The Red Fairy Book ............................................................................................................................................1

Edited by Andrew Lang ...........................................................................................................................1

PREFACE ................................................................................................................................................2

THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES .............................................................................................2

THE PRINCESS MAYBLOSSOM .......................................................................................................10

SORIA MORIA CASTLE.....................................................................................................................19

THE DEATH OF KOSHCHEI THE DEATHLESS.............................................................................26

THE BLACK THIEF AND KNIGHT OF THE GLEN........................................................................34

THE MASTER THIEF..........................................................................................................................40

BROTHER AND SISTER .....................................................................................................................50

PRINCESS ROSETTE..........................................................................................................................54

THE ENCHANTED PIG .......................................................................................................................64

THE NORKA .........................................................................................................................................70

THE WONDERFUL BIRCH................................................................................................................74

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK..........................................................................................................80

THE LITTLE GOOD MOUSE ..............................................................................................................87

GRACIOSA AND PERCINET.............................................................................................................95

THE THREE PRINCESSES OF WHITELAND................................................................................105

THE VOICE OF DEATH ....................................................................................................................108

THE SIX SILLIES ...............................................................................................................................110

KARI WOODENGOWN .....................................................................................................................112

DRAKESTAIL....................................................................................................................................119

THE RATCATCHER..........................................................................................................................123

THE TRUE HISTORY OF LITTLE GOLDEN HOOD.....................................................................127

THE GOLDEN BRANCH ...................................................................................................................130

THE THREE DWARFS......................................................................................................................140

DAPPLEGRIM ....................................................................................................................................144

THE ENCHANTED CANARY..........................................................................................................150

THE TWELVE BROTHERS..............................................................................................................160

RAPUNZEL .........................................................................................................................................163

THE NETTLE SPINNER ....................................................................................................................166

FARMER WEATHERBEARD ...........................................................................................................171

MOTHER HOLLE ...............................................................................................................................176

MINNIKIN..........................................................................................................................................178

BUSHY BRIDE ...................................................................................................................................187

SNOWDROP.......................................................................................................................................192

THE GOLDEN GOOSE ......................................................................................................................198

THE SEVEN FOALS..........................................................................................................................201

THE MARVELLOUS MUSICIAN .....................................................................................................206

THE STORY OF SIGURD ..................................................................................................................208

IN a second gleaning of the fields of Fairy Land we cannot expect to find a second Perrault. But there are

good stories enough left, and it is hoped that some in the Red Fairy Book may have the attraction of being

less familiar than many of the old friends. The tales have been translated, or, in the case of those from

Madame d'Aulnoy's long stories, adapted, by Mrs. Hunt from the Norse, by Miss Minnie Wright from

Madame d'Aulnoy, by Mrs. Lang and Miss Bruce from other French sources, by Miss May Sellar, Miss

Farquharson, and Miss Blackley from the German, while the story of `Sigurd' is condensed by the Editor

from Mr. William Morris's prose version of the `Volsunga Saga.' The Editor has to thank his friend, M.

Charles Marelles, for permission to reproduce his versions of the `Pied Piper,' of `Drakestail,' and of `Little

Golden Hood' from the French, and M. Henri Carnoy for the same privilege in regard to `The Six Sillies'

Lady Frances Balfour has kindly copied an old version of `Jack and the Beanstalk,' and Messrs. Smith and

Elder have permitted the publication of two of Mr. Ralston's versions from the Russian.

ONCE upon a time there lived in the village of Montigniessur Roc a little cowboy, without either father

or mother. His real name was Michael, but he was always called the Star Gazer, because when he drove his

cows over the commons to seek for pasture, he went along with his head in the air, gaping at nothing.

As he had a white skin, blue eyes, and hair that curled all over his head, the village girls used to cry after him,

`Well, Star Gazer, what are you doing?' and Michael would answer, `Oh, nothing,' and go on his way without

The fact was he thought them very ugly, with their sunburnt necks, their great red hands, their coarse

petticoats and their wooden shoes. He had heard that somewhere in the world there were girls whose necks

were white and whose hands were small, who were always dressed in the finest silks and laces, and were

called princesses, and while his companions round the fire saw nothing in the flames but common everyday

One morning about the middle of August, just at midday when the sun was hottest, Michael ate his dinner of

a piece of dry bread, and went to sleep under an oak. And while he slept he dreamt that there appeared before

him a beautiful lady, dressed in a robe of cloth of gold, who said to him: `Go to the castle of Beloeil, and

That evening the little cowboy, who had been thinking a great deal about the advice of the lady in the

golden dress, told his dream to the farm people. But, as was natural, they only laughed at the Star Gazer.

The next day at the same hour he went to sleep again under the same tree. The lady appeared to him a second

In the evening Michael told his friends that he had dreamed the same dream again, but they only laughed at

him more than before. `Never mind,' he thought to himself; `if the lady appears to me a third time, I will do as

The following day, to the great astonishment of all the village, about two o'clock in the afternoon a voice was

The farmer began to scold him furiously, but he answered quietly, `I am going away,' made his clothes into a

bundle, said goodbye to all his friends, and boldly set out to seek his fortunes.

There was great excitement through all the village, and on the top of the hill the people stood holding their

sides with laughing, as they watched the Star Gazer trudging bravely along the valley with his bundle at the

It was well known for full twenty miles round that there lived in the castle of Beloeil twelve princesses of

wonderful beauty, and as proud as they were beautiful, and who were besides so very sensitive and of such

truly royal blood, that they would have felt at once the presence of a pea in their beds, even if the mattresses

It was whispered about that they led exactly the lives that princesses ought to lead, sleeping far into the

morning, and never getting up till midday. They had twelve beds all in the same room, but what was very

extraordinary was the fact that though they were locked in by triple bolts, every morning their satin shoes

When they were asked what they had been doing all night, they always answered that they had been asleep;

and, indeed, no noise was ever heard in the room, yet the shoes could not wear themselves out alone!

At last the Duke of Beloeil ordered the trumpet to be sounded, and a proclamation to be made that whoever

could discover how his daughters wore out their shoes should choose one of them for his wife.

On hearing the proclamation a number of princes arrived at the castle to try their luck. They watched all night

behind the open door of the princesses, but when the morning came they had all disappeared, and no one

When he reached the castle, Michael went straight to the gardener and offered his services. Now it happened

that the garden boy had just been sent away, and though the Star Gazer did not look very sturdy, the gardener

agreed to take him, as he thought that his pretty face and golden curls would please the princesses.

The first thing he was told was that when the princesses got up he was to present each one with a bouquet,

and Michael thought that if he had nothing more unpleasant to do than that he should get on very well.

Accordingly he placed himself behind the door of the princesses' room, with the twelve bouquets in a basket.

He gave one to each of the sisters, and they took them without even deigning to look at the lad, except Lina

the youngest, who fixed her large black eyes as soft as velvet on him, and exclaimed, `Oh, how pretty he

isour new flower boy!' The rest all burst out laughing, and the eldest pointed out that a princess ought

Now Michael knew quite well what had happened to all the princes, but notwithstanding, the beautiful eyes

of the Princess Lina inspired him with a violent longing to try his fate. Unhappily he did not dare to come

forward, being afraid that he should only be jeered at, or even turned away from the castle on account of his

Nevertheless, the Star Gazer had another dream. The lady in the golden dress appeared to him once more,

holding in one hand two young laurel trees, a cherry laurel and a rose laurel, and in the other hand a little

golden rake, a little golden bucket, and a silken towel. She thus addressed him:

`Plant these two laurels in two large pots, rake them over with the rake, water them with the bucket, and wipe

them with the towel. When they have grown as tall as a girl of fifteen, say to each of them, ``My beautiful

laurel, with the golden rake I have raked you, with the golden bucket I have watered you, with the silken

towel I have wiped you.'' Then after that ask anything you choose, and the laurels will give it to you.'

Michael thanked the lady in the golden dress, and when he woke he found the two laurel bushes beside him.

The trees grew very fast, and when they were as tall as a girl of fifteen he said to the cherry laurel, `My lovely

cherry laurel, with the golden rake I have raked thee, with the golden bucket I have watered thee, with the

silken towel I have wiped thee. Teach me how to become invisible.' Then there instantly appeared on the

laurel a pretty white flower, which Michael gathered and stuck into his buttonhole.

That evening, when the princesses went upstairs to bed, he followed them barefoot, so that he might make no

noise, and hid himself under one of the twelve beds, so as not to take up much room.

The princesses began at once to open their wardrobes and boxes. They took out of them the most magnificent

dresses, which they put on before their mirrors, and when they had finished, turned themselves all round to

Michael could see nothing from his hidingplace, but he could hear everything, and he listened to the

princesses laughing and jumping with pleasure. At last the eldest said, `Be quick, my sisters, our partners will

be impatient.' At the end of an hour, when the Star Gazer heard no more noise, he peeped out and saw the

twelve sisters in splendid garments, with their satin shoes on their feet, and in their hands the bouquets he had

`Yes,' replied the other eleven in chorus, and they took their places one by one behind her.

Then the eldest Princess clapped her hands three times and a trap door opened. All the princesses disappeared

As he was following on the steps of the Princess Lina, he carelessly trod on her dress.

`You foolish thing,' said her eldest sister, `you are always afraid of something. It is only a nail which caught

They went down, down, down, till at last they came to a passage with a door at one end, which was only

fastened with a latch. The eldest Princess opened it, and they found themselves immediately in a lovely little

wood, where the leaves were spangled with drops of silver which shone in the brilliant light of the moon.

They next crossed another wood where the leaves were sprinkled with gold, and after that another still, where

At last the Star Gazer perceived a large lake, and on the shores of the lake twelve little boats with awnings, in

which were seated twelve princes, who, grasping their oars, awaited the princesses.

Each princess entered one of the boats, and Michael slipped into that which held the youngest. The boats

glided along rapidly, but Lina's, from being heavier, was always behind the rest. `We never went so slowly

`I don't know,' answered the Prince. `I assure you I am rowing as hard as I can.'

On the other side of the lake the garden boy saw a beautiful castle splendidly illuminated, whence came the

In a moment they touched land, and the company jumped out of the boats; and the princes, after having

securely fastened their barques, gave their arms to the princesses and conducted them to the castle.

Michael followed, and entered the ballroom in their train. Everywhere were mirrors, lights, flowers, and

He placed himself out of the way in a corner, admiring the grace and beauty of the princesses. Their

loveliness was of every kind. Some were fair and some were dark; some had chestnut hair, or curls darker

still, and some had golden locks. Never were so many beautiful princesses seen together at one time, but the

one whom the cowboy thought the most beautiful and the most fascinating was the little Princess with the

With what eagerness she danced! leaning on her partner's shoulder she swept by like a whirlwind. Her cheeks

flushed, her eyes sparkled, and it was plain that she loved dancing better than anything else.

The poor boy envied those handsome young men with whom she danced so gracefully, but he did not know

The young men were really the princes who, to the number of fifty at least, had tried to steal the princesses'

secret. The princesses had made them drink something of a philtre, which froze the heart and left nothing but

They danced on till the shoes of the princesses were worn into holes. When the cock crowed the third time

the fiddles stopped, and a delicious supper was served by negro boys, consisting of sugared orange flowers,

crystallised rose leaves, powdered violets, cracknels, wafers, and other dishes, which are, as everyone knows,

After supper, the dancers all went back to their boats, and this time the Star Gazer entered that of the eldest

Princess. They crossed again the wood with the diamondspangled leaves, the wood with goldsprinkled

leaves, and the wood whose leaves glittered with drops of silver, and as a proof of what he had seen, the boy

broke a small branch from a tree in the last wood. Lina turned as she heard the noise made by the breaking of

`It was nothing,' replied her eldest sister; `it was only the screech of the barnowl that roosts in one of the

While she was speaking Michael managed to slip in front, and running up the staircase, he reached the

princesses' room first. He flung open the window, and sliding down the vine which climbed up the wall,

found himself in the garden just as the sun was beginning to rise, and it was time for him to set to his work.

That day, when he made up the bouquets, Michael hid the branch with the silver drops in the nosegay

When Lina discovered it she was much surprised. However, she said nothing to her sisters, but as she met the

boy by accident while she was walking under the shade of the elms, she suddenly stopped as if to speak to

The same evening the twelve sisters went again to the ball, and the Star Gazer again followed them and

crossed the lake in Lina's boat. This time it was the Prince who complained that the boat seemed very heavy.

During the ball she looked everywhere for the gardener's boy, but she never saw him.

As they came back, Michael gathered a branch from the wood with the goldspangled leaves, and now it was

`It is nothing,' said Lina; `only the cry of the owl which roosts in the turrets of the castle.'

As soon as she got up she found the branch in her bouquet. When the sisters went down she stayed a little

`You know our secret!keep it. Here is the reward of your discretion.' And she flung the boy a purse of

`I do not sell my silence,' answered Michael, and he went away without picking up the purse.

For three nights Lina neither saw nor heard anything extraordinary; on the fourth she heard a rustling among

the diamond spangled leaves of the wood. That day there was a branch of the trees in her bouquet.

Lina's sisters had seen her talking to the little garden boy, and jeered at her for it.

`What prevents your marrying him?' asked the eldest, `you would become a gardener too; it is a charming

profession. You could live in a cottage at the end of the park, and help your husband to draw up water from

The Princess Lina was very angry, and when the Star Gazer presented her bouquet, she received it in a

Michael behaved most respectfully. He never raised his eyes to her, but nearly all day she felt him at her side

`What!' said she, `this rogue knows our secret, and you never told me! I must lose no time in getting rid of

For this was the way that in old times beautiful princesses got rid of people who knew too much.

But the astonishing part of it was that the youngest sister did not seem at all to relish this method of stopping

the mouth of the gardener's boy, who, after all, had said nothing to their father.

It was agreed that the question should be submitted to the other ten sisters. All were on the side of the eldest.

Then the youngest sister declared that if they laid a finger on the little garden boy, she would herself go and

At last it was decided that Michael should be put to the test; that they would take him to the ball, and at the

end of supper would give him the philtre which was to enchant him like the rest.

They sent for the Star Gazer, and asked him how he had contrived to learn their secret; but still he remained

Then, in commanding tones, the eldest sister gave him the order they had agreed upon.

He had really been present, invisible, at the council of princesses, and had heard all; but he had made up his

mind to drink of the philtre, and sacrifice himself to the happiness of her he loved.

Not wishing, however, to cut a poor figure at the ball by the side of the other dancers, he went at once to the

`My lovely rose laurel, with the golden rake I have raked thee, with the golden bucket I have watered thee,

A beautiful pink flower appeared. Michael gathered it, and found himself in a moment clothed in velvet,

which was as black as the eyes of the little Princess, with a cap to match, a diamond aigrette, and a blossom

Thus dressed, he presented himself that evening before the Duke of Beloeil, and obtained leave to try and

discover his daughters' secret. He looked so distinguished that hardly anyone would have known who he was.

The twelve princesses went upstairs to bed. Michael followed them, and waited behind the open door till they

This time he did not cross in Lina's boat. He gave his arm to the eldest sister, danced with each in turn, and

was so graceful that everyone was delighted with him. At last the time came for him to dance with the little

Princess. She found him the best partner in the world, but he did not dare to speak a single word to her.

`Here you are at the summit of your wishes: you are being treated like a prince.'

`Don't be afraid,' replied the Star Gazer gently. `You shall never be a gardener's wife.'

The little Princess stared at him with a frightened face, and he left her without waiting for an answer.

When the satin slippers were worn through the fiddles stopped, and the negro boys set the table. Michael was

They gave him the most exquisite dishes to eat, and the most delicate wines to drink; and in order to turn his

head more completely, compliments and flattery were heaped on him from every side.

At last the eldest sister made a sign, and one of the black pages brought in a large golden cup.

`The enchanted castle has no more secrets for you,' she said to the Star Gazer. `Let us drink to your triumph.'

He cast a lingering glance at the little Princess, and without hesitation lifted the cup.

`Don't drink!' suddenly cried out the little Princess; `I would rather marry a gardener.'

Michael flung the contents of the cup behind him, sprang over the table, and fell at Lina's feet. The rest of the

princes fell likewise at the knees of the princesses, each of whom chose a husband and raised him to her side.

The twelve couples embarked in the boats, which crossed back many times in order to carry over the other

princes. Then they all went through the three woods, and when they had passed the door of the underground

passage a great noise was heard, as if the enchanted castle was crumbling to the earth.

They went straight to the room of the Duke of Beloeil, who had just awoke. Michael held in his hand the

`My choice is already made,' replied the garden boy, and he offered his hand to the youngest Princess, who

The Princess Lina did not become a gardener's wife; on the contrary, it was the Star Gazer who became a

Prince: but before the marriage ceremony the Princess insisted that her lover should tell her how he came to

So he showed her the two laurels which had helped him, and she, like a prudent girl, thinking they gave him

too much advantage over his wife, cut them off at the root and threw them in the fire. And this is why the

ONCE upon a time there lived a King and Queen whose children had all died, first one and then another, until

at last only one little daughter remained, and the Queen was at her wits' end to know where to find a really

good nurse who would take care of her, and bring her up. A herald was sent who blew a trumpet at every

street corner, and commanded all the best nurses to appear before the Queen, that she might choose one for

the little Princess. So on the appointed day the whole palace was crowded with nurses, who came from the

four corners of the world to offer themselves, until the Queen declared that if she was ever to see the half of

them, they must be brought out to her, one by one, as she sat in a shady wood near the palace.

This was accordingly done, and the nurses, after they had made their curtsey to the King and Queen, ranged

themselves in a line before her that she might choose. Most of them were fair and fat and charming, but there

was one who was darkskinned and ugly, and spoke a strange language which nobody could understand. The

Queen wondered how she dared offer herself, and she was told to go away, as she certainly would not do.

Upon which she muttered something and passed on, but hid herself in a hollow tree, from which she could

see all that happened. The Queen, without giving her another thought, chose a pretty rosyfaced nurse, but no

sooner was her choice made than a snake, which was hidden in the grass, bit that very nurse on her foot, so

that she fell down as if dead. The Queen was very much vexed by this accident, but she soon selected

another, who was just stepping forward when an eagle flew by and dropped a large tortoise upon her head,

which was cracked in pieces like an eggshell. At this the Queen was much horrified; nevertheless, she chose

a third time, but with no better fortune, for the nurse, moving quickly, ran into the branch of a tree and

blinded herself with a thorn. Then the Queen in dismay cried that there must be some malignant influence at

work, and that she would choose no more that day; and she had just risen to return to the palace when she

heard peals of malicious laughter behind her, and turning round saw the ugly stranger whom she had

dismissed, who was making very merry over the disasters and mocking everyone, but especially the Queen.

This annoyed Her Majesty very much, and she was about to order that she should be arrested, when the

witchfor she was a witchwith two blows from a wand summoned a chariot of fire drawn by winged

dragons, and was whirled off through the air uttering threats and cries. When the King saw this he cried:

`Alas! now we are ruined indeed, for that was no other than the Fairy Carabosse, who has had a grudge

against me ever since I was a boy and put sulphur into her porridge one day for fun.'

`If I had only known who it was,' she said, `I would have done my best to make friends with her; now I

The King was sorry to have frightened her so much, and proposed that they should go and hold a council as

to what was best to be done to avert the misfortunes which Carabosse certainly meant to bring upon the little

So all the counsellors were summoned to the palace, and when they had shut every door and window, and

stuffed up every keyhole that they might not be overheard, they talked the affair over, and decided that every

fairy for a thousand leagues round should be invited to the christening of the Princess, and that the time of the

ceremony should be kept a profound secret, in case the Fairy Carabosse should take it into her head to attend

The Queen and her ladies set to work to prepare presents for the fairies who were invited: for each one a blue

velvet cloak, a petticoat of apricot satin, a pair of highheeled shoes, some sharp needles, and a pair of

golden scissors. Of all the fairies the Queen knew, only five were able to come on the day appointed, but they

began immediately to bestow gifts upon the Princess. One promised that she should be perfectly beautiful, the

second that she should understand anythingno matter whatthe first time it was explained to her, the third

that she should sing like a nightingale, the fourth that she should succeed in everything she undertook, and

the fifth was opening her mouth to speak when a tremendous rumbling was heard in the chimney, and

`I say that she shall be the unluckiest of the unlucky until she is twenty years old.'

Then the Queen and all the fairies began to beg and beseech her to think better of it, and not be so unkind to

the poor little Princess, who had never done her any harm. But the ugly old Fairy only grunted and made no

answer. So the last Fairy, who had not yet given her gift, tried to mend matters by promising the Princess a

long and happy life after the fatal time was over. At this Carabosse laughed maliciously, and climbed away

up the chimney, leaving them all in great consternation, and especially the Queen. However, she entertained

the fairies splendidly, and gave them beautiful ribbons, of which they are very fond, in addition to the other

When they were going away the oldest Fairy said that they were of opinion that it would be best to shut the

Princess up in some place, with her waitingwomen, so that she might not see anyone else until she was

twenty years old. So the King had a tower built on purpose. It had no windows, so it was lighted with wax

candles, and the only way into it was by an underground passage, which had iron doors only twenty feet

The Princess had been named Mayblossom, because she was as fresh and blooming as Spring itself, and she

grew up tall and beautiful, and everything she did and said was charming. Every time the King and Queen

came to see her they were more delighted with her than before, but though she was weary of the tower, and

often begged them to take her away from it, they always refused. The Princess's nurse, who had never left

her, sometimes told her about the world outside the tower, and though the Princess had never seen anything

for herself, yet she always understood exactly, thanks to the second Fairy's gift. Often the King said to the

`We were cleverer than Carabosse after all. Our Mayblossom will be happy in spite of her predictions.'

And the Queen laughed until she was tired at the idea of having outwitted the old Fairy. They had caused the

Princess's portrait to be painted and sent to all the neighbouring Courts, for in four days she would have

completed her twentieth year, and it was time to decide whom she should marry. All the town was rejoicing

at the thought of the Princess's approaching freedom, and when the news came that King Merlin was sending

his ambassador to ask her in marriage for his son, they were still more delighted. The nurse, who kept the

Princess informed of everything that went forward in the town, did not fail to repeat the news that so nearly

concerned her, and gave such a description of the splendour in which the ambassador Fanfaronade would

`What an unhappy creature I am,' she cried, `to be shut up in this dismal tower as if I had committed some

crime! I have never seen the sun, or the stars, or a horse, or a monkey, or a lion, except in pictures, and

though the King and Queen tell me I am to be set free when I am twenty, I believe they only say it to keep me

And then she began to cry, and her nurse, and the nurse's daughter, and the cradlerocker, and the

nurserymaid, who all loved her dearly, cried too for company, so that nothing could be heard but sobs and

sighs. It was a scene of woe. When the Princess saw that they all pitied her she made up her mind to have her

own way. So she declared that she would starve herself to death if they did not find some means of letting her

`If you really love me,' she said, `you will manage it, somehow or other, and the King and Queen need never

Then the nurse and all the others cried harder than ever, and said everything they could think of to turn the

Princess from her idea. But the more they said the more determined she was, and at last they consented to

After scratching and scraping all day and all night, they presently made a hole through which they could, with

great difficulty, push a very slender needle, and out of this the Princess looked at the daylight for the first

time. She was so dazzled and delighted by what she saw, that there she stayed, never taking her eyes away

from the peephole for a single minute, until presently the ambassador's procession appeared in sight.

At the head of it rode Fanfaronade himself upon a white horse, which pranced and caracoled to the sound of

the trumpets. Nothing could have been more splendid than the ambassador's attire. His coat was nearly

hidden under an embroidery of pearls and diamonds, his boots were solid gold, and from his helmet floated

scarlet plumes. At the sight of him the Princess lost her wits entirely, and determined that Fanfaronade and

`It is quite impossible,' she said, `that his master should be half as handsome and delightful. I am not

ambitious, and having spent all my life in this tedious tower, anythingeven a house in the countrywill

seem a delightful change. I am sure that bread and water shared with Fanfaronade will please me far better

And so she went on talk, talk, talking, until her waitingwomen wondered where she got it all from. But

when they tried to stop her, and represented that her high rank made it perfectly impossible that she should do

As soon as the ambassador arrived at the palace, the Queen started to fetch her daughter.

All the streets were spread with carpets, and the windows were full of ladies who were waiting to see the

Princess, and carried baskets of flowers and sweetmeats to shower upon her as she passed.

They had hardly begun to get the Princess ready when a dwarf arrived, mounted upon an elephant. He came

from the five fairies, and brought for the Princess a crown, a sceptre, and a robe of golden brocade, with a

petticoat marvellously embroidered with butterflies' wings. They also sent a casket of jewels, so splendid that

no one had ever seen anything like it before, and the Queen was perfectly dazzled when she opened it. But

the Princess scarcely gave a glance to any of these treasures, for she thought of nothing but Fanfaronade. The

Dwarf was rewarded with a gold piece, and decorated with so many ribbons that it was hardly possible to see

him at all. The Princess sent to each of the fairies a new spinningwheel with a distaff of cedar wood, and the

Queen said she must look through her treasures and find something very charming to send them also.

When the Princess was arrayed in all the gorgeous things the Dwarf had brought, she was more beautiful than

ever, and as she walked along the streets the people cried: `How pretty she is! How pretty she is!'

The procession consisted of the Queen, the Princess, five dozen other princesses her cousins, and ten dozen

who came from the neighbouring kingdoms; and as they proceeded at a stately pace the sky began to grow

dark, then suddenly the thunder growled, and rain and hail fell in torrents. The Queen put her royal mantle

over her head, and all the princesses did the same with their trains. Mayblossom was just about to follow their

example when a terrific croaking, as of an immense army of crows, rooks, ravens, screech owls, and all

birds of illomen was heard, and at the same instant a huge owl skimmed up to the Princess, and threw over

her a scarf woven of spiders' webs and embroidered with bats' wings. And then peals of mocking laughter

rang through the air, and they guessed that this was another of the Fairy Carabosse's unpleasant jokes.

The Queen was terrified at such an evil omen, and tried to pull the black scarf from the Princess's shoulders,

`Ah!' cried the Queen, `can nothing appease this enemy of ours? What good was it that I sent her more than

fifty pounds of sweetmeats, and as much again of the best sugar, not to mention two Westphalia hams? She is

While she lamented in this way, and everybody was as wet as if they had been dragged through a river, the

Princess still thought of nothing but the ambassador, and just at this moment he appeared before her, with the

King, and there was a great blowing of trumpets, and all the people shouted louder than ever. Fanfaronade

was not generally at a loss for something to say, but when he saw the Princess, she was so much more

beautiful and majestic than he had expected that he could only stammer out a few words, and entirely forgot

the harangue which he had been learning for months, and knew well enough to have repeated it in his sleep.

To gain time to remember at least part of it, he made several low bows to the Princess, who on her side

dropped halfadozen curtseys without stopping to think, and then said, to relieve his evident

`Sir Ambassador, I am sure that everything you intend to say is charming, since it is you who mean to say it;

but let us make haste into the palace, as it is pouring cats and dogs, and the wicked Fairy Carabosse will be

amused to see us all stand dripping here. When we are once under shelter we can laugh at her.'

Upon this the Ambassador found his tongue, and replied gallantly that the Fairy had evidently foreseen the

flames that would be kindled by the bright eyes of the Princess, and had sent this deluge to extinguish them.

`As you could not possibly guess how much I like you, Sir Fanfaronade, I am obliged to tell you plainly that,

since I saw you enter the town on your beautiful prancing horse, I have been sorry that you came to speak for

another instead of for yourself. So, if you think about it as I do, I will marry you instead of your master. Of

course I know you are not a prince, but I shall be just as fond of you as if you were, and we can go and live in

The Ambassador thought he must be dreaming, and could hardly believe what the lovely Princess said. He

dared not answer, but only squeezed the Princess's hand until he really hurt her little finger, but she did not

cry out. When they reached the palace the King kissed his daughter on both cheeks, and said:

`My little lambkin, are you willing to marry the great King Merlin's son, for this Ambassador has come on his

This was done with all speed, and everybody feasted except Mayblossom and Fanfaronade, who looked at

After the banquet came a ball, and after that again a ballet, and at last they were all so tired that everyone fell

asleep just where he sat. Only the lovers were as wideawake as mice, and the Princess, seeing that there was

`Let us be quick and run away, for we shall never have a better chance than this.'

Then she took the King's dagger, which was in a diamond sheath, and the Queen's neckhandkerchief, and

gave her hand to Fanfaronade, who carried a lantern, and they ran out together into the muddy street and

down to the seashore. Here they got into a little boat in which the poor old boatman was sleeping, and when

he woke up and saw the lovely Princess, with all her diamonds and her spiders'web scarf, he did not know

what to think, and obeyed her instantly when she commanded him to set out. They could see neither moon

nor stars, but in the Queen's neckhandkerchief there was a carbuncle which glowed like fifty torches.

Fanfaronade asked the Princess where she would like to go, but she only answered that she did not care

`But, Princess,' said he, `I dare not take you back to King Merlin's court. He would think hanging too good

`Oh, in that case,' she answered, `we had better go to Squirrel Island; it is lonely enough, and too far off for

Meanwhile the day was breaking, and the King and Queen and all the courtiers began to wake up and rub

their eyes, and think it was time to finish the preparations for the wedding. And the Queen asked for her

neckhandkerchief, that she might look smart. Then there was a scurrying hither and thither, and a hunting

everywhere: they looked into every place, from the wardrobes to the stoves, and the Queen herself ran about

By this time the King had missed his dagger, and the search began all over again. They opened boxes and

chests of which the keys had been lost for a hundred years, and found numbers of curious things, but not the

dagger, and the King tore his beard, and the Queen tore her hair, for the handkerchief and the dagger were the

`Never mind, let us make haste and get the wedding over before anything else is lost.' And then he asked

`Sire, I have been seeking her these two hours, but she is nowhere to be found.' This was more than the

Queen could bear. She gave a shriek of alarm and fainted away, and they had to pour two barrels of

eaudecologne over her before she recovered. When she came to herself everybody was looking for the

Princess in the greatest terror and confusion, but as she did not appear, the King said to his page:

`Go and find the Ambassador Fanfaronade, who is doubtless asleep in some corner, and tell him the sad

So the page hunted hither and thither, but Fanfaronade was no more to be found than the Princess, the dagger,

Then the King summoned his counsellors and his guards, and, accompanied by the Queen, went into his great

hall. As he had not had time to prepare his speech beforehand, the King ordered that silence should be kept

`Listen, great and ! My dear daughter Mayblossom is lost: whether she has been stolen away or has simply

disappeared I cannot tell. The Queen's neckhandkerchief and my sword, which are worth their weight in

gold, are also missing, and, what is worst of all, the Ambassador Fanfaronade is nowhere to be found. I

greatly fear that the King, his master, when he receives no tidings from him, will come to seek him among us,

and will accuse us of having made mincemeat of him. Perhaps I could bear even that if I had any money,

but I assure you that the expenses of the wedding have completely ruined me. Advise me, then, my dear

subjects, what had I better do to recover my daughter, Fanfaronade, and the other things.'

This was the most eloquent speech the King had been known to make, and when everybody had done

`Sire, we are all very sorry to see you so sorry. We would give everything we value in the world to take away

the cause of your sorrow, but this seems to be another of the tricks of the Fairy Carabosse. The Princess's

twenty unlucky years were not quite over, and really, if the truth must be told, I noticed that Fanfaronade and

the Princess appeared to admire one another greatly. Perhaps this may give some clue to the mystery of their

Here the Queen interrupted him, saying, `Take care what you say, sir. Believe me, the Princess Mayblossom

At this the nurse came forward, and, falling on her knees, confessed how they had made the little needlehole

in the tower, and how the Princess had declared when she saw the Ambassador that she would marry him and

nobody else. Then the Queen was very angry, and gave the nurse, and the cradlerocker, and the nursery

maid such a scolding that they shook in their shoes. But the Admiral CockedHat interrupted her, crying:

`Let us be off after this goodfornothing Fanfaronade, for with out a doubt he has run away with our

Then there was a great clapping of hands, and everybody shouted, `By all means let us be after him.'

So while some embarked upon the sea, the others ran from kingdom to kingdom beating drums and blowing

`Whoever wants a beautiful doll, sweetmeats of all kinds, a little pair of scissors, a golden robe, and a satin

However, those who went by sea were more fortunate, for after sailing about for some time they noticed a

light before them which burned at night like a great fire. At first they dared not go near it, not knowing what

it might be, but byandby it remained stationary over Squirrel Island, for, as you have guessed already, the

light was the glowing of the carbuncle. The Princess and Fanfaronade on landing upon the island had given

the boatman a hundred gold pieces, and made him promise solemnly to tell no one where he had taken them;

but the first thing that happened was that, as he rowed away, he got into the midst of the fleet, and before he

When he was searched they found the gold pieces in his pocket, and as they were quite new coins, struck in

honour of the Princess's wedding, the Admiral felt certain that the boatman must have been paid by the

Princess to aid her in her flight. But he would not answer any questions, and pretended to be deaf and dumb

Then the Admiral said: `Oh! deaf and dumb is he? Lash him to the mast and give him a taste of the

cato'ninetails. I don't know anything better than that for curing the deaf and dumb!'

And when the old boatman saw that he was in earnest, he told all he knew about the cavalier and the lady

whom he had landed upon Squirrel Island, and the Admiral knew it must be the Princess and Fanfaronade; so

Meanwhile the Princess Mayblossom, who was by this time terribly sleepy, had found a grassy bank in the

shade, and throwing herself down had already fallen into a profound slumber, when Fanfaronade, who

happened to be hungry and not sleepy, came and woke her up, saying, very crossly:

`Pray, madam, how long do you mean to stay here? I see nothing to eat, and though you may be very

`What! Fanfaronade,' said the Princess, sitting up and rubbing her eyes, `is it possible that when I am here

with you you can want anything else? You ought to be thinking all the time how happy you are.'

`Happy!' cried he; `say rather unhappy. I wish with all my heart that you were back in your dark tower again.'

`Darling, don't be cross,' said the Princess. `I will go and see if I can find some wild fruit for you.'

The Princess, in great dismay, ran hither and thither all about the wood, tearing her dress, and hurting her

pretty white hands with the thorns and brambles, but she could find nothing good to eat, and at last she had to

go back sorrowfully to Fanfaronade. When he saw that she came emptyhanded he got up and left her,

`Alas!' said the Princess, `if only I could find something for you to eat, I should not mind being hungry

`Is it possible,' said she, `that you would not care if I died of hunger? Oh, Fanfaronade, you said you loved

`That was when we were in quite another place and I was not hungry,' said he. `It makes a great difference in

At this the Princess was dreadfully vexed, and she sat down under a white rose bush and began to cry bitterly.

`Happy roses,' she thought to herself, `they have only to blossom in the sunshine and be admired, and there is

nobody to be unkind to them.' And the tears ran down her cheeks and splashed on to the rosetree roots.

Presently she was surprised to see the whole bush rustling and shaking, and a soft little voice from the

`Poor Princess! look in the trunk of that tree, and you will find a honeycomb, but don't be foolish enough to

Mayblossom ran to the tree, and sure enough there was the honey. Without losing a moment she ran with it to

`See, here is a honeycomb that I have found. I might have eaten it up all by myself, but I had rather share it

But without looking at her or thanking her he snatched the honey comb out of her hands and ate it all

upevery bit, without offering her a morsel. Indeed, when she humbly asked for some he said mockingly

Mayblossom, more downcast than ever, went sadly away and sat down under an oak tree, and her tears and

sighs were so piteous that the oak fanned her with his rustling leaves, and said:

`Take courage, pretty Princess, all is not lost yet. Take this pitcher of milk and drink it up, and whatever you

The Princess, quite astonished, looked round, and saw a big pitcher full of milk, but before she could raise it

to her lips the thought of how thirsty Fanfaronade must be, after eating at least fifteen pounds of honey, made

`Here is a pitcher of milk; drink some, for you must be thirsty I am sure; but pray save a little for me, as I am

But he seized the pitcher and drank all it contained at a single draught, and then broke it to atoms on the

nearest stone, saying with a malicious smile: `As you have not eaten anything you cannot be thirsty.'

`Ah!' cried the Princess, `I am well punished for disappointing the King and Queen, and running away with

And so saying she wandered away into the thickest part of the wood, and sat down under a thorn tree, where a

nightingale was singing. Presently she heard him say: `Search under the bush Princess; you will find some

sugar, almonds, and some tarts there But don't be silly enough to offer Fanfaronade any.' And this time the

Princess, who was fainting with hunger, took the nightingale's advice, and ate what she found all by herself.

But Fanfaronade, seeing that she had found something good, and was not going to share it with him, ran after

her in such a fury that she hastily drew out the Queen's carbuncle, which had the property of rendering people

invisible if they were in danger, and when she was safely hidden from him she reproached him gently for his

Meanwhile Admiral CockedHat had despatched Jackthe ChattereroftheStrawBoots, Courier in

Ordinary to the Prime Minister, to tell the King that the Princess and the Ambassador had landed on Squirrel

Island, but that not knowing the country he had not pursued them, for fear of being captured by concealed

enemies. Their Majesties were overjoyed at the news, and the King sent for a great book, each leaf of which

was eight ells long. It was the work of a very clever Fairy, and contained a description of the whole earth. He

`Go,' said he, to JacktheChatterer, `tell the Admiral from me to land at once. I am surprised at his not

having done so sooner.' As soon as this message reached the fleet, every preparation was made for war, and

the noise was so great that it reached the ears of the Princess, who at once flew to protect her lover. As he was

`You stand behind me,' said she, `and I will hold the carbuncle which will make us invisible, and with the

King's dagger I can protect you from the enemy.' So when the soldiers landed they could see nothing, but the

Princess touched them one after another with the dagger, and they fell insensible upon the sand, so that at last

the Admiral, seeing that there was some enchantment, hastily gave orders for a retreat to be sounded, and got

Fanfaronade,being once more left with the Princess, began to think that if he could get rid of her, and possess

himself of the carbuncle and the dagger, he would be able to make his escape. So as they walked back over

the cliffs he gave the Princess a great push, hoping she would fall into the sea; but she stepped aside so

quickly that he only succeeded in overbalancing himself, and over he went, and sank to the bottom of the sea

like a lump of lead, and was never heard of any more. While the Princess was still looking after him in

horror, her attention was attracted by a rushing noise over her head, and looking up she saw two chariots

approaching rapidly from opposite directions. One was bright and glittering, and drawn by swans and

peacocks, while the Fairy who sat in it was beautiful as a sunbeam; but the other was drawn by bats and

ravens, and contained a frightful little Dwarf, who was dressed in a snake's skin, and wore a great toad upon

her head for a hood. The chariots met with a frightful crash in midair, and the Princess looked on in

breathless anxiety while a furious battle took place between the lovely Fairy with her golden lance, and the

hideous little Dwarf and her rusty pike. But very soon it was evident that the Beauty had the best of it, and the

Dwarf turned her bats' heads and flickered away in great confusion, while the Fairy came down to where the

Princess stood, and said, smiling, `You see Princess, I have completely routed that malicious old Carabosse.

Will you believe it! she actually wanted to claim authority over you for ever, because you came out of the

tower four days before the twenty years were ended. However, I think I have settled her pretensions, and I

The Princess thanked her heartily, and then the Fairy despatched one of her peacocks to her palace to bring a

gorgeous robe for Mayblossom, who certainly needed it, for her own was torn to shreds by the thorns and

briars. Another peacock was sent to the Admiral to tell him that he could now land in perfect safety, which he

at once did, bringing all his men with him, even to JacktheChatterer, who, happening to pass the spit upon

which the Admiral's dinner was roasting, snatched it up and brought it with him.

Admiral CockedHat was immensely surprised when he came upon the golden chariot, and still more so to

see two lovely ladies walking under the trees a little farther away. When he reached them, of course he

recognised the Princess, and he went down on his knees and kissed her hand quite joyfully. Then she

presented him to the Fairy, and told him how Carabosse had been finally routed, and he thanked and

congratulated the Fairy, who was most gracious to him. While they were talking she cried suddenly:

`Why yes, Madam, here it is,' said JacktheChatterer, holding up the spit, where all the pheasants and

`By all means,' said the Fairy, `especially as the Princess will certainly be glad of a good meal.'

So the Admiral sent back to his ship for everything that was needful, and they feasted merrily under the trees.

By the time they had finished the peacock had come back with a robe for the Princess, in which the Fairy

arrayed her. It was of green and gold brocade, embroidered with pearls and rubies, and her long golden hair

was tied back with strings of diamonds and emeralds, and crowned with flowers. The Fairy made her mount

beside her in the golden chariot, and took her on board the Admiral's ship, where she bade her farewell,

sending many messages of friendship to the Queen, and bidding the Princess tell her that she was the fifth

Fairy who had attended the christening. Then salutes were fired, the fleet weighed anchor, and very soon they

reached the port. Here the King and Queen were waiting, and they received the Princess with such joy and

kindness that she could not get a word in edgewise, to say how sorry she was for having run away with such a

very poor spirited Ambassador. But, after all, it must have been all Carabosse's fault. Just at this lucky

moment who should arrive but King Merlin's son, who had become uneasy at not receiving any news from

his Ambassador, and so had started himself with a magnificent escort of a thousand horsemen, and thirty

bodyguards in gold and scarlet uniforms, to see what could have happened. As he was a hundred times

handsomer and braver than the Ambassador, the Princess found she could like him very much. So the

wedding was held at once, with so much splendour and rejoicing that all the previous misfortunes were quite

THERE was once upon a time a couple of folks who had a son called Halvor. Ever since he had been a little

boy he had been unwilling to do any work, and had just sat raking about among the ashes. His parents sent

him away to learn several things, but Halvor stayed nowhere, for when he had been gone two or three days he

always ran away from his master, hurried off home, and sat down in the chimney corner to grub among the

One day, however, a sea captain came and asked Halvor if he hadn't a fancy to come with him and go to sea,

and behold foreign lands. And Halvor had a fancy for that, so he was not long in getting ready.

How long they sailed I have no idea, but after a long, long time there was a terrible storm, and when it was

over and all had become calm again, they knew not where they were, for they had been driven away to a

As there was no wind at all they lay there becalmed, and Halvor asked the skipper to give him leave to go on

shore to look about him, for he would much rather do that than lie there and sleep.

`Dost thou think that thou art fit to go where people can see thee?' said the skipper; `thou hast no clothes but

Halvor still begged for leave, and at last got it, but he was to come back at once if the wind began to rise.

So he went on shore, and it was a delightful country; whithersoever he went there were wide plains with

fields and meadows, but as for people, there were none to be seen. The wind began to rise, but Halvor

thought that he had not seen enough yet, and that he would like to walk about a little longer, to try if he could

not meet somebody. So after a while he came to a great highway, which was so smooth that an egg might

have been rolled along it without breaking. Halvor followed this, and when evening drew near he saw a big

castle far away in the distance, and there were lights in it. So as he had now been walking the whole day and

had not brought anything to eat away with him, he was frightfully hungry. Nevertheless, the nearer he came

A fire was burning in the castle, and Halvor went into the kitchen, which was more magnificent than any

kitchen he had ever yet beheld. There were vessels of gold and silver, but not one human being was to be

seen. When Halvor had stood there for some time, and no one had come out, he went in and opened a door,

`Nay!' she cried, `can Christian folk dare to come hither? But the best thing that you can do is to go away

again, for if not the Troll will devour you. A Troll with three heads lives here.'

`I should have been just as well pleased if he had had four heads more, for I should have enjoyed seeing the

fellow,' said the youth; `and I won't go away, for I have done no harm, but you must give me something to

When Halvor had eaten his fill, the Princess told him to try if he could wield the sword which was hanging on

`Well, then, you must take a drink out of that bottle which is hanging by its side, for that's what the Troll does

Halvor took a draught, and in a moment he was able to swing the sword about with perfect ease. And now he

thought it was high time for the Troll to make his appearance, and at that very moment he came, panting for

`Hutetu!' said the Troll as he put his head in at the door. `It smells just as if there were Christian man's blood

The Princess was so rejoiced to be free that she danced and sang, but then she remembered her sisters, and

So she told him where they were. One of them had been taken away by a Troll to his castle, which was six

miles off, and the other had been carried off to a castle which was nine miles farther off still

`But now,' said she, `you must first help me to get this dead body away from here.'

Halvor was so strong that he cleared everything away, and made all clean and tidy very quickly. So then they

ate and drank, and were happy, and next morning he set off in the grey light of dawn. He gave himself no

rest, but walked or ran the livelong day. When he came in sight of the castle he was again just a little afraid. It

was much more splendid than the other, but here too there was not a human being to be seen. So Halvor went

`Nay! do Christian folk dare to come here?' cried the second Princess. `I know not how long it is since I

myself came, but during all that time I have never seen a Christian man. It will be better for you to depart at

But she spoke to no purpose, for Halvor would not go; he was not afraid of the Troll, but he wanted some

meat and drink, for he was hungry after his journey. So she gave him as much as he would have, and then she

`No,' said Halvor, `I will not go, for I have not done anything wrong, and I have no reason to be afraid.'

`He won't ask any questions about that,' said the Princess, `for he will take you without leave or right; but as

you will not go, try if you can wield that sword which the Troll uses in battle.'

