end of +their days. + + + + THE WIZARD KING[14] + +[14] From Les fees illustres. + +In very ancient times there lived a King, whose power lay not +only in the vast extent of his dominions, but also in the magic +secrets of which he was master. After spending the greater part +of his early youth in pleasure, he met a Princess of such +remarkable beauty that he at once asked her hand in marriage, +and, having obtained it, considered himself the happiest of men. + +After a year's time a son was born, worthy in every way of such +distinguished parents, and much admired by the whole Court. As +soon as the Queen thought him strong enough for a journey she set +out with him secretly to visit her Fairy godmother. I said +secretly, because the Fairy had warned the Queen that the King +was a magician; and as from time immemorial there had been a +standing feud between the Fairies and the Wizards, he might not +have approved of his wife's visit. + +The Fairy godmother, who took the deepest interest in all the +Queen's concerns, and who was much pleased with the little +Prince, endowed him with the power of pleasing everybody from his +cradle, as well as with a wonderful ease in learning everything +which could help to make him a perfectly accomplished Prince. +Accordingly, to the delight of his teachers, he made the most +rapid progress in his education, constantly surpassing everyone's +expectations. Before he was many years old, however, he had the +great sorrow of losing his mother, whose last words were to +advise him never to undertake anything of importance without +consulting the Fairy under whose protection she had placed him. + +The Prince's grief at the death of his mother was great, but it +was nothing compared to that of the King, his father, who was +quite inconsolable for the loss of his dear wife. Neither time +nor reason seemed to lighten his sorrow, and the sight of all the +familiar faces and things about him only served to remind him of +his loss. He therefore resolved to travel for change, and by +means of his magic art was able to visit every country he came to +see under different shapes, returning every few weeks to the +place where he had left a few followers. + +Having travelled from land to land in this fashion without +finding anything to rivet his attention, it occurred to him to +take the form of an eagle, and in this shape he flew across many +countries and arrived at length in a new and lovely spot, where +the air seemed filled with the scent of jessamine and orange +flowers with which the ground was thickly planted. Attracted by +the sweet perfume he flew lower, and perceived some large and +beautiful gardens filled with the rarest flowers, and with +fountains throwing up their clear waters into the air in a +hundred different shapes. A wide stream flowed through the +garden, and on it floated richly ornamented barges and gondolas +filled with people dressed in the most elegant manner and covered +with jewels. + +In one of these barges sat the Queen of that country with her +only daughter, a maiden more beautiful than the Day Star, and +attended by the ladies of the Court. No more exquisitely lovely +mortal was ever seen than this Princess, and it needed all an +eagle's strength of sight to prevent the King being hopelessly +dazzled. He perched on the top of a large orange tree, whence he +was able to survey the scene and to gaze at pleasure on the +Princess's charms. + +Now, an eagle with a King's heart in his breast is apt to be +bold, and accordingly he instantly made up his mind to carry off +the lovely damsel, feeling sure that having once seen her he +could not live without her. + +He waited till he saw her in the act of stepping ashore, when, +suddenly swooping down, he carried her off before her equerry in +attendance had advanced to offer her his hand. The Princess, on +finding herself in an eagle's talons, uttered the most +heart-breaking shrieks and cries; but her captor, though touched +by her distress, would not abandon his lovely prey, and continued +to fly through the air too fast to allow of his saying anything +to comfort her. + +At length, when he thought they had reached a safe distance, he +began to lower his flight, and gradually descending to earth, +deposited his burden in a flowery meadow. He then entreated her +pardon for his violence, and told her that he was about to carry +her to a great kingdom over which he ruled, and where he desired +she should rule with him, adding many tender and consoling +expressions. + +For some time the Princess remained speechless; but recovering +herself a little, she burst into a flood of tears. The King, +much moved, said, 'Adorable Princess, dry your tears. I implore +you. My only wish is to make you the happiest person in the +world.' + +'If you speak truth, my lord,' replied the Princess, 'restore to +me the liberty you have deprived me of. Otherwise I can only +look on you as my worst enemy.' + +The King retorted that her opposition filled him with despair, +but that he hoped to carry her to a place where all around would +respect her, and where every pleasure would surround her. So +saying, he seized her once more, and in spite of all her cries he +rapidly bore her off to the neighbourhood of his capital. Here +he gently placed her on a lawn, and as he did so she saw a +magnificent palace spring up at her feet. The architecture was +imposing, and in the interior the rooms were handsome and +furnished in the best possible taste. + +The Princess, who expected to be quite alone, was pleased at +finding herself surrounded by a number of pretty girls, all +anxious to wait on her, whilst a brilliantly-coloured parrot said +the most agreeable things in the world. + +On arriving at this palace the King had resumed his own form, and +though no longer young, he might well have pleased any other than +this Princess, who had been so prejudiced against him by his +violence that she could only regard him with feelings of hatred, +which she was at no pains to conceal. The King hoped, however, +that time might not only soften her anger, but accustom her to +his sight. He took the precaution of surrounding the palace with +a dense cloud, and then hastened to his Court, where his +prolonged absence was causing much anxiety. + +The Prince and all the courtiers were delighted to see their +beloved King again, but they had to submit themselves to more +frequent absences than ever on his part. He made business a +pretext for shutting himself up in his study, but it was really +in order to spend the time with the Princess, who remained +inflexible. + +Not being able to imagine what could be the cause of so much +obstinacy the King began to fear, lest, in spite of all his +precautions, she might have heard of the charms of the Prince his +son, whose goodness, youth and beauty, made him adored at Court. +This idea made him horribly uneasy, and he resolved to remove the +cause of his fears by sending the Prince on his travels escorted +by a magnificent retinue. + +The Prince, after visiting several Courts, arrived at the one +where the lost Princess was still deeply mourned. The King and +Queen received him most graciously, and some festivities were +revived to do him honour. + +One day when the Prince was visiting the Queen in her own +apartments he was much struck by a most beautiful portrait. He +eagerly inquired whose it was, and the Queen, with many tears, +told him it was all that was left her of her beloved daughter, +who had suddenly been carried off, she knew neither where nor +how. + +The Prince was deeply moved, and vowed that he would search the +world for the Princess, and take no rest till he had found and +restored her to her mother's arms. The Queen assured him of her +eternal gratitude, and promised, should he succeed, to give him +her daughter in marriage, together with all the estates she +herself owned. + +The Prince, far more attracted by the thoughts of possessing the +Princess than her promised dower, set forth in his quest after +taking leave of the King and Queen, the latter giving him a +miniature of her daughter which she was in the habit of wearing. +His first act was to seek the Fairy under whose protection he had +been placed, and he implored her to give him all the assistance +of her art and counsel in this important matter. + +After listening attentively to the whole adventure, the Fairy +asked for time to consult her books. After due consideration she +informed the Prince that the object of his search was not far +distant, but that it was too difficult for him to attempt to +enter the enchanted palace where she was, as the King his father +had surrounded it with a thick cloud, and that the only expedient +she could think of would be to gain possession of the Princess's +parrot. This, she added, did not appear impossible, as it often +flew about to some distance in the neighbourhood. + +Having told the Prince all this, the Fairy went out in hopes of +seeing the parrot, and soon returned with the bird in her hand. +She promptly shut it up in a cage, and, touching the Prince with +her wand, transformed him into an exactly similar parrot; after +which, she instructed him how to reach the Princess. + +The Prince reached the palace in safety, but was so dazzled at +first by the Princess's beauty, which far surpassed his +expectations, that he was quite dumb for a time. The Princess +was surprised and anxious, and fearing the parrot, who was her +greatest comfort, had fallen ill, she took him in her hand and +caressed him. This soon reassured the Prince, and encouraged him +to play his part well, and he began to say a thousand agreeable +things which charmed the Princess. + +Presently the King appeared, and the parrot noticed with joy how +much he was disliked. As soon as the King left, the Princess +retired to her dressing-room, the parrot flew after her and +overheard her lamentations at the continued persecutions of the +King, who had pressed her to consent to their marriage. The +parrot said so many clever and tender things to comfort her that +she began to doubt whether this could indeed be her own parrot. + +When he saw her well-disposed towards him, he exclaimed: 'Madam, +I have a most important secret to confide to you, and I beg you +not to be alarmed by what I am about to say. I am here on behalf +of the Queen your mother, with the object of delivering your +Highness; to prove which, behold this portrait which she gave me +herself.' So saying he drew forth the miniature from under his +wing. The Princess's surprise was great, but after what she had +seen and heard it was impossible not to indulge in hope, for she +had recognised the likeness of herself which her mother always +wore. + +The parrot, finding she was not much alarmed, told her who he +was, all that her mother had promised him and the help he had +already received from a Fairy who had assured him that she would +give him means to transport the Princess to her mother's arms. + +When he found her listening attentively to him, he implored the +Princess to allow him to resume his natural shape. She did not +speak, so he drew a feather from his wing, and she beheld before +her a Prince of such surpassing beauty that it was impossible not +to hope that she might owe her liberty to so charming a person. + +Meantime the Fairy had prepared a chariot, to which she harnessed +two powerful eagles; then placing the cage, with the parrot in +it, she charged the bird to conduct it to the window of the +Princess's dressing-room. This was done in a few minutes, and +the Princess, stepping into the chariot with the Prince, was +delighted to find her parrot again. + +As they rose through the air the Princess remarked a figure +mounted on an eagle's back flying in front of the chariot. She +was rather alarmed, but the Prince reassured her, telling her it +was the good Fairy to whom she owed so much, and who was now +conducting her in safety to her mother. + +That same morning the King woke suddenly from a troubled sleep. +He had dreamt that the Princess was being carried off from him, +and, transforming himself into an eagle, he flew to the palace. +When he failed to find her he flew into a terrible rage, and +hastened home to consult his books, by which means he discovered +that it was his son who had deprived him of this precious +treasure. Immediately he took the shape of a harpy, and, filled +with rage, was determined to devour his son, and even the +Princess too, if only he could overtake them. + +He set out at full speed; but he started too late, and was +further delayed by a strong wind which the Fairy raised behind +the young couple so as to baffle any pursuit. + +You may imagine the rapture with which the Queen received the +daughter she had given up for lost, as well as the amiable Prince +who had rescued her. The Fairy entered with them, and warned the +Queen that the Wizard King would shortly arrive, infuriated by +his loss, and that nothing could preserve the Prince and Princess +from his rage and magic unless they were actually married. + +The Queen hastened to inform the King her husband, and the +wedding took place on the spot. + +As the ceremony was completed the Wizard King arrived. His +despair at being so late bewildered him so entirely that he +appeared in his natural form and attempted to sprinkle some black +liquid over the bride and bridegroom, which was intended to kill +them, but the Fairy stretched out her wand and the liquid dropped +on the Magician himself. He fell down senseless, and the +Princess's father, deeply offended at the cruel revenge which had +been attempted, ordered him to be removed and locked up in +prison. + +Now as magicians lose all their power as soon as they are in +prison, the King felt himself much embarrassed at being thus at +the mercy of those he had so greatly offended. The Prince +implored and obtained his father's pardon, and the prison doors +were opened. + +No sooner was this done than the Wizard King was seen in the air +under the form of some unknown bird, exclaiming as he flew off +that he would never forgive either his son or the Fairy the cruel +wrong they had done him. + +Everyone entreated the Fairy to settle in the kingdom where she +now was, to which she consented. She built herself a magnificent +palace, to which she transported her books and fairy secrets, and +where she enjoyed the sight of the perfect happiness she had +helped to bestow on the entire royal family. + + + + THE NIXY[15] + +[15] From the German. Kletke. + +There was once upon a time a miller who was very well off, and +had as much money and as many goods as he knew what to do with. +But sorrow comes in the night, and the miller all of a sudden +became so poor that at last he could hardly call the mill in +which he sat his own. He wandered about all day full of despair +and misery, and when he lay down at night he could get no rest, +but lay awake all night sunk in sorrowful thoughts. + +One morning he rose up before dawn and went outside, for he +thought his heart would be lighter in the open air. As he +wandered up and down on the banks of the mill-pond he heard a +rustling in the water, and when he looked near he saw a white +woman rising up from the waves. + +He realised at once that this could be none other than the nixy +of the mill-pond, and in his terror he didn't know if he should +fly away or remain where he was. While he hesitated the nixy +spoke, called him by his name, and asked him why he was so sad. + +When the miller heard how friendly her tone was, he plucked up +heart and told her how rich and prosperous he had been all his +life up till now, when he didn't know what he was to do for want +and misery. + +Then the nixy spoke comforting words to him, and promised that +she would make him richer and more prosperous than he had ever +been in his life before, if he would give her in return the +youngest thing in his house. + +The miller thought she must mean one of his puppies or kittens, +so promised the nixy at once what she asked, and returned to his +mill full of hope. On the threshold he was greeted by a servant +with the news that his wife had just given birth to a boy. + +The poor miller was much horrified by these tidings, and went in +to his wife with a heavy heart to tell her and his relations of +the fatal bargain he had just struck with the nixy. 'I would +gladly give up all the good fortune she promised me,' he said, +'if I could only save my child.' But no one could think of any +advice to give him, beyond taking care that the child never went +near the mill-pond. + +So the boy throve and grew big, and in the meantime all prospered +with the miller, and in a few years he was richer than he had +ever been before. But all the same he did not enjoy his good +fortune, for he could not forget his compact with the nixy, and +he knew that sooner or later she would demand his fulfilment of +it. But year after year went by, and the boy grew up and became +a great hunter, and the lord of the land took him into his +service, for he was as smart and bold a hunter as you would wish +to see. In a short time he married a pretty young wife, and +lived with her in great peace and happiness. + +One day when he was out hunting a hare sprang up at his feet, and +ran for some way in front of him in the open field. The hunter +pursued it hotly for some time, and at last shot it dead. Then +he proceeded to skin it, never noticing that he was close to the +mill-pond, which from childhood up he had been taught to avoid. +He soon finished the skinning, and went to the water to wash the +blood off his hands. He had hardly dipped them in the pond when +the nixy rose up in the water, and seizing him in her wet arms +she dragged him down with her under the waves. + +When the hunter did not come home in the evening his wife grew +very anxious, and when his game bag was found close to the +mill-pond she guessed at once what had befallen him. She was +nearly beside herself with grief, and roamed round and round the +pond calling on her husband without ceasing. At last, worn out +with sorrow and fatigue, she fell asleep and dreamt that she was +wandering along a flowery meadow, when she came to a hut where +she found an old witch, who promised to restore her husband to +her. + +When she awoke next morning she determined to set out and find +the witch; so she wandered on for many a day, and at last she +reached the flowery meadow and found the hut where the old witch +lived. The poor wife told her all that had happened and how she +had been told in a dream of the witch's power to help her. + +The witch counselled her to go to the pond the first time there +was a full moon, and to comb her black hair with a golden comb, +and then to place the comb on the bank. The hunter's wife gave +the witch a handsome present, thanked her heartily, and returned +home. + +Time dragged heavily till the time of the full moon, but it +passed at last, and as soon as it rose the young wife went to the +pond, combed her black hair with a golden comb, and when she had +finished, placed the comb on the bank; then she watched the water +impatiently. Soon she heard a rushing sound, and a big wave rose +suddenly and swept the comb off the bank, and a minute after the +head of her husband rose from the pond and gazed sadly at her. +But immediately another wave came, and the head sank back into +the water without having said a word. The pond lay still and +motionless, glittering in the moonshine, and the hunter's wife +was not a bit better off than she had been before. + +In despair she wandered about for days and nights, and at last, +worn out by fatigue, she sank once more into a deep sleep, and +dreamt exactly the same dream about the old witch. So next +morning she went again to the flowery meadow and sought the witch +in her hut, and told her of her grief. The old woman counselled +her to go to the mill-pond the next full moon and play upon a +golden flute, and then to lay the flute on the bank. + +As soon as the next moon was full the hunter's wife went to the +mill-pond, played on a golden flute, and when she had finished +placed it on the bank. Then a rushing sound was heard, and a +wave swept the flute off the bank, and soon the head of the +hunter appeared and rose up higher and higher till he was half +out of the water. Then he gazed sadly at his wife and stretched +out his arms towards her. But another rushing wave arose and +dragged him under once more. The hunter's wife, who had stood on +the bank full of joy and hope, sank into despair when she saw her +husband snatched away again before her eyes. + +But for her comfort she dreamt the same dream a third time, and +betook herself once more to the old witch's hut in the flowery +meadow. This time the old woman told her to go the next full +moon to the mill-pond, and to spin there with a golden spinning- +wheel, and then to leave the spinning-wheel on the bank. + +The hunter's wife did as she was advised, and the first night the +moon was full she sat and spun with a golden spinning-wheel, and +then left the wheel on the bank. In a few minutes a rushing +sound was heard in the waters, and a wave swept the +spinning-wheel from the bank. Immediately the head of the hunter +rose up from the pond, getting higher and higher each moment, +till at length he stepped on to the bank and fell on his wife's +neck. + +But the waters of the pond rose up suddenly, overflowed the bank +where the couple stood, and dragged them under the flood. In her +despair the young wife called on the old witch to help her, and +in a moment the hunter was turned into a frog and his wife into a +toad. But they were not able to remain together, for the water +tore them apart, and when the flood was over they both resumed +their own shapes again, but the hunter and the hunter's wife +found themselves each in a strange country, and neither knew what +had become of the other. + +The hunter determined to become a shepherd, and his wife too +became a shepherdess. So they herded their sheep for many years +in solitude and sadness. + +Now it happened once that the shepherd came to the country where +the shepherdess lived. The neighbourhood pleased him, and he saw +that the pasture was rich and suitable for his flocks. So he +brought his sheep there, and herded them as before. The shepherd +and shepherdess became great friends, but they did not recognise +each other in the least. + +But one evening when the moon was full they sat together watching +their flocks, and the shepherd played upon his flute. Then the +shepherdess thought of that evening when she had sat at the full +moon by the mill-pond and had played on the golden flute; the +recollection was too much for her, and she burst into tears. The +shepherd asked her why she was crying, and left her no peace till +she told him all her story. Then the scales fell from the +shepherd's eyes, and he recognised his wife, and she him. So +they returned joyfully to their own home, and lived in peace and +happiness ever after. + + + +THE GLASS MOUNTAIN[16] + +[16] From the Polish. Kletke. + +Once upon a time there was a Glass Mountain at the top of which +stood a castle made of pure gold, and in front of the castle +there grew an apple-tree on which there were golden apples. + +Anyone who picked an apple gained admittance into the golden +castle, and there in a silver room sat an enchanted Princess of +surpassing fairness and beauty. She was as rich too as she was +beautiful, for the cellars of the castle were full of precious +stones, and great chests of the finest gold stood round the walls +of all the rooms. + +Many knights had come from afar to try their luck, but it was in +vain they attempted to climb the mountain. In spite of having +their horses shod with sharp nails, no one managed to get more +than half-way up, and then they all fell back right down to the +bottom of the steep slippery hill. Sometimes they broke an arm, +sometimes a leg, and many a brave man had broken his neck even. + +The beautiful Princess sat at her window and watched the bold +knights trying to reach her on their splendid horses. The sight +of her always gave men fresh courage, and they flocked from the +four quarters of the globe to attempt the work of rescuing her. +But all in vain, and for seven years the Princess had sat now and +waited for some one to scale the Glass Mountain. + +A heap of corpses both of riders and horses lay round the +mountain, and many dying men lay groaning there unable to go any +farther with their wounded limbs. The whole neighbourhood had +the appearance of a vast churchyard. In three more days the +seven years would be at an end, when a knight in golden armour +and mounted on a spirited steed was seen making his way towards +the fatal hill. + +Sticking his spurs into his horse he made a rush at the mountain, +and got up half-way, then he calmly turned his horse's head and +came down again without a slip or stumble. The following day he +started in the same way; the horse trod on the glass as if it had +been level earth, and sparks of fire flew from its hoofs. All +the other knights gazed in astonishment, for he had almost gained +the summit, and in another moment he would have reached the +apple-tree; but of a sudden a huge eagle rose up and spread its +mighty wings, hitting as it did so the knight's horse in the eye. + +The beast shied, opened its wide nostrils and tossed its mane, +then rearing high up in the air, its hind feet slipped and it +fell with its rider down the steep mountain side. Nothing was +left of either of them except their bones, which rattled in the +battered golden armour like dry peas in a pod. + +And now there was only one more day before the close of the seven +years. Then there arrived on the scene a mere schoolboy--a +merry, happy-hearted youth, but at the same time strong and +well-grown. He saw how many knights had broken their necks in +vain, but undaunted he approached the steep mountain on foot and +began the ascent. + +For long he had heard his parents speak of the beautiful Princess +who sat in the golden castle at the top of the Glass Mountain. +He listened to all he heard, and determined that he too would try +his luck. But first he went to the forest and caught a lynx, and +cutting off the creature's sharp claws, he fastened them on to +his own hands and feet. + +Armed with these weapons he boldly started up the Glass Mountain. + +The sun was nearly going down, and the youth had not got more +than half-way up. He could hardly draw breath he was so worn +out, and his mouth was parched by thirst. A huge black cloud +passed over his head, but in vain did he beg and beseech her to +let a drop of water fall on him. He opened his mouth, but the +black cloud sailed past and not as much as a drop of dew +moistened his dry lips. + +His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now +with his hands. Evening closed in, and he strained his eyes to +see if he could behold the top of the mountain. Then he gazed +beneath him, and what a sight met his eyes! A yawning abyss, +with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with +half-decayed bodies of horses and riders! And this had been the +end of all the other brave men who like himself had attempted the +ascent. + +It was almost pitch dark now, and only the stars lit up the Glass +Mountain. The poor boy still clung on as if glued to the glass +by his blood-stained hands. He made no struggle to get higher, +for all his strength had left him, and seeing no hope he calmly +awaited death. Then all of a sudden he fell into a deep sleep, +and forgetful of his dangerous position, he slumbered sweetly. +But all the same, although he slept, he had stuck his sharp claws +so firmly into the glass that he was quite safe not to fall. + +Now the golden apple-tree was guarded by the eagle which had +overthrown the golden knight and his horse. Every night it flew +round the Glass Mountain keeping a careful look-out, and no +sooner had the moon emerged from the clouds than the bird rose up +from the apple-tree, and circling round in the air, caught sight +of the sleeping youth. + +Greedy for carrion, and sure that this must be a fresh corpse, +the bird swooped down upon the boy. But he was awake now, and +perceiving the eagle, he determined by its help to save himself. + +The eagle dug its sharp claws into the tender flesh of the youth, +but he bore the pain without a sound, and seized the bird's two +feet with his hands. The creature in terror lifted him high up +into the air and began to circle round the tower of the castle. +The youth held on bravely. He saw the glittering palace, which +by the pale rays of the moon looked like a dim lamp; and he saw +the high windows, and round one of them a balcony in which the +beautiful Princess sat lost in sad thoughts. Then the boy saw +that he was close to the apple-tree, and drawing a small knife +from his belt, he cut off both the eagle's feet. The bird rose +up in the air in its agony and vanished into the clouds, and the +youth fell on to the broad branches of the apple-tree. + +Then he drew out the claws of the eagle's feet that had remained +in his flesh, and put the peel of one of the golden apples on the +wound, and in one moment it was healed and well again. He pulled +several of the beautiful apples and put them in his pocket; then +he entered the castle. The door was guarded by a great dragon, +but as soon as he threw an apple at it, the beast vanished. + +At the same moment a gate opened, and the youth perceived a +courtyard full of flowers and beautiful trees, and on a balcony +sat the lovely enchanted Princess with her retinue. + +As soon as she saw the youth, she ran towards him and greeted him +as her husband and master. She gave him all her treasures, and +the youth became a rich and mighty ruler. But he never returned +to the earth, for only the mighty eagle, who had been the +guardian of the Princess and of the castle, could have carried on +his wings the enormous treasure down to the world. But as the +eagle had lost its feet it died, and its body was found in a wood +on the Glass Mountain. + + . . . . . . . + +One day when the youth was strolling about in the palace garden +with the Princess, his wife, he looked down over the edge of the +Glass Mountain and saw to his astonishment a great number of +people gathered there. He blew his silver whistle, and the +swallow who acted as messenger in the golden castle flew past. + +'Fly down and ask what the matter is,' he said to the little +bird, who sped off like lightning and soon returned saying: + +'The blood of the eagle has restored all the people below to +life. All those who have perished on this mountain are awakening +up to-day, as it were from a sleep, and are mounting their +horses, and the whole population are gazing on this unheard-of +wonder with joy and amazement.' + + + + ALPHEGE, OR THE GREEN MONKEY + +Many years ago there lived a King, who was twice married. His +first wife, a good and beautiful woman, died at the birth of her +little son, and the King her husband was so overwhelmed with +grief at her loss that his only comfort was in the sight of his +heir. + +When the time for the young Prince's christening came the King +chose as godmother a neighbouring Princess, so celebrated for her +wisdom and goodness that she was commonly called 'the Good +Queen.' She named the baby Alphege, and from that moment took +him to her heart. + +Time wipes away the greatest griefs, and after two or three years +the King married again. His second wife was a Princess of +undeniable beauty, but by no means of so amiable a disposition as +the first Queen. In due time a second Prince was born, and the +Queen was devoured with rage at the thought that Prince Alphege +came between her son and the throne. She took care however to +conceal her jealous feelings from the King. + +At length she could control herself no longer, so she sent a +trusty servant to her old and faithful friend the Fairy of the +Mountain, to beg her to devise some means by which she might get +rid of her stepson. + +The Fairy replied that, much as she desired to be agreeable to +the Queen in every way, it was impossible for her to attempt +anything against the young Prince, who was under the protection +of some greater Power than her own. + +The 'Good Queen' on her side watched carefully over her godson. +She was obliged to do so from a distance, her own country being a +remote one, but she was well informed of all that went on and +knew all about the Queen's wicked designs. She therefore sent +the Prince a large and splendid ruby, with injunctions to wear it +night and day as it would protect him from all attacks, but added +that the talisman only retained its power as long as the Prince +remained within his father's dominions. The Wicked Queen knowing +this made every attempt to get the Prince out of the country, but +her efforts failed, till one day accident did what she was unable +to accomplish. + +The King had an only sister who was deeply attached to him, and +who was married to the sovereign of a distant country. She had +always kept up a close correspondence with her brother, and the +accounts she heard of Prince Alphege made her long to become +acquainted with so charming a nephew. She entreated the King to +allow the Prince to visit her, and after some hesitation which +was overruled by his wife, he finally consented. + +Prince Alphege was at this time fourteen years old, and the +handsomest and most engaging youth imaginable. In his infancy he +had been placed in the charge of one of the great ladies of the +Court, who, according to the prevailing custom, acted first as +his head nurse and then as his governess. When he outgrew her +care her husband was appointed as his tutor and governor, so that +he had never been separated from this excellent couple, who loved +him as tenderly as they did their only daughter Zayda, and were +warmly loved by him in return. + +When the Prince set forth on his travels it was but natural that +this devoted couple should accompany him, and accordingly he +started with them and attended by a numerous retinue. + +For some time he travelled through his father's dominions and all +went well; but soon after passing the frontier they had to cross +a desert plain under a burning sun. They were glad to take +shelter under a group of trees near, and here the Prince +complained of burning thirst. Luckily a tiny stream ran close by +and some water was soon procured, but no sooner had he tasted it +than he sprang from his carriage and disappeared in a moment. In +vain did his anxious followers seek for him, he was nowhere to be +found. + +As they were hunting and shouting through the trees a black +monkey suddenly appeared on a point of rock and said: 'Poor +sorrowing people, you are seeking your Prince in vain. Return to +your own country and know that he will not be restored to you +till you have for some time failed to recognise him.' + +With these words he vanished, leaving the courtiers sadly +perplexed; but as all their efforts to find the Prince were +useless they had no choice but to go home, bringing with them the +sad news, which so greatly distressed the King that he fell ill +and died not long after. + +The Queen, whose ambition was boundless, was delighted to see the +crown on her son's head and to have the power in her own hands. +Her hard rule made her very unpopular, and it was commonly +believed that she had made away with Prince Alphege. Indeed, had +the King her son not been deservedly beloved a revolution would +certainly have arisen. + +Meantime the former governess of the unfortunate Alphege, who had +lost her husband soon after the King's death, retired to her own +house with her daughter, who grew up a lovely and most loveable +girl, and both continued to mourn the loss of their dear Prince. + +The young King was devoted to hunting, and often indulged in his +favourite pastime, attended by the noblest youths in his kingdom. + +One day, after a long morning's chase he stopped to rest near a +brook in the shade of a little wood, where a splendid tent had +been prepared for him. Whilst at luncheon he suddenly spied a +little monkey of the brightest green sitting on a tree and gazing +so tenderly at him that he felt quite moved. He forbade his +courtiers to frighten it, and the monkey, noticing how much +attention was being paid him, sprang from bough to bough, and at +length gradually approached the King, who offered him some food. +The monkey took it very daintily and finally came to the table. +The King took him on his knees, and, delighted with his capture, +brought him home with him. He would trust no one else with its +care, and the whole Court soon talked of nothing but the pretty +green monkey. + +One morning, as Prince Alphege's governess and her daughter were +alone together, the little monkey sprang in through an open +window. He had escaped from the palace, and his manners were so +gentle and caressing that Zayda and her mother soon got over the +first fright he had given them. He had spent some time with them +and quite won their hearts by his insinuating ways, when the King +discovered where he was and sent to fetch him back. But the +monkey made such piteous cries, and seemed so unhappy when anyone +attempted to catch him, that the two ladies begged the King to +leave him a little longer with them, to which he consented. + +One evening, as they sat by the fountain in the garden, the +little monkey kept gazing at Zayda with such sad and loving eyes +that she and her mother could not think what to make of it, and +they were still more surprised when they saw big tears rolling +down his cheeks. + +Next day both mother and daughter were sitting in a jessamine +bower in the garden, and they began to talk of the green monkey +and his strange ways. The mother said, 'My dear child, I can no +longer hide my feelings from you. I cannot get the thought out +of my mind that the green monkey is no other than our beloved +Prince Alphege, transformed in this strange fashion. I know the +idea sounds wild, but I cannot get it out of my heart, and it +leaves me no peace.' + +As she spoke she glanced up, and there sat the little monkey, +whose tears and gestures seemed to confirm her words. + +The following night the elder lady dreamt that she saw the Good +Queen, who said, 'Do not weep any longer but follow my +directions. Go into your garden and lift up the little marble +slab at the foot of the great myrtle tree. You will find beneath +it a crystal vase filled with a bright green liquid. Take it +with you and place the thing which is at present most in your +thoughts into a bath filled with roses and rub it well with the +green liquid.' + +At these words the sleeper awoke, and lost no time in rising and +hurrying to the garden, where she found all as the Good Queen had +described. Then she hastened to rouse her daughter and together +they prepared the bath, for they would not let their women know +what they were about. Zayda gathered quantities of roses, and +when all was ready they put the monkey into a large jasper bath, +where the mother rubbed him all over with the green liquid. + +Their suspense was not long, for suddenly the monkey skin dropped +off, and there stood Prince Alphege, the handsomest and most +charming of men. The joy of such a meeting was beyond words. +After a time the ladies begged the Prince to relate his +adventures, and he told them of all his sufferings in the desert +when he was first transformed. His only comfort had been in +visits from the Good Queen, who had at length put him in the way +of meeting his brother. + +Several days were spent in these interesting conversations, but +at length Zayda's mother began to think of the best means for +placing the Prince on the throne, which was his by right. + +The Queen on her side was feeling very anxious. She had felt +sure from the first that her son's pet monkey was no other than +Prince Alphege, and she longed to put an end to him. Her +suspicions were confirmed by the Fairy of the Mountain, and she +hastened in tears to the King, her son. + +'I am informed,' she cried, 'that some ill-disposed people have +raised up an impostor in the hopes of dethroning you. You must +at once have him put to death.' + +The King, who was very brave, assured the Queen that he would +soon punish the conspirators. He made careful inquiries into the +matter, and thought it hardly probable that a quiet widow and a +young girl would think of attempting anything of the nature of a +revolution. + +He determined to go and see them, and to find out the truth for +himself; so one night, without saying anything to the Queen or +his ministers, he set out for the palace where the two ladies +lived, attended only by a small band of followers. + +The two ladies were at the moment deep in conversation with +Prince Alphege, and hearing a knocking so late at night begged +him to keep out of sight for a time. What was their surprise +when the door was opened to see the King and his suite. + +'I know,' said the King, 'that you are plotting against my crown +and person, and I have come to have an explanation with you.' + +As she was about to answer Prince Alphege, who had heard all, +came forward and said, 'It is from me you must ask an +explanation, brother.' He spoke with such grace and dignity that +everyone gazed at him with mute surprise. + +At length the King, recovering from his astonishment at +recognising the brother who had been lost some years before, +exclaimed, 'Yes, you are indeed my brother, and now that I have +found you, take the throne to which I have no longer a right.' +So saying, he respectfully kissed the Prince's hand. + +Alphege threw himself into his arms, and the brothers hastened to +the royal palace, where in the presence of the entire court he +received the crown from his brother's hand. To clear away any +possible doubt, he showed the ruby which the Good Queen had given +him in his childhood. As they were gazing at it, it suddenly +split with a loud noise, and at the same moment the Wicked Queen +expired. + +King Alphege lost no time in marrying his dear and lovely Zayda, +and his joy was complete when the Good Queen appeared at his +wedding. She assured him that the Fairy of the Mountain had +henceforth lost all power over him, and after spending some time +with the young couple, and bestowing the most costly presents on +them, she retired to her own country. + +King Alphege insisted on his brother sharing his throne, and they +all lived to a good old age, universally beloved and admired. + + + + FAIRER-THAN-A-FAIRY + +Once there lived a King who had no children for many years after +his marriage. At length heaven granted him a daughter of such +remarkable beauty that he could think of no name so appropriate +for her as 'Fairer-than-a-Fairy.' + +It never occurred to the good-natured monarch that such a name +was certain to call down the hatred and jealousy of the fairies +in a body on the child, but this was what happened. No sooner +had they heard of this presumptuous name than they resolved to +gain possession of her who bore it, and either to torment her +cruelly, or at least to conceal her from the eyes of all men. + +The eldest of their tribe was entrusted to carry out their +revenge. This Fairy was named Lagree; she was so old that she +only had one eye and one tooth left, and even these poor remains +she had to keep all night in a strengthening liquid. She was +also so spiteful that she gladly devoted all her time to carrying +out all the mean or ill-natured tricks of the whole body of +fairies. + +With her large experience, added to her native spite, she found +but little difficulty in carrying off Fairer-than-a-Fairy. The +poor child, who was only seven years old, nearly died of fear on +finding herself in the power of this hideous creature. However, +when after an hour's journey underground she found herself in a +splendid palace with lovely gardens, she felt a little reassured, +and was further cheered when she discovered that her pet cat and +dog had followed her. + +The old Fairy led her to a pretty room which she said should be +hers, at the same time giving her the strictest orders never to +let out the fire which was burning brightly in the grate. She +then gave two glass bottles into the Princess's charge, desiring +her to take the greatest care of them, and having enforced her +orders with the most awful threats in case of disobedience, she +vanished, leaving the little girl at liberty to explore the +palace and grounds and a good deal relieved at having only two +apparently easy tasks set her. + +Several years passed, during which time the Princess grew +accustomed to her lonely life, obeyed the Fairy's orders, and by +degrees forgot all about the court of the King her father. + +One day, whilst passing near a fountain in the garden, she +noticed that the sun's rays fell on the water in such a manner as +to produce a brilliant rainbow. She stood still to admire it, +when, to her great surprise, she heard a voice addressing her +which seemed to come from the centre of its rays. The voice was +that of a young man, and its sweetness of tone and the agreeable +things it uttered, led one to infer that its owner must be +equally charming; but this had to be a mere matter of fancy, for +no one was visible. + +The beautiful Rainbow informed Fairer-than-a-Fairy that he was +young, the son of a powerful king, and that the Fairy, Lagree, +who owed his parents a grudge, had revenged herself by depriving +him of his natural shape for some years; that she had imprisoned +him in the palace, where he had found his confinement hard to +bear for some time, but now, he owned, he no longer sighed for +freedom since he had seen and learned to love +Fairer-than-a-Fairy. + +He added many other tender speeches to this declaration, and the +Princess, to whom such remarks were a new experience, could not +help feeling pleased and touched by his attentions. + +The Prince could only appear or speak under the form of a +Rainbow, and it was therefore necessary that the sun should shine +on water so as to enable the rays to form themselves. + +Fairer-than-a-Fairy lost no moment in which she could meet her +lover, and they enjoyed many long and interesting interviews. +One day, however, their conversation became so absorbing and time +passed so quickly that the Princess forgot to attend to the fire, +and it went out. Lagree, on her return, soon found out the +neglect, and seemed only too pleased to have the opportunity of +showing her spite to her lovely prisoner. She ordered +Fairer-than-a-Fairy to start next day at dawn to ask Locrinos for +fire with which to relight the one she had allowed to go out. + +Now this Locrinos was a cruel monster who devoured everyone he +came across, and especially enjoyed a chance of catching and +eating any young girls. Our heroine obeyed with great sweetness, +and without having been able to take leave of her lover she set +off to go to Locrinos as to certain death. As she was crossing a +wood a bird sang to her to pick up a shining pebble which she +would find in a fountain close by, and to use it when needed. +She took the bird's advice, and in due time arrived at the house +of Locrinos. Luckily she only found his wife at home, who was +much struck by the Princess's youth and beauty and sweet gentle +manners, and still further impressed by the present of the +shining pebble. + +She readily let Fairer-than-a-Fairy have the fire, and in return +for the stone she gave her another, which, she said, might prove +useful some day. Then she sent her away without doing her any +harm. + +Lagree was as much surprised as displeased at the happy result of +this expedition, and Fairer-than-a Fairy waited anxiously for an +opportunity of meeting Prince Rainbow and telling him her +adventures. She found, however, that he had already been told +all about them by a Fairy who protected him, and to whom he was +related. + +The dread of fresh dangers to his beloved Princess made him +devise some more convenient way of meeting than by the garden +fountain, and Fairer-than-a-Fairy carried out his plan daily with +entire success. Every morning she placed a large basin full of +water on her window-sill, and as soon as the sun's rays fell on +the water the Rainbow appeared as clearly as it had ever done in +the fountain. By this means they were able to meet without +losing sight of the fire or of the two bottles in which the old +Fairy kept her eye and her tooth at night, and for some time the +lovers enjoyed every hour of sunshine together. + +One day Prince Rainbow appeared in the depths of woe. He had +just heard that he was to be banished from this lovely spot, but +he had no idea where he was to go. The poor young couple were in +despair, and only parted with the last ray of sunshine, and in +hopes of meeting next morning. Alas! next day was dark and +gloomy, and it was only late in the afternoon that the sun broke +through the clouds for a few minutes. + +Fairer-than-a-Fairy eagerly ran to the window, but in her haste +she upset the basin, and spilt all the water with which she had +carefully filled it overnight. No other water was at hand except +that in the two bottles. It was the only chance of seeing her +lover before they were separated, and she did not hesitate to +break the bottle and pour their contents into the basin, when the +Rainbow appeared