He could not brandish the sword; so the Princess said that he was to take a draught from the flask which hung

Soon afterwards the Troll came, and he was so large and stout that he was forced to go sideways to get

through the door. When the Troll got his first head in he cried: `Hutetu! It smells of a Christian man's blood

With that Halvor cut off the first head, and so on with all the rest. The Princess was now exceedingly

delighted, but then she remembered her sisters, and wished that they too were free. Halvor thought that might

be managed, and wanted to set off immediately; but first he had to help the Princess to remove the Troll's

It was a long way to the castle, and he both walked and ran to get there in time. Late in the evening he caught

sight of it, and it was very much more magnificent than either of the others. And this time he was not in the

least afraid, but went into the kitchen, and then straight on inside the castle. There a Princess was sitting, who

was so beautiful that there was never anyone to equal her. She too said what the others had said, that no

Christian folk had ever been there since she had come, and entreated him to go away again, or else the Troll

`Yes, and if he had nine added to the nine, and then nine more still, I would not go away,' said Halvor, and

The Princess begged him very prettily to go lest the Troll should devour him; but Halvor said, `Let him come

So she gave him the Troll's sword, and bade him take a drink from the flask to enable him to wield it.

At that same moment the Troll came, breathing hard, and he was ever so much bigger and stouter than either

Then Halvor cut off the first head, and after that the others, but the last was the toughest of them all, and it

was the hardest work that Halvor had ever done to get it off, but he still believed that he would have strength

And now all the Princesses came to the castle, and were together again, and they were happier than they had

ever been in their lives; and they were delighted with Halvor, and he with them, and he was to choose the one

But Halvor went about and was so strange and so mournful and quiet that the Princesses asked what it was

that he longed for, and if he did not like to be with them. He said that he did like to be with them, for they had

enough to live on, and he was very comfortable there; but he longed to go home, for his father and mother

`You shall go and return in perfect safety if you will follow our advice,' said the Princesses.

Then they dressed him so splendidly that he was like a King's son; and they put a ring on his finger, and it

was one which would enable him to go there and back again by wishing, but they told him that he must not

throw it away, or name their names; for if he did, all his magnificence would be at an end, and then he would

`If I were but at home again, or if home were but here!' said Halvor, and no sooner had he wished this than it

was granted. Halvor was standing outside his father and mother's cottage before he knew what he was about.

The darkness of night was coming on, and when the father and mother saw such a splendid and stately

stranger walk in, they were so startled that they both began to bow and curtsey.

Halvor then inquired if he could stay there and have lodging for the night. No, that he certainly could not.

`We can give you no such accommodation,' they said, `for we have none of the things that are needful when a

great lord like you is to be entertained. It will be better for you to go up to the farm. It is not far off, you can

Halvor would not hear of that, he was absolutely determined to stay where he was; but the old folks stuck to

what they had said, and told him that he was to go to the farm, where he could get both meat and drink,

`No,' said Halvor, `I will not go up there till early tomorrow morning; let me stay here tonight. I can sit

They could say nothing against that, so Halvor sat down on the hearth, and began to rake about among the

They chattered much about many things, and told Halvor of this and of that, and at last he asked them if they

`Yes,' they said; they had had a boy who was called Halvor, but they did not know where he had gone, and

`I should know him well enough,' said the old woman rising. `Our Halvor was so idle and slothful that he

never did anything at all, and he was so ragged that one hole ran into another all over his clothes. Such a

In a short time the old woman had to go to the fireplace to stir the fire, and when the blaze lit up Halvor, as it

`Good Heavens! is that you, Halvor?' said she, and such great gladness fell on the old parents that there were

no bounds to it. And now he had to relate everything that had befallen him, and the old woman was so

delighted with him that she would take him up to the farm at once to show him to the girls who had formerly

looked down on him so. She went there first, and Halvor followed her. When she got there she told them how

Halvor had come home again, and now they should just see how magnificent he was. `He looks like a prince,'

`We shall see that he is just the same ragamuffin that he was before,' said the girls, tossing their heads.

At that same moment Halvor entered, and the girls were so astonished that they left their kirtles lying in the

chimney corner, and ran away in nothing but their petticoats. When they came in again they were so

shamefaced that they hardly dared to look at Halvor, towards whom they had always been so proud and

`Ay, ay! you have always thought that you were so pretty and dainty that no one was equal to you,' said

Halvor, `but you should just see the eldest Princess whom I set free. You look like herds women compared

with her, and the second Princess is also much prettier than you; but the youngest, who is my sweetheart, is

more beautiful than either sun or moon. I wish to Heaven they were here, and then you would see them.'

Scarcely had he said this before they were standing by his side, but then he was very sorrowful, for the words

Up at the farm a great feast was made ready for the Princesses, and much respect paid to them, but they

`We want to go down to your parents,' they said to Halvor, `so we will go out and look about us.'

He followed them out, and they came to a large pond outside the farmhouse. Very near the water there was

a pretty green bank, and there the Princesses said they would sit down and while away an hour, for they

thought that it would be pleasant to sit and look out over the water, they said.

There they sat down, and when they had sat for a short time the youngest Princess said, `I may as well comb

So Halvor laid his head down on her lap, and she combed it, and it was not long before he fell asleep. Then

she took her ring from him and put another in its place, and then she said to her sisters: `Hold me as I am

When Halvor awoke he knew that he had lost the Princesses, and began to weep and lament, and was so

unhappy that he could not be comforted. In spite of all his father's and mother's entreaties, he would not stay,

but bade them farewell, saying that he would never see them more, for if he did not find the Princess again he

He again had three hundred dollars, which he put into his pocket and went on his way. When he had walked

some distance he met a man with a tolerably good horse. Halvor longed to buy it, and began to bargain with

`Well, I have not exactly been thinking of selling him,' said the man, `but if we could agree, perhaps'

`I did not give much for him, and he is not worth much; he is a capital horse to ride, but good for nothing at

drawing; but he will always be able to carry your bag of provisions and you too, if you walk and ride by

turns.' At last they agreed about the price, and Halvor laid his bag on the horse, and sometimes he walked and

sometimes he rode. In the evening he came to a green field, where stood a great tree, under which he seated

himself. Then he let the horse loose and lay down to sleep, but before he did that he took his bag off the

horse. At daybreak he set off again, for he did not feel as if he could take any rest. So he walked and rode the

whole day, through a great wood where there were many green places which gleamed very prettily among the

trees. He did not know where he was or whither he was going, but he never lingered longer in any place than

was enough to let his horse get a little food when they came to one of these green spots, while he himself took

So he walked and he rode, and it seemed to him that the wood would never come to an end. But on the

`If only there were some people up there I might warm myself and get something to eat,' thought Halvor.

When he got to the place where the light had come from, he saw a wretched little cottage, and through a small

pane of glass he saw a couple of old folks inside. They were very old, and as grey headed as a pigeon, and

the old woman had such a long nose that she sat in the chimney corner and used it to stir the fire.

`Good evening I good evening!' said the old hag; `but what errand have you that can bring you here? No

So Halvor told her that he wanted to get to Soria Moria Castle, and inquired if she knew the way thither.

`No,' said the old woman, `that I do not, but the Moon will be here presently, and I will ask her, and she will

So when the Moon stood clear and bright above the treetops the old woman went out. `Moon! Moon!' she

`No,' said the Moon, `that I can't, for when I shone there, there was a cloud before me.'

`Wait a little longer,' said the old woman to Halvor, `for the West Wind will presently be here, and he will

`What! have you a horse too?' she said when she came in again. `Oh! let the poor creature loose in our bit of

fencedin pasture, and don't let it stand there starving at our very door. But won't you exchange him with me?

We have a pair of old boots here with which you can go fifteen quarters of a mile at each step. You shall have

them for the horse, and then you will be able to get sooner to Soria Moria Castle.'

Halvor consented to this at once, and the old woman was so delighted with the horse that she was ready to

dance. `For now I, too, shall be able to ride to church,' she said. Halvor could take no rest, and wanted to set

off immediately; but the old woman said that there was no need to hasten. `Lie down on the bench and sleep a

little, for we have no bed to offer you,' said she, `and I will watch for the coming of the West Wind.'

`West Wind! West Wind! Canst thou tell me the way to Soria Moria Castle? Here is one who would go

`Yes, I know it well,' said the West Wind. `I am just on my way there to dry the clothes for the wedding

`You will have to make haste if you mean to go with me,' said the West Wind; and away it went over hill and

`Well, now I have no time to stay with you any longer,' said the West Wind, `for I must first go and tear down

a bit of spruce fir before I go to the bleachingground to dry the clothes; but just go along the side of the hill,

and you will come to some girls who are standing there washing clothes, and then you will not have to walk

Shortly afterwards Halvor came to the girls who were standing washing, and they asked him if he had seen

anything of the West Wind, who was to come there to dry the clothes for the wedding.

`Yes,' said Halvor, `he has only gone to break down a bit of spruce fir. It won't be long before he is here.' And

then he asked them the way to Soria Moria Castle. They put him in the right way, and when he came in front

of the castle it was so full of horses and people that it swarmed with them. But Halvor was so ragged and torn

with following the West Wind through bushes and bogs that he kept on one side, and would not go among the

So when, as was the usage and custom, all were to drink to the bride and the young girls who were present,

the cupbearer filled the cup for each in turn, both bride and bridegroom, and knights and servants, and at

last, after a very long time, he came to Halvor. He drank their health, and then slipped the ring which the

Princess had put on his finger when they were sitting by the waterside into the glass, and ordered the

Then the Princess at once rose up from the table, and said, `Who is most worthy to have one of ushe who

There could be but one opinion as to that, everyone thought, and when Halvor heard what they said he was

not long in flinging off his beggar's rags and arraying himself as a bridegroom.

`Yes, he is the right one,' cried the youngest Princess when she caught sight of him; so she flung the other out

IN a certain kingdom there lived a Prince Ivan. He had three sisters. The first was the Princess Marya, the

second the Princess Olga, the third the Princess Anna. When their father and mother lay at the point of death,

they had thus enjoined their son: `Give your sisters in marriage to the very first suitors who come to woo

They died, and the Prince buried them, and then, to solace his grief, he went with his sisters into the garden

green to stroll. Suddenly the sky was covered by a black cloud; a terrible storm arose.

Hardly had they got into the palace, when the thunder pealed, the ceiling split open, and into the room where

they were came flying a falcon bright. The Falcon smote upon the ground, became a brave youth, and said:

`Hail, Prince Ivan! Before I came as a guest, but now I have come as a wooer! I wish to propose for your

`If you find favour in the eyes of my sister, I will not interfere with her wishes. Let her marry you, in God's

The Princess Marya gave her consent; the Falcon married her and bore her away into his own realm.

Days follow days, hours chase hours; a whole year goes by. One day Prince Ivan and his two sisters went out

to stroll in the garden green. Again there arose a stormcloud, with whirlwind and lightning.

`Let us go home, sisters!' cries the Prince. Scarcely had they entered the palace when the thunder crashed, the

roof burst into a blaze, the ceiling split in twain, and in flew an eagle. The Eagle smote upon the ground and

`Hail, Prince Ivan! I Before I came as a guest, but now I have come as a wooer!'

`If you find favour in the eyes of the Princess Olga, then let her marry you. I will not interfere with her liberty

The Princess Olga gave her consent and married the Eagle. The Eagle took her and carried her off to his own

They strolled about for a time. Again there arose a stormcloud, with whirlwind and lightning.

They returned home, but they hadn't had time to sit down when the thunder crashed, the ceiling split open,

and in flew a raven. The Raven smote upon the floor and became a brave youth. The former youths had been

`Well, Prince Ivan! Before I came as a guest, but now I have come as a wooer! Give me the Princess Anna to

`I won't interfere with my sister's freedom. If you gain her affections, let her marry you.'

So the Princess Anna married the Raven, and he bore her away into his own realm. Prince Ivan was left

He got ready for the journey, he rode and rode, and one day he saw a whole army lying dead on the plain. He

cried aloud, `If there be a living man there, let him make answer! Who has slain this mighty host?'

Prince Ivan rode further on, and came to a white tent, and forth came to meet him the fair Princess Marya

`Hail, Prince!' says she; `whither does God send you? and is it of your free will or against your will?'

Thereat was Prince Ivan glad. He spent two nights in the tent, and he found favour in the eyes of Marya

Morevna, and she married him. The fair Princess, Marya Morevna, carried him off into her own realm.

They spent some time together, and then the Princess took it into her head to go a warring. So she handed

over all the house keeping affairs to Prince Ivan, and gave him these instructions:

`Go about everywhere, keep watch over everything; only do not venture to look into that closet there.'

He couldn't help doing so. The moment Marya Morevna had gone he rushed to the closet, pulled open the

door, and looked in there hung Koshchei the Deathless, fettered by twelve chains. Then Koshchei

`Have pity upon me and give me to drink! Ten years long have I been here in torment, neither eating nor

The Prince gave him a bucketful of water; he drank it up and asked for more, saying:

The Prince gave him a second bucketful. Koshchei drank it up and asked for a third, and when he had

swallowed the third bucketful, he regained his former strength, gave his chains a shake, and broke all twelve

`Thanks, Prince Ivan!' cried Koshchei the Deathless, `now you will sooner see your own ears than Marya

Morevna!' and out of the window he flew in the shape of a terrible whirlwind. And he came up with the fair

Princess Marya Morevna as she was going her way, laid hold of her and carried her off home with him. But

Prince Ivan wept full sore, and he arrayed himself and set out a wandering, saying to himself, `Whatever

One day passed, another day passed; at the dawn of the third day he saw a wondrous palace, and by the side

of the palace stood an oak, and on the oak sat a falcon bright. Down flew the Falcon from the oak, smote

Out came running the Princess Marya, joyfully greeted her brother Ivan, and began inquiring after his health,

and telling him all about herself. The Prince spent three days with them; then he said:

`I cannot abide with you; I must go in search of my wife, the fair Princess Marya Morevna.'

`Hard will it be for you to find her,' answered the Falcon. `At all events leave with us your silver spoon. We

will look at it and remember you.' So Prince Ivan left his silver spoon at the Falcon's, and went on his way

On he went one day, on he went another day, and by the dawn of the third day he saw a palace still grander

than the former one and hard by the palace stood an oak, and on the oak sat an eagle. Down flew the Eagle

from the oak, smote upon the ground, turned into a brave youth, and cried aloud:

The Princess Olga immediately ran to meet him, and began kissing him and embracing him, asking after his

health, and telling him all about herself. With them Prince Ivan stopped three days; then he said:

`I cannot stay here any longer. I am going to look for my wife, the fair Princess Marya Morevna.'

`Hard will it be for you to find her,' replied the Eagle. `Leave with us a silver fork. We will look at it and

He left a silver fork behind, and went his way. He travelled one day, he travelled two days; at daybreak on the

third day he saw a palace grander than the first two, and near the palace stood an oak, and on the oak sat a

raven. Down flew the Raven from the oak, smote upon the ground, turned into a brave youth, and cried aloud:

Out ran the Princess Anna, greeted him joyfully, and began kissing and embracing him, asking after his

health and telling him all about herself. Prince Ivan stayed with them three days; then he said:

`Hard will it be for you to find her,' replied the Raven. `Anyhow, leave your silver snuffbox with us. We

The Prince handed over his silver snuffbox, took his leave, and went his way. One day he went, another day

he went, and on the third day he came to where Marya Morevna was. She caught sight of her love, flung her

`Oh, Prince Ivan! why did you disobey me and go looking into the closet and letting out Koshchei the

`Forgive me, Marya Morevna! Remember not the past; much better fly with me while Koshchei the Deathless

So they got ready and fled. Now Koshchei was out hunting. Towards evening he was returning home, when

`Prince Ivan has come and carried off Marya Morevna.' `Is it possible to catch them?'

`It is possible to sow wheat, to wait till it grows up, to reap it and thresh it, to grind it to flour, to make five

pies of it, to eat those pies, and then to start in pursuitand even then to be in time.' Koshchei galloped off

`Now,' says he, `this time I will forgive you, in return for your kindness in giving me water to drink. And a

second time I will forgive you; but the third time beware! I will cut you to bits.'

Then he took Marya Morevna from him, and carried her off. But Prince Ivan sat down on a stone and burst

into tears. He wept and weptand then returned back again to Marya Morevna. Now Koshchei the Deathless

`Suppose he does catch us. At all events we shall have spent an hour or two together.'

So they got ready and fled. As Koshchei the Deathless was returning home, his good steed stumbled beneath

`It is possible to sow barley, to wait till it grows up, to reap it and thresh it, to brew beer, to drink ourselves

drunk on it, to sleep our fill, and then to set off in pursuitand yet to be in time.'

`Didn't I tell you that you should not see Marya Morevna any more than your own ears?'

Prince Ivan was left there alone. He wept and wept; then he went back again after Marya Morevna. Koshchei

Koshchei the Deathless was returning home when his good steed stumbled beneath him.

Koshchei galloped off, caught Prince Ivan, chopped him into little pieces, put them into a barrel, smeared it

with pitch and bound it with iron hoops, and flung it into the blue sea. But Marya Morevna he carried off

At that very time the silver articles turned black which Prince Ivan had left with his brothersinlaw.

Then the Eagle hurried to the blue sea, caught hold of the barrel, and dragged it ashore; the Falcon flew away

Afterwards they all three met, broke open the barrel, took out the remains of Prince Ivan, washed them, and

put them together in fitting order. The Raven sprinkled them with the Water of Deaththe pieces joined

together, the body became whole. The Falcon sprinkled it with the Water of LifePrince Ivan shuddered,

`You'd have gone on sleeping a good deal longer if it hadn't been for us,' replied his brothersinlaw. `Now

So Marya Morevna chose a favourable moment, and began asking Koshchei about it. Koshchei replied:

`Beyond thrice nine lands, in the thirtieth kingdom, on the other side of the fiery river, there lives a Baba

Yaga. She has so good a mare that she flies right round the world on it every day. And she has many other

splendid mares. I watched her herds for three days without losing a single mare, and in return for that the

`Why, I've a handkerchief of this kindwhen I wave it thrice on the right hand, there springs up a very lofty

Marya Morevna listened to all this, and repeated it to Prince Ivan, and she carried off the handkerchief and

gave it to him. So he managed to get across the fiery river, and then went on to the Baba Yaga's. Long went

he on without getting anything either to eat or to drink. At last he came across an outlandish bird and its

`Don't eat it, Prince Ivan!' begs the outlandish bird; `some time or other I'll do you a good turn.'

`Don't disturb my honey, Prince Ivan!' exclaims the queen bee; `some time or other I'll do you a good turn.'

So he didn't disturb it, but went on. Presently there met him a lioness with her cub.

`Please let us alone, Prince Ivan!' begs the lioness; `some time or other I'll do you a good turn.'

Hungry and faint he wandered on, walked farther and farther, and at last came to where stood the house of the

Baba Yaga. Round the house were set twelve poles in a circle, and on each of eleven of these poles was stuck

`Hail, Prince Ivan! wherefore have yon come? Is it of your own accord, or on compulsion?'

`So be it, Prince! You won't have to serve a year with me, but just three days. If you take good care of my

mares, I'll give you an heroic steed. But if you don'twhy, then you mustn't be annoyed at finding your head

Prince Ivan agreed to these terms. The Baba Yaga gave him food and drink, and bade him set about his

business. But the moment he had driven the mares afield, they cocked up their tails, and away they tore

across the meadows in all directions. Before the Prince had time to look round they were all out of sight.

Thereupon he began to weep and to disquiet himself, and then he sat down upon a stone and went to sleep.

But when the sun was near its setting the outlandish bird came flying up to him, and awakened him, saying:

The Prince arose and returned home. There the Baba Yaga was storming and raging at her mares, and

`How could we help coming home?' said they. `There came flying birds from every part of the world, and all

`Well, well! tomorrow don't go galloping over the meadows, but disperse amid the thick forests.'

`Mind, Prince! if you don't take good care of the mares, if you lose merely one of themyour bold head will

He drove the mares afield. Immediately they cocked up their tails and dispersed among the thick forests.

Again did the Prince sit down on the stone, weep and weep, and then go to sleep. The sun went down behind

Prince Ivan arose and went home. More than ever did the Baba Yaga storm at her mares and shriek:

`How could we help coming back? Beasts of prey came running at us from all parts of the world, and all but

Again did Prince Ivan sleep through the night. Next morning the Baba Yaga sent him forth to watch the

`If you don't take good care of them,' says she, `your bold head will be stuck on that pole!'

He drove the mares afield. Immediately they cocked up their tails, disappeared from sight, and fled into the

blue sea. There they stood, up to their necks in water. Prince Ivan sat down on the stone, wept, and fell

asleep. But when the sun had set behind the forest, up came flying a bee, and said:

`Arise, Prince! The mares are all collected. But when you get home, don't let the Baba Yaga set eyes on you,

but go into the stable and hide behind the mangers. There you will find a sorry colt rolling in the muck. Do

Prince Ivan arose, slipped into the stable, and lay down behind the mangers, while the Baba Yaga was

`How could we help coming back? There came flying bees in countless numbers from all parts of the world,

The Baba Yaga went to sleep. In the dead of the night Prince Ivan stole the sorry colt, saddled it, jumped on

its back, and galloped away to the fiery river. When he came to that river he waved the handkerchief three

times on the right hand, and suddenly, springing goodness knows whence, there hung across the river, high in

the air, a splendid bridge. The Prince rode across the bridge and waved the handkerchief twice only on the

When the Baba Yaga got up in the morning the sorry colt was not to be seen! Off she set in pursuit. At full

speed did she fly in her iron mortar, urging it on with the pestle, sweeping away her traces with the broom.

She dashed up to the fiery river, gave a glance, and said, `A capital bridge!' She drove on to the bridge, but

had only got halfway when the bridge broke in two, and the Baba Yaga went flop into the river. There truly

Prince Ivan fattened up the colt in the green meadows, and it turned into a wondrous steed. Then he rode to

where Marya Morevna was. She came running out, and flung herself on his neck, crying:

`I am afraid, Prince Ivan! If Koshchei catches us you will be cut in pieces again.'

`No, he won't catch us! I have a splendid heroic steed now; it flies just like a bird.' So they got on its back and

After a time he came up with Prince Ivan, lighted on the ground, and was going to chop him up with his sharp

sword. But at that moment Prince Ivan's horse smote Koshchei the Deathless full swing with its hoof, and

cracked his skull, and the Prince made an end of him with a club. Afterwards the Prince heaped up a pile of

wood, set fire to it, burnt Koshchei the Deathless on the pyre, and scattered his ashes to the wind. Then

Marya Morevna mounted Koshchei's horse and Prince Ivan got on his own, and they rode away to visit first

the Raven, and then the Eagle, and then the Falcon. Wherever they went they met with a joyful greeting.

`Ah, Prince Ivan! why, we never expected to see you again. Well, it wasn't for nothing that you gave yourself

so much trouble. Such a beauty as Marya Morevna one might search for all the world overand never find

And so they visited, and they feasted; and afterwards they went off to their own realm.[3]

IN times of yore there was a King and a Queen in the south of Ireland who had three sons, all beautiful

children; but the Queen, their mother, sickened unto death when they were yet very young, which caused

great grief throughout the Court, particularly to the King, her husband, who could in no wise be comforted.

Seeing that death was drawing near her, she called the King to her and spoke as follows:

`I am now going to leave you, and as you are young and in your prime, of course after my death you will

marry again. Now all the request I ask of you is that you will build a tower in an island in the sea, wherein

you will keep your three sons until they are come of age and fit to do for themselves; so that they may not be

under the power or jurisdiction of any other woman. Neglect not to give them education suitable to their

birth, and let them be trained up to every exercise and pastime requisite for king's sons to learn. This is all I

The King had scarce time, with tears in his eyes, to assure her she should be obeyed in everything, when she,

turning herself in her bed, with a smile gave up the ghost. Never was greater mourning seen than was

throughout the Court and the whole kingdom; for a better woman than the Queen, to rich and poor, was not to

be found in the world. She was interred with great pomp and magnificence, and the King, her husband,

became in a manner inconsolable for the loss of her. However, he caused the tower to be built and his sons

In process of time the lords and knights of the kingdom counselled the King (as he was young) to live no

longer as he had done, but to take a wife; which counsel prevailing, they chose him a rich and beautiful

princess to be his consorta neighbouring King's daughter, of whom he was very fond. Not long after, the

Queen had a fine son, which caused great feasting and rejoicing at the Court, insomuch that the late Queen, in

a manner, was entirely forgotten. That fared well, and King and Queen lived happy together for several years.

At length the Queen, having some business with the henwife, went herself to her, and, after a long

conference passed, was taking leave of her, when the henwife prayed that if ever she should come back to

her again she might break her neck. The Queen, greatly incensed at such a daring insult from one of her

meanest subjects, demanded immediately the reason, or she would have her put to death.

`It was worth your while, madam,' says the henwife, `to pay me well for it, for the reason I prayed so on you

`You must give me,' says she, `the full of a pack of wool, and I have an ancient crock which you must fill

`It will take seven herds of sheep,' said she, `and their increase for seven years.'

`That is a great quantity,' says the Queen; `but the reason must be extraordinary, and before I want it, I will

`Well,' says the henwife, `it is because you are so stupid that you don't observe or find out those affairs that

`Why,' says she, `the King your husband has three fine sons he had by the late Queen, whom he keeps shut up

in a tower until they come of age, intending to divide the kingdom between them, and let your son push his

fortune; now, if you don't find some means of destroying them; your child and perhaps yourself will be left

`And what would you advise me to do?' said she; `I am wholly at a loss in what manner to act in this affair.'

`You must make known to the King,' says the henwife, `that you heard of his sons, and wonder greatly that

he concealed them all this time from you; tell him you wish to see them, and that it is full time for them to be

liberated, and that you would be desirous he would bring them to the Court. The King will then do so, and

there will be a great feast prepared on that account, and also diversions of every sort to amuse the people; and

in these sports,' said she, `ask the King's sons to play a game at cards with you, which they will not refuse.

Now,' says the henwife, `you must make a bargain, that if you win they must do whatever you command

them, and if they win, that you must do whatever they command you to do; this bargain must be made before

the assembly, and here is a pack of cards,' says she, `that I am thinking you will not lose by.'

The Queen immediately took the cards, and, after returning the henwife thanks for her kind instruction,

went back to the palace, where she was quite uneasy until she got speaking to the King in regard of his

children; at last she broke it off to him in a very polite and engaging manner, so that he could see no muster

or design in it. He readily consented to her desire, and his sons were sent for to the tower, who gladly came to

Court, rejoicing that they were freed from such confinement. They were all very handsome, and very expert

in all arts and exercises, so that they gained the love and esteem of all that had seen them.

The Queen, more jealous with them than ever, thought it an age until all the feasting and rejoicing was over,

that she might get making her proposal, depending greatly on the power of the hen wife's cards. At length

this royal assembly began to sport and play at all kinds of diversions, and the Queen very cunningly

challenged the three Princes to play at cards with her, making bargain with them as she had been instructed.

They accepted the challenge, and the eldest son and she played the first game, which she won; then the

second son played, and she won that game likewise; the third son and she then played the last game, and he

won it, which sorely grieved her that she had not him in her power as well as the rest, being by far the

However, everyone was anxious to hear the Queen's commands in regard to the two Princes, not thinking that

she had any ill design in her head against them. Whether it was the henwife instructed her, or whether it was

from her own knowledge, I cannot tell; but she gave out they must go and bring her the Knight of the Glen's

The young Princes were not in the least concerned, not knowing what they had to do; but the whole Court

was amazed at her demand, knowing very well that it was impossible for them ever to get the steed, as all that

ever sought him perished in the attempt. However, they could not retract the bargain, and the youngest Prince

`My brothers,' says he, `are now going to travel, and, as I understand, a perilous journey wherein they know

not what road to take or what may happen them. I am resolved, therefore, not to stay here, but to go with

them, let what will betide; and I request and command, according to my bargain, that the Queen shall stand

on the highest tower of the palace until we come back (or find out that we are certainly dead), with nothing

but sheaf corn for her food and cold water for her drink, if it should be for seven years and longer.'

All things being now fixed, the three princes departed the Court in search of the Knight of the Glen's palace,

and travelling along the road they came up with a man who was a little lame, and seemed to be somewhat

advanced in years; they soon fell into discourse, and the youngest of the princes asked the stranger his name,

`I am called,' said he, `the Thief of Sloan, and sometimes the Black Thief from my cap; `and so telling the

prince the most of his adventures, he asked him again where they were bound for, or what they were about.

The prince, willing to gratify his request, told him their affairs from the beginning to the end. `And now,' said

he, `we are travelling, and do not know whether we are on the right road or not.'

`Ah! my brave fellows,' says the Black Thief, `you little know the danger you run. I am after that steed

myself these seven years, and can never steal him on account of a silk covering he has on him in the stable,

with sixty bells fixed to it, and whenever you approach the place he quickly observes it and shakes himself;

which, by the sound of the bells, not only alarms the prince and his guards, but the whole country round, so

that it is impossible ever to get him, and those that are so unfortunate as to be taken by the Knight of the Glen

`Bless me,' says the young prince, `what will we do? If we return without the steed we will lose our heads, so

`Well,' says the Thief of Sloan, `if it were my case I would rather die by the Knight than by the wicked

Queen; besides, I will go with you myself and show you the road, and whatever fortune you will have, I will

They returned him sincere thanks for his kindness, and he, being well acquainted with the road, in a short

`Now,' says he, `we must stay here till night comes; for I know all the ways of the place, and if there be any

chance for it, it is when they are all at rest; for the steed is all the watch the knight keeps there.'

Accordingly, in the dead hour of the night, the King's three sons and the Thief of Sloan attempted the Steed

of Bells in order to carry him away, but before they could reach the stables the steed neighed most terribly

and shook himself so, and the bells rung with such noise, that the knight and all his men were up in a

The Black Thief and the King's sons thought to make their escape, but they were suddenly surrounded by the

knight's guards and taken prisoners; where they were brought into that dismal part of the palace where the

knight kept a furnace always boiling, in which he threw all offenders that ever came in his way, which in a

`Audacious villains!' says the Knight of the Glen, `how dare you attempt so bold an action as to steal my

steed? See, now, the reward of your folly; for your greater punishment I will not boil you all together, but one

after the other, so that he that survives may witness the dire afflictions of his unfortunate companions.'

So saying he ordered his servants to stir up the fire: `We will boil the eldestlooking of these young men

first,' said he, `and so on to the last, which will be this old champion with the black cap. He seems to be the

`I was as near death once as the prince is yet,' says the Black Thief, `and escaped; and so will he too.'

`No, you never were,' said the knight; `for he is within two or three minutes of his latter end.'

`But,' says the Black Thief, `I was within one moment of my death, and I am here yet.'

`How was that?' says the knight; `I would be glad to hear it, for it seems impossible.'

`If you think, sir knight,' says the Black Thief, `that the danger I was in surpasses that of this young man, will

`I was, sir,' says he, `a very wild boy in my youth, and came through many distresses; once in particular, as I

was on my rambling, I was benighted and could find no lodging. At length I came to an old kiln, and being

much fatigued I went up and lay on the ribs. I had not been long there when I saw three witches coming in

with three bags of gold. Each put their bags of gold under their heads, as if to sleep. I heard one of them say

to the other that if the Black Thief came on them while they slept, he would not leave them a penny. I found

by their discourse that everybody had got my name into their mouth, though I kept silent as death during their

discourse. At length they fell fast asleep, and then I stole softly down, and seeing some turf convenient, I

placed one under each of their heads, and off I went, with their gold, as fast as I could.

`I had not gone far,' continued the Thief of Sloan, `until I saw a grey hound, a hare, and a hawk in pursuit of

me, and began to think it must be the witches that had taken the shapes in order that I might not escape them

unseen either by land or water. Seeing they did not appear in any formidable shape, I was more than once

resolved to attack them, thinking that with my broad sword I could easily destroy them. But considering

again that it was perhaps still in their power to become alive again, I gave over the attempt and climbed with

difficulty up a tree, bringing my sword in my hand and all the gold along with me. However, when they came

to the tree they found what I had done, and making further use of their hellish art, one of them was changed

into a smith's anvil and another into a piece of iron, of which the third soon made a hatchet. Having the

hatchet made, she fell to cutting down the tree, and in the course of an hour it began to shake with me. At

length it began to bend, and I found that one or two blows at the most would put it down. I then began to

think that my death was inevitable, considering that those who were capable of doing so much would soon

end my life; but just as she had the stroke drawn that would terminate my fate, the cock crew, and the witches

disappeared, having resumed their natural shapes for fear of being known, and I got safe off with my bags of

`Now, sir,' says he to the Knight of the Glen, `if that be not as great an adventure as ever you heard, to be

within one blow of a hatchet of my end, and that blow even drawn, and after all to escape, I leave it to

`Well, I cannot say but it is very extraordinary,' says the Knight of the Glen, `and on that account pardon this

`Indeed,' says the Black Thief, `I would fain think he would not die this time either.'

`I escaped death more wonderfully myself,' says the Thief of Sloan, `than if you had him ready to throw into

`Why, have you been in another great danger?' says the knight. `I would be glad to hear the story too, and if it

`My way of living, sir,' says the Black Thief, `was not good, as I told you before; and being at a certain time

fairly run out of cash, and meeting with no enterprise worthy of notice, I was reduced to great straits. At

length a rich bishop died in the neighbourhood I was then in, and I heard he was interred with a great deal of

jewels and rich robes upon him, all which I intended in a short time to be master of. Accordingly that very

night I set about it, and coming to the place, I understood he was placed at the further end of a long dark

vault, which I slowly entered. I had not gone in far until I heard a foot coming towards me with a quick pace,

and although naturally bold and daring, yet, thinking of the deceased bishop and the crime I was engaged in, I

lost courage, and ran towards the entrance of the vault. I had retreated but a few paces when I observed,

between me and the light, the figure of a tall black man standing in the entrance. Being in great fear and not

knowing how to pass, I fired a pistol at him, and he immediately fell across the entrance. Perceiving he still

retained the figure of a mortal man, I began to imagine that it could not be the bishop's ghost; recovering

myself therefore from the fear I was in, I ventured to the upper end of the vault, where I found a large bundle,

and upon further examination I found that the corpse was already rifled, and that which I had taken to be a

ghost was no more than one of his own clergy. I was then very sorry that I had the misfortune to kill him, but

it then could not be helped. I took up the bundle that contained everything belonging to the corpse that was

valuable, intending to take my departure from this melancholy abode; but just as I came to the mouth of the

entrance I saw the guards of the place coming towards me, and distinctly heard them saying that they would

look in the vault, for that the Black Thief would think little of robbing the corpse if he was anywhere in the

place. I did not then know in what manner to act, for if I was seen I would surely lose my life, as everybody

had a lookout at that time, and because there was no person bold enough to come in on me. I knew very well

on the first sight of me that could be got, I would be shot like a dog. However, I had not time to lose. I took

and raised up the man which I had killed, as if he was standing on his feet, and I, crouching behind him, bore

him up as well as I could, so that the guards readily saw him as they came up to the vault. Seeing the man in

black, one of the men cried that was the Black Thief, and, presenting his piece, fired at the man, at which I let

him fall, and crept into a little dark corner myself, that was at the entrance of the place. When they saw the

man fall, they ran all into the vault, and never stopped until they were at the end of it, for fear, as I thought,

that there might be some others along with him that was killed. But while they were busy inspecting the

corpse and the vault to see what they could miss, I slipped out, and, once away, and still away; but they never

`Well, my brave fellow,' says the Knight of the Glen, `I see you have come through many dangers: you have

freed these two princes by your stories; but I am sorry myself that this young prince has to suffer for all.

Now, if you could tell me something as wonderful as you have told already, I would pardon him likewise; I

`That happens well,' says the Thief of Sloan, `for I like him best myself, and have reserved the most curious

`I was one day on my travels,' says the Black Thief, `and I came into a large forest, where I wandered a long

time, and could not get out of it. At length I came to a large castle, and fatigue obliged me to call in the same,

where I found a young woman and a child sitting on her knee, and she crying. I asked her what made her cry,

and where the lord of the castle was, for I wondered greatly that I saw no stir of servants or any person about

` ``It is well for you,'' says the young woman, ``that the lord of this castle is not at home at present; for he is a

monstrous giant, with but one eye on his forehead, who lives on human flesh. He brought me this child,'' says

she, ``I do not know where he got it, and ordered me to make it into a pie, and I cannot help crying at the

`I told her that if she knew of any place convenient that I could leave the child safely I would do it, rather

`She told me of a house a distance off where I would get a woman who would take care of it. ``But what will

` ``Cut a finger off it,'' said I, ``and I will bring you in a young wild pig out of the forest, which you may dress

as if it was the child, and put the finger in a certain place, that if the giant doubts anything about it you may

know where to turn it over at the first, and when he sees it he will be fully satisfied that the pie is made of the

`She agreed to the scheme I proposed, and, cutting off the child's finger, by her direction I soon had it at the

house she told me of, and brought her the little pig in the place of it. She then made ready the pie, and after

eating and drinking heartily myself, I was just taking my leave of the young woman when we observed the

` ``Bless me,'' said she, ``what will you do now? Run away and lie down among the dead bodies that he has in

the room (showing me the place), and strip off your clothes that he may not know you from the rest if he has

`I took her advice, and laid myself down among the rest, as if dead, to see how he would behave. The first

thing I heard was him calling for his pie. When she set it down before him he swore it smelled like swine's

flesh, but knowing where to find the finger, she immediately turned it up, which fairly convinced him of the

contrary. The pie only served to sharpen his appetite, and I heard him sharpening his knife and saying he

must have a collop or two, for he was not near satisfied. But what was my terror when I heard the giant

groping among the bodies, and, fancying myself, cut the half of my hip off, and took it with him to be

roasted. You may be certain I was in great pain, but the fear of being killed prevented me from making any

complaint. However, when he had eaten all he began to drink hot liquors in great abundance, so that in a short

time he could not hold up his head, but threw himself on a large creel he had made for the purpose, and fell

fast asleep. When I heard him snoring, as I was I went up and caused the woman to bind my wound with a

handkerchief; and, taking the giant's spit, reddened it in the fire, and ran it through the eye, but was not able

`However, I left the spit sticking in his head, and took to my heels; but I soon found he was in pursuit of me,

although blind; and having an enchanted ring he threw it at me, and it fell on my big toe and remained

`The giant then called to the ring, where it was, and to my great surprise it made him answer on my foot; and

he, guided by the same, made a leap at me which I had the good luck to observe, and fortunately escaped the

danger. However, I found running was of no use in saving me, as long as I had the ring on my foot; so I took

my sword and cut off the toe it was fastened on, and threw both into a large fishpond that was convenient.

The giant called again to the ring, which by the power of enchantment always made him answer; but he, not

knowing what I had done, imagined it was still on some part of me, and made a violent leap to seize me,

when he went into the pond, over head and ears, and was drowned. Now, sir knight,' says the Thief of Sloan,

`you see what dangers I came through and always escaped; but, indeed, I am lame for the want of my toe ever

`My lord and master,' says an old woman that was listening all the time, `that story is but too true, as I well

know, for I am the very woman that was in the giant's castle, and you, my lord, the child that I was to make

into a pie; and this is the very man that saved your life, which you may know by the want of your finger that

The Knight of the Glen, greatly surprised at what he had heard the old woman tell, and knowing he wanted

his finger from his childhood, began to understand that the story was true enough.

`And is this my deliverer?' says he. `O brave fellow, I not only pardon you all, but will keep you with myself

while you live, where you shall feast like princes, and have every attendance that I have myself.'

They all returned thanks on their knees, and the Black Thief told him the reason they attempted to steal the

`Well,' says the Knight of the Glen, `if that's the case I bestow you my steed rather than this brave fellow

should die; so you may go when you please, only remember to call and see me betimes, that we may know

They promised they would, and with great joy they set off for the King their father's palace, and the Black

The wicked Queen was standing all this time on the tower, and, hearing the bells ringing at a great distance

off, knew very well it was the princes coming home, and the steed with them, and through spite and vexation

The three princes lived happy and well during their father's reign, and always keeping the Black Thief along

THERE was once upon a time a husbandman who had three sons. He had no property to bequeath to them,

and no means of putting them in the way of getting a living, and did not know what to do, so he said that they

had his leave to take to anything they most fancied, and go to any place they best liked. He would gladly

accompany them for some part of their way, he said, and that he did. He went with them till they came to a

place where three roads met, and there each of them took his own way, and the father bade them farewell and

returned to his own home again. What became of the two elder I have never been able to discover, but the

It came to pass, one night, as he was going through a great wood, that a terrible storm came on. It blew so

hard and rained so heavily that he could scarcely keep his eyes open, and before he was aware of it he had got

quite out of the track, and could neither find road nor path. But he went on, and at last he saw a light far away

in the wood. Then he thought he must try and get to it, and after a long, long time he did reach it. There was a

large house, and the fire was burning so brightly inside that he could tell that the people were not in bed. So

`It wouldn't be good for you to sleep here,' said the old hag, `for if the people of the house come home and

`Oh! robbers, and rabble of that sort,' said the old woman; `they stole me away when I was little, and I have

`I still think I will go to bed, all the same,' said the youth. `No matter what happens, I'll not go out tonight in

The young man lay down in a bed which stood near, but he dared not go to sleep: and it was better that he

didn't, for the robbers came, and the old woman said that a young fellow who was a stranger had come there,

`He's not one to have money, he is a tramp! If he has a few clothes to his back, that is all.'

Then the robbers began to mutter to each other apart about what they should do with him, whether they

should murder him, or what else they should do. In the meantime the boy got up and began to talk to them,

and ask them if they did not want a man servant, for he could find pleasure enough in serving them.

`Yes,' said they, `if you have a mind to take to the trade that we follow, you may have a place here.'

`It's all the same to me what trade I follow,' said the youth, `for when I came away from home my father gave

`Yes,' said the boy, for he thought that was a trade which would not take long to learn.

Not very far off there dwelt a man who had three oxen, one of which he was to take to the town to sell. The

robbers had heard of this, so they told the youth that if he were able to steal the ox from him on the way,

without his knowing, and without doing him any harm, he should have leave to be their servantman. So the

youth set off, taking with him a pretty shoe with a silver buckle that was lying about in the house. He put this

in the road by which the man must go with his ox, and then went into the wood and hid himself under a bush.

`That's a brave shoe,' said he. `If I had but the fellow to it, I would carry it home with me, and then I should

For he had a wife who was so cross and illtempered that the time between the beatings she gave him was

very short. But then he bethought himself that he could do nothing with one shoe if he had not the fellow to

it, so he journeyed onwards and let it lie where it was. Then the youth picked up the shoe and hurried off

away through the wood as fast as he was able, to get in front of the man, and then put the shoe in the road

When the man came with the ox and saw the shoe, he was quite vexed at having been so stupid as to leave the

`I will just run back again and fetch it now,' he said to himself, `and then I shall take back a pair of good

So he went and searched and searched for the other shoe for a long, long time, but no shoe was to be found,

In the meantime the youth had taken the ox and gone off with it. When the man got there and found that his

ox was gone, he began to weep and wail, for he was afraid that when his old woman got to know she would

be the death of him. But all at once it came into his head to go home and get the other ox, and drive it to the

town, and take good care that his old wife knew nothing about it. So he did this; he went home and took the

ox without his wife's knowing about it, and went on his way to the town with it. But the robbers they knew it

well, because they got out their magic. So they told the youth that if he could take this ox also without the

man knowing anything about it, and without doing him any hurt, he should then be on an equality with them.

This time he took with him a rope and put it under his arms and tied himself up to a tree, which hung over the

road that the man would have to take. So the man came with his ox, and when he saw the body hanging there

`What a hard lot yours must have been to make you hang yourself!' said he. `Ah, well! you may hang there

So on he went with his ox. Then the youth sprang down from the tree, ran by a short cut and got before him,

`How I should like to know if you really were so sick at heart that you hanged yourself there, or if it is only a

hobgoblin that's before me!' said the man. `Ah, well! you may hang there for me, whether you are a

Once more the youth did just as he had done twice already; jumped down from the tree, ran by a short cut

through the wood, and again hanged himself in the very middle of the road before him.

But when the man once more saw this he said to himself, `What a bad business this is! Can they all have been

so heavy. hearted that they have all three hanged themselves? No, I can't believe that it is anything but

witchcraft! But I will know the truth,' he said; `if the two others are still hanging there it is true but if they are

So he tied up his ox and ran back to see if they really were hanging there. While he was going, and looking

up at every tree as he went, the youth leapt down and took his ox and went off with it. Any one may easily

imagine what a fury the man fell into when he came back and saw that his ox was gone. He wept and he

raged, but at last he took comfort and told himself that the best thing to do was to go home and take the third

ox, without letting his wife know anything about it, and then try to sell it so well that he got a good sum of

money for it. So he went home and took the third ox, and drove it off without his wife knowing anything

about it. But the robbers knew all about it, and they told the youth that if he could steal this as he had stolen

the two others, he should be master of the whole troop. So the youth set out and went to the wood, and when

the man was coming along with the ox he began to bellow loudly, just like a great ox somewhere inside the

wood. When the man heard that he was right glad, for he fancied he recognised the voice of his big bullock,

and thought that now he should find both of them again. So he tied up the third, and ran away off the road to

look for them in the wood. In the meantime the youth went away with the third ox. When the man returned

and found that he had lost that too, he fell into such a rage that there was no bounds to it. He wept and

lamented, and for many days he did not dare to go home again, for he was afraid that the old woman would

slay him outright. The robbers, also, were not very well pleased at this, for they were forced to own that the

youth was at the head of them all. So one day they made up their minds to set to work to do something which

it was not in his power to accomplish, and they all took to the road together, and left him at home alone.

When they were well out of the house, the first thing that he did was to drive the oxen out on the road,

whereupon they all ran home again to the man from whom he had stolen them, and right glad was the

husbandman to see them. Then he brought out all the horses the robbers had, and loaded them with the most

valuable things which he could find vessels of gold and of silver, and clothes and other magnificent

thingsand then he told the old woman to greet the robbers from him and thank them from him, and say that

he had gone away, and that they would have a great deal of difficulty in finding him again, and with that he

drove the horses out of the courtyard. After a long, long time he came to the road on which he was travelling

when he came to the robbers. And when he had got very near home, and was in sight of the house where his

father lived, he put on a uniform which he had found among the things he had taken from the robbers, and

which was made just like a general's, and drove into the yard just as if he were a great man. Then he entered

`No, indeed you can't!' said his father. `How could I possibly be able to lodge such a great gentleman as you?

It is all that I can do to find clothes and bedding for myself, and wretched they are.'

`You were always a hard man,' said the youth, `and hard you are still if you refuse to let your own son come

Then he recognised him and said, `But what trade have you taken to that has made you such a great man in so

`Oh, that I will tell you,' answered the youth. `You said that I might take to anything I liked, so I apprenticed

myself to some thieves and robbers, and now I have served my time and have become Master Thief.'

Now the Governor of the province lived by his father's cottage, and this Governor had such a large house and

so much money that he did not even know how much it was, and he had a daughter too who was both pretty

and dainty, and good and wise. So the Master Thief was determined to have her to wife, and told his father

that he was to go to the Governor, and ask for his daughter for him. `If he asks what trade I follow, you may

`I think you must be crazy,' said the man, `for you can't be in your senses if you think of anything so foolish.'

`You must go to the Governor and beg for his daughterthere is no help,' said the youth.

`But I dare not go to the Governor and say this. He is so rich and has so much wealth of all kinds,' said the

`There is no help for it,' said the Master Thief; `go you must, whether you like it or not. If I can't get you to go

But the man was still unwilling, so the Master Thief followed him, threatening him with a great birch stick,

till he went weeping and wailing through the door to the Governor of the province.

So he told him that he had three sons who had gone away one day, and how he had given them permission to

go where they chose, and take to whatsoever work they fancied. `Now,' he said, `the youngest of them has

come home, and has threatened me till I have come to you to ask for your daughter for him, and I am to say

`Console yourself, my man,' said the Governor, laughing. `You may tell him from me that he must first give

me some proof of this. If he can steal the joint off the spit in the kitchen on Sunday, when every one of us is

The man did tell him, and the youth thought it would be easy enough to do it. So he set himself to work to

catch three hares alive, put them in a bag, clad himself in some old rags so that he looked so poor and

wretched that it was quite pitiable to see him, and in this guise on Sunday forenoon he sneaked into the

passage with his bag, like any beggar boy. The Governor himself and every one in the house was in the

kitchen, keeping watch over the joint. While they were doing this the youth let one of the hares slip out of his

`Just look at that hare,' said the people in the kitchen, and wanted to go out and catch it.

The Governor saw it too, but said, `Oh, let it go! it's no use to think of catching a hare when it's running

It was not long before the youth let another hare out, and the people in the kitchen saw this too, and thought

that it was the same. So again they wanted to go out and catch it, but the Governor again told them that it was

Very soon afterwards, however, the youth let slip the third hare, and it set off and ran round and round the

courtyard. The people in the kitchen saw this too, and believed that it was still the same hare that was running

`It's a remarkably fine hare!' said the Governor. `Come and let us see if we can get hold of it.' So out he went,

and the others with him, and away went the hare, and they after it, in real earnest.

In the meantime, however, the Master Thief took the joint and ran off with it, and whether the Governor got

any roast meat for his dinner that day I know not, but I know that he had no roast hare, though he chased it till

he was both hot and tired. At noon came the Priest, and when the Governor had told him of the trick played

`For my part,' said the Priest, `I can't imagine myself being made a fool of by such a fellow as that!'

`Well, I advise you to be careful,' said the Governor, `for he may be with you before you are at all aware.'

But the Priest repeated what he had said, and mocked the Governor for having allowed himself to be made

Later in the afternoon the Master Thief came and wanted to have the Governor's daughter as he had

`You must first give some more samples of your skill,' said the Governor, trying to speak him fair, `for what

you did today was no such very great thing after all. Couldn't you play off a really good trick on the Priest?

for he is sitting inside there and calling me a fool for having let myself be taken in by such a fellow as you.'

`Well, it wouldn't be very hard to do that,' said the Master Thief. So he dressed himself up like a bird, and

threw a great white sheet over himself; broke off a goose's wings, and set them on his back; and in this attire

climbed into a great maple tree which stood in the Priest's garden. So when the Priest returned home in the

evening the youth began to cry, `Father Lawrence! Father Lawrence! `for the Priest was called Father

`I am an angel sent to announce to thee that because of thy piety thou shalt be taken away alive into heaven,'

said the Master Thief. `Wilt thou hold thyself in readiness to travel away next Monday night? for then will I

come and fetch thee, and bear thee away with me in a sack, and thou must lay all thy gold and silver, and

whatsoever thou may 'st possess of this world's wealth, in a heap in thy best parlour.'

So Father Lawrence fell down on his knees before the angel and thanked him, and the following Sunday he

preached a farewell sermon, and gave out that an angel had come down into the large maple tree in his

garden, and had announced to him that, because of his righteousness, he should be taken up alive into heaven,

and as he thus preached and told them this everyone in the church, old or young, wept.

On Monday night the Master Thief once more came as an angel, and before the Priest was put into the sack

he fell on his knees and thanked him; but no sooner was the Priest safely inside it than the Master Thief began

`This is the way to heaven. The way to heaven is not an easy one,' said the Master Thief, and dragged him

At last he flung him into the Governor's goosehouse, and the geese began to hiss and peck at him, till he felt

`Now you are in Purgatory,' said the Master Thief, and off he went and took the gold and the silver and all the

Next morning, when the goosegirl came to let out the geese, she heard the Priest bemoaning himself as he

`Oh,' said the Priest, `if you are an angel from heaven do let me out and let me go back to earth again, for no

`I am no angel,' said the girl, and helped the Priest out of the sack. `I only look after the Governor's geese,

that's what I do, and they are the little fiends which have pinched your reverence.'

`This is the Master Thief's doing! Oh, my gold and my silver and my best clothes!' shrieked the Priest, and,

wild with rage, he ran home so fast that the goosegirl thought he had suddenly gone mad.

When the Governor learnt what had happened to the Priest he laughed till he nearly killed himself, but when

the Master Thief came and wanted to have his daughter according to promise, he once more gave him nothing

but fine words, and said, `You must give me one more proof of your skill, so that I can really judge of your

worth. I have twelve horses in my stable, and I will put twelve stable boys in it, one on each horse. If you are

clever enough to steal the horses from under them, I will see what I can do for you.'

`What you set me to do can be done,' said the Master Thief, `but am I certain to get your daughter when it is?'

So the Master Thief went to a shop, and bought enough brandy to fill two pocket flasks, and he put a sleeping

drink into one of these, but into the other he poured brandy only. Then he engaged eleven men to lie that

night in hiding behind the Governor's stable. After this, by fair words and good payment, he borrowed a

ragged gown and a jerkin from an aged woman, and then, with a staff in his hand and a poke on his back, he

hobbled off as evening came on towards the Governor's stable. The stable boys were just watering the horses

`Oh dear! oh dear! How cold it is!' she said, sobbing, and shivering with cold. `Oh dear! oh dear! it's cold

enough to freeze a poor old body to death!' and she shivered and shook again, and said, `For heaven's sake

`You will get nothing of the kind! Be off this moment! If the Governor were to catch sight of you here, he

`Oh! what a poor helpless old creature!' said another, who felt sorry for her. `That poor old woman can do no

The rest of them thought that she ought not to stay, but while they were disputing about this and looking after

the horses, she crept farther and farther into the stable, and at last sat down behind the door, and when once

As the night wore on the stable boys found it rather cold work to sit still on horseback.

`Hutetu! But it is fearfully cold!' said one, and began to beat his arms backwards and forwards across his

Well, one of them had a little, so they shared it among them, though there was very little for each man, but

they chewed it. This was some help to them, but very soon they were just as cold as before.

`Hutetu!' said the old woman, gnashing her teeth together till they chattered inside her mouth; and then she

got out the flask which contained nothing but brandy, and her hands trembled so that she shook the bottle

`Brandy! What! Let me have a drop! Let me have a drop!' screamed all the twelve at once.

`Oh, but what I have is so little,' whimpered the old woman. `It will not even wet your mouths.'

But they were determined to have it, and there was nothing to be done but give it; so she took out the flask

with the sleeping drink and put it to the lips of the first of them; and now she shook no more, but guided the

flask so that each of them got just as much as he ought, and the twelfth had not done drinking before the first

was already sitting snoring. Then the Master Thief flung off his beggar's rags, and took one stable boy after

the other and gently set him astride on the partitions which divided the stalls, and then he called his eleven

In the morning when the Governor came to look after his stable boys they were just beginning to come to

again. They were driving their spurs into the partition till the splinters flew about, and some of the boys fell

off, and some still hung on and sat looking like fools. `Ah, well,' said the Governor, `it is easy to see who has

been here; but what a worthless set of fellows you must be to sit here and let the Master Thief steal the horses

Later in the day the Master Thief came and related what he had done, and wanted to have the Governor's

daughter as had been promised. But the Governor gave him a hundred dollars, and said that he must do

`Do you think you can steal my horse from under me when I am out riding on it?' said he.

`Well, it might be done,' said the Master Thief, `if I were absolutely certain that I should get your daughter.'

So the Governor said that he would see what he could do, and then he said that on a certain day he would ride

So the Master Thief immediately got hold of an old wornout mare, and set himself to work to make a collar

for it of green withies and branches of broom; bought a shabby old cart and a great cask, and then he told a

poor old beggar woman that he would give her ten dollars if she would get into the cask and keep her mouth

wide open beneath the taphole, into which he was going to stick his finger. No harm should happen to her,

he said; she should only be driven about a little, and if he took his finger out more than once, she should have

ten dollars more. Then he dressed himself in rags, dyed himself with soot, and put on a wig and a great beard

of goat's hair, so that it was impossible to recognise him, and went to the parade ground, where the Governor

When the Master Thief got there the mare went along so slowly and quietly that the cart hardly seemed to

move from the spot. The mare pulled it a little forward, and then a little back, and then it stopped quite short.

Then the mare pulled a little forward again, and it moved with such difficulty that the Governor had not the

least idea that this was the Master Thief. He rode straight up to him, and asked if he had seen anyone hiding

`Hark you,' said the Governor. `If you will ride into that wood, and search it carefully to see if you can light

upon a fellow who is hiding in there, you shall have the loan of my horse and a good present of money for

`I am not sure that I can do it,' said the man, `for I have to go to a wedding with this cask of mead which I

have been to fetch, and the tap has fallen out on the way, so now I have to keep my finger in the taphole as I

`Oh, just ride off,' said the Governor, `and I will look after the cask and the horse too.'

So the man said that if he would do that he would go, but he begged the Governor to be very careful to put his

So the Governor said that he would do his very best, and the Master Thief got on the Governor's horse.

But time passed, and it grew later and later, and still the man did not come back, and at last the Governor

`Now I shall have ten dollars more!' cried the old woman inside the cask; so he soon saw what kind of mead

it was, and set out homewards. When he had gone a very little way he met his servant bringing him the horse,

The following day he went to the Governor and wanted to have his daughter according to promise. But the

Governor again put him off with fine words, and only gave him three hundred dollars, saying that he must do

one more masterpiece of skill, and if he were but able to do that he should have her.

`Do you think you can steal the sheet off our bed, and my wife's nightgown?' said the Governor.

`That is by no means impossible,' said the Master Thief. `I only wish I could get your daughter as easily.'

So late at night the Master Thief went and cut down a thief who was hanging on the gallows, laid him on his

own shoulders, and took him away with him. Then he got hold of a long ladder, set it up against the

Governor's bedroom window, and climbed up and moved the dead man's head up and down, just as if he were

`There's the Master Thief, mother!' said the Governor, nudging his wife. `Now I'll just shoot him, that I will!'

`Oh no, you must not do that,' said his wife; `you yourself arranged that he was to come here.'

`Yes, mother, I will shoot him,' said he, and lay there aiming, and then aiming again, for no sooner was the

head up and he caught sight of it than it was gone again. At last he got a chance and fired, and the dead body

fell with a loud thud to the ground, and down went the Master Thief too, as fast as he could.

`Well,' said the Governor, `I certainly am the chief man about here, but people soon begin to talk, and it

would be very unpleasant if they were to see this dead body; the best thing that I can do is to go out and bury

So the Governor got up and went downstairs, and as soon as he had gone out through the door, the Master

`Well, father dear,' said she, for she thought it was her husband. `Have you got done already?'

`Oh yes, I only put him into a hole,' said he, `and raked a little earth over him; that's all I have been able to do

tonight, for it is fearful weather outside. I will bury him better afterwards, but just let me have the sheet to

wipe myself with, for he was bleeding, and I have got covered with blood with carrying him.'

`You will have to let me have your nightgown too,' he said, `for I begin to see that the sheet won't be

Then she gave him her nightgown, but just then it came into his head that he had forgotten to lock the door,

and he was forced to go downstairs and do it before he could lie down in bed again. So off he went with the

`Well, what a time it has taken to lock the house door, father!' said his wife, `and what have you done with

`Oh, I am asking you what you have done with the nightgown and sheet that you got to wipe the blood off

`Good heavens!' said the Governor, `has he actually got the better of me again?'

When day came the Master Thief came too, and wanted to have the Governor's daughter as had been

promised, and the Governor dared do no otherwise than give her to him, and much money besides, for he

feared that if he did not the Master Thief might steal the very eyes out of his head, and that he himself would

be ill spoken of by all men. The Master Thief lived well and happily from that time forth, and whether he

ever stole any more or not I cannot tell you, but if he did it was but for pastime.

BROTHER took sister by the hand and said: `Look here; we haven't had one single happy hour since our

mother died. That stepmother of ours beats us regularly every day, and if we dare go near her she kicks us

away. We never get anything but hard dry crusts to eatwhy, the dog under the table is better off than we

are. She does throw him a good morsel or two now and then. Oh dear! if our own dear mother only knew all

So off they started through fields and meadows, over hedges and ditches, and walked the whole day long, and

Towards evening they came to a large forest, and were so tired out with hunger and their long walk, as well

as all their trouble, that they crept into a hollow tree and soon fell fast asleep.

Next morning, when they woke up, the sun was already high in the heavens and was shining down bright and

`I'm so thirsty, sister; if I did but know where to find a little stream, I'd go and have a drink. I do believe I

hear one.' He jumped up, took sister by the hand, and they set off to hunt for the brook.

Now their cruel stepmother was in reality a witch, and she knew perfectly well that the two children had run

away. She had crept secretly after them, and had cast her spells over all the streams in the forest.

Presently the children found a little brook dancing and glittering over the stones, and brother was eager to

So she cried out, `Oh! dear brother, pray don't drink, or you'll be turned into a wild beast and tear me to

And she cried, `Oh! brother, pray don't drink here either, or you'll be turned into a wolf and eat me up.'

`Well, I'll wait a little longer till we reach the next stream, but then, whatever you may say, I really must

And she begged, `Ah! brother, don't drink yet, or you'll become a roe and run away from me.'

But her brother was already kneeling by the brook and bending over it to drink, and, sure enough, no sooner

had his lips touched the water than he fell on the grass transformed into a little Roebuck.

Sister cried bitterly over her poor bewitched brother, and the little Roe wept too, and sat sadly by her side. At

`Never mind, dear little fawn, I will never forsake you,' and she took off her golden garter and tied it round

Then she plucked rushes and plaited a soft cord of them, which she fastened to the collar. When she had done

After they had gone a long, long way they came to a little house, and when the girl looked into it she found it

So she hunted up leaves and moss to make a soft bed for the little Roe, and every morning and evening she

went out and gathered roots, nuts, and berries for herself, and tender young grass for the fawn. And he fed

from her hand, and played round her and seemed quite happy. In the evening, when sister was tired, she said

her prayers and then laid her head on the fawn's back and fell sound asleep with it as a pillow. And if brother

had but kept his natural form, really it would have been a most delightful kind of life.

They had been living for some time in the forest in this way, when it came to pass that the King of that

country had a great hunt through the woods. Then the whole forest rang with such a blowing of horns, baying

of dogs, and joyful cries of huntsmen, that the little Roe heard it and longed to join in too.

`Ah!' said he to sister, `do let me go off to the hunt! I can't keep still any longer.'

`But,' said she, `mind you come back in the evening. I shall lock my door fast for fear of those wild

huntsmen; so, to make sure of my knowing you, knock at the door and say, ``My sister dear, open; I'm here.''

So off sprang the little Roe, and he felt quite well and happy in the free open air.

The King and his huntsmen soon saw the beautiful creature and started in pursuit, but they could not come up

with it, and whenever they thought they were sure to catch it, it bounded off to one side into the bushes and

disappeared. When night came on it ran home, and knocking at the door of the little house cried:

`My sister dear, open; I'm here.' The door opened, and he ran in and rested all night on his soft mossy bed.

Next morning the hunt began again, and as soon as the little Roe heard the horns and the `Ho! ho! `of the

So sister opened the door and said, `Now mind and get back by nightfall, and say your little rhyme.'

As soon as the King and his huntsmen saw the Roe with the golden collar they all rode off after it, but it was

far too quick and nimble for them. This went on all day, but as evening came on the huntsmen had gradually

encircled the Roe, and one of them wounded it slightly in the foot, so that it limped and ran off slowly.

Then the huntsman stole after it as far as the little house, and heard it call out, `My sister dear, open; I'm here,'

The huntsman remembered all this carefully, and went off straight to the King and told him all he had seen

Poor sister was terribly frightened when she saw how her little Fawn had been wounded. She washed off the

blood, bound up the injured foot with herbs, and said: `Now, dear, go and lie down and rest, so that your

The wound was really so slight that it was quite well next day, and the little Roe did not feel it at all. No

Sister began to cry, and said, `They are certain to kill you, and then I shall be left all alone in the forest and

`Then I shall die of grief,' replied the Roe, `for when I hear that horn I feel as if I must jump right out of my

So at last, when sister found there was nothing else to be done, she opened the door with a heavy heart, and

As soon as the King saw the Roe, he said to his huntsman, `Now then, give chase to it all day till evening, but

When the sun had set the King said to his huntsman, `Now come and show me the little house in the wood.'

And when he got to the house he knocked at the door and said, `My sister dear, open; I'm here.' Then the door

opened and the King walked in, and there stood the loveliest maiden he had ever seen.

The girl was much startled when instead of the little Roe she expected she saw a man with a gold crown on

his head walk in. But the King looked kindly at her, held out his hand, and said, `Will you come with me to

`Oh yes!' replied the maiden, `but you must let my Roe come too. I could not possibly forsake it.'

`It shall stay with you as long as you live, and shall want for nothing,' the King promised.

In the meantime the Roe came bounding in, and sister tied the rush cord once more to its collar, took the end

The King lifted the lonely maiden on to his horse, and led her to his castle, where the wedding was celebrated

with the greatest splendour. The Roe was petted and caressed, and ran about at will in the palace gardens.

Now all this time the wicked stepmother, who had been the cause of these poor children's misfortunes and

trying adventures, was feeling fully persuaded that sister had been torn to pieces by wild beasts, and brother

shot to death in the shape of a Roe. When she heard how happy and prosperous they were, her heart was

filled with envy and hatred, and she could think of nothing but how to bring some fresh misfortune on them.

Her own daughter, who was as hideous as night and had only one eye, reproached her by saying, `It is I who

`Be quiet, will you,' said the old woman; `when the time comes I shall be at hand.'

Now after some time it happened one day when the King was out hunting that the Queen gave birth to a

beautiful little boy. The old witch thought here was a good chance for her; so she took the form of the lady in

waiting, and, hurrying into the room where the Queen lay in her bed, called out, `The bath is quite ready; it

will help to make you strong again. Come, let us be quick, for fear the water should get cold.' Her daughter

was at hand, too, and between them they carried the Queen, who was still very weak, into the bathroom and

They took care beforehand to make a blazing hot fire under the bath, so that the lovely young Queen might be

As soon as they were sure this was the case, the old witch tied a cap on her daughter's head and laid her in the

Queen's bed. She managed, too, to make her figure and general appearance look like the Queen's, but even

her power could not restore the eye she had lost; so she made her lie on the side of the missing eye, in order

In the evening, when the King came home and heard the news of his son's birth, he was full of delight, and

insisted on going at once to his dear wife's bedside to see how she was getting on. But the old witch cried out,

`Take care and keep the curtains drawn; don't let the light get into the Queen's eyes; she must be kept

perfectly quiet.' So the King went away and never knew that it was a false Queen who lay in the bed.

When midnight came and everyone in the palace was sound asleep, the nurse who alone watched by the

baby's cradle in the nursery saw the door open gently, and who should come in but the real Queen. She lifted

the child from its cradle, laid it on her arm, and nursed it for some time. Then she carefully shook up the

pillows of the little bed, laid the baby down and tucked the coverlet in all round him. She did not forget the

little Roe either, but went to the corner where it lay, and gently stroked its back. Then she silently left the

room, and next morning when the nurse asked the sentries if they had seen any one go into the castle that

For many nights the Queen came in the same way, but she never spoke a word, and the nurse was too

The nurse made no answer, but as soon as the Queen had disappeared she went to the King and told him all.

The King exclaimed, `Good heavens! what do you say? I will watch myself tonight by the child's bed.'

When the evening came he went to the nursery, and at midnight the Queen appeared and said:

And she nursed and petted the child as usual before she disappeared. The King dared not trust himself to

Then the King could restrain himself no longer, but sprang to her side and cried, `You can be no one but my

`Yes,' said she, `I am your dear wife!' and in the same moment she was restored to life, and was as fresh and

well and rosy as ever. Then she told the King all the cruel things the wicked witch and her daughter had done.

The King had them both arrested at once and brought to trial, and they were condemned to death. The

daughter was led into the forest, where the wild beasts tore her to pieces, and the old witch was burnt at the

As soon as she reduced to ashes the spell was taken off the little Roe, and he was restored to his natural shape

ONCE upon a time there lived a King and Queen who had two beautiful sons and one little daughter, who

was so pretty that no one who saw her could help loving her. When it was time for the christening of the

Princess, the Queenas she always did sent for all the fairies to be present at the ceremony, and

`Do not forget your usual good custom. Tell me what is going to happen to Rosette.'

But the fairies said they had left their book of magic at home, and they would come another day and tell her.

`Ah!' said the Queen, `I know very well what that meansyou have nothing good to say; but at least I beg

`Madam, we fear that Rosette may be the cause of great misfortunes to her brothers; they may even meet with

their death through her; that is all we have been able to foresee about your dear little daughter. We are very

Then they went away, leaving the Queen very sad, so sad that the King noticed it, and asked her what was the

The Queen said that she had been sitting too near the fire, and had burnt all the flax that was upon her distaff.

`Oh! is that all?' said the King, and he went up into the garret and brought her down more flax than she could

spin in a hundred years. But the Queen still looked sad, and the King asked her again what was the matter.

She answered that she had been walking by the river and had dropped one of her green satin slippers into the

`Oh! if that's all,' said the King, and he sent to all the shoe makers in his kingdom, and they very soon made

the Queen ten thousand green satin slippers, but still she looked sad. So the King asked her again what was

the matter, and this time she answered that in eating her porridge too hastily she had swallowed her

weddingring. But it so happened that the King knew better, for he had the ring himself, and he said:

Then the Queen was very much ashamed, and she saw that the King was vexed with her; so she told him all

that the fairies had predicted about Rosette, and begged him to think how the misfortunes might be prevented.

`I see no way of saving our sons except by having Rosette's head cut off while she is still little.'

But the Queen cried that she would far rather have her own head cut off, and that he had better think of

something else, for she would never consent to such a thing. So they thought and thought, but they could not

tell what to do, until at last the Queen heard that in a great forest near the castle there was an old hermit, who

lived in a hollow tree, and that people came from far and near to consult him; so she said:

`I had better go and ask his advice; perhaps he will know what to do to prevent the misfortunes which the

She set out very early the next morning, mounted upon a pretty little white mule, which was shod with solid

gold, and two of her ladies rode behind her on beautiful horses. When they reached the forest they

dismounted, for the trees grew so thickly that the horses could not pass, and made their way on foot to the

hollow tree where the hermit lived. At first when he saw them coming he was vexed, for he was not fond of

Then the Queen told him all the fairies had foreseen for Rosette, and asked what she should do, and the

hermit answered that she must shut the Princess up in a tower and never let her come out of it again. The

Queen thanked and rewarded him, and hastened back to the castle to tell the King. When he heard the news

he had a great tower built as quickly as possible, and there the Princess was shut up, and the King and Queen

and her two brothers went to see her every day that she might not be dull. The eldest brother was called `the

Great Prince,' and the second `the Little Prince.' They loved their sister dearly, for she was the sweetest,

prettiest princess who was ever seen, and the least little smile from her was worth more than a hundred pieces

of gold. When Rosette was fifteen years old the Great Prince went to the King and asked if it would not soon

be time for her to be married, and the Little Prince put the same question to the Queen.

Their majesties were amused at them for thinking of it, but did not make any reply, and soon after both the

King and the Queen were taken ill, and died on the same day. Everybody was sorry, Rosette especially, and

Then all the dukes and counsellors put the Great Prince upon a golden throne, and crowned him with a

diamond crown, and they all cried, `Long live the King!' And after that there was nothing but feasting and

`Now that we are the masters, let us take our sister out of that dull tower which she is so tired of.'

They had only to go across the garden to reach the tower, which was very high, and stood up in a corner.

Rosette was busy at her embroidery, but when she saw her brothers she got up, and taking the King's hand

`Good morning, dear brother. Now that you are King, please take me out of this dull tower, for I am so tired

Then she began to cry, but the King kissed her and told her to dry her tears, as that was just what they had

come for, to take her out of the tower and bring her to their beautiful castle, and the Prince showed her the

`Make haste, and let us get away from this ugly tower, and very soon the King will arrange a grand marriage

When Rosette saw the beautiful garden, full of fruit and flowers, with green grass and sparkling fountains,

she was so astonished that not a word could she say, for she had never in her life seen anything like it before.

She looked about her, and ran hither and thither gathering fruit and flowers, and her little dog Frisk, who was

bright green all over, and had but one ear, danced before her, crying `Bowwowwow,' and turning head

Everybody was amused at Frisk's antics, but all of a sudden he ran away into a little wood, and the Princess

was following him, when, to her great delight, she saw a peacock, who was spreading his tail in the sunshine.

Rosette thought she had never seen anything so pretty. She could not take her eyes off him, and there she

stood entranced until the King and the Prince came up and asked what was amusing her so much. She showed

them the peacock, and asked what it was, and they answered that it was a bird which people sometimes ate.

`What!' said the Princess, `do they dare to kill that beautiful creature and eat it? I declare that I will never

marry any one but the King of the Peacocks, and when I am Queen I will take very good care that nobody

`Oh! wherever you like, sire,' she answered, `but I will never marry any one else.'

After this they took Rosette to the beautiful castle, and the peacock was brought with her, and told to walk

about on the terrace outside her windows, so that she might always see him, and then the ladies of the court

came to see the Princess, and they brought her beautiful presentsdresses and ribbons and sweetmeats,

diamonds and pearls and dolls and embroidered slippers, and she was so well brought up, and said, `Thank

you!' so prettily, and was so gracious, that everyone went away delighted with her.

Meanwhile the King and the Prince were considering how they should find the King of the Peacocks, if there

was such a person in the world. And first of all they had a portrait made of the Princess, which was so like her

that you really would not have been surprised if it had spoken to you. Then they said to her:

`Since you will not marry anyone but the King of the Peacocks, we are going out together into the wide world

to search for him. If we find him for you we shall be very glad. In the meantime, mind you take good care of

Rosette thanked them for all the trouble they were taking on her account, and promised to take great care of

the kingdom, and only to amuse herself by looking at the peacock, and making Frisk dance while they were

Then they went on and on, so far that no one has ever been farther, and at last they came to the Kingdom of

They had never before seen such a number of cockchafers, and the buzzing was so loud that the King was

afraid he should be deafened by it. He asked the most distinguishedlooking cockchafer they met if he knew

`Sire,' replied the cockchafer, `his kingdom is thirty thousand leagues from this; you have come the longest

`Oh!' said the cockchafer, `we all know you very well, since we spend two or three months in your garden

Thereupon the King and the Prince made great friends with him, and they all walked arminarm and dined

together, and afterwards the cockchafer showed them all the curiosities of his strange country, where the

tiniest green leaf costs a gold piece and more. Then they set out again to finish their journey, and this time, as

they knew the way, they were not long upon the road. It was easy to guess that they had come to the right

place, for they saw peacocks in every tree, and their cries could be heard a long way off:

When they reached the city they found it full of men and women who were dressed entirely in peacocks'

They soon met the King, who was driving about in a beautiful little golden carriage which glittered with

diamonds, and was drawn at full speed by twelve peacocks. The King and the Prince were delighted to see

that the King of the Peacocks was as handsome as possible. He had curly golden hair and was very pale, and

When he saw Rosette's brothers he knew at once that they were strangers, and stopping his carriage he sent

`I could not have believed that there was such a beautiful Princess in the world!'

`Sire,' said the Prince, `my brother is a King, like yourself. He is called ``the King,'' I am called ``the Prince,''

and that is the portrait of our sister, the Princess Rosette. We have come to ask if you would like to marry her.

She is as good as she is beautiful, and we will give her a bushel of gold pieces for her dowry.'

`Oh! with all my heart,' replied the King, `and I will make her very happy. She shall have whatever she likes,

and I shall love her dearly; only I warn you that if she is not as pretty as you have told me, I will have your

`Very well. Off with you into prison, and stay there until the Princess arrives,' said the King of the Peacocks.

And the Princes were so sure that Rosette was far prettier than her portrait that they went without a murmur.

They were very kindly treated, and that they might not feel dull the King came often to see them. As for

Rosette's portrait that was taken up to the palace, and the King did nothing but gaze at it all day and all night.

As the King and the Prince had to stay in prison, they sent a letter to the Princess telling her to pack up all her

treasures as quickly as possible, and come to them, as the King of the Peacocks was waiting to marry her; but

When Rosette received the letter she was so delighted that she ran about telling everyone that the King of the

Guns were fired, and fireworks let off. Everyone had as many cakes and sweetmeats as he wanted. And for

three days everybody who came to see the Princess was presented with a slice of bread andjam, a

nightingale's egg, and some hippocras. After having thus entertained her friends, she distributed her dolls

among them, and left her brother's kingdom to the care of the wisest old men of the city, telling them to take

charge of everything, not to spend any money, but save it all up until the King should return, and above all,

not to forget to feed her peacock. Then she set out, only taking with her her nurse, and the nurse's daughter,

They took a boat and put out to sea, carrying with them the bushel of gold pieces, and enough dresses to last

the Princess ten years if she wore two every day, and they did nothing but laugh and sing. The nurse asked

`Well,' said the nurse, `tonight, when the Princess is asleep, you must help me to throw her into the sea, and

when she is drowned I will put her beautiful clothes upon my daughter, and we will take her to the King of

the Peacocks, who will be only too glad to marry her, and as your reward you shall have your boat full of

However, at last the nurse persuaded him to help her, and when the night came and the Princess was fast

asleep as usual, with Frisk curled up on his own cushion at the foot of her bed, the wicked nurse fetched the

boatman and her daughter, and between them they picked up the Princess, feather bed, mattress, pillows,

blankets and all, and threw her into the sea, without even waking her. Now, luckily, the Princess's bed was

entirely stuffed with phoenix feathers, which are very rare, and have the property of always floating upon

water, so Rosette went on swimming about as if she had been in a boat. After a little while she began to feel

very cold, and turned round so often that she woke Frisk, who started up, and, having a very good nose, smelt

the soles and herrings so close to him that he began to bark. He barked so long and so loud that he woke all

the other fish, who came swimming up round the Princess's bed, and poking at it with their great heads. As

`How our boat does rock upon the water! I am really glad that I am not often as uncomfortable as I have been

The wicked nurse and the boatman, who were by this time quite a long way off, heard Frisk barking, and said

`That horrid little animal and his mistress are drinking our health in seawater now. Let us make haste to

The King had sent a hundred carriages to meet them, drawn by every kind of strange animal. There were

lions, bears, wolves, stags, horses, buffaloes, eagles, and peacocks. The carriage intended for the Princess

Rosette had six blue monkeys, which could turn summer saults, and dance on a tightrope, and do many

other charming tricks. Their, harness was all of crimson velvet with gold buckles, and behind the carriage

walked sixty beautiful ladies chosen by the King to wait upon Rosette and amuse her.

The nurse had taken all the pains imaginable to deck out her daughter. She put on her Rosette's prettiest

frock, and covered her with diamonds from head to foot. But she was so ugly that nothing could make her

look nice, and what was worse, she was sulky and illtempered, and did nothing but grumble all the time.

When she stepped from the boat and the escort sent by the King of the Peacocks caught sight of her, they

`Now then, look alive,' cried the false Princess. `If you don't bring me something to eat I will have all your

`Here's a pretty state of things! she is as wicked as she is ugly. What a bride for our poor King! She certainly

But she went on ordering them all about, and for no fault at all would give slaps and pinches to everyone she

As the procession was so long it advanced but slowly, and the nurse's daughter sat up in her carriage trying to

look like a Queen. But the peacocks, who were sitting upon every tree waiting to salute her, and who had

made up their minds to cry, `Long live our beautiful Queen!' when they caught sight of the false bride could

`This is a bad business for us, gossip; your daughter ought to have been prettier.'

`Well,' said he, `did her brothers tell me truly? Is she prettier than her portrait?'

`That's true,' said the King; `I for one shall be quite satisfied if she is. Let us go and meet her.' For they knew

by the uproar that she had arrived, but they could not tell what all the shouting was about. The King thought

`How ugly she is! How ugly she is!' and he fancied they must refer to some dwarf the Princess was bringing

The Princess Rosette's portrait was carried at the head of the procession, and after it walked the King

surrounded by his courtiers. He was all impatience to see the lovely Princess, but when he caught sight of the

nurse's daughter he was furiously angry, and would not advance another step. For she was really ugly enough

`What!' he cried, `have the two rascals who are my prisoners dared to play me such a trick as this? Do they

propose that I shall marry this hideous creature? Let her be shut up in my great tower, with her nurse and

Meanwhile the King and the Prince, who knew that their sister must have arrived, had made themselves

smart, and sat expecting every minute to be summoned to greet her. So when the gaoler came with soldiers,

and carried them down into a black dungeon which swarmed with toads and bats, and where they were up to

their necks in water, nobody could have been more surprised and dismayed than they were.

`This is a dismal kind of wedding,' they said; `what can have happened that we should be treated like this?

And this idea annoyed them very much. Three days passed before they heard any news, and then the King of

`You have called yourselves King and Prince,' he cried, `to try and make me marry your sister, but you are

nothing but beggars, not worth the water you drink. I mean to make short work with you, and the sword is

`King of the Peacocks,' answered the King angrily, `you had better take care what you are about. I am as

good a King as yourself, and have a splendid kingdom and robes and crowns, and plenty of good red gold to

do what I like with. You are pleased to jest about having our heads cut off; perhaps you think we have stolen

At first the King of the Peacocks was taken aback by this bold speech, and had half a mind to send them all

away together; but his Prime Minister declared that it would never do to let such a trick as that pass

unpunished, everybody would laugh at him; so the accusation was drawn up against them, that they were

impostors, and that they had promised the King a beautiful Princess in marriage who, when she arrived,

This accusation was read to the prisoners, who cried out that they had spoken the truth, that their sister was

indeed a Princess more beautiful than the day, and that there was some mystery about all this which they

could not fathom. Therefore they demanded seven days in which to prove their innocence, The King of the

Peacocks was so angry that he would hardly even grant them this favour, but at last he was persuaded to do

While all this was going on at court, let us see what had been happening to the real Princess. When the day

broke she and Frisk were equally astonished at finding themselves alone upon the sea, with no boat and no

one to help them. The Princess cried and cried, until even the fishes were sorry for her.

`Alas!' she said, `the King of the Peacocks must have ordered me to be thrown into the sea because he had

changed his mind and did not want to marry me. But how strange of him, when I should have loved him so

And then she cried harder than ever, for she could not help still loving him. So for two days they floated up

and down the sea, wet and shivering with the cold, and so hungry that when the Princess saw some oysters

she caught them, and she and Frisk both ate some, though they didn't like them at all. When night came the

Now it happened that they had floated close in to the shore, where a poor old man lived all alone in a little

`There must have been a shipwreck!' (for no dogs ever passed that way by any chance), and he went out to

see if he could be of any use. He soon saw the Princess and Frisk floating up and down, and Rosette,

When he heard her cry out so piteously he was very sorry for her, and ran back into his house to fetch a long

boathook. Then he waded into the water up to his chin, and after being nearly drowned once or twice he at

Rosette and Frisk were joyful enough to find themselves once more on dry land, and the Princess thanked the

old man heartily; then, wrapping herself up in her blankets, she daintily picked her way up to the cottage on

her little bare feet. There the old man lighted a fire of straw, and then drew from an old box his wife's dress

and shoes, which the Princess put on, and thus roughly clad looked as charming as possible, and Frisk danced

The old man saw that Rosette must be some great lady, for her bed coverings were all of satin and gold. He

begged that she would tell him all her history, as she might safely trust him. The Princess told him

everything, weeping bitterly again at the thought that it was by the King's orders that she had been thrown

`And now, my daughter, what is to be done?' said the old man. `You are a great Princess, accustomed to fare

daintily, and I have nothing to offer you but black bread and radishes, which will not suit you at all. Shall I go

and tell the King of the Peacocks that you are here? If he sees you he will certainly wish to marry you.'

`Oh no!' cried Rosette, `he must be wicked, since he tried to drown me. Don't let us tell him, but if you have a

The old man gave her a basket, and tying it round Frisk's neck she said to him: `Go and find out the best

Away went Frisk, and as there was no better dinner cooking in all the town than the King's, he adroitly took

So Frisk went back and filled his basket with white bread, and red wine, and every kind of sweetmeat, until it

When the King of the Peacocks wanted his dinner there was nothing in the pot and nothing in the pantry. All

`Oh well! `he said, `if there is no dinner I cannot dine, but take care that plenty of things are roasted for

`Go into the town and find out the best kitchen, and bring me all the nicest morsels that are being roasted

Frisk did as he was told, and as he knew of no better kitchen than the King's, he went in softly, and when the

cook's back was turned took everything that was upon the spit, As it happened it was all done to a turn, and

looked so good that it made him hungry only to see it. He carried his basket to the Princess, who at once sent

him back to the pantry to bring all the tarts and sugar plums that had been prepared for the King's supper.

The King, as he had had no dinner, was very hungry and wanted his supper early, but when he asked for it, lo

and behold it was all gone, and he had to go to bed halfstarved and in a terrible temper. The next day the

same thing happened, and the next, so that for three days the King got nothing at all to eat, because just when

the dinner or the supper was ready to be served it mysteriously disappeared. At last the Prime Minister began

to be afraid that the King would be starved to death, so he resolved to hide himself in some dark corner of the

kitchen, and never take his eyes off the cookingpot. His surprise was great when he presently saw a little

green dog with one ear slip softly into the kitchen, uncover the pot, transfer all its contents to his basket, and

run off. The Prime Minister followed hastily, and tracked him all through the town to the cottage of the good

old man; then he ran back to the King and told him that he had found out where all his dinners and suppers

went. The King, who was very much astonished, said he should like to go and see for himself. So he set out,

accompanied by the Prime Minister and a guard of archers, and arrived just in time to find the old man and

The King ordered that they should be seized and bound with ropes, and Frisk also.

`Today is the last day of the respite granted to those impostors; they shall have their heads cut off at the

same time as these stealers of my dinner.' Then the old man went down on his knees before the King and

begged for time to tell him everything. While he spoke the King for the first time looked attentively at the

Princess, because he was sorry to see how she cried, and when he heard the old man saying that her name was

Rosette, and that she had been treacherously thrown into the sea, he turned head over heels three times

without stopping, in spite of being quite weak from hunger, and ran to embrace her, and untied the ropes

which bound her with his own hands, declaring that he loved her with all his heart.

Messengers were sent to bring the Princes out of prison, and they came very sadly, believing that they were to

be executed at once: the nurse and her daughter and the boatman were brought also. As soon as they came in

Rosette ran to embrace her brothers, while the traitors threw themselves down before her and begged for

mercy. The King and the Princess were so happy that they freely forgave them, and as for the good old man

he was splendidly rewarded, and spent the rest of his days in the palace. The King of the Peacocks made

ample amends to the King and Prince for the way in which they had been treated, and did everything in his

The nurse restored to Rosette all her dresses and jewels, and the bushel of gold pieces; the wedding was held

at once, and they all lived happily ever aftereven to Frisk, who enjoyed the greatest luxury, and never had

anything worse than the wing of a partridge for dinner all the rest of his life.[7]

ONCE upon a time there lived a King who had three daughters. Now it happened that he had to go out to

`My dear children, I am obliged to go to the wars. The enemy is approaching us with a large army. It is a

great grief to me to leave you all. During my absence take care of yourselves and be good girls; behave well

and look after everything in the house. You may walk in the garden, and you may go into all the rooms in the

palace, except the room at the back in the righthand corner; into that you must not enter, for harm would

`You may keep your mind easy, father,' they replied. `We have never been disobedient to you. Go in peace,

When everything was ready for his departure, the King gave them the keys of all the rooms and reminded

them once more of what he had said. His daughters kissed his hands with tears in their eyes, and wished him

Now when the girls found themselves alone they felt so sad and dull that they did not know what to do. So, to

pass the time, they decided to work for part of the day, to read for part of the day, and to enjoy themselves in

the garden for part of the day. As long as they did this all went well with them. But this happy state of things

did not last long. Every day they grew more and more curious, and you will see what the end of that was.

`Sisters,' said the eldest Princess, `all day long we sew, spin, and read. We have been several days quite

alone, and there is no corner of the garden that we have not explored. We have been in all the rooms of our

father's palace, and have admired the rich and beautiful furniture: why should not we go into the room that

Sister,' said the youngest, `I cannot think how you can tempt us to break our father's command. When he told

us not to go into that room he must have known what he was saying, and have had a good reason for saying

`Surely the sky won't fall about our heads if we DO go in,' said the second Princess. `Dragons and such like

monsters that would devour us will not be hidden in the room. And how will our father ever find out that we

While they were speaking thus, encouraging each other, they had reached the room; the eldest fitted the key

The room was quite empty, and without any ornament, but in the middle stood a large table, with a gorgeous

Now the Princesses were curious to know what was written in the book, especially the eldest, and this is what

But the youngest Princess did not want to go near the table or to open the book. Her elder sisters however left

her no peace, and will she, nill she, they dragged her up to the table, and in fear and trembling she turned over

Now if a thunderbolt had fallen upon her from heaven it would not have frightened her more.

She almost died of misery, and if her sisters had not held her up, she would have sunk to the ground and cut

When she came out of the fainting fit into which she had fallen in her terror, her sisters tried to comfort her,

`How can you believe such nonsense? When did it ever happen that a king's daughter married a pig?'

`What a baby you are!' said the other sister; `has not our father enough soldiers to protect you, even if the

The youngest Princess would fain have let herself be convinced by her sisters' words, and have believed what

they said, but her heart was heavy. Her thoughts kept turning to the book, in which stood written that great

happiness waited her sisters, but that a fate was in store for her such as had never before been known in the

Besides, the thought weighed on her heart that she had been guilty of disobeying her father. She began to get

quite ill, and in a few days she was so changed that it was difficult to recognise her; formerly she had been

rosy and merry, now she was pale and nothing gave her any pleasure. She gave up playing with her sisters in

the garden, ceased to gather flowers to put in her hair, and never sang when they sat together at their spinning

In the meantime the King won a great victory, and having completely defeated and driven off the enemy, he

hurried home to his daughters, to whom his thoughts had constantly turned. Everyone went out to meet him

with cymbals and fifes and drums, and there was great rejoicing over his victorious return. The King's first

act on reaching home was to thank Heaven for the victory he had gained over the enemies who had risen

against him. He then entered his palace, and the three Princesses stepped forward to meet him. His joy was

great when he saw that they were all well, for the youngest did her best not to appear sad.