at once. Their farewells were full of +tenderness; the Prince made the most ardent and sincere +protestations, and promised to neglect nothing which might help +to deliver his dear Fairer-than-a-Fairy from her captivity, and +implored her to consent to their marriage as soon as they should +both be free. The Princess, on her side, vowed to have no other +husband, and declared herself willing to brave death itself in +order to rejoin him. + +They were not allowed much time for their adieus; the Rainbow +vanished, and the Princess, resolved to run all risks, started +off at once, taking nothing with her but her dog, her cat, a +sprig of myrtle, and the stone which the wife of Locrinos gave +her. + +When Lagree became aware of her prisoner's flight she was +furious, and set off at full speed in pursuit. She overtook her +just as the poor girl, overcome by fatigue, had lain down to rest +in a cave which the stone had formed itself into to shelter her. +The little dog who was watching her mistress promptly flew at +Lagree and bit her so severely that she stumbled against a corner +of the cave and broke off her only tooth. Before she had +recovered from the pain and rage this caused her, the Princess +had time to escape, and was some way on her road. Fear gave her +strength for some time, but at last she could go no further, and +sank down to rest. As she did so, the sprig of myrtle she +carried touched the ground, and immediately a green and shady +bower sprang up round her, in which she hoped to sleep in peace. + +But Lagree had not given up her pursuit, and arrived just as +Fairer-than-a-Fairy had fallen fast asleep. This time she made +sure of catching her victim, but the cat spied her out, and, +springing from one of the boughs of the arbour she flew at +Lagree's face and tore out her only eye, thus delivering the +Princess for ever from her persecutor. + +One might have thought that all would now be well, but no sooner +had Lagree been put to fight than our heroine was overwhelmed +with hunger and thirst. She felt as though she should certainly +expire, and it was with some difficulty that she dragged herself +as far as a pretty little green and white house, which stood at +no great distance. Here she was received by a beautiful lady +dressed in green and white to match the house, which apparently +belonged to her, and of which she seemed the only inhabitant. + +She greeted the fainting Princess most kindly, gave her an +excellent supper, and after a long night's rest in a delightful +bed told her that after many troubles she should finally attain +her desire. + +As the green and white lady took leave of the Princess she gave +her a nut, desiring her only to open it in the most urgent need. + +After a long and tiring journey Fairer-than-a-Fairy was once more +received in a house, and by a lady exactly like the one she had +quitted. Here again she received a present with the same +injunctions, but instead of a nut this lady gave her a golden +pomegranate. The mournful Princess had to continue her weary +way, and after many troubles and hardships she again found rest +and shelter in a third house exactly similar to the two others. + +These houses belonged to three sisters, all endowed with fairy +gifts, and all so alike in mind and person that they wished their +houses and garments to be equally alike. Their occupation +consisted in helping those in misfortune, and they were as gentle +and benevolent as Lagree had been cruel and spiteful. + +The third Fairy comforted the poor traveller, begged her not to +lose heart, and assured her that her troubles should be rewarded. + +She accompanied her advice by the gift of a crystal +smelling-bottle, with strict orders only to open it in case of +urgent need. Fairer-than- a-Fairy thanked her warmly, and +resumed her way cheered by pleasant thoughts. + +After a time her road led through a wood, full of soft airs and +sweet odours, and before she had gone a hundred yards she saw a +wonderful silver Castle suspended by strong silver chains to four +of the largest trees. It was so perfectly hung that a gentle +breeze rocked it sufficiently to send you pleasantly to sleep. + +Fairer-than-a-Fairy felt a strong desire to enter this Castle, +but besides being hung a little above the ground there seemed to +be neither doors nor windows. She had no doubt (though really I +cannot think why) that the moment had come in which to use the +nut which had been given her. She opened it, and out came a +diminutive hall porter at whose belt hung a tiny chain, at the +end of which was a golden key half as long as the smallest pin +you ever saw. + +The Princess climbed up one of the silver chains, holding in her +hand the little porter who, in spite of his minute size, opened a +secret door with his golden key and let her in. She entered a +magnificent room which appeared to occupy the entire Castle, and +which was lighted by gold and jewelled stars in the ceiling. In +the midst of this room stood a couch, draped with curtains of all +the colours of the rainbow, and suspended by golden cords so that +it swayed with the Castle in a manner which rocked its occupant +delightfully to sleep. + +On this elegant couch lay Prince Rainbow, looking more beautiful +than ever, and sunk in profound slumber, in which he had been +held ever since his disappearance. + +Fairy-than-a-Fairy, who now saw him for the first time in his +real shape, hardly dared to gaze at him, fearing lest his +appearance might not be in keeping with the voice and language +which had won her heart. At the same time she could not help +feeling rather hurt at the apparent indifference with which she +was received. + +She related all the dangers and difficulties she had gone +through, and though she repeated the story twenty times in a loud +clear voice, the Prince slept on and took no heed. She then had +recourse to the golden pomegranate, and on opening it found that +all the seeds were as many little violins which flew up in the +vaulted roof and at once began playing melodiously. + +The Prince was not completely roused, but he opened his eyes a +little and looked all the handsomer. + +Impatient at not being recognised, Fairer-than-a-Fairy now drew +out her third present, and on opening the crystal scent-bottle a +little syren flew out, who silenced the violins and then sang +close to the Prince's ear the story of all his lady love had +suffered in her search for him. She added some gentle reproaches +to her tale, but before she had got far he was wide awake, and +transported with joy threw himself at the Princess's feet. At +the same moment the walls of the room expanded and opened out, +revealing a golden throne covered with jewels. A magnificent +Court now began to assemble, and at the same time several elegant +carriages filled with ladies in magnificent dresses drove up. In +the first and most splendid of these carriages sat Prince +Rainbow's mother. She fondly embraced her son, after which she +informed him that his father had been dead for some years, that +the anger of the Fairies was at length appeased, and that he +might return in peace to reign over his people, who were longing +for his presence. + +The Court received the new King with joyful acclamations which +would have delighted him at any other time, but all his thoughts +were full of Fairer-than-a-Fairy. He was just about to present +her to his mother and the Court, feeling sure that her charms +would win all hearts, when the three green and white sisters +appeared. + +They declared the secret of Fairy-than-a-Fairy's royal birth, and +the Queen taking the two lovers in her carriage set off with them +for the capital of the kingdom. + +Here they were received with tumultuous joy. The wedding was +celebrated without delay, and succeeding years diminished neither +the virtues, beauty, nor the mutual affection of King Rainbow and +his Queen, Fairer-than-a-Fairy. + + + + THE THREE BROTHERS[17] + +[17] From the Polish. Kletke. + +There was once upon a time a witch, who in the shape of a hawk +used every night to break the windows of a certain village +church. In the same village there lived three brothers, who were +all determined to kill the mischievous hawk. But in vain did the +two eldest mount guard in the church with their guns; as soon as +the bird appeared high above their heads, sleep overpowered them, +and they only awoke to hear the windows crashing in. + +Then the youngest brother took his turn of guarding the windows, +and to prevent his being overcome by sleep he placed a lot of +thorns under his chin, so that if he felt drowsy and nodded his +head, they would prick him and keep him awake. + +The moon was already risen, and it was as light as day, when +suddenly he heard a fearful noise, and at the same time a +terrible desire to sleep overpowered him. + +His eyelids closed, and his head sank on his shoulders, but the +thorns ran into him and were so painful that he awoke at once. +He saw the hawk swooping down upon the church, and in a moment he +had seized his gun and shot at the bird. The hawk fell heavily +under a big stone, severely wounded in its right wing. The youth +ran to look at it, and saw that a huge abyss had opened below the +stone. He went at once to fetch his brothers, and with their +help dragged a lot of pine-wood and ropes to the spot. They +fastened some of the burning pine-wood to the end of the rope, +and let it slowly down to the bottom of the abyss. At first it +was quite dark, and the flaming torch only lit up dirty grey +stone walls. But the youngest brother determined to explore the +abyss, and letting himself down by the rope he soon reached the +bottom. Here he found a lovely meadow full of green trees and +exquisite flowers. + +In the middle of the meadow stood a huge stone castle, with an +iron gate leading to it, which was wide open. Everything in the +castle seemed to be made of copper, and the only inhabitant he +could discover was a lovely girl, who was combing her golden +hair; and he noticed that whenever one of her hairs fell on the +ground it rang out like pure metal. The youth looked at her more +closely, and saw that her skin was smooth and fair, her blue eyes +bright and sparkling, and her hair as golden as the sun. He fell +in love with her on the spot, and kneeling at her feet, he +implored her to become his wife. + +The lovely girl accepted his proposal gladly; but at the same +time she warned him that she could never come up to the world +above till her mother, the old witch, was dead. And she went on +to tell him that the only way in which the old creature could be +killed was with the sword that hung up in the castle; but the +sword was so heavy that no one could lift it. + +Then the youth went into a room in the castle where everything +was made of silver, and here he found another beautiful girl, the +sister of his bride. She was combing her silver hair, and every +hair that fell on the ground rang out like pure metal. The +second girl handed him the sword, but though he tried with all +his strength he could not lift it. At last a third sister came +to him and gave him a drop of something to drink, which she said +would give him the needful strength. He drank one drop, but +still he could not lift the sword; then he drank a second, and +the sword began to move; but only after he had drunk a third drop +was he able to swing the sword over his head. + +Then he hid himself in the castle and awaited the old witch's +arrival. At last as it was beginning to grow dark she appeared. +She swooped down upon a big apple-tree, and after shaking some +golden apples from it, she pounced down upon the earth. As soon +as her feet touched the ground she became transformed from a hawk +into a woman. This was the moment the youth was waiting for, and +he swung his mighty sword in the air with all his strength and +the witch's head fell off, and her blood spurted up on the walls. + +Without fear of any further danger, he packed up all the +treasures of the castle into great chests, and gave his brothers +a signal to pull them up out of the abyss. First the treasures +were attached to the rope and then the three lovely girls. And +now everything was up above and only he himself remained below. +But as he was a little suspicious of his brothers, he fastened a +heavy stone on to the rope and let them pull it up. At first +they heaved with a will, but when the stone was half way up they +let it drop suddenly, and it fell to the bottom broken into a +hundred pieces. + +'So that's what would have happened to my bones had I trusted +myself to them,' said the youth sadly; and he began to cry +bitterly, not because of the treasures, but because of the lovely +girl with her swanlike neck and golden hair. + +For a long time he wandered sadly all through the beautiful +underworld, and one day he met a magician who asked him the cause +of his tears. The youth told him all that had befallen him, and +the magician said: + +'Do not grieve, young man! If you will guard the children who +are hidden in the golden apple-tree, I will bring you at once up +to the earth. Another magician who lives in this land always +eats my children up. It is in vain that I have hidden them under +the earth and locked them into the castle. Now I have hidden +them in the apple-tree; hide yourself there too, and at midnight +you will see my enemy.' + +The youth climbed up the tree, and picked some of the beautiful +golden apples, which he ate for his supper. + +At midnight the wind began to rise, and a rustling sound was +heard at the foot of the tree. The youth looked down and beheld +a long thick serpent beginning to crawl up the tree. It wound +itself round the stem and gradually got higher and higher. It +stretched its huge head, in which the eyes glittered fiercely, +among the branches, searching for the nest in which the little +children lay. They trembled with terror when they saw the +hideous creature, and hid themselves beneath the leaves. + +Then the youth swung his mighty sword in the air, and with one +blow cut off the serpent's head. He cut up the rest of the body +into little bits and strewed them to the four winds. + +The father of the rescued children was so delighted over the +death of his enemy that he told the youth to get on his back, and +in this way he carried him up to the world above. + +With what joy did he hurry now to his brothers' house! He burst +into a room where they were all assembled, but no one knew who he +was. Only his bride, who was serving as cook to her sisters, +recognised her lover at once. + +His brothers, who had quite believed he was dead, yielded him up +his treasures at once, and flew into the woods in terror. But +the good youth forgave them all they had done, and divided his +treasures with them. Then he built himself a big castle with +golden windows, and there he lived happily with his golden-haired +wife till the end of their lives. + + + + THE BOY AND THE WOLVES, OR THE BROKEN PROMISE[18] + +[18] A North American Indian story. + +Once upon a time an Indian hunter built himself a house in the +middle of a great forest, far away from all his tribe; for his +heart was gentle and kind, and he was weary of the treachery and +cruel deeds of those who had been his friends. So he left them, +and took his wife and three children, and they journeyed on until +they found a spot near to a clear stream, where they began to cut +down trees, and to make ready their wigwam. For many years they +lived peacefully and happily in this sheltered place, never +leaving it except to hunt the wild animals, which served them +both for food and clothes. At last, however, the strong man felt +sick, and before long he knew he must die. + +So he gathered his family round him, and said his last words to +them. 'You, my wife, the companion of my days, will follow me +ere many moons have waned to the island of the blest. But for +you, O my children, whose lives are but newly begun, the +wickedness, unkindness, and ingratitude from which I fled are +before you. Yet I shall go hence in peace, my children, if you +will promise always to love each other, and never to forsake your +youngest brother. + +'Never!' they replied, holding out their hands. And the hunter +died content. + +Scarcely eight moons had passed when, just as he had said, the +wife went forth, and followed her husband; but before leaving her +children she bade the two elder ones think of their promise never +to forsake the younger, for he was a child, and weak. And while +the snow lay thick upon the ground, they tended him and cherished +him; but when the earth showed green again, the heart of the +young man stirred within him, and he longed to see the wigwams of +the village where his father's youth was spent. + +Therefore he opened all his heart to his sister, who answered: +'My brother, I understand your longing for our fellow-men, whom +here we cannot see. But remember our father's words. Shall we +not seek our own pleasures, and forget the little one?' + +But he would not listen, and, making no reply, he took his bow +and arrows and left the hut. The snows fell and melted, yet he +never returned; and at last the heart of the girl grew cold and +hard, and her little boy became a burden in her eyes, till one +day she spoke thus to him: 'See, there is food for many days to +come. Stay here within the shelter of the hut. I go to seek our +brother, and when I have found him I shall return hither.' + +But when, after hard journeying, she reached the village where +her brother dwelt, and saw that he had a wife and was happy, and +when she, too, was sought by a young brave, then she also forgot +the boy alone in the forest, and thought only of her husband. + +Now as soon as the little boy had eaten all the food which his +sister had left him, he went out into the woods, and gathered +berries and dug up roots, and while the sun shone he was +contented and had his fill. But when the snows began and the +wind howled, then his stomach felt empty and his limbs cold, and +he hid in trees all the night, and only crept out to eat what the +wolves had left behind. And by-and-by, having no other friends, +he sought their company, and sat by while they devoured their +prey, and they grew to know him, and gave him food. And without +them he would have died in the snow. + +But at last the snows melted, and the ice upon the great lake, +and as the wolves went down to the shore, the boy went after +them. And it happened one day that his big brother was fishing +in his canoe near the shore, and he heard the voice of a child +singing in the Indian tone-- + + 'My brother, my brother! + I am becoming a wolf, + I am becoming a wolf!' + +And when he had so sung he howled as wolves howl. Then the heart +of the elder sunk, and he hastened towards him, crying, 'Brother, +little brother, come to me;' but he, being half a wolf, only +continued his song. And the louder the elder called him, +'Brother, little brother, come to me,' the swifter he fled after +his brothers the wolves, and the heavier grew his skin, till, +with a long howl, he vanished into the depths of the forest. + +So, with shame and anguish in his soul, the elder brother went +back to his village, and, with his sister, mourned the little boy +and the broken promise till the end of his life. + + + + THE GLASS AXE[19] + +[19] From the Hungarian. Kletke. + +There was once upon a time a King and Queen who had everything +they could possibly wish for in this world except a child. At +last, after twelve years, the Queen gave birth to a son; but she +did not live long to enjoy her happiness, for on the following +day she died. But before her death she called her husband to her +and said, 'Never let the child put his feet on the ground, for as +soon as he does so he will fall into the power of a wicked Fairy, +who will do him much harm.' And these were the last words the +poor Queen spoke. + +The boy throve and grew big, and when he was too heavy for his +nurse to carry, a chair was made for him on little wheels, in +which he could wander through the palace gardens without help; at +other times he was carried about on a litter, and he was always +carefully watched and guarded for fear he should at any time put +his feet to the ground. + +But as this sort of life was bad for his health, the doctors +ordered him horse exercise, and he soon became a first-rate +rider, and used to go out for long excursions on horseback, +accompanied always by his father's stud-groom and a numerous +retinue. + +Every day he rode through the neighbouring fields and woods, and +always returned home in the evening safe and well. In this way +many years passed, and the Prince grew to manhood, and hardly +anyone remembered the Queen's warning, though precautions were +still taken, more from use and wont than for any other reason. + +One day the Prince and his suite went out for a ride in a wood +where his father sometimes held a hunt. Their way led through a +stream whose banks were overgrown with thick brushwood. Just as +the horsemen were about to ford the river, a hare, startled by +the sound of the horses' hoofs, started up from the grass and ran +towards the thicket. The young Prince pursued the little +creature, and had almost overtaken it, when the girth of his +saddle suddenly broke in two and he fell heavily to the ground. +No sooner had his foot touched the earth than he disappeared +before the eyes of the horrified courtiers. + +They sought for him far and near, but all in vain, and they were +forced to recognise the power of the evil Fairy, against which +the Queen had warned them on her death-bed. The old King was +much grieved when they brought him the news of his son's +disappearance, but as he could do nothing to free him from his +fate, he gave himself up to an old age of grief and loneliness, +cherishing at the same time the hope that some lucky chance might +one day deliver the youth out of the hands of his enemy. + +Hardly had the Prince touched the ground than he felt himself +violently seized by an unseen power, and hurried away he knew not +whither. A whole new world stretched out before him, quite +unlike the one he had left. A splendid castle surrounded by a +huge lake was the abode of the Fairy, and the only approach to it +was over a bridge of clouds. On the other side of the lake high +mountains rose up, and dark woods stretched along the banks; over +all hung a thick mist, and deep silence reigned everywhere. + +No sooner had the Fairy reached her own domain than she made +herself visible, and turning to the Prince she told him that +unless he obeyed all her commands down to the minutest detail he +would be severely punished. Then she gave him an axe made of +glass, and bade him cross the bridge of clouds and go into the +wood beyond and cut down all the trees there before sunset. At +the same time she cautioned him with many angry words against +speaking to a black girl he would most likely meet in the wood. + +The Prince listened to her words meekly, and when she had +finished took up the glass axe and set out for the forest. At +every step he seemed to sink into the clouds, but fear gave wings +to his feet, and he crossed the lake in safety and set to work at +once. + +But no sooner had he struck the first blow with his axe than it +broke into a thousand pieces against the tree. The poor youth +was so terrified he did not know what to do, for he was in mortal +dread of the punishment the wicked old Fairy would inflict on +him. He wandered to and fro in the wood, not knowing where he +was going, and at last, worn out by fatigue and misery, he sank +on the ground and fell fast asleep. + +He did not know how long he had slept when a sudden sound awoke +him, and opening his eyes he saw a black girl standing beside +him. Mindful of the Fairy's warning he did not dare to address +her, but she on her part greeted him in the most friendly manner, +and asked him at once if he were under the power of the wicked +Fairy. The Prince nodded his head silently in answer. + +Then the black girl told him that she too was in the power of the +Fairy, who had doomed her to wander about in her present guise +until some youth should take pity on her and bear her in safety +to the other side of the river which they saw in the distance, +and on the other side of which the Fairy's domain and power +ended. + +The girl's words so inspired the Prince with confidence that he +told her all his tale of woe, and ended up by asking her advice +as to how he was to escape the punishment the Fairy would be sure +to inflict on him when she discovered that he had not cut down +the trees in the wood and that he had broken her axe. + +'You must know,' answered the black girl, 'that the Fairy in +whose power we both are is my own mother, but you must not betray +this secret, for it would cost me my life. If you will only +promise to try and free me I will stand by you, and will +accomplish for you all the tasks which my mother sets you.' + +The Prince promised joyfully all she asked; then having once more +warned him not to betray her confidence, she handed him a draught +to drink which very soon sunk his senses in a deep slumber. + +His astonishment was great when he awoke to find the glass axe +whole and unbroken at his side, and all the trees of the wood +lying felled around him! + +He made all haste across the bridge of clouds, and told the Fairy +that her commands were obeyed. She was much amazed when she +heard that all the wood was cut down, and saw the axe unbroken in +his hand, and since she could not believe that he had done all +this by himself, she questioned him narrowly if he had seen or +spoken to the black girl. But the Prince lied manfully, and +swore he had never looked up from his work for a moment. Seeing +she could get nothing more out of him, she gave him a little +bread and water, and showing him to a small dark cupboard she +told him he might sleep there. + +Morning had hardly dawned when the Fairy awoke the Prince, and +giving him the glass axe again she told him to cut up all the +wood he had felled the day before, and to put it in bundles ready +for firewood; at the same time she warned him once more against +approaching or speaking a word to the black girl if he met her in +the wood. + +Although his task was no easier than that of the day before, the +youth set out much more cheerfully, because he knew he could +count an the help of the black girl. With quicker and lighter +step he crossed the bridge of clouds, and hardly had he reached +the other side than his friend stood before him and greeted him +cheerfully. When she heard what the Fairy demanded this time, +she answered smilingly, 'Never fear,' and handed him another +draught, which very soon caused the Prince to sink into a deep +sleep. + +When he awoke everything, was done. All the trees of the wood +were cut up into firewood and arranged in bundles ready for use. + +He returned to the castle as quickly as he could, and told the +Fairy that her commands were obeyed. She was even more amazed +than she had been before, and asked him again if he had either +seen or spoken to the black girl; but the Prince knew better than +to betray his word, and once more lied freely. + +On the following day the Fairy set him a third task to do, even +harder than the other two. She told him he must build a castle +on the other side of the lake, made of nothing but gold, silver, +and precious stones, and unless he could accomplish this within +an hour, the most frightful doom awaited him. + +The Prince heard her words without anxiety, so entirely did he +rely on the help of his black friend. Full of hope he hurried +across the bridge, and recognised at once the spot where the +castle was to stand, for spades, hammers, axes, and every other +building implement lay scattered on the ground ready for the +workman's hand, but of gold, silver, and precious stones there +was not a sign. But before the Prince had time to feel +despondent the black girl beckoned to him in the distance from +behind a rock, where she had hidden herself for fear her mother +should catch sight of her. Full of joy the youth hurried towards +her, and begged her aid and counsel in the new piece of work he +had been given to do. + +But this time the Fairy had watched the Prince's movements from +her window, and she saw him hiding himself behind the rock with +her daughter. She uttered a piercing shriek so that the +mountains re-echoed with the sound of it, and the terrified pair +had hardly dared to look out from their hiding-place when the +enraged woman, with her dress and hair flying in the wind, +hurried over the bridge of clouds. The Prince at once gave +himself up for lost, but the girl told him to be of good courage +and to follow her as quickly as he could. But before they left +their shelter she broke off a little bit of the rock, spoke some +magic words over it, and threw it in the direction her mother was +coming from. In a moment a glittering palace arose before the +eyes of the Fairy which blinded her with its dazzling splendour, +and with its many doors and passages prevented her for some time +from finding her way out of it. + +In the meantime the black girl hurried on with the Prince, +hastening to reach the river, where once on the other side they +would for ever be out of the wicked Fairy's power. But before +they had accomplished half the way they heard again the rustle of +her garments and her muttered curses pursuing them closely. + +The Prince was terrified; he dared not look back, and he felt his +strength giving way. But before he had time to despair the girl +uttered some more magic words, and immediately she herself was +changed into a pond, and the Prince into a duck swimming on its +surface. + +When the Fairy saw this her rage knew no bounds, and she used all +her magic wits to make the pond disappear; she caused a hill of +sand to arise at her feet, meaning it to dry up the water at +once. But the sand hill only drove the pond a little farther +away, and its waters seemed to increase instead of diminishing. +When the old woman saw that the powers of her magic were of so +little avail, she had recourse to cunning. She threw a lot of +gold nuts into the pond, hoping in this way to catch the duck, +but all her efforts were fruitless, for the little creature +refused to let itself be caught. + +Then a new idea struck the wicked old woman, and hiding herself +behind the rock which had sheltered the fugitives, she waited +behind it, watching carefully for the moment when the Prince and +her daughter should resume their natural forms and continue their +journey. + +She had not to wait long, for as soon as the girl thought her +mother was safely out of the way, she changed herself and the +Prince once more into their human shape, and set out cheerfully +for the river. + +But they had not gone many steps when the wicked Fairy hurried +after them, a drawn dagger in her hand, and was close upon them, +when suddenly, instead of the Prince and her daughter, she found +herself in front of a great stone church, whose entrance was +carefully guarded by a huge monk. + +Breathless with rage and passion, she tried to plunge her dagger +into the monk's heart, but it fell shattered in pieces at her +feet. In her desperation she determined to pull down the church, +and thus to destroy her two victims for ever. She stamped three +times on the ground, and the earth trembled, and both the church +and the monk began to shake. As soon as the Fairy saw this she +retreated to some distance from the building, so as not to be +hurt herself by its fall. But once more her scheme was doomed to +failure, for hardly had she gone a yard from the church than both +it and the monk disappeared, and she found herself in a wood +black as night, and full of wolves and bears and wild animals of +all sorts and descriptions. + +Then her wrath gave place to terror, for she feared every moment +to be torn in pieces by the beasts who one and all seemed to defy +her power. She thought it wisest to make her way as best she +could out of the forest, and then to pursue the fugitives once +more and accomplish their destruction either by force or cunning. + +In the meantime the Prince and the black girl had again assumed +their natural forms, and were hurrying on as fast as they could +to reach the river. But when they got there they found that +there was no way in which they could cross it, and the girl's +magic art seemed no longer to have any power. Then turning to +the Prince she said, 'The hour for my deliverance has not yet +come, but as you promised to do all you could to free me, you +must do exactly as I bid you now. Take this bow and arrow and +kill every beast you see with them, and be sure you spare no +living creature.' + +With these words she disappeared, and hardly had she done so than +a huge wild boar started out of the thicket near and made +straight for the Prince. But the youth did not lose his presence +of mind, and drawing his bow he pierced the beast with his arrow +right through the skull. The creature fell heavily on the +ground, and out of its side sprang a little hare, which ran like +the wind along the river bank. The Prince drew his bow once +more, and the hare lay dead at his feet; but at the same moment a +dove rose up in the air, and circled round the Prince's head in +the most confiding manner. But mindful of the black girl's +commands, he dared not spare the little creature's life, and +taking another arrow from his quiver he laid it as dead as the +boar and the hare. But when he went to look at the body of the +bird he found instead of the dove a round white egg lying on the +ground. + +While he was gazing on it and wondering what it could mean, he +heard the sweeping of wings above him, and looking up he saw a +huge vulture with open claws swooping down upon him. In a moment +he seized the egg and flung it at the bird with all his might, +and lo and behold! instead of the ugly monster the most +beautiful girl he had ever seen stood before the astonished eyes +of the Prince. + +But while all this was going on the wicked old Fairy had managed +to make her way out of the wood, and was now using the last +resource in her power to overtake her daughter and the Prince. +As soon as she was in the open again she mounted her chariot, +which was drawn by a fiery dragon, and flew through the air in +it. But just as she got to the river she saw the two lovers in +each other's arms swimming through the water as easily as two +fishes. + +Quick as lightning, and forgetful of every danger, she flew down +upon them. But the waters seized her chariot and sunk it in the +lowest depths, and the waves bore the wicked old woman down the +stream till she was caught in some thorn bushes, where she made a +good meal for all the little fishes that were swimming about. + +And so at last the Prince and his lovely Bride were free. They +hurried as quickly as they could to the old King, who received +them with joy and gladness. On the following day a most gorgeous +wedding feast was held, and as far as we know the Prince and his +bride lived happily for ever afterwards. + + + +THE DEAD WIFE[20] + +[20] From the Iroquois. + +Once upon a time there were a man and his wife who lived in the +forest, very far from the rest of the tribe. Very often they +spent the day in hunting together, but after a while the wife +found that she had so many things to do that she was obliged to +stay at home; so he went alone, though he found that when his +wife was not with him he never had any luck. One day, when he +was away hunting, the woman fell ill, and in a few days she died. + +Her husband grieved bitterly, and buried her in the house where +she had passed her life; but as the time went on he felt so +lonely without her that he made a wooden doll about her height +and size for company, and dressed it in her clothes. He seated +it in front of the fire, and tried to think he had his wife back +again. The next day he went out to hunt, and when he came home +the first thing he did was to go up to the doll and brush off +some of the ashes from the fire which had fallen on its face. +But he was very busy now, for he had to cook and mend, besides +getting food, for there was no one to help him. And so a whole +year passed away. + +At the end of that time he came back from hunting one night and +found some wood by the door and a fire within. The next night +there was not only wood and fire, but a piece of meat in the +kettle, nearly ready for eating. He searched all about to see +who could have done this, but could find no one. The next time +he went to hunt he took care not to go far, and came in quite +early. And while he was still a long way off he saw a woman +going into the house with wood on her shoulders. So he made +haste, and opened the door quickly, and instead of the wooden +doll, his wife sat in front of the fire. + +Then she spoke to him and said, 'The Great Spirit felt sorry for +you, because you would not be comforted, so he let me come back +to you, but you must not stretch out your hand to touch me till +we have seen the rest of our people. If you do, I shall die.' + +So the man listened to her words, and the woman dwelt there, and +brought the wood and kindled the fire, till one day her husband +said to her, 'It is now two years since you died. Let us now go +back to our tribe. Then you will be well, and I can touch you.' + +And with that he prepared food for the journey, a string of +deer's flesh for her to carry, and one for himself; and so they +started. Now the camp of the tribe was distant six days' +journey, and when they were yet one day's journey off it began to +snow, and they felt weary and longed for rest. Therefore they +made a fire, cooked some food, and spread out their skins to +sleep. + +Then the heart of the man was greatly stirred, and he stretched +out his arms to his wife, but she waved her hands and said, 'We +have seen no one yet; it is too soon.' + +But he would not listen to her, and caught her to him, and +behold! he was clasping the wooden doll. And when he saw it was +the doll he pushed it from him in his misery and rushed away to +the camp, and told them all his story. And some doubted, and +they went back with him to the place where he and his wife had +stopped to rest, and there lay the doll, and besides, they saw in +the snow the steps of two people, and the foot of one was like +the foot of the doll. And the man grieved sore all the days of +his life. + + + +IN THE LAND OF SOULS [21] + +[21] From the Red Indian. + +Far away, in North America, where the Red Indians dwell, there +lived a long time ago a beautiful maiden, who was lovelier than +any other girl in the whole tribe. Many of the young braves +sought her in marriage, but she would listen to one only--a +handsome chief, who had taken her fancy some years before. So +they were to be married, and great rejoicings were made, and the +two looked forward to a long life of happiness together, when the +very night before the wedding feast a sudden illness seized the +girl, and, without a word to her friends who were weeping round +her, she passed silently away. + +The heart of her lover had been set upon her, and the thought of +her remained with him night and day. He put aside his bow, and +went neither to fight nor to hunt, but from sunrise to sunset he +sat by the place where she was laid, thinking of his happiness +that was buried there. At last, after many days, a light seemed +to come to him out of the darkness. He remembered having heard +from the old, old people of the tribe, that there was a path that +led to the Land of Souls--that if you sought carefully you could +find it. + +So the next morning he got up early, and put some food in his +pouch and slung an extra skin over his shoulders, for he knew not +how long his journey would take, nor what sort of country he +would have to go through. Only one thing he knew, that if the +path was there, he would find it. At first he was puzzled, as +there seemed no reason he should go in one direction more than +another. Then all at once he thought he had heard one of the old +men say that the Land of Souls lay to the south, and so, filled +with new hope and courage, he set his face southwards. For many, +many miles the country looked the same as it did round his own +home. The forests, the hills, and the rivers all seemed exactly +like the ones he had left. The only thing that was different was +the snow, which had lain thick upon the hills and trees when he +started, but grew less and less the farther he went south, till +it disappeared altogether. Soon the trees put forth their buds, +and flowers sprang up under his feet, and instead of thick clouds +there was blue sky over his head, and everywhere the birds were +singing. Then he knew that he was in the right road. + +The thought that he should soon behold his lost bride made his +heart beat for joy, and he sped along lightly and swiftly. Now +his way led through a dark wood, and then over some steep cliffs, +and on the top of these he found a hut or wigwam. An old man +clothed in skins, and holding a staff in his hand, stood in the +doorway; and he said to the young chief who was beginning to tell +his story, 'I was waiting for you, wherefore you have come I +know. It is but a short while since she whom you seek was here. +Rest in my hut, as she also rested, and I will tell you what you +ask, and whither you should go.' + +On hearing these words, the young man entered the hut, but his +heart was too eager within him to suffer him to rest, and when he +arose, the old man rose too, and stood with him at the door. +'Look,' he said, 'at the water which lies far out yonder, and the +plains which stretch beyond. That is the Land of Souls, but no +man enters it without leaving his body behind him. So, lay down +your body here; your bow and arrows, your skin and your dog. +They shall be kept for you safely.' + +Then he turned away, and the young chief, light as air, seemed +hardly to touch the ground; and as he flew along the scents grew +sweeter and the flowers more beautiful, while the animals rubbed +their noses against him, instead of hiding as he approached, and +birds circled round him, and fishes lifted up their heads and +looked as he went by. Very soon he noticed with wonder, that +neither rocks nor trees barred his path. He passed through them +without knowing it, for indeed, they were not rocks and trees at +all, but only the souls of them; for this was the Land of +Shadows. + +So he went on with winged feet till he came to the shores of a +great lake, with a lovely island in the middle of it; while on +the bank of the lake was a canoe of glittering stone, and in the +canoe were two shining paddles. + +The chief jumped straight into the canoe, and seizing the paddles +pushed off from the shore, when to his joy and wonder he saw +following him in another canoe exactly like his own the maiden +for whose sake he had made this long journey. But they could not +touch each other, for between them rolled great waves, which +looked as if they would sink the boats, yet never did. And the +young man and the maiden shrank with fear, for down in the depths +of the water they saw the bones of those who had died before, and +in the waves themselves men and women were struggling, and but +few passed over. Only the children had no fear, and reached the +other side in safety. Still, though the chief and the young girl +quailed in terror at these horrible sights and sounds, no harm +came to them, for their lives had been free from evil, and the +Master of Life had said that no evil should happen unto them. So +they reached unhurt the shore of the Happy Island, and wandered +through the flowery fields and by the banks of rushing streams, +and they knew not hunger nor thirst; neither cold nor heat. The +air fed them and the sun warmed them, and they forgot the dead, +for they saw no graves, and the young man's thoughts turned not +to wars, neither to the hunting of animals. And gladly would +these two have walked thus for ever, but in the murmur of the +wind he heard the Master of Life saying to him, 'Return whither +you came, for I have work for you to do, and your people need +you, and for many years you shall rule over them. At the gate my +messenger awaits you, and you shall take again your body which +you left behind, and he will show you what you are to do. Listen +to him, and have patience, and in time to come you shall rejoin +her whom you must now leave, for she is accepted, and will remain +ever young and beautiful, as when I called her hence from the +Land of Snows.' + + + +THE WHITE DUCK + +Once upon a time a great and powerful King married a lovely +Princess. No couple were ever so happy; but before their +honeymoon was over they were forced to part, for the King had to +go on a warlike expedition to a far country, and leave his young +wife alone at home. Bitter were the tears she shed, while her +husband sought in vain to soothe her with words of comfort and +counsel, warning her, above all things, never to leave the +castle, to hold no intercourse with strangers, to beware of evil +counsellors, and especially to be on her guard against strange +women. And the Queen promised faithfully to obey her royal lord +and master in these four matters. + +So when the King set out on his expedition she shut herself up +with her ladies in her own apartments, and spent her time in +spinning and weaving, and in thinking of her royal husband. +Often she was very sad and lonely, and it happened that one day +while she was seated at the window, letting salt tears drop on +her work, an old woman, a kind, homely-looking old body, stepped +up to the window, and, leaning upon her crutch, addressed the +Queen in friendly, flattering tones, saying: + +'Why are you sad and cast down, fair Queen? You should not mope +all day in your rooms, but should come out into the green garden, +and hear the birds sing with joy among the trees, and see the +butterflies fluttering above the flowers, and hear the bees and +insects hum, and watch the sunbeams chase the dew-drops through +the rose-leaves and in the lily-cups. All the brightness outside +would help to drive away your cares, O Queen.' + +For long the Queen resisted her coaxing words, remembering the +promise she had given the King, her husband; but at last she +thought to herself: After all, what harm would it do if I were +to go into the garden for a short time and enjoy myself among the +trees and flowers, and the singing birds and fluttering +butterflies and humming insects, and look at the dew-drops hiding +from the sunbeams in the hearts of the roses and lilies, and +wander about in the sunshine, instead of remaining all day in +this room? For she had no idea that the kind-looking old woman +leaning on her crutch was in reality a wicked witch, who envied +the Queen her good fortune, and was determined to ruin her. And +so, in all ignorance, the Queen followed her out into the garden +and listened to her smooth, flattering words. Now, in the middle +of the garden there was a pond of water, clear as crystal, and +the old woman said to the Queen: + +'The day is so warm, and the sun's rays so scorching, that the +water in the pond looks very cool and inviting. Would you not +like to bathe in it, fair Queen?' + +'No, I think not,' answered the Queen; but the next moment she +regretted her words, and thought to herself: Why shouldn't I +bathe in that cool, fresh water? No harm could come of it. And, +so saying, she slipped off her robes and stepped into the water. +But scarcely had her tender feet touched the cool ripples when +she felt a great shove on her shoulders, and the wicked witch had +pushed her into the deep water, exclaiming: + +'Swim henceforth, White Duck!' + +And the witch herself assumed the form of the Queen, and decked +herself out in the royal robes, and sat among the Court ladies, +awaiting the King's return. And suddenly the tramp of horses' +hoofs was heard, and the barking of dogs, and the witch hastened +forward to meet the royal carriages, and, throwing her arms round +the King's neck, kissed him. And in his great joy the King did +not know that the woman he held in his arms was not his own dear +wife, but a wicked witch. + +In the meantime, outside the palace walls, the poor White Duck +swam up and down the pond; and near it laid three eggs, out of +which there came one morning two little fluffy ducklings and a +little ugly drake. And the White Duck brought the little +creatures up, and they paddled after her in the pond, and caught +gold-fish, and hopped upon the bank and waddled about, ruffling +their feathers and saying 'Quack, quack' as they strutted about +on the green banks of the pond. But their mother used to warn +them not to stray too far, telling them that a wicked witch lived +in the castle beyond the garden, adding, 'She has ruined me, and +she will do her best to ruin you.' But the young ones did not +listen to their mother, and, playing about the garden one day, +they strayed close up to the castle windows. The witch at once +recognised them by their smell, and ground her teeth with anger; +but she hid her feelings, and, pretending to be very kind she +called them to her and joked with them, and led them into a +beautiful room, where she gave them food to eat, and showed them +a soft cushion on which they might sleep. Then she left them and +went down into the palace kitchens, where she told the servants +to sharpen the knives, and to make a great fire ready, and hang a +large kettleful of water over it. + +In the meantime the two little ducklings had fallen asleep, and +the little drake lay between them, covered up by their wings, to +be kept warm under their feathers. But the little drake could +not go to sleep, and as he lay there wide awake in the night he +heard the witch come to the door and say: + +'Little ones, are you asleep?' + +And the little drake answered for the other two: + + 'We cannot sleep, we wake and weep, + Sharp is the knife, to take our life; + The fire is hot, now boils the pot, + And so we wake, and lie and quake.' + +'They are not asleep yet,' muttered the witch to herself; and she +walked up and down in the passage, and then came back to the +door, and said: + +'Little ones, are you asleep?' + +And again the little drake answered for his sisters: + + 'We cannot sleep, we wake and weep, + Sharp is the knife, to take our life; + The fire is hot, now boils the pot, + And so we wake, and lie and quake.' + +'Just the same answer,' muttered the witch; 'I think I'll go in +and see.' So she opened the door gently, and seeing the two +little ducklings sound asleep, she there and then killed them. + +The next morning the White Duck wandered round the pond in a +distracted manner, looking for her little ones; she called and +she searched, but could find no trace of them. And in her heart +she had a foreboding that evil had befallen them, and she +fluttered up out of the water and flew to the palace. And there, +laid out on the marble floor of the court, dead and stone cold, +were her three children. The White Duck threw herself upon them, +and, covering up their little bodies with her wings, she cried: + + 'Quack, quack--my little loves! + Quack, quack--my turtle-doves! + I brought you up with grief and pain, + And now before my eyes you're slain. + + I gave you always of the best; + I kept you warm in my soft nest. + I loved and watched you day and night-- + You were my joy, my one delight.' + + +The King heard the sad complaint of the White Duck, and called to +the witch: 'Wife, what a wonder is this? Listen to that White +Duck.' + +But the witch answered, 'My dear husband, what do you mean? +There is nothing wonderful in a duck's quacking. Here, servants! +Chase that duck out of the courtyard.' But though the servants +chased and chevied, they could not get rid of the duck; for she +circled round and round, and always came back to the spot where +her children lay, crying: + + 'Quack, quack--my little loves! + Quack, quack--my turtle-doves! + The wicked witch your lives did take-- + The wicked witch, the cunning snake. + First she stole my King away, + Then my children did she slay. + Changed me, from a happy wife, + To a duck for all my life. + Would I were the Queen again; + Would that you had never been slain.' + +And as the King heard her words he began to suspect that he had +been deceived, and he called out to the servants, 'Catch that +duck, and bring it here.' But, though they ran to and fro, the +duck always fled past them, and would not let herself be caught. +So the King himself stepped down amongst them, and instantly the +duck fluttered down into his hands. And as he stroked her wings +she was changed into a beautiful woman, and he recognised his +dear wife. And she told him that a bottle would be found in her +nest in the garden, containing some drops from the spring of +healing. And it was brought to her; and the ducklings and little +drake were sprinkled with the water, and from the little dead +bodies three lovely children arose. And the King and Queen were +overjoyed when they saw their children, and they all lived +happily together in the beautiful palace. But the wicked witch +was taken by the King's command, and she came to no good end. + + + +THE WITCH AND HER SERVANTS[22] + +[22] From the Russian. Kletke. + +Long time ago there lived a King who had three sons; the eldest +was called Szabo, the second Warza, and the youngest Iwanich. + +One beautiful spring morning the King was walking through his +gardens with these three sons, gazing with admiration at the +various fruit-trees, some of which were a mass of blossom, whilst +others were bowed to the ground laden with rich fruit. During +their wanderings they came unperceived on a piece of waste land +where three splendid trees grew. The King looked on them for a +moment, and then, shaking his head sadly, he passed on in +silence. + +The sons, who could not understand why he did this, asked him the +reason of his dejection, and the King told them as follows: + +'These three trees, which I cannot see without sorrow, were +planted by me on this spot when I was a youth of twenty. A +celebrated magician, who had given the seed to my father, +promised him that they would grow into the three finest trees the +world had ever seen. My father did not live to see his words +come true; but on his death-bed he bade me transplant them here, +and to look after them with the greatest care, which I +accordingly did. At last, after the lapse of five long years, I +noticed some blossoms on the branches, and a few days later the +most exquisite fruit my eyes had ever seen. + +'I gave my head-gardener the strictest orders to watch the trees +carefully, for the magician had warned my father that if one +unripe fruit were plucked from the tree, all the rest would +become rotten at once. When it was quite ripe the fruit would +become a golden yellow. + +'Every day I gazed on the lovely fruit, which became gradually +more and more tempting-looking, and it was all I could do not to +break the magician's commands. + +'One night I dreamt that the fruit was perfectly ripe; I ate some +of it, and it was more delicious than anything I had ever tasted +in real life. As soon as I awoke I sent for the gardener and +asked him if the fruit on the three trees had not ripened in the +night to perfection. + +'But instead of replying, the gardener threw himself at my feet +and swore that he was innocent. He said that he had watched by +the trees all night, but in spite of it, and as if by magic, the +beautiful trees had been robbed of all their fruit. + +'Grieved as I was over the theft, I did not punish the gardener, +of whose fidelity I was well assured, but I determined to pluck +off all the fruit in the following year before it was ripe, as I +had not much belief in the magician's warning. + +'I carried out my intention, and had all the fruit picked off the +tree, but when I tasted one of the apples it was bitter and +unpleasant, and the next morning the rest of the fruit had all +rotted away. + +'After this I had the beautiful fruit of these trees carefully +guarded by my most faithful servants; but every year, on this +very night, the fruit was plucked and stolen by an invisible +hand, and next morning not a single apple remained on the trees. +For some time past I have given up even having the trees +watched.' + +When the King had finished his story, Szabo, his eldest son, said +to him: 'Forgive me, father, if I say I think you are mistaken. +I am sure there are many men in your kingdom who could protect +these trees from the cunning arts of a thieving magician; I +myself, who as your eldest son claim the first right to do so, +will mount guard over the fruit this very night.' + +The King consented, and as soon as evening drew on Szabo climbed +up on to one of the trees, determined to protect the fruit even +if it cost him his life. So he kept watch half the night; but a +little after midnight he was overcome by an irresistible +drowsiness, and fell fast asleep. He did not awake till it was +bright daylight, and all the fruit on the trees had vanished. + +The following year Warza, the second brother, tried his luck, but +with the same result. Then it came to the turn of the third and +youngest son. + +Iwanich was not the least discouraged by the failure of his elder +brothers, though they were both much older and stronger than he +was, and when night came climbed up the tree as they had done, +The moon had risen, and with her soft light lit up the whole +neighbourhood, so that the observant Prince could distinguish the +smallest object distinctly. + +At midnight a gentle west wind shook the tree, and at the same +moment a snow-white swan-like bird sank down gently on his +breast. The Prince hastily seized the bird's wings in his hands, +when, lo! to his astonishment he found he was holding in his +arms not a bird but the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. + +'You need not fear Militza,' said the beautiful girl, looking at +the Prince with friendly eyes. 'An evil magician has not robbed +you of your fruit, but he stole the seed from my mother, and +thereby caused her death. When she was dying she bade me take +the fruit, which you have no right to possess, from the trees +every year as soon as it was ripe. This I would have done +to-night too, if you had not seized me with such force, and so +broken the spell I was under.' + +Iwanich, who had been prepared to meet a terrible magician and +not a lovely girl, fell desperately in love with her. They spent +the rest of the night in pleasant conversation, and when Militza +wished to go away he begged her not to leave him. + +'I would gladly stay with you longer,' said Militza, 'but a +wicked witch once cut off a lock of my hair when I was asleep, +which has put me in her power, and if morning were still to find +me here she would do me some harm, and you, too, perhaps.' + +Having said these words, she drew a sparkling diamond ring from +her finger, which she handed to the Prince, saying: 'Keep this +ring in memory of Militza, and think of her sometimes if you +never see her again. But if your love is really true, come and +find me in my own kingdom. I may not show you the way there, but +this ring will guide you. + +'If you have love and courage enough to undertake this journey, +whenever you come to a cross-road always look at this diamond +before you settle which way you are going to take. If it +sparkles as brightly as ever go straight on, but if its lustre is +dimmed choose another path.' + +Then Militza bent over the Prince and kissed him on his forehead, +and before he had time to say a word she vanished through the +branches of the tree in a little white cloud. + +Morning broke, and the Prince, still full of the wonderful +apparition, left his perch and returned to the palace like one in +a dream, without even knowing if the fruit had been taken or not; +for his whole mind was absorbed by thoughts of Militza and how he +was to find her. + +As soon as the head-gardener saw the Prince going towards the +palace he ran to the trees, and when he saw them laden with ripe +fruit he hastened to tell the King the joyful news. The King was +beside himself for joy, and hurried at once to the garden and +made the gardener pick him some of the fruit. He tasted it, and +found the apple quite as luscious as it had been in his dream. +He went at once to his son Iwanich, and after embracing him +tenderly and heaping praises on him, he asked him how he had +succeeded in protecting the costly fruit from the power of the +magician. + +This question placed Iwanich in a dilemma. But as he did not +want the real story to be known, he said that about midnight a +huge wasp had flown through the branches, and buzzed incessantly +round him. He had warded it off with his sword, and at dawn, +when he was becoming quite worn out, the wasp had vanished as +suddenly as it had appeared. + +The King, who never doubted the truth of this tale, bade his son +go to rest at once and recover from the fatigues of the night; +but he himself went and ordered many feasts to be held in honour +of the preservation of the wonderful fruit. + +The whole capital was in a stir, and everyone shared in the +King's joy; the Prince alone took no part in the festivities. + +While the King was at a banquet, Iwanich took some purses of +gold, and mounting the quickest horse in the royal stable, he +sped off like the wind without a single soul being any the wiser. + +It was only on the next day that they missed him; the King was +very distressed at his disappearance, and sent search-parties all +over the kingdom to look for him, but in vain; and after six +months they gave him up as dead, and in another six months they +had forgotten all about him. But in the meantime the Prince, +with the help of his ring, had had a most successful journey, and +no evil had befallen him. + +At the end of three months he came to the entrance of a huge +forest, which looked as if it had never been trodden by human +foot before, and which seemed to stretch out indefinitely. The +Prince was about to enter the wood by a little path he had +discovered, when he heard a voice shouting to him: 'Hold, youth! +Whither are you going?' + +Iwanich turned round, and saw a tall, gaunt-looking man, clad in +miserable rags, leaning on a crooked staff and seated at the foot +of an oak tree, which was so much the same colour as himself that +it was little wonder the Prince had ridden past the tree without +noticing him. + +'Where else should I be going,' he said, 'than through the wood?' + +'Through the wood?' said the old man in amazement. 'It's easily +seen that you have heard nothing of this forest, that you rush so +blindly to meet your doom. Well, listen to me before you ride +any further; let me tell you that this wood hides in its depths a +countless number of the fiercest tigers, hyenas, wolves, bears, +and snakes, and all sorts of other monsters. If I were to cut +you and your horse up into tiny morsels and throw them to the +beasts, there wouldn't be one bit for each hundred of them. Take +my advice, therefore, and if you wish to save your life follow +some other path.' + +The Prince was rather taken aback by the old man's words, and +considered for a minute what he should do; then looking at his +ring, and perceiving that it sparkled as brightly as ever, he +called out: 'If this wood held even more terrible things than it +does, I cannot help myself, for I must go through it.' + +Here he spurred his horse and rode on; but the old beggar +screamed so loudly after him that the Prince turned round and +rode back to the oak tree. + +'I am really sorry for you,' said the beggar, 'but if you are +quite determined to brave the dangers of the forest, let me at +least give you a piece of advice which will help you against +these monsters. + +'Take this bagful of bread-crumbs and this live hare. I will +make you a present of them both, as I am anxious to save your +life; but you must leave your horse behind you, for it would +stumble over the fallen trees or get entangled in the briers and +thorns. When you have gone about a hundred yards into the wood +the wild beasts will surround you. Then you must instantly seize +your bag, and scatter the bread-crumbs among them. They will +rush to eat them up greedily, and when you have scattered the +last crumb you must lose no time in throwing the hare to them; as +soon as the hare feels itself on the ground it will run away as +quickly as possible, and the wild beasts will turn to pursue it. +In this way you will be able to get through the wood unhurt.' + +Iwanich thanked the old man for his counsel, dismounted from his +horse, and, taking the bag and the hare in his arms, he entered +the forest. He had hardly lost sight of his gaunt grey friend +when he heard growls and snarls in the thicket close to him, and +before he had time to think he found himself surrounded by the +most dreadful-looking creatures. On one side he saw the +glittering eye of a cruel tiger, on the other the gleaming teeth +of a great she-wolf; here a huge bear growled fiercely, and +there a horrible snake coiled itself in the grass at his feet. + +But Iwanich did not forget the old man's advice, and quickly put +his hand into the bag and took out as many bread-crumbs as he +could hold in his hand at a time. He threw them to the beasts, +but soon the bag grew lighter and lighter, and the Prince began +to feel a little frightened. And now the last crumb was gone, +and the hungry beasts thronged round him, greedy for fresh prey. +Then he seized the hare and threw it to them. + +No sooner did the little creature feel itself on the ground than +it lay back its ears and flew through the wood like an arrow from +a bow, closely pursued by the wild beasts, and the Prince was +left alone. He looked at his ring, and when he saw that it +sparkled as brightly as ever he went straight on through the +forest. + +He hadn't gone very far when he saw a most extraordinary looking +man coming towards him. He was not more than three feet high, +his legs were quite crooked, and all his body was covered with +prickles like a hedgehog. Two lions walked with him, fastened to +his side by the two ends of his long beard. + +He stopped the Prince and asked him in a harsh voice: 'Are you +the man who has just fed my body-guard?' + +Iwanich was so startled that he could hardly reply, but the +little man continued: 'I am most grateful to you for your +kindness; what can I give you as a reward?' + +'All I ask,' replied Iwanich, 'is, that I should be allowed to go +through this wood in safety.' + +'Most certainly,' answered the little man; 'and for greater +security I will give you one of my lions as a protector. But +when you leave this wood and come near a palace which does not +belong to my domain, let the lion go, in order that he may not +fall into the hands of an enemy and be killed.' + +With these words he loosened the lion from his beard and bade the +beast guard the youth carefully. + +With this new protector Iwanich wandered on through the forest, +and though he came upon a great many more wolves, hyenas, +leopards, and other wild beasts, they always kept at a respectful +distance when they saw what sort of an escort the Prince had with +him. + +Iwanich hurried through the wood as quickly as his legs would +carry him, but, nevertheless, hour after hour went by and not a +trace of a green field or a human habitation met his eyes. At +length, towards evening, the mass of trees grew more transparent, +and through the interlaced branches a wide plain was visible. + +At the exit of the wood the lion stood still, and the Prince took +leave of him, having first thanked him warmly for his kind +protection. It had become quite dark, and Iwanich was forced to +wait for daylight before continuing his journey. + +He made himself a bed of grass and leaves, lit a fire of dry +branches, and slept soundly till the next morning. + +Then he got up and walked towards a beautiful white palace which +he saw gleaming in the distance. In about an hour he reached the +building, and opening the door he walked in. + +After wandering through many marble halls, he came to a huge +staircase made of porphyry, leading down to a lovely garden. + +The Prince burst into a shout of joy when he suddenly perceived +Militza in the centre of a group of girls who were weaving +wreaths of flowers with which to deck their mistress. + +As soon as Militza saw the Prince she ran up to him and embraced +him tenderly; and after he had told her all his adventures, they +went into the palace, where a sumptuous meal awaited them. Then +the Princess called her court together, and introduced Iwanich to +them as her future husband. + +Preparations were at once made for the wedding, which was held +soon after with great pomp and magnificence. + +Three months of great happiness followed, when Militza received +one day an invitation to visit her mother's sister. + +Although the Princess was very unhappy at leaving her husband, +she did not like to refuse the invitation, and, promising to +return in seven days at the latest, she took a tender farewell of +the Prince, and said: 'Before I go I will hand you over all the +keys of the castle. Go everywhere and do anything you like; only +one thing I beg and beseech you, do not open the little iron door +in the north tower, which is closed with seven locks and seven +bolts; for if you do, we shall both suffer for it.' + +Iwanich promised what she asked, and Militza departed, repeating +her promise to return in seven days. + +When the Prince found himself alone he began to be tormented by +pangs of curiosity as to what the room in the tower contained. +For two days he resisted the temptation to go and look, but on +the third he could stand it no longer, and taking a torch in his +hand he hurried to the tower, and unfastened one lock after the +other of the little iron door until it burst open. + +What an unexpected sight met his gaze! The Prince perceived a +small room black with smoke, lit up feebly by a fire from which +issued long blue flames. Over the fire hung a huge cauldron full +of boiling pitch, and fastened into the cauldron by iron chains +stood a wretched man screaming with agony. + +Iwanich was much horrified at the sight before him, and asked the +man what terrible crime he had committed to be punished in this +dreadful fashion. + +'I will tell you everything,' said the man in the cauldron; 'but +first relieve my torments a little, I implore you.' + +'And how can I do that?' asked the Prince. + +'With a little water,' replied the man; 'only sprinkle a few +drops over me and I shall feel better.' + +The Prince, moved by pity, without thinking what he was doing, +ran to the courtyard of the castle, and filled a jug with water, +which he poured over the man in the cauldron. + +In a moment a most fearful crash was heard, as if all the pillars +of the palace were giving way, and the palace itself, with towers +and doors, windows and the cauldron, whirled round the bewildered +Prince's head. This continued for a few minutes, and then +everything vanished into thin air, and Iwanich found himself +suddenly alone upon a desolate heath covered with rocks and +stones. + +The Prince, who now realised what his heedlessness had done, +cursed too late his spirit of curiosity. In his despair he +wandered on over the heath, never looking where he put his feet, +and full of sorrowful thoughts. At last he saw a light in the +distance, which came from a miserable-looking little hut. + +The owner of it was none other than the kind-hearted gaunt grey +beggar who had given the Prince the bag of bread-crumbs and the +hare. Without recognising Iwanich, he opened the door when he +knocked and gave him shelter for the night. + +On the following morning the Prince asked his host if he could +get him any work to do, as he was quite unknown in the +neighbourhood, and had not enough money to take him home. + +'My son,' replied the old man, 'all this country round here is +uninhabited; I myself have to wander to distant villages for my +living, and even then I do not very often find enough to satisfy +my hunger. But if you would like to take service with the old +witch Corva, go straight up the little stream which flows below +my hut for about three hours, and you will come to a sand-hill on +the left-hand side; that is where she lives.' + +Iwanich thanked the gaunt grey beggar for his information, and +went on his way. + +After walking for about three hours the Prince came upon a +dreary-looking grey stone wall; this was the back of the building +and did not attract him; but when he came upon the front of the +house he found it even less inviting, for the old witch had +surrounded her dwelling with a fence of spikes, on every one of +which a man's skull was stuck. In this horrible enclosure stood +a small black house, which had only two grated windows, all +covered with cobwebs, and a battered iron door. + +The Prince knocked, and a rasping woman's voice told him to +enter. + +Iwanich opened the door, and found himself in a smoke-begrimed +kitchen, in the presence of a hideous old woman who was warming +her skinny hands at a fire. The Prince offered to become her +servant, and the old hag told him she was badly in want of one, +and he seemed to be just the person to suit her. + +When Iwanich asked what his work, and how much his wages would +be, the witch bade him follow her, and led the way through a +narrow damp passage into a vault, which served as a stable. Here +he perceived two pitch-black horses in a stall. + +'You see before you,' said the old woman, 'a mare and her foal; +you have nothing to do but to lead them out to the fields every +day, and to see that neither of them runs away from you. If you +look after them both for a whole year I will give you anything +you like to ask; but if, on the other hand, you let either of the +animals escape you, your last hour is come, and your head shall +be stuck on the last spike of my fence. The other spikes, as you +see, are already adorned, and the skulls are all those of +different servants I have had who have failed to do what I +demanded.' + +Iwanich, who thought he could not be much worse off than he was +already, agreed to the witch's proposal. + +At daybreak nest morning he drove his horses to the field, and +brought them back in the evening without their ever having +attempted to break away from him. The witch stood at her door +and received him kindly, and set a good meal before him. + +So it continued for some time, and all went well with the Prince. + +Early every morning he led the horses out to the fields, and +brought them home safe and sound in the evening. + +One day, while he was watching the horses, he came to the banks +of a river, and saw a big fish, which through some mischance had +been cast on the land, struggling hard to get back into the +water. + +Iwanich, who felt sorry for the poor creature, seized it in his +arms and flung it into the stream. But no sooner did the fish +find itself in the water again, than, to the Prince's amazement, +it swam up to the bank and said: + +'My kind benefactor, how can I reward you for your goodness?' + +'I desire nothing,' answered the Prince. 'I am quite content to +have been able to be of some service to you.' + +'You must do me the favour,' replied the fish, 'to take a scale +from my body, and keep it carefully. If you should ever need my +help, throw it into the river, and I will come to your aid at +once.' + +Iwanich bowed, loosened a scale from the body of the grateful +beast, put it carefully away, and returned home. + +A short time after this, when he was going early one morning to +the usual grazing place with his horses, he noticed a flock of +birds assembled together making a great noise and flying wildly +backwards and forwards. + +Full of curiosity, Iwanich hurried up to the spot, and saw that a +large number of ravens had attacked an eagle, and although the +eagle was big and powerful and was making a brave fight, it was +overpowered at last by numbers, and had to give in. + +But the Prince, who was sorry for the poor bird, seized the +branch of a tree and hit out at the ravens with it; terrified at +this unexpected onslaught they flew away, leaving many of their +number dead or wounded on the battlefield. + +As soon as the eagle saw itself free from its tormentors it +plucked a feather from its wing, and, handing it to the Prince, +said: 'Here, my kind benefactor, take this feather as a proof of +my gratitude; should you ever be in need of my help blow this +feather into the air, and I will help you as much as is in my +power.' + +Iwanich thanked the bird, and placing the feather beside the +scale he drove the horses home. + +Another day he had wandered farther than usual, and came close to +a farmyard; the place pleased the Prince, and as there was plenty +of good grass for the horses he determined to spend the day +there. Just as he was sitting down under a tree he heard a cry +close to him, and saw a fox which had been caught in a trap +placed there by the farmer. + +In vain did the poor beast try to free itself; then the +good-natured Prince came once more to the rescue, and let the fox +out of the trap. + +The fox thanked him heartily, tore two hairs out of his bushy +tail, and said: 'Should you ever stand in need of my help throw +these two hairs into the fire, and in a moment I shall be at your +side ready to obey you.' + +Iwanich put the fox's hairs with the scale and the feather, and +as it was getting dark he hastened home with his horses. + +In the meantime his service was drawing near to an end, and in +three more days the year was up, and he would be able to get his +reward and leave the witch. + +On the first evening of these last three days, when he came home +and was eating his supper, he noticed the old woman stealing into +the stables. + +The Prince followed her secretly to see what she was going to do. +He crouched down in the doorway and heard the wicked witch +telling the horses to wait next morning till Iwanich was asleep, +and then to go and hide themselves in the river, and to stay +there till she told them to return; and if they didn't do as she +told them the old woman threatened to beat them till they bled. + +When Iwanich heard all this he went back to his room, determined +that nothing should induce him to fall asleep next day. On the +following morning he led the mare and foal to the fields as +usual, but bound a cord round them both which he kept in his +hand. + +But after a few hours, by the magic arts of the old witch, he was +overpowered by sleep, and the mare and foal escaped and did as +they had been told to do. The Prince did not awake till late in +the evening; and when he did, he found, to his horror, that the +horses had disappeared. Filled with despair, he cursed the +moment when he had entered the service of the cruel witch, and +already he saw his head sticking up on the sharp spike beside the +others. + +Then he suddenly remembered the fish's scale, which, with the +eagle's feather and the fox's hairs, he always carried about with +him. He drew the scale from his pocket, and hurrying to the +river he threw it in. In a minute the grateful fish swam towards +the bank on which Iwanich was standing, and said: 'What do you +command, my friend and benefactor?' + +The Prince replied: 'I had to look after a mare and foal, and +they have run away from me and have hidden themselves in the +river; if you wish to save my life drive them back to the land.' + +'Wait a moment,' answered the fish, 'and I and my friends will +soon drive them out of the water.' With these words the creature +disappeared into the depths of the stream. + +Almost immediately a rushing hissing sound was heard in the +waters, the waves dashed against the banks, the foam was tossed +into the air, and the two horses leapt suddenly on to the dry +land, trembling and shaking with fear. + +Iwanich sprang at once on to the mare's back, seized the foal by +its bridle, and hastened home in the highest spirits. + +When the witch saw the Prince bringing the horses home she could +hardly conceal her wrath, and as soon as she had placed Iwanich's +supper before him she stole away again to the stables. The +Prince followed her, and heard her scolding the beasts harshly +for not having hidden themselves better. She bade them wait next +morning till Iwanich was asleep and then to hide themselves in +the clouds, and to remain there till she called. If they did not +do as she told them she would beat them till they bled. + +The next morning, after Iwanich had led his horses to the fields, +he fell once more into a magic sleep. The horses at once ran +away and hid themselves in the clouds, which hung down from the +mountains in soft billowy masses. + +When the Prince awoke and found that both the mare and the foal +had disappeared, he bethought him at once of the eagle, and +taking the feather out of his pocket he blew it into the air. + +In a moment the bird swooped down beside him and asked: 'What do +you wish me to do?' + +'My mare and foal,' replied the Prince, 'have run away from me, +and have hidden themselves in the clouds; if you wish to save my +life, restore both animals to me.' + +'Wait a minute,' answered the eagle; 'with the help of my friends +I will soon drive them back to you.' + +With these words the bird flew up into the air and disappeared +among the clouds. + +Almost directly Iwanich saw his two horses being driven towards +him by a host of eagles of all sizes. He caught the mare and +foal, and having thanked the eagle he drove them cheerfully home +again. + +The old witch was more disgusted than ever when she saw him +appearing, and having set his supper before him she stole into +the stables, and Iwanich heard her abusing the horses for not +having hidden themselves better in the clouds. Then she bade +them hide themselves next morning, as soon as Iwanich was asleep, +in the King's hen-house, which stood on a lonely part of the +heath, and to remain there till she called. If they failed to do +as she told them she would certainly beat them this time till +they bled. + +On the following morning the Prince drove his horses as usual to +the fields. After he had been overpowered by sleep, as on the +former days, the mare and foal ran away and hid themselves in the +royal hen house. + +When the Prince awoke and found the horses gone he determined to +appeal to the fox; so, lighting a fire, he threw the two hairs +into it, and in a few moments the fox stood beside him and asked: +'In what way can I serve you?' + +'I wish to know,' replied Iwanich, 'where the King's hen-house +is.' + +'Hardly an hour's walk from here,' answered the fox, and offered +to show the Prince the way to it. + +While they were walking along the fox asked him what he wanted to +do at the royal hen-house. The Prince told him of the misfortune +that had befallen him, and of the necessity of recovering the +mare and foal. + +'That is no easy matter,' replied the fox. 'But wait a moment. +I have an idea. Stand at the door of the hen-house, and wait +there for your horses. In the meantime I will slip in among the +hens through a hole in the wall and give them a good chase, so +that the noise they make will arouse the royal henwives, and they +will come to see what is the matter. When they see the horses +they will at once imagine them to be the cause of the +disturbance, and will drive them out. Then you must lay hands on +the mare and foal and catch them. + +All turned out exactly as the sly fox had foreseen. The Prince +swung himself on the mare, seized the foal by its bridle, and +hurried home. + +While he was riding over the heath in the highest of spirits the +mare suddenly said to her rider: 'You are the first person who +has ever succeeded in outwitting the old witch Corva, and now you +may ask what reward you like for your service. If you promise +never to betray me I will give you a piece of advice which you +will do well to follow.' + +The Prince promised never to betray her confidence, and the mare +continued: 'Ask nothing else as a reward than my foal, for it has +not its like in the world, and is not to be bought for love or +money; for it can go from one end of the earth to another in a +few minutes. Of course the cunning Corva will do her best to +dissuade you from taking the foal, and will tell you that it is +both idle and sickly; but do not believe her, and stick to your +point.' + +Iwanich longed to possess such an animal, and promised the mare +to follow her advice. + +This time Corva received him in the most friendly manner, and set +a sumptuous repast before him. As soon as he had finished she +asked him what reward he demanded for his year's service. + +'Nothing more nor less,' replied the Prince, 'than the foal of +your mare.' + +The witch pretended to be much astonished at his request, and +said that he deserved something much better than the foal, for +the beast was lazy and nervous, blind in one eye, and, in short, +was quite worthless. + +But the Prince knew what he wanted, and when the old witch saw +that he had made up his mind to have the foal, she said, 'I am +obliged to keep my promise and to hand you over the foal; and as +I know who you are and what you want, I will tell you in what way +the animal will be useful to you. The man in the cauldron of +boiling pitch, whom you set free, is a mighty magician; through +your curiosity and thoughtlessness Militza came into his power, +and he has transported her and her castle and belongings into a +distant country. + +'You are the only person who can kill him; and in consequence he +fears you to such an extent that he has set spies to watch you, +and they report your movements to him daily. + +'When you have reached him, beware of speaking a single word to +him, or you will fall into the power of his friends. Seize him +at once by the beard and dash him to the ground.' + +Iwanich thanked the old witch, mounted his foal, put spurs to its +sides, and they flew like lightning through the air. + +Already it was growing dark, when Iwanich perceived some figures +in the distance; they soon came up to them, and then the Prince +saw that it was the magician and his friends who were driving +through the air in a carriage drawn by owls. + +When the magician found himself face to face with Iwanich, +without hope of escape, he turned to him with false friendliness +and said: 'Thrice my kind benefactor!' + +But the Prince, without saying a word, seized him at once by his +beard and dashed him to the ground. At the same moment the foal +sprang on the top of the magician and kicked and stamped on him +with his hoofs till he died. + +Then Iwanich found himself once more in the palace of his bride, +and Militza herself flew into his arms. + +From this time forward they lived in undisturbed peace and +happiness till the end of their lives. + + + +THE MAGIC RING + +Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had one son called +Martin. Now when the old man's time had come, he stretched +himself out on his bed and died. Though all his life long he had +toiled and moiled, he only left his widow and son two hundred +florins. The old woman determined to put by the money for a +rainy day; but alas! the rainy day was close at hand, for their +meal was all consumed, and who is prepared to face starvation +with two hundred florins at their disposal? So the old woman +counted out a hundred of her florins, and giving them to Martin, +told him to go into the town and lay in a store of meal for a +year. + +So Martin started off for the town. When he reached the +meat-market he found the whole place in turmoil, and a great +noise of angry voices and barking of dogs. Mixing in the crowd, +he noticed a stag-hound which the butchers had caught and tied to +a post, and which was being flogged in a merciless manner. +Overcome with pity, Martin spoke to the butchers, saying: + +'Friends, why are you beating the poor dog so cruelly?' + +'We have every right to beat him,' they replied; 'he has just +devoured a newly-killed pig.' + +'Leave off beating him,' said Martin, 'and sell him to me +instead.' + +'If you choose to buy him,' answered the butchers derisively; +'but for such a treasure we won't take a penny less than a +hundred florins.' + +'A hundred!' exclaimed Martin. 'Well, so be it, if you will not +take less;' and, taking the money out of his pocket, he handed it +over in exchange for the dog, whose name was Schurka. + +When Martin got home, his mother met him with the question: + +'Well, what have you bought?' + +'Schurka, the dog,' replied Martin, pointing to his new +possession. Whereupon his mother became very angry, and abused +him roundly. He ought to be ashamed of himself, when there was +scarcely a handful of meal in the house, to have spent the money +on a useless brute like that. On the following day she sent him +back to the town, saying, 'Here, take our last hundred florins, +and buy provisions with them. I have just emptied the last +grains of meal out of the chest, and baked a bannock; but it +won't last over to-morrow.' + +Just as Martin was entering the town he met a rough-looking +peasant who was dragging a cat after him by a string which was +fastened round the poor beast's neck. + +'Stop,' cried Martin; 'where are you dragging that poor cat?' + +'I mean to drown him,' was the answer. + +'What harm has the poor beast done?' said Martin. + +'It has just killed a goose,' replied the peasant. + +'Don't drown him, sell him to me instead,' begged Martin. + +'Not for a hundred florins,' was the answer. + +'Surely for a hundred florins you'll sell it?' said Martin. +'See! here is the money;' and, so saying, he handed him the +hundred florins, which the peasant pocketed, and Martin took +possession of the cat, which was called Waska. + +When he reached his home his mother greeted him with the +question: + +'Well, what have you brought back?' + +'I have brought this cat, Waska,' answered Martin. + +'And what besides?' + +'I had no money over to buy anything else with,' replied Martin. + +'You useless ne'er-do-weel!' exclaimed his mother in a great +passion. 'Leave the house at once, and go and beg your bread +among strangers;' and as Martin did not dare to contradict her, +he called Schurka and Waska and started off with them to the +nearest village in search of work. On the way he met a rich +peasant, who asked him where he was going. + +'I want to get work as a day labourer,' he answered. + +'Come along with me, then. But I must tell you I engage my +labourers without wages. If you serve me faithfully for a year, +I promise you it shall be for your advantage.' + +So Martin consented, and for a year he worked diligently, and +served his master faithfully, not sparing himself in any way. +When the day of reckoning had come the peasant led him into a +barn, and pointing to two full sacks, said: 'Take whichever of +these you choose.' + +Martin examined the contents of the sacks, and seeing that one +was full of silver and the other of sand, he said to himself: + +'There must be some trick about this; I had better take the +sand.' And throwing the sack over his shoulders he started out +into the world, in search of fresh work. On and on he walked, +and at last he reached a great gloomy wood. In the middle of the +wood he came upon a meadow, where a fire was burning, and in the +midst of the fire, surrounded by flames, was a lovely damsel, +more beautiful than anything that Martin had ever seen, and when +she saw him she called to him: + +'Martin, if you would win happiness, save my life. Extinguish +the flames with the sand that you earned in payment of your +faithful service.' + +'Truly,' thought Martin to himself, 'it would be more sensible to +save a fellow-being's life with this sand than to drag it about +on one's back, seeing what a weight it is.' And forthwith he +lowered the sack from his shoulders and emptied its contents on +the flames, and instantly the fire was extinguished; but at the +same moment lo! and behold the lovely damsel turned into a +Serpent, and, darting upon him, coiled itself round his neck, and +whispered lovingly in his ear: + +'Do not be afraid of me, Martin; I love you, and will go with you +through the world. But first you must follow me boldly into my +Father's Kingdom, underneath the earth; and when we get there, +remember this--he will offer you gold and silver, and dazzling +gems, but do not touch them. Ask him, instead, for the ring +which he wears on his little finger, for in that ring lies a +magic power; you have only to throw it from one hand to the +other, and at once twelve young men will appear, who will do your +bidding, no matter how difficult, in a single night.' + +So they started on their way, and after much wandering they +reached a spot where a great rock rose straight up in the middle +of the road. Instantly the Serpent uncoiled itself from his +neck, and, as it touched the damp earth, it resumed the shape of +the lovely damsel. Pointing to the rock, she showed him an +opening just big enough for a man to wriggle through. Passing +into it, they entered a long underground passage, which led out +on to a wide field, above which spread a blue sky. In the middle +of the field stood a magnificent castle, built out of porphyry, +with a roof of gold and with glittering battlements. And his +beautiful guide told him that this was the palace in which her +father lived and reigned over his kingdom in the Under-world. + +Together they entered the palace, and were received by the King +with great kindness. Turning to his daughter, he said: + +'My child, I had almost given up the hope of ever seeing you +again. Where have you been all these years?' + +'My father,' she replied, 'I owe my life to this youth, who saved +me from a terrible death.' + +Upon which the King turned to Martin with a gracious smile, +saying: 'I will reward your courage by granting you whatever your +heart desires. Take as much gold, silver, and precious stones as +you choose.' + +'I thank you, mighty King, for your gracious offer,' answered +Martin,' 'but I do not covet either gold, silver, or precious +stones; yet if you will grant me a favour, give me, I beg, the +ring from off the little finger of your royal hand. Every time +my eye falls on it I shall think of your gracious Majesty, and +when I marry I shall present it to my bride.' + +So the King took the ring from his finger and gave it to Martin, +saying: 'Take it, good youth; but with it I make one condition-- +you are never to confide to anyone that this is a magic ring. If +you do, you will straightway bring misfortune on yourself.' + +Martin took the ring, and, having thanked the King, he set out on +the same road by which he had come down into the Under-world. +When he had regained the upper air he started for his old home, +and having found his mother still living in the old house where +he had left her, they settled down together very happily. So +uneventful was their life that it almost seemed as if it would go +on in this way always, without let or hindrance. But one day it +suddenly came into his mind that he would like to get married, +and, moreover, that he would choose a very grand wife--a King's +daughter, in short. But as he did not trust himself as a wooer, +he determined to send his old mother on the mission. + +'You must go to the King,' he said to her, 'and demand the hand +of his lovely daughter in marriage for me.' + +'What are you thinking of, my son?' answered the old woman, +aghast at the idea. 'Why cannot you marry someone in your own +rank? That would be far more fitting than to send a poor old +woman like me a-wooing to the King's Court for the hand of a +Princess. Why, it is as much as our heads are worth. Neither my +life nor yours would be worth anything if I went on such a fool's +errand.' + +'Never fear, little mother,' answered Martin. 'Trust me; all +will be well. But see that you do not come back without an +answer of some kind.' + +And so, obedient to her son's behest, the old woman hobbled off +to the palace, and, without being hindered, reached the +courtyard, and began to mount the flight of steps leading to the +royal presence chamber. At the head of the landing rows of +courtiers were collected in magnificent attire, who stared at the +queer old figure, and called to her, and explained to her, with +every kind of sign, that it was strictly forbidden to mount those +steps. But their stern words and forbidding gestures made no +impression whatever on the old woman, and she resolutely +continued to climb the stairs, bent on carrying out her son's +orders. Upon this some of the courtiers seized her by the arms, +and held her back by sheer force, at which she set up such a yell +that the King himself heard it, and stepped out on to the balcony +to see what was the matter. When he beheld the old woman +flinging her arms wildly about, and heard her scream that she +would not leave the place till she had laid her case before the +King, he ordered that she should be brought into his presence. +And forthwith she was conducted into the golden presence chamber, +where, leaning back amongst cushions of royal purple, the King +sat, surrounded by his counsellors and courtiers. Courtesying +low, the old woman stood silent before him. 