In spite of this, however, it was not long before the King noticed that his third daughter was getting very thin

and sadlooking. And all of a sudden he felt as if a hot iron were entering his soul, for it flashed through his

mind that she had disobeyed his word. He felt sure he was right; but to be quite certain he called his

daughters to him, questioned them, and ordered them to speak the truth. They confessed everything, but took

The King was so distressed when he heard it that he was almost overcome by grief. But he took heart and

tried to comfort his daughters, who looked frightened to death. He saw that what had happened had

Well, these events had almost been forgotten when one fine day a prince from the East appeared at the Court

and asked the King for the hand of his eldest daughter. The King gladly gave his consent. A great wedding

banquet was prepared, and after three days of feasting the happy pair were accompanied to the frontier with

After some time the same thing befell the second daughter, who was wooed and won by a prince from the

Now when the young Princess saw that everything fell out exactly as had been written in the book, she grew

very sad. She refused to eat, and would not put on her fine clothes nor go out walking, and declared that she

would rather die than become a laughingstock to the world. But the King would not allow her to do

So the time passed, till lo and behold! one fine day an enormous pig from the North walked into the palace,

and going straight up to the King said, `Hail! oh King. May your life be as prosperous and bright as sunrise

`I am glad to see you well, friend,' answered the King, `but what wind has brought you hither?'

Now the King was astonished to hear so fine a speech from a Pig, and at once it occurred to him that

something strange was the matter. He would gladly have turned the Pig's thoughts in another direction, as he

did not wish to give him the Princess for a wife; but when he heard that the Court and the whole street were

full of all the pigs in the world he saw that there was no escape, and that he must give his consent. The Pig

was not satisfied with mere promises, but insisted that the wedding should take place within a week, and

The King then sent for his daughter, and advised her to submit to fate, as there was nothing else to be done.

`My child, the words and whole behaviour of this Pig are quite unlike those of other pigs. I do not myself

believe that he always was a pig. Depend upon it some magic or witchcraft has been at work. Obey him, and

do everything that he wishes, and I feel sure that Heaven will shortly send you release.'

In the meantime the weddingday drew near. After the marriage, the Pig and his bride set out for his home in

one of the royal carriages. On the way they passed a great bog, and the Pig ordered the carriage to stop, and

got out and rolled about in the mire till he was covered with mud from head to foot; then he got back into the

carriage and told his wife to kiss him. What was the poor girl to do? She bethought herself of her father's

words, and, pulling out her pocket handkerchief, she gently wiped the Pig's snout and kissed it.

By the time they reached the Pig's dwelling, which stood in a thick wood, it was quite dark. They sat down

quietly for a little, as they were tired after their drive; then they had supper together, and lay down to rest.

During the night the Princess noticed that the Pig had changed into a man. She was not a little surprised, but

remembering her father's words, she took courage, determined to wait and see what would happen.

And now she noticed that every night the Pig became a man, and every morning he was changed into a Pig

before she awoke. This happened several nights running, and the Princess could not understand it at all.

Clearly her husband must be bewitched. In time she grew quite fond of him, he was so kind and gentle.

One fine day as she was sitting alone she saw an old witch go past. She felt quite excited, as it was so long

since she had seen a human being, and she called out to the old woman to come and talk to her. Among other

things the witch told her that she understood all magic arts, and that she could foretell the future, and knew

`I shall be grateful to you all my life, old dame,' said the Princess, `if you will tell me what is the matter with

`I was just going to tell you that one thing, my dear, to show you what a good fortuneteller I am. If you like,

`If you will only give it to me,' said the Princess, `I will give you anything you choose to ask for, for I cannot

`Here, then, my dear child,' said the witch, `take this thread, but do not let him know about it, for if he did it

would lose its healing power. At night, when he is asleep, you must get up very quietly, and fasten the thread

round his left foot as firmly as possible; and you will see in the morning he will not have changed back into a

Pig, but will still be a man. I do not want any reward. I shall be sufficiently repaid by knowing that you are

happy. It almost breaks my heart to think of all you have suffered, and I only wish I had known it sooner, as I

When the old witch had gone away the Princess hid the thread very carefully, and at night she got up quietly,

and with a beating heart she bound the thread round her husband's foot. Just as she was pulling the knot tight

Her husband awoke with a start, and said to her, `Unhappy woman, what have you done? Three days more

and this unholy spell would have fallen from me, and now, who knows how long I may have to go about in

this disgusting shape? I must leave you at once, and we shall not meet again until you have worn out three

pairs of iron shoes and blunted a steel staff in your search for me.' So saying he disappeared.

Now, when the Princess was left alone she began to weep and moan in a way that was pitiful to hear; but

when she saw that her tears and groans did her no good, she got up, determined to go wherever fate should

On reaching a town, the first thing she did was to order three pairs of iron sandals and a steel staff, and

having made these preparations for her journey, she set out in search of her husband. On and on she wandered

over nine seas and across nine continents; through forests with trees whose stems were as thick as beer

barrels; stumbling and knocking herself against the fallen branches, then picking herself up and going on; the

boughs of the trees hit her face, and the shrubs tore her hands, but on she went, and never looked back. At

last, wearied with her long journey and worn out and overcome with sorrow, but still with hope at her heart,

The Princess knocked at the door, and begged to be let in that she might rest a little. The mother of the Moon,

when she saw her sad plight, felt a great pity for her, and took her in and nursed and tended her. And while

`How was it possible for you, a mortal, to get hither to the house of the Moon?'

Then the poor Princess told her all that happened to her, and added `I shall always be thankful to Heaven for

leading me hither, and grateful to you that you took pity on me and on my baby, and did not leave us to die.

Now I beg one last favour of you; can your daughter, the Moon, tell me where my husband is?'

`She cannot tell you that, my child,' replied the goddess, `but, if you will travel towards the East until you

Then she gave the Princess a roast chicken to eat, and warned her to be very careful not to lose any of the

When the Princess had thanked her once more for her hospitality and for her good advice, and had thrown

away one pair of shoes that were worn out, and had put on a second pair, she tied up the chicken bones in a

bundle, and taking her baby in her arms and her staff in her hand, she set out once more on her wanderings.

On and on and on she went across bare sandy deserts, where the roads were so heavy that for every two steps

that she took forwards she fell back one; but she struggled on till she had passed these dreary plains; next she

crossed high rocky mountains, jumping from crag to crag and from peak to peak. Sometimes she would rest

for a little on a mountain, and then start afresh always farther and farther on. She had to cross swamps and to

scale mountain peaks covered with flints, so that her feet and knees and elbows were all torn and bleeding,

and sometimes she came to a precipice across which she could not jump, and she had to crawl round on hands

and knees, helping herself along with her staff. At length, wearied to death, she reached the palace in which

the Sun lived. She knocked and begged for admission. The mother of the Sun opened the door, and was

astonished at beholding a mortal from the distant earthly shores, and wept with pity when she heard of all she

had suffered. Then, having promised to ask her son about the Princess's husband, she hid her in the cellar, so

that the Sun might notice nothing on his return home, for he was always in a bad temper when he came in at

night. The next day the Princess feared that things would not go well with her, for the Sun had noticed that

some one from the other world had been in the palace. But his mother had soothed him with soft words,

assuring him that this was not so. So the Princess took heart when she saw how kindly she was treated, and

`But how in the world is it possible for the Sun to be angry? He is so beautiful and so good to mortals.'

`This is how it happens,' replied the Sun's mother. `In the morning when] he stands at the gates of paradise he

is happy, and smiles on the whole world, but during the day he gets cross, because he sees all the evil deeds

of men, and that is why his heat becomes so scorching; but in the evening he is both sad and angry, for he

stands at the gates of death; that is his usual course. From there he comes back here.'

She then told the Princess that she had asked about her hus band, but that her son had replied that he knew

Before the Princess left the mother of the Sun gave her a roast chicken to eat, and advised her to take great

care of the bones, which she did, wrapping them up in a bundle. She then threw away her second pair of

shoes, which were quite worn out, and with her child on her arm and her staff in her hand, she set forth on her

In these wanderings she met with even greater difficulties than before, for she came upon one mountain of

flints after another, out of which tongues of fire would flame up; she passed through woods which had never

been trodden by human foot, and had to cross fields of ice and avalanches of snow. The poor woman nearly

died of these hardships, but she kept a brave heart, and at length she reached an enormous cave in the side of

a mountain. This was where the Wind lived. There was a little door in the railing in front of the cave, and

here the Princess knocked and begged for admission. The mother of the Wind had pity on her and took her in,

that she might rest a little. Here too she was hidden away, so that the Wind might not notice her.

The next morning the mother of the Wind told her that her husband was living in a thick wood, so thick that

no axe had been able to cut a way through it; here he had built himself a sort of house by placing trunks of

trees together and fastening them with withes and here he lived alone, shunning human kind.

After the mother of the Wind had given the Princess a chicken to eat, and had warned her to take care of the

bones, she advised her to go by the Milky Way, which at night lies across the sky, and to wander on till she

Having thanked the old woman with tears in her eyes for her hospitality, and for the good news she had given

her, the Princess set out on her journey and rested neither night nor day, so great was her longing to see her

husband again. On and on she walked until her last pair of shoes fell in pieces. So she threw them away and

went on with bare feet, not heeding the bogs nor the thorns that wounded her, nor the stones that bruised her.

At last she reached a beautiful green meadow on the edge of a wood. Her heart was cheered by the sight of

the flowers and the soft cool grass, and she sat down and rested for a little. But hearing the birds chirping to

their mates among the trees made her think with longing of her husband, and she wept bitterly, and taking her

child in her arms, and her bundle of chicken bones on her shoulder, she entered the wood.

For three days and three nights she struggled through it, but could find nothing. She was quite worn out with

weariness and hunger, and even her staff was no further help to her, for in her many wanderings it had

become quite blunted. She almost gave up in despair, but made one last great effort, and suddenly in a thicket

she came upon the sort of house that the mother of the Wind had described. It had no windows, and the door

was up in the roof. Round the house she went, in search of steps, but could find none. What was she to do?

How was she to get in? She thought and thought, and tried in vain to climb up to the door. Then suddenly she

bethought her of the chicken bones that she had dragged all that weary way, and she said to herself: `They

would not all have told me to take such good care of these bones if they had not had some good reason for

So she took the bones out of her bundle, and having thought for a moment, she placed the two ends together.

To her surprise they stuck tight; then she added the other bones, till she had two long poles the height of the

house; these she placed against the wall, at a distance of a yard from one another. Across them she placed the

other bones, piece by piece, like the steps of a ladder. As soon as one step was finished she stood upon it and

made the next one, and then the next, till she was close to the door. But just as she got near the top she

noticed that there were no bones left for the last rung of the ladder. What was she to do? Without that last step

the whole ladder was useless. She must have lost one of the bones. Then suddenly an idea came to her.

Taking a knife she chopped off her little finger, and placing it on the last step, it stuck as the bones had done.

The ladder was complete, and with her child on her arm she entered the door of the house. Here she found

everything in perfect order. Having taken some food, she laid the child down to sleep in a trough that was on

When her husband, the Pig, came back to his house, he was startled by what he saw. At first he could not

believe his eyes, and stared at the ladder of bones, and at the little finger on the top of it. He felt that some

fresh magic must be at work, and in his terror he almost turned away from the house; but then a better idea

came to him, and he changed himself into a dove, so that no witchcraft could have power over him, and flew

into the room without touching the ladder. Here he found a woman rocking a child. At the sight of her,

looking so changed by all that she had suffered for his sake, his heart was moved by such love and longing

The Princess stood up when she saw him. and her heart beat with fear, for she did not know him. But when he

had told her who he was, in her great joy she forgot all her sufferings, and they seemed as nothing to her. He

was a very handsome man, as straight as a fir tree. They sat down together and she told him all her

adventures, and he wept with pity at the tale. And then he told her his own history.

`I am a King's son. Once when my father was fighting against some dragons, who were the scourge of our

country, I slew the youngest dragon. His mother, who was a witch, cast a spell over me and changed me into

a Pig. It was she who in the disguise of an old woman gave you the thread to bind round my foot. So that

instead of the three days that had to run before the spell was broken, I was forced to remain a Pig for three

more years. Now that we have suffered for each other, and have found each other again, let us forget the past.'

Next morning they set out early to return to his father's kingdom. Great was the rejoicing of all the people

when they saw him and his wife; his father and his mother embraced them both, and there was feasting in the

Then they set out to see her father. The old King nearly went out of his mind with joy at beholding his

`Did not I tell you that I was quite sure that that creature who wooed and won you as his wife had not been

And as the King was old and had no heirs, he put them on the throne in his place. And they ruled as only

kings rule who have suffered many things. And if they are not dead they are still living and ruling happily.[8]

ONCE upon a time there lived a King and Queen. They had three sons, two of them with their wits about

them, but the third a simpleton. Now the King had a deer park in which were quantities of wild animals of

different kinds. Into that park there used to come a huge beastNorka was its nameand do fearful

mischief, devouring some of the animals every night. The King did all he could, but he was unable to destroy

it. So at last he called his sons together and said, `Whoever will destroy the Norka, to him will I give the half

Well, the eldest son undertook the task. As soon as it was night, he took his weapons and set out. But before

he reached the park, he went into a traktir (or tavern), and there he spent the whole night in revelry. When he

came to his senses it was too late; the day had already dawned. He felt himself disgraced in the eyes of his

father, but there was no help for it. The next day the second son went, and did just the same. Their father

Well, on the third day the youngest son undertook the task. They all laughed him to scorn, because he was so

stupid, feeling sure he wouldn't do anything. But he took his arms, and went straight into the park, and sat

down on the grass in such a position that the moment he went asleep his weapons would prick him, and he

Presently the midnight hour sounded. The earth began to shake, and the Norka came rushing up, and burst

right through the fence into the park, so huge was it. The Prince pulled himself together, leapt to his feet,

crossed himself, and went straight at the beast. It fled back, and the Prince ran after it. But he soon saw that

he couldn't catch it on foot, so he hastened to the stable, laid his hands on the best horse there, and set off in

pursuit. Presently he came up with the beast, and they began a fight. They fought and fought; the Prince gave

the beast three wounds. At last they were both utterly exhausted, so they lay down to take a short rest. But the

moment the Prince closed his eyes, up jumped the beast and took to flight. The Prince's horse awoke him; up

he jumped in a moment, and set off again in pursuit, caught up the beast, and again began fighting with it.

Again the Prince gave the beast three wounds, and then he and the beast lay down again to rest. Thereupon

away fled the beast as before. The Prince caught it up, and again gave it three wounds. But all of a sudden,

just as the Prince began chasing it for the fourth time, the beast fled to a great white stone, tilted it up, and

escaped into the other world, crying out to the Prince: `Then only will you overcome me, when you enter

The Prince went home, told his father all that had happened, and asked him to have a leather rope plaited,

long enough to reach to the other world. His father ordered this to be done. When the rope was made, the

Prince called for his brothers, and he and they, having taken servants with them, and everything that was

needed for a whole year, set out for the place where the beast had disappeared under the stone. When they got

there, they built a palace on the spot, and lived in it for some time. But when everything was ready, the

youngest brother said to the others: `Now, brothers, who is going to lift this stone?'

Neither of them could so much as stir it, but as soon as he touched it, away it flew to a distance, though it was

ever so big big as a hill. And when he had flung the stone aside, he spoke a second time to his brothers,

Neither of them offered to do so. Then he laughed at them for being such cowards, and said:

`Well, brothers, farewell! Lower me into the other world, and don't go away from here, but as soon as the

His brothers lowered him accordingly, and when he had reached the other world, underneath the earth, he

went on his way. He walked and walked. Presently he espied a horse with rich trappings, and it said to him:

He mounted the horse and rode onrode and rode, until he saw standing before him a palace made of

copper. He entered the courtyard, tied up his horse, and went indoors. In one of the rooms a dinner was laid

out. He sat down and dined, and then went into a bedroom. There he found a bed, on which he lay down to

rest. Presently there came in a lady, more beautiful than can be imagined anywhere but in a fairy tale, who

`Thou who art in my house, name thyself! If thou art an old man, thou shalt be my father; if a middleaged

man, my brother; but if a young man, thou shalt be my husband dear. And if thou art a woman, and an old

one, thou shalt be my grandmother; if middleaged, my mother; and if a girl, thou shalt be my own sister.'

Thereupon he came forth. And when she saw him she was delighted with him, and said:

`Wherefore, O Prince Ivanmy husband dear shalt thou be! wherefore hast thou come hither?'

`That beast which thou wishest to overcome is my brother. He is staying just now with my second sister, who

lives not far from here in a silver palace. I bound up three of the wounds which thou didst give him.'

Well, after this they drank, and enjoyed themselves, and held sweet converse together, and then the Prince

took leave of her, and went on to the second sister, the one who lived in the silver palace, and with her also he

stayed awhile. She told him that her brother Norka was then at her youngest sister's. So he went on to the

youngest sister, who lived in a golden palace. She told him that her brother was at that time asleep on the blue

sea, and she gave him a sword of steel and a draught of the Water of Strength, and she told him to cut off her

brother's head at a single stroke. And when he had heard these things, he went his way.

And when the Prince came to the blue sea, he lookedthere slept the Norka on a stone in the middle of the

sea; and when it snored, the water was agitated for seven miles around. The Prince crossed himself, went up

to it, and smote it on the head with his sword. The head jumped off, saying the while, `Well, I'm done for

After killing the beast, the Prince went back again, picking up all the three sisters by the way, with the

intention of taking them out into the upper world: for they all loved him and would not be separated from

him. Each of them turned her palace into an egg for they were all enchantressesand they taught him how

to turn the eggs into palaces, and back again, and they handed over the eggs to him. And then they all went to

the place from which they had to be hoisted into the upper world. And when they came to where the rope

was, the Prince took hold of it and made the maidens fast to it. Then he jerked away at the rope and his

brothers began to haul it up. And when they had hauled it up, and had set eyes on the wondrous maidens, they

went aside and said: `Let's lower the rope, pull our brother part of the way up, and then cut the rope. Perhaps

he'll be killed; but then if he isn't, he'll never give us these beauties as wives.'

So when they had agreed on this, they lowered the rope. But their brother was no fool; he guessed what they

were at, so he fastened the rope to a stone, and then gave it a pull. His brothers hoisted the stone to a great

height, and then cut the rope. Down fell the stone and broke in pieces; the Prince poured forth tears and went

away. Well, he walked and walked. Presently a storm arose; the lightning flashed, the thunder roared, the rain

fell in torrents. He went up to a tree in order to take shelter under it, and on that tree he saw some young birds

which were being thoroughly drenched. So he took off his coat and covered them over with it, and he himself

sat down under the tree. Presently there came flying a birdsuch a big one that the light was blotted out by

it. It had been dark there before, but now it became darker still. Now this was the mother of those small birds

which the Prince had covered up. And when the bird had come flying up, she perceived that her little ones

were covered over, and she said, `Who has wrapped up my nestlings?' and presently, seeing the Prince, she

added: `Didst thou do that? Thanks! In return, ask of me anything thou desirest. I will do anything for thee.'

`Make me a large vessel with a partition in the middle,' she said; `catch all sorts of game, and put them into

one half of it, and into the other half pour water; so that there may be meat and drink for me.'

All this the Prince did. Then the birdhaving taken the vessel on her back, with the Prince sitting in the

middle of it began to fly. And after flying some distance she brought him to his journey's end, took leave

of him, and flew away back. But he went to the house of a certain tailor, and engaged himself as his servant.

So much the worse for wear was he, so thoroughly had he altered in appearance, that nobody would have

Having entered into the service of this master, the Prince began to ask what was going on in that country.

And his master replied: `Our two Princesfor the third one has disappearedhave brought away brides

from the other world, and want to marry them, but those brides refuse. For they insist on having all their

wedding clothes made for them first, exactly like those which they used to have in the other world, and that

without being measured for them. The King has called all the workmen together, but not one of them will

The Prince, having heard all this, said, `Go to the King, master, and tell him that you will provide everything

`However can I undertake to make clothes of that sort? I work for quite common folks,' says his master.

So the tailor went. The King was delighted that at least one good workman had been found, and gave him as

much money as ever he wanted. When his tailor had settled everything, he went home. And the Prince said to

`Now then, pray to God, and lie down to sleep; tomorrow all will be ready.' And the tailor followed his lad's

Midnight sounded. The Prince arose, went out of the city into the fields, took out of his pocket the eggs

which the maidens had given him, and, as they had taught him, turned them into three palaces. Into each of

these he entered, took the maidens' robes, went out again, turned the palaces back into eggs, and went home.

Early in the morning his master awoke, and behold! there hung such robes as he had never seen before, all

shining with gold and silver and precious stones. He was delighted, and he seized them and carried them off

to the King. When the Princesses saw that the clothes were those which had been theirs in the other world,

they guessed that Prince Ivan was in this world, so they exchanged glances with each other, but they held

their peace. And the master, having handed over the clothes, went home, but he no longer found his dear

journeyman there. For the Prince had gone to a shoemaker's, and him too he sent to work for the King; and in

the same way he went the round of all the artificers, and they all proffered him thanks, inasmuch as through

By the time the princely workman had gone the round of all the artificers, the Princesses had received what

they had asked for; all their clothes were just like what they had been in the other world. Then they wept

bitterly because the Prince had not come, and it was impossible for them to hold out any longer; it was

necessary that they should be married. But when they were ready for the wedding, the youngest bride said to

He gave her leave, and she went and began bestowing alms upon them, and examining them closely. And

when she had come to one of them, and was going to give him some money, she caught sight of the ring

which she had given to the Prince in the other world, and her sisters' rings toofor it really was he. So she

`Here is he who brought us out of the other world. His brothers forbade us to say that he was alive,

Then the King was wroth with those sons, and punished them as he thought best. And afterwards three

ONCE upon a time there were a man and a woman, who had an only daughter. Now it happened that one of

their sheep went astray, and they set out to look for it, and searched and searched, each in n different part of

`If you spit, you miserable creature, if you spit into the sheath of my knife, or if you run between my legs, I

The woman neither spat, nor did she run between her legs, but yet the witch changed her into a sheep. Then

The man thought the witch was really his wife, and he did not know that his wife was the sheep; so he went

home with her, glad at heart because his sheep was found. When they were safe at home the witch said to the

`Look here, old man, we must really kill that sheep lest it run away to the wood again.'

The man, who was a peaceable quiet sort of fellow, made no objections, but simply said:

The daughter, however, had overheard their talk, and she ran to the flock and lamented aloud:

`Well, then, if they do slaughter me,' was the black sheep's answer, `eat you neither the meat nor the broth

that is made of me, but gather all my bones, and bury them by the edge of the field.'

Shortly after this they took the black sheep from the flock and slaughtered it. The witch made peasesoup of

it, and set it before the daughter. But the girl remembered her mother's warning. She did not touch the soup,

but she carried the bones to the edge of the field and buried them there; and there sprang up on the spot a

Some time had passed awaywho can tell how long they might have been living there?when the witch, to

whom a child had been born in the meantime, began to take an illwill to the man's daughter, and to torment

Now it happened that a great festival was to be held at the palace, and the King had commanded that all the

`Come, people all! Poor and wretched, one and all! Blind and crippled though ye be, Mount your steeds or

And so they drove into the King's feast all the outcasts, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. In the

good man's house, too, preparations were made to go to the palace. The witch said to the man:

`Go you on in front, old man, with our youngest; I will give the elder girl work to keep her from being dull in

So the man took the child and set out. But the witch kindled a fire on the hearth, threw a potful of barleycorns

`If you have not picked the barley out of the ashes, and put it all back in the pot before nightfall, I shall eat

Then she hastened after the others, and the poor girl stayed at home and wept. She tried to be sure to pick up

the grains of barley, but she soon saw how useless her labour was; and so she went in her sore trouble to the

birch tree on her mother's grave, and cried and cried, because her mother lay dead beneath the sod and could

help her no longer. In the midst of her grief she suddenly heard her mother's voice speak from the grave, and

`The witch has scattered barleycorns on the hearth, and bid me pick them out of the ashes,' said the girl; `that

`Do not weep,' said her mother consolingly. `Break off one of my branches, and strike the hearth with it

crosswise, and all will be put right.' The girl did so. She struck the hearth with the birchen branch, and lo! the

barleycorns flew into the pot, and the hearth was clean. Then she went back to the birch tree and laid the

branch upon the grave. Then her mother bade her bathe on one side of the stem, dry herself on another, and

dress on the third. When the girl had done all that, she had grown so lovely that no one on earth could rival

her. Splendid clothing was given to her, and a horse, with hair partly of gold, partly of silver, and partly of

something more precious still. The girl sprang into the saddle, and rode as swift as an arrow to the palace. As

she turned into the courtyard of the castle the King's son came out to meet her, tied her steed to a pillar, and

led her in. He never left her side as they passed through the castle rooms; and all the people gazed at her, and

wondered who the lovely maiden was, and from what castle she came; but no one knew herno one knew

anything about her. At the banquet the Prince invited her to sit next him in the place of honour; but the

witch's daughter gnawed the bones under the table. The Prince did not see her, and thinking it was a dog, he

gave her such a push with his foot that her arm was broken. Are you not sorry for the witch's daughter? It was

Towards evening the good man's daughter thought it was time to go home; but as she went, her ring caught

on the latch of the door, for the King's son had had it smeared with tar. She did not take time to pull it off,

but, hastily unfastening her horse from the pillar, she rode away beyond the castle walls as swift as an arrow.

Arrived at home, she took off her clothes by the birch tree, left her horse standing there, and hastened to her

place behind the stove. In a short time the man and the woman came home again too, and the witch said to

`Ah! you poor thing, there you are to be sure! You don't know what fine times we have had at the palace! The

King's son carried my daughter about, but the poor thing fell and broke her arm.'

The girl knew well how matters really stood, but she pretended to know nothing about it, and sat dumb

`Hey! old man,' said the witch, `get on your clothes as quick as you can; we are bidden to the feast. Take you

She kindled the fire, threw a potful of hemp seed among the ashes, and said to the girl:

`If you do not get this sorted, and all the seed back into the pot, I shall kill you!'

The girl wept bitterly; then she went to the birch tree, washed herself on one side of it and dried herself on the

other; and this time still finer clothes were given to her, and a very beautiful steed. She broke off a branch of

the birch tree, struck the hearth with it, so that the seeds flew into the pot, and then hastened to the castle.

Again the King's son came out to meet her, tied her horse to a pillar, and led her into the banqueting hall. At

the feast the girl sat next him in the place of honour, as she had done the day before. But the witch's daughter

gnawed bones under the table, and the Prince gave her a push by mistake, which broke her leghe had never

The good man's daughter hastened home again betimes, but the King's son had smeared the doorposts with

tar, and the girl's golden circlet stuck to it. She had not time to look for it, but sprang to the saddle and rode

like an arrow to the birch tree. There she left her horse and her fine clothes, and said to her mother:

`I have lost my circlet at the castle; the doorpost was tarred, and it stuck fast.'

`And even had you lost two of them,' answered her mother, `I would give you finer ones.'

Then the girl hastened home, and when her father came home from the feast with the witch, she was in her

`You poor thing! what is there to see here compared with what WE have seen at the palace? The King's son

carried my daughter from one room to another; he let her fall, 'tis true, and my child's foot was broken.'

The man's daughter held her peace all the time, and busied herself about the hearth.

The night passed, and when the day began to dawn, the witch awakened her husband, crying:

`Take you the little one; I will give the other girl work to do, else she will weary at home alone.'

She did as usual. This time it was a dish of milk she poured upon the ashes, saying:

`If you do not get all the milk into the dish again before I come home, you will suffer for it.'

How frightened the girl was this time! She ran to the birch tree, and by its magic power her task was

accomplished; and then she rode away to the palace as before. When she got to the courtyard she found the

Prince waiting for her. He led her into the hall, where she was highly honoured; but the witch's daughter

sucked the bones under the table, and crouching at the people's feet she got an eye knocked out, poor thing!

Now no one knew any more than before about the good man's daughter, no one knew whence she came; but

the Prince had had the threshold smeared with tar, and as she fled her gold slippers stuck to it. She reached

`Let them be,' was her mother's reply; `if you need them I shall give you finer ones.'

Scarcely was she in her usual place behind the stove when her father came home with the witch. Immediately

`Ah! you poor thing, there is nothing for you to see here, and WEah: what great things we have seen at the

palace! My little girl was carried about again, but had the illluck to fall and get her eye knocked out. You

`Yes, indeed, what can I know?' replied the girl; `I had enough to do to get the hearth clean.'

Now the Prince had kept all the things the girl had lost, and he soon set about finding the owner of them. For

this purpose a great banquet was given on the fourth day, and all the people were invited to the palace. The

witch got ready to go too. She tied a wooden beetle on where her child's foot should have been, a log of wood

instead of an arm, and stuck a bit of dirt in the empty socket for an eye, and took the child with her to the

castle. When all the people were gathered together, the King's son stepped in among the crowd and cried:

`The maiden whose finger this ring slips over, whose head this golden hoop encircles, and whose foot this

What a great trying on there was now among them all! The things would fit no one, however.

`The cinder wench is not here,' said the Prince at last; `go and fetch her, and let her try on the things.'

So the girl was fetched, and the Prince was just going to hand the ornaments to her, when the witch held him

`Don't give them to her; she soils everything with cinders; give them to my daughter rather.'

Well, then the Prince gave the witch's daughter the ring, and the woman filed and pared away at her

daughter's finger till the ring fitted. It was the same with the circlet and the shoes of gold. The witch would

not allow them to be handed to the cinder wench; she worked at her own daughter's head and feet till she got

the things forced on. What was to be done now? The Prince had to take the witch's daughter for his bride

whether he would or no; he sneaked away to her father's house with her, however, for he was ashamed to

hold the wedding festivities at the palace with so strange a bride. Some days passed, and at last he had to take

his bride home to the palace, and he got ready to do so. Just as they were taking leave, the kitchen wench

sprang down from her place by the stove, on the pretext of fetching something from the cowhouse, and in

Thereupon the King's son recognised the cinder wench; so he took both the girls with him, and set out. After

they had gone some little way they came to the bank of a river, and the Prince threw the witch's daughter

across to serve as a bridge, and so got over with the cinder wench. There lay the witch's daughter then, like a

bridge over the river, and could not stir, though her heart was consumed with grief. No help was near, so she

`May there grow a golden hemlock out of my body! perhaps my mother will know me by that token.'

Scarcely had she spoken when a golden hemlock sprang up from her, and stood upon the bridge.

Now, as soon as the Prince had got rid of the witch's daughter he greeted the cinder wench as his bride, and

they wandered together to the birch tree which grew upon the mother's grave. There they received all sorts of

treasures and riches, three sacks full of gold, and as much silver, and a splendid steed, which bore them home

to the palace. There they lived a long time together, and the young wife bore a son to the Prince. Immediately

word was brought to the witch that her daughter had borne a sonfor they all believed the young King's wife

`So, so,' said the witch to herself; `I had better away with my gift for the infant, then.'

And so saying she set out. Thus it happened that she came to the bank of the river, and there she saw the

beautiful golden hemlock growing in the middle of the bridge, and when she began to cut it down to take to

`Indeed I am, dear little mother,' answered the daughter `They threw me across the river to make a bridge of

In a moment the witch had the bridge shivered to atoms, and then she hastened away to the palace. Stepping

`Spit, you wretch, on the blade of my knife; bewitch my knife's blade for me, and I shall change you into a

She neither spat nor did anything else, but still the witch changed her into a reindeer, and smuggled her own

daughter into her place as the Prince's wife. But now the child grew restless and cried, because it missed its

mother's care. They took it to the court, and tried to pacify it in every conceivable way, but its crying never

`What makes the child so restless?' asked the Prince, and he went to a wise widow woman to ask her advice.

`Ay, ay, your own wife is not at home,' said the widow woman; `she is living like a reindeer in the wood; you

have the witch's daughter for a wife now, and the witch herself for a motherin law.'

`Is there any way of getting my own wife back from the wood again?' asked the Prince.

`Give me the child,' answered the widow woman. `I'll take it with me tomorrow when I go to drive the cows

to the wood. I'll make a rustling among the birch leaves and a trembling among the aspensperhaps the boy

`Yes, take the child away, take it to the wood with you to quiet it,' said the Prince, and led the widow woman

`How now? you are going to send the child away to the wood?' said the witch in a suspicious tone, and tried

So the widow woman took the child to the wood. She came to the edge of a marsh, and seeing a herd of

`Little Brighteyes, little Redskin, Come nurse the child you bore! That bloodthirsty monster, That

maneater grim, Shall nurse him, shall tend him no more. They may threaten and force as they will, He turns

and immediately the reindeer drew near, and nursed and tended the child the whole day long; but at nightfall

`Bring me the child tomorrow, and again the following day; after that I must wander with the herd far away

The following morning the widow woman went back to the castle to fetch the child. The witch interfered, of

`Take it, and carry it about in the open air; the boy is quieter at night, to be sure, when he has been in the

So the widow took the child in her arms, and carried it to the marsh in the forest. There she sang as on the

`Little Brighteyes, little Redskin, Come nurse the child you bore! That bloodthirsty monster, That

maneater grim, Shall nurse him, shall tend him no more. They may threaten and force as they will, He turns

and immediately the reindeer left the herd and came to the child, and tended it as on the day before. And so it

was that the child throve, till not a finer boy was to be seen anywhere. But the King's son had been pondering

`I don't rightly know,' was her answer. `Come to the wood with me, however; when the woman puts off her

reindeer skin I shall comb her head for her; whilst I am doing so you must burn the skin.'

Thereupon they both went to the wood with the child; scarcely were they there when the reindeer appeared

`Since you are going far away tomorrow, and I shall not see you again, let me comb your head for the last

Good; the young woman stript off the reindeer skin, and let the widow woman do as she wished. In the

`What smells of singeing here?' asked the young woman, and looking round she saw her own husband. `Woe

`Alackaday! I have nothing to cover me now, poor creature that I am!' cried the young woman, and

transformed herself first into a distaff, then into a wooden beetle, then into a spindle, and into all imaginable

shapes. But all these shapes the King's son went on destroying till she stood before him in human form again.

Alas! wherefore take me home with you again,' cried the young woman, `since the witch is sure to eat me

`She will not eat you up,' answered her husband; and they started for home with the child.

But when the witch wife saw them she ran away with her daughter, and if she has not stopped she is running

still, though at a great age. And the Prince, and his wife, and the baby lived happy ever afterwards.[9]

ONCE upon a time there was a poor widow who lived in a little cottage with her only son Jack.

Jack was a giddy, thoughtless boy, but very kindhearted and affectionate. There had been a hard winter, and

after it the poor woman had suffered from fever and ague. Jack did no work as yet, and by degrees they grew

dreadfully poor. The widow saw that there was no means of keeping Jack and herself from starvation but by

selling her cow; so one morning she said to her son, `I am too weak to go myself, Jack, so you must take the

Jack liked going to market to sell the cow very much; but as he was on the way, he met a butcher who had

some beautiful beans in his hand. Jack stopped to look at them, and the butcher told the boy that they were of

When he brought them home to his mother instead of the money she expected for her nice cow, she was very

vexed and shed many tears, scolding Jack for his folly. He was very sorry, and mother and son went to bed

`At least,' he thought, `I will sow the wonderful beans. Mother says that they are just common

So he took a piece of stick, and made some holes in the ground, and put in the beans.

That day they had very little dinner, and went sadly to bed, knowing that for the next day there would be none

and Jack, unable to sleep from grief and vexation, got up at daydawn and went out into the garden.

What was his amazement to find that the beans had grown up in the night, and climbed up and up till they

covered the high cliff that sheltered the cottage, and disappeared above it! The stalks had twined and twisted

And, having thought of the experiment, he at once resolved to carry it out, for Jack was a good climber.

However, after his late mistake about the cow, he thought he had better consult his mother first.

So Jack called his mother, and they both gazed in silent wonder at the Beanstalk, which was not only of great

`I wonder where it ends,' said Jack to his mother; `I think I will climb up and see.'

His mother wished him not to venture up this strange ladder, but Jack coaxed her to give her consent to the

attempt, for he was certain there must be something wonderful in the Beanstalk; so at last she yielded to his

Jack instantly began to climb, and went up and up on the ladder like bean till everything he had left behind

himthe cottage, the village, and even the tall church towerlooked quite little, and still he could not see

Jack felt a little tired, and thought for a moment that he would go back again; but he was a very persevering

boy, and he knew that the way to succeed in anything is not to give up. So after resting for a moment he went

After climbing higher and higher, till he grew afraid to look down for fear he should be giddy, Jack at last

reached the top of the Beanstalk, and found himself in a beautiful country, finely wooded, with beautiful

meadows covered with sheep. A crystal stream ran through the pastures; not far from the place where he had

Jack wondered very much that he had never heard of or seen this castle before; but when he reflected on the

subject, he saw that it was as much separated from the village by the perpendicular rock on which it stood as

While Jack was standing looking at the castle, a very strange looking woman came out of the wood, and

She wore a pointed cap of quilted red satin turned up with ermine, her hair streamed loose over her shoulders,

`Once upon a time there was a noble knight, who lived in this castle, which is on the borders of Fairyland. He

had a fair and beloved wife and several lovely children: and as his neighbours, the little people, were very

`Rumour whispered of these treasures; and a monstrous giant, who lived at no great distance, and who was a

`So he bribed a false servant to let him inside the castle, when the knight was in bed and asleep, and he killed

him as he lay. Then he went to the part of the castle which was the nursery, and also killed all the poor little

`Happily for her, the lady was not to be found. She had gone with her infant son, who was only two or three

months old, to visit her old nurse, who lived in the valley; and she had been detained all night there by a

`The next morning, as soon as it was light, one of the servants at the castle, who had managed to escape,

came to tell the poor lady of the sad fate of her husband and her pretty babes. She could scarcely believe him

at first, and was eager at once to go back and share the fate of her dear ones; but the old nurse, with many

tears, besought her to remember that she had still a child, and that it was her duty to preserve her life for the

`The lady yielded to this reasoning, and consented to remain at her nurse's house as the best place of

concealment; for the servant told her that the giant had vowed, if he could find her, he would kill both her and

her baby. Years rolled on. The old nurse died, leaving her cottage and the few articles of furniture it

contained to her poor lady, who dwelt in it, working as a peasant for her daily bread. Her spinningwheel and

the milk of a cow, which she had purchased with the little money she had with her, sufficed for the scanty

subsistence of herself and her little son. There was a nice little garden attached to the cottage, in which they

cultivated peas, beans, and cabbages, and the lady was not ashamed to go out at harvest time, and glean in the

`Jack, that poor lady is your mother. This castle was once your father's, and must again be yours.'

`Your duty requires you to win it back for your mother. But the task is a very difficult one, and full of peril,

`Then,' said the lady in the red cap, `you are one of those who slay giants. You must get into the castle, and if

possible possess yourself of a hen that lays golden eggs, and a harp that talks. Remember, all the giant

possesses is really yours.' As she ceased speaking, the lady of the red hat suddenly disappeared, and of course

Jack determined at once to attempt the adventure; so he advanced, and blew the horn which hung at the castle

portal. The door was opened in a minute or two by a frightful giantess, with one great eye in the middle of her

As soon as Jack saw her he turned to run away, but she caught him, and dragged him into the castle.

`Ho, ho!' she laughed terribly. `You didn't expect to see me here, that is clear! No, I shan't let you go again. I

am weary of my life. I am so overworked, and I don't see why I should not have a page as well as other

ladies. And you shall be my boy. You shall clean the knives, and black the boots, and make the fires, and help

me generally when the giant is out. When he is at home I must hide you, for he has eaten up all my pages

While she spoke she dragged Jack right into the castle. The poor boy was very much frightened, as I am sure

you and I would have been in his place. But he remembered that fear disgraces a man; so he struggled to be

`I am quite ready to help you, and do all I can to serve you, madam,' he said, `only I beg you will be good

`That's a good boy,' said the Giantess, nodding her head; `it is lucky for you that you did not scream out when

you saw me, as the other boys who have been here did, for if you had done so my husband would have

awakened and have eaten you, as he did them, for breakfast. Come here, child; go into my wardrobe: he never

And she opened a huge wardrobe which stood in the great hall, and shut him into it. But the keyhole was so

large that it ad mitted plenty of air, and he could see everything that took place through it. Byandby he

heard a heavy tramp on the stairs, like the lumbering along of a great cannon, and then a voice like thunder

`Fe, fa, fifofum, I smell the breath of an Englishman. Let him be alive or let him be dead, I'll grind his

`Wife,' cried the Giant, `there is a man in the castle. Let me have him for breakfast.'

`You are grown old and stupid,' cried the lady in her loud tones. `It is only a nice fresh steak off an elephant,

that I have cooked for you, which you smell. There, sit down and make a good breakfast.'

And she placed a huge dish before him of savoury steaming meat, which greatly pleased him, and made him

forget his idea of an Englishman being in the castle. When he had breakfasted he went out for a walk; and

then the Giantess opened the door, and made Jack come out to help her. He helped her all day. She fed him

The Giant came in to supper. Jack watched him through the keyhole, and was amazed to see him pick a wolf's

When the supper was ended he bade his wife bring him his hen that laid the golden eggs.

`It lays as well as it did when it belonged to that paltry knight,' he said; `indeed I think the eggs are heavier

The Giantess went away, and soon returned with a little brown hen, which she placed on the table before her

husband. `And now, my dear,' she said, `I am going for a walk, if you don't want me any longer.'

Byandby the Giant put the hen down on the floor, and soon after went fast asleep, snoring so loud that it

Directly Jack perceived that the Giant was fast asleep, he pushed open the door of the wardrobe and crept out;

very softly he stole across the room, and, picking up the hen, made haste to quit the apartment. He knew the

way to the kitchen, the door of which he found was left ajar; he opened it, shut and locked it after him, and

When his mother saw him enter the house she wept for joy, for she had feared that the fairies had carried him

away, or that the Giant had found him. But Jack put the brown hen down before her, and told her how he had

been in the Giant's castle, and all his adventures. She was very glad to see the hen, which would make them

Jack made another journey up the Beanstalk to the Giant's castle one day while his mother had gone to

market; but first he dyed his hair and disguised himself. The old woman did not know him again, and dragged

him in as she had done before, to help her to do the work; but she heard her husband coming, and hid him in

the wardrobe, not thinking that it was the same boy who had stolen the hen. She bade him stay quite still

`Fe, fa, fifofum, I smell the breath of an Englishman. Let him be alive or let him be dead, I'll grind his

`Nonsense!' said the wife, `it is only a roasted bullock that I thought would be a titbit for your supper; sit

down and I will bring it up at once.' The Giant sat down, and soon his wife brought up a roasted bullock on a

large dish, and they began their supper. Jack was amazed to see them pick the bones of the bullock as if it had

been a lark. As soon as they had finished their meal, the Giantess rose and said:

`Now, my dear, with your leave I am going up to my room to finish the story I am reading. If you want me

`First,' answered the Giant, `bring me my money bags, that I may count my golden pieces before I sleep.' The

Giantess obeyed. She went and soon returned with two large bags over her shoulders, which she put down by

`There,' she said; `that is all that is left of the knight's money. When you have spent it you must go and take

The Giant, when his wife was gone, took out heaps and heaps of golden pieces, and counted them, and put

them in piles, till he was tired of the amusement. Then he swept them all back into their bags, and leaning

back in his chair fell fast asleep, snoring so loud that no other sound was audible.

Jack stole softly out of the wardrobe, and taking up the bags of money (which were his very own, because the

Giant had stolen them from his father), he ran off, and with great difficulty descending the Beanstalk, laid the

bags of gold on his mother's table. She had just returned from town, and was crying at not finding Jack.

`Oh, Jack! you are a very good boy, but I wish you would not risk your precious life in the Giant's castle. Tell

Jack's mother was very glad to get the money, but she did not like him to run any risk for her.

So he climbed the Beanstalk once more, and blew the horn at the Giant's gate. The Giantess soon opened the

door; she was very stupid, and did not know him again, but she stopped a minute before she took him in. She

feared another robbery; but Jack's fresh face looked so innocent that she could not resist him, and so she bade

Byandby the Giant came home, and as soon as he had crossed the threshold he roared out:

`Fe, fa, fifofum, I smell the breath of an Englishman. Let him be alive or let him be dead, I'll grind his

`You stupid old Giant,' said his wife, `you only smell a nice sheep, which I have grilled for your dinner.'

And the Giant sat down, and his wife brought up a whole sheep for his dinner. When he had eaten it all up, he

`Now bring me my harp, and I will have a little music while you take your walk.'

The Giantess obeyed, and returned with a beautiful harp. The framework was all sparkling with diamonds

`This is one of the nicest things I took from the knight,' said the Giant. `I am very fond of music, and my harp

`Now play me a lullaby,' roared the Giant; and the harp played a sweet lullaby, to the sound of which its

Then Jack stole softly out of the wardrobe, and went into the huge kitchen to see if the Giantess had gone out;

he found no one there, so he went to the door and opened it softly, for he thought he could not do so with the

Then he entered the Giant's room and seized the harp and ran away with it; but as he jumped over the

With a tremendous roar he sprang from his seat, and in two strides had reached the door.