'Well, my good old +dame, what can I do for you?' asked the King. + +'I have come,' replied Martin's mother--'and your Majesty must +not be angry with me--I have come a-wooing.' + +'Is the woman out of her mind?' said the King, with an angry +frown. + +But Martin's mother answered boldly: 'If the King will only +listen patiently to me, and give me a straightforward answer, he +will see that I am not out of my mind. You, O King, have a +lovely daughter to give in marriage. I have a son--a wooer--as +clever a youth and as good a son-in-law as you will find in your +whole kingdom. There is nothing that he cannot do. Now tell me, +O King, plump and plain, will you give your daughter to my son as +wife?' The King listened to the end of the old woman's strange +request, but every moment his face grew blacker, and his features +sterner; till all at once he thought to himself, 'Is it worth +while that I, the King, should be angry with this poor old fool?' +And all the courtiers and counsellors were amazed when they saw +the hard lines round his mouth and the frown on his brow grow +smooth, and heard the mild but mocking tones in which he answered +the old woman, saying: + +'If your son is as wonderfully clever as you say, and if there is +nothing in the world that he cannot do, let him build a +magnificent castle, just opposite my palace windows, in four and +twenty hours. The palace must be joined together by a bridge of +pure crystal. On each side of the bridge there must be growing +trees, having golden and silver apples, and with birds of +Paradise among the branches. At the right of the bridge there +must be a church, with five golden cupolas; in this church your +son shall be wedded to my daughter, and we will keep the wedding +festivities in the new castle. But if he fails to execute this +my royal command, then, as a just but mild monarch, I shall give +orders that you and he are taken, and first dipped in tar and +then in feathers, and you shall be executed in the market-place +for the entertainment of my courtiers.' + +And a smile played round the King's lips as he finished speaking, +and his courtiers and counsellors shook with laughter when they +thought of the old woman's folly, and praised the King's wise +device, and said to each other, 'What a joke it will be when we +see the pair of them tarred and feathered! The son is just as +able to grow a beard on the palm of his hand as to execute such a +task in twenty-four hours.' + +Now the poor old woman was mortally afraid and, in a trembling +voice she asked: + +'Is that really your royal will, O King? Must I take this order +to my poor son?' + +'Yes, old dame; such is my command. If your son carries out my +order, he shall be rewarded with my daughter; but if he fails, +away to the tar-barrel and the stake with you both!' + +On her way home the poor old woman shed bitter tears, and when +she saw Martin she told him what the King had said, and sobbed +out: + +'Didn't I tell you, my son, that you should marry someone of your +own rank? It would have been better for us this day if you had. +As I told you, my going to Court has been as much as our lives +are worth, and now we will both be tarred and feathered, and +burnt in the public market-place. It is terrible!' and she +moaned and cried. + +'Never fear, little mother,' answered Martin; 'trust me, and you +will see all will be well. You may go to sleep with a quiet +mind.' + +And, stepping to the front of the hut, Martin threw his ring from +the palm of one hand into the other, upon which twelve youths +instantly appeared, and demanded what he wanted them to do. Then +he told them the King's commands, and they answered that by next +morning all should be accomplished exactly as the King had +ordered. + +Next morning when the King awoke, and looked out of his window, +to his amazement he beheld a magnificent castle, just opposite +his own palace, and joined to it a bridge of pure crystal. + +At each side of the bridge trees were growing, from whose +branches hung golden and silver apples, among which birds of +Paradise perched. At the right, gleaming in the sun, were the +five golden cupolas of a splendid church, whose bells rang out, +as if they would summon people from all corners of the earth to +come and behold the wonder. Now, though the King would much +rather have seen his future son-in-law tarred, feathered, and +burnt at the stake, he remembered his royal oath, and had to make +the best of a bad business. So he took heart of grace, and made +Martin a Duke, and gave his daughter a rich dowry, and prepared +the grandest wedding-feast that had ever been seen, so that to +this day the old people in the country still talk of it. + +After the wedding Martin and his royal bride went to dwell in the +magnificent new palace, and here Martin lived in the greatest +comfort and luxury, such luxury as he had never imagined. But +though he was as happy as the day was long, and as merry as a +grig, the King's daughter fretted all day, thinking of the +indignity that had been done her in making her marry Martin, the +poor widow's son, instead of a rich young Prince from a foreign +country. So unhappy was she that she spent all her time +wondering how she should get rid of her undesirable husband. And +first she determined to learn the secret of his power, and, with +flattering, caressing words, she tried to coax him to tell her +how he was so clever that there was nothing in the world that he +could not do. At first he would tell her nothing; but once, when +he was in a yielding mood, she approached him with a winning +smile on her lovely face, and, speaking flattering words to him, +she gave him a potion to drink, with a sweet, strong taste. And +when he had drunk it Martin's lips were unsealed, and he told her +that all his power lay in the magic ring that he wore on his +finger, and he described to her how to use it, and, still +speaking, he fell into a deep sleep. And when she saw that the +potion had worked, and that he was sound asleep, the Princess +took the magic ring from his finger, and, going into the +courtyard, she threw it from the palm of one hand into the other. + +On the instant the twelve youths appeared, and asked her what she +commanded them to do. Then she told them that by the next +morning they were to do away with the castle, and the bridge, and +the church, and put in their stead the humble hut in which Martin +used to live with his mother, and that while he slept her husband +was to be carried to his old lowly room; and that they were to +bear her away to the utmost ends of the earth, where an old King +lived who would make her welcome in his palace, and surround her +with the state that befitted a royal Princess. + +'You shall be obeyed,' answered the twelve youths at the same +moment. And lo and behold! the following morning, when the King +awoke and looked out of his window he beheld to his amazement +that the palace, bridge, church, and trees had all vanished, and +there was nothing in their place but a bare, miserable-looking +hut. + +Immediately the King sent for his son-in-law, and commanded him +to explain what had happened. But Martin looked at his royal +father-in-law, and answered never a word. Then the King was very +angry, and, calling a council together, he charged Martin with +having been guilty of witchcraft, and of having deceived the +King, and having made away with the Princess; and he was +condemned to imprisonment in a high stone tower, with neither +meat nor drink, till he should die of starvation. + +Then, in the hour of his dire necessity, his old friends Schurka +(the dog) and Waska (the cat) remembered how Martin had once +saved them from a cruel death; and they took counsel together as +to how they should help him. And Schurka growled, and was of +opinion that he would like to tear everyone in pieces; but Waska +purred meditatively, and scratched the back of her ear with a +velvet paw, and remained lost in thought. At the end of a few +minutes she had made up her mind, and, turning to Schurka, said: +'Let us go together into the town, and the moment we meet a baker +you must make a rush between his legs and upset the tray from off +his head; I will lay hold of the rolls, and will carry them off +to our master.' No sooner said than done. Together the two +faithful creatures trotted off into the town, and very soon they +met a baker bearing a tray on his head, and looking round on all +sides, while he cried: + + 'Fresh rolls, sweet cake, + Fancy bread of every kind. + Come and buy, come and take, + Sure you'll find it to your mind,' + + +At that moment Schurka made a rush between his legs--the baker +stumbled, the tray was upset, the rolls fell to the ground, and, +while the man angrily pursued Schurka, Waska managed to drag the +rolls out of sight behind a bush. And when a moment later +Schurka joined her, they set off at full tilt to the stone tower +where Martin was a prisoner, taking the rolls with them. Waska, +being very agile, climbed up by the outside to the grated window, +and called in an anxious voice: + +'Are you alive, master?' + +'Scarcely alive--almost starved to death,' answered Martin in a +weak voice. 'I little thought it would come to this, that I +should die of hunger.' + +'Never fear, dear master. Schurka and I will look after you,' +said Waska. And in another moment she had climbed down and +brought him back a roll, and then another, and another, till she +had brought him the whole tray-load. Upon which she said: 'Dear +master, Schurka and I are going off to a distant kingdom at the +utmost ends of the earth to fetch you back your magic ring. You +must be careful that the rolls last till our return.' + +And Waska took leave of her beloved master, and set off with +Schurka on their journey. On and on they travelled, looking +always to right and left for traces of the Princess, following up +every track, making inquiries of every cat and dog they met, +listening to the talk of every wayfarer they passed; and at last +they heard that the kingdom at the utmost ends of the earth where +the twelve youths had borne the Princess was not very far off. +And at last one day they reached that distant kingdom, and, going +at once to the palace, they began to make friends with all the +dogs and cats in the place, and to question them about the +Princess and the magic ring; but no one could tell them much +about either. Now one day it chanced that Waska had gone down to +the palace cellar to hunt for mice and rats, and seeing an +especially fat, well-fed mouse, she pounced upon it, buried her +claws in its soft fur, and was just going to gobble it up, when +she was stopped by the pleading tones of the little creature, +saying, 'If you will only spare my life I may be of great service +to you. I will do everything in my power for you; for I am the +King of the Mice, and if I perish the whole race will die out.' + +'So be it,' said Waska. 'I will spare your life; but in return +you must do something for me. In this castle there lives a +Princess, the wicked wife of my dear master. She has stolen away +his magic ring. You must get it away from her at whatever cost; +do you hear? Till you have done this I won't take my claws out +of your fur.' + +'Good!' replied the mouse; 'I will do what you ask.' And, so +saying, he summoned all the mice in his kingdom together. A +countless number of mice, small and big, brown and grey, +assembled, and formed a circle round their king, who was a +prisoner under Waska's claws. Turning to them he said: 'Dear and +faithful subjects, who ever among you will steal the magic ring +from the strange Princess will release me from a cruel death; and +I shall honour him above all the other mice in the kingdom.' + +Instantly a tiny mouse stepped forward and said: 'I often creep +about the Princess's bedroom at night, and I have noticed that +she has a ring which she treasures as the apple of her eye. All +day she wears it on her finger, and at night she keeps it in her +mouth. I will undertake, sire, to steal away the ring for you.' + +And the tiny mouse tripped away into the bedroom of the Princess, +and waited for nightfall; then, when the Princess had fallen +asleep, it crept up on to her bed, and gnawed a hole in the +pillow, through which it dragged one by one little down feathers, +and threw them under the Princess's nose. And the fluff flew +into the Princess's nose, and into her mouth, and starting up she +sneezed and coughed, and the ring fell out of her mouth on to the +coverlet. In a flash the tiny mouse had seized it, and brought +it to Waska as a ransom for the King of the Mice. Thereupon +Waska and Schurka started off, and travelled night and day till +they reached the stone tower where Martin was imprisoned; and the +cat climbed up the window, and called out to him: + +'Martin, dear master, are you still alive?' + +'Ah! Waska, my faithful little cat, is that you?' replied a weak +voice. 'I am dying of hunger. For three days I have not tasted +food.' + +'Be of good heart, dear master,' replied Waska; 'from this day +forth you will know nothing but happiness and prosperity. If +this were a moment to trouble you with riddles, I would make you +guess what Schurka and I have brought you back. Only think, we +have got you your ring!' + +At these words Martin's joy knew no bounds, and he stroked her +fondly, and she rubbed up against him and purred happily, while +below Schurka bounded in the air, and barked joyfully. Then +Martin took the ring, and threw it from one hand into the other, +and instantly the twelve youths appeared and asked what they were +to do. + +'Fetch me first something to eat and drink, as quickly as +possible; and after that bring musicians hither, and let us have +music all day long.' + +Now when the people in the town and palace heard music coming +from the tower they were filled with amazement, and came to the +King with the news that witchcraft must be going on in Martin's +Tower, for, instead of dying of starvation, he was seemingly +making merry to the sound of music, and to the clatter of plates, +and glass, and knives and forks; and the music was so +enchantingly sweet that all the passers-by stood still to listen +to it. On this the King sent at once a messenger to the +Starvation Tower, and he was so astonished with what he saw that +he remained rooted to the spot. Then the King sent his chief +counsellors, and they too were transfixed with wonder. At last +the King came himself, and he likewise was spellbound by the +beauty of the music. + +Then Martin summoned the twelve youths, spoke to them, saying, +'Build up my castle again, and join it to the King's Palace with +a crystal bridge; do not forget the trees with the golden and +silver apples, and with the birds of Paradise in the branches; +and put back the church with the five cupolas, and let the bells +ring out, summoning the people from the four corners of the +kingdom. And one thing more: bring back my faithless wife, and +lead her into the women's chamber.' + +And it was all done as he commanded, and, leaving the Starvation +Tower, he took the King, his father-in-law, by the arm, and led +him into the new palace, where the Princess sat in fear and +trembling, awaiting her death. And Martin spoke to the King, +saying, 'King and royal father, I have suffered much at the hands +of your daughter. What punishment shall be dealt to her?' + +Then the mild King answered: 'Beloved Prince and son-in-law, if +you love me, let your anger be turned to grace--forgive my +daughter, and restore her to your heart and favour.' + +And Martin's heart was softened and he forgave his wife, and they +lived happily together ever after. And his old mother came and +lived with him, and he never parted with Schurka and Waska; and I +need hardly tell you that he never again let the ring out of his +possession. + + + +THE FLOWER QUEEN'S DAUGHTER[23] + +[23] From the Bukowinaer. Von Wliolocki. + +A young Prince was riding one day through a meadow that stretched +for miles in front of him, when he came to a deep open ditch. He +was turning aside to avoid it, when he heard the sound of someone +crying in the ditch. He dismounted from his horse, and stepped +along in the direction the sound came from. To his astonishment +he found an old woman, who begged him to help her out of the +ditch. The Prince bent down and lifted her out of her living +grave, asking her at the same time how she had managed to get +there. + +'My son,' answered the old woman, 'I am a very poor woman, and +soon after midnight I set out for the neighbouring town in order +to sell my eggs in the market on the following morning; but I +lost my way in the dark, and fell into this deep ditch, where I +might have remained for ever but for your kindness.' + +Then the Prince said to her, 'You can hardly walk; I will put you +on my horse and lead you home. Where do you live?' + +'Over there, at the edge of the forest in the little hut you see +in the distance,' replied the old woman. + +The Prince lifted her on to his horse, and soon they reached the +hut, where the old woman got down, and turning to the Prince +said, 'Just wait a moment, and I will give you something.' And +she disappeared into her hut, but returned very soon and said, +'You are a mighty Prince, but at the same time you have a kind +heart, which deserves to be rewarded. Would you like to have the +most beautiful woman in the world for your wife?' + +'Most certainly I would,' replied the Prince. + +So the old woman continued, 'The most beautiful woman in the +whole world is the daughter of the Queen of the Flowers, who has +been captured by a dragon. If you wish to marry her, you must +first set her free, and this I will help you to do. I will give +you this little bell: if you ring it once, the King of the Eagles +will appear; if you ring it twice, the King of the Foxes will +come to you; and if you ring it three times, you will see the +King of the Fishes by your side. These will help you if you are +in any difficulty. Now farewell, and heaven prosper your +undertaking.' She handed him the little bell, and there +disappeared hut and all, as though the earth had swallowed her +up. + +Then it dawned on the Prince that he had been speaking to a good +fairy, and putting the little bell carefully in his pocket, he +rode home and told his father that he meant to set the daughter +of the Flower Queen free, and intended setting out on the +following day into the wide world in search of the maid. + +So the next morning the Prince mounted his fine horse and left +his home. He had roamed round the world for a whole year, and +his horse had died of exhaustion, while he himself had suffered +much from want and misery, but still he had come on no trace of +her he was in search of. At last one day he came to a hut, in +front of which sat a very old man. The Prince asked him, 'Do you +not know where the Dragon lives who keeps the daughter of the +Flower Queen prisoner?' + +'No, I do not,' answered the old man. 'But if you go straight +along this road for a year, you will reach a hut where my father +lives, and possibly he may be able to tell you.' + +The Prince thanked him for his information, and continued his +journey for a whole year along the same road, and at the end of +it came to the little hut, where he found a very old man. He +asked him the same question, and the old man answered, 'No, I do +not know where the Dragon lives. But go straight along this road +for another year, and you will come to a hut in which my father +lives. I know he can tell you.' + +And so the Prince wandered on for another year, always on the +same road, and at last reached the hut where he found the third +old man. He put the same question to him as he had put to his +son and grandson; but this time the old man answered, 'The Dragon +lives up there on the mountain, and he has just begun his year of +sleep. For one whole year he is always awake, and the next he +sleeps. But if you wish to see the Flower Queen's daughter go up +the second mountain: the Dragon's old mother lives there, and she +has a ball every night, to which the Flower Queen's daughter goes +regularly.' + +So the Prince went up the second mountain, where he found a +castle all made of gold with diamond windows. He opened the big +gate leading into the courtyard, and was just going to walk in, +when seven dragons rushed on him and asked him what he wanted? + +The Prince replied, 'I have heard so much of the beauty and +kindness of the Dragon's Mother, and would like to enter her +service.' + +This flattering speech pleased the dragons, and the eldest of +them said, 'Well, you may come with me, and I will take you to +the Mother Dragon.' + +They entered the castle and walked through twelve splendid halls, +all made of gold and diamonds. In the twelfth room they found +the Mother Dragon seated on a diamond throne. She was the +ugliest woman under the sun, and, added to it all, she had three +heads. Her appearance was a great shock to the Prince, and so +was her voice, which was like the croaking of many ravens. She +asked him, 'Why have you come here?' + +The Prince answered at once, 'I have heard so much of your beauty +and kindness, that I would very much like to enter your service.' + +'Very well,' said the Mother Dragon; 'but if you wish to enter my +service, you must first lead my mare out to the meadow and look +after her for three days; but if you don't bring her home safely +every evening, we will eat you up.' + +The Prince undertook the task and led the mare out to the meadow. + +But no sooner had they reached the grass than she vanished. The +Prince sought for her in vain, and at last in despair sat down on +a big stone and contemplated his sad fate. As he sat thus lost +in thought, he noticed an eagle flying over his head. Then he +suddenly bethought him of his little bell, and taking it out of +his pocket he rang it once. In a moment he heard a rustling +sound in the air beside him, and the King of the Eagles sank at +his feet. + +'I know what you want of me,' the bird said. 'You are looking +for the Mother Dragon's mare who is galloping about among the +clouds. I will summon all the eagles of the air together, and +order them to catch the mare and bring her to you.' And with +these words the King of the Eagles flew away. Towards evening +the Prince heard a mighty rushing sound in the air, and when he +looked up he saw thousands of eagles driving the mare before +them. They sank at his feet on to the ground and gave the mare +over to him. Then the Prince rode home to the old Mother Dragon, +who was full of wonder when she saw him, and said, 'You have +succeeded to-day in looking after my mare, and as a reward you +shall come to my ball to-night.' She gave him at the same time a +cloak made of copper, and led him to a big room where several +young he-dragons and she-dragons were dancing together. Here, +too, was the Flower Queen's beautiful daughter. Her dress was +woven out of the most lovely flowers in the world, and her +complexion was like lilies and roses. As the Prince was dancing +with her he managed to whisper in her ear, 'I have come to set +you free!' + +Then the beautiful girl said to him, 'If you succeed in bringing +the mare back safely the third day, ask the Mother Dragon to give +you a foal of the mare as a reward.' + +The ball came to an end at midnight, and early next morning the +Prince again led the Mother Dragon's mare out into the meadow. +But again she vanished before his eyes. Then he took out his +little bell and rang it twice. + +In a moment the King of the Foxes stood before him and said: 'I +know already what you want, and will summon all the foxes of the +world together to find the mare who has hidden herself in a +hill.' + +With these words the King of the Foxes disappeared, and in the +evening many thousand foxes brought the mare to the Prince. + +Then he rode home to the Mother-Dragon, from whom he received +this time a cloak made of silver, and again she led him to the +ball-room. + +The Flower Queen's daughter was delighted to see him safe and +sound, and when they were dancing together she whispered in his +ear: 'If you succeed again to-morrow, wait for me with the foal +in the meadow. After the ball we will fly away together.' + +On the third day the Prince led the mare to the meadow again; but +once more she vanished before his eyes. Then the Prince took out +his little bell and rang it three times. + +In a moment the King of the Fishes appeared, and said to him: 'I +know quite well what you want me to do, and I will summon all the +fishes of the sea together, and tell them to bring you back the +mare, who is hiding herself in a river.' + +Towards evening the mare was returned to him, and when he led her +home to the Mother Dragon she said to him: + +'You are a brave youth, and I will make you my body-servant. But +what shall I give you as a reward to begin with?' + +The Prince begged for a foal of the mare, which the Mother Dragon +at once gave him, and over and above, a cloak made of gold, for +she had fallen in love with him because he had praised her +beauty. + +So in the evening he appeared at the ball in his golden cloak; +but before the entertainment was over he slipped away, and went +straight to the stables, where he mounted his foal and rode out +into the meadow to wait for the Flower Queen's daughter. Towards +midnight the beautiful girl appeared, and placing her in front of +him on his horse, the Prince and she flew like the wind till they +reached the Flower Queen's dwelling. But the dragons had noticed +their flight, and woke their brother out of his year's sleep. He +flew into a terrible rage when he heard what had happened, and +determined to lay siege to the Flower Queen's palace; but the +Queen caused a forest of flowers as high as the sky to grow up +round her dwelling, through which no one could force a way. + +When the Flower Queen heard that her daughter wanted to marry the +Prince, she said to him: 'I will give my consent to your marriage +gladly, but my daughter can only stay with you in summer. In +winter, when everything is dead and the ground covered with snow, +she must come and live with me in my palace underground.' The +Prince consented to this, and led his beautiful bride home, where +the wedding was held with great pomp and magnificence. The young +couple lived happily together till winter came, when the Flower +Queen's daughter departed and went home to her mother. In summer +she returned to her husband, and their life of joy and happiness +began again, and lasted till the approach of winter, when the +Flower Queen's daughter went back again to her mother. This +coming and going continued all her life long, and in spite of it +they always lived happily together. + + + +THE FLYING SHIP[24] + +[24] From the Russian. + +Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had three sons; +the two elder were clever, but the third was a regular dunce. +The clever sons were very fond of their mother, gave her good +clothes, and always spoke pleasantly to her; but the youngest was +always getting in her way, and she had no patience with him. +Now, one day it was announced in the village that the King had +issued a decree, offering his daughter, the Princess, in marriage +to whoever should build a ship that could fly. Immediately the +two elder brothers determined to try their luck, and asked their +parents' blessing. So the old mother smartened up their clothes, +and gave them a store of provisions for their journey, not +forgetting to add a bottle of brandy. When they had gone the +poor Simpleton began to tease his mother to smarten him up and +let him start off. + +'What would become of a dolt like you?' she answered. 'Why, you +would be eaten up by wolves.' + +But the foolish youth kept repeating, 'I will go, I will go, I +will go!' + +Seeing that she could do nothing with him, the mother gave him a +crust of bread and a bottle of water, and took no further heed of +him. + +So the Simpleton set off on his way. When he had gone a short +distance he met a little old manikin. They greeted one another, +and the manikin asked him where he was going. + +'I am off to the King's Court,' he answered. 'He has promised to +give his daughter to whoever can make a flying ship.' + +'And can you make such a ship?' + +'Not I.' + +'Then why in the world are you going?' + +'Can't tell,' replied the Simpleton. + +'Well, if that is the case,' said the manikin, 'sit down beside +me; we can rest for a little and have something to eat. Give me +what you have got in your satchel.' + +Now, the poor Simpleton was ashamed to show what was in it. +However, he thought it best not to make a fuss, so he opened the +satchel, and could scarcely believe his own eyes, for, instead of +the hard crust, he saw two beautiful fresh rolls and some cold +meat. He shared them with the manikin, who licked his lips and +said: + +'Now, go into that wood, and stop in front of the first tree, bow +three times, and then strike the tree with your axe, fall on your +knees on the ground, with your face on the earth, and remain +there till you are raised up. You will then find a ship at your +side, step into it and fly to the King's Palace. If you meet +anyone on the way, take him with you.' + +The Simpleton thanked the manikin very kindly, bade him farewell, +and went into the road. When he got to the first tree he stopped +in front of it, did everything just as he had been told, and, +kneeling on the ground with his face to the earth, fell asleep. +After a little time he was aroused; he awoke and, rubbing his +eyes, saw a ready-made ship at his side, and at once got into it. + +And the ship rose and rose, and in another minute was flying +through the air, when the Simpleton, who was on the look out, +cast his eyes down to the earth and saw a man beneath him on the +road, who was kneeling with his ear upon the damp ground. + +'Hallo!' he called out, 'what are you doing down there?' + +'I am listening to what is going on in the world,' replied the +man. + +'Come with me in my ship,' said the Simpleton. + +So the man was only too glad, and got in beside him; and the ship +flew, and flew, and flew through the air, till again from his +outlook the Simpleton saw a man on the road below, who was +hopping on one leg, while his other leg was tied up behind his +ear. So he hailed him, calling out: + +'Hallo! what are you doing, hopping on one leg?' + +'I can't help it,' replied the man. 'I walk so fast that unless +I tied up one leg I should be at the end of the earth in a +bound.' + +'Come with us on my ship,' he answered; and the man made no +objections, but joined them; and the ship flew on, and on, and +on, till suddenly the Simpleton, looking down on the road below, +beheld a man aiming with a gun into the distance. + +'Hallo!' he shouted to him, 'what are you aiming at? As far as +eye can see, there is no bird in sight.' + +'What would be the good of my taking a near shot?' replied the +man; 'I can hit beast or bird at a hundred miles' distance. That +is the kind of shot I enjoy.' + +'Come into the ship with us,' answered the Simpleton; and the man +was only too glad to join them, and he got in; and the ship flew +on, farther and farther, till again the Simpleton from his +outlook saw a man on the road below, carrying on his back a +basket full of bread. And he waved to him, calling out: + +'Hallo! where are you going?' + +'To fetch bread for my breakfast.' + +'Bread? Why, you have got a whole basket-load of it on your +back.' + +'That's nothing,' answered the man; 'I should finish that in one +mouthful.' + +'Come along with us in my ship, then.' + +And so the glutton joined the party, and the ship mounted again +into the air, and flew up and onward, till the Simpleton from his +outlook saw a man walking by the shore of a great lake, and +evidently looking for something. + +'Hallo!' he cried to him,' what are you seeking? + +'I want water to drink, I'm so thirsty,' replied the man. + +'Well, there's a whole lake in front of you; why don't you drink +some of that?' + +'Do you call that enough?' answered the other. 'Why, I should +drink it up in one gulp.' + +'Well, come with us in the ship.' + +And so the mighty drinker was added to the company; and the ship +flew farther, and even farther, till again the Simpleton looked +out, and this time he saw a man dragging a bundle of wood, +walking through the forest beneath them. + +'Hallo!' he shouted to him, 'why are you carrying wood through a +forest?' + +'This is not common wood,' answered the other. + +'What sort of wood is it, then?' said the Simpleton. + +'If you throw it upon the ground,' said the man, 'it will be +changed into an army of soldiers.' + +'Come into the ship with us, then.' + +And so he too joined them; and away the ship flew on, and on, and +on, and once more the Simpleton looked out, and this time he saw +a man carrying straw upon his back. + +'Hallo! Where are you carrying that straw to?' + +'To the village,' said the man. + +'Do you mean to say there is no straw in the village?' + +'Ah! but this is quite a peculiar straw. If you strew it about +even in the hottest summer the air at once becomes cold, and snow +falls, and the people freeze.' + +Then the Simpleton asked him also to join them. + +At last the ship, with its strange crew, arrived at the King's +Court. The King was having his dinner, but he at once despatched +one of his courtiers to find out what the huge, strange new bird +could be that had come flying through the air. The courtier +peeped into the ship, and, seeing what it was, instantly went +back to the King and told him that it was a flying ship, and that +it was manned by a few peasants. + +Then the King remembered his royal oath; but he made up his mind +that he would never consent to let the Princess marry a poor +peasant. So he thought and thought, and then said to himself: + +'I will give him some impossible tasks to perform; that will be +the best way of getting rid of him.' And he there and then +decided to despatch one of his courtiers to the Simpleton, with +the command that he was to fetch the King the healing water from +the world's end before he had finished his dinner. + +But while the King was still instructing the courtier exactly +what he was to say, the first man of the ship's company, the one +with the miraculous power of hearing, had overheard the King's +words, and hastily reported them to the poor Simpleton. + +'Alas, alas!' he cried; 'what am I to do now? It would take me +quite a year, possibly my whole life, to find the water.' + +'Never fear,' said his fleet-footed comrade, 'I will fetch what +the King wants.' + +Just then the courtier arrived, bearing the King's command. + +'Tell his Majesty,' said the Simpleton, 'that his orders shall be +obeyed; 'and forthwith the swift runner unbound the foot that was +strung up behind his ear and started off, and in less than no +time had reached the world's end and drawn the healing water from +the well. + +'Dear me,' he thought to himself, 'that's rather tiring! I'll +just rest for a few minutes; it will be some little time yet +before the King has got to dessert.' So he threw himself down on +the grass, and, as the sun was very dazzling, he closed his eyes, +and in a few seconds had fallen sound asleep. + +In the meantime all the ship's crew were anxiously awaiting him; +the King's dinner would soon be finished, and their comrade had +not yet returned. So the man with the marvellous quick hearing +lay down and, putting his ear to the ground, listened. + +'That's a nice sort of fellow!' he suddenly exclaimed. 'He's +lying on the ground, snoring hard!' + +At this the marksman seized his gun, took aim, and fired in the +direction of the world's end, in order to awaken the sluggard. +And a moment later the swift runner reappeared, and, stepping on +board the ship, handed the healing water to the Simpleton. So +while the King was still sitting at table finishing his dinner +news was brought to him that his orders had been obeyed to the +letter. + +What was to be done now? The King determined to think of a still +more impossible task. So he told another courtier to go to the +Simpleton with the command that he and his comrades were +instantly to eat up twelve oxen and twelve tons of bread. Once +more the sharp-eared comrade overheard the King's words while he +was still talking to the courtier, and reported them to the +Simpleton. + +'Alas, alas!' he sighed; 'what in the world shall I do? Why, it +would take us a year, possibly our whole lives, to eat up twelve +oxen and twelve tons of bread.' + +'Never fear,' said the glutton. 'It will scarcely be enough for +me, I'm so hungry.' + +So when the courtier arrived with the royal message he was told +to take back word to the King that his orders should be obeyed. +Then twelve roasted oxen and twelve tons of bread were brought +alongside of the ship, and at one sitting the glutton had +devoured it all. + +'I call that a small meal,' he said. 'I wish they'd brought me +some more.' + +Next, the King ordered that forty casks of wine, containing forty +gallons each, were to be drunk up on the spot by the Simpleton +and his party. When these words were overheard by the +sharp-eared comrade and repeated to the Simpleton, he was in +despair. + +'Alas, alas!' he exclaimed; 'what is to be done? It would take +us a year, possibly our whole lives, to drink so much,' + +'Never fear,' said his thirsty comrade. 'I'll drink it all up at +a gulp, see if I don't.' And sure enough, when the forty casks +of wine containing forty gallons each were brought alongside of +the ship, they disappeared down the thirsty comrade's throat in +no time; and when they were empty he remarked: + +'Why, I'm still thirsty. I should have been glad of two more +casks.' + +Then the King took counsel with himself and sent an order to the +Simpleton that he was to have a bath, in a bath-room at the royal +palace, and after that the betrothal should take place. Now the +bath-room was built of iron, and the King gave orders that it was +to be heated to such a pitch that it would suffocate the +Simpleton. And so when the poor silly youth entered the room, he +discovered that the iron walls were red hot. But, fortunately, +his comrade with the straw on his back had entered behind him, +and when the door was shut upon them he scattered the straw +about, and suddenly the red-hot walls cooled down, and it became +so very cold that the Simpleton could scarcely bear to take a +bath, and all the water in the room froze. So the Simpleton +climbed up upon the stove, and, wrapping himself up in the bath +blankets, lay there the whole night. And in the morning when +they opened the door there he lay sound and safe, singing +cheerfully to himself. + +Now when this strange tale was told to the King he became quite +sad, not knowing what he should do to get rid of so undesirable a +son-in-law, when suddenly a brilliant idea occurred to him. + +'Tell the rascal to raise me an army, now at this instant!' he +exclaimed to one of his courtiers. 'Inform him at once of this, +my royal will.' And to himself he added, 'I think I shall do for +him this time.' + +As on former occasions, the quick-eared comrade had overheard the +King's command and repeated it to the Simpleton. + +'Alas, alas!' he groaned; 'now I am quite done for.' + +'Not at all,' replied one of his comrades (the one who had +dragged the bundle of wood through the forest). 'Have you quite +forgotten me?' + +In the meantime the courtier, who had run all the way from the +palace, reached the ship panting and breathless, and delivered +the King's message. + +'Good!' remarked the Simpleton. 'I will raise an army for the +King,' and he drew himself up. 'But if, after that, the King +refuses to accept me as his son-in-law, I will wage war against +him, and carry the Princess off by force.' + +During the night the Simpleton and his comrade went, together +into a big field, not forgetting to take the bundle of wood with +them, which the man spread out in all directions--and in a moment +a mighty army stood upon the spot, regiment on regiment of foot +and horse soldiers; the bugles sounded and the drums beat, the +chargers neighed, and their riders put their lances in rest, and +the soldiers presented arms. + +In the morning when the King awoke he was startled by these +warlike sounds, the bugles and the drums, and the clatter of the +horses, and the shouts of the soldiers. And, stepping to the +window, he saw the lances gleam in the sunlight and the armour +and weapons glitter. And the proud monarch said to himself, 'I +am powerless in comparison with this man.' So he sent him royal +robes and costly jewels, and commanded him to come to the palace +to be married to the Princess. And his son-in-law put on the +royal robes, and he looked so grand and stately that it was +impossible to recognise the poor Simpleton, so changed was he; +and the Princess fell in love with him as soon as ever she saw +him. + +Never before had so grand a wedding been seen, and there was so +much food and wine that even the glutton and the thirsty comrade +had enough to eat and drink. + + + +THE SNOW-DAUGHTER AND THE FIRE-SON[25] + +[25] From the Bukowinaer Tales and Legends. Von Wliolocki. + +There was once upon a time a man and his wife, and they had no +children, which was a great grief to them. One winter's day, +when the sun was shining brightly, the couple were standing +outside their cottage, and the woman was looking at all the +little icicles which hung from the roof. She sighed, and turning +to her husband said, 'I wish I had as many children as there are +icicles hanging there.' 'Nothing would please me more either,' +replied her husband. Then a tiny icicle detached itself from the +roof, and dropped into the woman's mouth, who swallowed it with a +smile, and said, 'Perhaps I shall give birth to a snow child +now!' Her husband laughed at his wife's strange idea, and they +went back into the house. + +But after a short time the woman gave birth to a little girl, who +was as white as snow and as cold as ice. If they brought the +child anywhere near the fire, it screamed loudly till they put it +back into some cool place. The little maid throve wonderfully, +and in a few months she could run about and speak. But she was +not altogether easy to bring up, and gave her parents much +trouble and anxiety, for all summer she insisted on spending in +the cellar, and in the winter she would sleep outside in the +snow, and the colder it was the happier she seemed to be. Her +father and mother called her simply 'Our Snow-daughter,' and this +name stuck to her all her life. + +One day her parents sat by the fire, talking over the +extraordinary behaviour of their daughter, who was disporting +herself in the snowstorm that raged outside. The woman sighed +deeply and said, 'I wish I had given birth to a Fire-son!' As she +said these words, a spark from the big wood fire flew into the +woman's lap, and she said with a laugh, 'Now perhaps I shall give +birth to a Fire-son!' The man laughed at his wife's words, and +thought it was a good joke. But he ceased to think it a joke +when his wife shortly afterwards gave birth to a boy, who +screamed lustily till he was put quite close to the fire, and who +nearly yelled himself into a fit if the Snow-daughter came +anywhere near him. The Snow-daughter herself avoided him as much +as she could, and always crept into a corner as far away from him +as possible. The parents called the boy simply 'Our Fire-son,' a +name which stuck to him all his life. They had a great deal of +trouble and worry with him too; but he throve and grew very +quickly, and before he was a year old he could run about and +talk. He was as red as fire, and as hot to touch, and he always +sat on the hearth quite close to the fire, and complained of the +cold; if his sister were in the room he almost crept into the +flames, while the girl on her part always complained of the great +heat if her brother were anywhere near. In summer the boy always +lay out in the sun, while the girl hid herself in the cellar: so +it happened that the brother and sister came very little into +contact with each other--in fact, they carefully avoided it. + +Just as the girl grew up into a beautiful woman, her father and +mother both died one after the other. Then the Fire-son, who had +grown up in the meantime into a fine, strong young man, said to +his sister, 'I am going out into the world, for what is the use +of remaining on here?' + +'I shall go with you,' she answered, 'for, except you, I have no +one in the world, and I have a feeling that if we set out +together we shall be lucky.' + +The Fire-son said, 'I love you with all my heart, but at the same +time I always freeze if you are near me, and you nearly die of +heat if I approach you! How shall we travel about together +without being odious the one to the other?' + +'Don't worry about that,' replied the girl, 'for I've thought it +all over, and have settled on a plan which will make us each able +to bear with the other! See, I have had a fur cloak made for +each of us, and if we put them on I shall not feel the heat so +much nor you the cold.' So they put on the fur cloaks, and set +out cheerfully on their way, and for the first time in their +lives quite happy in each other's company. + +For a long time the Fire-son and the Snow-daughter wandered +through the world, and when at the beginning of winter they came +to a big wood they determined to stay there till spring. The +Fire-son built himself a hut where he always kept up a huge +fire, while his sister with very few clothes on stayed outside +night and day. Now it happened one day that the King of the land +held a hunt in this wood, and saw the Snow-daughter wandering +about in the open air. He wondered very much who the beautiful +girl clad in such garments could be, and he stopped and spoke to +her. He soon learnt that she could not stand heat, and that her +brother could not endure cold. The King was so charmed by the +Snow-daughter, that he asked her to be his wife. The girl +consented, and the wedding was held with much state. The King +had a huge house of ice made for his wife underground, so that +even in summer it did not melt. But for his brother-in-law he +had a house built with huge ovens all round it, that were kept +heated all day and night. The Fire-son was delighted, but the +perpetual heat in which he lived made his body so hot, that it +was dangerous to go too close to him. + +One day the King gave a great feast, and asked his brother-in- +law among the other guests. The Fire-son did not appear till +everyone had assembled, and when he did, everyone fled outside to +the open air, so intense was the heat he gave forth. Then the +King was very angry and said, 'If I had known what a lot of +trouble you would have been, I would never have taken you into my +house.' Then the Fire-son replied with a laugh, 'Don't be angry, +dear brother! I love heat and my sister loves cold--come here +and let me embrace you, and then I'll go home at once.' And +before the King had time to reply, the Fire-son seized him in a +tight embrace. The King screamed aloud in agony, and when his +wife, the Snow-daughter, who had taken refuge from her brother +in the next room, hurried to him, the King lay dead on the ground +burnt to a cinder. When the Snow-daughter saw this she turned on +her brother and flew at him. Then a fight began, the like of +which had never been seen on earth. When the people, attracted +by the noise, hurried to the spot, they saw the Snow-daughter +melting into water and the Fire-son burn to a cinder. And so +ended the unhappy brother and sister. + + + +THE STORY OF KING FROST [26] + +[26] From the Russian. + +There was once upon a time a peasant-woman who had a daughter and +a step-daughter. The daughter had her own way in everything, and +whatever she did was right in her mother's eyes; but the poor +step-daughter had a hard time. Let her do what she would, she +was always blamed, and got small thanks for all the trouble she +took; nothing was right, everything wrong; and yet, if the truth +were known, the girl was worth her weight in gold--she was so +unselfish and good-hearted. But her step-mother did not like +her, and the poor girl's days were spent in weeping; for it was +impossible to live peacefully with the woman. The wicked shrew +was determined to get rid of the girl by fair means or foul, and +kept saying to her father: 'Send her away, old man; send her +away--anywhere so that my eyes sha'n't be plagued any longer by +the sight of her, or my ears tormented by the sound of her voice. +Send her out into the fields, and let the cutting frost do for +her.' + +In vain did the poor old father weep and implore her pity; she +was firm, and he dared not gainsay her. So he placed his +daughter in a sledge, not even daring to give her a horse-cloth +to keep herself warm with, and drove her out on to the bare, open +fields, where he kissed her and left her, driving home as fast as +he could, that he might not witness her miserable death. + +Deserted by her father, the poor girl sat down under a fir-tree +at the edge of the forest and began to weep silently. Suddenly +she heard a faint sound: it was King Frost springing from tree to +tree, and cracking his fingers as he went. At length he reached +the fir-tree beneath which she was sitting, and with a crisp +crackling sound he alighted beside her, and looked at her lovely +face. + +'Well, maiden,' he snapped out, 'do you know who I am? I am King +Frost, king of the red-noses.' + +'All hail to you, great King!' answered the girl, in a gentle, +trembling voice. 