But Jack was very nimble. He fled like lightning with the harp, talking to it as he went (for he saw it was a

Still the Giant came on so fast that he was quite close to poor Jack, and had stretched out his great hand to

catch him. But, luckily, just at that moment he stepped upon a loose stone, stumbled, and fell flat on the

This accident gave Jack time to get on the Beanstalk and hasten down it; but just as he reached their own

His mother ran to him with a hatchet in her hand, and Jack with one tremendous blow cut through all the

Jack's mother shrank back, and it was well she did so, for just as the Giant took hold of the last branch of the

Down came the Giant with a terrible crash, and as he fell on his head, he broke his neck, and lay dead at the

Before Jack and his mother had recovered from their alarm and agitation, a beautiful lady stood before them.

`Jack,' said she, `you have acted like a brave knight's son, and deserve to have your inheritance restored to

`But,' said Jack, `I could not kill anyone unless I were fighting with him; and I could not draw my sword

`I am very much pleased with your generous feeling,' she said. `Nevertheless, return to the castle, and act as

Jack asked the Fairy if she would show him the way to the castle, as the Beanstalk was now down. She told

him that she would drive him there in her chariot, which was drawn by two peacocks. Jack thanked her, and

The Fairy drove him a long distance round, till they reached a village which lay at the bottom of the hill. Here

they found a number of miserablelooking men assembled. The Fairy stopped her carriage and addressed

`My friends,' said she, `the cruel giant who oppressed you and ate up all your flocks and herds is dead, and

this young gentleman was the means of your being delivered from him, and is the son of your kind old

The men gave a loud cheer at these words, and pressed forward to say that they would serve Jack as faithfully

as they had served his father. The Fairy bade them follow her to the castle, and they marched thither in a

The old Giantess saw them coming from the turret loophole. She was very much frightened, for she guessed

that something had happened to her husband; and as she came downstairs very fast she caught her foot in her

When the people outside found that the door was not opened to them, they took crowbars and forced the

portal. Nobody was to be seen, but on leaving the hall they found the body of the Giantess at the foot of the

Thus Jack took possession of the castle. The Fairy went and brought his mother to him, with the hen and the

harp. He had the Giantess buried, and endeavoured as much as lay in his power to do right to those whom the

Before her departure for fairyland, the Fairy explained to Jack that she had sent the butcher to meet him with

If you had looked at the gigantic Beanstalk and only stupidly wondered about it,' she said, `I should have left

you where misfortune had placed you, only restoring her cow to your mother. But you showed an inquiring

mind, and great courage and enterprise, therefore you deserve to rise; and when you mounted the Beanstalk

ONCE upon a time there lived a King and Queen who loved each other so much that they were never happy

unless they were together. Day after day they went out hunting or fishing; night after night they went to balls

or to the opera; they sang, and danced, and ate sugarplums, and were the gayest of the gay, and all their

subjects followed their example so that the kingdom was called the Joyous Land. Now in the next kingdom

everything was as different as it could possibly be. The King was sulky and savage, and never enjoyed

himself at all. He looked so ugly and cross that all his subjects feared him, and he hated the very sight of a

cheerful face; so if he ever caught anyone smiling he had his head cut off that very minute. This kingdom was

very appropriately called the Land of Tears. Now when this wicked King heard of the happiness of the Jolly

King, he was so jealous that he collected a great army and set out to fight him, and the news of his approach

was soon brought to the King and Queen. The Queen, when she heard of it, was frightened out of her wits,

and began to cry bitterly. `Sire,' she said, `let us collect all our riches and run away as far as ever we can, to

`Fie, madam! I am far too brave for that. It is better to die than to be a coward.'

Then he assembled all his armed men, and after bidding the Queen a tender farewell, he mounted his splendid

horse and rode away. When he was lost to sight the Queen could do nothing but weep, and wring her hands,

`Alas! If the King is killed, what will become of me and of my little daughter?' and she was so sorrowful that

The King sent her a letter every day, but at last, one morning, as she looked out of the palace window, she

`The battle is lost and the King is dead, and in another moment the enemy will be here.'

The poor Queen fell back insensible, and all her ladies carried her to bed, and stood round her weeping and

wailing. Then began a tremendous noise and confusion, and they knew that the enemy had arrived, and very

soon they heard the King himself stamping about the palace seeking the Queen. Then her ladies put the little

Princess into her arms, and covered her up, head and all, in the bedclothes, and ran for their lives, and the

poor Queen lay there shaking, and hoping she would not be found. But very soon the wicked King clattered

into the room, and in a fury because the Queen would not answer when he called to her, he tore back her

silken coverings and tweaked off her lace cap, and when all her lovely hair came tumbling down over her

shoulders, he wound it three times round his hand and threw her over his shoulder, where he carried her like a

The poor Queen held her little daughter safe in her arms and shrieked for mercy, but the wicked King only

mocked her, and begged her to go on shrieking, as it amused him, and so mounted his great black horse, and

rode back to his own country. When he got there he declared that he would have the Queen and the little

Princess hanged on the nearest tree; but his courtiers said that seemed a pity, for when the baby grew up she

The King was rather pleased with this idea, and shut the Queen up in the highest room of a tall tower, which

was very tiny, and miserably furnished with a table and a very hard bed upon the floor. Then he sent for a

fairy who lived near his kingdom, and after receiving her with more politeness than he generally showed, and

entertaining her at a sumptuous feast, he took her up to see the Queen. The fairy was so touched by the sight

The Queen, a little comforted by these words, received her graciously, and begged her to take pity upon the

poor little Princess, who had met with such a sudden reverse of fortune. But the King got very cross when he

`Make an end of these fine speeches, madam. I brought you here to tell me if the child will grow up pretty

Then the Fairy answered that the Princess would be as pretty, and clever, and well brought up as it was

possible to be, and the old King growled to the Queen that it was lucky for her that it was so, as they would

certainly have been hanged if it were otherwise. Then he stamped off, taking the Fairy with him, and leaving

`How can I wish my little daughter to grow up pretty if she is to be married to that horrid little dwarf, the

King's son,' she said to herself, `and yet, if she is ugly we shall both be killed. If I could only hide her away

As the days went on, the Queen and the little Princess grew thinner and thinner, for their hardhearted gaoler

gave them every day only three boiled peas and a tiny morsel of black bread, so they were always terribly

hungry. At last, one evening, as the Queen sat at her spinningwheelfor the King was so avaricious that

she was made to work day and nightshe saw a tiny, pretty little mouse creep out of a hole, and said to it:

`Alas, little creature! what are you coming to look for here? I only have three peas for my day's provision, so

But the mouse ran hither and thither, and danced and capered so prettily, that at last the Queen gave it her last

pea, which she was keeping for her supper, saying: `Here, little one, eat it up; I have nothing better to offer

you, but I give this willingly in return for the amusement I have had from you.'

She had hardly spoken when she saw upon the table a delicious little roast partridge, and two dishes of

preserved fruit. `Truly,' said she, `a kind action never goes unrewarded; `and she and the little Princess ate

their supper with great satisfaction, and then the Queen gave what was left to the little mouse, who danced

better than ever afterwards. The next morning came the gaoler with the Queen's allowance of three peas,

which he brought in upon a large dish to make them look smaller; but as soon as he set it down the little

mouse came and ate up all three, so that when the Queen wanted her dinner there was nothing left for her.

`What a bad little beast that mouse must be! If it goes on like this I shall be starved.' But when she glanced at

the dish again it was covered with all sorts of nice things to eat, and the Queen made a very good dinner, and

was gayer than usual over it. But afterwards as she sat at her spinningwheel she began to consider what

would happen if the little Princess did not grow up pretty enough to please the King, and she said to herself:

As she spoke she saw the little mouse playing in a corner with some long straws. The Queen took them and

`If only I had straws enough I would make a basket with them, and let my baby down in it from the window

By the time the straws were all plaited the little mouse had dragged in more and more, until the Queen had

plenty to make her basket, and she worked at it day and night, while the little mouse danced for her

amusement; and at dinner and supper time the Queen gave it the three peas and the bit of black bread, and

always found something good in the dish in their place. She really could not imagine where all the nice things

came from. At last one day when the basket was finished, the Queen was looking out of the window to see

how long a cord she must make to lower it to the bottom of the tower, when she noticed a little old woman

`Oh! my dear friend,' said the Queen. `If you really wish to be of use to me you will come at the time that I

will appoint, and I will let down my poor little baby in a basket. If you will take her, and bring her up for me,

`I don't care about the reward,' said the old woman, `but there is one thing I should like. You must know that I

am very particular about what I eat, and if there is one thing that I fancy above all others, it is a plump, tender

little mouse. If there is such a thing in your garret just throw it down to me, and in return I will promise that

The Queen when she heard this began to cry, but made no answer, and the old woman after waiting a few

`Why,' said the Queen, `there is only one mouse in this garret, and that is such a dear, pretty little thing that I

`What!' cried the old woman, in a rage. `Do you care more for a miserable mouse than for your own baby?

Goodbye, madam! I leave you to enjoy its company, and for my own part I thank my stars that I can get

And she hobbled off grumbling and growling. As to the Queen, she was so disappointed that, in spite of

finding a better dinner than usual, and seeing the little mouse dancing in its merriest mood, she could do

nothing but cry. That night when her baby was fast asleep she packed it into the basket, and wrote on a slip of

paper, `This unhappy little girl is called Delicia!' This she pinned to its robe, and then very sadly she was

shutting the basket, when in sprang the little mouse and sat on the baby's pillow.

`Ah! little one,' said the Queen, `it cost me dear to save your life. How shall I know now whether my Delicia

is being taken care of or no? Anyone else would have let the greedy old woman have you, and eat you up, but

The Queen was immensely astonished when the Mouse began to speak, and still more so when she saw its

little sharp nose turn to a beautiful face, and its paws to hands and feet; then it suddenly grew tall, and the

`I wanted to see if you were faithful and capable of feeling a real friendship for me, for you see we fairies are

`It is not possible that YOU should want for friends, you charming creature,' said the Queen, kissing her.

`Indeed it is so,' the Fairy said. `For those who are only friendly with me for their own advantage, I do not

count at all. But when you cared for the poor little mouse you could not have known there was anything to be

gained by it, and to try you further I took the form of the old woman whom you talked to from the window,

and then I was convinced that you really loved me.' Then, turning to the little Princess, she kissed her rosy

`Dear little one, I promise that you shall be richer than your father, and shall live a hundred years, always

The Queen, quite delighted, thanked the Fairy gratefully, and begged her to take charge of the little Delicia

and bring her up as her own daughter. This she agreed to do, and then they shut the basket and lowered it

carefully, baby and all, to the ground at the foot of the tower. The Fairy then changed herself back into the

form of a mouse, and this delayed her a few seconds, after which she ran nimbly down the straw rope, but

`All is lost! my enemy Cancaline has stolen the Princess away. You must know that she is a cruel fairy who

hates me, and as she is older than I am and has more power, I can do nothing against her. I know no way of

When the Queen heard this terrible news she was heartbroken, and begged the Fairy to do all she could to

get the poor little Princess back again. At this moment in came the gaoler, and when he missed the little

Princess he at once told the King, who came in a great fury asking what the Queen had done with her. She

answered that a fairy, whose name she did not know, had come and carried her off by force. Upon this the

`You shall be hung! I always told you you should.' And without another word he dragged the unlucky Queen

out into the nearest wood, and climbed up into a tree to look for a branch to which he could hang her. But

when he was quite high up, the Fairy, who had made herself invisible and followed them, gave him a sudden

push, which made him lose his footing and fall to the ground with a crash and break four of his teeth, and

while he was trying to mend them the fairy carried the Queen off in her flying chariot to a beautiful castle,

where she was so kind to her that but for the loss of Delicia the Queen would have been perfectly happy. But

though the good little mouse did her very utmost, they could not find out where Cancaline had hidden the

Thus fifteen years went by, and the Queen had somewhat recovered from her grief, when the news reached

her that the son of the wicked King wished to marry the little maiden who kept the turkeys, and that she had

refused him; the weddingdresses had been made, nevertheless, and the festivities were to be so splendid that

all the people for leagues round were flocking in to be present at them. The Queen felt quite curious about a

little turkeymaiden who did not wish to be a Queen, so the little mouse conveyed herself to the poultryyard

She found the turkeymaiden sitting upon a big stone, barefooted, and miserably dressed in an old, coarse

linen gown and cap; the ground at her feet was all strewn with robes of gold and silver, ribbons and laces,

diamonds and pearls, over which the turkeys were stalking to and fro, while the King's ugly, disagreeable son

stood opposite her, declaring angrily that if she would not marry him she should be killed.

`I never will marry you I you are too ugly and too much like your cruel father. Leave me in peace with my

The little mouse watched her with the greatest admiration, for she was as beautiful as the spring; and as soon

as the wicked Prince was gone, she took the form of an old peasant woman and said to her:

`Yet they wish me to leave them to become a miserable Queen! what is your advice upon the matter?'

`My child,' said the Fairy, `a crown is a very pretty thing, but you know neither the price nor the weight of it.'

`I know so well that I have refused to wear one,' said the little maiden, `though I don't know who was my

`You have goodness and beauty, which are of more value than ten kingdoms,' said the wise Fairy. `But tell

me, child, how came you here, and how is it you have neither father, nor mother, nor friend?'

`A Fairy called Cancaline is the cause of my being here,' answered she, `for while I lived with her I got

nothing but blows and harsh words, until at last I could bear it no longer, and ran away from her without

knowing where I was going, and as I came through a wood the wicked Prince met me, and offered to give me

charge of the poultryyard. I accepted gladly, not knowing that I should have to see him day by day. And

Upon hearing this the Fairy became convinced that the little Turkeymaiden was none other than the Princess

Then the Fairy threw her arms round the Princess's neck, and nearly smothered her with kisses, saying:

`Ah, Delicia! I am a very old friend of yours, and I am truly glad to find you at last; but you might look nicer

than you do in that old gown, which is only fit for a kitchenmaid. Take this pretty dress and let us see the

So Delicia took off the ugly cap, and shook out all her fair shining hair, and bathed her hands and face in

clear water from the nearest spring till her cheeks were like roses, and when she was adorned with the

diamonds and the splendid robe the Fairy had given her, she looked the most beautiful Princess in the world,

`Now you look as you ought to look, Delicia: what do you think about it yourself?'

So she hurried back to her castle, where the Queen sat busy with her embroidery, and cried:

`Well, madam! will you wager your thimble and your golden needle that I am bringing you the best news you

`Alas!' sighed the Queen, `since the death of the Jolly King and the loss of my Delicia, all the news in the

`There, there, don't be melancholy,' said the Fairy. `I assure you the Princess is quite well, and I have never

seen her equal for beauty. She might be a Queen tomorrow if she chose; `and then she told all that had

happened, and the Queen first rejoiced over the thought of Delicia's beauty, and then wept at the idea of her

`I will not hear of her being made to marry the wicked King's son,' she said. `Let us go at once and bring her

In the meantime the wicked Prince, who was very angry with Delicia, had sat himself down under a tree, and

cried and howled with rage and spite until the King heard him, and cried out from the window:

`Won't love you? eh!' said the King. `We'll very soon see about that!' So he called his guards and told them to

go and fetch Delicia. `See if I don't make her change her mind pretty soon!' said the wicked King with a

Then the guards began to search the poultryyard, and could find nobody there but Delicia, who, with her

splendid dress and her crown of diamonds, looked such a lovely Princess that they hardly dared to speak to

`Madam,' they answered, `we are sent for an insignificant little person called Delicia.'

So the guards tied her hands and feet with thick ropes, for fear she might run away, and brought her to the

When he saw her he was very much astonished at her beauty, which would have made anyone less

hardhearted sorry for her. But the wicked King only laughed and mocked at her, and cried: `Well, little

fright, little toad! why don't you love my son, who is far too handsome and too good for you? Make haste and

Then the poor little Princess, shaking with terror, went down on her knees, crying:

`Oh, don't tar and feather me, please! It would be so uncomfortable. Let me have two or three days to make

The wicked Prince would have liked very much to see her tarred and feathered, but the King ordered that she

should be shut up in a dark dungeon. It was just at this moment that the Queen and the Fairy arrived in the

flying chariot, and the Queen was dreadfully distressed at the turn affairs had taken, and said miserably that

she was destined to be unfortunate all her days. But the Fairy bade her take courage.

`I'll pay them out yet,' said she, nodding her head with an air of great determination.

That very same night, as soon as the wicked King had gone to bed, the Fairy changed herself into the little

mouse, and creeping up on to his pillow nibbled his ear, so that he squealed out quite loudly and turned over

on his other side; but that was no good, for the little mouse only set to work and gnawed away at the second

Then the King cried `Murder!' and `Thieves!' and all his guards ran to see what was the matter, but they could

find nothing and nobody, for the little mouse had run off to the Prince's room and was serving him in exactly

the same way. All night long she ran from one to the other, until at last, driven quite frantic by terror and

The Prince when he heard this got up also, and ran after the King, and they had not gone far when they both

Then the good Fairy ran to tell the Queen, and they went together to the black dungeon where Delicia was

imprisoned. The Fairy touched each door with her wand, and it sprang open instantly, but they had to go

through forty before they came to the Princess, who was sitting on the floor looking very dejected. But when

the Queen rushed in, and kissed her twenty times in a minute, and laughed, and cried, and told Delicia all her

history, the Princess was wild with delight. Then the Fairy showed her all the wonderful dresses and jewels

So she walked first, looking very serious and dignified, and wearing a dress the train of which was at least ten

ells long. Behind her came the Queen wearing a blue velvet robe embroidered with gold, and a diamond

crown that was brighter than the sun itself. Last of all walked Delicia, who was so beautiful that it was

They proceeded through the streets, returning the salutations of all they met, great or small, and all the people

When the audience hall was quite full, the Fairy said to the subjects of the Wicked King that if they would

accept Delicia, who was the daughter of the Jolly King, as their Queen, she would undertake to find a suitable

husband for her, and would promise that during their reign there should be nothing but rejoicing and

merrymaking, and all dismal things should be entirely banished. Upon this the people cried with one accord,

`We will, we will! we have been gloomy and miserable too long already.' And they all took hands and danced

round the Queen, and Delicia, and the good Fairy, singing: `Yes, yes; we will, we will!'

Then there were feasts and fireworks in every street in the town, and early the next morning the Fairy, who

had been all over the world in the night, brought back with her, in her flying chariot, the most handsome and

goodtempered Prince she could find anywhere. He was so charming that Delicia loved him from the

moment their eyes met, and as for him, of course he could not help thinking himself the luckiest Prince in the

world. The Queen felt that she had really come to the end of her misfortunes at last, and they all lived happily

ONCE upon a time there lived a King and Queen who had one charming daughter. She was so graceful and

pretty and clever that she was called Graciosa, and the Queen was so fond of her that she could think of

Everyday she gave the Princess a lovely new frock of gold brocade, or satin, or velvet, and when she was

hungry she had bowls full of sugarplums, and at least twenty pots of jam. Everybody said she was the

happiest Princess in the world. Now there lived at this same court a very rich old duchess whose name was

Grumbly. She was more frightful than tongue can tell; her hair was red as fire, and she had but one eye, and

that not a pretty one! Her face was as broad as a full moon, and her mouth was so large that everybody who

met her would have been afraid they were going to be eaten up, only she had no teeth. As she was as cross as

she was ugly, she could not bear to hear everyone saying how pretty and how charming Graciosa was; so she

presently went away from the court to her own castle, which was not far off. But if anybody who went to see

`It's not true that she is lovely. I have more beauty in my little finger than she has in her whole body.'

Soon after this, to the great grief of the Princess, the Queen was taken ill and died, and the King became so

melancholy that for a whole year he shut himself up in his palace. At last his physicians, fearing that he

would fall ill, ordered that he should go out and amuse himself; so a hunting party was arranged, but as it was

very hot weather the King soon got tired, and said he would dismount and rest at a castle which they were

This happened to be the Duchess Grumbly's castle, and when she heard that the King was coming she went

out to meet him, and said that the cellar was the coolest place in the whole castle if he would condescend to

come down into it. So down they went together, and the King seeing about two hundred great casks ranged

side by side, asked if it was only for herself that she had this immense store of wine.

`Yes, sire,' answered she, `it is for myself alone, but I shall be most happy to let you taste some of it. Which

`Well,' said the King, `since you are so kind as to ask me, I prefer champagne to anything else.'

Then Duchess Grumbly took up a little hammer and tapped upon the cask twice, and out came at least a

Then she went on to the third cask, tap, tap, and out came such a stream of diamonds and pearls that the

`Ah!' she cried, `this is altogether beyond my comprehension, sire. Someone must have stolen my good wine

`Rubbish, do you call it, Madam Grumbly?' cried the King. `Rubbish! why there is enough there to buy ten

`Well,' said she, `you must know that all those casks are full of gold and jewels, and if you like to marry me it

Now the King loved money more than anything else in the world, so he cried joyfully:

`But I make one condition,' said the Duchess; `I must have entire control of your daughter to do as I please

`Oh certainly, you shall have your own way; let us shake hands upon the bargain,' said the King.

So they shook hands and went up out of the cellar of treasure together, and the Duchess locked the door and

When he got back to his own palace Graciosa ran out to meet him, and asked if he had had good sport.

`Oh! do give it to me,' said the Princess, `and I will keep it and take care of it.'

`I can hardly do that,' said he, `for, to speak more plainly, I mean that I met the Duchess Grumbly, and have

`And you call her a dove?' cried the Princess. `_I_ should have called her a screech owl.'

`Hold your tongue,' said the King, very crossly. `I intend you to behave prettily to her. So now go and make

So the Princess went very sorrowfully to her own room, and her nurse, seeing her tears, asked what was

`Alas! who would not be vexed?' answered she, `for the King intends to marry again, and has chosen for his

`Oh, well!' answered the nurse, `you must remember that you are a Princess, and are expected to set a good

example in making the best of whatever happens. You must promise me not to let the Duchess see how much

At first the Princess would not promise, but the nurse showed her so many good reasons for it that in the end

Then the nurse dressed her in a robe of pale green and gold brocade, and combed out her long fair hair till it

floated round her like a golden mantle, and put on her head a crown of roses and jasmine with emerald

When she was ready nobody could have been prettier, but she still could not help looking sad.

Meanwhile the Duchess Grumbly was also occupied in attiring herself. She had one of her shoe heels made

an inch or so higher than the other, that she might not limp so much, and put in a cunningly made glass eye in

the place of the one she had lost. She dyed her red hair black, and painted her face. Then she put on a

gorgeous robe of lilac satin lined with blue, and a yellow petticoat trimmed with violet ribbons, and because

she had heard that queens always rode into their new dominions, she ordered a horse to be made ready for her

While Graciosa was waiting until the King should be ready to set out, she went down all alone through the

garden into a little wood, where she sat down upon a mossy bank and began to think. And her thoughts were

so doleful that very soon she began to cry, and she cried, and cried, and forgot all about going back to the

palace, until she suddenly saw a handsome page standing before her. He was dressed in green, and the cap

which he held in his hand was adorned with white plumes. When Graciosa looked at him he went down on

The Princess was surprised, and, if the truth must be told, very much delighted at the appearance of this

charming page, whom she could not remember to have seen before. Thinking he might belong to the

`In mine?' said the Princess with great surprise. `Then how is it that I have never seen you before?'

`Ah, Princess!' said he, `I have never before dared to present myself to you, but now the King's marriage

threatens you with so many dangers that I have resolved to tell you at once how much I love you already, and

I trust that in time I may win your regard. I am Prince Percinet, of whose riches you may have heard, and

whose fairy gift will, I hope, be of use to you in all your difficulties, if you will permit me to accompany you

`Ah, Percinet!' cried the Princess, `is it really you? I have so often heard of you and wished to see you. If you

will indeed be my friend, I shall not be afraid of that wicked old Duchess any more.'

So they went back to the palace together, and there Graciosa found a beautiful horse which Percinet had

brought for her to ride. As it was very spirited he led it by the bridle, and this arrangement enabled him to

turn and look at the Princess often, which he did not fail to do. Indeed, she was so pretty that it was a real

pleasure to look at her. When the horse which the Duchess was to ride appeared beside Graciosa's, it looked

no better than an old cart horse, and as to their trappings, there was simply no comparison between them, as

the Princess's saddle and bridle were one glittering mass of diamonds. The King had so many other things to

think of that he did not notice this, but all his courtiers were entirely taken up with admiring the Princess and

her charming Page in green, who was more handsome and distinguishedlooking than all the rest of the court

When they met the Duchess Grumbly she was seated in an open carriage trying in vain to look dignified. The

King and the Princess saluted her, and her horse was brought forward for her to mount. But when she saw

`If that child is to have a better horse than mine, I will go back to my own castle this very minute. What is the

Upon this the King commanded Graciosa to dismount and to beg the Duchess to honour her by mounting her

horse. The Princess obeyed in silence, and the Duchess, without looking at her or thanking her, scrambled up

upon the beautiful horse, where she sat looking like a bundle of clothes, and eight officers had to hold her up

Even then she was not satisfied, and was still grumbling and muttering, so they asked her what was the

`I wish that Page in green to come and lead the horse, as he did when Graciosa rode it,' said she very sharply.

And the King ordered the Page to come and lead the Queen's horse. Percinet and the Princess looked at one

another, but said never a word, and then he did as the King commanded, and the procession started in great

pomp. The Duchess was greatly elated, and as she sat there in state would not have wished to change places

even with Graciosa. But at the moment when it was least expected the beautiful horse began to plunge and

rear and kick, and finally to run away at such a pace that it was impossible to stop him.

At first the Duchess clung to the saddle, but she was very soon thrown off and fell in a heap among the stones

and thorns, and there they found her, shaken to a jelly, and collected what was left of her as if she had been a

broken glass. Her bonnet was here and her shoes there, her face was scratched, and her fine clothes were

covered with mud. Never was a bride seen in such a dismal plight. They carried her back to the palace and

put her to bed, but as soon as she recovered enough to be able to speak, she began to scold and rage, and

declared that the whole affair was Graciosa's fault, that she had contrived it on purpose to try and get rid of

her, and that if the King would not have her punished, she would go back to her castle and enjoy her riches by

At this the King was terribly frightened, for he did not at all want to lose all those barrels of gold and jewels.

So he hastened to appease the Duchess, and told her she might punish Graciosa in any way she pleased.

Thereupon she sent for Graciosa, who turned pale and trembled at the summons, for she guessed that it

promised nothing agreeable for her. She looked all about for Percinet, but he was nowhere to be seen; so she

had no choice but to go to the Duchess Grumbly's room. She had hardly got inside the door when she was

seized by four waiting women, who looked so tall and strong and cruel that the Princess shuddered at the

sight of them, and still more when she saw them arming themselves with great bundles of rods, and heard the

Duchess call out to them from her bed to beat the Princess without mercy. Poor Graciosa wished miserably

that Percinet could only know what was happening and come to rescue her. But no sooner did they begin to

beat her than she found, to her great relief, that the rods had changed to bundles of peacock's feathers, and

though the Duchess's women went on till they were so tired that they could no longer raise their arms from

their sides, yet she was not hurt in the least. However, the Duchess thought she must be black and blue after

such a beating; so Graciosa, when she was released, pretended to feel very bad, and went away into her own

room, where she told her nurse all that had happened, and then the nurse left her, and when the Princess

turned round there stood Percinet beside her. She thanked him gratefully for helping her so cleverly, and they

laughed and were very merry over the way they had taken in the Duchess and her waitingmaids; but

Percinet advised her still to pretend to be ill for a few days, and after promising to come to her aid whenever

The Duchess was so delighted at the idea that Graciosa was really ill, that she herself recovered twice as fast

as she would have done otherwise, and the wedding was held with great magnificence. Now as the King

knew that, above all other things, the Queen loved to be told that she was beautiful, he ordered that her

portrait should be painted, and that a tournament should be held, at which all the bravest knights of his court

should maintain against all comers that Grumbly was the most beautiful princess in the world.

Numbers of knights came from far and wide to accept the challenge, and the hideous Queen sat in great state

in a balcony hung with cloth of gold to watch the contests, and Graciosa had to stand up behind her, where

her loveliness was so conspicuous that the combatants could not keep their eyes off her. But the Queen was

so vain that she thought all their admiring glances were for herself, especially as, in spite of the badness of

their cause, the King's knights were so brave that they were the victors in every combat.

However, when nearly all the strangers had been defeated, a young unknown knight presented himself. He

carried a portrait, enclosed in a bow encrusted with diamonds, and he declared himself willing to maintain

against them all that the Queen was the ugliest creature in the world, and that the Princess whose portrait he

So one by one the knights came out against him, and one by one he vanquished them all, and then he opened

the box, and said that, to console them, he would show them the portrait of his Queen of Beauty, and when he

did so everyone recognised the Princess Graciosa. The unknown knight then saluted her gracefully and

retired, without telling his name to anybody. But Graciosa had no difficulty in guessing that it was Percinet.

As to the Queen, she was so furiously angry that she could hardly speak; but she soon recovered her voice,

`What!' she said, `do you dare to dispute with me for the prize of beauty, and expect me to endure this insult

`I assure you, Madam,' said the Princess, `that I had nothing to do with it and am quite willing that you shall

`Ah! you are pleased to jest, popinjay!' said the Queen, `but it will be my turn soon!'

The King was speedily told what had happened, and how the Princess was in terror of the angry Queen, but

The wicked Queen waited impatiently until night fell, and then she ordered her carriage to be brought.

Graciosa, much against her will, was forced into it, and away they drove, and never stopped until they

reached a great forest, a hundred leagues from the palace. This forest was so gloomy, and so full of lions,

tigers, bears and wolves, that nobody dared pass through it even by daylight, and here they set down the

unhappy Princess in the middle of the black night, and left her in spite of all her tears and entreaties. The

Princess stood quite still at first from sheer bewilderment, but when the last sound of the retreating carriages

died away in the distance she began to run aimlessly hither and thither, sometimes knocking herself against a

tree, sometimes tripping over a stone, fearing every minute that she would be eaten up by the lions. Presently

she was too tired to advance another step, so she threw herself down upon the ground and cried miserably:

She had hardly spoken when all the forest was lighted up with a sudden glow. Every tree seemed to be

sending out a soft radiance, which was clearer than moonlight and softer than daylight, and at the end of a

long avenue of trees opposite to her the Princess saw a palace of clear crystal which blazed like the sun. At

that moment a slight sound behind her made her start round, and there stood Percinet himself.

`Did I frighten you, my Princess?' said he. `I come to bid you welcome to our fairy palace, in the name of the

Queen, my mother, who is prepared to love you as much as I do.' The Princess joyfully mounted with him

into a little sledge, drawn by two stags, which bounded off and drew them swiftly to the wonderful palace,

where the Queen received her with the greatest kindness, and a splendid banquet was served at once.

Graciosa was so happy to have found Percinet, and to have escaped from the gloomy forest and all its terrors,

that she was very hungry and very merry, and they were a gay party. After supper they went into another

lovely room, where the crystal walls were covered with pictures, and the Princess saw with great surprise that

her own history was repre sented, even down to the moment when Percinet found her in the forest.

`Your painters must indeed be diligent,' she said, pointing out the last picture to the Prince.

`They are obliged to be, for I will not have anything forgotten that happens to you,' he answered.

When the Princess grew sleepy, twentyfour charming maidens put her to bed in the prettiest room she had

ever seen, and then sang to her so sweetly that Graciosa's dreams were all of mermaids, and cool sea waves,

and caverns, in which she wandered with Percinet; but when she woke up again her first thought was that,

delightful as this fairy palace seemed to her, yet she could not stay in it, but must go back to her father. When

she had been dressed by the fourandtwenty maidens in a charming robe which the Queen had sent for her,

and in which she looked prettier than ever, Prince Percinet came to see her, and was bitterly disappointed

when she told him what she had been thinking. He begged her to consider again how unhappy the wicked

Queen would make her, and how, if she would but marry him, all the fairy palace would be hers, and his one

thought would be to please her. But, in spite of everything he could say, the Princess was quite determined to

go back, though he at last persuaded her to stay eight days, which were so full of pleasure and amusement

that they passed like a few hours. On the last day, Graciosa, who had often felt anxious to know what was

going on in her father's palace, said to Percinet that she was sure that he could find out for her, if he would,

what reason the Queen had given her father for her sudden disappearance. Percinet at first offered to send his

So up they went together to the top of a very high tower, which, like the rest of the castle, was built entirely

There the Prince held Graciosa's hand in his, and made her put the tip of her little finger into her mouth, and

look towards the town, and immediately she saw the wicked Queen go to the King, and heard her say to him,

`That miserable Princess is dead, and no great loss either. I have ordered that she shall be buried at once.'

And then the Princess saw how she dressed up a log of wood and had it buried, and how the old King cried,

and all the people murmured that the Queen had killed Graciosa with her cruelties, and that she ought to have

her head cut off. When the Princess saw that the King was so sorry for her pretended death that he could

And so, though he did not want to at all, he was obliged to promise that he would let her go.

`You may not regret me, Princess,' he said sadly, `for I fear that you do not love me well enough; but I

foresee that you will more than once regret that you left this fairy palace where we have been so happy.'

But, in spite of all he could say, she bade farewell to the Queen, his mother, and prepared to set out; so

Percinet, very unwillingly, brought the little sledge with the stags and she mounted beside him. But they had

hardly gone twenty yards when a tremendous noise behind her made Graciosa look back, and she saw the

palace of crystal fly into a million splinters, like the spray of a fountain, and vanish.

`Yes,' he answered, `my palace is a thing of the past; you will see it again, but not until after you have been

`Now you are angry with me,' said Graciosa in her most coaxing voice, `though after all I am more to be

When they got near the palace the Prince made the sledge and themselves invisible, so the Princess got in

unobserved, and ran up to the great hall where the King was sitting all by himself. At first he was very much

startled by Graciosa's sudden appearance, but she told him how the Queen had left her out in the forest, and

how she had caused a log of wood to be buried. The King, who did not know what to think, sent quickly and

had it dug up, and sure enough it was as the Princess had said. Then he caressed Graciosa, and made her sit

down to supper with him, and they were as happy as possible. But someone had by this time told the wicked

Queen that Graciosa had come back, and was at supper with the King, and in she flew in a terrible fury. The

poor old King quite trembled before her, and when she declared that Graciosa was not the Princess at all, but

a wicked impostor, and that if the King did not give her up at once she would go back to her own castle and

never see him again, he had not a word to say, and really seemed to believe that it was not Graciosa after all.

So the Queen in great triumph sent for her waiting women, who dragged the unhappy Princess away and shut

her up in a garret; they took away all her jewels and her pretty dress, and gave her a rough cotton frock,

wooden shoes, and a little cloth cap. There was some straw in a corner, which was all she had for a bed, and

they gave her a very little bit of black bread to eat. In this miserable plight Graciosa did indeed regret the

fairy palace, and she would have called Percinet to her aid, only she felt sure he was still vexed with her for

Meanwhile the Queen had sent for an old Fairy, as malicious as herself, and said to her:

`You must find me some task for this fine Princess which she cannot possibly do, for I mean to punish her,

and if she does not do what I order, she will not be able to say that I am unjust.' So the old Fairy said she

would think it over, and come again the next day. When she returned she brought with her a skein of thread,

three times as big as herself; it was so fine that a breath of air would break it, and so tangled that it was

`Do you see this skein? Set your clumsy fingers to work upon it, for I must have it disentangled by sunset,

and if you break a single thread it will be the worse for you.' So saying she left her, locking the door behind

The Princess stood dismayed at the sight of the terrible skein. If she did but turn it over to see where to begin,

she broke a thousand threads, and not one could she disentangle. At last she threw it into the middle of the

`Oh, Percinet! this fatal skein will be the death of me if you will not forgive me and help me once more.'

And immediately in came Percinet as easily as if he had all the keys in his own possession.

`Here I am, Princess, as much as ever at your service,' said he, `though really you are not very kind to me.'

Then he just stroked the skein with his wand, and all the broken threads joined themselves together, and the

whole skein wound itself smoothly off in the most surprising manner, and the Prince, turning to Graciosa,

asked if there was nothing else that she wished him to do for her, and if the time would never come when she

`Don't be vexed with me, Percinet,' she said. `I am unhappy enough without that.'

`But why should you be unhappy, my Princess?' cried he. `Only come with me and we shall be as happy as

The Prince was so grieved at this want of confidence that he left her without another word.

The wicked Queen was in such a hurry to punish Graciosa that she thought the sun would never set; and

indeed it was before the appointed time that she came with her four Fairies, and as she fitted the three keys

`I'll venture to say that the idle minx has not done anything at allshe prefers to sit with her hands before her

But, as soon as she entered, Graciosa presented her with the ball of thread in perfect order, so that she had no

fault to find, and could only pretend to discover that it was soiled, for which imaginary fault she gave

Graciosa a blow on each cheek, that made her white and pink skin turn green and yellow. And then she sent

Then the Queen sent for the Fairy again and scolded her furiously. `Don't make such a mistake again; find me

So the next day the Fairy appeared with a huge barrel full of the feathers of all sorts of birds. There were

nightingales, canaries, goldfinches, linnets, tomtits, parrots, owls, sparrows, doves, ostriches, bustards,

peacocks, larks, partridges, and everything else that you can think of. These feathers were all mixed up in

such confusion that the birds themselves could not have chosen out their own. `Here,' said the Fairy, `is a

little task which it will take all your prisoner's skill and patience to accomplish. Tell her to pick out and lay in

a separate heap the feathers of each bird. She would need to be a fairy to do it.'

The Queen was more than delighted at the thought of the despair this task would cause the Princess. She sent

for her, and with the same threats as before locked her up with the three keys, ordering that all the feathers

should be sorted by sunset. Graciosa set to work at once, but before she had taken out a dozen feathers she

`Ah! well,' she sighed, `the Queen wishes to kill me, and if I must die I must. I cannot ask Percinet to help me

again, for if he really loved me he would not wait till I called him, he would come without that.'

`I am here, my Graciosa,' cried Percinet, springing out of the barrel where he had been hiding. `How can you

Then he gave three strokes of his wand upon the barrel, and all the feathers flew out in a cloud and settled

`What should I do without you, Percinet?' said Graciosa gratefully. But still she could not quite make up her

mind to go with him and leave her father's kingdom for ever; so she begged him to give her more time to

When the wicked Queen came at sunset she was amazed and infuriated to find the task done. However, she

complained that the heaps of feathers were badly arranged, and for that the Princess was beaten and sent back

to her garret. Then the Queen sent for the Fairy once more, and scolded her until she was fairly terrified, and

promised to go home and think of another task for Graciosa, worse than either of the others.

`Tell your slave,' said he, `to carry this wherever you please, but on no account to open it. She will not be able

to help doing so, and then you will be quite satisfied with the result.' So the Queen came to Graciosa, and

`Carry this box to my castle, and place it upon the table in my own room. But I forbid you on pain of death to

Graciosa set out, wearing her little cap and wooden shoes and the old cotton frock, but even in this disguise

she was so beautiful that all the passersby wondered who she could be. She had not gone far before the heat

of the sun and the weight of the box tired her so much that she sat down to rest in the shade of a little wood

which lay on one side of a green meadow. She was carefully holding the box upon her lap when she suddenly

`What could possibly happen if I did?' she said to herself. `I should not take anything out. I should only just

Instantly out came swarms of little men and women, no taller than her finger, and scattered themselves all

over the meadow, singing and dancing, and playing the merriest games, so that at first Graciosa was delighted

and watched them with much amusement. But presently, when she was rested and wished to go on her way,

she found that, do what she would, she could not get them back into their box. If she chased them in the

meadow they fled into the wood, and if she pursued them into the wood they dodged round trees and behind

sprigs of moss, and with peals of elfin laughter scampered back again into the meadow.

`It is my own fault,' she said sadly. `Percinet, if you can still care for such an imprudent Princess, do come

`Ah, Princess!' he said, `but for the wicked Queen I fear you would never think of me at all.'

`Indeed I should,' said Graciosa; `I am not so ungrateful as you think. Only wait a little and I believe I shall

Percinet was pleased at this, and with one stroke of his wand compelled all the wilful little people to come

back to their places in the box, and then rendering the Princess invisible he took her with him in his chariot to

When the Princess presented herself at the door, and said that the Queen had ordered her to place the box in

`No, no, my little shepherdess,' said he, `that is not the place for you. No wooden shoes have ever been over

Then Graciosa begged him to give her a written message telling the Queen that he had refused to admit her.

This he did, and she went back to Percinet, who was waiting for her, and they set out together for the palace.

You may imagine that they did not go the shortest way, but the Princess did not find it too long, and before

they parted she had promised that if the Queen was still cruel to her, and tried again to play her any spiteful

When the Queen saw her returning she fell upon the Fairy, whom she had kept with her, and pulled her hair,

and scratched her face, and would really have killed her if a Fairy could be killed. And when the Princess

presented the letter and the box she threw them both upon the fire without opening them, and looked very

much as if she would like to throw the Princess after them. However, what she really did do was to have a

great hole as deep as a well dug in her garden, and the top of it covered with a flat stone. Then she went and

`I am told that a great treasure lies under that stone; let us see if we can lift it.'

So they all began to push and pull at it, and Graciosa among the others, which was just what the Queen

wanted; for as soon as the stone was lifted high enough, she gave the Princess a push which sent her down to

the bottom of the well, and then the stone was let fall again, and there she was a prisoner. Graciosa felt that

now indeed she was hopelessly lost, surely not even Percinet could find her in the heart of the earth.

`This is like being buried alive,' she said with a shudder. `Oh, Percinet! if you only knew how I am suffering

for my want of trust in you! But how could I be sure that you would not be like other men and tire of me from

As she spoke she suddenly saw a little door open, and the sunshine blazed into the dismal well. Graciosa did

not hesitate an instant, but passed through into a charming garden. Flowers and fruit grew on every side,

fountains plashed, and birds sang in the branches overhead, and when she reached a great avenue of trees and

looked up to see where it would lead her, she found herself close to the palace of crystal. Yes! there was no

`Ah, Princess!' said the Queen, `don't keep this poor Percinet in suspense any longer. You little guess the

The Princess kissed her gratefully, and promised to do as she wished in everything, and holding out her hand

`Do you remember telling me that I should not see your palace again until I had been buried? I wonder if you

guessed then that, when that happened, I should tell you that I love you with all my heart, and will marry you

Prince Percinet joyfully took the hand that was given him, and, for fear the Princess should change her mind,

the wedding was held at once with the greatest splendour, and Graciosa and Percinet lived happily ever

THERE was once upon a time a fisherman, who lived hard by a palace and fished for the King's table. One

day he was out fishing, but caught nothing at all. Let him do what he might with rod and line, there was never

even so much as a sprat on his hook; but when the day was well nigh over, a head rose up out of the water,

and said: `If you will give me what your wife shows you when you go home, you shall catch fish enough.'

So the man said `Yes' in a moment, and then he caught fish in plenty; but when he got home at night, and his

wife showed him a baby which had just been born, and fell aweeping and wailing when he told her of the

All this was soon told to the King up at the palace, and when he heard what sorrow the woman was in, and

the reason of it, he said that he himself would take the child and see if he could not save it. The baby was a

boy, and the King took him at once and brought him up as his own son until the lad grew up. Then one day he

begged to have leave to go out with his father to fish; he had a strong desire to do this, he said. The King was

very unwilling to permit it, but at last the lad got leave. He stayed with his father, and all went prosperously

and well with them the whole day, until they came back to land in the evening. Then the lad found that he had

lost his pockethandkerchief, and would go out in the boat after it; but no sooner had he got into the boat than

it began to move off with him so quickly that the water foamed all round about, and all that the lad did to

keep the boat back with the oars was done to no purpose, for it went on and on the whole night through, and

at last he came to a white strand that lay far, far away. There he landed, and when he had walked on for some

`Whiteland,' answered the man, and then he begged the youth to tell him whence he came and what he was

`Well, then,' said the man, `if you walk on farther along the seashore here, you will come to three princesses

who are standing in the earth so that their heads alone are out of it. Then the first of them will call youshe

is the eldestand will beg you very prettily to come to her and help her, and the second will do the same, but

you must not go near either of them. Hurry past, as if you neither saw nor heard them; but you shall go to the

When the youth came to the first princess, she called to him and begged him to come to her very prettily, but

he walked on as if he did not even see her, and he passed by the second in the same way, but he went up to

`If thou wilt do what I tell thee, thou shalt choose among us three,' said the Princess.

So the lad said that he was most willing, and she told him that three Trolls had planted them all three there in

the earth, but that formerly they had dwelt in the castle which he could see at some distance in the wood.

`Now,' she said, `thou shalt go into the castle, and let the Trolls beat thee one night for each of us, and if thou

`When thou goest in,' continued the Princess, `two lions will stand by the doorway, but if thou only goest

straight between them they will do thee no harm; go straight forward into a small dark chamber; there thou

shalt lie down. Then the Troll will come and beat thee, but thou shalt take the flask which is hanging on the

wall, and anoint thyself wheresoever he has wounded thee, after which thou shalt be as well as before. Then

lay hold of the sword which is hanging by the side of the flask, and smite the Troll dead.'

So he did what the Princess had told him. He walked straight in between the lions just as if he did not see

The first night a Troll came with three heads and three rods, and beat the lad most unmercifully; but he held

out until the Troll was done with him, and then he took the flask and rubbed himself. Having done this, he

In the morning when he went to the seashore the Princesses were out of the earth as far as their waists.

The next night everything happened in the same way, but the Troll who came then had six heads and six rods,

and he beat him much more severely than the first had done but when the lad went out of doors next morning,

On the third night a Troll came who had nine heads and nine rods, and he struck the lad and flogged him so

long, that at last he swooned away; so the Troll took him up and flung him against the wall, and this made the

flask of ointment fall down, and it splashed all over him, and he became as strong as ever again.

Then, without loss of time, he grasped the sword and struck the Troll dead, and in the morning when he went

out of the castle the Princesses were standing there entirely out of the earth. So he took the youngest for his

At last, however, he took a fancy to go home for a short time to see his parents. His Queen did not like this,

but when his longing grew so great that he told her he must and would go, she said to him:

`One thing shalt thou promise me, and that is, to do what thy father bids thee, but not what thy mother bids

He wished himself at home, and instantly found himself there; but his parents were so amazed at the

When he had been at home for some days his mother wanted him to go up to the palace, to show the King

The father said, `No; he must not do that, for if he does we shall have no more delight in him this time; `but

When he arrived there he was more splendid, both in raiment and in all else, than the other King, who did not

`Well, you can see what kind of Queen mine is, but I can't see yours. I do not believe you have such a pretty

`Would to heaven she were standing here, and then you would be able to see!' said the young King, and in an

But she was very sorrowful, and said to him, `Why didst thou not remember my words, and listen only to

what thy father said? Now must I go home again at once, and thou hast wasted both thy wishes.'

Then she tied a ring in his hair, which had her name upon it, and wished herself at home again.

And now the young King was deeply afflicted, and day out and day in went about thinking of naught else but

how to get back again to his Queen. `I will try to see if there is any place where I can learn how to find

When he had gone some distance he came to a mountain, where he met a man who was Lord over all the

beasts in the forest for they all came to him when he blew a horn which he had. So the King asked where

`I do not know that,' he answered, `but I will ask my beasts.' Then he blew his horn and inquired whether any

So the man gave him a pair of snow shoes. `When you have these on,' he said, `you will come to my brother,

who lives hundreds of miles from here; he is Lord over all the birds in the airask him. When you have got

there, just turn the shoes so that the toes point this way, and then they will come home again of their own

When the King arrived there he turned the shoes as the Lord of the beasts had bidden him, and they went

And now he once more asked after Whiteland, and the man summoned all the birds together, and inquired if

any of them knew where Whiteland lay. No, none knew this. Long after the others there came an old eagle.

`Well, well,' said the man, `then you shall have the loan of a pair of snow shoes of mine. If you wear them

you will get to my brother, who lives hundreds of miles from here. He is Lord of all the fish in the seayou

The King thanked him, put on the shoes, and when he had got to him who was Lord of all the fish in the sea,

he turned the snow shoes round, and back they went just as the others had gone, and he asked once more

The man called the fish together with his horn, but none of them knew anything about it. At last came an old,

When he asked the pike, it said, `Yes, Whiteland is well known to me, for I have been cook there these ten

years. Tomorrow morning I have to go back there, for now the Queen, whose King is staying away, is to

`If that be the case I will give you a piece of advice,' said the man. `Not far from here on a moor stand three

brothers, who have stood there a hundred years fighting for a hat, a cloak, and a pair of boots; if any one has

these three things he can make himself invisible, and if he desires to go to any place, he has but to wish and

he is there. You may tell them that you have a desire to try these things, and then you will be able to decide

`What is this that you are standing fighting about for ever and ever?' said he to the brothers; `let me make a

They willingly consented to this, but when he had got the hat, the cloak, and the boots, he said, `Next time we

`Well,' said the North Wind, `you can easily go a little quicker than I can, for I have to puff and blow into

every corner; but when you get there, place yourself on the stairs by the side of the door, and then I will come

blustering in as if I wanted to blow down the whole castle, and when the Prince who is to have your Queen

comes out to see what is astir, just take him by the throat and fling him out, and then I will try to carry him

As the North Wind had said, so did the King. He stood on the stairs, and when the North Wind came howling

and roaring, and caught the roof and walls of the castle till they shook again, the Prince went out to see what

was the matter; but as soon as he came the King took him by the neck and flung him out, and then the North

Wind laid hold of him and carried him off. And when he was rid of him the King went into the castle. At first

the Queen did not know him, because he had grown so thin and pale from having travelled so long and so

sorrowfully; but when she saw her ring she was heartily glad, and then the rightful wedding was held, and

ONCE upon a time there lived a man whose one wish and prayer was to get rich. Day and night he thought of

nothing else, and at last his prayers were granted, and he became very wealthy. Now being so rich, and

having so much to lose, he felt that it would be a terrible thing to die and leave all his possessions behind; so

he made up his mind to set out in search of a land where there was no death. He got ready for his journey,

took leave of his wife, and started. Whenever he came to a new country the first question that he asked was

whether people died in that land, and when he heard that they did, he set out again on his quest. At last he

reached a country where he was told that the people did not even know the meaning of the word death. Our

`But surely there are great numbers of people in your land, if no one ever dies?'

`No,' they replied, `there are not great numbers, for you see from time to time a voice is heard calling first one

and then another, and whoever hears that voice gets up and goes away, and never comes back.'

`And do they see the person who calls them,' he asked, `or do they only hear his voice?'

Well, the man was amazed when he heard that the people were stupid enough to follow the voice, though

they knew that if they went when it called them they would never return. And he went back to his own home

and got all his possessions together, and, taking his wife and family, he set out resolved to go and live in that

country where the people did not die, but where instead they heard a voice calling them, which they followed

into a land from which they never returned. For he had made up his own mind that when he or any of his

After he had settled down in his new home, and had got everything in order about him, he warned his wife

and family that, unless they wanted to die, they must on no account listen to a voice which they might some

For some years everything went well with them, and they lived happily in their new home. But one day,

while they were all sit ting together round the table, his wife suddenly started up, exclaiming in a loud

And she began to look round the room for her fur coat, but her husband jumped up, and taking firm hold of

`Don't you remember what I told you? Stay where you are unless you wish to die.'

`But don't you hear that voice calling me?' she answered. `I am merely going to see why I am wanted. I shall

So she fought and struggled to get away from her husband, and to go where the voice summoned. But he

would not let her go, and had all the doors of the house shut and bolted. When she saw that he had done this,

So her husband believed that it was all right, and that she had thought better of it, and had got over her mad

impulse to obey the voice. But a few minutes later she made a sudden dash for one of the doors, opened it and

darted out, followed by her husband. He caught her by the fur coat, and begged and implored her not to go,

for if she did she would certainly never return. She said nothing, but let her arms fall backwards, and

suddenly bending herself forward, she slipped out of the coat, leaving it in her husband's hands. He, poor

man, seemed turned to stone as he gazed after her hurrying away from him, and calling at the top of her

When she was quite out of sight her husband recovered his wits and went back into his house, murmuring:

`If she is so foolish as to wish to die, I can't help it. I warned and implored her to pay no heed to that voice,

Well, days and weeks and months and years passed, and nothing happened to disturb the peace of the

household. But one day the man was at the barber's as usual, being shaved. The shop was full of people, and

his chin had just been covered with a lather of soap, when, suddenly starting up from the chair, he called out

The barber and the other people in the shop listened to him with amazement. But again looking towards the

`Go away, I tell you, or it will be the worse for you. You may call as much as you like but you will never get

And he got so angry that you might have thought that some one was actually standing at the door, tormenting

him. At last he jumped up, and caught the razor out of the barber's hand, exclaiming:

And he rushed out of the house as if he were running after some one, whom no one else saw. The barber,

determined not to lose his razor, pursued the man, and they both continued running at full speed till they had

got well out of the town, when all of a sudden the man fell head foremost down a precipice, and never was

seen again. So he too, like the others, had been forced against his will to follow the voice that called him.

The barber, who went home whistling and congratulating himself on the escape he had made, described what

had happened, and it was noised abroad in the country that the people who had gone away, and had never

returned, had all fallen into that pit; for till then they had never known what had happened to those who had

But when crowds of people went out from the town to examine the illfated pit that had swallowed up such

numbers, and yet never seemed to be full, they could discover nothing. All that they could see was a vast

plain, that looked as if it had been there since the beginning of the world. And from that time the people of

ONCE upon a time there was a young girl who reached the age of thirtyseven without ever having had a

One day, however, a young man arrived to pay his addresses to her, and her mother, beaming with joy, sent

As the girl never came back the mother went down to see what had become of her, and found her sitting on

the stairs, her head in her hands, while by her side the beer was running all over the floor, as she had

`I was thinking what I shall call my first child after I am married to that young man. All the names in the

The mother sat down on the staircase beside her daughter and said, `I will think about it with you, my dear.'

The father who had stayed upstairs with the young man was surprised that neither his wife nor his daughter

came back, and in his turn went down to look for them. He found them both sitting on the stairs, while beside

them the beer was running all over the ground from the tap, which was wide open.

`We were thinking what we should call the children that our daughter will have when she marries that young

As neither mother nor daughter nor father came upstairs again, the lover grew impatient, and went down into

the cellar to see what they could all be doing. He found them all three sitting on the stairs, while beside them

`What in the world are you all doing that you don't come upstairs, and that you let the beer run all over the

`Yes, I know, my boy,' said the father, `but if you marry our daughter what shall you call your children? All

`Well! goodbye, I am going away. When I shall have found three people sillier than you I will come back

So he continued his journey, and after walking a long way he reached an orchard. Then he saw some people

The lover advised them to get a basket and to put the walnuts in it, so as to turn them into the cart.

`Well,' he said to himself, `I have already found someone more foolish than those three.'

So he went on his way, and byandby he came to a wood. There he saw a man who wanted to give his pig

some acorns to eat, and was trying with all his might to make him climb up the oaktree.

Some way farther along the road he came upon a man who had never worn any trousers, and who was trying

to put on a pair. So he had fastened them to a tree and was jumping with all his might up in the air so that he

`It would be much better if you held them in your hands,' said the young man, `and then put your legs one

And having found three people more foolish than his bride, or her father or her mother, the lover went back to

THERE was once upon a time a King who had become a widower. His Queen had left one daughter behind

her, and she was so wise and so pretty that it was impossible for any one to be wiser or prettier. For a long

time the King went sorrowing for his wife, for he had loved her exceedingly; but at last he grew tired of

living alone, and married a Queen who was a widow, and she also had a daughter, who was just as

illfavoured and wicked as the other was good and beautiful. The stepmother and her daughter were envious

of the King's daughter because she was so pretty, but so long as the King was at home they dared do her no

Then there came a time when he made war on another King and went away to fight, and then the new Queen

thought that she could do what she liked; so she both hungered and beat the King's daughter and chased her

about into every corner. At last she thought that everything was too good for her, and set her to work to look

after the cattle. So she went about with the cattle, and herded them in the woods and in the fields. Of food she

got little or none, and grew pale and thin, and was nearly always weeping and sad. Among the herd there was

a great blue bull, which always kept itself very smart and sleek, and often came to the King's daughter and let

her stroke him. So one day, when she was again sitting crying and sorrowing, the Bull came up to her and

asked why she was always so full of care? She made no answer, but continued to weep.

`Well,' said the Bull, `I know what it is, though you will not tell me; you are weeping because the Queen is

unkind to you, and because she wants to starve you to death. But you need be under no concern about food,

for in my left ear there lies a cloth, and if you will but take it and spread it out, you can have as many dishes

So she did this, and took the cloth and spread it out upon the grass, and then it was covered with the daintiest

dishes that any one could desire, and there was wine, and mead, and cake. And now she became brisk and

well again, and grew so rosy, and plump, and fair that the Queen and her scraggy daughter turned blue and

white with vexation at it. The Queen could not imagine how her step daughter could look so well on such

bad food, so she ordered one of her handmaidens to follow her into the wood and watch her, and see how it

was, for she thought that some of the servants must be giving her food. So the maid followed her into the

wood and watched, and saw how the stepdaughter took the cloth out of the Blue Bull's ear, and spread it out,

and how the cloth was then covered with the most delicate dishes, which the stepdaughter ate and regaled

And now the King came home, and he had conquered the other King with whom he had been at war. So there

was great gladness in the palace, but no one was more glad than the King's daughter. The Queen, however,

pretended to be ill, and gave the doctor much money to say that she would never be well again unless she had

some of the flesh of the Blue Bull to eat. Both the King's daughter and the people in the palace asked the

doctor if there were no other means of saving her, and begged for the Bull's life, for they were all fond of

him, and they all declared that there was no such Bull in the whole country; but it was all in vain, he was to

be killed, and should be killed, and nothing else would serve. When the King's daughter heard it she was full

of sorrow, and went down to the byre to the Bull. He too was standing there hanging his head, and looking so

So she told him that the King had come home again, and that the Queen had pretended to be ill, and that she

had made the doctor say that she could never be well again unless some of the flesh of the Blue Bull was

`When once they have taken my life they will soon kill you also,' said the Bull. `If you are of the same mind

The King's daughter thought that it was bad to go and leave her father, but that it was worse still to be in the

At night, when all the others had gone to bed, the King's daughter stole softly down to the byre to the Bull,

and he took her on his back and got out of the courtyard as quickly as he could. So at cockcrow next

morning, when the people came to kill the Bull, he was gone, and when the King got up and asked for his

daughter she was gone too. He sent forth messengers to all parts of the kingdom to search for them, and

published his loss in all the parish churches, but there was no one who had seen anything of them.

In the meantime the Bull travelled through many lands with the King's daughter on his back, and one day

they came to a great copperwood, where the trees, and the branches, and the leaves, and the flowers, and

`When we enter into this wood, you must take the greatest care not to touch a leaf of it, or all will be over

both with me and with you, for a Troll with three heads, who is the owner of the wood, lives here.'

So she said she would be on her guard, and not touch anything. And she was very careful, and bent herself

out of the way of the branches, and put them aside with her hands; but it was so thickly wooded that it was all

but impossible to get forward, and do what she might, she somehow or other tore off a leaf which got into her

`Oh! oh! What have you done now?' said the Bull. `It will now cost us a battle for life or death; but do be

Very soon afterwards they came to the end of the wood, and the Troll with three heads came rushing up to

So they rushed on each other and fought, and as for the Bull he butted and kicked with all the strength of his

body, but the Troll fought quite as well as he did, and the whole day went by before the Bull put an end to

him, and then he himself was so full of wounds and so worn out that he was scarcely able to move. So they

had to wait a day, and the Bull told the King's daughter to take the horn of ointment which hung at the Troll's

belt, and rub him with it; then he was himself again, and the next day they set off once more. And now they

journeyed on for many, many days, and then after a long, long time they came to a silver wood. The trees,

and the boughs, and the leaves, and the flowers, and everything else was of silver.

Before the Bull went into the wood, he said to the King's daughter: `When we enter into this wood you must,

for Heaven's sake, be very careful not to touch anything at all, and not to pluck off even so much as one leaf,

or else all will be over both with you and with me. A Troll with six heads lives here, who is the owner of the

`Yes,' said the King's daughter, `I will take good care not to touch what you do not wish me to touch.'

But when they got into the wood it was so crowded, and the trees so close together, that they could scarcely

get forward. She was as careful as she could be, and bent aside to get out of the way of the branches, and

thrust them away from before her with her hands; but every instant a branch struck against her eyes, and in

`Oh! oh! What have you done now?' said the Bull. It will now cost us a battle for life or death, for this Troll

has six heads and is twice as strong as the other, but do be careful to keep the leaf.'

Just as he said this came the Troll. `Who is that who is touching my wood?' he said.

`That may be,' said the Bull, and rushed at the Troll, and gored out his eyes, and drove his horns right through

him so that his entrails gushed out, but the Troll fought just as well as he did, and it was three whole days

before the Bull got the life out of him. But the Bull was then so weak and worn out that it was only with pain

and effort that he could move, and so covered with wounds that the blood streamed from him. So he told the

King's daughter to take the horn of ointment that was hanging at the Troll's belt, and anoint him with it. She

did this, and then he came to himself again, but they had to stay there and rest for a week before the Bull was

At last they set forth on their way again, but the Bull was still weak, and at first could not go quickly. The

King's daughter wished to spare him, and said that she was so young and light of foot that she would

willingly walk, but he would not give her leave to do that, and she was forced to seat herself on his back

again. So they travelled for a long time, and through many lands, and the King's daughter did not at all know

where he was taking her, but after a long, long time they came to a gold wood. It was so golden that the gold

dripped off it, and the trees, and the branches, and the flowers, and the leaves were all of pure gold. Here all

happened just as it had happened in the copper wood and silver wood. The Bull told the King's daughter that

on no account was she to touch it, for there was a Troll with nine heads who was the owner, and that he was

much larger and stronger than both the others put together, and that he did not believe that he could overcome

him. So she said that she would take great care not to touch anything, and he should see that she did. But

when they got into the wood it was still thicker than the silver wood, and the farther they got into it the worse

it grew. The wood became thicker and thicker, and closer and closer, and at last she thought there was no way

whatsoever by which they could get forward; she was so terrified lest she should break anything off, that she

sat and twisted, and turned herself on this side and on that, to get out of the way of the branches, and pushed

them away from her with her hands, but every moment they struck against her eyes, so that she could not see

what she was clutching at, and before she knew what she was doing she had a golden apple in her hands. She

was now in such terror that she began to cry, and wanted to throw it away, but the Bull said that she was to

keep it, and take the greatest care of it, and comforted her as well as he could, but he believed that it would be

Just then the Troll with nine heads came, and he was so frightful that the King's daughter scarcely dared to

`That may be,' said the Bull; so they rushed at each other, and fought, and it was such a dreadful sight that the

King's daughter very nearly swooned. The Bull gored the Troll's eyes out and ran his horns right through him,

but the Troll fought as well as he did, and when the Bull had gored one head to death the other heads breathed

life into it again, so it was a whole week before the Bull was able to kill him. But then he himself was so

worn out and weak that he could not move at all. His body was all one wound, and he could not even so much

as tell the King's daughter to take the horn of ointment out of the Troll's belt and rub him with it. She did this

without being told; so he came to himself again, but he had to lie there for three weeks and rest before he was

Then they journeyed onwards by degrees, for the Bull said that they had still a little farther to go, and in this

way they crossed many high hills and thick woods. This lasted for a while, and then they came upon the fells.

`No, I see nothing but the sky above and the wild fell side,' said the King's daughter.

Then they climbed up higher, and the fell grew more level, so that they could see farther around them.

After a long, long time they came to a high hill, where there was a precipitous wall of rock.

`Yes, now I see the castle quite near, and now it is much, much larger,' said the King's daughter.

`Thither shall you go,' said the Bull; `immediately below the castle there is a pigsty, where you shall dwell.

When you get there, you will find a wooden gown which you are to put on, and then go to the castle and say

that you are called Kari Woodengown, and that you are seeking a place. But now you must take out your little

knife and cut off my head with it, and then you must flay me and roll up my hide and put it there under the

rock, and beneath the hide you must lay the copper leaf, and the silver leaf, and the golden apple. Close

beside the rock a stick is standing, and when you want me for anything you have only to knock at the wall of

At first she would not do it, but when the Bull said that this was the only reward that he would have for what

he had done for her, she could do no otherwise. So though she thought it very cruel, she slaved on and cut at

the great animal with the knife till she had cut off his head and hide, and then she folded up the hide and laid

it beneath the mountain wall, and put the copper leaf, and the silver leaf, and the golden apple inside it.

When she had done that she went away to the pigsty, but all the way as she went she wept, and was very

sorrowful. Then she put on the wooden gown, and walked to the King's palace. When she got there she went

into the kitchen and begged for a place, saying that her name was Kari Woodengown.

The cook told her that she might have a place and leave to stay there at once and wash up, for the girl who

had done that before had just gone away. `And as soon as you get tired of being here you will take yourself

On Sunday some strangers were coming to the King's palace, so Kari begged to have leave to carry up the

water for the Prince's bath, but the others laughed at her and said, `What do you want there? Do you think the

She would not give it up, however, but went on begging until at last she got leave. When she was going

upstairs her wooden gown made such a clatter that the Prince came out and said, `What sort of a creature may

`Do you suppose that I will have any water that you bring?' said the Prince, and emptied it over her.

She had to bear that, but then she asked permission to go to church. She got that, for the church was very

near. But first she went to the rock and knocked at it with the stick which was standing there, as the Bull had

told her to do. Instantly a man came forth and asked what she wanted. The King's daughter said that she had

got leave to go to church and listen to the priest, but that she had no clothes to go in. So he brought her a

gown that was as bright as the copper wood, and she got a horse and saddle too from him. When she reached

the church she was so pretty and so splendidly dressed that every one wondered who she could be, and hardly

anyone listened to what the priest was saying, for they were all looking far too much at her, and the Prince

himself liked her so well that he could not take his eyes off her for an instant. As she was walking out of

church the Prince followed her and shut the church door after her, and thus he kept one of her gloves in his

hand. Then she went away and mounted her horse again; the Prince again followed her, and asked her

`Oh! I am from Bathland,' said Kari. And when the Prince took out the glove and wanted to give it back to

`Darkness behind me, but light on my way, That the Prince may not see where I'm going today!'

The Prince had never seen the equal of that glove, and he went far and wide, asking after the country which

the proud lady, who rode away without her glove, had said that she came from, but there was no one who

`What would be the use of that?' said the others who were in the kitchen; `you saw what happened last time.'

Kari would not give in, but went on begging for leave till she got it, and then she ran up the stairs so that her

wooden gown clattered again. Out came the Prince, and when he saw that it was Kari, he snatched the towel

`Be off at once, you ugly Troll,' said he; `do you think that I will have a towel that has been touched by your

After that the Prince went to church, and Kari also asked leave to go. They all asked how she could want to

go to church when she had nothing to wear but that wooden gown, which was so black and hideous. But Kari

said she thought the priest was such a good man at preaching that she got so much benefit from what he said,

She went to the rock and knocked, whereupon out came the man and gave her a gown which was much more

magnificent than the first. It was embroidered with silver all over it, and it shone like the silver wood, and he

gave her also a most beautiful horse, with housings embroidered with silver, and a bridle of silver too.

When the King's daughter got to church all the people were standing outside upon the hillside, and all of them

wondered who on earth she could be, and the Prince was on the alert in a moment, and came and wanted to

hold her horse while she alighted. But she jumped off and said that there was no need for that, for the horse

was so well broken in that it stood still when she bade it and came when she called it. So they all went into

the church together, but there was scarcely any one who listened to what the priest was saying, for they were

all looking far too much at her, and the Prince fell much more deeply in love with her than he had been

When the sermon was over and she went out of the church, and was just going to mount her horse, the Prince

`I am from Towelland,' said the King's daughter, and as she spoke she dropped her ridingwhip, and while

`Darkness behind me, but light on my way, That the Prince may not see where I'm going today!'

And she was gone again, neither could the Prince see what had become of her. He went far and wide to

inquire for that country from whence she had said that she came, but there was no one who could tell him

Next Sunday some one had to go to the Prince with a comb. Kari begged for leave to go with it, but the others

reminded her of what had happened last time, and scolded her for wanting to let the Prince see her when she

was so black and so ugly in her wooden gown, but she would not give up asking until they gave her leave to

go up to the Prince with the comb. When she went clattering up the stairs again, out came the Prince and took

the comb and flung it at her, and ordered her to be off as fast as she could. After that the Prince went to

church, and Kari also begged for leave to go. Again they all asked what she would do there, she who was so

black and ugly, and had no clothes that she could be seen in by other people. The Prince or some one else

might very easily catch sight of her, they said, and then both she and they would suffer for it; but Kari said

that they had something else to do than to look at her, and she never ceased begging until she got leave to go.

And now all happened just as it had happened twice already. She went away to the rock and knocked at it

with the stick, and then the man came out and gave her a gown which was very much more magnificent than

either of the others. It was almost entirely made of pure gold and diamonds, and she also got a noble horse

When the King's daughter came to the church the priest and people were all standing on the hillside waiting

for her, and the Prince ran up and wanted to hold the horse, but she jumped off, saying:

`No, thank you, there is no need; my horse is so well broken in that it will stand still when I bid it.'

So they all hastened into the church together and the priest got into the pulpit, but no one listened to what he

said, for they were looking far too much at her and wondering whence she came; and the Prince was far more

in love than he had been on either of the former occasions, and he was mindful of nothing but of looking at

When the sermon was over and the King's daughter was about to leave the church, the Prince had caused a

firkin of tar to be emptied out in the porch in order that he might go to help her over it; she, however, did not

trouble herself in the least about the tar, but set her foot down in the middle of it and jumped over it, and thus

one of her gold shoes was left sticking in it. When she had seated herself on the horse the Prince came

`From Combland,' said Kari. But when the Prince wanted to reach her her gold shoe, she said:

`Darkness behind me, but light on my way, That the Prince may not see where I'm going today!'

The Prince did not know what had become of her, so he travelled for a long and wearisome time all over the

world, asking where Combland was; but when no one could tell him where that country was, he caused it to

be made known everywhere that he would marry any woman who could put on the gold shoe. So fair

maidens and ugly maidens came thither from all regions, but there was none who had a foot so small that she

could put on the gold shoe. After a long, long while came Kari Woodengown's wicked stepmother, with her

daughter too, and the shoe fitted her. But she was so ugly and looked so loathsome that the Prince was very

unwilling to do what he had promised. Nevertheless all was got ready for the wedding, and she was decked

out as a bride, but as they were riding to church a little bird sat upon a tree and sang:

`A slice off her heel And a slice off her toes, Kari Woodengown's shoe Fills with blood as she goes!'

And when they looked to it the bird had spoken the truth, for blood was trickling out of the shoe. So all the

waitingmaids, and all the womenkind in the castle had to come and try on the shoe, but there was not one

`But where is Kari Woodengown, then?' asked the Prince, when all the others had tried on the shoe, for he

`Oh! that creature!' said the others; `it's not the least use for her to come here, for she has feet like a horse!'

`That may be,' said the Prince, `but as all the others have tried it, Kari may try it too.'

`Kari!' he called out through the door, and Kari came upstairs, and her wooden gown clattered as if a whole

`Now, you are to try on the gold shoe and be a Princess,' said the other servants, and they laughed at her and

mocked her. Kari took up the shoe, put her foot into it as easily as possible, and then threw off her wooden

gown, and there she stood in the golden gown which flashed like rays of sunshine, and on her other foot she

had the fellow to the gold shoe. The Prince knew her in a moment, and was so glad that he ran and took her in

his arms and kissed her, and when he heard that she was a King's daughter he was gladder still, and then they

DRAKESTAIL was very little, that is why he was called Drakestail; but tiny as he was he had brains, and he

knew what he was about, for having begun with nothing he ended by amassing a hundred crowns. Now the

King of the country, who was very extravagant and never kept any money, having heard that Drakestail had

some, went one day in his own person to borrow his hoard, and, my word, in those days Drakestail was not a

little proud of having lent money to the King. But after the first and second year, seeing that they never even

dreamed of paying the interest, he became uneasy, so much so that at last he resolved to go and see His

Majesty himself, and get repaid. So one fine morning Drakestail, very spruce and fresh, takes the road,

Drakestail said to himself: `One can't have too many friends.' . . . `I will,' says he, `but going on allfours you

will soon be tired. Make yourself quite small, get into my throatgo into my gizzard and I will carry you.'

And Drakestail is off again, all spruce and fresh, still singing: `Quack, quack, quack, when shall I have my

Drakestail said to himself: `One can't have too many friends.' . . . `I will,' says he, `but with your wooden legs

you will soon be tired. Make yourself quite small, get into my throatgo into my gizzard and I will carry

`Happy thought!' says my friend Ladder, and nimble, bag and baggage, goes to keep company with friend

And `Quack, quack, quack.' Drakestail is off again, singing and spruce as before. A little farther he meets his

`Thou, my cherub,' says she, `whither so lonesome, with arching tail, on this muddy road?'

Drakestail said to himself: `We can't be too many friends.' . . . `I will,' says he, `but you who sleep while you

walk will soon be tired. Make yourself quite small, get into my throatgo into my gizzard and I will carry

She takes bag and baggage, and glou, glou, glou, she takes her place between friend Fox and my friend

`Well, goodmorning, friend Drakestail,' said comrade Wasp's nest, `where are we bound for so spruce and

Drakestail said to himself, `One can't have too many friends.' . . . `I will,' says he, `but with your battalion to

drag along, you will soon be tired. Make yourself quite small, go into my throatget into my gizzard and I

And left file! he takes the same road to join the others with all his party. There was not much more room, but

He arrived thus at the capital, and threaded his way straight up the High Street, still running and singing

`Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back?' to the great astonishment of the good folks, till he

`Speak to the King! . . . That's easily said. The King is dining, and will not be disturbed.'

The porter shuts his wicket and goes up to say it to the King, who was just sitting down to dinner with a

`Good, good!' said the King laughing. `I know what it is! Make him come in, and put him with the turkeys

`This way, this way,' says the porter. `One step further. . . . There, there you are.'

`Ah! so that's it,' says he. `Wait! I will compel you to receive me. Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my

money back?' But turkeys and chickens are creatures who don't like people that are not as themselves. When

they saw the newcomer and how he was made, and when they heard him crying too, they began to look

`I am lost!' said Drakestail to himself, when by good luck he remembers his comrade friend Fox, and he cries:

`Reynard, Reynard, come out of your earth, Or Drakestail's life is of little worth.'

Then friend Fox, who was only waiting for these words, hastens out, throws himself on the wicked fowls, and

quick! quack! he tears them to pieces; so much so that at the end of five minutes there was not one left alive.

And Drakestail, quite content, began to sing again, `Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get my money back?'

When the King who was still at table heard this refrain, and the poultry woman came to tell him what had

He ordered them to throw this tail of a drake into the well, to make an end of him.

And it was done as he commanded. Drakestail was in despair of getting himself out of such a deep hole,

My friend Ladder, who was only waiting for these words, hastens out, leans her two arms on the edge of the

well, then Drakestail climbs nimbly on her back, and hop! he is in the yard, where he begins to sing louder

When the King, who was still at table and laughing at the good trick he had played his creditor, heard him

He commanded that the furnace should be heated, and this tail of a drake thrown into it, because he must be a

The furnace was soon hot, but this time Drakestail was not so afraid; he counted on his sweetheart, my friend

My friend River hastens out, and errouf! throws herself into the furnace, which she floods, with all the people

who had lighted it; after which she flowed growling into the hall of the palace to the height of more than four

And Drakestail, quite content, begins to swim, singing deafeningly, `Quack, quack, quack, when shall I get

The King was still at table, and thought himself quite sure of his game; but when he heard Drakestail singing

again, and when they told him all that had passed, he became furious and got up from table brandishing his

`At last,' said the poor chap, going up the great stairs, `they have decided to receive me.'

Imagine his terror when on entering he sees the King as red as a turkey cock, and all his ministers attending

him standing sword in hand. He thought this time it was all up with him. Happily, he remembered that there

`Bs, bs, bayonet them! `The brave Wasp'snest rushes out with all his wasps. They threw themselves on the

infuriated King and his ministers, and stung them so fiercely in the face that they lost their heads, and not

knowing where to hide themselves they all jumped pellmell from the window and broke their necks on the

Behold Drakestail much astonished, all alone in the big saloon and master of the field. He could not get over

Nevertheless, he remembered shortly what he had come for to the palace, and improving the occasion, he set

to work to hunt for his dear money. But in vain he rummaged in all the drawers; he found nothing; all had

And ferreting thus from room to room he came at last to the one with the throne in it, and feeling fatigued, he

sat himself down on it to think over his adventure. In the meanwhile the people had found their King and his

ministers with their feet in the air on the pavement, and they had gone into the palace to know how it had

occurred. On entering the throneroom, when the crowd saw that there was already someone on the royal

Drakestail, who was no longer surprised at anything, received the acclamations of the people as if he had

A few of them certainly murmured that a Drakestail would make a fine King; those who knew him replied

that a knowing Drakestail was a more worthy King than a spendthrift like him who was lying on the

pavement. In short, they ran and took the crown off the head of the deceased, and placed it on that of

`And now,' said he after the ceremony,; ladies and gentlemen, let's go to supper. I am so hungry!'[15]

A VERY long time ago the town of Hamel in Germany was invaded by bands of rats, the like of which had

They were great black creatures that ran boldly in broad daylight through the streets, and swarmed so, all

over the houses, that people at last could not put their hand or foot down anywhere without touching one.

When dressing in the morning they found them in their breeches and petticoats, in their pockets and in their

boots; and when they wanted a morsel to eat, the voracious horde had swept away everything from cellar to

garret. The night was even worse. As soon as the lights were out, these untiring nibblers set to work. And

everywhere, in the ceilings, in the floors, in the cupboards, at the doors, there was a chase and a rummage,

and so furious a noise of gimlets, pincers, and saws, that a deaf man could not have rested for one hour

Neither cats nor dogs, nor poison nor traps, nor prayers nor candles burnt to all the saintsnothing would do

anything. The more they killed the more came. And the inhabitants of Hamel began to go to the dogs (not that

THEY were of much use), when one Friday there arrived in the town a man with a queer face, who played the

He was a great gawky fellow, dry and bronzed, with a crooked nose, a long rattail moustache, two great

yellow piercing and mocking eyes, under a large felt hat set off by a scarlet cock's feather. He was dressed in

a green jacket with a leather belt and red breeches, and on his feet were sandals fastened by thongs passed

That is how he may be seen to this day, painted on a window of the cathedral of Hamel.

He stopped on the great marketplace before the town hall, turned his back on the church and went on with

The town council had just assembled to consider once more this plague of Egypt, from which no one could

The stranger sent word to the counsellors that, if they would make it worth his while, he would rid them of all

`Then he is a sorcerer!' cried the citizens with one voice; `we must beware of him.'

He said: `Sorcerer or no, if this bagpiper speaks the truth, it was he who sent us this horrible vermin that he

wants to rid us of today for money. Well, we must learn to catch the devil in his own snares. You leave it to

`Before night,' said he, `I shall have despatched all the rats in Hamel if you will but pay me a gros a head.'

`A gros a head!' cried the citizens, `but that will come to millions of florins!'

The bagpiper announced that he would operate that very evening when the moon rose. He added that the

inhabitants should at that hour leave the streets free, and content themselves with looking out of their

windows at what was passing, and that it would be a pleasant spectacle. When the people of Hamel heard of

the bargain, they too exclaimed: `A gros a head! but this will cost us a deal of money!'

`Leave it to the Town Counsellor,' said the town council with a malicious air. And the good people of Hamel

Towards nine at night the bagpiper reappeared on the market place. He turned, as at first, his back to the

church, and the moment the moon rose on the horizon, `Trarira, trari!' the bagpipes resounded.

It was first a slow, caressing sound, then more and more lively and urgent, and so sonorous and piercing that

Soon from the bottom of the cellars, the top of the garrets, from under all the furniture, from all the nooks and

corners of the houses, out come the rats, search for the door, fling themselves into the street, and trip, trip,

trip, begin to run in file towards the front of the town hall, so squeezed together that they covered the

When the square was quite full the bagpiper faced about, and, still playing briskly, turned towards the river

`Hop! hop!' he cried, pointing with his finger to the middle of the stream, where the water whirled and was

drawn down as if through a funnel. And hop! hop! without hesitating, the rats took the leap, swam straight to

At last, dragging himself with difficulty, came a big rat, white with age, and stopped on the bank.

Then the old white rat sprang in his turn into the river, swam to the whirlpool and disappeared.

When the bagpiper had thus concluded his business he went to bed at his inn. And for the first time during

The next morning, at nine o'clock, the bagpiper repaired to the town hall, where the town council awaited

`All your rats took a jump into the river yesterday,' said he to the counsellors, `and I guarantee that not one of

them comes back. They were nine hundred and ninety thousand, nine hundred and ninetynine, at one gros a

`Let us reckon the heads first. One gros a head is one head the gros. Where are the heads?'

The ratcatcher did not expect this treacherous stroke. He paled with anger and his eyes flashed fire.

`So,' replied the Town Counsellor, `you refuse to hold to the terms of your agreement? We ourselves could

refuse you all payment. But you have been of use to us, and we will not let you go without a recompense,'

`Keep your recompense for yourself,' replied the ratcatcher proudly. `If you do not pay me I will be paid by

Thereupon he pulled his hat down over his eyes, went hastily out of the hall, and left the town without

When the Hamel people heard how the affair had ended they rubbed their hands, and with no more scruple

than their Town Counsellor, they laughed over the ratcatcher, who, they said, was caught in his own trap. But

what made them laugh above all was his threat of getting himself paid by their heirs. Ha! they wished that

Next day, which was a Sunday, they all went gaily to church, thinking that after Mass they would at last be

They never suspected the terrible surprise that awaited them on their return home. No children anywhere,

`Our children! where are our poor children?' was the cry that was soon heard in all the streets.

Then through the east door of the town came three little boys, who cried and wept, and this is what they told:

While the parents were at church a wonderful music had resounded. Soon all the little boys and all the little

girls that had been left at home had gone out, attracted by the magic sounds, and had rushed to the great

marketplace. There they found the ratcatcher playing his bagpipes at the same spot as the evening before.

Then the stranger had begun to walk quickly, and they had followed, running, singing and dancing to the

sound of the music, as far as the foot of the mountain which one sees on entering Hamel. At their approach

the mountain had opened a little, and the bagpiper had gone in with them, after which it had closed again.

Only the three little ones who told the adventure had remained outside, as if by a miracle. One was

bandylegged and could not run fast enough; the other, who had left the house in haste, one foot shod the

other bare, had hurt himself against a big stone and could not walk without difficulty; the third had arrived in

time, but in harrying to go in with the others had struck so violently against the wall of the mountain that he

At this story the parents redoubled their lamentations. They ran with pikes and mattocks to the mountain, and

searched till evening to find the opening by which their children had disappeared, without being able to find

But the most unhappy of all was the Town Counsellor, for he lost three little boys and two pretty little girls,

and to crown all, the people of Hamel overwhelmed him with reproaches, forgetting that the evening before

The parents always hoped they were not dead, and that the rat catcher, who certainly must have come out of

the mountain, would have taken them with him to his country. That is why for several years they sent in

search of them to different countries, but no one ever came on the trace of the poor little ones.

About one hundred and fifty years after the event, when there was no longer one left of the fathers, mothers,

brothers or sisters of that day, there arrived one evening in Hamel some merchants of Bremen returning from

the East, who asked to speak with the citizens. They told that they, in crossing Hungary, had sojourned in a

mountainous country called Transylvania, where the inhabitants only spoke German, while all around them

nothing was spoken but Hungarian. These people also declared that they came from Germany, but they did

not know how they chanced to be in this strange country. `Now,' said the merchants of Bremen, `these

The people of Hamel did not doubt it; and since that day they regard it as certain that the Transylvanians of

Hungary are their country folk, whose ancestors, as children, were brought there by the ratcatcher. There are

YOU know the tale of poor Little Red Ridinghood, that the Wolf deceived and devoured, with her cake, her

little butter can, and her Grandmother; well, the true story happened quite differently, as we know now. And

first of all the little girl was called and is still called Little Goldenhood; secondly, it was not she, nor the

There was once a little peasant girl, pretty and nice as a star in its season. Her real name was Blanchette, but

she was more often called Little Goldenhood, on account of a wonderful little cloak with a hood, gold and

firecoloured, which she always had on. This little hood was given her by her Grandmother, who was so old

that she did not know her age; it ought to bring her good luck, for it was made of a ray of sunshine, she said.

And as the good old woman was considered something of a witch, everyone thought the little hood rather

One day the mother said to the child: `Let us see, my little Goldenhood, if you know now how to find your

way by yourself. You shall take this good piece of cake to your Grandmother for a Sunday treat tomorrow.

You will ask her how she is, and come back at once, without stopping to chatter on the way with people you

`I quite understand,' replied Blanchette gaily. And off she went with the cake, quite proud of her errand.

But the Grandmother lived in another village, and there was a big wood to cross before getting there. At a

He had seen the child start alone, and the villain was waiting to devour her; when at the same moment he

perceived some wood cutters who might observe him, and he changed his mind. Instead of falling upon

` 'Tis you! my nice Little Goldenhood,' said he. So the little girl stops to talk with the Wolf, who, for all that,

`My name is friend Wolf. And where are you going thus, my pretty one, with your little basket on your arm?'

`I am going to my Grandmother, to take her a good piece of cake for her Sunday treat tomorrow.'

`She lives at the other side of the wood, in the first house in the village, near the windmill, you know.'

`Ah! yes! I know now,' said the Wolf. `Well, that's just where I'm going; I shall get there before you, no

doubt, with your little bits of legs, and I'll tell her you're coming to see her; then she'll wait for you.'

Thereupon the Wolf cuts across the wood, and in five minutes arrives at the Grandmother's house.

Then he stands up on end, puts his two forepaws on the latch and the door opens.

The old woman had risen early to sell herbs in the town, and she had gone off in such haste that she had left

He shuts the door, pulls on the Grandmother's nightcap down to his eyes, then he lies down all his length in

In the meantime the good Blanchette went quietly on her way, as little girls do, amusing herself here and

there by picking Easter daisies, watching the little birds making their nests, and running after the butterflies

`It's me, Granny, your little Goldenhood. I'm bringing you a big piece of cake for your Sunday treat

`Ahem! a little, a little . . .' replies the Wolf, pretending to cough. `Shut the door well, my little lamb. Put your

basket on the table, and then take off your frock and come and lie down by me: you shall rest a little.'

The good child undresses, but observe this! She kept her little hood upon her head. When she saw what a

`That's for crunching little children with! `And the Wolf opened his jaws wide to swallow Blanchette.

Thereupon, oh dear! oh dear! he draws back, crying and shaking his jaw as if he had swallowed redhot

It was the little firecoloured hood that had burnt his tongue right down his throat.

The little hood, you see, was one of those magic caps that they used to have in former times, in the stories, for

So there was the Wolf with his throat burnt, jumping off the bed and trying to find the door, howling and

Just at this moment the Grandmother arrives, returning from the town with her long sack empty on her

`Ah, brigand!' she cries, `wait a bit!' Quickly she opens her sack wide across the door, and the maddened

For the brave old dame shuts her sack, so; and she runs and empties it in the well, where the vagabond, still

`Ah, scoundrel! you thought you would crunch my little grandchild! Well, tomorrow we will make her a

muff of your skin, and you yourself shall be crunched, for we will give your carcass to the dogs.'

Thereupon the Grandmother hastened to dress poor Blanchette, who was still trembling with fear in the bed.

`Well,' she said to her, `without my little hood where would you be now, darling?' And, to restore heart and

legs to the child, she made her eat a good piece of her cake, and drink a good draught of wine, after which she

But Blanchette promised over and over again that she would never more stop to listen to a Wolf, so that at

And Blanchette, the Little Goldenhood, kept her word. And in fine weather she may still be seen in the

ONCE upon a time there was a King who was so morose and disagreeable that he was feared by all his

subjects, and with good reason, as for the most trifling offences he would have their heads cut off. This King

Grumpy, as he was called, had one son, who was as different from his father as he could possibly be. No

prince equalled him in cleverness and kindness of heart, but unfortunately he was most terribly ugly. He had

crooked legs and squinting eyes, a large mouth all on one side, and a hunchback. Never was there a beautiful

soul in such a frightful little body, but in spite of his appearance everybody loved him. The Queen, his

mother, called him Curlicue, because it was a name she rather liked, and it seemed to suit him.

King Grumpy, who cared a great deal more for his own grandeur than for his son's happiness, wished to

betroth the Prince to the daughter of a neighbouring King, whose great estates joined his own, for he thought

that this alliance would make him more powerful than ever, and as for the Princess she would do very well

for Prince Curlicue, for she was as ugly as himself. Indeed, though she was the most amiable creature in the

world, there was no concealing the fact that she was frightful, and so lame that she always went about with a

The King, having asked for and received a portrait of this Princess, had it placed in his great hall under a

canopy, and sent for Prince Curlicue, to whom he said that as this was the portrait of his future bride, he

The Prince after one glance at it turned away with a disdainful air, which greatly offended his father.

`No, sire,' replied the Prince. `How could I be pleased to marry an ugly, lame Princess?'

`Certainly it is becoming in YOU to object to that,' said King Grumpy, `since you are ugly enough to frighten

`That is the very reason,' said the Prince, `that I wish to marry someone who is not ugly. I am quite tired

As King Grumpy was not used to being contradicted in anything, he was very much displeased with his son,

and ordered that he should be imprisoned in the tower that was kept on purpose for rebellious Princes, but

had not been used for about two hundred years, because there had not been any. The Prince thought all the

rooms looked strangely oldfashioned, with their antique furniture, but as there was a good library he was

pleased, for he was very fond of reading, and he soon got permission to have as many books as he liked. But

when he looked at them he found that they were written in a forgotten language, and he could not understand

King Grumpy was so convinced that Prince Curlicue would soon get tired of being in prison, and so consent

to marry the Princess CabbageStalk, that he sent ambassadors to her father proposing that she should come

The King was delighted to receive so good an offer for his unlucky daughter, though, to tell the truth, he

found it impossible to admire the Prince's portrait which had been sent to him. However, he had it placed in

as favourable a light as possible, and sent for the Princess, but the moment she caught sight of it she looked

the other way and began to cry. The King, who was very much annoyed to see how greatly she disliked it,

`I see you do not think the Prince handsome, but look at yourself, and see if you have any right to complain

`Sire,' she answered, `I do not wish to complain, only I beg of you do not make me marry at all. I had rather

be the unhappy Princess CabbageStalk all my life than inflict the sight of my ugliness on anyone else.'