'Have you come to take me?' + +'Are you warm, maiden?' he replied. + +'Quite warm, King Frost,' she answered, though she shivered as +she spoke. + +Then King Frost stooped down, and bent over the girl, and the +crackling sound grew louder, and the air seemed to be full of +knives and darts; and again he asked: + +'Maiden, are you warm? Are you warm, you beautiful girl?' + +And though her breath was almost frozen on her lips, she +whispered gently, 'Quite warm, King Frost.' + +Then King Frost gnashed his teeth, and cracked his fingers, and +his eyes sparkled, and the crackling, crisp sound was louder than +ever, and for the last time he asked her: + +'Maiden, are you still warm? Are you still warm, little love?' + +And the poor girl was so stiff and numb that she could just gasp, +'Still warm, O King!' + +Now her gentle, courteous words and her uncomplaining ways +touched King Frost, and he had pity on her, and he wrapped her up +in furs, and covered her with blankets, and he fetched a great +box, in which were beautiful jewels and a rich robe embroidered +in gold and silver. And she put it on, and looked more lovely +than ever, and King Frost stepped with her into his sledge, with +six white horses. + +In the meantime the wicked step-mother was waiting at home for +news of the girl's death, and preparing pancakes for the funeral +feast. And she said to her husband: 'Old man, you had better go +out into the fields and find your daughter's body and bury her.' +Just as the old man was leaving the house the little dog under +the table began to bark, saying: + + 'YOUR daughter shall live to be your delight; + HER daughter shall die this very night.' + +'Hold your tongue, you foolish beast!' scolded the woman. +'There's a pancake for you, but you must say: + + "HER daughter shall have much silver and gold; + HIS daughter is frozen quite stiff and cold." ' + +But the doggie ate up the pancake and barked, saying: + + 'His daughter shall wear a crown on her head; + Her daughter shall die unwooed, unwed.' + + +Then the old woman tried to coax the doggie with more pancakes +and to terrify it with blows, but he barked on, always repeating +the same words. And suddenly the door creaked and flew open, and +a great heavy chest was pushed in, and behind it came the +step-daughter, radiant and beautiful, in a dress all glittering +with silver and gold. For a moment the step-mother's eyes were +dazzled. Then she called to her husband: 'Old man, yoke the +horses at once into the sledge, and take my daughter to the same +field and leave her on the same spot exactly; 'and so the old man +took the girl and left her beneath the same tree where he had +parted from his daughter. In a few minutes King Frost came past, +and, looking at the girl, he said: + +'Are you warm, maiden?' + +'What a blind old fool you must be to ask such a question!' she +answered angrily. 'Can't you see that my hands and feet are +nearly frozen?' + +Then King Frost sprang to and fro in front of her, questioning +her, and getting only rude, rough words in reply, till at last he +got very angry, and cracked his fingers, and gnashed his teeth, +and froze her to death. + +But in the hut her mother was waiting for her return, and as she +grew impatient she said to her husband: 'Get out the horses, old +man, to go and fetch her home; but see that you are careful not +to upset the sledge and lose the chest.' + +But the doggie beneath the table began to bark, saying: + + 'Your daughter is frozen quite stiff and cold, + And shall never have a chest full of gold.' + +'Don't tell such wicked lies!' scolded the woman. 'There's a +cake for you; now say: + + "HER daughter shall marry a mighty King." + +At that moment the door flew open, and she rushed out to meet her +daughter, and as she took her frozen body in her arms she too was +chilled to death. + + + +THE DEATH OF THE SUN-HERO [27] + +[27] From the Bukowinaer Tales and Legends. Von Wliolocki. + +Many, many thousand years ago there lived a mighty King whom +heaven had blessed with a clever and beautiful son. When he was +only ten years old the boy was cleverer than all the King's +counsellors put together, and when he was twenty he was the +greatest hero in the whole kingdom. His father could not make +enough of his son, and always had him clothed in golden garments +which shone and sparkled like the sun; and his mother gave him a +white horse, which never slept, and which flew like the wind. +All the people in the land loved him dearly, and called him the +Sun-Hero, for they did not think his like existed under the sun. +Now it happened one night that both his parents had the same +extraordinary dream. They dreamt that a girl all dressed in red +had come to them and said: 'If you wish that your son should +really become the Sun-Hero in deed and not only in name, let him +go out into the world and search for the Tree of the Sun, and +when he has found it, let him pluck a golden apple from it and +bring it home.' + +When the King and Queen had each related their dreams to the +other, they were much amazed that they should both have dreamt +exactly the same about their son, and the King said to his wife, +'This is clearly a sign from heaven that we should send our son +out into the world in order that he may come home the great +Sun-Hero, as the Red Girl said, not only in name but in deed.' + +The Queen consented with many tears, and the King at once bade +his son set forth in search of the Tree of the Sun, from which he +was to pluck a golden apple. The Prince was delighted at the +prospect, and set out on his travels that very day. + +For a long time he wandered all through the world, and it was not +till the ninety-ninth day after he started that he found an old +man who was able to tell him where the Tree of the Sun grew. He +followed his directions, and rode on his way, and after another +ninety-nine days he arrived at a golden castle, which stood in +the middle of a vast wilderness. He knocked at the door, which +was opened noiselessly and by invisible hands. Finding no one +about, the Prince rode on, and came to a great meadow, where the +Sun-Tree grew. When he reached the tree he put out his hand to +pick a golden apple; but all of a sudden the tree grew higher, so +that he could not reach its fruit. Then he heard some one behind +him laughing. Turning round, he saw the girl in red walking +towards him, who addressed him in these words: + +'Do you really imagine, brave son of the earth, that you can +pluck an apple so easily from the Tree of the Sun? Before you +can do that, you have a difficult task before you. You must +guard the tree for nine days and nine nights from the ravages of +two wild black wolves, who will try to harm it. Do you think you +can undertake this?' + +'Yes,' answered the Sun-Hero, 'I will guard the Tree of the Sun +nine days and nine nights.' + +Then the girl continued: 'Remember, though, if you do not succeed +the Sun will kill you. Now begin your watch.' + +With these words the Red Girl went back into the golden castle. +She had hardly left him when the two black wolves appeared: but +the Sun-Hero beat them off with his sword, and they retired, +only, however, to reappear in a very short time. The Sun-Hero +chased them away once more, but he had hardly sat down to rest +when the two black wolves were on the scene again. This went on +for seven days and nights, when the white horse, who had never +done such a thing before, turned to the Sun-Hero and said in a +human voice: 'Listen to what I am going to say. A Fairy gave me +to your mother in order that I might be of service to you; so let +me tell you, that if you go to sleep and let the wolves harm the +tree, the Sun will surely kill you. The Fairy, foreseeing this, +put everyone in the world under a spell, which prevents their +obeying the Sun's command to take your life. But all the same, +she has forgotten one person, who will certainly kill you if you +fall asleep and let the wolves damage the tree. So watch and +keep the wolves away.' + +Then the Sun-Hero strove with all his might and kept the black +wolves at bay, and conquered his desire to sleep; but on the +eighth night his strength failed him, and he fell fast asleep. +When he awoke a woman in black stood beside him, who said: 'You +have fulfilled your task very badly, for you have let the two +black wolves damage the Tree of the Sun. I am the mother of the +Sun, and I command you to ride away from here at once, and I +pronounce sentence of death upon you, for you proudly let +yourself be called the Sun-Hero without having done anything to +deserve the name.' + +The youth mounted his horse sadly, and rode home. The people all +thronged round him on his return, anxious to hear his adventures, +but he told them nothing, and only to his mother did he confide +what had befallen him. But the old Queen laughed, and said to +her son: 'Don't worry, my child; you see, the Fairy has protected +you so far, and the Sun has found no one to kill you. So cheer +up and be happy.' + +After a time the Prince forgot all about his adventure, and +married a beautiful Princess, with whom he lived very happily for +some time. But one day when he was out hunting he felt very +thirsty, and coming to a stream he stooped down to drink from it, +and this caused his death, for a crab came swimming up, and with +its claws tore out his tongue. He was carried home in a dying +condition, and as he lay on his death-bed the black woman +appeared and said: 'So the Sun has, after all, found someone, who +was not under the Fairy's spell, who has caused your death. And +a similar fate will overtake everyone under the Sun who +wrongfully assumes a title to which he has no right.' + + + +THE WITCH [28] + +[28] From the Russian. + +Once upon a time there was a peasant whose wife died, leaving him +with two children--twins--a boy and a girl. For some years the +poor man lived on alone with the children, caring for them as +best he could; but everything in the house seemed to go wrong +without a woman to look after it, and at last he made up his mind +to marry again, feeling that a wife would bring peace and order +to his household and take care of his motherless children. So he +married, and in the following years several children were born to +him; but peace and order did not come to the household. For the +step-mother was very cruel to the twins, and beat them, and +half-starved them, and constantly drove them out of the house; +for her one idea was to get them out of the way. All day she +thought of nothing but how she should get rid of them; and at +last an evil idea came into her head, and she determined to send +them out into the great gloomy wood where a wicked witch lived. +And so one morning she spoke to them, saying: + +'You have been such good children that I am going to send you to +visit my granny, who lives in a dear little hut in the wood. You +will have to wait upon her and serve her, but you will be well +rewarded, for she will give you the best of everything.' + +So the children left the house together; and the little sister, +who was very wise for her years, said to the brother: + +'We will first go and see our own dear grandmother, and tell her +where our step-mother is sending us.' + +And when the grandmother heard where they were going, she cried +and said: + +'You poor motherless children! How I pity you; and yet I can do +nothing to help you! Your step-mother is not sending you to her +granny, but to a wicked witch who lives in that great gloomy +wood. Now listen to me, children. You must be civil and kind to +everyone, and never say a cross word to anyone, and never touch a +crumb belonging to anyone else. Who knows if, after all, help +may not be sent to you?' + +And she gave her grandchildren a bottle of milk and a piece of +ham and a loaf of bread, and they set out for the great gloomy +wood. When they reached it they saw in front of them, in the +thickest of the trees, a queer little hut, and when they looked +into it, there lay the witch, with her head on the threshold of +the door, with one foot in one corner and the other in the other +corner, and her knees cocked up, almost touching the ceiling. + +'Who's there?' she snarled, in an awful voice, when she saw the +children. + +And they answered civilly, though they were so terrified that +they hid behind one another, and said: + +'Good-morning, granny; our step-mother has sent us to wait upon +you, and serve you.' + +'See that you do it well, then,' growled the witch. 'If I am +pleased with you, I'll reward you; but if I am not, I'll put you +in a pan and fry you in the oven--that's what I'll do with you, +my pretty dears! You have been gently reared, but you'll find my +work hard enough. See if you don't.' + +And, so saying, she set the girl down to spin yarn, and she gave +the boy a sieve in which to carry water from the well, and she +herself went out into the wood. Now, as the girl was sitting at +her distaff, weeping bitterly because she could not spin, she +heard the sound of hundreds of little feet, and from every hole +and corner in the hut mice came pattering along the floor, +squeaking and saying: + + 'Little girl, why are your eyes so red? + If you want help, then give us some bread.' + +And the girl gave them the bread that her grandmother had given +her. Then the mice told her that the witch had a cat, and the +cat was very fond of ham; if she would give the cat her ham, it +would show her the way out of the wood, and in the meantime they +would spin the yarn for her. So the girl set out to look for the +cat, and, as she was hunting about, she met her brother, in great +trouble because he could not carry water from the well in a +sieve, as it came pouring out as fast as he put it in. And as +she was trying to comfort him they heard a rustling of wings, and +a flight of wrens alighted on the ground beside them. And the +wrens said: + + 'Give us some crumbs, then you need not grieve. + + For you'll find that water will stay in the sieve.' + +Then the twins crumbled their bread on the ground, and the wrens +pecked it, and chirruped and chirped. And when they had eaten +the last crumb they told the boy to fill up the holes of the +sieve with clay, and then to draw water from the well. So he did +what they said, and carried the sieve full of water into the hut +without spilling a drop. When they entered the hut the cat was +curled up on the floor. So they stroked her, and fed her with +ham, and said to her: + +'Pussy, grey pussy, tell us how we are to get away from the +witch?' + +Then the cat thanked them for the ham, and gave them a pocket- +handkerchief and a comb, and told them that when the witch +pursued them, as she certainly would, all they had to do was to +throw the handkerchief on the ground and run as fast as they +could. As soon as the handkerchief touched the ground a deep, +broad river would spring up, which would hinder the witch's +progress. If she managed to get across it, they must throw the +comb behind them and run for their lives, for where the comb fell +a dense forest would start up, which would delay the witch so +long that they would be able to get safely away. + +The cat had scarcely finished speaking when the witch returned to +see if the children had fulfilled their tasks. + +'Well, you have done well enough for to-day,' she grumbled; 'but +to-morrow you'll have something more difficult to do, and if you +don't do it well, you pampered brats, straight into the oven you +go.' + +Half-dead with fright, and trembling in every limb, the poor +children lay down to sleep on a heap of straw in the corner of +the hut; but they dared not close their eyes, and scarcely +ventured to breathe. In the morning the witch gave the girl two +pieces of linen to weave before night, and the boy a pile of wood +to cut into chips. Then the witch left them to their tasks, and +went out into the wood. As soon as she had gone out of sight the +children took the comb and the handkerchief, and, taking one +another by the hand, they started and ran, and ran, and ran. And +first they met the watch-dog, who was going to leap on them and +tear them to pieces; but they threw the remains of their bread to +him, and he ate them and wagged his tail. Then they were +hindered by the birch-trees, whose branches almost put their eyes +out. But the little sister tied the twigs together with a piece +of ribbon, and they got past safely, and, after running through +the wood, came out on to the open fields. + +In the meantime in the hut the cat was busy weaving the linen and +tangling the threads as it wove. And the witch returned to see +how the children were getting on; and she crept up to the window, +and whispered: + +'Are you weaving, my little dear?' + +'Yes, granny, I am weaving,' answered the cat. + +When the witch saw that the children had escaped her, she was +furious, and, hitting the cat with a porringer, she said: 'Why +did you let the children leave the hut? Why did you not scratch +their eyes out?' + +But the cat curled up its tail and put its back up, and answered: +'I have served you all these years and you never even threw me a +bone, but the dear children gave me their own piece of ham.' + +Then the witch was furious with the watch-dog and with the +birch-trees, because they had let the children pass. But the dog +answered: + +'I have served you all these years and you never gave me so much +as a hard crust, but the dear children gave me their own loaf of +bread.' + +And the birch rustled its leaves, and said: 'I have served you +longer than I can say, and you never tied a bit of twine even +round my branches; and the dear children bound them up with their +brightest ribbons.' + +So the witch saw there was no help to be got from her old +servants, and that the best thing she could do was to mount on +her broom and set off in pursuit of the children. And as the +children ran they heard the sound of the broom sweeping the +ground close behind them, so instantly they threw the +handkerchief down over their shoulder, and in a moment a deep, +broad river flowed behind them. + +When the witch came up to it, it took her a long time before she +found a place which she could ford over on her broom-stick; but +at last she got across, and continued the chase faster than +before. And as the children ran they heard a sound, and the +little sister put her ear to the ground, and heard the broom +sweeping the earth close behind them; so, quick as thought, she +threw the comb down on the ground, and in an instant, as the cat +had said, a dense forest sprung up, in which the roots and +branches were so closely intertwined, that it was impossible to +force a way through it. So when the witch came up to it on her +broom she found that there was nothing for it but to turn round +and go back to her hut. + +But the twins ran straight on till they reached their own home. +Then they told their father all that they had suffered, and he +was so angry with their step-mother that he drove her out of the +house, and never let her return; but he and the children lived +happily together; and he took care of them himself, and never let +a stranger come near them. + + + +THE HAZEL-NUT CHILD [29] + +[29] From the Bukowniaer. Van Wliolocki. + +There was once upon a time a couple who had no children, and they +prayed Heaven every day to send them a child, though it were no +bigger than a hazel-nut. At last Heaven heard their prayer and +sent them a child exactly the size of a hazel-nut, and it never +grew an inch. The parents were very devoted to the little +creature, and nursed and tended it carefully. Their tiny son too +was as clever as he could be, and so sharp and sensible that all +the neighbours marvelled over the wise things he said and did. + +When the Hazel-nut child was fifteen years old, and was sitting +one day in an egg-shell on the table beside his mother, she +turned to him and said, 'You are now fifteen years old, and +nothing can be done with you. What do you intend to be?' + +'A messenger,' answered the Hazel-nut child. + +Then his mother burst out laughing and said, 'What an idea! You +a messenger! Why, your little feet would take an hour to go the +distance an ordinary person could do in a minute!' + +But the Hazel-nut child replied, 'Nevertheless I mean to be a +messenger! Just send me a message and you'll see that I shall be +back in next to no time.' + +So his mother said, 'Very well, go to your aunt in the +neighbouring village, and fetch me a comb.' The Hazel-nut child +jumped quickly out of the egg-shell and ran out into the street. +Here he found a man on horseback who was just setting out for the +neighbouring village. He crept up the horse's leg, sat down +under the saddle, and then began to pinch the horse and to prick +it with a pin. The horse plunged and reared and then set off at +a hard gallop, which it continued in spite of its rider's efforts +to stop it. When they reached the village, the Hazel-nut child +left off pricking the horse, and the poor tired creature pursued +its way at a snail's pace. The Hazel-nut child took advantage of +this, and crept down the horse's leg; then he ran to his aunt and +asked her for a comb. On the way home he met another rider, and +did the return journey in exactly the same way. When he handed +his mother the comb that his aunt had given him, she was much +amazed and asked him, 'But how did you manage to get back so +quickly?' + +'Ah! mother,' he replied, 'you see I was quite right when I said +I knew a messenger was the profession for me.' + +His father too possessed a horse which he often used to take out +into the fields to graze. One day he took the Hazel-nut child +with him. At midday the father turned to his small son and said, +'Stay here and look after the horse. I must go home and give +your mother a message, but I shall be back soon.' + +When his father had gone, a robber passed by and saw the horse +grazing without any one watching it, for of course he could not +see the Hazel-nut child hidden in the grass. So he mounted the +horse and rode away. But the Hazel-nut child, who was the most +active little creature, climbed up the horse's tail and began to +bite it on the back, enraging the creature to such an extent that +it paid no attention to the direction the robber tried to make it +go in, but galloped straight home. The father was much +astonished when he saw a stranger riding his horse, but the +Hazel-nut child climbed down quickly and told him all that had +happened, and his father had the robber arrested at once and put +into prison. + +One autumn when the Hazel-nut child was twenty years old he said +to his parents: 'Farewell, my dear father and mother. I am going +to set out into the world, and as soon as I have become rich I +will return home to you.' + +The parents laughed at the little man's words, but did not +believe him for a moment. In the evening the Hazel-nut child +crept on to the roof, where some storks had built their nest. +The storks were fast asleep, and he climbed on to the back of the +father-stork and bound a silk cord round the joint of one of its +wings, then he crept among its soft downy feathers and fell +asleep. + +The next morning the storks flew towards the south, for winter +was approaching. The Hazel-nut child flew through the air on the +stork's back, and when he wanted to rest he bound his silk cord +on to the joint of the bird's other wing, so that it could not +fly any farther. In this way he reached the country of the black +people, where the storks took up their abode close to the +capital. When the people saw the Hazel-nut child they were much +astonished, and took him with the stork to the King of the +country. The King was delighted with the little creature and +kept him always beside him, and he soon grew so fond of the +little man that he gave him a diamond four times as big as +himself. The Hazel-nut child fastened the diamond firmly under +the stork's neck with a ribbon, and when he saw that the other +storks were getting ready for their northern flight, he untied +the silk cord from his stork's wings, and away they went, getting +nearer home every minute. At length the Hazel-nut child came to +his native village; then he undid the ribbon from the stork's +neck and the diamond fell to the ground; he covered it first with +sand and stones, and then ran to get his parents, so that they +might carry the treasure home, for he himself was not able to +lift the great diamond. + +So the Hazel-nut child and his parents lived in happiness and +prosperity after this till they died. + + + +THE STORY OF BIG KLAUS AND LITTLE KLAUS + +In a certain village there lived two people who had both the same +name. Both were called Klaus, but one owned four horses and the +other only one. In order to distinguish the one from the other, +the one who had four horses was called Big Klaus, and the one who +had only one horse, Little Klaus. Now you shall hear what befell +them both, for this is a true story. + +The whole week through Little Klaus had to plough for Big Klaus, +and lend him his one horse; then Big Klaus lent him his four +horses, but only once a week, and that was on Sunday. Hurrah! +how loudly Little Klaus cracked his whip over all the five +horses! for they were indeed as good as his on this one day. +The sun shone brightly, and all the bells in the church-towers +were pealing; the people were dressed in their best clothes, and +were going to church, with their hymn books under their arms, to +hear the minister preach. They saw Little Klaus ploughing with +the five horses; but he was so happy that he kept on cracking his +whip, and calling out 'Gee-up, my five horses!' + +'You mustn't say that,' said Big Klaus. 'Only one horse is +yours.' + +But as soon as someone else was going by Little Klaus forgot that +he must not say it, and called out 'Gee-up, my five horses!' + +'Now you had better stop that,' said Big Klaus, 'for if you say +it once more I will give your horse such a crack on the head that +it will drop down dead on the spot!' + +'I really won't say it again!' said Little Klaus. But as soon as +more people passed by, and nodded him good-morning, he became so +happy in thinking how well it looked to have five horses +ploughing his field that, cracking his whip, he called out +'Gee-up, my five horses!' + +'I'll see to your horses!' said Big Klaus; and, seizing an iron +bar, he struck Little Klaus' one horse such a blow on the head +that it fell down and died on the spot. + +'Alas! Now I have no horse!' said Little Klaus, beginning to +cry. Then he flayed the skin off his horse, dried it, and put it +in a sack, which he threw over his shoulder, and went into the +town to sell it. He had a long way to go, and had to pass +through a great dark forest. A dreadful storm came on, in which +he lost his way, and before he could get on to the right road +night came on, and it was impossible to reach the town that +evening. + +Right in front of him was a large farm-house. The +window-shutters were closed, but the light came through the +chinks. 'I should very much like to be allowed to spend the +night there,' thought Little Klaus; and he went and knocked at +the door. The farmer's wife opened it, but when she heard what +he wanted she told him to go away; her husband was not at home, +and she took in no strangers. + +'Well, I must lie down outside,' said Little Klaus; and the +farmer's wife shut the door in his face. Close by stood a large +haystack, and between it and the house a little out-house, +covered with a flat thatched roof. + +'I can lie down there,' thought Little Klaus, looking at the +roof; 'it will make a splendid bed, if only the stork won't fly +down and bite my legs.' For a live stork was standing on the +roof, where it had its nest. So Little Klaus crept up into the +out-house, where he lay down, and made himself comfortable for +the night. The wooden shutters over the windows were not shut at +the top, and he could just see into the room. + +There stood a large table, spread with wine and roast meat and a +beautiful fish. The farmer's wife and the sexton sat at the +table, but there was no one else. She was filling up his glass, +while he stuck his fork into the fish which was his favourite +dish. + +'If one could only get some of that!' thought Little Klaus, +stretching his head towards the window. Ah, what delicious cakes +he saw standing there! It WAS a feast! + +Then he heard someone riding along the road towards the house. +It was the farmer coming home. He was a very worthy man; but he +had one great peculiarity--namely, that he could not bear to see +a sexton. If he saw one he was made quite mad. That was why the +sexton had gone to say good-day to the farmer's wife when he knew +that her husband was not at home, and the good woman therefore +put in front of him the best food she had. But when they heard +the farmer coming they were frightened, and the farmer's wife +begged the sexton to creep into a great empty chest. He did so, +as he knew the poor man could not bear to see a sexton. The wife +hastily hid all the beautiful food and the wine in her oven; for +if her husband had seen it, he would have been sure to ask what +it all meant. + +'Oh, dear! oh, dear!' groaned Little Klaus up in the shed, when +he saw the good food disappearing. + +'Is anybody up there?' asked the farmer, catching sight of Little +Klaus. 'Why are you lying there? Come with me into the house.' + +Then Little Klaus told him how he had lost his way, and begged to +be allowed to spend the night there. + +'Yes, certainly,' said the farmer; 'but we must first have +something to eat!' + +The wife received them both very kindly, spread a long table, and +gave them a large plate of porridge. The farmer was hungry, and +ate with a good appetite; but Little Klaus could not help +thinking of the delicious dishes of fish and roast meats and +cakes which he knew were in the oven. Under the table at his +feet he had laid the sack with the horse-skin in it, for, as we +know, he was going to the town to sell it. The porridge did not +taste good to him, so he trod upon his sack, and the dry skin in +the sack squeaked loudly. + +'Hush!' said Little Klaus to his sack, at the same time treading +on it again so that it squeaked even louder than before. + +'Hallo! what have you got in your sack?' asked the farmer. + +'Oh, it is a wizard!' said Little Klaus. 'He says we should not +eat porridge, for he has conjured the whole oven full of roast +meats and fish and cakes.' + +'Goodness me!' said the farmer; and opening the oven he saw all +the delicious, tempting dishes his wife had hidden there, but +which he now believed the wizard in the sack had conjured up for +them. The wife could say nothing, but she put the food at once +on the table, and they ate the fish, the roast meat, and the +cakes. Little Klaus now trod again on his sack, so that the skin +squeaked. + +'What does he say now?' asked the farmer. + +'He says,' replied Little Klans, 'that he has also conjured up +for us three bottles of wine; they are standing in the corner by +the oven!' + +The wife had to fetch the wine which she had hidden, and the +farmer drank and grew very merry. He would very much like to +have had such a wizard as Little Klaus had in the sack. + +'Can he conjure up the Devil?' asked the farmer. 'I should like +to see him very much, for I feel just now in very good spirits!' + +'Yes,' said Little Klaus; 'my wizard can do everything that I +ask. Isn't that true?' he asked, treading on the sack so that it +squeaked. 'Do you hear? He says ''Yes;'' but that the Devil +looks so ugly that we should not like to see him.' + +'Oh! I'm not at all afraid. What does he look like?' + +'He will show himself in the shape of a sexton!' + +'I say!' said the farmer, 'he must be ugly! You must know that I +can't bear to look at a sexton! But it doesn't matter. I know +that it is the Devil, and I sha'n't mind! I feel up to it now. +But he must not come too near me!' + +'I must ask my wizard,' said Little Klaus, treading on the sack +and putting his ear to it. + +'What does he say?' + +'He says you can open the chest in the corner there, and you will +see the Devil squatting inside it; but you must hold the lid so +that he shall not escape.' + +'Will you help me to hold him?' begged the farmer, going towards +the chest where his wife had hidden the real sexton, who was +sitting inside in a terrible fright. The farmer opened the lid a +little way, and saw him inside. + +'Ugh!' he shrieked, springing back. 'Yes, now I have seen him; +he looked just like our sexton. Oh, it was horrid!' + +So he had to drink again, and they drank till far on into the +night. + +'You MUST sell me the wizard,' said the farmer. 'Ask anything +you like! I will pay you down a bushelful of money on the spot.' + +'No, I really can't,' said Little Klans. 'Just think how many +things I can get from this wizard!' + +'Ah! I should like to have him so much!' said the farmer, +begging very hard. + +'Well!' said Little Klaus at last, 'as you have been so good as +to give me shelter to-night, I will sell him. You shall have the +wizard for a bushel of money, but I must have full measure.' + +'That you shall,' said the farmer. 'But you must take the chest +with you. I won't keep it another hour in the house. Who knows +that he isn't in there still?' + +Little Klaus gave the farmer his sack with the dry skin, and got +instead a good bushelful of money. The farmer also gave him a +wheelbarrow to carry away his money and the chest. 'Farewell,' +said Little Klaus; and away he went with his money and the big +chest, wherein sat the sexton. + +On the other side of the wood was a large deep river. The water +flowed so rapidly that you could scarcely swim against the +stream. + +A great new bridge had been built over it, on the middle of which +Little Klaus stopped, and said aloud so that the sexton might +hear: + +'Now, what am I to do with this stupid chest? It is as heavy as +if it were filled with stones! I shall only be tired, dragging +it along; I will throw it into the river. If it swims home to +me, well and good; and if it doesn't, it's no matter.' + +Then he took the chest with one hand and lifted it up a little, +as if he were going to throw it into the water. + +'No, don't do that!' called out the sexton in the chest. 'Let me +get out first!' + +'Oh, oh!' said Little Klaus, pretending that he was afraid. 'He +is still in there! I must throw him quickly into the water to +drown him!' + +'Oh! no, no!' cried the sexton. 'I will give you a whole +bushelful of money if you will let me go!' + +'Ah, that's quite another thing!' said Little Klaus, opening the +chest. The sexton crept out very quickly, pushed the empty chest +into the water and went to his house, where he gave Little Klaus +a bushel of money. One he had had already from the farmer, and +now he had his wheelbarrow full of money. + +'Well, I have got a good price for the horse!' said he to himself +when he shook all his money out in a heap in his room. 'This +will put Big Klaus in a rage when he hears how rich I have become +through my one horse; but I won't tell him just yet!' + +So he sent a boy to Big Klaus to borrow a bushel measure from +him. + +'Now what can he want with it?' thought Big Klaus; and he smeared +some tar at the bottom, so that of whatever was measured a little +should remain in it. And this is just what happened; for when he +got his measure back, three new silver five-shilling pieces were +sticking to it. + +What does this mean?' said Big Klaus, and he ran off at once to +Little Klaus. + +'Where did you get so much money from?' + +'Oh, that was from my horse-skin. I sold it yesterday evening.' + +'That's certainly a good price!' said Big Klaus; and running home +in great haste, he took an axe, knocked all his four horses on +the head, skinned them, and went into the town. + +'Skins! skins! Who will buy skins?' he cried through the +streets. + +All the shoemakers and tanners came running to ask him what he +wanted for them. 'A bushel of money for each,' said Big Klaus. + +'Are you mad?' they all exclaimed. 'Do you think we have money +by the bushel?' + +'Skins! skins! Who will buy skins?' he cried again, and to all +who asked him what they cost, he answered, 'A bushel of money.' + +'He is making game of us,' they said; and the shoemakers seized +their yard measures and the tanners their leathern aprons and +they gave Big Klaus a good beating. 'Skins! skins!' they cried +mockingly; yes, we will tan YOUR skin for you! Out of the town +with him!' they shouted; and Big Klaus had to hurry off as +quickly as he could, if he wanted to save his life. + +'Aha!' said he when he came home, 'Little Klaus shall pay dearly +for this. I will kill him!' + +Little Klaus' grandmother had just died. Though she had been +very unkind to him, he was very much distressed, and he took the +dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not +bring her back to life. There she lay the whole night, while he +sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done +before. And in the night as he sat there the door opened, and +Big Klaus came in with his axe. He knew quite well where Little +Klaus's bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother +on the head just where he thought Little Klaus would be. +'There!' said he. 'Now you won't get the best of me again!' And +he went home. + +'What a very wicked man!' thought Little Klaus. 'He was going to +kill me! It was a good thing for my grandmother that she was +dead already, or else he would have killed her!' + +Then he dressed his grandmother in her Sunday clothes, borrowed a +horse from his neighbour, harnessed the cart to it, sat his +grandmother on the back seat so that she could not fall out when +he drove, and away they went. When the sun rose they were in +front of a large inn. Little Klaus got down, and went in to get +something to drink. The host was very rich. He was a very +worthy but hot-tempered man. + +'Good morning!' said he to Little Klaus. 'You are early on the +road.' + +'Yes,' said Little Klaus. 'I am going to the town with my +grandmother. She is sitting outside in the cart; I cannot bring +her in. Will you not give her a glass of mead? But you will +have to speak loud, for she is very hard of hearing.' + +'Oh yes, certainly I will!' said the host; and, pouring out a +large glass of mead, he took it out to the dead grandmother, who +was sitting upright in the cart. + +'Here is a glass of mead from your son,' said the host. But the +dead woman did not answer a word, and sat still. 'Don't you +hear?' cried the host as loud as he could. 'Here is a glass of +mead from your son!' + +Then he shouted the same thing again, and yet again, but she +never moved in her place; and at last he grew angry, threw the +glass in her face, so that she fell back into the cart, for she +was not tied in her place. + +'Hullo!' cried Little Klaus, running out of the door, and seizing +the host by the throat. 'You have killed my grandmother! Look! +there is a great hole in her forehead!' + +'Oh, what a misfortune!' cried the host, wringing his hands. 'It +all comes from my hot temper! Dear Little Klaus! I will give +you a bushel of money, and will bury your grandmother as if she +were my own; only don't tell about it, or I shall have my head +cut off, and that would be very uncomfortable.' + +So Little Klaus got a bushel of money, and the host buried his +grandmother as if she had been his own. + +Now when Little Klaus again reached home with so much money he +sent his boy to Big Klaus to borrow his bushel measure. + +'What's this?' said Big Klaus. 'Didn't I kill him? I must see +to this myself!' + +So he went himself to Little Klaus with the measure. + +'Well, now, where did you get all this money?' asked he, opening +his eyes at the heap. + +'You killed my grandmother--not me,' said Little Klaus. 'I sold +her, and got a bushel of money for her.' + +'That is indeed a good price!' said Big Klaus; and, hurrying +home, he took an axe and killed his grandmother, laid her in the +cart, and drove off to the apothecary's, and asked whether he +wanted to buy a dead body. + +'Who is it, and how did you get it?' asked the apothecary. + +'It is my grandmother,' said Big Klaus. 'I killed her in order +to get a bushel of money.' + +'You are mad!' said the apothecary. 'Don't mention such things, +or you will lose your head!' And he began to tell him what a +dreadful thing he had done, and what a wicked man he was, and +that he ought to be punished; till Big Klaus was so frightened +that he jumped into the cart and drove home as hard as he could. +The apothecary and all the people thought he must be mad, so they +let him go. + +'You shall pay for this!' said Big Klaus as he drove home. 'You +shall pay for this dearly, Little Klaus!' + +So as soon as he got home he took the largest sack he could find, +and went to Little Klaus and said: 'You have fooled me again! +First I killed my horses, then my grandmother! It is all your +fault; but you sha'n't do it again!' And he seized Little Klaus, +pushed him in the sack, threw it over his shoulder, crying out +'Now I am going to drown you!' + +He had to go a long way before he came to the river, and Little +Klaus was not very light. The road passed by the church; the +organ was sounding, and the people were singing most beautifully. + +Big Klaus put down the sack with Little Klaus in it by the +church-door, and thought that he might as well go in and hear a +psalm before going on farther. Little Klaus could not get out, +and everybody was in church; so he went in. + +'Oh, dear! oh, dear!' groaned Little Klaus in the sack, twisting +and turning himself. But he could not undo the string. + +There came by an old, old shepherd, with snow-white hair and a +long staff in his hand. He was driving a herd of cows and oxen. +These pushed against the sack so that it was overturned. + +'Alas!' moaned Little Klans, 'I am so young and yet I must die!' + +'And I, poor man,' said the cattle-driver, 'I am so old and yet I +cannot die!' + +'Open the sack,' called out Little Klaus; 'creep in here instead +of me, and you will die in a moment!' + +'I will gladly do that,' said the cattle-driver; and he opened +the sack, and Little Klaus struggled out at once. + +'You will take care of the cattle, won't you?' asked the old man, +creeping into the sack, which Little Klaus fastened up and then +went on with the cows and oxen. Soon after Big Klaus came out of +the church, and taking up the sack on his shoulders it seemed to +him as if it had become lighter; for the old cattle-driver was +not half as heavy as Little Klaus. + +'How easy he is to carry now! That must be because I heard part +of the service.' + +So he went to the river, which was deep and broad, threw in the +sack with the old driver, and called after it, for he thought +Little Klaus was inside: + +'Down you go! You won't mock me any more now!' + +Then he went home; but when he came to the cross-roads, there he +met Little Klaus, who was driving his cattle. + +'What's this?' said Big Klaus. 'Haven't I drowned you?' + +'Yes,' replied Little Klaus; 'you threw me into the river a good +half-hour ago!' + +'But how did you get those splendid cattle?' asked Big Klaus. + +'They are sea-cattle!' said Little Klaus. 'I will tell you the +whole story, and I thank you for having drowned me, because now I +am on dry land and really rich! How frightened I was when I was +in the sack! How the wind whistled in my ears as you threw me +from the bridge into the cold water! I sank at once to the +bottom; but I did not hurt myself for underneath was growing the +most beautiful soft grass. I fell on this, and immediately the +sack opened; the loveliest maiden in snow-white garments, with a +green garland round her wet hair, took me by the hand, and said! +''Are you Little Klaus? Here are some cattle for you to begin +with, and a mile farther down the road there is another herd, +which I will give you as a present!'' Now I saw that the river +was a great high-road for the sea-people. Along it they travel +underneath from the sea to the land till the river ends. It was +so beautiful, full of flowers and fresh grass; the fishes which +were swimming in the water shot past my ears as the birds do here +in the air. What lovely people there were, and what fine cattle +were grazing in the ditches and dykes!' + +'But why did you come up to us again?' asked Big Klaus. 'I +should not have done so, if it is so beautiful down below!' + +'Oh!' said Little Klaus, 'that was just so politic of me. You +heard what I told you, that the sea-maiden said to me a mile +farther along the road--and by the road she meant the river, for +she can go by no other way--there was another herd of cattle +waiting for me. But I know what windings the river makes, now +here, now there, so that it is a long way round. Therefore it +makes it much shorter if one comes on the land and drives across +the field to the river. Thus I have spared myself quite half a +mile, and have come much quicker to my sea-cattle!' + +'Oh, you're a lucky fellow!' said Big Klaus. 'Do you think I +should also get some cattle if I went to the bottom of the +river?' + +'Oh, yes! I think so,' said Little Klaus. 'But I can't carry +you in a sack to the river; you are too heavy for me! If you +like to go there yourself and then creep into the sack, I will +throw you in with the greatest of pleasure.' + +'Thank you,' said Big Klaus; 'but if I don't get any sea-cattle +when I come there, you will have a good hiding, mind!' + +'Oh, no! Don't be so hard on me!' Then they went to the river. +When the cattle, which were thirsty, caught sight of the water, +they ran as quickly as they could to drink. + +'Look how they are running!' said Little Klaus. 'They want to go +to the bottom again!' + +'Yes; but help me first,' said Big Klaus, 'or else you shall have +a beating!' + +And so he crept into the large sack, which was lying on the back +of one of the oxen. 'Put a stone in, for I am afraid I may not +reach the bottom,' said Big Klaus. + +'It goes all right!' said Little Klaus; but still he laid a big +stone in the sack, fastened it up tight, and then pushed it in. +Plump! there was Big Klaus in the water, and he sank like lead +to the bottom. + +'I doubt if he will find any cattle!' said Little Klaus as he +drove his own home. + + + +PRINCE RING [30] + +[30] From the Icelandic. + +Once upon a time there was a King and his Queen in their kingdom. + +They had one daughter, who was called Ingiborg, and one son, +whose name was Ring. He was less fond of adventures than men of +rank usually were in those days, and was not famous for strength +or feats of arms. When he was twelve years old, one fine winter +day he rode into the forest along with his men to enjoy himself. +They went on a long way, until they caught sight of a hind with a +gold ring on its horns. The Prince was eager to catch it, if +possible, so they gave chase and rode on without stopping until +all the horses began to founder beneath them. At last the +Prince's horse gave way too, and then there came over them a +darkness so black that they could no longer see the hind. By +this time they were far away from any house, and thought it was +high time to be making their way home again, but they found they +had got lost now. At first they all kept together, but soon each +began to think that he knew the right way best; so they +separated, and all went in different directions. + +The Prince, too, had got lost like the rest, and wandered on for +a time until he came to a little clearing in the forest not far +from the sea, where he saw a woman sitting on a chair and a big +barrel standing beside her. The Prince went up to her and +saluted her politely, and she received him very graciously. He +looked down into the barrel then, and saw lying at the bottom an +unusually beautiful gold ring, which pleased him so much that he +could not take his eyes off it. The woman saw this, and said +that he might have it if he would take the trouble to get it; for +which the Prince thanked her, and said it was at least worth +trying. So he leaned over into the barrel, which did not seem +very deep, and thought he would easily reach the ring; but the +more he stretched down after it the deeper grew the barrel. As +he was thus bending down into it the woman suddenly rose up and +pushed him in head first, saying that now he could take up his +quarters there. Then she fixed the top on the barrel and threw +it out into the sea. + +The Prince thought himself in a bad plight now, as he felt the +barrel floating out from the land and tossing about on the waves. + +How many days he spent thus he could not tell, but at last he +felt that the barrel was knocking against rocks, at which he was +a little cheered, thinking it was probably land and not merely a +reef in the sea. Being something of a swimmer, he at last made +up his mind to kick the bottom out of the barrel, and having done +so he was able to get on shore, for the rocks by the sea were +smooth and level; but overhead there were high cliffs. It seemed +difficult to get up these, but he went along the foot of them for +a little, till at last he tried to climb up, which at last he +did. + +Having got to the top, he looked round about him and saw that he +was on an island, which was covered with forest, with apples +growing, and altogether pleasant as far as the land was +concerned. After he had been there several days, he one day +heard a great noise in the forest, which made him terribly +afraid, so that he ran to hide himself among the trees. Then he +saw a Giant approaching, dragging a sledge loaded with wood, and +making straight for him, so that he could see nothing for it but +to lie down just where he was. When the Giant came across him, +he stood still and looked at the Prince for a little; then he +took him up in his arms and carried him home to his house, and +was exceedingly kind to him. He gave him to his wife, saying he +had found this child in the wood, and she could have it to help +her in the house. The old woman was greatly pleased, and began +to fondle the Prince with the utmost delight. He stayed there +with them, and was very willing and obedient to them in +everything, while they grew kinder to him every day. + +One day the Giant took him round and showed him all his rooms +except the parlour; this made the Prince curious to have a look +into it, thinking there must be some very rare treasure there. +So one day, when the Giant had gone into the forest, he tried to +get into the parlour, and managed to get the door open half-way. +Then he saw that some living creature moved inside and ran along +the floor towards him and said something, which made him so +frightened that he sprang back from the door and shut it again. +As soon as the fright began to pass off he tried it again, for he +thought it would be interesting to hear what it said; but things +went just as before with him. He then got angry with himself, +and, summoning up all his courage, tried it a third time, and +opened the door of the room and stood firm. Then he saw that it +was a big Dog, which spoke to him and said: + +'Choose me, Prince Ring.' + +The Prince went away rather afraid, thinking with himself that it +was no great treasure after all; but all the same what it had +said to him stuck in his mind. + +It is not said how long the Prince stayed with the Giant, but one +day the latter came to him and said he would now take him over to +the mainland out of the island, for he himself had no long time +to live. He also thanked him for his good service, and told him +to choose some-one of his possessions, for he would get whatever +he wanted. Ring thanked him heartily, and said there was no need +to pay him for his services, they were so little worth; but if he +did wish to give him anything he would choose what was in the +parlour. The Giant was taken by surprise, and said: + +'There, you chose my old woman's right hand; but I must not break +my word.' + +Upon this he went to get the Dog, which came running with signs +of great delight; but the Prince was so much afraid of it that it +was all he could do to keep from showing his alarm. + +After this the Giant accompanied him down to the sea, where he +saw a stone boat which was just big enough to hold the two of +them and the Dog. On reaching the mainland the Giant took a +friendly farewell of Ring, and told him he might take possession +of all that was in the island after he and his wife died, which +would happen within two weeks from that time. The Prince thanked +him for this and for all his other kindnesses, and the Giant +returned home, while Ring went up some distance from the sea; but +he did not know what land he had come to, and was afraid to speak +to the Dog. After he had walked on in silence for a time the Dog +spoke to him and said: + +'You don't seem to have much curiosity, seeing you never ask my +name.' + +The Prince then forced himself to ask, 'What is your name?' + +'You had best call me Snati-Snati,' said the Dog. 'Now we are +coming to a King's seat, and you must ask the King to keep us all +winter, and to give you a little room for both of us.' + +The Prince now began to be less afraid of the Dog. They came to +the King and asked him to keep them all the winter, to which he +agreed. When the King's men saw the Dog they began to laugh at +it, and make as if they would tease it; but when the Prince saw +this he advised them not to do it, or they might have the worst +of it. They replied that they didn't care a bit what he thought. + +After Ring had been with the King for some days the latter began +to think there was a great deal in him, and esteemed him more +than the others. The King, however, had a counsellor called Red, +who became very jealous when he saw how much the King esteemed +Ring; and one day he talked to him, and said he could not +understand why he had so good an opinion of this stranger, who +had not yet shown himself superior to other men in anything. The +King replied that it was only a short time since he had come +there. Red then asked him to send them both to cut down wood +next morning, and see which of them could do most work. +Snati-Snati heard this and told it to Ring, advising him to ask +the King for two axes, so that he might have one in reserve if +the first one got broken. Next morning the King asked Ring and +Red to go and cut down trees for him, and both agreed. Ring got +the two axes, and each went his own way; but when the Prince had +got out into the wood Snati took one of the axes and began to hew +along with him. In the evening the King came to look over their +day's work, as Red had proposed, and found that Ring's wood-heap +was more than twice as big. + +'I suspected,' said the King, 'that Ring was not quite useless; +never have I seen such a day's work.' + +Ring was now in far greater esteem with the King than before, and +Red was all the more discontented. One day he came to the King +and said, 'If Ring is such a mighty man, I think you might ask +him to kill the wild oxen in the wood here, and flay them the +same day, and bring you the horns and the hides in the evening.' + +'Don't you think that a desperate errand?' said the King, 'seeing +they are so dangerous, and no one has ever yet ventured to go +against them?' + +Red answered that he had only one life to lose, and it would be +interesting to see how brave he was; besides, the King would have +good reason to ennoble him if he overcame them. The King at last +allowed himself, though rather unwillingly, to be won over by +Red's persistency, and one day asked Ring to go and kill the oxen +that were in the wood for him, and bring their horns and hides to +him in the evening. Not knowing how dangerous the oxen were, +Ring was quite ready, and went off at once, to the great delight +of Red, who was now sure of his death. + +As soon as Ring came in sight of the oxen they came bellowing to +meet him; one of them was tremendously big, the other rather +less. Ring grew terribly afraid. + +'How do you like them?' asked Snati. + +'Not well at all,' said the Prince. + +'We can do nothing else,' said Snati, 'than attack them, if it is +to go well; you will go against the little one, and I shall take +the other.' + +With this Snati leapt at the big one, and was not long in +bringing him down. Meanwhile the Prince went against the other +with fear and trembling, and by the time Snati came to help him +the ox had nearly got him under, but Snati was not slow in +helping his master to kill it. + +Each of them then began to flay their own ox, but Ring was only +half through by the time Snati had finished his. In the evening, +after they had finished this task, the Prince thought himself +unfit to carry all the horns and both the hides, so Snati told +him to lay them all on his back until they got to the Palace +gate. + +The Prince agreed, and laid everything on the Dog except the skin +of the smaller ox, which he staggered along with himself. At the +Palace gate he left everything lying, went before the King, and +asked him to come that length with him, and there handed over to +him the hides and horns of the oxen. The King was greatly +surprised at his valour, and said he knew no one like him, and +thanked him heartily for what he had done. + +After this the King set Ring next to himself, and all esteemed +him highly, and held him to be a great hero; nor could Red any +longer say anything against him, though he grew still more +determined to destroy him. One day a good idea came into his +head. He came to the King and said he had something to say to +him. + +'What is that?' said the King. + +Red said that he had just remembered the gold cloak, gold +chess-board, and bright gold piece that the King had lost about a +year before. + +'Don't remind me of them!' said the King. + +Red, however, went on to say that, since Ring was such a mighty +man that he could do everything, it had occurred to him to advise +the King to ask him to search for these treasures, and come back +with them before Christmas; in return the King should promise him +his daughter. + +The King replied that he thought it altogether unbecoming to +propose such a thing to Ring, seeing that he could not tell him +where the things were; but Red pretended not to hear the King's +excuses, and went on talking about it until the King gave in to +him. One day, a month or so before Christmas, the King spoke to +Ring, saying that he wished to ask a great favour of him. + +'What is that?' said Ring. + +'It is this,' said the King: 'that you find for me my gold cloak, +my gold chess-board, and my bright gold piece, that were stolen +from me about a year ago. If you can bring them to me before +Christmas I will give you my daughter in marriage.' + +'Where am I to look for them, then?' said Ring. + +'That you must find out for yourself,' said the King: 'I don't +know.' + +Ring now left the King, and was very silent, for he saw he was in +a great difficulty: but, on the other hand, he thought it was +excellent to have such a chance of winning the King's daughter. +Snati noticed that his master was at a loss, and said to him that +he should not disregard what the King had asked him to do; but he +would have to act upon his advice, otherwise he would get into +great difficulties. The Prince assented to this, and began to +prepare for the journey. + +After he had taken leave of the King, and was setting out on the +search, Snati said to him, 'Now you must first of all go about +the neighbourhood, and gather as much salt as ever you can.' The +Prince did so, and gathered so much salt that he could hardly +carry it; but Snati said, 'Throw it on my back,' which he +accordingly did, and the Dog then ran on before the Prince, until +they came to the foot of a steep cliff. + +'We must go up here,' said Snati. + +'I don't think that will be child's play,' said the Prince. + +'Hold fast by my tail,' said Snati; and in this way he pulled +Ring up on the lowest shelf of the rock. The Prince began to get +giddy, but up went Snati on to the second shelf. Ring was nearly +swooning by this time, but Snati made a third effort and reached +the top of the cliff, where the Prince fell down in a faint. +After a little, however, he recovered again, and they went a +short distance along a level plain, until they came to a cave. +This was on Christmas Eve. They went up above the cave, and +found a window in it, through which they looked, and saw four +trolls lying asleep beside the fire, over which a large +porridge-pot was hanging. + +'Now you must empty all the salt into the porridge-pot,' said +Snati. + +Ring did so, and soon the trolls wakened up. The old hag, who +was the most frightful of them all, went first to taste the +porridge. + +'How comes this?' she said; 'the porridge is salt! I got the +milk by witchcraft yesterday out of four kingdoms, and now it is +salt!' + +All the others then came to taste the porridge, and thought it +nice, but after they had finished it the old hag grew so thirsty +that she could stand it no longer, and asked her daughter to go +out and bring her some water from the river that ran near by. + +'I won't go,' said she, 'unless you lend me your bright gold +piece.' + +'Though I should die you shan't have that,' said the hag. + +'Die, then,' said the girl. + +'Well, then, take it, you brat,' said the old hag, 'and be off +with you, and make haste with the water.' + +The girl took the gold and ran out with it, and it was so bright +that it shone all over the plain. As soon as she came to the +river she lay down to take a drink of the water, but meanwhile +the two of them had got down off the roof and thrust her, head +first, into the river. + +The old hag began now to long for the water, and said that the +girl would be running about with the gold piece all over the +plain, so she asked her son to go and get her a drop of water. + +'I won't go,' said he, 'unless I get the gold cloak.' + +'Though I should die you shan't have that,' said the hag. + +'Die, then,' said the son. + +'Well, then, take it,' said the old hag, 'and be off with you, +but you must make haste with the water.' + +He put on the cloak, and when he came outside it shone so bright +that he could see to go with it. On reaching the river he went +to take a drink like his sister, but at that moment Ring and +Snati sprang upon him, took the cloak from him, and threw him +into the river. + +The old hag could stand the thirst no longer, and asked her +husband to go for a drink for her; the brats, she said, were of +course running about and playing themselves, just as she had +expected they would, little wretches that they were. + +'I won't go,' said the old troll, 'unless you lend me the gold +chess-board.' + +'Though I should die you shan't have that,' said the hag. + +'I think you may just as well do that,' said he, 'since you won't +grant me such a little favour.' + +'Take it, then, you utter disgrace!' said the old hag, 'since you +are just like these two brats.' + +The old troll now went out with the gold chess-board, and down to +the river, and was about to take a drink, when Ring and Snati +came upon him, took the chess-board from him, and threw him into +the river. Before they had got back again, however, and up on +top of the cave, they saw the poor old fellow's ghost come +marching up from the river. Snati immediately sprang upon him, +and Ring assisted in the attack, and after a hard struggle they +mastered him a second time. When they got back again to the +window they saw that the old hag was moving towards the door. + +'Now we must go in at once,' said Snati, 'and try to master her +there, for if she once gets out we shall have no chance with her. +She is the worst witch that ever lived, and no iron can cut her. +One of us must pour boiling porridge out of the pot on her, and +the other punch her with red-hot iron.' + +In they went then, and no sooner did the hag see them than she +said, 'So you have come, Prince Ring; you must have seen to my +husband and children.' + +Snati saw that she was about to attack them, and sprang at her +with a red-hot iron from the fire, while Ring kept pouring +boiling porridge on her without stopping, and in this way they at +last got her killed. Then they burned the old troll and her to +ashes, and explored the cave, where they found plenty of gold and +treasures. The most valuable of these they carried with them as +far as the cliff, and left them there. Then they hastened home +to the King with his three treasures, where they arrived late on +Christmas night, and Ring handed them over to him. + +The King was beside himself with joy, and was astonished at how +clever a man Ring was in all kinds of feats, so that he esteemed +him still more highly than before, and betrothed his daughter to +him; and the feast for this was to last all through +Christmastide. Ring thanked the King courteously for this and +all his other kindnesses, and as soon as he had finished eating +and drinking in the hall went off to sleep in his own room. +Snati, however, asked permission to sleep in the Prince's bed for +that night, while the Prince should sleep where the Dog usually +lay. Ring said he was welcome to do so, and that he deserved +more from him than that came to. So Snati went up into the +Prince's bed, but after a time he came back, and told Ring he +could go there himself now, but to take care not to meddle with +anything that was in the bed. + +Now the story comes back to Red, who came into the hall and +showed the King his right arm wanting the hand, and said that now +he could see what kind of a man his intended son-in-law was, for +he had done this to him without any cause whatever. The King +became very angry, and said he would soon find out the truth +about it, and if Ring had cut off his hand without good cause he +should be hanged; but if it was otherwise, then Red should die. +So the King sent for Ring and asked him for what reason he had +done this. Snati, however, had just told Ring what had happened +during the night, and in reply he asked the King to go with him +and he would show him something. The King went with him to his +sleeping-room, and saw lying on the bed a man's hand holding a +sword. + +'This hand,' said Ring, 'came over the partition during the +night, and was about to run me through in my bed, if I had not +defended myself.' + +The King answered that in that case he could not blame him for +protecting his own life, and that Red was well worthy of death. +So Red was hanged, and Ring married the King's daughter. + +The first night that they went to bed together Snati asked Ring +to allow him to lie at their feet, and this Ring allowed him to +do. During the night he heard a howling and outcry beside them, +struck a light in a hurry and saw an ugly dog's skin lying near +him, and a beautiful Prince in the bed. Ring instantly took the +skin and burned it, and then shook the Prince, who was lying +unconscious, until he woke up. The bridegroom then asked his +name; he replied that he was called Ring, and was a King's son. +In his youth he had lost his mother, and in her place his father +had married a witch, who had laid a spell on him that he should +turn into a dog, and never be released from the spell unless a +Prince of the same name as himself allowed him to sleep at his +feet the first night after his marriage. He added further, 'As +soon as she knew that you were my namesake she tried to get you +destroyed, so that you might not free me from the spell. She was +the hind that you and your companions chased; she was the woman +that you found in the clearing with the barrel, and the old hag +that we just now killed in the cave.' + +After the feasting was over the two namesakes, along with other +men, went to the cliff and brought all the treasure home to the +Palace. Then they went to the island and removed all that was +valuable from it. Ring gave to his namesake, whom he had freed +from the spell, his sister Ingiborg and his father's kingdom to +look after, but he himself stayed with his father-in-law the +King, and had half the kingdom while he lived and the whole of it +after his death. + + + +THE SWINEHERD + +There was once a poor Prince. He possessed a kingdom which, +though small, was yet large enough for him to marry on, and +married he wished to be. + +Now it was certainly a little audacious of him to venture to say +to the Emperor's daughter, 'Will you marry me?' But he did +venture to say so, for his name was known far and wide. There +were hundreds of princesses who would gladly have said 'Yes,' but +would she say the same? + +Well, we shall see. + +On the grave of the Prince's father grew a rose-tree, a very +beautiful rose-tree. It only bloomed every five years, and then +bore but a single rose, but oh, such a rose! Its scent was so +sweet that when you smelt it you forgot all your cares and +troubles. And he had also a nightingale which could sing as if +all the beautiful melodies in the world were shut up in its +little throat. This rose and this nightingale the Princess was +to have, and so they were both put into silver caskets and sent +to her. + +The Emperor had them brought to him in the great hall, where the +Princess was playing 'Here comes a duke a-riding' with her +ladies-in-waiting. And when she caught sight of the big caskets +which contained the presents, she clapped her hands for joy. + +'If only it were a little pussy cat!' she said. But the +rose-tree with the beautiful rose came out. + +'But how prettily it is made!' said all the ladies-in-waiting. + +'It is more than pretty,' said the Emperor, 'it is charming!' + +But the Princess felt it, and then she almost began to cry. + +'Ugh! Papa,' she said, 'it is not artificial, it is REAL!' + +'Ugh!' said all the ladies-in-waiting, 'it is real!' + +'Let us see first what is in the other casket before we begin to +be angry,' thought the Emperor, and there came out the +nightingale. It sang so beautifully that one could scarcely +utter a cross word against it. + +'Superbe! charmant!' said the ladies-in-waiting, for they all +chattered French, each one worse than the other. + +'How much the bird reminds me of the musical snuff-box of the +late Empress!' said an old courtier. 'Ah, yes, it is the same +tone, the same execution!' + +'Yes,' said the Emperor; and then he wept like a little child. + +'I hope that this, at least, is not real?' asked the Princess. + +'Yes, it is a real bird,' said those who had brought it. + +'Then let the bird fly away,' said the Princess; and she would +not on any account allow the Prince to come. + +'But he was nothing daunted. He painted his face brown and +black, drew his cap well over his face, and knocked at the door. +'Good-day, Emperor,' he said. 'Can I get a place here as servant +in the castle?' + +'Yes,' said the Emperor, 'but there are so many who ask for a +place that I don't know whether there will be one for you; but, +still, I will think of you. Stay, it has just occurred to me +that I want someone to look after the swine, for I have so very +many of them.' + +And the Prince got the situation of Imperial Swineherd. He had a +wretched little room close to the pigsties; here he had to stay, +but the whole day he sat working, and when evening was come he +had made a pretty little pot. All round it were little bells, +and when the pot boiled they jingled most beautifully and played +the old tune-- + + 'Where is Augustus dear? + Alas! he's not here, here, here!' + +But the most wonderful thing was, that when one held one's finger +in the steam of the pot, then at once one could smell what dinner +was ready in any fire-place in the town. That was indeed +something quite different from the rose. + +Now the Princess came walking past with all her ladies-in- +waiting, and when she heard the tune she stood still and her face +beamed with joy, for she also could play 'Where is Augustus +dear?' + +It was the only tune she knew, but that she could play with one +finger. + +'Why, that is what I play!' she said. 'He must be a most +accomplished Swineherd! Listen! Go down and ask him what the +instrument costs.' + +And one of the ladies-in-waiting had to go down; but she put on +wooden clogs. 'What will you take for the pot?' asked the +lady-in-waiting. + +'I will have ten kisses from the Princess,' answered the +Swineherd. + +'Heaven forbid!' said the lady-in-waiting. + +'Yes, I will sell it for nothing less,' replied the Swineherd. + +'Well, what does he say?' asked the Princess. + +'I really hardly like to tell you,' answered the lady-in-waiting. + +'Oh, then you can whisper it to me.' + +'He is disobliging!' said the Princess, and went away. But she +had only gone a few steps when the bells rang out so prettily-- + + 'Where is Augustus dear? + Alas! he's not here, here, here.' + +'Listen!' said the Princess. 'Ask him whether he will take ten +kisses from my ladies-in-waiting.' + +'No, thank you,' said the Swineherd. 'Ten kisses from the +Princess, or else I keep my pot.' + +'That is very tiresome!' said the Princess. 'But you must put +yourselves in front of me, so that no one can see.' + +And the ladies-in-waiting placed themselves in front and then +spread out their dresses; so the Swineherd got his ten kisses, +and she got the pot. + +What happiness that was! The whole night and the whole day the +pot was made to boil; there was not a fire-place in the whole +town where they did not know what was being cooked, whether it +was at the chancellor's or at the shoemaker's. + +The ladies-in-waiting danced and clapped their hands. + +'We know who is going to have soup and pancakes; we know who is +going to have porridge and sausages--isn't it interesting?' + +'Yes, very interesting!' said the first lady-in-waiting. + +'But don't say anything about it, for I am the Emperor's +daughter.' + +'Oh, no, of course we won't!' said everyone. + +The Swineherd--that is to say, the Prince (though they did not +know he was anything but a true Swineherd)--let no day pass +without making something, and one day he made a rattle which, +when it was turned round, played all the waltzes, galops, and +polkas which had ever been known since the world began. + +'But that is superbe!' said the Princess as she passed by. 'I +have never heard a more beautiful composition. Listen! Go down +and ask him what this instrument costs; but I won't kiss him +again.' + +'He wants a hundred kisses from the Princess,' said the +lady-in-waiting who had gone down to ask him. + +'I believe he is mad!' said the Princess, and then she went on; +but she had only gone a few steps when she stopped. + +'One ought to encourage art,' she said. 'I am the Emperor's +daughter! Tell him he shall have, as before, ten kisses; the +rest he can take from my ladies-in-waiting.' + +'But we don't at all like being kissed by him,' said the +ladies-in-waiting. + +'That's nonsense,' said the Princess; 'and if I can kiss him, you +can too. Besides, remember that I give you board and lodging.' + +So the ladies-in-waiting had to go down to him again. + +'A hundred kisses from the Princess,' said he, 'or each keeps his +own.' + +'Put yourselves in front of us,' she said then; and so all the +ladies-in-waiting put themselves in front, and he began to kiss +the Princess. + +'What can that commotion be by the pigsties?' asked the Emperor, +who was standing on the balcony. He rubbed his eyes and put on +his spectacles. 'Why those are the ladies-in-waiting playing +their games; I must go down to them.' + +So he took off his shoes, which were shoes though he had trodden +them down into slippers. What a hurry he was in, to be sure! + +As soon as he came into the yard he walked very softly, and the +ladies-in-waiting were so busy counting the kisses and seeing +fair play that they never noticed the Emperor. He stood on +tiptoe. + +'What is that?' he said, when he saw the kissing; and then he +threw one of his slippers at their heads just as the Swineherd +was taking his eighty-sixth kiss. + +'Be off with you!' said the Emperor, for he was very angry. And +the Princess and the Swineherd were driven out of the empire. + +Then she stood still and wept; the Swineherd was scolding, and +the rain was streaming down. + +'Alas, what an unhappy creature I am!' sobbed the Princess. + +'If only I had taken the beautiful Prince! Alas, how unfortunate +I am!' + +And the Swineherd went behind a tree, washed the black and brown +off his face, threw away his old clothes, and then stepped +forward in his splendid dress, looking so beautiful that the +Princess was obliged to courtesy. + +'I now come to this. I despise you!' he said. 'You would have +nothing to do with a noble Prince; you did not understand the +rose or the nightingale, but you could kiss the Swineherd for the +sake of a toy. This is what you get for it!' And he went into +his kingdom and shut the door in her face, and she had to stay +outside singing-- + + 'Where's my Augustus dear? + Alas! he's not here, here, here! + + + +HOW TO TELL A TRUE PRINCESS + +There was once upon a time a Prince who wanted to marry a +Princess, but she must be a true Princess. So he travelled +through the whole world to find one, but there was always +something against each. There were plenty of Princesses, but he +could not find out if they were true Princesses. In every case +there was some little defect, which showed the genuine article +was not yet found. So he came home again in very low spirits, +for he had wanted very much to have a true Princess. One night +there was a dreadful storm; it thundered and lightened and the +rain streamed down in torrents. It was fearful! There was a +knocking heard at the Palace gate, and the old King went to open +it. + +There stood a Princess outside the gate; but oh, in what a sad +plight she was from the rain and the storm! The water was +running down from her hair and her dress into the points of her +shoes and out at the heels again. And yet she said she was a +true Princess! + +'Well, we shall soon find that!' thought the old Queen. But she +said nothing, and went into the sleeping-room, took off all the +bed-clothes, and laid a pea on the bottom of the bed. Then she +put twenty mattresses on top of the pea, and twenty eider-down +quilts on the top of the mattresses. And this was the bed in +which the Princess was to sleep. + +The next morning she was asked how she had slept. + +'Oh, very badly!' said the Princess. 'I scarcely closed my eyes +all night! I am sure I don't know what was in the bed. I laid +on something so hard that my whole body is black and blue. It is +dreadful!' + +Now they perceived that she was a true Princess, because she had +felt the pea through the twenty mattresses and the twenty +eider-down quilts. + +No one but a true Princess could be so sensitive. + +So the Prince married her, for now he knew that at last he had +got hold of a true Princess. And the pea was put into the Royal +Museum, where it is still to be seen if no one has stolen it. +Now this is a true story. + + + +THE BLUE MOUNTAINS + +There were once a Scotsman and an Englishman and an Irishman +serving in the army together, who took it into their heads to run +away on the first opportunity they could get. The chance came +and they took it. They went on travelling for two days through a +great forest, without food or drink, and without coming across a +single house, and every night they had to climb up into the trees +through fear of the wild beasts that were in the wood. On the +second morning the Scotsman saw from the top of his tree a great +castle far away. He said to himself that he would certainly die +if he stayed in the forest without anything to eat but the roots +of grass, which would not keep him alive very long. As soon, +then, as he got down out of the tree he set off towards the +castle, without so much as telling his companions that he had +seen it at all; perhaps the hunger and want they had suffered had +changed their nature so much that the one did not care what +became of the other if he could save himself. He travelled on +most of the day, so that it was quite late when he reached the +castle, and to his great disappointment found nothing but closed +doors and no smoke rising from the chimneys. He thought there +was nothing for it but to die after all, and had lain down beside +the wall, when he heard a window being opened high above him. At +this he looked up, and saw the most beautiful woman he had ever +set eyes on. + +'Oh, it is Fortune that has sent you to me,' he said. + +'It is indeed,' said she. 'What are you in need of, or what has +sent you here?' + +'Necessity,' said he. 'I am dying for want of food and drink.' + +'Come inside, then,' she said; 'there is plenty of both here.' + +Accordingly he went in to where she was, and she opened a large +room for him, where he saw a number of men lying asleep. She +then set food before him, and after that showed him to the room +where the others were. He lay down on one of the beds and fell +sound asleep. And now we must go back to the two that he left +behind him in the wood. + +When nightfall and the time of the wild beasts came upon these, +the Englishman happened to climb up into the very same tree on +which the Scotsman was when he got a sight of the castle; and as +soon as the day began to dawn and the Englishman looked to the +four quarters of heaven, what did he see but the castle too! Off +he went without saying a word to the Irishman, and everything +happened to him just as it had done to the Scotsman. + +The poor Irishman was now left all alone, and did not know where +the others had gone to, so he just stayed where he was, very sad +and miserable. When night came he climbed up into the same tree +as the Englishman had been on the night before. As soon as day +came he also saw the castle, and set out towards it; but when he +reached it he could see no signs of fire or living being about +it. Before long, however, he heard the window opened above his +head, looked up, and beheld the most beautiful woman he had ever +seen. He asked if she would give him food and drink, and she +answered kindly and heartily that she would, if he would only +come inside. This he did very willingly, and she set before him +food and drink that he had never seen the like of before. In the +room there was a bed, with diamond rings hanging at every loop of +the curtains, and everything that was in the room besides +astonished him so much that he actually forgot that he was +hungry. When she saw that he was not eating at all, she asked +him what he wanted yet, to which he replied that he would neither +eat nor drink until he knew who she was, or where she came from, +or who had put her there. + +'I shall tell you that,' said she. 'I am an enchanted Princess, +and my father has promised that the man who releases me from the +spell shall have the third of his kingdom while he is alive, and +the whole of it after he is dead, and marry me as well. If ever +I saw a man who looked likely to do this, you are the one. I +have been here for sixteen years now, and no one who ever came to +the castle has asked me who I was, except yourself. Every other +man that has come, so long as I have been here, lies asleep in +the big room down there.' + +'Tell me, then,' said the Irishman, 'what is the spell that has +been laid on you, and how you can be freed from it.' + +'There is a little room there,' said the Princess, 'and if I +could get a man to stay in it from ten o'clock till midnight for +three nights on end I should be freed from the spell.' + +'I am the man for you, then,' said he; 'I will take on hand to do +it.' + +Thereupon she brought him a pipe and tobacco, and he went into +the room; but before long he heard a hammering and knocking on +the outside of the door, and was told to open it + +'I won't,' he said. + +The next moment the door came flying in, and those outside along +with it. They knocked him down, and kicked him, and knelt on his +body till it came to midnight; but as soon as the cock crew they +all disappeared. The Irishman was little more than alive by this +time. As soon as daylight appeared the Princess came, and found +him lying full length on the floor, unable to speak a word. She +took a bottle, rubbed him from head to foot with something from +it, and thereupon he was as sound as ever; but after what he had +got that night he was very unwilling to try it a second time. +The Princess, however, entreated him to stay, saying that the +next night would not be so bad, and in the end he gave in and +stayed. + +When it was getting near midnight he heard them ordering him to +open the door, and there were three of them for every one that +there had been the previous evening. He did not make the +slightest movement to go out to them or to open the door, but +before long they broke it up, and were in on top of him. They +laid hold of him, and kept throwing him between them up to the +ceiling, or jumping above him, until the cock crew, when they all +disappeared. When day came the Princess went to the room to see +if he was still alive, and taking the bottle put it to his +nostrils, which soon brought him to himself. The first thing he +said then was that he was a fool to go on getting himself killed +for anyone he ever saw, and was determined to be off and stay +there no longer, When the Princess learned his intention she +entreated him to stay, reminding him that another night would +free her from the spell. 'Besides,' she said, 'if there is a +single spark of life in you when the day comes, the stuff that is +in this bottle will make you as sound as ever you were.' + +With all this the Irishman decided to stay; but that night there +were three at him for every one that was there the two nights +before, and it looked very unlikely that he would be alive in the +morning after all that he got. When morning dawned, and the +Princess came to see if he was still alive, she found him lying +on the floor as if dead. She tried to see if there was breath in +him, but could not quite make it out. Then she put her hand on +his pulse, and found a faint movement in it. Accordingly she +poured what was in the bottle on him, and before long he rose up +on his feet, and was as well as ever he was. So that business +was finished, and the Princess was freed from the spell. + +The Princess then told the Irishman that she must go away for the +present, but would return for him in a few days in a carriage +drawn by four grey horses. He told her to 'be aisy,' and not +speak like that to him. 'I have paid dear for you for the last +three nights,' he said, 'if I have to part with you now;' but in +the twinkling of an eye she had disappeared. He did not know +what to do with himself when he saw that she was gone, but before +she went she had given him a little rod, with which he could, +when he pleased, waken the men who had been sleeping there, some +of them for sixteen years. + +After being thus left alone, he went in and stretched himself on +three chairs that were in the room, when what does he see coming +in at the door but a little fair-haired lad. + +'Where did you come from, my lad?' said the Irishman. + +'I came to make ready your food for you,' said he. + +'Who told you to do that?' said the Irishman. + +'My mistress,' answered the lad--'the Princess that was under the +spell and is now free.' + +By this the Irishman knew that she had sent the lad to wait on +him. The lad also told him that his mistress wished him to be +ready next morning at nine o'clock, when she would come for him +with the carriage, as she had promised. He was greatly pleased +at this, and next morning, when the time was drawing near, went +out into the garden; but the little fair-haired lad took a big +pin out of his pocket, and stuck it into the back of the +Irishman's coat without his noticing it, whereupon he fell sound +asleep. + +Before long the Princess came with the carriage and four horses, +and asked the lad whether his master was awake. He said that he +wasn't. 'It is bad for him,' said she, 'when the night is not +long enough for him to sleep. Tell him that if he doesn't meet +me at this time to-morrow it is not likely that he will ever see +me again all his life.' + +As soon as she was gone the lad took the pin out of his master's +coat, who instantly awoke. The first word he said to the lad +was, 'Have you seen her?' + +'Yes,' said he, 'and she bade me tell you that if you don't meet +her at nine o'clock to-morrow you will never see her again.' + +He was very sorry when he heard this, and could not understand +why the sleep should have fallen upon him just when she was +coming. He decided, however, to go early to bed that night, in +order to rise in time nest morning, and so he did. When it was +getting near nine o'clock he went out to the garden to wait till +she came, and the fair-haired lad along with him; but as soon as +the lad got the chance he stuck the pin into his master's coat +again and he fell asleep as before. Precisely at nine o'clock +came the Princess in the carriage with four horses, and asked the +lad if his master had got up yet; but he said 'No, he was asleep, +just as he was the day before.' 'Dear! dear!' said the +Princess, 'I am sorry for him. Was the sleep he had last night +not enough for him? Tell him that he will never see me here +again; and here is a sword that you will give him in my name, and +my blessing along with it.' + +With this she went off, and as soon as she had gone the lad took +the pin out of his master's coat. He awoke instantly, and the +first word he said was, 'Have you seen her?' The lad said that he +had, and there was the sword she had left for him. The Irishman +was ready to kill the lad out of sheer vexation, but when he gave +a glance over his shoulder not a trace of the fair-haired lad was +left. + +Being thus left all alone, he thought of going into the room +where all the men were lying asleep, and there among the rest he +found his two comrades who had deserted along with him. Then he +remembered what the Princess had told him--that he had only to +touch them with the rod she had given him and they would all +awake; and the first he touched were his own comrades. They +started to their feet at once, and he gave them as much silver +and gold as they could carry when they went away. There was +plenty to do before he got all the others wakened, for the two +doors of the castle were crowded with them all the day long. + +The loss of the Princess, however, kept rankling in his mind day +and night, till finally he thought he would go about the world to +see if he could find anyone to give him news of her. So he took +the best horse in the stable and set out. Three years he spent +travelling through forests and wildernesses, but could find no +one able to tell him anything of the Princess. At last he fell +into so great despair that he thought he would put an end to his +own life, and for this purpose laid hold of the sword that she +had given him by the hands of the fair-haired lad; but on drawing +it from its sheath he noticed that there was some writing on one +side of the blade. He looked at this, and read there, 'You will +find me in the Blue Mountains.' This made him take heart again, +and he gave up the idea of killing himself, thinking that he +would go on in hope of meeting some one who could tell him where +the Blue Mountains were. After he had gone a long way without +thinking where he was going, he saw at last a light far away, and +made straight for it. On reaching it he found it came from a +little house, and as soon as the man inside heard the noise of +the horse's feet he came out to see who was there. Seeing a +stranger on horseback, he asked what brought him there and where +he was going. + +'I have lived here,' said he, 'for three hundred years, and all +that time I have not seen a single human being but yourself.' + +'I have been going about for the last three years,' said the +Irishman, 'to see if I could find anyone who can tell me where +the Blue Mountains are.' + +'Come in,' said the old man, 'and stay with me all night. I have +a book which contains the history of the world, which I shall go +through to-night, and if there is such a place as the Blue +Mountains in it we shall find it out.' + +The Irishman stayed there all night, and as soon as morning came +rose to go. The old man said he had not gone to sleep all night +for going through the book, but there was not a word about the +Blue Mountains in it. 'But I'll tell you what,' he said, 'if +there is such a place on earth at all, I have a brother who lives +nine hundred miles from here, and he is sure to know where they +are, if anyone in this world does.' The Irishman answered that +he could never go these nine hundred miles, for his horse was +giving in already. 'That doesn't matter,' said the old man; 'I +can do better than that. I have only to blow my whistle and you +will be at my brother's house before nightfall.' + +So he blew the whistle, and the Irishman did not know where on +earth he was until he found himself at the other old man's door, +who also told him that it was three hundred years since he had +seen anyone, and asked him where he was going. + +'I am going to see if I can find anyone that can tell me where +the Blue Mountains are,' he said. + +'If you will stay with me to-night,' said the old man, 'I have a +book of the history of the world, and I shall know where they are +before daylight, if there is such a place in it at all.' + +He stayed there all night, but there was not a word in the book +about the Blue Mountains. Seeing that he was rather cast down, +the old man told him that he had a brother nine hundred miles +away, and that if information could be got about them from anyone +it would be from him; 'and I will enable you,' he said, 'to reach +the place where he lives before night.' So he blew his whistle, +and the Irishman landed at the brother's house before nightfall. +When the old man saw him he said he had not seen a single man for +three hundred years, and was very much surprised to see anyone +come to him now. + +'Where are you going to?' he said. + +'I am going about asking for the Blue Mountains,' said the +Irishman. + +'The Blue Mountains?' said the old man. + +'Yes,' said the Irishman. + +'I never heard the name before; but if they do exist I shall find +them out. I am master of all the birds in the world, and have +only to blow my whistle and every one will come to me. I shall +then ask each of them to tell where it came from, and if there is +any way of finding out the Blue Mountains that is it.' + +So he blew his whistle, and when he blew it then all the birds of +the world began to gather. The old man questioned each of them +as to where they had come from, but there was not one of them +that had come from the Blue Mountains. After he had run over +them all, however, he missed a big Eagle that was wanting, and +wondered that it had not come. Soon afterwards he saw something +big coming towards him, darkening the sky. It kept coming nearer +and growing bigger, and what was this after all but the Eagle? +When she arrived the old man scolded her, and asked what had kept +her so long behind. + +'I couldn't help it,' she said; 'I had more than twenty times +further to come than any bird that has come here to-day.' + +'Where have you come from, then?' said the old man. + +'From the Blue Mountains,' said she. + +'Indeed!' said the old man; and what are they doing there?' + +'They are making ready this very day,' said the Eagle, 'for the +marriage of the daughter of the King of the Blue Mountains. For +three years now she has refused to marry anyone whatsoever, until +she should give up all hope of the coming of the man who released +her from the spell. Now she can wait no longer, for three years +is the time that she agreed with her father to remain without +marrying.' + +The Irishman knew that it was for himself she had been waiting so +long, but he was unable to make any better of it, for he had no +hope of reaching the Blue Mountains all his life. The old man +noticed how sad he grew, and asked the Eagle what she would take +for carrying this man on her back to the Blue Mountains. + +'I must have threescore cattle killed,' said she, 'and cut up +into quarters, and every time I look over my shoulder he must +throw one of them into my mouth.' + +As soon as the Irishman and the old man heard her demand they +went out hunting, and before evening they had killed three-score +cattle. They made quarters of them, as the Eagle told them, and +then the old man asked her to lie down, till they would get it +all heaped up on her back. First of all, though, they had to get +a ladder of fourteen steps, to enable them to get on to the +Eagle's back, and there they piled up the meat as well as they +could. Then the old man told the Irishman to mount, and to +remember to throw a quarter of beef to her every time she looked +round. He went up, and the old man gave the Eagle the word to be +off, which she instantly obeyed; and every time she turned her +head the Irishman threw a quarter of beef into her mouth. + +As they came near the borders of the kingdom of the Blue +Mountains, however, the beef was done, and, when the Eagle looked +over her shoulder, what was the Irishman at but throwing the +stone between her tail and her neck! At this she turned a +complete somersault, and threw the Irishman off into the sea, +where he fell into the bay that was right in front of the King's +Palace. Fortunately the points of his toes just touched the +bottom, and he managed to get ashore. + +When he went up into the town all the streets were gleaming with +light, and the wedding of the Princess was just about to begin. +He went into the first house he came to, and this happened to be +the house of the King's hen-wife. He asked the old woman what +was causing all the noise and light in the town. + +'The Princess,' said she, 'is going to be married to-night +against her will, for she has been expecting every day that the +man who freed her from the spell would come.' + +'There is a guinea for you,' said he; 'go and bring her here.' + +The old woman went, and soon returned along with the Princess. +She and the Irishman recognised each other, and were married, and +had a great wedding that lasted for a year and a day. + + + +THE TINDER-BOX + +A soldier came marching along the high road--left, right! A +left, right! He had his knapsack on his back and a sword by his +side, for he had been to the wars and was now returning home. + +An old Witch met him on the road. She was very ugly to look at: +her under-lip hung down to her breast. + +'Good evening, Soldier!' she said. 'What a fine sword and +knapsack you have! You are something like a soldier! You ought +to have as much money as you would like to carry!' + +'Thank you, old Witch,' said the Soldier. + +'Do you see that great tree there?' said the Witch, pointing to a +tree beside them. 'It is hollow within. You must climb up to +the top, and then you will see a hole through which you can let +yourself down into the tree. I will tie a rope round your waist, +so that I may be able to pull you up again when you call.' + +'What shall I do down there?' asked the Soldier. + +'Get money!' answered the Witch. 'Listen! When you reach the +bottom of the tree you will find yourself in a large hall; it is +light there, for there are more than three hundred lamps burning. +Then you will see three doors, which you can open--the keys are +in the locks. If you go into the first room, you will see a +great chest in the middle of the floor with a dog sitting upon +it; he has eyes as large as saucers, but you needn't trouble +about him. I will give you my blue-check apron, which you must +spread out on the floor, and then go back quickly and fetch the +dog and set him upon it; open the chest and take as much money as +you like. It is copper there. If you would rather have silver, +you must go into the next room, where there is a dog with eyes as +large as mill-wheels. But don't take any notice of him; just +set him upon my apron, and help yourself to the money. If you +prefer gold, you can get that too, if you go into the third room, +and as much as you like to carry. But the dog that guards the +chest there has eyes as large as the Round Tower at Copenhagen! +He is a savage dog, I can tell you; but you needn't be afraid of +him either. Only, put him on my apron and he won't touch you, +and you can take out of the chest as much gold as you like!' + +'Come, this is not bad!' said the Soldier. 