In the meantime the Prince was kept safely locked up in his tower, and, that he might be as dull as possible,

King Grumpy ordered that no one should speak to him, and that they should give him next to nothing to eat.

But all the Princess guards were so fond of him that they did everything they dared, in spite of the King, to

One day, as the Prince was walking up and down the great gallery, thinking how miserable it was to be so

ugly, and to be forced to marry an equally frightful Princess, he looked up suddenly and noticed that the

painted windows were particularly bright and beautiful, and for the sake of doing something that would

change his sad thoughts he began to examine them attentively. He found that the pictures seemed to be scenes

from the life of a man who appeared in every window, and the Prince, fancying that he saw in this man some

resemblance to himself, began to be deeply interested. In the first window there was a picture of him in one

of the turrets of the tower, farther on he was seeking something in a chink in the wall, in the next picture he

was opening an old cabinet with a golden key, and so it went on through numbers of scenes, and presently the

Prince noticed that another figure occupied the most important place in each scene, and this time it was a tall

handsome young man: poor Prince Curlicue found it a pleasure to look at him, he was so straight and strong.

By this time it had grown dark, and the Prince had to go back to his own room, and to amuse himself he took

up a quaint old book and began to look at the pictures. But his surprise was great to find that they represented

the same scenes as the windows of the gallery, and what was more, that they seemed to be alive. In looking at

pictures of musicians he saw their hands move and heard sweet sounds; there was a picture of a ball, and the

Prince could watch the little dancing people come and go. He turned a page, and there was an excellent smell

of a savoury dinner, and one of the figures who sat at the feast looked at him and said:

`We drink your health, Curlicue. Try to give us our Queen again, for if you do you will be rewarded; if not, it

At these words the Prince, who had been growing more and more astonished, was fairly terrified, and

dropping the book with a crash he sank back insensible. The noise he made brought his guards to his aid, and

as soon as he revived they asked him what was the matter. He answered that he was so faint and giddy with

hunger that he had imagined he saw and heard all sorts of strange things. Thereupon, in spite of the King's

orders, the guards gave him an excellent supper, and when he had eaten it he again opened his book, but

could see none of the wonderful pictures, which convinced him that he must have been dreaming before.

However, when he went into he gallery next day and looked at the painted windows again, he found that they

moved, and the figures came and went as if they had been alive, and after watching the one who was like

himself find the key in the crack of the turret wall and open the old cabinet, he determined to go and examine

the place himself, and try to find out what the mystery was. So he went up into the turret and began to search

about and tap upon the walls, and all at once he came upon a place that sounded hollow. Taking a hammer he

broke away a bit of the stone, and found behind it a little golden key. The next thing to do was to find the

cabinet, and the Prince soon came to it, hidden away in a dark corner, though indeed it was so old and

batteredlooking that he would never have noticed it of his own accord. At first he could not see any keyhole,

but after a careful search he found one hidden in the carving, and the golden key just fitted it; so the Prince

Ugly and old as the cabinet was outside, nothing could have been more rich and beautiful than what met the

Prince's astonished eyes. Every drawer was made of crystal, of amber, or of some precious stone, and was

quite full of every kind of treasure. Prince Curlicue was delighted; he opened one after another, until at last he

`I believe that this must open that little golden door in the middle,' said the Prince to himself. And he fitted in

the little key and turned it. The tiny door swung back, and a soft crimson light gleamed over the whole

cabinet. The Prince found that it proceeded from an immense glowing carbuncle, made into a box, which lay

before him. He lost no time in opening it, but what was his horror when he found that it contained a man's

hand, which was holding a portrait. His first thought was to put back the terrible box and fly from the turret;

but a voice in his ear said, `This hand belonged to one whom you can help and restore. Look at this beautiful

portrait, the original of which was the cause of all my misfortunes, and if you wish to help me, go without a

moment's delay to the great gallery, notice where the sun's rays fall most brightly, and if you seek there you

The voice ceased, and though the Prince in his bewilderment asked various questions, he received no answer.

So he put back the box and locked the cabinet up again, and, having replaced the key in the crack in the wall,

When he entered it all the windows shook and clattered in the strangest way, but the Prince did not heed

them; he was looking so carefully for the place where the sun shone most brightly, and it seemed to him that

He went up and examined it, and found that it rested against the ebony and gold panelling, just like any of the

other pictures in the gallery. He was puzzled, not knowing what to do next, until it occurred to him to see if

the windows would help him, and, looking at the nearest, he saw a picture of himself lifting the picture from

The Prince took the hint, and lifting aside the picture without difficulty, found himself in a marble hall

adorned with statues; from this he passed on through numbers of splendid rooms, until at last he reached one

all hung with blue gauze. The walls were of turquoises, and upon a low couch lay a lovely lady, who seemed

to be asleep. Her hair, black as ebony, was spread across the pillows, making her face look ivory white, and

the Prince noticed that she was unquiet; and when he softly advanced, fearing to wake her, he could hear her

`Ah! how dared you think to win my love by separating me from my beloved Florimond, and in my presence

And then the tears rolled slowly down the lovely lady's cheeks, and Prince Curlicue began to comprehend

that she was under an enchantment, and that it was the hand of her lover that he had found.

At this moment a huge Eagle flew into the room, holding in its talons a Golden Branch, upon which were

growing what looked like clusters of cherries, only every cherry was a single glowing ruby.

This he presented to the Prince, who guessed by this time that he was in some way to break the enchantment

that surrounded the sleeping lady. Taking the branch he touched her lightly with it, saying:

`Fair one, I know not by what enchantment thou art bound, but in the name of thy beloved Florimond I

`Ah! stay, dear love, stay,' she cried. But the Eagle, uttering a dolorous cry, fluttered his broad wings and

`I know that it is to you I owe my deliverance from an enchantment which has held me for two hundred

years. If there is anything that I can do for you in return, you have only to tell me, and all my fairy power

`Madam,' said Prince Curlicue, `I wish to be allowed to restore your beloved Florimond to his natural form,

`That is very amiable of you, dear Prince,' said the Fairy, `but it is reserved for another person to do that. I

`Madam,' cried the Prince, flinging himself down at her feet, `only look at my ugliness. I am called Curlicue,

`Rise, Prince,' said the Fairy, touching him with the Golden Branch. `Be as accomplished as you are

handsome, and take the name of Prince Peerless, since that is the only title which will suit you now.'

Silent from joy, the Prince kissed her hand to express his thanks, and when he rose and saw his new reflection

in the mirrors which surrounded him, he understood that Curlicue was indeed gone for ever.

`How I wish,' said the Fairy, `that I dared to tell you what is in store for you, and warn you of the traps which

lie in your path, but I must not. Fly from the tower, Prince, and remember that the Fairy Douceline will be

When she had finished speaking, the Prince, to his great astonishment, found himself no longer in the tower,

but set down in a thick forest at least a hundred leagues away from it. And there we must leave him for the

When the guards found that the Prince did not ask for his supper as usual, they went into his room, and not

finding him there, were very much alarmed, and searched the tower from turret to dungeon, but without

success. Knowing that the King would certainly have their heads cut off for allowing the Prince to escape,

they then agreed to say that he was ill, and after making the smallest among them look as much like Prince

King Grumpy was quite delighted to hear that his son was ill, for he thought that he would all the sooner be

brought to do as he wished, and marry the Princess. So he sent back to the guards to say that the Prince was to

be treated as severely as before, which was just what they had hoped he would say. In the meantime the

King Grumpy went out to meet her, but when he saw her, with a skin like a tortoise's, her thick eyebrows

meeting above her large nose, and her mouth from ear to ear, he could not help crying out:

`Well, I must say Curlicue is ugly enough, but I don't think YOU need have thought twice before consenting

`Sire,' she replied, `I know too well what I am like to be hurt by what you say, but I assure you that I have no

wish to marry your son I had rather be called Princess CabbageStalk than Queen Curlicue.'

`Your father has sent you here to marry my son,' he said, `and you may be sure that I am not going to offend

him by altering his arrangements.' So the poor Princess was sent away in disgrace to her own apartments, and

At this juncture the guards, who were in great fear that they would be found out, sent to tell the King that his

son was dead, which annoyed him very much. He at once made up his mind that it was entirely the Princess's

fault, and gave orders that she should be imprisoned in the tower in Prince Curlicue's place. The Princess

CabbageStalk was immensely astonished at this unjust proceeding, and sent many messages of

remonstrance to King Grumpy, but he was in such a temper that no one dared to deliver them, or to send the

letters which the Princess wrote to her father. However, as she did not know this, she lived in hope of soon

going back to her own country, and tried to amuse herself as well as she could until the time should come.

Every day she walked up and down the long gallery, until she too was attracted and fascinated by the

everchanging pictures in the windows, and recognised herself in one of the figures. `They seem to have

taken a great delight in painting me since I came to this country,' she said to herself. `One would think that I

and my crutch were put in on purpose to make that slim, charming young shepherdess in the next picture look

prettier by contrast. Ah! how nice it would be to be as pretty as that.' And then she looked at herself in a

mirror, and turned away quickly with tears in her eyes from the doleful sight. All at once she became aware

that she was not alone, for behind her stood a tiny old woman in a cap, who was as ugly again as herself and

`Princess,' she said, `your regrets are so piteous that I have come to offer you the choice of goodness or

beauty. If you wish to be pretty you shall have your way, but you will also be vain, capricious, and frivolous.

`Alas I madam,' cried the Princess, `is it impossible to be at once wise and beautiful?'

`No, child,' answered the old woman, `only to you it is decreed that you must choose between the two. See, I

have brought with me my white and yellow muff. Breathe upon the yellow side and you will become like the

pretty shepherdess you so much admire, and you will have won the love of the handsome shepherd whose

picture I have already seen you studying with interest. Breathe upon the white side and your looks will not

`Ah well,' said the Princess, `I suppose one can't have everything, and it's certainly better to be good than

And so she breathed upon the white side of the muff and thanked the old fairy, who immediately disappeared.

The Princess Cabbage Stalk felt very forlorn when she was gone, and began to think that it was quite time

`If I could but get up into the turret,' she thought, `to see if any one is coming.' But to climb up there seemed

impossible. Nevertheless she presently hit upon a plan. The great clock was in the turret, as she knew, though

the weights hung down into the gallery. Taking one of them off the rope, she tied herself on in its place, and

when the clock was wound, up she went triumphantly into the turret. She looked out over the country the first

thing, but seeing nothing she sat down to rest a little, and accidentally leant back against the wall which

Curlicue, or rather Prince Peerless, had so hastily mended. Out fell the broken stone, and with it the golden

key. The clatter it made upon the floor attracted the Princess CabbageStalk's attention.

She picked it up, and after a moment's consideration decided that it must belong to the curious old cabinet in

the corner, which had no visible keyhole. And then it was not long before she had it open, and was admiring

the treasures it contained as much as Prince Peerless had done before her, and at last she came to the

carbuncle box. No sooner had she opened it than with a shudder of horror she tried to throw it down, but

found that some mysterious power compelled her to hold it against her will. And at this moment a voice in

`Take the box,' replied the voice, `and hide it under your pillow, and when you see an Eagle, give it to him

Terrified as the Princess was, she did not hesitate to obey, and hastened to put back all the other precious

things precisely as she had found them. By this time her guards were seeking her everywhere, and they were

amazed to find her up in the turret, for they said she could only have got there by magic. For three days

nothing happened, but at last in the night the Princess heard something flutter against her window, and

Limping across at her utmost speed she threw the window open, and the great Eagle sailed in beating with his

wings for joy. The Princess lost no time in offering it the carbuncle box, which it grasped in its talons, and

instantly disappeared, leaving in its place the most beautiful Prince she had ever seen, who was splendidly

`Princess,' said he, `for two hundred years has a wicked enchanter kept me here. We both loved the same

Fairy, but she pre ferred me. However, he was more powerful than I, and succeeded, when for a moment I

was off my guard, in changing me into an Eagle, while my Queen was left in an enchanted sleep. I knew that

after two hundred years a Prince would recall her to the light of day, and a Princess, in restoring to me the

hand which my enemy had cut off, would give me back my natural form. The Fairy who watches over your

destiny told me this, and it was she who guided you to the cabinet in the turret, where she had placed my

hand. It is she also who permits me to show my gratitude to you by granting whatever favour you may ask of

me. Tell me, Princess, what is it that you wish for most? Shall I make you as beautiful as you deserve to be?'

`Ah, if you only would!' cried the Princess, and at the same moment she heard a crickcracking in all her

bones. She grew tall and straight and pretty, with eyes like shining stars, and a skin as white as milk.

`Oh, wonderful! can this really be my poor little self?' she exclaimed, looking down in amazement at her tiny

`Indeed, Princess,' replied Florimond, `it is yourself, but you must have a new name, since the old one does

not suit you now. Be called Princess Sunbeam, for you are bright and charming enough to deserve the name.'

And so saying he disappeared, and the Princess, without knowing how she got there, found herself walking

under shady trees by a clear river. Of course, the first thing she did was to look at her own reflection in the

water, and she was extremely surprised to find that she was exactly like the shepherdess she had so much

admired, and wore the same white dress and flowery wreath that she had seen in the painted windows. To

complete the resemblance, her flock of sheep appeared, grazing round her, and she found a gay crook

adorned with flowers upon the bank of the river. Quite tired out by so many new and wonderful experiences,

the Princess sat down to rest at the foot of a tree, and there she fell fast asleep. Now it happened that it was in

this very country that Prince Peerless had been set down, and while the Princess Sunbeam was still sleeping

The moment he caught sight of the Princess he recognised her as the charming shepherdess whose picture he

had seen so often in the tower, and as she was far prettier than he had remembered her, he was delighted that

He was still watching her admiringly when the Princess opened her eyes, and as she also recognised him they

were soon great friends. The Princess asked Prince Peerless, as he knew the country better than she did, to tell

her of some peasant who would give her a lodging, and he said he knew of an old woman whose cottage

would be the very place for her, it was so nice and so pretty. So they went there together, and the Princess

was charmed with the old woman and everything belonging to her. Supper was soon spread for her under a

shady tree, and she invited the Prince to share the cream and brown bread which the old woman provided.

This he was delighted to do, and having first fetched from his own garden all the strawberries, cherries, nuts

and flowers he could find. they sat down together and were very merry. After this they met every day as they

guarded their flocks, and were so happy that Prince Peerless begged the Princess to marry him, so that they

might never be parted again. Now though the Princess Sunbeam appeared to be only a poor shepherdess, she

never forgot that she was a real Princess, and she was not at all sure that she ought to marry a humble

So she resolved to consult an Enchanter of whom she had heard a great deal since she had been a

shepherdess, and without saying a word to anybody she set out to find the castle in which he lived with his

sister, who was a powerful Fairy. The way was long, and lay through a thick wood, where the Princess heard

strange voices calling to her from every side, but she was in such a hurry that she stopped for nothing, and at

The grass and briers were growing as high as if it were a hundred years since anyone had set foot there, but

the Princess got through at last, though she gave herself a good many scratches by the way, and then she went

into a dark, gloomy hall, where there was but one tiny hole in the wall through which the daylight could

enter. The hangings were all of bats' wings, and from the ceiling hung twelve cats, who filled the hall with

their ear piercing yells. Upon the long table twelve mice were fastened by the tail, and just in front of each

one's nose, but quite beyond its reach, lay a tempting morsel of fat bacon. So the cats could always see the

mice, but could not touch them, and the hungry mice were tormented by the sight and smell of the delicious

The Princess was looking at the poor creatures in dismay, when the Enchanter suddenly entered, wearing a

long black robe and with a crocodile upon his head. In his hand he carried a whip made of twenty long

snakes, all alive and writhing, and the Princess was so terrified at the sight that she heartily wished she had

never come. Without saying a word she ran to the door, but it was covered with a thick spider's web, and

when she broke it she found another, and another, and another. In fact, there was no end to them; the

Princess's arms ached with tearing them down, and yet she was no nearer to getting out, and the wicked

`You might spend the rest of your life over that without doing any good, but as you are young, and quite the

prettiest creature I have seen for a long time, I will marry you if you like, and I will give you those cats and

mice that you see there for your own. They are princes and princesses who have happened to offend me. They

used to love one another as much as they now hate one another. Aha! It's a pretty little revenge to keep them

`Oh! so you won't marry me?' said he. `Little simpleton, you should have everything heart can desire.'

`No, indeed; nothing should make me marry you; in fact, I don't think I shall ever love anyone,' cried the

`In that case,' said the Enchanter, touching her, `you had better become a particular kind of creature that is

neither fish nor fowl; you shall be light and airy, and as green as the grass you live in. Off with you, Madam

Grasshopper.' And the Princess, rejoicing to find herself free once more, skipped out into the garden, the

prettiest little green Grasshopper in the world. But as soon as she was safely out she began to be rather sorry

`Ah! Florimond,' she sighed, `is this the end of your gift? Certainly beauty is shortlived, and this funny little

face and a green crape dress are a comical end to it. I had better have married my amiable shepherd. It must

be for my pride that I am condemned to be a Grasshopper, and sing day and night in the grass by this brook,

In the meantime Prince Peerless had discovered the Princess's absence, and was lamenting over it by the

river's brim, when he suddenly became aware of the presence of a little old woman. She was quaintly dressed

`Alas! mother,' answered the Prince, `I have lost my sweet shepherdess, but I am determined to find her

`Go that way, my son,' said the old woman, pointing towards the path that led to the castle. `I have an idea

The Prince thanked her heartily and set out. As he met with no hindrance, he soon reached the enchanted

wood which surrounded the castle, and there he thought he saw the Princess Sunbeam gliding before him

among the trees. Prince Peerless hastened after her at the top of his speed, but could not get any nearer; then

But the phantom did but fly the faster, and the Prince spent the whole day in this vain pursuit. When night

came he saw the castle before him all lighted up, and as he imagined that the Princess must be in it, he made

haste to get there too. He entered without difficulty, and in the hall the terrible old Fairy met him. She was so

thin that the light shone through her, and her eyes glowed like lamps; her skin was like a shark's, her arms

were thin as laths, and her fingers like spindles. Nevertheless she wore rouge and patches, a mantle of silver

brocade and a crown of diamonds, and her dress was covered with jewels, and green and pink ribbons.

`At last you have come to see me, Prince,' said she. `Don't waste another thought upon that little shepherdess,

who is unworthy of your notice. I am the Queen of the Comets, and can bring you to great honour if you will

`Marry you, Madam,' cried the Prince, in horror. `No, I will never consent to that.'

Thereupon the Fairy, in a rage, gave two strokes of her wand and filled the gallery with horrible goblins,

against whom the Prince had to fight for his life. Though he had only his dagger, he defended himself so well

that he escaped without any harm, and presently the old Fairy stopped the fray and asked the Prince if he was

still of the same mind. When he answered firmly that he was, she called up the appearance of the Princess

`You see your beloved there? Take care what you are about, for if you again refuse to marry me she shall be

The Prince was distracted, for he fancied he heard his dear shepherdess weeping and begging him to save her.

`Oh, Fairy Douceline, have you abandoned me after so many promises of friendship? Help, help us now!'

Thus encouraged, the Prince persevered in his refusal, and at length the old Fairy in a fury cried:

And instantly the handsome Prince Peerless became a poor little black Cricket, whose only idea would have

been to find himself a cosy cranny behind some blazing hearth, if he had not luckily remembered the Fairy

So he hastened to depart from the fatal castle, and sought shelter in a hollow tree, where he found a forlorn

`Why should I not speak as well as you? Isn't a Grasshopper as good as a Cricket?' said she.

`And for that very same reason I ought to be able to talk more than you, for I was a Princess,' replied the

`Then you have met with the same fate as I have,' said he. `But where are you going now? Cannot we journey

`I seemed to hear a voice in the air which said: ``Be firm, happen what may, and seek the Golden Branch,'' '

answered the Grasshopper, `and I thought the command must be for me, so I started at once, though I don't

At this moment their conversation was interrupted by two mice, who, breathless from running, flung

themselves headlong through the hole into the tree, nearly crushing the Grasshopper and the Cricket, though

`Ah, Madam,' said the fatter of the two, `I have such a pain in my side from running so fast. How does your

`I have pulled my tail off,' replied the younger Mouse, `but as I should still be on the sorcerer's table unless I

had, I do not regret it. Are we pursued, think you? How lucky we were to escape!'

`I only trust that we may escape cats and traps, and reach the Golden Branch soon,' said the fat Mouse.

`Oh dear, yes! as well as the way to my own house, Madam. This Golden Branch is indeed a marvel, a single

leaf from it makes one rich for ever. It breaks enchantments, and makes all who approach it young and

`May we have the honour of travelling with youthis respectable Cricket and myself?' said the Grasshopper,

The Mice courteously assented, and after many polite speeches the whole party fell asleep. With the earliest

dawn they were on their way, and though the Mice were in constant fear of being overtaken or trapped, they

It grew in the midst of a wonderful garden, all the paths of which were strewn with pearls as big as peas. The

roses were crimson diamonds, with emerald leaves. The pomegranates were garnets, the marigolds topazes,

the daffodils yellow diamonds, the violets sapphires, the cornflowers turquoises, the tulips amethysts, opals

and diamonds, so that the garden borders blazed like the sun. The Golden Branch itself had become as tall as

a forest tree, and sparkled with ruby cherries to its topmost twig. No sooner had the Grasshopper and the

Cricket touched it than they were restored to their natural forms, and their surprise and joy were great when

they recognised each other. At this moment Florimond and the Fairy Douceline appeared in great splendour,

`So you two have found one another again, I see, but I have still a surprise left for you. Don't hesitate,

Princess, to tell your devoted shepherd how dearly you love him, as he is the very Prince your father sent you

to marry. So come here both of you and let me crown you, and we will have the wedding at once.'

The Prince and Princess thanked her with all their hearts, and declared that to her they owed all their

happiness, and then the two Princesses, who had so lately been Mice, came and begged that the Fairy would

use her power to release their unhappy friends who were still under the Enchanter's spell.

`Really,' said the Fairy Douceline, `on this happy occasion I cannot find it in my heart to refuse you anything.'

And she gave three strokes of her wand upon the Golden Branch, and immediately all the prisoners in the

Enchanter's castle found themselves free, and came with all speed to the wonderful garden, where one touch

of the Golden Branch restored each one to his natural form, and they greeted one another with many

rejoicings. To complete her generous work the Fairy presented them with the wonderful cabinet and all the

treasures it contained, which were worth at least ten kingdoms. But to Prince Peerless and the Princess

Sunbeam she gave the palace and garden of the Golden Branch, where, immensely rich and greatly beloved

THERE was once upon a time a man who lost his wife, and a woman who lost her husband; and the man had

a daughter and so had the woman. The two girls were great friends and used often to play together. One day

`Go and tell your father that I will marry him, and then you shall wash in milk and drink wine, but my own

`What am I to do?' he answered. `Marriage is either a success or it is a failure.'

At last, being of an undecided character and not being able to make up his mind, he took off his boot, and

`Take this boot which has a hole in the sole, hang it up on a nail in the hayloft, and pour water into it. If it

holds water I will marry again, but if it doesn't I won't.' The girl did as she was bid, but the water drew the

hole together and the boot filled up to the very top. So she went and told her father the result. He got up and

went to see for himself, and when he saw that it was true and no mistake, he accepted his fate, proposed to the

On the morning after the wedding, when the two girls awoke, milk was standing for the man's daughter to

wash in and wine for her to drink; but for the woman's daughter, only water to wash in and only water to

drink. On the second morning, water to wash in and water to drink was standing for the man's daughter as

well. And on the third morning, water to wash in and water to drink was standing for the man's daughter, and

milk to wash in and wine to drink for the woman's daughter; and so it continued ever after. The woman hated

her stepdaughter from the bottom of her heart, and did all she could to make her life miserable. She was as

jealous as she could possibly be, because the girl was so beautiful and charming, while her own daughter was

One winter's day when there was a hard frost, and mountain and valley were covered with snow, the woman

`There, put on this dress and go out into the wood and fetch me a basket of strawberries!'

`Now Heaven help us,' replied her stepdaughter; `strawberries don't grow in winter; the earth is all frozen and

the snow has covered up everything; and why send me in a paper dress? it is so cold outside that one's very

breath freezes; the wind will whistle through my dress, and the brambles tear it from my body.'

`How dare you contradict me!' said her stepmother; `be off with you at once, and don't show your face again

`That will be enough for you today,' and she thought to herself: `The girl will certainly perish of hunger and

The girl was so obedient that she put on the paper dress and set out with her little basket. There was nothing

but snow far and near, and not a green blade of grass to be seen anywhere. When she came to the wood she

saw a little house, and out of it peeped three little dwarfs. She wished them goodday, and knocked modestly

at the door. They called out to her to enter, so she stepped in and sat down on a seat by the fire, wishing to

warm herself and eat her breakfast. The Dwarfs said at once: `Give us some of your food!'

Then they asked her what she was doing in the depths of winter in her thin dress.

`Oh,' she answered, `I have been sent to get a basketful of strawberries, and I daren't show my face again at

When she had finished her bread they gave her a broom and told her to sweep away the snow from the back

door. As soon as she left the room to do so, the three little men consulted what they should give her as a

The girl in the meantime was doing as the Dwarfs had bidden her, and was sweeping the snow away from the

back door, and what do you think she found there?heaps of fine ripe strawberries that showed out dark red

against the white snow. She joyfully picked enough to fill her basket, thanked the little men for their

kindness, shook hands with them, and ran home to bring her stepmother what she had asked for. When she

walked in and said; Good evening,' a piece of gold fell out of her mouth. Then she told what had hap pened

to her in the wood, and at every word pieces of gold dropped from her mouth, so that the room was soon

`She's surely more money than wit to throw gold about like that,' said her stepsister, but in her secret heart she

was very jealous, and determined that she too would go to the wood and look for strawberries. But her mother

The girl however left her no peace, so she was forced at last to give in, but she insisted on her putting on a

beautiful fur cloak, and she gave her bread and butter and cakes to eat on the way.

The girl went straight to the little house in the wood, and as before the three little men were looking out of the

window. She took no notice of them, and without as much as `By your leave,' or `With your leave,' she

flounced into the room, sat herself down at the fire, and began to eat her bread and butter and cakes.

But she answered: `No, I won't, it's hardly enough for myself; so catch me giving you any.'

`I'll see myself further,' she answered rudely. `Do it yourselves; I'm not your servant.'

When she saw that they did not mean to give her anything, she left the house in no amiable frame of mind.

Then the three little men consulted what they should do to her, because she was so bad and had such an evil,

The girl searched for strawberries, but she found none, and returned home in a very bad temper. When she

opened her mouth to tell her mother what had befallen her in the wood, a toad jumped out, so that everyone

Then the stepmother was more furious than ever, and did nothing but plot mischief against the man's

daughter, who was daily growing more and more beautiful. At last, one day the wicked woman took a large

pot, put it on the fire and boiled some yarn in it. When it was well scalded she hung it round the poor girl's

shoulder, and giving her an axe, she bade her break a hole in the frozen river, and rinse the yarn in it. Her

stepdaughter obeyed as usual, and went and broke a hole in the ice. When she was in the act of wringing out

the yarn a magnificent carriage passed, and the King sat inside. The carriage stood still, and the King asked

`I am only a poor girl,' she answered, `and am rinsing out my yarn in the river.' Then the King was sorry for

`Most gladly,' she replied, for she knew how willingly she would leave her stepmother and sister, and how

So she stepped into the carriage and drove away with the King, and when they reached his palace the

wedding was celebrated with much splendour. So all turned out just as the three little Dwarfs had said. After

a year the Queen gave birth to a little son. When her stepmother heard of her good fortune she came to the

palace with her daughter by way of paying a call, and took up her abode there. Now one day, when the King

was out and nobody else near, the bad woman took the Queen by her head, and the daughter took her by her

heels, and they dragged her from her bed, and flung her out of the window into the stream which flowed

beneath it. Then the stepmother laid her ugly daughter in the Queen's place, and covered her up with the

clothes, so that nothing of her was seen. When the King came home and wished to speak to his wife the

`Quietly, quietly I this will never do; your wife is very ill, you must let her rest all today.' The King

suspected no evil, and didn't come again till next morning. When he spoke to his wife and she answered him,

instead of the usual piece of gold a toad jumped out of her mouth. Then he asked what it meant, and the old

woman told him it was nothing but weakness, and that she would soon be all right again.

But that same evening the scullion noticed a duck swimming up the gutter, saying as it passed:

Then the Duck assumed the Queen's shape, went up to the child's room, tucked him up comfortably in his

cradle, and then swam back down the gutter again, in the likeness of a Duck. This was repeated for two

The Scullion did as the creature bade him, and the King came with his sword and swung it three times over

the bird, and lo and behold! his wife stood before him once more, alive, and as blooming as ever.

The King rejoiced greatly, but he kept the Queen in hiding till the Sunday on which the child was to be

`What punishment does that person deserve who drags another out of bed, and throws him or her, as the case

`No better fate than to be put into a barrel lined with sharp nails, and to be rolled in it down the hill into the

`You have pronounced your own doom,' said the King; and he ordered a barrel to be made lined with sharp

nails, and in it he put the bad old woman and her daughter. Then it was fastened down securely, and the

THERE was once upon a time a couple of rich folks who had twelve sons, and when the youngest was grown

up he would not stay at home any longer, but would go out into the world and seek his fortune. His father and

mother said that they thought he was very well off at home, and that he was welcome to stay with them; but

ho could not rest, and said that he must and would go, so at last they had to give him leave. When he had

walked a long way, he came to a King's palace. There he asked for a place and got it.

Now the daughter of the King of that country had been carried off into the mountains by a Troll, and the King

had no other children, and for this cause both he and all his people were full of sorrow and affliction, and the

King had promised the Princess and half his kingdom to anyone who could set her free; but there was no one

who could do it, though a great number had tried. So when the youth had been there for the space of a year or

so, he wanted to go home again to pay his parents a visit; but when he got there his father and mother were

dead, and his brothers had divided everything that their parents possessed between themselves, so that there

`Who could know that you were still aliveyou who have been a wanderer so long?' answered the brothers.

`However, there are twelve mares upon the hills which we have not yet divided among us, and if you would

So the youth, well pleased with this, thanked them, and at once set off to the hill where the twelve mares were

at pasture. When he got up there and found them, each mare had her foal, and by the side of one of them was

`Yes, but if you will kill all the other little foals so that I can suck all the mares for a year, you shall see how

Next year, when he came home again to look after his mares and the foal, it was as fat as it could be, and its

coat shone with brightness, and it was so big that the lad had the greatest difficulty in getting on its back, and

`Well, it's very evident that I have lost nothing by letting you suck all my mares,' said the lad to the yearling;

`No,' said the Colt, `I must stay here another year; kill the twelve little foals, and then I can suck all the mares

So the youth did it again, and when he went up on the hill next year to look after his colt and the mares, each

of the mares had her foal again; but the dappled colt was so big that when the lad wanted to feel its neck to

see how fat it was, he could not reach up to it, it was so high? and it was so bright that the light glanced off its

`Big and handsome you were last year, my colt, but this year you are ever so much handsomer,' said the

youth; `in all the King's court no such horse is to be found. But now you shall come away with me.'

`No,' said the dappled Colt once more; `here I must stay for another year. Just kill the twelve little foals again,

so that I can suck the mares this year also, and then come and look at me in the summer.'

But next year, when he returned to look after the dappled colt and the mares, he was quite appalled. He had

never imagined that any horse could become so big and overgrown, for the dappled horse had to lie down on

all fours before the youth could get on his back, and it was very hard to do that even when it was lying down,

and it was so plump that its coat shone and glistened just as if it had been a lookingglass. This time the

dappled horse was not unwilling to go away with the youth, so he mounted it, and when he came riding home

to his brothers they all smote their hands together and crossed themselves, for never in their lives had they

`If you will procure me the best shoes for my horse, and the most magnificent saddle and bridle that can be

found,' said the youth, `you may have all my twelve mares just as they are standing out on the hill, and their

twelve foals into the bargain.' For this year also each mare had her foal. The brothers were quite willing to do

this; so the lad got such shoes for his horse that the sticks and stones flew high up into the air as he rode away

over the hills, and such a gold saddle and such a gold bridle that they could be seen glittering and glancing

`And now we will go to the King's palace,' said Dapplegrim that was the horse's name, `but bear in mind

So the lad promised not to forget to do that. He rode to the palace, and it will be easily understood that with

When he arrived there, the King was standing out on the steps, and how he did stare at the man who came

`Nay,' said he, `never in my whole life have I seen such a man and such a horse.'

And when the youth inquired if he could have a place in the King's palace, the King was so delighted that he

could have danced on the steps where he was standing, and there and then the lad was told that he should

`Yes; but I must have a good stable and most excellent fodder for my horse,' said he.

So they told him that he should have sweet hay and oats, and as much of them as the dappled horse chose to

have, and all the other riders had to take their horses out of the stable that Dapplegrim might stand alone and

But this did not last long, for the other people in the King's Court became envious of the lad, and there was no

bad thing that they would not have done to him if they had but dared. At last they bethought themselves of

telling the King that the youth had said that, if he chose, he was quite able to rescue the Princess who had

The King immediately summoned the lad into his presence, and said that he had been informed that he had

said that it was in his power to rescue the Princess, so he was now to do it. If he succeeded in this, he no

doubt knew that the King had promised his daughter and half the kingdom to anyone who set her free, which

promise should be faithfully and honourably kept, but if he failed he should be put to death. The youth denied

that he had said this, but all to no purpose, for the King was deaf to all his words; so there was nothing to be

He went down into the stable, and very sad and full of care he was. Then Dapplegrim inquired why he was so

troubled, and the youth told him, and said that he did not know what to do, `for as to setting the Princess free,

`Oh, but it might be done,' said Dapplegrim. `I will help you; but you must first have me well shod. You must

ask for ten pounds of iron and twelve pounds of steel for the shoeing, and one smith to hammer and one to

So the youth did this, and no one said him nay. He got both the iron and the steel, and the smiths, and thus

was Dapplegrim shod strongly and well, and when the youth went out of the King's palace a cloud of dust

rose up behind him. But when he came to the mountain into which the Princess had been carried, the

difficulty was to ascend the precipitous wall of rock by which he was to get on to the mountain beyond, for

the rock stood right up on end, as steep as a house side and as smooth as a sheet of glass. The first time the

youth rode at it he got a little way up the precipice, but then both Dapplegrim's fore legs slipped, and down

came horse and rider with a sound like thunder among the mountains. The next time that he rode at it he got a

little farther up, but then one of Dapplegrim's fore legs slipped, and down they went with the sound of a

landslip. But the third time Dapplegrim said: `Now we must show what we can do,' and went at it once more

till the stones sprang up sky high, and thus they got up. Then the lad rode into the mountain cleft at full gallop

and caught up the Princess on his saddlebow, and then out again before the Troll even had time to stand up,

When the youth returned to the palace the King was both happy and delighted to get his daughter back again,

as may easily be believed, but somehow or other the people about the Court had so worked on him that he

was angry with the lad too. `Thou shalt have my thanks for setting my Princess free,' he said, when the youth

She ought to be just as much my Princess as she is yours now, for you are a man of your word,' said the

`Yes, yes,' said the King. `Have her thou shalt, as I have said it; but first of all thou must make the sun shine

For there was a large and high hill outside the windows which overshadowed the palace so much that the sun

`That was no part of our bargain,' answered the youth. `But as nothing that I can say will move you, I suppose

So he went down to Dapplegrim again and told him what the King desired, and Dapplegrim thought that it

might easily be done; but first of all he must have new shoes, and ten pounds of iron and twelve pounds of

steel must go to the making of them, and two smiths were also necessary, one to hammer and one to hold, and

The lad asked for these things and obtained them instantly, for the King thought that for very shame he could

not refuse to give them, and so Dapplegrim got new shoes, and they were good ones. The youth seated

himself on him, and once more they went their way, and for each hop that Dapplegrim made, down went the

hill fifteen ells into the earth, and so they went on until there was no hill left for the King to see.

When the youth came down again to the King's palace he asked the King if the Princess should not at last be

his, for now no one could say that the sun was not shining into the palace. But the other people in the palace

had again stirred up the King, and he answered that the youth should have her, and that he had never intended

that he should not; but first of all he must get her quite as good a horse to ride to the wedding on as that

which he had himself. The youth said that the King had never told him he was to do that, and it seemed to

him that he had now really earned the Princess; but the King stuck to what he had said, and if the youth were

unable to do it he was to lose his life, the King said. The youth went down to the stable again, and very sad

and sorrowful he was, as anyone may well imagine. Then he told Dapplegrim that the King had now required

that he should get the Princess as good a bridal horse as that which the bridegroom had, or he should lose his

life. `But that will be no easy thing to do,' said he, `for your equal is not to be found in all the world,'

`Oh yes, there is one to match me,' said Dapplegrim. `But it will not be easy to get him, for he is

underground. However, we will try. Now you must go up to the King and ask for new shoes for me, and for

them we must again have ten pounds of iron, twelve pounds of steel, and two smiths, one to hammer and one

to hold, but be very particular to see that the hooks are very sharp. And you must also ask for twelve barrels

of rye, and twelve slaughtered oxen must we have with us, and all the twelve oxhides with twelve hundred

spikes set in each of them; all these things must we have, likewise a barrel of tar with twelve tons of tar in it.

The youth went to the King and asked for all the things that Dapplegrim had named, and once more, as the

King thought that it would be disgraceful to refuse them to him, he obtained them all.

So he mounted Dapplegrim and rode away from the Court, and when he had ridden for a long, long time over

`Yes; there is such a dreadful whistling up above in the air that I think I am growing alarmed,' said the youth.

`That is all the wild birds in the forest flying about; they are sent to stop us,' said Dapplegrim. `But just cut a

hole in the corn sacks, and then they will be so busy with the corn that they will forget us.'

The youth did it. He cut holes in the corn sacks so that barley and rye ran out on every side, and all the wild

birds that were in the forest came in such numbers that they darkened the sun. But when they caught sight of

the corn they could not refrain from it, but flew down and began to scratch and pick at the corn and rye, and

at last they began to fight among themselves, and forgot all about the youth and Dapplegrim, and did them no

And now the youth rode onwards for a long, long time, over hill and dale, over rocky places and morasses,

and then Dapplegrim began to listen again, and asked the youth if he heard anything now.

`Yes; now I hear such a dreadful crackling and crashing in the forest on every side that I think I shall be

`That is all the wild beasts in the forest,' said Dapplegrim; `they are sent out to stop us. But just throw out the

twelve carcasses of the oxen, and they will be so much occupied with them that they will quite forget us.' So

the youth threw out the carcasses of the oxen, and then all the wild beasts in the forest, both bears and

wolves, and lions, and grim beasts of all kinds, came. But when they caught sight of the carcasses of the oxen

they began to fight for them till the blood flowed, and they entirely forgot Dapplegrim and the youth.

So the youth rode onwards again, and many and many were the new scenes they saw, for travelling on

Dapplegrim's back was not travelling slowly, as may be imagined, and then Dapplegrim neighed.

`Yes; I heard something like a foal neighing quite plainly a long, long way off,' answered the youth.

`That's a fullgrown colt,' said Dapplegrim, `if you hear it so plainly when it is so far away from us.'

So they travelled onwards a long time, and saw one new scene after another once more. Then Dapplegrim

`Yes; now I heard it quite distinctly, and it neighed like a full grown horse,' answered the youth.

`Yes, and you will hear it again very soon,' said Dapplegrim; `and then you will hear what a voice it has.' So

they travelled on through many more different kinds of country, and then Dapplegrim neighed for the third

time; but before he could ask the youth if he heard anything, there was such a neighing on the other side of

`Now he is here!' said Dapplegrim. `Be quick, and fling over me the oxhides that have the spikes in them,

throw the twelve tons of tar over the field, and climb up into that great spruce fir tree. When he comes, fire

will spurt out of both his nostrils, and then the tar will catch fire. Now mark what I sayif the flame ascends

I conquer, and if it sinks I fail; but if you see that I am winning, fling the bridle, which you must take off me,

Just as the youth had flung all the hides with the spikes over Dapplegrim, and the tar over the field, and had

got safely up into the spruce fir, a horse came with flame spouting from his nostrils, and the tar caught fire in

a moment; and Dapplegrim and the horse began to fight until the stones leapt up to the sky. They bit, and

they fought with their fore legs and their hind legs, and sometimes the youth looked at them. and sometimes

he looked at the tar, but at last the flames began to rise, for wheresoever the strange horse bit or wheresoever

he kicked he hit upon the spikes in the hides, and at length he had to yield. When the youth saw that, he was

not long in getting down from the tree and flinging the bridle over the horse's head, and then he became so

This horse was dappled too, and so like Dapplegrim that no one could distinguish the one from the other. The

youth seated himself on the dappled horse which he had captured, and rode home again to the King's palace,

and Dapplegrim ran loose by his side. When he got there, the King was standing outside in the courtyard.

`Can you tell me which is the horse I have caught, and which is the one I had before?' said the youth. `If you

The King went and looked at both the dappled horses; he looked high and he looked low, he looked before

`No,' said the King; `that I cannot tell thee, and as thou hast procured such a splendid bridal horse for my

daughter thou shalt have her; but first we must have one more trial, just to see if thou art fated to have her.

She shall hide herself twice, and then thou shalt hide thyself twice. If thou canst find her each time that she

hides herself, and if she cannot find thee in thy hidingplaces, then it is fated, and thou shalt have the

`That, too, was not in our bargain,' said the youth. `But we will make this trial since it must be so.'

Then she changed herself into a duck, and lay swimming in a lake that was just outside the palace. But the

youth went down into the stable and asked Dapplegrim what she had done with herself.

`Oh, all that you have to do is to take your gun, and go down to the water and aim at the duck which is

The youth snatched up his gun and ran to the lake. `I will just have a shot at that duck,' said he, and began to

`Oh, no, dear friend, don't shoot! It is I,' said the Princess. So he had found her once.

The second time the Princess changed herself into a loaf, and laid herself on the table among four other

loaves; and she was so like the other loaves that no one could see any difference between them.

But the youth again went down to the stable to Dapplegrim, and told him that the Princess had hidden herself

`Oh, just take a very large breadknife, sharpen it, and pretend that you are going to cut straight through the

third of the four loaves which are lying on the kitchen table in the King's palace count them from right to

So the youth went up to the kitchen, and began to sharpen the largest breadknife that he could find; then he

caught hold of the third loaf on the lefthand side, and put the knife to it as if he meant to cut it straight in

`No, dear friend, don't cut, it is I!' said the Princess again; so he had found her the second time.

And now it was his turn to go and hide himself; but Dapplegrim had given him such good instructions that it

was not easy to find him. First he turned himself into a horsefly, and hid himself in Dapplegrim's left nostril.

The Princess went poking about and searching everywhere, high and low, and wanted to go into Dapplegrim's

stall too, but he began to bite and kick about so that she was afraid to go there, and could not find the youth.

`Well,' said she, `as I am unable to find you, you must show yourself; `whereupon the youth immediately

Dapplegrim told him what he was to do the second time, and he turned himself into a lump of earth, and

stuck himself between the hoof and the shoe on Dapplegrim's left fore foot. Once more the King's daughter

went and sought everywhere, inside and outside, until at last she came into the stable, and wanted to go into

the stall beside Dapplegrim. So this time he allowed her to go into it, and she peered about high and low, but

she could not look under his hoofs, for he stood much too firmly on his legs for that, and she could not find

`Well, you will just have to show where you are yourself, for I can't find you,' said the Princess, and in an

`Now you can see that it is fated that she should be mine,' he said to the King.

Then everything was made ready for the wedding with great splendour and promptitude, and the youth rode

to church on Dapplegrim, and the King's daughter on the other horse. So everyone must see that they could

ONCE upon a time, in the reign of King Cambrinus, there lived at Avesnes one of his lords, who was the

finest manby which I mean the fattestin the whole country of Flanders. He ate four meals a day, slept

twelve hours out of the twentyfour, and the only thing he ever did was to shoot at small birds with his bow

Still, with all his practice he shot very badly, he was so fat and heavy, and as he grew daily fatter, he was at

last obliged to give up walking, and be dragged about in a wheelchair, and the people made fun of him, and

Now, the only trouble that Lord Tubby had was about his son, whom he loved very much, although they were

not in the least alike, for the young Prince was as thin as a cuckoo. And what vexed him more than all was,

that though the young ladies throughout all his lands did their best to make the Prince fall in love with them,

he would have nothing to say to any of them, and told his father he did not wish to marry.