'But what am I to +give you, old Witch; for surely you are not going to do this for +nothing?' + +'Yes, I am!' replied the Witch. 'Not a single farthing will I +take! For me you shall bring nothing but an old tinder-box which +my grandmother forgot last time she was down there.' + +'Well, tie the rope round my waist! 'said the Soldier. + +'Here it is,' said the Witch, 'and here is my blue-check apron.' + +Then the Soldier climbed up the tree, let himself down through +the hole, and found himself standing, as the Witch had said, +underground in the large hall, where the three hundred lamps were +burning. + +Well, he opened the first door. Ugh! there sat the dog with +eyes as big as saucers glaring at him. + +'You are a fine fellow!' said the Soldier, and put him on the +Witch's apron, took as much copper as his pockets could hold; +then he shut the chest, put the dog on it again, and went into +the second room. Sure enough there sat the dog with eyes as +large as mill-wheels. + +'You had better not look at me so hard!' said the Soldier. 'Your +eyes will come out of their sockets!' + +And then he set the dog on the apron. When he saw all the silver +in the chest, he threw away the copper he had taken, and filled +his pockets and knapsack with nothing but silver. + +Then he went into the third room. Horrors! the dog there had +two eyes, each as large as the Round Tower at Copenhagen, +spinning round in his head like wheels. + +'Good evening!' said the Soldier and saluted, for he had never +seen a dog like this before. But when he had examined him more +closely, he thought to himself: 'Now then, I've had enough of +this!' and put him down on the floor, and opened the chest. +Heavens! what a heap of gold there was! With all that he could +buy up the whole town, and all the sugar pigs, all the tin +soldiers, whips and rocking-horses in the whole world. Now he +threw away all the silver with which he had filled his pockets +and knapsack, and filled them with gold instead--yes, all his +pockets, his knapsack, cap and boots even, so that he could +hardly walk. Now he was rich indeed. He put the dog back upon +the chest, shut the door, and then called up through the tree: + +'Now pull me up again, old Witch!' + +'Have you got the tinder-box also?' asked the Witch. + +'Botheration!' said the Soldier, 'I had clean forgotten it!' And +then he went back and fetched it. + +The Witch pulled him up, and there he stood again on the high +road, with pockets, knapsack, cap and boots filled with gold. + +'What do you want to do with the tinder-box?' asked the Soldier. + +'That doesn't matter to you,' replied the Witch. 'You have got +your money, give me my tinder-box.' + +'We'll see!' said the Soldier. 'Tell me at once what you want to +do with it, or I will draw my sword, and cut off your head!' + +'No!' screamed the Witch. + +The Soldier immediately cut off her head. That was the end of +her! But he tied up all his gold in her apron, slung it like a +bundle over his shoulder, put the tinder-box in his pocket, and +set out towards the town. + +It was a splendid town! He turned into the finest inn, ordered +the best chamber and his favourite dinner; for now that he had so +much money he was really rich. + +It certainly occurred to the servant who had to clean his boots +that they were astonishingly old boots for such a rich lord. But +that was because he had not yet bought new ones; next day he +appeared in respectable boots and fine clothes. Now, instead of +a common soldier he had become a noble lord, and the people told +him about all the grand doings of the town and the King, and what +a beautiful Princess his daughter was. + +'How can one get to see her?' asked the Soldier. + +'She is never to be seen at all!' they told him; 'she lives in a +great copper castle, surrounded by many walls and towers! No one +except the King may go in or out, for it is prophesied that she +will marry a common soldier, and the King cannot submit to that.' + +'I should very much like to see her,' thought the Soldier; but he +could not get permission. + +Now he lived very gaily, went to the theatre, drove in the King's +garden, and gave the poor a great deal of money, which was very +nice of him; he had experienced in former times how hard it is +not to have a farthing in the world. Now he was rich, wore fine +clothes, and made many friends, who all said that he was an +excellent man, a real nobleman. And the Soldier liked that. But +as he was always spending money, and never made any more, at last +the day came when he had nothing left but two shillings, and he +had to leave the beautiful rooms in which he had been living, and +go into a little attic under the roof, and clean his own boots, +and mend them with a darning-needle. None of his friends came to +visit him there, for there were too many stairs to climb. + +It was a dark evening, and he could not even buy a light. But +all at once it flashed across him that there was a little end of +tinder in the tinder-box, which he had taken from the hollow tree +into which the Witch had helped him down. He found the box with +the tinder in it; but just as he was kindling a light, and had +struck a spark out of the tinder-box, the door burst open, and +the dog with eyes as large as saucers, which he had seen down in +the tree, stood before him and said: + +'What does my lord command?' + +'What's the meaning of this?' exclaimed the Soldier. 'This is a +pretty kind of tinder-box, if I can get whatever I want like +this. Get me money!' he cried to the dog, and hey, presto! he +was off and back again, holding a great purse full of money in +his mouth. + +Now the Soldier knew what a capital tinder-box this was. If he +rubbed once, the dog that sat on the chest of copper appeared; if +he rubbed twice, there came the dog that watched over the silver +chest; and if he rubbed three times, the one that guarded the +gold appeared. Now, the Soldier went down again to his beautiful +rooms, and appeared once more in splendid clothes. All his +friends immediately recognised him again, and paid him great +court. + +One day he thought to himself: 'It is very strange that no one +can get to see the Princess. They all say she is very pretty, +but what's the use of that if she has to sit for ever in the +great copper castle with all the towers? Can I not manage to see +her somehow? Where is my tinder-box?' and so he struck a spark, +and, presto! there came the dog with eyes as large as saucers. + +'It is the middle of the night, I know,' said the Soldier; 'but I +should very much like to see the Princess for a moment.' + +The dog was already outside the door, and before the Soldier +could look round, in he came with the Princess. She was lying +asleep on the dog's back, and was so beautiful that anyone could +see she was a real Princess. The Soldier really could not +refrain from kissing her--he was such a thorough Soldier. Then +the dog ran back with the Princess. But when it was morning, and +the King and Queen were drinking tea, the Princess said that the +night before she had had such a strange dream about a dog and a +Soldier: she had ridden on the dog's back, and the Soldier had +kissed her. + +'That is certainly a fine story,' said the Queen. But the next +night one of the ladies-in-waiting was to watch at the Princess's +bed, to see if it was only a dream, or if it had actually +happened. + +The Soldier had an overpowering longing to see the Princess +again, and so the dog came in the middle of the night and fetched +her, running as fast as he could. But the lady-in-waiting +slipped on indiarubber shoes and followed them. When she saw +them disappear into a large house, she thought to herself: 'Now I +know where it is; 'and made a great cross on the door with a +piece of chalk. Then she went home and lay down, and the dog +came back also, with the Princess. But when he saw that a cross +had been made on the door of the house where the Soldier lived, +he took a piece of chalk also, and made crosses on all the doors +in the town; and that was very clever, for now the +lady-in-waiting could not find the right house, as there were +crosses on all the doors. + +Early next morning the King, Queen, ladies-in-waiting, and +officers came out to see where the Princess had been. + +'There it is!' said the King, when he saw the first door with a +cross on it. + +'No, there it is, my dear!' said the Queen, when she likewise saw +a door with a cross. + +'But here is one, and there is another!' they all exclaimed; +wherever they looked there was a cross on the door. Then they +realised that the sign would not help them at all. + +But the Queen was an extremely clever woman, who could do a great +deal more than just drive in a coach. She took her great golden +scissors, cut up a piece of silk, and made a pretty little bag of +it. This she filled with the finest buckwheat grains, and tied +it round the Princess' neck; this done, she cut a little hole in +the bag, so that the grains would strew the whole road wherever +the Princess went. + +In the night the dog came again, took the Princess on his back +and ran away with her to the Soldier, who was very much in love +with her, and would have liked to have been a Prince, so that he +might have had her for his wife. + +The dog did not notice how the grains were strewn right from the +castle to the Soldier's window, where he ran up the wall with the +Princess. + +In the morning the King and the Queen saw plainly where their +daughter had been, and they took the Soldier and put him into +prison. + +There he sat. Oh, how dark and dull it was there! And they told +him: 'To-morrow you are to be hanged.' Hearing that did not +exactly cheer him, and he had left his tinder-box in the inn. + +Next morning he could see through the iron grating in front of +his little window how the people were hurrying out of the town to +see him hanged. He heard the drums and saw the soldiers +marching; all the people were running to and fro. Just below his +window was a shoemaker's apprentice, with leather apron and +shoes; he was skipping along so merrily that one of his shoes +flew off and fell against the wall, just where the Soldier was +sitting peeping through the iron grating. + +'Oh, shoemaker's boy, you needn't be in such a hurry!' said the +Soldier to him. 'There's nothing going on till I arrive. But if +you will run back to the house where I lived, and fetch me my +tinder-box, I will give you four shillings. But you must put +your best foot foremost.' + +The shoemaker's boy was very willing to earn four shillings, and +fetched the tinder-box, gave it to the Soldier, and--yes--now you +shall hear. + +Outside the town a great scaffold had been erected, and all round +were standing the soldiers, and hundreds of thousands of people. +The King and Queen were sitting on a magnificent throne opposite +the judges and the whole council. + +The Soldier was already standing on the top of the ladder; but +when they wanted to put the rope round his neck, he said that the +fulfilment of one innocent request was always granted to a poor +criminal before he underwent his punishment. He would so much +like to smoke a small pipe of tobacco; it would be his last pipe +in this world. + +The King could not refuse him this, and so he took out his +tinder-box, and rubbed it once, twice, three times. And lo, and +behold I there stood all three dogs--the one with eyes as large +as saucers, the second with eyes as large as mill-wheels, and the +third with eyes each as large as the Round Tower of Copenhagen. + +'Help me now, so that I may not be hanged!' cried the Soldier. +And thereupon the dogs fell upon the judges and the whole +council, seized some by the legs, others by the nose, and threw +them so high into the air that they fell and were smashed into +pieces. + +'I won't stand this!' said the King; but the largest dog seized +him too, and the Queen as well, and threw them up after the +others. This frightened the soldiers, and all the people cried: +'Good Soldier, you shall be our King, and marry the beautiful +Princess!' + +Then they put the Soldier into the King's coach, and the three +dogs danced in front, crying 'Hurrah!' And the boys whistled and +the soldiers presented arms. + +The Princess came out of the copper castle, and became Queen; and +that pleased her very much. + +The wedding festivities lasted for eight days, and the dogs sat +at table and made eyes at everyone. + + + +THE WITCH IN THE STONE BOAT[31] + +[31] From the Icelandic. + +There were once a King and a Queen, and they had a son called +Sigurd, who was very strong and active, and good-looking. When +the King came to be bowed down with the weight of years he spoke +to his son, and said that now it was time for him to look out for +a fitting match for himself, for he did not know how long he +might last now, and he would like to see him married before he +died. + +Sigurd was not averse to this, and asked his father where he +thought it best to look for a wife. The King answered that in a +certain country there was a King who had a beautiful daughter, +and he thought it would be most desirable if Sigurd could get +her. So the two parted, and Sigurd prepared for the journey, and +went to where his father had directed him. + +He came to the King and asked his daughter's hand, which he +readily granted him, but only on the condition that he should +remain there as long as he could, for the King himself was not +strong and not very able to govern his kingdom. Sigurd accepted +this condition, but added that he would have to get leave to go +home again to his own country when he heard news of his father's +death. After that Sigurd married the Princess, and helped his +father-in- law to govern the kingdom. He and the Princess loved +each other dearly, and after a year a son came to them, who was +two years old when word came to Sigurd that his father was dead. +Sigurd now prepared to return home with his wife and child, and +went on board ship to go by sea. + +They had sailed for several days, when the breeze suddenly fell, +and there came a dead calm, at a time when they needed only one +day's voyage to reach home. Sigurd and his Queen were one day on +deck, when most of the others on the ship had fallen asleep. +There they sat and talked for a while, and had their little son +along with them. After a time Sigurd became so heavy with sleep +that he could no longer keep awake, so he went below and lay +down, leaving the Queen alone on the deck, playing with her son. + +A good while after Sigurd had gone below the Queen saw something +black on the sea, which seemed to be coming nearer. As it +approached she could make out that it was a boat, and could see +the figure of some one sitting in it and rowing it. At last the +boat came alongside the ship, and now the Queen saw that it was a +stone boat, out of which there came up on board the ship a +fearfully ugly Witch. The Queen was more frightened than words +can describe, and could neither speak a word nor move from the +place so as to awaken the King or the sailors. The Witch came +right up to the Queen, took the child from her and laid it on the +deck; then she took the Queen, and stripped her of all her fine +clothes, which she proceeded to put on herself, and looked then +like a human being. Last of all she took the Queen, put her into +the boat, and said-- + +'This spell I lay upon you, that you slacken not your course +until you come to my brother in the Underworld.' + +The Queen sat stunned and motionless, but the boat at once shot +away from the ship with her, and before long she was out of +sight. + +When the boat could no longer be seen the child began to cry, and +though the Witch tried to quiet it she could not manage it; so +she went below to where the King was sleeping with the child on +her arm, and awakened him, scolding him for leaving them alone on +deck, while he and all the crew were asleep. It was great +carelessness of him, she said, to leave no one to watch the ship +with her. + +Sigurd was greatly surprised to hear his Queen scold him so much, +for she had never said an angry word to him before; but he +thought it was quite excusable in this case, and tried to quiet +the child along with her, but it was no use. Then he went and +wakened the sailors, and bade them hoist the sails, for a breeze +had sprung up and was blowing straight towards the harbour. + +They soon reached the land which Sigurd was to rule over, and +found all the people sorrowful for the old King's death, but they +became glad when they got Sigurd back to the Court, and made him +King over them. + +The King's son, however, hardly ever stopped crying from the time +he had been taken from his mother on the deck of the ship, +although he had always been such a good child before, so that at +last the King had to get a nurse for him--one of the maids of the +Court. As soon as the child got into her charge he stopped +crying, and behaved well as before. + +After the sea-voyage it seemed to the King that the Queen had +altered very much in many ways, and not for the better. He +thought her much more haughty and stubborn and difficult to deal +with than she used to be. Before long others began to notice +this as well as the King. In the Court there were two young +fellows, one of eighteen years old, the other of nineteen, who +were very fond of playing chess, and often sat long inside +playing at it. Their room was next the Queen's, and often during +the day they heard the Queen talking. + +One day they paid more attention than usual when they heard her +talk, and put their ears close to a crack in the wall between the +rooms, and heard the Queen say quite plainly, 'When I yawn a +little, then I am a nice little maiden; when I yawn half-way, +then I am half a troll; and when I yawn fully, then I am a troll +altogether.' + +As she said this she yawned tremendously, and in a moment had put +on the appearance of a fearfully ugly troll. Then there came up +through the floor of the room a three-headed Giant with a trough +full of meat, who saluted her as his sister and set down the +trough before her. She began to eat out of it, and never stopped +till she had finished it. The young fellows saw all this going +on, but did not hear the two of them say anything to each other. +They were astonished though at how greedily the Queen devoured +the meat, and how much she ate of it, and were no longer +surprised that she took so little when she sat at table with the +King. As soon as she had finished it the Giant disappeared with +the trough by the same way as he had come, and the Queen returned +to her human shape. + +Now we must go back to the King's son after he had been put in +charge of the nurse. One evening, after she had lit a candle and +was holding the child, several planks sprang up in the floor of +the room, and out at the opening came a beautiful woman dressed +in white, with an iron belt round her waist, to which was +fastened an iron chain that went down into the ground. The woman +came up to the nurse, took the child from her, and pressed it to +her breast; then she gave it back to the nurse and returned by +the same way as she had come, and the floor closed over her +again. Although the woman had not spoken a single word to her, +the nurse was very much frightened, but told no one about it. + +Next evening the same thing happened again, just as before, but +as the woman was going away she said in a sad tone, 'Two are +gone, and one only is left,' and then disappeared as before. The +nurse was still more frightened when she heard the woman say +this, and thought that perhaps some danger was hanging over the +child, though she had no ill-opinion of the unknown woman, who, +indeed, had behaved towards the child as if it were her own. The +most mysterious thing was the woman saying 'and only one is +left;' but the nurse guessed that this must mean that only one +day was left, since she had come for two days already. + +At last the nurse made up her mind to go to the King, and told +him the whole story, and asked him to be present in person next +day about the time when the woman usually came. The King +promised to do so, and came to the nurse's room a little before +the time, and sat down on a chair with his drawn sword in his +hand. Soon after the planks in the floor sprang up as before, +and the woman came up, dressed in white, with the iron belt and +chain. The King saw at once that it was his own Queen, and +immediately hewed asunder the iron chain that was fastened to the +belt. This was followed by such noises and crashings down in the +earth that all the King's Palace shook, so that no one expected +anything else than to see every bit of it shaken to pieces. At +last, however, the noises and shaking stopped, and they began to +come to themselves again. + +The King and Queen embraced each other, and she told him the +whole story--how the Witch came to the ship when they were all +asleep and sent her off in the boat. After she had gone so far +that she could not see the ship, she sailed on through darkness +until she landed beside a three-headed Giant. The Giant wished +her to marry him, but she refused; whereupon he shut her up by +herself, and told her she would never get free until she +consented. After a time she began to plan how to get her +freedom, and at last told him that she would consent if he would +allow her to visit her son on earth three days on end. This he +agreed to, but put on her this iron belt and chain, the other end +of which he fastened round his own waist, and the great noises +that were heard when the King cut the chain must have been caused +by the Giant's falling down the underground passage when the +chain gave way so suddenly. The Giant's dwelling, indeed, was +right under the Palace, and the terrible shakings must have been +caused by him in his death-throes. + +The King now understood how the Queen he had had for some time +past had been so ill-tempered. He at once had a sack drawn over +her head and made her be stoned to death, and after that torn in +pieces by untamed horses. The two young fellows also told now +what they had heard and seen in the Queen's room, for before this +they had been afraid to say anything about it, on account of the +Queen's power. + +The real Queen was now restored to all her dignity, and was +beloved by all. The nurse was married to a nobleman, and the +King and Queen gave her splendid presents. + + + +THUMBELINA + +There was once a woman who wanted to have quite a tiny, little +child, but she did not know where to get one from. So one day +she went to an old Witch and said to her: 'I should so much like +to have a tiny, little child; can you tell me where I can get +one?' + +'Oh, we have just got one ready!' said the Witch. 'Here is a +barley-corn for you, but it's not the kind the farmer sows in his +field, or feeds the cocks and hens with, I can tell you. Put it +in a flower-pot, and then you will see something happen.' + +'Oh, thank you!' said the woman, and gave the Witch a shilling, +for that was what it cost. Then she went home and planted the +barley-corn; immediately there grew out of it a large and +beautiful flower, which looked like a tulip, but the petals were +tightly closed as if it were still only a bud. + +'What a beautiful flower!' exclaimed the woman, and she kissed +the red and yellow petals; but as she kissed them the flower +burst open. It was a real tulip, such as one can see any day; +but in the middle of the blossom, on the green velvety petals, +sat a little girl, quite tiny, trim, and pretty. She was +scarcely half a thumb in height; so they called her Thumbelina. +An elegant polished walnut-shell served Thumbelina as a cradle, +the blue petals of a violet were her mattress, and a rose-leaf +her coverlid. There she lay at night, but in the day-time she +used to play about on the table; here the woman had put a bowl, +surrounded by a ring of flowers, with their stalks in water, in +the middle of which floated a great tulip pedal, and on this +Thumbelina sat, and sailed from one side of the bowl to the +other, rowing herself with two white horse-hairs for oars. It +was such a pretty sight! She could sing, too, with a voice more +soft and sweet than had ever been heard before. + +One night, when she was lying in her pretty little bed, an old +toad crept in through a broken pane in the window. She was very +ugly, clumsy, and clammy; she hopped on to the table where +Thumbelina lay asleep under the red rose-leaf. + +'This would make a beautiful wife for my son,' said the toad, +taking up the walnut-shell, with Thumbelina inside, and hopping +with it through the window into the garden. + +There flowed a great wide stream, with slippery and marshy banks; +here the toad lived with her son. Ugh! how ugly and clammy he +was, just like his mother! 'Croak, croak, croak!' was all he +could say when he saw the pretty little girl in the walnut- +shell. + +'Don't talk so load, or you'll wake her,' said the old toad. +'She might escape us even now; she is as light as a feather. We +will put her at once on a broad water-lily leaf in the stream. +That will be quite an island for her; she is so small and light. +She can't run away from us there, whilst we are preparing the +guest-chamber under the marsh where she shall live.' + +Outside in the brook grew many water-lilies, with broad green +leaves, which looked as if they were swimming about on the water. + +The leaf farthest away was the largest, and to this the old toad +swam with Thumbelina in her walnut-shell. + +The tiny Thumbelina woke up very early in the morning, and when +she saw where she was she began to cry bitterly; for on every +side of the great green leaf was water, and she could not get to +the land. + +The old toad was down under the marsh, decorating her room with +rushes and yellow marigold leaves, to make it very grand for her +new daughter-in-law; then she swam out with her ugly son to the +leaf where Thumbelina lay. She wanted to fetch the pretty cradle +to put it into her room before Thumbelina herself came there. +The old toad bowed low in the water before her, and said: 'Here +is my son; you shall marry him, and live in great magnificence +down under the marsh.' + +'Croak, croak, croak!' was all that the son could say. Then they +took the neat little cradle and swam away with it; but Thumbelina +sat alone on the great green leaf and wept, for she did not want +to live with the clammy toad, or marry her ugly son. The little +fishes swimming about under the water had seen the toad quite +plainly, and heard what she had said; so they put up their heads +to see the little girl. When they saw her, they thought her so +pretty that they were very sorry she should go down with the ugly +toad to live. No; that must not happen. They assembled in the +water round the green stalk which supported the leaf on which she +was sitting, and nibbled the stem in two. Away floated the leaf +down the stream, bearing Thumbelina far beyond the reach of the +toad. + +On she sailed past several towns, and the little birds sitting in +the bushes saw her, and sang, 'What a pretty little girl!' The +leaf floated farther and farther away; thus Thumbelina left her +native land. + +A beautiful little white butterfly fluttered above her, and at +last settled on the leaf. Thumbelina pleased him, and she, too, +was delighted, for now the toads could not reach her, and it was +so beautiful where she was travelling; the sun shone on the water +and made it sparkle like the brightest silver. She took off her +sash, and tied one end round the butterfly; the other end she +fastened to the leaf, so that now it glided along with her faster +than ever. + +A great cockchafer came flying past; he caught sight of +Thumbelina, and in a moment had put his arms round her slender +waist, and had flown off with her to a tree. The green leaf +floated away down the stream, and the butterfly with it, for he +was fastened to the leaf and could not get loose from it. Oh, +dear! how terrified poor little Thumbelina was when the +cockchafer flew off with her to the tree! But she was especially +distressed on the beautiful white butterfly's account, as she had +tied him fast, so that if he could not get away he must starve to +death. But the cockchafer did not trouble himself about that; he +sat down with her on a large green leaf, gave her the honey out +of the flowers to eat, and told her that she was very pretty, +although she wasn't in the least like a cockchafer. Later on, +all the other cockchafers who lived in the same tree came to pay +calls; they examined Thumbelina closely, and remarked, 'Why, she +has only two legs! How very miserable!' + +'She has no feelers!' cried another. + +'How ugly she is!' said all the lady chafers--and yet Thumbelina +was really very pretty. + +The cockchafer who had stolen her knew this very well; but when +he heard all the ladies saying she was ugly, he began to think so +too, and would not keep her; she might go wherever she liked. So +he flew down from the tree with her and put her on a daisy. +There she sat and wept, because she was so ugly that the +cockchafer would have nothing to do with her; and yet she was the +most beautiful creature imaginable, so soft and delicate, like +the loveliest rose-leaf. + +The whole summer poor little Thumbelina lived alone in the great +wood. She plaited a bed for herself of blades of grass, and hung +it up under a clover-leaf, so that she was protected from the +rain; she gathered honey from the flowers for food, and drank the +dew on the leaves every morning. Thus the summer and autumn +passed, but then came winter--the long, cold winter. All the +birds who had sung so sweetly about her had flown away; the trees +shed their leaves, the flowers died; the great clover-leaf under +which she had lived curled up, and nothing remained of it but the +withered stalk. She was terribly cold, for her clothes were +ragged, and she herself was so small and thin. Poor little +Thumbelina! she would surely be frozen to death. It began to +snow, and every snow-flake that fell on her was to her as a whole +shovelful thrown on one of us, for we are so big, and she was +only an inch high. She wrapt herself round in a dead leaf, but +it was torn in the middle and gave her no warmth; she was +trembling with cold. + +Just outside the wood where she was now living lay a great +corn-field. But the corn had been gone a long time; only the +dry, bare stubble was left standing in the frozen ground. This +made a forest for her to wander about in. All at once she came +across the door of a field-mouse, who had a little hole under a +corn-stalk. There the mouse lived warm and snug, with a +store-room full of corn, a splendid kitchen and dining-room. +Poor little Thumbelina went up to the door and begged for a +little piece of barley, for she had not had anything to eat for +the last two days. + +'Poor little creature!' said the field-mouse, for she was a kind- +hearted old thing at the bottom. 'Come into my warm room and +have some dinner with me.' + +As Thumbelina pleased her, she said: 'As far as I am concerned +you may spend the winter with me; but you must keep my room clean +and tidy, and tell me stories, for I like that very much.' + +And Thumbelina did all that the kind old field-mouse asked, and +did it remarkably well too. + +'Now I am expecting a visitor,' said the field-mouse; 'my +neighbour comes to call on me once a week. He is in better +circumstances than I am, has great, big rooms, and wears a fine +black-velvet coat. If you could only marry him, you would be +well provided for. But he is blind. You must tell him all the +prettiest stories you know.' + +But Thumbelina did not trouble her head about him, for he was +only a mole. He came and paid them a visit in his black-velvet +coat. + +'He is so rich and so accomplished,' the field-mouse told her. + +'His house is twenty times larger than mine; he possesses great +knowledge, but he cannot bear the sun and the beautiful flowers, +and speaks slightingly of them, for he has never seen them.' + +Thumbelina had to sing to him, so she sang 'Lady-bird, lady- +bird, fly away home!' and other songs so prettily that the mole +fell in love with her; but he did not say anything, he was a very +cautious man. A short time before he had dug a long passage +through the ground from his own house to that of his neighbour; +in this he gave the field-mouse and Thumbelina permission to walk +as often as they liked. But he begged them not to be afraid of +the dead bird that lay in the passage: it was a real bird with +beak and feathers, and must have died a little time ago, and now +laid buried just where he had made his tunnel. The mole took a +piece of rotten wood in his mouth, for that glows like fire in +the dark, and went in front, lighting them through the long dark +passage. When they came to the place where the dead bird lay, +the mole put his broad nose against the ceiling and pushed a hole +through, so that the daylight could shine down. In the middle of +the path lay a dead swallow, his pretty wings pressed close to +his sides, his claws and head drawn under his feathers; the poor +bird had evidently died of cold. Thumbelina was very sorry, for +she was very fond of all little birds; they had sung and +twittered so beautifully to her all through the summer. But the +mole kicked him with his bandy legs and said: + +'Now he can't sing any more! It must be very miserable to be a +little bird! I'm thankful that none of my little children are; +birds always starve in winter.' + +'Yes, you speak like a sensible man,' said the field-mouse. +'What has a bird, in spite of all his singing, in the +winter-time? He must starve and freeze, and that must be very +pleasant for him, I must say!' + +Thumbelina did not say anything; but when the other two had +passed on she bent down to the bird, brushed aside the feathers +from his head, and kissed his closed eyes gently. 'Perhaps it +was he that sang to me so prettily in the summer,' she thought. +'How much pleasure he did give me, dear little bird!' + +The mole closed up the hole again which let in the light, and +then escorted the ladies home. But Thumbelina could not sleep +that night; so she got out of bed, and plaited a great big +blanket of straw, and carried it off, and spread it over the dead +bird, and piled upon it thistle-down as soft as cotton-wool, +which she had found in the field-mouse's room, so that the poor +little thing should lie warmly buried. + +'Farewell, pretty little bird!' she said. 'Farewell, and thank +you for your beautiful songs in the summer, when the trees were +green, and the sun shone down warmly on us!' Then she laid her +head against the bird's heart. But the bird was not dead: he had +been frozen, but now that she had warmed him, he was coming to +life again. + +In autumn the swallows fly away to foreign lands; but there are +some who are late in starting, and then they get so cold that +they drop down as if dead, and the snow comes and covers them +over. + +Thumbelina trembled, she was so frightened; for the bird was very +large in comparison with herself--only an inch high. But she +took courage, piled up the down more closely over the poor +swallow, fetched her own coverlid and laid it over his head. + +Next night she crept out again to him. There he was alive, but +very weak; he could only open his eyes for a moment and look at +Thumbelina, who was standing in front of him with a piece of +rotten wood in her hand, for she had no other lantern. + +'Thank you, pretty little child!' said the swallow to her. 'I am +so beautifully warm! Soon I shall regain my strength, and then I +shall be able to fly out again into the warm sunshine.' + +'Oh!' she said, 'it is very cold outside; it is snowing and +freezing! stay in your warm bed; I will take care of you!' + +Then she brought him water in a petal, which he drank, after +which he related to her how he had torn one of his wings on a +bramble, so that he could not fly as fast as the other swallows, +who had flown far away to warmer lands. So at last he had +dropped down exhausted, and then he could remember no more. The +whole winter he remained down there, and Thumbelina looked after +him and nursed him tenderly. Neither the mole nor the +field-mouse learnt anything of this, for they could not bear the +poor swallow. + +When the spring came, and the sun warmed the earth again, the +swallow said farewell to Thumbelina, who opened the hole in the +roof for him which the mole had made. The sun shone brightly +down upon her, and the swallow asked her if she would go with +him; she could sit upon his back. Thumbelina wanted very much to +fly far away into the green wood, but she knew that the old +field-mouse would be sad if she ran away. 'No, I mustn't come!' +she said. + +'Farewell, dear good little girl!' said the swallow, and flew off +into the sunshine. Thumbelina gazed after him with the tears +standing in her eyes, for she was very fond of the swallow. + +'Tweet, tweet!' sang the bird, and flew into the green wood. +Thumbelina was very unhappy. She was not allowed to go out into +the warm sunshine. The corn which had been sowed in the field +over the field-mouse's home grew up high into the air, and made a +thick forest for the poor little girl, who was only an inch high. + +'Now you are to be a bride, Thumbelina!' said the field-mouse, +'for our neighbour has proposed for you! What a piece of fortune +for a poor child like you! Now you must set to work at your +linen for your dowry, for nothing must be lacking if you are to +become the wife of our neighbour, the mole!' + +Thumbelina had to spin all day long, and every evening the mole +visited her, and told her that when the summer was over the sun +would not shine so hot; now it was burning the earth as hard as a +stone. Yes, when the summer had passed, they would keep the +wedding. + +But she was not at all pleased about it, for she did not like the +stupid mole. Every morning when the sun was rising, and every +evening when it was setting, she would steal out of the +house-door, and when the breeze parted the ears of corn so that +she could see the blue sky through them, she thought how bright +and beautiful it must be outside, and longed to see her dear +swallow again. But he never came; no doubt he had flown away far +into the great green wood. + +By the autumn Thumbelina had finished the dowry. + +'In four weeks you will be married!' said the field-mouse; 'don't +be obstinate, or I shall bite you with my sharp white teeth! You +will get a fine husband! The King himself has not such a velvet +coat. His store-room and cellar are full, and you should be +thankful for that.' + +Well, the wedding-day arrived. The mole had come to fetch +Thumbelina to live with him deep down under the ground, never to +come out into the warm sun again, for that was what he didn't +like. The poor little girl was very sad; for now she must say +good-bye to the beautiful sun. + +'Farewell, bright sun!' she cried, stretching out her arms +towards it, and taking another step outside the house; for now +the corn had been reaped, and only the dry stubble was left +standing. 'Farewell, farewell!' she said, and put her arms round +a little red flower that grew there. 'Give my love to the dear +swallow when you see him!' + +'Tweet, tweet!' sounded in her ear all at once. She looked up. +There was the swallow flying past! As soon as he saw Thumbelina, +he was very glad. She told him how unwilling she was to marry +the ugly mole, as then she had to live underground where the sun +never shone, and she could not help bursting into tears. + +'The cold winter is coming now,' said the swallow. 'I must fly +away to warmer lands: will you come with me? You can sit on my +back, and we will fly far away from the ugly mole and his dark +house, over the mountains, to the warm countries where the sun +shines more brightly than here, where it is always summer, and +there are always beautiful flowers. Do come with me, dear little +Thumbelina, who saved my life when I lay frozen in the dark +tunnel!' + +'Yes, I will go with you,' said Thumbelina, and got on the +swallow's back, with her feet on one of his outstretched wings. +Up he flew into the air, over woods and seas, over the great +mountains where the snow is always lying. And if she was cold +she crept under his warm feathers, only keeping her little head +out to admire all the beautiful things in the world beneath. At +last they came to warm lands; there the sun was brighter, the sky +seemed twice as high, and in the hedges hung the finest green and +purple grapes; in the woods grew oranges and lemons: the air was +scented with myrtle and mint, and on the roads were pretty little +children running about and playing with great gorgeous +butterflies. But the swallow flew on farther, and it became more +and more beautiful. Under the most splendid green trees besides +a blue lake stood a glittering white-marble castle. Vines hung +about the high pillars; there were many swallows' nests, and in +one of these lived the swallow who was carrying Thumbelina. + +'Here is my house!' said he. 'But it won't do for you to live +with me; I am not tidy enough to please you. Find a home for +yourself in one of the lovely flowers that grow down there; now I +will set you down, and you can do whatever you like.' + +'That will be splendid!' said she, clapping her little hands. + +There lay a great white marble column which had fallen to the +ground and broken into three pieces, but between these grew the +most beautiful white flowers. The swallow flew down with +Thumbelina, and set her upon one of the broad leaves. But there, +to her astonishment, she found a tiny little man sitting in the +middle of the flower, as white and transparent as if he were made +of glass; he had the prettiest golden crown on his head, and the +most beautiful wings on his shoulders; he himself was no bigger +than Thumbelina. He was the spirit of the flower. In each +blossom there dwelt a tiny man or woman; but this one was the +King over the others. + +'How handsome he is!' whispered Thumbelina to the swallow. + +The little Prince was very much frightened at the swallow, for in +comparison with one so tiny as himself he seemed a giant. But +when he saw Thumbelina, he was delighted, for she was the most +beautiful girl he had ever seen. So he took his golden crown +from off his head and put it on hers, asking her her name, and if +she would be his wife, and then she would be Queen of all the +flowers. Yes! he was a different kind of husband to the son of +the toad and the mole with the black-velvet coat. So she said +'Yes' to the noble Prince. And out of each flower came a lady +and gentleman, each so tiny and pretty that it was a pleasure to +see them. Each brought Thumbelina a present, but the best of all +was a beautiful pair of wings which were fastened on to her back, +and now she too could fly from flower to flower. They all wished +her joy, and the swallow sat above in his nest and sang the +wedding march, and that he did as well as he could; but he was +sad, because he was very fond of Thumbelina and did not want to +be separated from her. + +'You shall not be called Thumbelina!' said the spirit of the +flower to her; 'that is an ugly name, and you are much too pretty +for that. We will call you May Blossom.' + +'Farewell, farewell!' said the little swallow with a heavy heart, +and flew away to farther lands, far, far away, right back to +Denmark. There he had a little nest above a window, where his +wife lived, who can tell fairy-stories. 'Tweet, tweet!' he sang +to her. And that is the way we learnt the whole story. + + + +THE NIGHTINGALE + +In China, as I daresay you know, the Emperor is a Chinaman, and +all his courtiers are also Chinamen. The story I am going to +tell you happened many years ago, but it is worth while for you +to listen to it, before it is forgotten. + +The Emperor's Palace was the most splendid in the world, all made +of priceless porcelain, but so brittle and delicate that you had +to take great care how you touched it. In the garden were the +most beautiful flowers, and on the loveliest of them were tied +silver bells which tinkled, so that if you passed you could not +help looking at the flowers. Everything in the Emperor's garden +was admirably arranged with a view to effect; and the garden was +so large that even the gardener himself did not know where it +ended. If you ever got beyond it, you came to a stately forest +with great trees and deep lakes in it. The forest sloped down to +the sea, which was a clear blue. Large ships could sail under +the boughs of the trees, and in these trees there lived a +Nightingale. She sang so beautifully that even the poor +fisherman who had so much to do stood and listened when he came +at night to cast his nets. 'How beautiful it is!' he said; but +he had to attend to his work, and forgot about the bird. But +when she sang the next night and the fisherman came there again, +he said the same thing, 'How beautiful it is!' + +From all the countries round came travellers to the Emperor's +town, who were astonished at the Palace and the garden. But when +they heard the Nightingale they all said, 'This is the finest +thing after all!' + +The travellers told all about it when they went home, and learned +scholars wrote many books upon the town, the Palace, and the +garden. But they did not forget the Nightingale; she was praised +the most, and all the poets composed splendid verses on the +Nightingale in the forest by the deep sea. + +The books were circulated throughout the world, and some of them +reached the Emperor. He sat in his golden chair, and read and +read. He nodded his head every moment, for he liked reading the +brilliant accounts of the town, the Palace, and the garden. 'But +the Nightingale is better than all,' he saw written. + +'What is that?' said the Emperor. 'I don't know anything about +the Nightingale! Is there such a bird in my empire, and so near +as in my garden? I have never heard it! Fancy reading for the +first time about it in a book!' + +And he called his First Lord to him. He was so proud that if +anyone of lower rank than his own ventured to speak to him or ask +him anything, he would say nothing but 'P!' and that does not +mean anything. + +'Here is a most remarkable bird which is called a Nightingale!' +said the Emperor. 'They say it is the most glorious thing in my +kingdom. Why has no one ever said anything to me about it?' + +'I have never before heard it mentioned!' said the First Lord. +'I will look for it and find it!' + +But where was it to be found? The First Lord ran up and down +stairs, through the halls and corridors; but none of those he met +had ever heard of the Nightingale. And the First Lord ran again +to the Emperor, and told him that it must be an invention on the +part of those who had written the books. + +'Your Irmperial Majesty cannot really believe all that is +written! There are some inventions called the Black Art!' + +'But the book in which I read this,' said the Emperor, 'is sent +me by His Great Majesty the Emperor of Japan; so it cannot be +untrue, and I will hear the Nightingale! She must be here this +evening! She has my gracious permission to appear, and if she +does not, the whole Court shall be trampled under foot after +supper!' + +'Tsing pe!' said the First Lord; and he ran up and down stairs, +through the halls and corridors, and half the Court ran with him, +for they did not want to be trampled under foot. Everyone was +asking after the wonderful Nightingale which all the world knew +of, except those at Court. + +At last they met a poor little girl in the kitchen, who said, +'Oh! I know the Nightingale well. How she sings! I have +permission to carry the scraps over from the Court meals to my +poor sick mother, and when I am going home at night, tired and +weary, and rest for a little in the wood, then I hear the +Nightingale singing! It brings tears to my eyes, and I feel as +if my mother were kissing me!' + +'Little kitchenmaid!' said the First Lord, 'I will give you a +place in the kitchen, and you shall have leave to see the Emperor +at dinner, if you can lead us to the Nightingale, for she is +invited to come to Court this evening.' + +And so they all went into the wood where the Nightingale was wont +to sing, and half the Court went too. + +When they were on the way there they heard a cow mooing. + +'Oh!' said the Courtiers, 'now we have found her! What a +wonderful power for such a small beast to have! I am sure we +have heard her before!' + +'No; that is a cow mooing!' said the little kitchenmaid. 'We +are still a long way off!' + +Then the frogs began to croak in the marsh. 'Splendid!' said the +Chinese chaplain. 'Now we hear her; it sounds like a little +church-bell!' + +'No, no; those are frogs!' said the little kitchenmaid. 'But I +think we shall soon hear her now!' + +Then the Nightingale began to sing. + +'There she is!' cried the little girl. 'Listen! She is sitting +there!' And she pointed to a little dark-grey bird up in the +branches. + +'Is it possible!' said the First Lord. 'I should never have +thought it! How ordinary she looks! She must surely have lost +her feathers because she sees so many distinguished men round +her!' + +'Little Nightingale,' called out the little kitchenmaid, 'our +Gracious Emperor wants you to sing before him!' + +'With the greatest of pleasure!' said the Nightingale; and she +sang so gloriously that it was a pleasure to listen. + +'It sounds like glass bells!' said the First Lord. 'And look how +her little throat works! It is wonderful that we have never +heard her before! She will be a great success at Court.' + +'Shall I sing once more for the Emperor?' asked the Nightingale, +thinking that the Emperor was there. + +'My esteemed little Nightingale,' said the First Lord, 'I have +the great pleasure to invite you to Court this evening, where His +Gracious Imperial Highness will be enchanted with your charming +song!' + +'It sounds best in the green wood,' said the Nightingale; but +still, she came gladly when she heard that the Emperor wished it. + +At the Palace everything was splendidly prepared. The porcelain +walls and floors glittered in the light of many thousand gold +lamps; the most gorgeous flowers which tinkled out well were +placed in the corridors. There was such a hurrying and draught +that all the bells jingled so much that one could not hear +oneself speak. In the centre of the great hall where the Emperor +sat was a golden perch, on which the Nightingale sat. The whole +Court was there, and the little kitchenmaid was allowed to stand +behind the door, now that she was a Court-cook. Everyone was +dressed in his best, and everyone was looking towards the little +grey bird to whom the Emperor nodded. + +The Nightingale sang so gloriously that the tears came into the +Emperor's eyes and ran down his cheeks. Then the Nightingale +sang even more beautifully; it went straight to all hearts. The +Emperor was so delighted that he said she should wear his gold +slipper round her neck. But the Nightingale thanked him, and +said she had had enough reward already. 'I have seen tears in +the Emperor's eyes--that is a great reward. An Emperor's tears +have such power!' Then she sang again with her gloriously sweet +voice. + +'That is the most charming coquetry I have ever seen!' said all +the ladies round. And they all took to holding water in their +mouths that they might gurgle whenever anyone spoke to them. +Then they thought themselves nightingales. Yes, the lackeys and +chambermaids announced that they were pleased; which means a +great deal, for they are the most difficult people of all to +satisfy. In short, the Nightingale was a real success. + +She had to stay at Court now; she had her own cage, and +permission to walk out twice in the day and once at night. + +She was given twelve servants, who each held a silken string +which was fastened round her leg. There was little pleasure in +flying about like this. + +The whole town was talking about the wonderful bird, and when two +people met each other one would say 'Nightin,' and the other +'Gale,' and then they would both sigh and understand one another. + +Yes, and eleven grocer's children were called after her, but not +one of them could sing a note. + +One day the Emperor received a large parcel on which was written +'The Nightingale.' + +'Here is another new book about our famous bird!' said the +Emperor. + +But it was not a book, but a little mechanical toy, which lay in +a box--an artificial nightingale which was like the real one, +only that it was set all over with diamonds, rubies, and +sapphires. When it was wound up, it could sing the piece the +real bird sang, and moved its tail up and down, and glittered +with silver and gold. Round its neck was a little collar on +which was written, 'The Nightingale of the Emperor of Japan is +nothing compared to that of the Emperor of China.' + +'This is magnificent!' they all said, and the man who had +brought the clockwork bird received on the spot the title of +'Bringer of the Imperial First Nightingale.' + +'Now they must sing together; what a duet we shall have!' + +And so they sang together, but their voices did not blend, for +the real Nightingale sang in her way and the clockwork bird sang +waltzes. + +'It is not its fault!' said the bandmaster; 'it keeps very good +time and is quite after my style!' + +Then the artificial bird had to sing alone. It gave just as much +pleasure as the real one, and then it was so much prettier to +look at; it sparkled like bracelets and necklaces. +Three-and-thirty times it sang the same piece without being +tired. People would like to have heard it again, but the Emperor +thought that the living Nightingale should sing now--but where +was she? No one had noticed that she had flown out of the open +window away to her green woods. + +'What SHALL we do!' said the Emperor. + +And all the Court scolded, and said that the Nightingale was very +ungrateful. 'But we have still the best bird!' they said and the +artificial bird had to sing again, and that was the thirty-fourth +time they had heard the same piece. But they did not yet know it +by heart; it was much too difficult. And the bandmaster praised +the bird tremendously; yes, he assured them it was better than a +real nightingale, not only because of its beautiful plumage and +diamonds, but inside as well. 'For see, my Lords and Ladies and +your Imperial Majesty, with the real Nightingale one can never +tell what will come out, but all is known about the artificial +bird! You can explain it, you can open it and show people where +the waltzes lie, how they go, and how one follows the other!' + +'That's just what we think!' said everyone; and the bandmaster +received permission to show the bird to the people the next +Sunday. They should hear it sing, commanded the Emperor. And +they heard it, and they were as pleased as if they had been +intoxicated with tea, after the Chinese fashion, and they all +said 'Oh!' and held up their forefingers and nodded time. But +the poor fishermen who had heard the real Nightingale said: 'This +one sings well enough, the tunes glide out; but there is +something wanting-- I don't know what!' + +The real Nightingale was banished from the kingdom. + +The artificial bird was put on silken cushions by the Emperor's +bed, all the presents which it received, gold and precious +stones, lay round it, and it was given the title of Imperial +Night-singer, First from the left. For the Emperor counted that +side as the more distinguished, being the side on which the heart +is; the Emperor's heart is also on the left. + +And the bandmaster wrote a work of twenty-five volumes about the +artificial bird. It was so learned, long, and so full of the +hardest Chinese words that everyone said they had read it and +understood it; for once they had been very stupid about a book, +and had been trampled under foot in consequence. So a whole year +passed. The Emperor, the Court, and all the Chinese knew every +note of the artificial bird's song by heart. Bat they liked it +all the better for this; they could even sing with it, and they +did. The street boys sang 'Tra-la-la-la-la, and the Emperor sang +too sometimes. It was indeed delightful. + +But one evening, when the artificial bird was singing its best, +and the Emperor lay in bed listening to it, something in the bird +went crack. Something snapped! Whir-r-r! all the wheels ran +down and then the music ceased. The Emperor sprang up, and had +his physician summoned, but what could HE do! Then the +clockmaker came, and, after a great deal of talking and +examining, he put the bird somewhat in order, but he said that it +must be very seldom used as the works were nearly worn out, and +it was impossible to put in new ones. Here was a calamity! Only +once a year was the artificial bird allowed to sing, and even +that was almost too much for it. But then the bandmaster made a +little speech full of hard words, saying that it was just as good +as before. And so, of course, it WAS just as good as before. So +five years passed, and then a great sorrow came to the nation. +The Chinese look upon their Emperor as everything, and now he was +ill, and not likely to live it was said. + +Already a new Emperor had been chosen, and the people stood +outside in the street and asked the First Lord how the old +Emperor was. 'P!' said he, and shook his head. + +Cold and pale lay the Emperor in his splendid great bed; the +whole Court believed him dead, and one after the other left him +to pay their respects to the new Emperor. Everywhere in the +halls and corridors cloth was laid down so that no footstep could +be heard, and everything was still--very, very still. And +nothing came to break the silence. + +The Emperor longed for something to come and relieve the monotony +of this deathlike stillness. If only someone would speak to him! +If only someone would sing to him. Music would carry his +thoughts away, and would break the spell lying on him. The moon +was streaming in at the open window; but that, too, was silent, +quite silent. + +'Music! music!' cried the Emperor. 'You little bright golden +bird, sing! do sing! I gave you gold and jewels; I have hung my +gold slipper round your neck with my own hand--sing! do sing!' +But the bird was silent. There was no one to wind it up, and so +it could not sing. And all was silent, so terribly silent! + +All at once there came in at the window the most glorious burst +of song. It was the little living Nightingale, who, sitting +outside on a bough, had heard the need of her Emperor and had +come to sing to him of comfort and hope. And as she sang the +blood flowed quicker and quicker in the Emperor's weak limbs, and +life began to return. + +'Thank you, thank you!' said the Emperor. 'You divine little +bird! I know you. I chased you from my kingdom, and you have +given me life again! How can I reward you?' + +'You have done that already!' said the Nightingale. 'I brought +tears to your eyes the first time I sang. I shall never forget +that. They are jewels that rejoice a singer's heart. But now +sleep and get strong again; I will sing you a lullaby.' And the +Emperor fell into a deep, calm sleep as she sang. + +The sun was shining through the window when he awoke, strong and +well. None of his servants had come back yet, for they thought +he was dead. But the Nightingale sat and sang to him. + +'You must always stay with me!' said the Emperor. 'You shall +sing whenever you like, and I will break the artificial bird into +a thousand pieces.' + +'Don't do that!' said the Nightingale. 'He did his work as long +as he could. Keep him as you have done! I cannot build my nest +in the Palace and live here; but let me come whenever I like. I +will sit in the evening on the bough outside the window, and I +will sing you something that will make you feel happy and +grateful. I will sing of joy, and of sorrow; I will sing of the +evil and the good which lies hidden from you. The little +singing-bird flies all around, to the poor fisherman's hut, to +the farmer's cottage, to all those who are far away from you and +your Court. I love your heart more than your crown, though that +has about it a brightness as of something holy. Now I will sing +to you again; but you must promise me one thing----' + +'Anything!' said the Emperor, standing up in his Imperial robes, +which he had himself put on, and fastening on his sword richly +embossed with gold. + +'One thing I beg of you! Don't tell anyone that you have a +little bird who tells you everything. It will be much better not +to!' Then the Nightingale flew away. + +The servants came in to look at their dead Emperor. + +The Emperor said, 'Good-morning!' + + + +HERMOD AND HADVOR [32] + +[32] From the Icelandic. + +Once upon a time there were a King and a Queen who had an only +daughter, called Hadvor, who was fair and beautiful, and being an +only child, was heir to the kingdom. The King and Queen had also +a foster son, named Hermod, who was just about the same age as +Hadvor, and was good-looking, as well as clever at most things. +Hermod and Hadvor often played together while they were children, +and liked each other so much that while they were still young +they secretly plighted their troth to each other. + +As time went on the Queen fell sick, and suspecting that it was +her last illness, sent for the King to come to her. When he came +she told him that she had no long time to live, and therefore +wished to ask one thing of him, which was, that if he married +another wife he should promise to take no other one than the +Queen of Hetland the Good. The King gave the promise, and +thereafter the Queen died. + +Time went past, and the King, growing tired of living alone, +fitted out his ship and sailed out to sea. As he sailed there +came upon him so thick a mist that he altogether lost his +bearings, but after long trouble he found land. There he laid +his ship to, and went on shore all alone. After walking for some +time he came to a forest, into which he went a little way and +stopped. Then he heard sweet music from a harp, and went in the +direction of the sound until he came to a clearing, and there he +saw three women, one of whom sat on a golden chair, and was +beautifully and grandly dressed; she held a harp in her hands, +and was very sorrowful. The second was also finely dressed, but +younger in appearance, and also sat on a chair, but it was not so +grand as the first one's. The third stood beside them, and was +very pretty to look at; she had a green cloak over her other +clothes, and it was easy to see that she was maid to the other +two. + +After the King had looked at them for a little he went forward +and saluted them. The one that sat on the golden chair asked him +who he was and where he was going; and he told her all the story +--how he was a king, and had lost his queen, and was now on his +way to Hetland the Good, to ask the Queen of that country in +marriage. She answered that fortune had contrived this +wonderfully, for pirates had plundered Hetland and killed the +King, and she had fled from the land in terror, and had come +hither after great trouble, and she was the very person he was +looking for, and the others were her daughter and maid. The King +immediately asked her hand; she gladly received his proposal and +accepted him at once. Thereafter they all set out, and made +their way to the ship; and after that nothing is told of their +voyage until the King reached his own country. There he made a +great feast, and celebrated his marriage with this woman; and +after that things are quiet for a time. + +Hermod and Hadvor took but little notice of the Queen and her +daughter, but, on the other hand, Hadvor and the Queen's maid, +whose name was Olof, were very friendly, and Olof came often to +visit Hadvor in her castle. Before long the King went out to +war, and no sooner was he away than the Queen came to talk with +Hermod, and said that she wanted him to marry her daughter. +Hermod told her straight and plain that he would not do so, at +which the Queen grew terribly angry, and said that in that case +neither should he have Hadvor, for she would now lay this spell +on him, that he should go to a desert island and there be a lion +by day and a man by night. He should also think always of +Hadvor, which would cause him all the more sorrow, and from this +spell he should never be freed until Hadvor burned the lion's +skin, and that would not happen very soon. + +As soon as the Queen had finished her speech Hermod replied that +he also laid a spell on her, and that was, that as soon as he was +freed from her enchantments she should become a rat and her +daughter a mouse, and fight with each other in the hall until he +killed them with his sword. + +After this Hermod disappeared, and no one knew what had become of +him; the Queen caused search to be made for him, but he could +nowhere be found. One time, when Olof was in the castle beside +Hadvor, she asked the Princess if she knew where Hermod had gone +to. At this Hadvor became very sad, and said that she did not. + +'I shall tell you then,' said Olof, 'for I know all about it. +Hermod has disappeared through the wicked devices of the Queen, +for she is a witch, and so is her daughter, though they have put +on these beautiful forms. Because Hermod would not fall in with +the Queen's plans, and marry her daughter, she has laid a spell +on him, to go on an island and be a lion by day and a man by +night, and never be freed from this until you burn the lion's +skin. Besides,' said Olof, 'she has looked out a match for you; +she has a brother in the Underworld, a three-headed Giant, whom +she means to turn into a beautiful prince and get him married to +you. This is no new thing for the Queen; she took me away from +my parents' house and compelled me to serve her; but she has +never done me any harm, for the green cloak I wear protects me +against all mischief. + +Hadvor now became still sadder than before at the thought of the +marriage destined for her, and entreated Olof to think of some +plan to save her. + +'I think,' said Olof, 'that your wooer will come up through the +floor of the castle to you, and so you must be prepared when you +hear the noise of his coming and the floor begins to open, and +have at hand blazing pitch, and pour plenty of it into the +opening. That will prove too much for him.' + +About this time the King came home from his expedition, and +thought it a great blow that no one knew what had become of +Hermod; but the Queen consoled him as best she could, and after a +time the King thought less about his disappearance. + +Hadvor remained in her castle, and had made preparations to +receive her wooer when he came. One night, not long after, a +loud noise and rumbling was heard under the castle. Hadvor at +once guessed what it was, and told her maids to be ready to help +her. The noise and thundering grew louder and louder, until the +floor began to open, whereupon Hadvor made them take the caldron +of pitch and pour plenty of it into the opening. With that the +noises grew fainter and fainter, till at last they ceased +altogether. + +Next morning the Queen rose early, and went out to the Palace +gate, and there she found her brother the Giant lying dead. She +went up to him and said, 'I pronounce this spell, that you become +a beautiful prince, and that Hadvor shall be unable to say +anything against the charges that I shall bring against her.' + +The body of the dead Giant now became that of a beautiful prince, +and the Queen went in again. + +'I don't think,' said she to the King, 'that your daughter is as +good as she is said to be. My brother came and asked her hand, +and she has had him put to death. I have just found his dead +body lying at the Palace gate.' + +The King went along with the Queen to see the body, and thought +it all very strange; so beautiful a youth, he said, would have +been a worthy match for Hadvor, and he would readily have agreed +to their marriage. The Queen asked leave to decide what Hadvor's +punishment should be, which the King was very willing to allow, +so as to escape from punishing his own daughter. The Queen's +decision was that the King should make a big grave-mound for her +brother, and put Hadvor into it beside him. + +Olof knew all the plans of the Queen, and went to tell the +Princess what had been done, whereupon Hadvor earnestly entreated +her to tell her what to do. + +'First and foremost,' said Olof, 'you must get a wide cloak to +wear over your other clothes, when you are put into the mound. +The Giant's ghost will walk after you are both left together in +there, and he will have two dogs along with him. He will ask you +to cut pieces out of his legs to give to the dogs, but that you +must not promise to do unless he tells you where Hermod has gone +to, and tells you how to find him. He will then let you stand on +his shoulders, so as to get out of the mound; but he means to +cheat you all the same, and will catch you by the cloak to pull +you back again; but you must take care to have the cloak loose on +your shoulders, so that he will only get hold of that.' + +The mound was all ready now, and the Giant laid in it, and into +it Hadvor also had to go without being allowed to make any +defence. After they were both left there everything happened +just as Olof had said. The prince became a Giant again, and +asked Hadvor to cut the pieces out of his legs for the dogs; but +she refused until he told her that Hermod was in a desert island, +which she could not reach unless she took the skin off the soles +of his feet and made shoes out of that; with these shoes she +could travel both on land and sea. This Hadvor now did, and the +Giant then let her get up on his shoulders to get out of the +mound. As she sprang out he caught hold of her cloak; but she +had taken care to let it lie loose on her shoulders, and so +escaped. + +She now made her way down to the sea, to where she knew there was +the shortest distance over to the island in which Hermod was. +This strait she easily crossed, for the shoes kept her up. On +reaching the island she found a sandy beach all along by the sea, +and high cliffs above. Nor could she see any way to get up +these, and so, being both sad at heart and tired with the long +journey, she lay down and fell asleep. As she slept she dreamed +that a tall woman came to her and said, 'I know that you are +Princess Hadvor, and are searching for Hermod. He is on this +island; but it will be hard for you to get to him if you have no +one to help you, for you cannot climb the cliffs by your own +strength. I have therefore let down a rope, by which you will be +able to climb up; and as the island is so large that you might +not find Hermod's dwelling-place so easily, I lay down this clew +beside you. You need only hold the end of the thread, and the +clew will run on before and show you the way. I also lay this +belt beside you, to put on when you awaken; it will keep you from +growing faint with hunger.' + +The woman now disappeared, and Hadvor woke, and saw that all her +dream had been true. The rope hung down from the cliff, and the +clew and belt lay beside her. The belt she put on, the rope +enabled her to climb up the cliff, and the clew led her on till +she came to the mouth of a cave, which was not very big. She +went into the cave, and saw there a low couch, under which she +crept and lay down. + +When evening came she heard the noise of footsteps outside, and +became aware that the lion had come to the mouth of the cave, and +shook itself there, after which she heard a man coming towards +the couch. She was sure this was Hermod, because she heard him +speaking to himself about his own condition, and calling to mind +Hadvor and other things in the old days. Hadvor made no sign, +but waited till he had fallen asleep, and then crept out and +burned the lion's skin, which he had left outside. Then she went +back into the cave and wakened Hermod, and they had a most joyful +meeting. + +In the morning they talked over their plans, and were most at a +loss to know how to get out of the island. Hadvor told Hermod +her dream, and said she suspected there was some one in the +island who would be able to help them. Hermod said he knew of a +Witch there, who was very ready to help anyone, and that the only +plan was to go to her. So they went to the Witch's cave, and +found her there with her fifteen young sons, and asked her to +help them to get to the mainland. + +'There are other things easier than that,' said she, 'for the +Giant that was buried will be waiting for you, and will attack +you on the way, as he has turned himself into a big whale. I +shall lend you a boat, however, and if you meet the whale and +think your lives are in danger, then you can name me by name.' + +They thanked her greatly for her help and advice, and set out +from the island, but on the way they saw a huge fish coming +towards them, with great splashing and dashing of waves. They +were sure of what it was, and thought they had as good reason as +ever they would have to call on the Witch, and so they did. The +next minute they saw coming after them another huge whale, +followed by fifteen smaller ones. All of these swam past the +boat and went on to meet the whale. There was a fierce battle +then, and the sea became so stormy that it was not very easy to +keep the boat from being filled by the waves. After this fight +had gone on for some time, they saw that the sea was dyed with +blood; the big whale and the fifteen smaller ones disappeared, +and they got to land safe and sound. + +Now the story goes back to the King's hall, where strange things +had happened in the meantime. The Queen and her daughter had +disappeared, but a rat and a mouse were always fighting with each +other there. Ever so many people had tried to drive them away, +but no one could manage it. Thus some time went on, while the +King was almost beside himself with sorrow and care for the loss +of his Queen, and because these monsters destroyed all mirth in +the hall. + +One evening, however, while they all sat dull and down-hearted, +in came Hermod with a sword by his side, and saluted the King, +who received him with the greatest joy, as if he had come back +from the dead. Before Hermod sat down, however, he went to where +the rat and the mouse were fighting, and cut them in two with his +sword. All were astonished then by seeing two witches lying dead +on the floor of the hall. + +Hermod now told the whole story to the King, who was very glad to +be rid of such vile creatures. Next he asked for the hand of +Hadvor, which the King readily gave him, and being now an old +man, gave the kingdom to him as well; and so Hermod became King. + +Olof married a good-looking nobleman, and that is the end of the +story. + + + +THE STEADFAST TIN-SOLDIER + +There were once upon a time five-and twenty tin-soldiers--all +brothers, as they were made out of the same old tin spoon. Their +uniform was red and blue, and they shouldered their guns and +looked straight in front of them. The first words that they +heard in this world, when the lid of the box in which they lay +was taken off, were: 'Hurrah, tin-soldiers!' This was exclaimed +by a little boy, clapping his hands; they had been given to him +because it was his birthday, and now he began setting them out on +the table. Each soldier was exactly like the other in shape, +except just one, who had been made last when the tin had run +short; but there he stood as firmly on his one leg as the others +did on two, and he is the one that became famous. + +There were many other playthings on the table on which they were +being set out, but the nicest of all was a pretty little castle +made of cardboard, with windows through which you could see into +the rooms. In front of the castle stood some little trees +surrounding a tiny mirror which looked like a lake. Wax swans +were floating about and reflecting themselves in it. That was +all very pretty; but the most beautiful thing was a little lady, +who stood in the open doorway. She was cut out of paper, but she +had on a dress of the finest muslin, with a scarf of narrow blue +ribbon round her shoulders, fastened in the middle with a +glittering rose made of gold paper, which was as large as her +head. The little lady was stretching out both her arms, for she +was a Dancer, and was lifting up one leg so high in the air that +the Tin-soldier couldn't find it anywhere, and thought that she, +too, had only one leg. + +'That's the wife for me!' he thought; 'but she is so grand, and +lives in a castle, whilst I have only a box with four-and-twenty +others. This is no place for her! But I must make her +acquaintance.' Then he stretched himself out behind a snuff-box +that lay on the table; from thence he could watch the dainty +little lady, who continued to stand on one leg without losing her +balance. + +When the night came all the other tin-soldiers went into their +box, and the people of the house went to bed. Then the toys +began to play at visiting, dancing, and fighting. The +tin-soldiers rattled in their box, for they wanted to be out too, +but they could not raise the lid. The nut-crackers played at +leap-frog, and the slate-pencil ran about the slate; there was +such a noise that the canary woke up and began to talk to them, +in poetry too! The only two who did not stir from their places +were the Tin-soldier and the little Dancer. She remained on +tip-toe, with both arms outstretched; he stood steadfastly on his +one leg, never moving his eyes from her face. + +The clock struck twelve, and crack! off flew the lid of the +snuff- box; but there was no snuff inside, only a little black +imp--that was the beauty of it. + +'Hullo, Tin-soldier!' said the imp. 'Don't look at things that +aren't intended for the likes of you!' + +But the Tin-soldier took no notice, and seemed not to hear. + +'Very well, wait till to-morrow!' said the imp. + +When it was morning, and the children had got up, the Tin-soldier +was put in the window; and whether it was the wind or the little +black imp, I don't know, but all at once the window flew open and +out fell the little Tin-soldier, head over heels, from the third- +storey window! That was a terrible fall, I can tell you! He +landed on his head with his leg in the air, his gun being wedged +between two paving-stones. + +The nursery-maid and the little boy came down at once to look for +him, but, though they were so near him that they almost trod on +him, they did not notice him. If the Tin-soldier had only called +out 'Here I am!' they must have found him; but he did not think +it fitting for him to cry out, because he had on his uniform. + +Soon it began to drizzle; then the drops came faster, and there +was a regular down-pour. When it was over, two little street +boys came along. + +'Just look!' cried one. 'Here is a Tin-soldier! He shall sail +up and down in a boat!' + +So they made a little boat out of newspaper, put the Tin-soldier +in it, and made him sail up and down the gutter; both the boys +ran along beside him, clapping their hands. What great waves +there were in the gutter, and what a swift current! The +paper-boat tossed up and down, and in the middle of the stream it +went so quick that the Tin-soldier trembled; but he remained +steadfast, showed no emotion, looked straight in front of him, +shouldering his gun. All at once the boat passed under a long +tunnel that was as dark as his box had been. + +'Where can I be coming now?' he wondered. 'Oh, dear! This is +the black imp's fault! Ah, if only the little lady were sitting +beside me in the boat, it might be twice as dark for all I should +care!' + +Suddenly there came along a great water-rat that lived in the +tunnel. + +'Have you a passport?' asked the rat. 'Out with your passport!' + +But the Tin-soldier was silent, and grasped his gun more firmly. + +The boat sped on, and the rat behind it. Ugh! how he showed his +teeth, as he cried to the chips of wood and straw: 'Hold him, +hold him! he has not paid the toll! He has not shown his +passport!' + +But the current became swifter and stronger. The Tin-soldier +could already see daylight where the tunnel ended; but in his +ears there sounded a roaring enough to frighten any brave man. +Only think! at the end of the tunnel the gutter discharged +itself into a great canal; that would be just as dangerous for +him as it would be for us to go down a waterfall. + +Now he was so near to it that he could not hold on any longer. +On went the boat, the poor Tin-soldier keeping himself as stiff +as he could: no one should say of him afterwards that he had +flinched. The boat whirled three, four times round, and became +filled to the brim with water: it began to sink! The Tin-soldier +was standing up to his neck in water, and deeper and deeper sank +the boat, and softer and softer grew the paper; now the water was +over his head. He was thinking of the pretty little Dancer, +whose face he should never see again, and there sounded in his +ears, over and over again: + + 'Forward, forward, soldier bold! + Death's before thee, grim and cold!' + +The paper came in two, and the soldier fell--but at that moment +he was swallowed by a great fish. + +Oh! how dark it was inside, even darker than in the tunnel, and +it was really very close quarters! But there the steadfast +little Tin-soldier lay full length, shouldering his gun. + +Up and down swam the fish, then he made the most dreadful +contortions, and became suddenly quite still. Then it was as if +a flash of lightning had passed through him; the daylight +streamed in, and a voice exclaimed, 'Why, here is the little +Tin-soldier!' The fish had been caught, taken to market, sold, +and brought into the kitchen, where the cook had cut it open with +a great knife. She took up the soldier between her finger and +thumb, and carried him into the room, where everyone wanted to +see the hero who had been found inside a fish; but the +Tin-soldier was not at all proud. They put him on the table, +and--no, but what strange things do happen in this world!--the +Tin-soldier was in the same room in which he had been before! He +saw the same children, and the same toys on the table; and there +was the same grand castle with the pretty little Dancer. She was +still standing on one leg with the other high in the air; she too +was steadfast. That touched the Tin-soldier, he was nearly going +to shed tin-tears; but that would not have been fitting for a +soldier. He looked at her, but she said nothing. + +All at once one of the little boys took up the Tin-soldier, and +threw him into the stove, giving no reasons; but doubtless the +little black imp in the snuff-box was at the bottom of this too. + +There the Tin-soldier lay, and felt a heat that was truly +terrible; but whether he was suffering from actual fire, or from +the ardour of his passion, he did not know. All his colour had +disappeared; whether this had happened on his travels or whether +it was the result of trouble, who can say? He looked at the +little lady, she looked at him, and he felt that he was melting; +but he remained steadfast, with his gun at his shoulder. +Suddenly a door opened, the draught caught up the little Dancer, +and off she flew like a sylph to the Tin-soldier in the stove, +burst into flames--and that was the end of her! Then the +Tin-soldier melted down into a little lump, and when next morning +the maid was taking out the ashes, she found him in the shape of +a heart. There was nothing left of the little Dancer but her +gilt rose, burnt as black as a cinder. + + + +BLOCKHEAD-HANS + +Far away in the country lay an old manor-house where lived an old +squire who had two sons. They thought themselves so clever, that +if they had known only half of what they did know, it would have +been quite enough. They both wanted to marry the King's +daughter, for she had proclaimed that she would have for her +husband the man who knew best how to choose his words. + +Both prepared for the wooing a whole week, which was the longest +time allowed them; but, after all, it was quite long enough, for +they both had preparatory knowledge, and everyone knows how +useful that is. One knew the whole Latin dictionary and also +three years' issue of the daily paper of the town off by heart, +so that he could repeat it all backwards or forwards as you +pleased. The other had worked at the laws of corporation, and +knew by heart what every member of the corporation ought to know, +so that he thought he could quite well speak on State matters and +give his opinion. He understood, besides this, how to embroider +braces with roses and other flowers, and scrolls, for he was very +ready with his fingers. + +'I shall win the king's daughter!' they both cried. + +Their old father gave each of them a fine horse; the one who knew +the dictionary and the daily paper by heart had a black horse, +while the other who was so clever at corporation law had a milk- +white one. Then they oiled the corners of their mouths so that +they might be able to speak more fluently. All the servants +stood in the courtyard and saw them mount their steeds, and here +by chance came the third brother; for the squire had three sons, +but nobody counted him with his brothers, for he was not so +learned as they were, and he was generally called +'Blockhead-Hans.' + +'Oh, oh!' said Blockhead-Hans. 'Where are you off to? You are +in your Sunday-best clothes!' + +'We are going to Court, to woo the Princess! Don't you know what +is known throughout all the country side?' And they told him all +about it. + +'Hurrah! I'll go to!' cried Blockhead-Hans; and the brothers +laughed at him and rode off. + +'Dear father!' cried Blockhead-Hans, 'I must have a horse too. +What a desire for marriage has seized me! If she will have me, +she WILL have me, and if she won't have me, I will have her.' + +'Stop that nonsense!' said the old man. 'I will not give you a +horse. YOU can't speak; YOU don't know how to choose your words. +Your brothers! Ah! they are very different lads!' + +'Well,' said Blockhead-Hans, 'if I can't have a horse, I will +take the goat which is mine; he can carry me!' + +And he did so. He sat astride on the goat, struck his heels into +its side, and went rattling down the high-road like a hurricane. + +'Hoppetty hop! what a ride!' Here I come!' shouted Blockhead- +Hans, singing so that the echoes were roused far and near. But +his brothers were riding slowly in front. They were not +speaking, but they were thinking over all the good things they +were going to say, for everything had to be thought out. + +'Hullo!' bawled Blockhead-Hans, 'here I am! Just look what I +found on the road!'--and he showed them a dead crow which he had +picked up. + +'Blockhead!' said his brothers, 'what are you going to do with +it?' + +'With the crow? I shall give it to the Princess!' + +'Do so, certainly!' they said, laughing loudly and riding on. + +'Slap! bang! here I am again! Look what I have just found! +You don't find such things every day on the road!' And the +brothers turned round to see what in the world he could have +found. + +'Blockhead!' said they, 'that is an old wooden shoe without the +top! Are you going to send that, too, to the Princess?' + +'Of course I shall!' returned Blockhead-Hans; and the brothers +laughed and rode on a good way. + +'Slap! bang! here I am!' cried Blockhead-Hans; 'better and +better--it is really famous!' + +'What have you found now?' asked the brothers. + +'Oh,' said Blockhead-Hans, 'it is really too good! How pleased +the Princess will be!' + +'Why!' said the brothers, 'this is pure mud, straight from the +ditch.' + +'Of course it is!' said Blockhead-Hans, 'and it is the best kind! +Look how it runs through one's fingers!' and, so saying, he +filled his pocket with the mud. + +But the brothers rode on so fast that dust and sparks flew all +around, and they reached the gate of the town a good hour before +Blockhead-Hans. Here came the suitors numbered according to +their arrival, and they were ranged in rows, six in each row, and +they were so tightly packed that they could not move their arms. +This was a very good thing, for otherwise they would have torn +each other in pieces, merely because the one was in front of the +other. + +All the country people were standing round the King's throne, and +were crowded together in thick masses almost out of the windows +to see the Princess receive the suitors; and as each one came +into the room all his fine phrases went out like a candle! + +'It doesn't matter!' said the Princess. 'Away! out with him!' + +At last she came to the row in which the brother who knew the +dictionary by heart was, but he did not know it any longer; he +had quite forgotten it in the rank and file. And the floor +creaked, and the ceiling was all made of glass mirrors, so that +he saw himself standing on his head, and by each window were +standing three reporters and an editor; and each of them was +writing down what was said, to publish it in the paper that came +out and was sold at the street corners for a penny. It was +fearful, and they had made up the fire so hot that it was +grilling. + +'It is hot in here, isn't it!' said the suitor. + +'Of course it is! My father is roasting young chickens to-day!' +said the Princess. + +'Ahem!' There he stood like an idiot. He was not prepared for +such a speech; he did not know what to say, although he wanted to +say something witty. 'Ahem!' + +'It doesn't matter!' said the Princess. 'Take him out!' and out +he had to go. + +Now the other brother entered. + +'How hot it is!' he said. + +'Of course! We are roasting young chickens to-day!' remarked the +Princess. + +'How do you--um!' he said, and the reporters wrote down. 'How do +you--um.' + +'It doesn't matter!' said the Princess. 'Take him out!' + +Now Blockhead-Hans came in; he rode his goat right into the hall. + +'I say! How roasting hot it is here!' said he. + +'Of course! I am roasting young chickens to-day!' said the +Princess. + +'That's good!' replied Blockhead-Hans; 'then can I roast a crow +with them?' + +'With the greatest of pleasure!' said the Princess; 'but have you +anything you can roast them in? for I have neither pot nor +saucepan.' + +'Oh, rather!' said Blockhead-Hans. 'Here is a cooking implement +with tin rings,' and he drew out the old wooden shoe, and laid +the crow in it. + +'That is quite a meal!' said the Princess; 'but where shall we +get the soup from?' + +'I've got that in my pocket!' said Blockhead-Hans. 'I have so +much that I can quite well throw some away!' and he poured some +mud out of his pocket. + +'I like you!' said the Princess. 'You can answer, and you can +speak, and I will marry you; but do you know that every word +which we are saying and have said has been taken down and will be +in the paper to-morrow? By each window do you see there are +standing three reporters and an old editor, and this old editor +is the worst, for he doesn't understand anything!' but she only +said this to tease Blockhead-Hans. And the reporters giggled, +and each dropped a blot of ink on the floor. + +'Ah! are those the great people?' said Blockhead-Hans. 'Then I +will give the editor the best!' So saying, he turned his pockets +inside out, and threw the mud right in his face. + +'That was neatly done!' said the Princess. 'I couldn't have done +it; but I will soon learn how to!' + +Blockhead-Hans became King, got a wife and a crown, and sat on +the throne; and this we have still damp from the newspaper of the +editor and the reporters--and they are not to be believed for a +moment. + + + +A STORY ABOUT A DARNING-NEEDLE + +There was once a Darning-needle who thought herself so fine that +she believed she was an embroidery-needle. 'Take great care to +hold me tight!' said the Darning-needle to the Fingers who were +holding her. 'Don't let me fall! If I once fall on the ground I +shall never be found again, I am so fine!' + +'It is all right!' said the Fingers, seizing her round the waist. + +'Look, I am coming with my train!' said the Darning-needle as she +drew a long thread after her; but there was no knot at the end of +the thread. + +The Fingers were using the needle on the cook's shoe. The upper +leather was unstitched and had to be sewn together. + +'This is common work!' said the Darning-needle. 'I shall never +get through it. I am breaking! I am breaking!' And in fact she +did break. 'Didn't I tell you so!' said the Darning-needle. 'I +am too fine!' + +'Now she is good for nothing!' said the Fingers; but they had to +hold her tight while the cook dropped some sealing-wax on the +needle and stuck it in the front of her dress. + +'Now I am a breast-pin!' said the Darning-needle. 'I always knew +I should be promoted. When one is something, one will become +something!' And she laughed to herself; you can never see when a +Darning-needle is laughing. Then she sat up as proudly as if she +were in a State coach, and looked all round her. + +'May I be allowed to ask if you are gold?' she said to her +neighbour, the Pin. 'You have a very nice appearance, and a +peculiar head; but it is too small! You must take pains to make +it grow, for it is not everyone who has a head of sealing-wax.' +And so saying the Darning-needle raised herself up so proudly +that she fell out of the dress, right into the sink which the +cook was rinsing out. + +'Now I am off on my travels!' said the Darning-needle. 'I do +hope I sha'n't get lost!' She did indeed get lost. + +'I am too fine for this world!' said she as she lay in the +gutter; 'but I know who I am, and that is always a little +satisfaction!' + +And the Darning-needle kept her proud bearing and did not lose +her good-temper. + +All kinds of things swam over her--shavings, bits of straw, and +scraps of old newspapers. + +'Just look how they sail along!' said the Darning-needle. 'They +don't know what is underneath them! Here I am sticking fast! +There goes a shaving thinking of nothing in the world but of +itself, a mere chip! There goes a straw--well, how it does twist +and twirl, to be sure! Don't think so much about yourself, or +you will be knocked against a stone. There floats a bit of +newspaper. What is written on it is long ago forgotten, and yet +how proud it is! I am sitting patient and quiet. I know who I +am, and that is enough for me!' + +One day something thick lay near her which glittered so brightly +that the Darning-needle thought it must be a diamond. But it was +a bit of bottle-glass, and because it sparkled the Darning-needle +spoke to it, and gave herself out as a breast-pin. + +'No doubt you are a diamond?' + +'Yes, something of that kind!' And each believed that the other +was something very costly; and they both said how very proud the +world must be of them. + +'I have come from a lady's work-box,' said Darning-needle, 'and +this lady was a cook; she had five fingers on each hand; anything +so proud as these fingers I have never seen! And yet they were +only there to take me out of the work-box and to put me back +again!' + +'Were they of noble birth, then?' asked the bit of bottle-glass. + +'Of noble birth!' said the Darning-needle; 'no indeed, but proud! +They were five brothers, all called ''Fingers.'' They held +themselves proudly one against the other, although they were of +different sizes. The outside one, the Thumb, was short and fat; +he was outside the rank, and had only one bend in his back, and +could only make one bow; but he said that if he were cut off from +a man that he was no longer any use as a soldier. Dip-into- +everything, the second finger, dipped into sweet things as well +as sour things, pointed to the sun and the moon, and guided the +pen when they wrote. Longman, the third, looked at the others +over his shoulder. Goldband, the fourth, had a gold sash round +his waist; and little Playman did nothing at all, and was the +more proud. There was too much ostentation, and so I came away.' + +'And now we are sitting and shining here!' said the bit of +bottle-glass. + +At that moment more water came into the gutter; it streamed over +the edges and washed the bit of bottle-glass away. + +'Ah! now he has been promoted!' said the Darning-needle. 'I +remain here; I am too fine. But that is my pride, which is a +sign of respectability!' And she sat there very proudly, thinking +lofty thoughts. + +'I really believe I must have been born a sunbeam, I am so fine! +It seems to me as if the sunbeams were always looking under the +water for me. Ah, I am so fine that my own mother cannot find +me! If I had my old eye which broke off, I believe I could weep; +but I can't--it is not fine to weep!' + +One day two street-urchins were playing and wading in the gutter, +picking up old nails, pennies, and such things. It was rather +dirty work, but it was a great delight to them. + +'Oh, oh!' cried out one, as he pricked himself with the +Darning-needle; 'he is a fine fellow though!' + +'I am not a fellow; I am a young lady!' said the Darning-needle; +but no one heard. The sealing-wax had gone, and she had become +quite black; but black makes one look very slim, and so she +thought she was even finer than before. + +'Here comes an egg-shell sailing along!' said the boys, and they +stuck the Darning-needle into the egg-shell. + +'The walls white and I black--what a pretty contrast it makes!' +said the Darning-needle. 'Now I can be seen to advantage! If +only I am not sea-sick! I should give myself up for lost!' + +But she was not sea-sick, and did not give herself up. + +'It is a good thing to be steeled against sea-sickness; here one +has indeed an advantage over man! Now my qualms are over. The +finer one is the more one can beat.' + +'Crack!' said the egg-shell as a wagon-wheel went over it. + +'Oh! how it presses!' said the Darning-needle. 'I shall indeed +be sea-sick now. I am breaking!' But she did not break, although +the wagon-wheel went over her; she lay there at full length, and +there she may lie. + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Yellow Fairy Book + diff --git a/old/ylfry10.zip b/old/ylfry10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3c3b036 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ylfry10.zip |