Instead of chatting with them in the dusk, he wandered about the woods, whispering to the moon. No wonder

the young ladies thought him very odd, but they liked him all the better for that; and as he had received at his

`What is the matter with you?' his father often said to him. `You have everything you can possibly wish for: a

good bed, good food, and tuns full of beer. The only thing you want, in order to become as fat as a pig, is a

wife that can bring you broad, rich lands. So marry, and you will be perfectly happy.'

`I ask nothing better than to marry,' replied Desire, `but I have never seen a woman that pleases me. All the

girls here are pink and white, and I am tired to death of their eternal lilie and roses.

`My faith!' cried Tubby; `do you want to marry a negress, and give me grandchildren as ugly as monkeys and

`No, father, nothing of the sort. But there must be women somewhere in the world who are neither pink nor

white, and I tell you, once for all, that I will never marry until I have found one exactly to my taste.'

Some time afterwards, it happened that the Prior of the Abbey of Saint Amand sent to the Lord of Avesnes a

basket of oranges, with a beautifullywritten letter saying that these golden fruit, then unknown in Flanders,

That evening Tubby and his son ate the golden apples at supper, and thought them delicious.

Next morning as the day dawned, Desire went down to the stable and saddled his pretty white horse. Then he

went, all dressed for a journey, to the bedside of Tubby, and found him smoking his first pipe.

`Father,' he said gravely, `I have come to bid you farewell. Last night I dreamed that I was walking in a

wood, where the trees were covered with golden apples. I gathered one of them, and when I opened it there

came out a lovely princess with a golden skin. That is the wife I want, and I am going to look for her.'

The Lord of Avesnes was so much astonished that he let his pipe fall to the ground; then he became so

diverted at the notion of his son marrying a yellow woman, and a woman shut up inside an orange, that he

Desire waited to bid him goodbye until he was quiet again; but as his father went on laughing and showed

no signs of stopping, the young man took his hand, kissed it tenderly, opened the door, and in the twinkling

of an eye was as at the bottom of the staircase. He jumped lightly on his horse, and was a mile from home

`A yellow wife! He must be mad! fit for a strait waistcoat!' cried the good man, when he was able to speak.

The servants mounted their horses and rode after the Prince; but as they did not know which road he had

taken, they went all ways except the right one, and instead of bringing him back they returned themselves

When Desire thought they could no longer catch him, he pulled his horse into a walk, like a prudent man who

knows he has far to go. He travelled in this way for many weeks, passing by villages, towns, mountains,

valleys, and plains, but always pushing south, where every day the sun seemed hotter and more brilliant.

At last one day at sunset Desire felt the sun so warm, that he thought he must now be near the place of his

dream. He was at that moment close to the corner of a wood where stood a little hut, before the door of which

his horse stopped of his own accord. An old man with a white beard was sitting on the doorstep enjoying the

`Come in, my young friend,' said the old man; `my house is not large, but it is big enough to hold a stranger.'

The traveller entered, and his host put before him a simple meal. When his hunger was satisfied the old man

`I will tell you,' answered Desire, `though most likely you will laugh at me. I dreamed that in the land of the

sun there was a wood full of orange trees, and that in one of the oranges I should find a beautiful princess

`Why should I laugh?' asked the old man. `Madness in youth is true wisdom. Go, young man, follow your

dream, and if you do not find the happiness that you seek, at any rate you will have had the happiness of

`The wood that you saw in your dream is not far from here,' said the old man. `It is in the depth of the forest,

and this road will lead you there. You will come to a vast park surrounded by high walls. In the middle of the

park is a castle, where dwells a horrible witch who allows no living being to enter the doors. Behind the

castle is the orange grove. Follow the wall till you come to a heavy iron gate. Don't try to press it open, but

`The gate will open of itself,' he continued, `and a huge dog which guards the castle will come to you with his

mouth wide open, but just throw him this oat cake. Next, you will see a baking woman leaning over her

heated oven. Give her this brush. Lastly, you will find a well on your left; do not forget to take the cord of the

bucket and spread it in the sun. When you have done this, do not enter the castle, but go round it and enter the

orange grove. Then gather three oranges, and get back to the gate as fast as you can. Once out of the gate,

`Now, attend to this: whatever happens, do not open your oranges till you reach the bank of a river, or a

fountain. Out of each orange will come a princess, and you can choose which you like for your wife. Your

choice once made, be very careful never to leave your bride for an instant, and remember that the danger

Desire thanked his host warmly, and took the road he pointed out. In less than an hour he arrived at the wall,

which was very high indeed. He sprang to the ground, fastened his horse to a tree, and soon found the iron

gate. Then he took out his bottle and oiled the hinges, when the gate opened of itself, and he saw an old castle

Suddenly he heard fierce howls, and a dog as tall as a donkey, with eyes like billiard balls, came towards him,

showing his teeth, which were like the prongs of a fork. Desire flung him the oat cake, which the great dog

A few yards further he saw a huge oven, with a wide, redhot gaping mouth. A woman as tall as a giant was

Then he went on to the well, drew up the cord, which was half rotten, and stretched it out in the sun.

Lastly he went round the castle, and plunged into the orange grove. There he gathered the three most

But just at this moment the sun was darkened, the earth trembled, and Desire heard a voice crying:

`No,' replied the baker; `a long time has passed since I first began to scour this oven with my own flesh. YOU

never cared to give me a brush; but he has given me one, and he shall go in peace.'

`Rope, O rope!' cried the voice again, `twine yourself round his neck and strangle him.'

`No,' replied the rope; `you have left me for many years past to fall to pieces with the damp. He has stretched

`Dog, my good dog,' cried the voice, more and more angry, `jump at his throat and eat him up.'

`Iron gate, iron gate,' cried the voice, growling like thunder, `fall on him and grind him to powder.'

`No,' replied the gate; `it is a hundred years since you left me to rust, and he has oiled me. Let him go in

Once outside, the young adventurer put his oranges into a bag that hung from his saddle, mounted his horse,

Now, as he was longing to see the princesses, he was very anxious to come to a river or a fountain, but,

though he rode for hours, a river or fountain was nowhere to be seen. Still his heart was light, for he felt that

About midday he reached a sandy plain, scorching in the sun. Here he was seized with dreadful thirst; he

But the gourd was empty; in the excitement of his joy he had forgotten to fill it. He rode on, struggling with

He let himself slide to the earth, and lay down beside his horse, his throat burning, his chest heaving, and his

head going round. Already he felt that death was near him, when his eyes fell on the bag where the oranges

Poor Desire, who had braved so many dangers to win the lady of his dreams, would have given at this

moment all the princesses in the world, were they pink or golden, for a single drop of water.

`Ah!' he said to himself. `If only these oranges were real fruit fruit as refreshing as what I ate in Flanders!

This idea put some life into him. He had the strength to lift himself up and put his hand into his bag. He drew

`Wait a minute,' replied Desire, so much astonished that he forgot his own sufferings; and to satisfy the bird

he took a second orange, and opened it without thinking what he was doing. Out of it flew another canary,

Then Tubby's son saw his folly, and while the two canaries flew away he sank on the ground, where,

When he came to himself, he had a pleasant feeling of freshness all about him. It was night, the sky was

The traveller having recovered, mounted his horse, and at the first streak of dawn he saw a stream dancing in

He hardly had courage to open his last orange. Then he remembered that the night before he had disobeyed

the orders of the old man. Perhaps his terrible thirst was a trick of the cunning witch, and suppose, even

though he opened the orange on the banks of the stream, that he did not find in it the princess that he sought?

He took his knife and cut it open. Alas! out of it flew a little canary, just like the others, who cried:

Great was the disappointment of Desire. However, he was determined not to let this bird fly away; so he took

Scarcely had the canary drunk when she became a beautiful girl, tall and straight as a poplar tree, with black

eyes and a golden skin. Desire had never seen anyone half so lovely, and he stood gazing at her in delight.

On her side she seemed quite bewildered, but she looked about her with happy eyes, and was not at all afraid

He asked her name. She answered that she was called the Princess Zizi; she was about sixteen years old, and

for ten years of that time the witch had kept her shut up in an orange, in the shape of a canary.

`Well, then, my charming Zizi,' said the young Prince, who was longing to marry her, `let us ride away

He mounted his horse and took her in front of him, and, holding her carefully in his arms, they began their

Everything the Princess saw was new to her, and in passing through mountains, valleys, and towns, she asked

a thousand questions. Desire was charmed to answer them. It is so delightful to teach those one loves!

`Do you like blue eyes?' said the Princess; but Desire thought it was a good opportunity to find out what was

`No,' he said at last. `None of the girls of my own country are beautiful in my eyes, and that is why I came to

Talking in this way they drew near to the castle. When they were about four stonethrows from the gates they

`My dear Zizi,' said Tubby's son, `we cannot present ourselves before my father like two common people

who have come back from a walk. We must enter the castle with more ceremony. Wait for me here, and in an

When she was left by herself the poor girl began to feel afraid. She was alone for the first time in her life, and

Suddenly she heard a noise among the trees. Fearing lest it should be a wolf, she hid herself in the hollow

trunk of a willow tree which hung over the fountain. It was big enough to hold her altogether, but she peeped

Then there appeared, not a wolf, but a creature quite as wicked and quite as ugly. Let us see who this creature

Not far from the fountain there lived a family of bricklayers. Now, fifteen years before this time, the father in

walking through the forest found a little girl, who had been deserted by the gypsies. He carried her home to

his wife, and the good woman was sorry for her, and brought her up with her own sons. As she grew older,

the little gypsy became much more remarkable for strength and cunning than for sense or beauty. She had a

low forehead, a flat nose, thick lips, coarse hair, and a skin not golden like that of Zizi, but the colour of clay.

As she was always being teased about her complexion, she got as noisy and cross as a titmouse. So they used

Titty was often sent by the bricklayer to fetch water from the fountain, and as she was very proud and lazy

It was she who had frightened Zizi by appearing with her pitcher on her shoulder. Just as she was stooping to

`What a pretty face!' she exclaimed, `Why, it must be mine! How in the world can they call me ugly? I am

The gypsy returned to the fountain, and addressing once more the image of Zizi, she said:

`No; I don't mean to be a beast of burden any longer.' And she flung the bucket so high in the air that it stuck

`I met a wolf,' she told the bricklayer, `and I broke the bucket across his nose.'

The bricklayer asked her no more questions, but took down a broom and gave her such a beating that her

Titty went off rubbing her sides; but this time she did not dare to disobey, and in a very bad temper stooped

down over the well. It was not at all easy to fill the milkcan, which was large and round. It would not go

At last her arms grew so tired that when she did manage to get the can properly under the water she had no

On seeing the can disappear, she made such a miserable face that Zizi, who had been watching her all this

Titty turned round and perceived the mistake she had made; and she felt so angry that she made up her mind

`I am waiting for my lover,' Zizi replied; and then, with a simplicity quite natural in a girl who so lately had

The gypsy had often seen the young Prince pass by, with his gun on his shoulder, when he was going after

crows. She was too ugly and ragged for him ever to have noticed her, but Titty on her side had admired him,

`Dear, dear!' she said to herself. `So he likes yellow women! Why, I am yellow too, and if I could only think

`What!' cried the sly Titty, `they are coming with great pomp to fetch you, and you are not afraid to show

yourself to so many fine lords and ladies with your hair down like that? Get down at once, my poor child, and

The innocent Zizi came down at once, and stood by Titty. The gypsy began to comb her long brown locks,

when suddenly she drew a pin from her stays, and, just as the titmouse digs its beak into the heads of linnets

No sooner did Zizi feel the prick of the pin than she became a bird again, and, spreading her wings, she flew

`That was neatly done,' said the gypsy. `The Prince will be clever if he finds his bride.' And, arranging her

Meanwhile the Prince was coming as fast as his horse could carry him. He was so impatient that he was

always full fifty yards in front of the lords and ladies sent by Tubby to bring back Zizi.

`Ah me!' said Titty, `so you don't know your poor Zizi? While you were away the wicked witch came, and

turned me into this. But if you only have the courage to marry me I shall get back my beauty.' And she began

`Poor girl,' he thought to himself. `It is not her fault, after all, that she has grown so ugly, it is mine. Oh! why

did I not follow the old man's advice? Why did I leave her alone? And besides, it depends on me to break the

So he presented the gypsy to the lords and ladies of the Court, explaining to them the terrible misfortune

They all pretended to believe it, and the ladies at once put on the false princess the rich dresses they had

She was then perched on the top of a magnificent ambling palfrey, and they set forth to the castle.

But unluckily the rich dress and jewels only made Titty look uglier still, and Desire could not help feeling hot

Bells were pealing, chimes ringing, and the people filling the streets and standing at their doors to watch the

procession go by, and they could hardly believe their eyes as they saw what a strange bride their Prince had

In order to do her more honour, Tubby came to meet her at the foot of the great marble staircase. At the sight

`Yes, father, it is she,' replied Desire with a sheepish look. `But she has been bewitched by a wicked

`Does she say so? Well, if you believe that, you may drink cold water and think it bacon,' the unhappy Tubby

But all the same, as he adored his son, he gave the gypsy his hand and led her to the great hall, where the

The feast was excellent, but Desire hardly touched anything. However, to make up, the other guests ate

When the moment arrived to serve the roast goose, there was a pause, and Tubby took the opportunity to lay

down his knife and fork for a little. But as the goose gave no sign of appearing, he sent his head carver to find

While the goose was turning on the spit, a beautiful little canary hopped on to the sill of the open window.

`Goodmorning, my fine cook,' she said in a silvery voice to the man who was watching the roast.

`Goodmorning, lovely golden bird,' replied the chief of the scullions, who had been well brought up.

`I pray that Heaven may send you to sleep,' said the golden bird, `and that the goose may burn, so that there

And instantly the chief of the scullions fell fast asleep, and the goose was burnt to a cinder.

When he awoke he was horrified, and gave orders to pluck another goose, to stuff it with chestnuts, and put it

While it was browning at the fire, Tubby inquired for his goose a second time. The Master Cook himself

mounted to the hall to make his excuses, and to beg his lord to have a little patience. Tubby showed his

`As if it wasn't enough,' he grumbled between his teeth, `that the boy should pick up a hag without a penny,

but the goose must go and burn now. It isn't a wife he has brought me, it is Famine herself.'

While the Master Cook was upstairs, the golden bird came again to perch on the windowsill, and called in

`Goodmorning, lovely Golden Bird,' replied the Scullion, whom the Master Cook had forgotten in his

`I pray Heaven,' went on the Canary, `that it will send you to sleep, and that the goose may burn, so that there

And the Scullion fell fast asleep, and when the Master Cook came back he found the goose as black as the

In a fury he woke the Scullion, who in order to save himself from blame told the whole story.

`That accursed bird,' said the Cook; `it will end by getting me sent away. Come, some of you, and hide

`Goodmorning, lovely Golden Bird,' replied the Cook, as if nothing had happened, and at the moment that

the Canary was beginning, `I pray Heaven that it may send,' a scullion who was hidden outside rushed out

and shut the shutters. The bird flew into the kitchen. Then all the cooks and scullions sprang after it, knocking

at it with their aprons. At length one of them caught it just at the very moment that Tubby entered the kitchen,

waving his sceptre. He had come to see for himself why the goose had never made its appearance.

`Will some one be kind enough to tell me the meaning of all this?' cried the Lord of Avesnes.

`Your Excellency, it is the bird,' replied the Scullion, and he placed it in his hand.

`Nonsense! What a lovely bird!' said Tubby, and in stroking its head he touched a pin that was sticking

between its feathers. He pulled it out, and lo! the Canary at once became a beautiful girl with a golden skin

And he took her in his arms, crying: `My darling Zizi, how happy I am to see you once more!'

And he seated himself solemnly on the oven, and condemned Titty to be burned alive. After which the lords

The marriage took place a few days later. All the boys in the country side were there, armed with wooden

Zizi obtained Titty's pardon, and she was sent back to the brick fields, followed and hooted at by all the

boys. And this is why to day the country boys always throw stones at a titmouse.

On the evening of the weddingday all the larders, cellars, cupboards and tables of the people, whether rich

or poor, were loaded as if by enchantment with bread, wine, beer, cakes and tarts, roast larks, and even geese,

Since that time there has always been plenty to eat in that country, and since that time, too, you see in the

midst of the fair haired blueeyed women of Flanders a few beautiful girls, whose eyes are black and whose

THERE were once upon a time a King and a Queen who lived happily together, and they had twelve children,

`If our thirteenth child is a girl, all her twelve brothers must die, so that she may be very rich and the kingdom

Then he ordered twelve coffins to be made, and filled them with shavings, and placed a little pillow in each.

These he put away in an empty room, and, giving the key to his wife, he bade her tell no one of it.

The Queen grieved over the sad fate of her sons and refused to be comforted, so much so that the youngest

boy, who was always with her, and whom she had christened Benjamin, said to her one day:

But he left her no peace, till she went and unlocked the room and showed him the twelve coffins filled with

Then she said: `My dearest Benjamin, your father has had these coffins made for you and your eleven

brothers, because if I bring a girl into the world you are all to be killed and buried in them.'

`Don't cry, dear mother; we'll manage to escape somehow, and will fly for our lives.'

`Yes,' replied his mother, `that is what you must dogo with your eleven brothers out into the wood, and let

one of you always sit on the highest tree you can find, keeping watch on the tower of the castle. If I give birth

to a little son I will wave a white flag, and then you may safely return; but if I give birth to a little daughter I

will wave a red flag, which will warn you to fly away as quickly as you can, and may the kind Heaven have

pity on you. Every night I will get up and pray for you, in winter that you may always have a fire to warm

Then she blessed her sons and they set out into the wood. They found a very high oak tree, and there they sat,

turn about, keeping their eyes always fixed on the castle tower. On the twelfth day, when the turn came to

Benjamin, he noticed a flag waving in the air, but alas! it was not white, but blood red, the sign which told

them they must all die. When the brothers heard this they were very angry, and said:

`Shall we forsooth suffer death for the sake of a wretched girl? Let us swear vengeance, and vow that

wherever and whenever we shall meet one of her sex, she shall die at our hands.'

Then they went their way deeper into the wood, and in the middle of it, where it was thickest and darkest,

`Here,' they said, `let us take up our abode, and you, Benjamin, you are the youngest and weakest, you shall

stay at home and keep house for us; we others will go out and fetch food.' So they went forth into the wood,

and shot hares and roedeer, birds and wood pigeons, and any other game they came across. They always

brought their spoils home to Benjamin, who soon learnt to make them into dainty dishes. So they lived for ten

In the meantime their little sister at home was growing up quickly. She was kindhearted and of a fair

countenance, and she had a gold star right in the middle of her forehead. One day a big washing was going on

at the palace, and the girl looking down from her window saw twelve men's shirts hanging up to dry, and

`Who in the world do these shirts belong to? Surely they are far too small for my father?'

And the Queen answered sadly: `Dear child, they belong to your twelve brothers.'

`But where are my twelve brothers?' said the girl. `I have never even heard of them.'

`Heaven alone knows in what part of the wide world they are wandering,' replied her mother.

Then she took the girl and opened the lockedup room; she showed her the twelve coffins filled with

`These coffins,' she said, `were intended for your brothers, but they stole secretly away before you were born.'

Then she to tell her all that had happened, and when she had finished her daughter said:

So she took the twelve shirts and went on straight into the middle of the big wood. She walked all day long,

and came in the evening to the little enchanted house. She stepped in and found a youth who, marvelling at

her beauty, at the royal robes she wore, and at the golden star on her forehead, asked her where she came

`I am a Princess,' she answered, `and am seeking for my twelve brothers. I mean to wander as far as the blue

Then she showed him the twelve shirts which she had taken with her, and Benjamin saw that it must be his

So they wept for joy, and kissed and hugged each other again and again. After a time Benjamin said:

`Dear sister, there is still a little difficulty, for we had all agreed that any girl we met should die at our hands,

`But,' she replied, `I will gladly die if by that means I can restore my twelve brothers to their own.'

`No,' he answered, `there is no need for that; only go and hide under that tub till our eleven brothers come in,

She did as she was bid, and soon the others came home from the chase and sat down to supper.

`Well, Benjamin, what's the news?' they asked. But he replied, `I like that; have you nothing to tell me?'

Then he said: `Well, now, you've been out in the wood all the day and I've stayed quietly at home, and all the

But he answered: `Only on condition that you promise faithfully that the first girl we meet shall not be killed.'

Then Benjamin said: `Our sister is here!' and he lifted up the tub and the Princess stepped forward, with her

royal robes and with the golden star on her forehead, looking so lovely and sweet and charming that they all

They arranged that she should stay at home with Benjamin and help him in the house work, while the rest of

the brothers went out into the wood and shot hares and roedeer, birds and woodpigeons. And Benjamin

and his sister cooked their meals for them. She gathered herbs to cook the vegetables in, fetched the wood,

and watched the pots on the fire, and always when her eleven brothers returned she had their supper ready for

them. Besides this, she kept the house in order, tidied all the rooms, and made herself so generally useful that

One day the two at home prepared a fine feast, and when they were all assembled they sat down and ate and

Now there was a little garden round the enchanted house, in which grew twelve tall lilies. The girl, wishing to

please her brothers, plucked the twelve flowers, meaning to present one to each of them as they sat at supper.

But hardly had she plucked the flowers when her brothers were turned into twelve ravens, who flew croaking

So the poor girl found herself left all alone in the wood, and as she looked round her she noticed an old

`My child, what have you done? Why didn't you leave the flowers alone? They were your twelve brothers.

`No,' said the old woman, `there is only one way in the whole world, and that is so difficult that you won't

free them by it, for you would have to be dumb and not laugh for seven years, and if you spoke a single word,

though but an hour were wanting to the time, your silence would all have been in vain, and that one word

Then the girl said to herself: `If that is all I am quite sure I can free my brothers.' So she searched for a high

tree, and when she had found one she climbed up it and spun all day long, never laughing or speaking one

Now it happened one day that a King who was hunting in the wood had a large greyhound, who ran sniffing

to the tree on which the girl sat, and jumped round it, yelping and barking furiously. The King's attention was

attracted, and when he looked up and beheld the beautiful Princess with the golden star on her forehead, he

was so enchanted by her beauty that he asked her on the spot to be his wife. She gave no answer, but nodded

slightly with her head. Then he climbed up the tree himself, lifted her down, put her on his horse and bore her

The marriage was celebrated with much pomp and ceremony, but the bride neither spoke nor laughed.

When they had lived a few years happily together, the King's mother, who was a wicked old woman, began to

`She is only a lowborn beggar maid that you have married; who knows what mischief she is up to? If she is

deaf and can't speak, she might at least laugh; depend upon it, those who don't laugh have a bad conscience.'

At first the King paid no heed to her words, but the old woman harped so long on the subject, and accused the

young Queen of so many bad things, that at last he let himself be talked over, and condemned his beautiful

So a great fire was lit in the courtyard of the palace, where she was to be burnt, and the King watched the

proceedings from an upper window, crying bitterly the while, for he still loved his wife dearly. But just as she

had been bound to the stake, and the flames were licking her garments with their red tongues, the very last

moment of the seven years had come. Then a sudden rushing sound was heard in the air, and twelve ravens

were seen flying overhead. They swooped downwards, and as soon as they touched the ground they turned

They quenched the flames and put out the fire, and, unbinding their dear sister from the stake. they kissed and

hugged her again and again. And now that she was able to open her mouth and speak, she told the King why

The King rejoiced greatly when he heard she was innocent, and they all lived happily ever afterwards.[22]

ONCE upon a time there lived a man and his wife who were very unhappy because they had no children.

These good people had a little window at the back of their house, which looked into the most lovely garden,

full of all manner of beautiful flowers and vegetables; but the garden was surrounded by a high wall, and no

one dared to enter it, for it belonged to a witch of great power, who was feared by the whole world. One day

the woman stood at the window overlooking the garden, and saw there a bed full of the finest rampion: the

leaves looked so fresh and green that she longed to eat them. The desire grew day by day, and just because

she knew she couldn't possibly get any, she pined away and became quite pale and wretched. Then her

`Oh,' she answered, `if I don't get some rampion to eat out of the garden behind the house, I know I shall die.'

The man, who loved her dearly, thought to himself, `Come! rather than let your wife die you shall fetch her

some rampion, no matter the cost.' So at dusk he climbed over the wall into the witch's garden, and, hastily

gathering a handful of rampion leaves, he returned with them to his wife. She made them into a salad, which

tasted so good that her longing for the forbidden food was greater than ever. If she were to know any peace of

mind, there was nothing for it but that her husband should climb over the garden wall again, and fetch her

some more. So at dusk over he got, but when he reached the other side he drew back in terror, for there,

`How dare you,' she said, with a wrathful glance, `climb into my garden and steal my rampion like a common

`Oh!' he implored, `pardon my presumption; necessity alone drove me to the deed. My wife saw your

rampion from her window, and conceived such a desire for it that she would certainly have died if her wish

had not been gratified.' Then the Witch's anger was a little appeased, and she said:

`If it's as you say, you may take as much rampion away with you as you like, but on one condition onlythat

you give me the child your wife will shortly bring into the world. All shall go well with it, and I will look

The man in his terror agreed to everything she asked, and as soon as the child was born the Witch appeared,

and having given it the name of Rapunzel, which is the same as rampion, she carried it off with her.

Rapunzel was the most beautiful child under the sun. When she was twelve years old the Witch shut her up in

a tower, in the middle of a great wood, and the tower had neither stairs nor doors, only high up at the very top

a small window. When the old Witch wanted to get in she stood underneath and called out:

for Rapunzel had wonderful long hair, and it was as fine as spun gold. Whenever she heard the Witch's voice

she unloosed her plaits, and let her hair fall down out of the window about twenty yards below, and the old

After they had lived like this for a few years, it happened one day that a Prince was riding through the wood

and passed by the tower. As he drew near it he heard someone singing so sweetly that he stood still

spellbound, and listened. It was Rapunzel in her loneliness trying to while away the time by letting her

sweet voice ring out into the wood. The Prince longed to see the owner of the voice, but he sought in vain for

a door in the tower. He rode home, but he was so haunted by the song he had heard that he returned every day

to the wood and listened. One day, when he was standing thus behind a tree, he saw the old Witch approach

`So that's the staircase, is it?' said the Prince. `Then I too will climb it and try my luck.'

At first Rapunzel was terribly frightened when a man came in, for she had never seen one before; but the

Prince spoke to her so kindly, and told her at once that his heart had been so touched by her singing, that he

felt he should know no peace of mind till he had seen her. Very soon Rapunzel forgot her fear, and when he

asked her to marry him she consented at once. `For,' she thought, `he is young and handsome, and I'll

certainly be happier with him than with the old Witch.' So she put her hand in his and said:

`Yes, I will gladly go with you, only how am I to get down out of the tower? Every time you come to see me

you must bring a skein of silk with you, and I will make a ladder of them, and when it is finished I will climb

They arranged that till the ladder was ready, he was to come to her every evening, because the old woman

was with her during the day. The old Witch, of course, knew nothing of what was going on, till one day

`How is it, good mother, that you are so much harder to pull up than the young Prince? He is always with me

`Oh! you wicked child,' cried the Witch. `What is this I hear? I thought I had hidden you safely from the

In her wrath she seized Rapunzel's beautiful hair, wound it round and round her left hand, and then grasping a

pair of scissors in her right, snip snap, off it came, and the beautiful plaits lay on the ground. And, worse than

this, she was so hardhearted that she took Rapunzel to a lonely desert place, and there left her to live in

But on the evening of the day in which she had driven poor Rapunzel away, the Witch fastened the plaits on

she let them down, and the Prince climbed up as usual, but instead of his beloved Rapunzel he found the old

`Ah, ah! you thought to find your lady love, but the pretty bird has flown and its song is dumb; the cat caught

it, and will scratch out your eyes too. Rapunzel is lost to you for everyou will never see her more.'

The Prince was beside himself with grief, and in his despair he jumped right down from the tower, and,

though he escaped with his life, the thorns among which he fell pierced his eyes out. Then he wandered, blind

and miserable, through the wood, eating nothing but roots and berries, and weeping and lamenting the loss of

his lovely bride. So he wandered about for some years, as wretched and unhappy as he could well be, and at

last he came to the desert place where Rapunzel was living. Of a sudden he heard a voice which seemed

strangely familiar to him. He walked eagerly in the direction of the sound, and when he was quite close,

Rapunzel recognised him and fell on his neck and wept. But two of her tears touched his eyes, and in a

moment they became quite clear again, and he saw as well as he had ever done. Then he led her to his

kingdom, where they were received and welcomed with great joy, and they lived happily ever after.[23]

ONCE upon a time there lived at Quesnoy, in Flanders, a great lord whose name was Burchard, but whom the

country people called Burchard the Wolf. Now Burchard had such a wicked, cruel heart, that it was

whispered how he used to harness his peasants to the plough, and force them by blows from his whip to till

His wife, on the other hand, was always tender and pitiful to the poor and miserable.

Every time that she heard of another misdeed of her husband's she secretly went to repair the evil, which

caused her name to be blessed throughout the whole countryside. This Countess was adored as much as the

One day when he was out hunting the Count passed through a forest, and at the door of a lonely cottage he

`That may be so; but come to the castle, and I will make you lady's maid to the Countess.'

`I cannot do that, my lord. I have to look after my grandmother, who is very helpless.'

`Come to the castle, I tell you. I shall expect you this evening,' and he went on his way.

But Renelde, who was betrothed to a young woodcutter called Guilbert, had no intention of obeying the

`I told you, my lord, that I have to look after my grandmother.' `Come tomorrow, and I will make you

This offer produced no more effect than the other, and Renelde did not go to the castle.

`If you will only come,' said the Count to her when next he rode by, `I will send away the Countess, and will

But two years before, when Renelde's mother was dying of a long illness, the Countess had not forgotten

them, but had given help when they sorely needed it. So even if the Count had really wished to marry

Renelde hoped she had got rid of him, when one day he stopped at the door, his duckgun under his arm and

`I will give you leave on one condition. Do you see those tall nettles that grow on the tombs in the

churchyard? Go and gather them, and spin them into two fine shifts. One shall be your bridal shift, and the

other shall be my shroud. For you shall be married the day that I am laid in my grave.' And the Count turned

Renelde trembled. Never in all Locquignol had such a thing been heard of as the spinning of nettles.

And besides, the Count seemed made of iron and was very proud of his strength, often boasting that he

Every evening, when his work was done, Guilbert came to visit his future bride. This evening he came as

`Would you like me to watch for the Wolf, and split his skull with a blow from my axe?'

`No,' replied Renelde, `there must be no blood on my bridal bouquet. And then we must not hurt the Count.

An old, old woman now spoke: she was the mother of Renelde's grandmother, and was more than ninety

years old. All day long she sat in her chair nodding her head and never saying a word.

`My children,' she said, `all the years that I have lived in the world, I have never heard of a shift spun from

Renelde did try, and to her great surprise the nettles when crushed and prepared gave a good thread, soft and

light and firm. Very soon she had spun the first shift, which was for her own wedding. She wove and cut it

out at once, hoping that the Count would not force her to begin the other. Just as she had finished sewing it,

`Here, my lord, is my wedding garment,' answered Renelde, showing him the shift, which was the finest and

The spinner set to work. As the Count returned to the castle, a cold shiver passed over him, and he felt, as the

saying is, that some one was walking over his grave. He tried to eat his supper, but could not; he went to bed

shaking with fever. But he did not sleep, and in the morning could not manage to rise.

This sudden illness, which every instant became worse, made him very uneasy. No doubt Renelde's

spinningwheel knew all about it. Was it not necessary that his body, as well as his shroud, should be ready

`Continue your work, sweetheart. It is the only way of gaining it. You know he told you so himself.'

The following morning, as soon as she had put the house in order, the girl sat down to spin. Two hours after

there arrived some soldiers, and when they saw her spinning they seized her, tied her arms and legs, and

When they reached the bank they flung her in, and watched her sink, after which they left her. But Renelde

Again came the two soldiers to the cottage and seized the girl, carried her to the river bank, tied a stone to her

The moment their backs were turned the stone untied itself. Renelde waded the ford, returned to the hut, and

This time the Count resolved to go to Locquignol himself; but, as he was very weak and unable to walk, he

When he saw her he fired a shot at her, as he would have fired at a wild beast. The bullet rebounded without

Burchard fell into such a violent rage that it nearly killed him. He broke the wheel into a thousand pieces, and

then fell fainting on the ground. He was carried back to the castle, unconscious.

The next day the wheel was mended, and the spinner sat down to spin. Feeling that while she was spinning he

was dying, the Count ordered that her hands should be tied, and that they should not lose sight of her for one

But the guards fell asleep, the bonds loosed themselves, and the spinner spun on.

Burchard had every nettle rooted up for three leagues round. Scarcely had they been torn from the soil when

They sprung up even in the welltrodden floor of the cottage, and as fast as they were uprooted the distaff

gathered to itself a supply of nettles, crushed, prepared, and ready for spinning.

Moved by pity for her husband, the Countess at last found out the cause of his illness, and entreated him to

allow himself to be cured. But the Count in his pride refused more than ever to give his consent to the

So the lady resolved to go without his knowledge to pray for mercy from the spinner, and in the name of

Renelde's dead mother she besought her to spin no more. Renelde gave her promise, but in the evening

Guilbert arrived at the cottage. Seeing that the cloth was no farther advanced than it was the evening before,

he inquired the reason. Renelde confessed that the Countess had prayed her not to let her husband die.

`The Countess will understand that it is not your fault; the Count alone is guilty of his own death.'

So they waited for one month, for two, for six, for a year. The spinner spun no more. The Count had ceased to

persecute her, but he still refused his consent to the marriage. Guilbert became impatient.

The poor girl loved him with her whole soul, and she was more unhappy than she had been before, when

But the young man grew weary. He came more rarely to Locquignol, and very soon he did not come at all.

She might have humbled his pride had she gone to her spinning wheel again, but she did nothing of the sort.

Not long after she learnt that Guilbert had left the country. He did not even come to say goodbye to her, but,

all the same, she knew the day and hour of his departure, and hid herself on the road to see him once more.

When she came in she put her silent wheel into a corner, and cried for three days and three nights.

So another year went by. Then the Count fell ill, and the Countess supposed that Renelde, weary of waiting,

had begun her spinning anew; but when she came to the cottage to see, she found the wheel silent.

However, the Count grew worse and worse till he was given up by the doctors. The passing bell was rung,

and he lay expecting Death to come for him. But Death was not so near as the doctors thought, and still he

He seemed in a desperate condition, but he got neither better nor worse. He could neither live nor die; he

In this extremity he remembered what he had told the little spinner long ago. If Death was so slow in coming,

He sent to fetch Renelde, placed her by his bedside, and ordered her at once to go on spinning his shroud.

Hardly had the spinner begun to work when the Count began to feel his pains grow less.

Then at last his heart melted; he was sorry for all the evil he had done out of pride, and implored Renelde to

When the thread of the nettles was spun she wove it with her shuttle, and then cut the shroud and began to

And as before, when she sewed the Count felt his pains grow less, and the life sinking within him, and when

At the same hour Guilbert returned to the country, and, as he had never ceased to love Renelde, he married

He had lost two years of happiness, but comforted himself with thinking that his wife was a clever spinner,

THERE was once upon a time a man and a woman who had an only son, and he was called Jack. The woman

thought that it was his duty to go out to service, and told her husband that he was to take him somewhere.

`You must get him such a good place that he will become master of all masters,' she said, and then she put

Well, they went to a great many masters, but all said that they could make the lad as good as they were

themselves, but better than that they could not make him. When the man came home to the old woman with

this answer, she said, `I shall be equally well pleased whatever you do with him; but this I do say, that you are

to have him made a master over all masters.' Then she once more put some food and a roll of tobacco into the

When they had walked some distance they got upon the ice, and there they met a man in a carriage who was

`I have to go and get my son apprenticed to someone who will be able to teach him a trade, for my old

woman comes of such welltodo folk that she insists on his being taught to be master of all masters,' said

`We are not ill met, then,' said the man who was driving, `for I am the kind of man who can do that, and I am

just looking out for such an apprentice. Get up behind with you,' he said to the boy, and off the horse went

`No, no, wait a little!' screamed the father of the boy. `I ought to know what your name is and where you

`Oh, I am at home both in the north and the south and the east and the west, and I am called Farmer

Weatherbeard,' said the master. `You may come here again in a year's time, and then I will tell you if the lad

`Ah! Heaven only knows what has become of him!' said the man. `They went up aloft.' And then he told her

But when the woman heard that, and found that the man did not at all know either when their son would be

out of his apprentice ship, or where he had gone, she packed him off again to find out, and gave him a bag

When he had walked for some time he came to a great wood, and it stretched before him all day long as he

went on, and when night began to fall he saw a great light, and went towards it. After a long, long time he

came to a small hut at the foot of a rock, outside which an old woman was standing drawing water up from a

`Goodevening to you too,' said the old woman. `No one has called me mother this hundred years.'

`No,' said the old woman. But the man took out his roll of tobacco, lighted a little of it, and then gave her a

whiff. Then she was so delighted that she began to dance, and thus the man got leave to stay the night there. It

She said that she knew nothing about him, but that she ruled over all the fourfooted beasts, and some of

them might know him. So she gathered them all together by blowing a whistle which she had, and questioned

them, but there was not one of them which knew anything about Farmer Weatherbeard.

`Well,' said the old woman, `there are three of us sisters; it may be that one of the other two knows where he

is to be found. You shall have the loan of my horse and carriage, and then you will get there by night; but her

The man set out and got there at night. When he arrived, this old woman also was standing drawing water out

`Goodevening to you,' said the old woman. `No one has ever called me mother this hundred years.'

Then he took out the roll of tobacco, took a whiff, and gave the old woman some snuff on the back of her

hand. Then she was so delighted that she began to dance, and the man got leave to stay all night. It was not

She knew nothing about him, but she ruled over all the fishes, she said, and perhaps some of them might

know something. So she gathered them all together by blowing a whistle which she had, and questioned

them, but there was not one of them which knew anything about Farmer Weatherbeard.

`Well,' said the old woman, `I have another sister; perhaps she may know something about him. She lives six

hundred miles off, but you shall have my horse and carriage, and then you will get there by nightfall.'

So the man set off and he got there by nightfall. The old woman was standing raking the fire, and she was

`Goodevening to you,' said the old woman. `No one has called me mother this hundred years.'

`No,' said the old woman. But the man pulled out his roll of tobacco again, and filled his pipe with some of it,

and gave the old woman enough snuff to cover the back of her hand. Then she was so delighted that she

began to dance, and the man got leave to stay in her house. It was not long before he asked about Farmer

Weatherbeard. She knew nothing at all about him, she said, but she governed all the birds; and she gathered

them together with her whistle. When she questioned them all, the eagle was not there, but it came soon

afterwards, and when asked, it said that it had just come from Farmer Weatherbeard's. Then the old woman

said that it was to guide the man to him. But the eagle would have something to eat first, and then it wanted

to wait until the next day, for it was so tired with the long journey that it was scarcely able to rise from the

When the eagle had had plenty of food and rest, the old woman plucked a feather out of its tail, and set the

man in the feather's place, and then the bird flew away with him, but they did not get to Farmer

When they got there the Eagle said: `There are a great many dead bodies lying outside the door, but you must

not concern yourself about them. The people who are inside the house are all so sound asleep that it will not

be easy to awake them; but you must go straight to the tabledrawer, and take out three bits of bread, and if

you hear anyone snoring, pluck three feathers from his head; he will not waken for that.'

The man did this; when he had got the bits of bread he first plucked out one feather.

So the man plucked out another, and then Farmer Weatherbeard shrieked `Oof!' again; but when the man had

plucked the third, Farmer Weatherbeard screamed so loudly that the man thought that brick and mortar would

be rent in twain, but for all that he went on sleeping. And now the Eagle told the man what he was to do next,

and he did it. He went to the stable door, and there he stumbled against a hard stone, which he picked up, and

beneath it lay three splinters of wood, which he also picked up. He knocked at the stable door and it opened at

once. He threw down the three little bits of bread and a hare came out and ate them. He caught the hare. Then

the Eagle told him to pluck three feathers out of its tail, and put in the hare, the stone, the splinters of wood

`Then we shall do well to fly on a little farther,' said the Eagle, and off it set.

`Then throw down the three feathers which you plucked out of his head,' said the Eagle.

So the man did this, and no sooner had he flung them down than the feathers became a flock of ravens, which

chased the crows home again. Then the Eagle flew on much farther with the man, but at length it alighted on

`I am not quite certain,' said the man, `but I think I see something coming in the far distance.'

`Then we shall do well to fly on a little farther,' said the Eagle, and away it went.

`Then throw down the splinters of wood which you took from beneath the gray stone by the stable door,' said

the Eagle. The man did this, and no sooner had he flung them down than they grew up into a great thick

wood, and Farmer Weatherbeard had to go home for an axe to cut his way through it. So the Eagle flew on a

`Yes; I am not quite certain,' said the man, `but I think I can catch a glimpse of something far, far away.'

`Then we shall do well to fly on a little farther,' said the Eagle, and it set off again.

`Then you must fling down the great stone which you took away from the stable door,' said the Eagle.

The man did so, and it turned into a great high mountain of stone, which Farmer Weatherbeard had to break

his way through before he could follow them. But when he had got to the middle of the mountain he broke

While he was doing this the Eagle flew off to the man's home with him, and with the hare, and when they had

got home the man went to the churchyard, and had some Christian earth laid upon the hare, and then it turned

When the time came for the fair the youth turned himself into a lightcoloured horse, and bade his father go

to the market with him. `If anyone should come who wants to buy me,' said he, `you are to tell him that you

want a hundred dollars for me; but you must not forget to take off the halter, for if you do I shall never be

able to get away from Farmer Weatherbeard, for he is the man who will come and bargain for me.'

And thus it happened. A horsedealer came who had a great fancy to bargain for the horse, and the man got a

hundred dollars for it, but when the bargain was made, and Jack's father had got the money, the horsedealer

`That was no part of our bargain,' said the man, `and the halter you shall not have, for I have other horses

So each of them went his way. But the horse dealer had not got very far with Jack before he resumed his own

The next day he changed himself into a brown horse and told his father that he was to set off to market with

him. `If a man should come who wants to buy me,' said Jack, `you are to tell him that you want two hundred

dollars, for that he will give, and treat you besides; but whatsoever you drink, and whatsoever you do, don't

And thus it happened. The man got his two hundred dollars for the horse, and was treated as well, and when

they parted from each other it was just as much as he could do to remember to take off the halter. But the

buyer had not got far on his way before the youth took his own form again, and when the man reached home

On the third day all happened in the same way. The youth changed himself into a great black horse, and told

his father that if a man came and offered him three hundred dollars, and treated him well and handsomely

into the bargain, he was to sell him, but whatsoever he did, or how much soever he drank, he must not forget

to take off the halter, or else he himself would never get away from Farmer Weatherbeard as long as he lived.

When he got to the market, he received the three hundred dollars, but Farmer Weatherbeard treated him so

handsomely that he quite forgot to take off the halter; so Farmer Weatherbeard went away with the horse.

When he had got some distance he had to go into an inn to get some more brandy; so he set a barrel full of

redhot nails under his horse's nose, and a trough filled with oats beneath its tail, and then he tied the halter

fast to a hook and went away into the inn. So the horse stood there stamping, and kicking, and snorting, and

rearing, and out came a girl who thought it a sin and a shame to treat a horse so ill.

`Ah, poor creature, what a master you must have to treat you thus!' she said, and pushed the halter off the

`I am here!' shrieked Farmer Weatherbeard, rushing out of doors. But the horse had already shaken off the

halter and flung himself into a goosepond, where he changed himself into a little fish. Farmer Weatherbeard

went after him, and changed himself into a great pike. So Jack turned himself into a dove, and Farmer

Weatherbeard turned himself into a hawk, and flew after the dove and struck it. But a Princess was standing

`If thou didst but know as much as I know, thou wouldst fly in to me through the window,' said the Princess

So the dove came flying in through the window and changed itself into Jack again, and told her all as it had

`Change thyself into a gold ring, and set thyself on my finger,' said the Princess.

`No, that will not do,' said Jack, `for then Farmer Weatherbeard will make the King fall sick, and there will be

no one who can make him well again before Farmer Weatherbeard comes and cures him, and for that he will

`I will say that it was my mother's, and that I will not part with it,' said the Princess.

So Jack changed himself into a gold ring, and set himself on the Princess's finger, and Farmer Weatherbeard

could not get at him there. But then all that the youth had foretold came to pass.

The King became ill, and there was no doctor who could cure him till Farmer Weatherbeard arrived, and he

So the King sent a messenger to the Princess for the ring. She, however, refused to part with it, because she

had inherited it from her mother. When the King was informed of this he fell into a rage, and said that he

`Well, it's of no use to be angry about it,' said the Princess, `for I can't get it off. If you want the ring you will

`I will try, and then the ring will very soon come off,' said Farmer Weatherbeard.

`No, thank you, I will try myself,' said the Princess, and she went away to the fireplace and put some ashes on

Farmer Weatherbeard changed himself into a hare, which scratched and scraped about in the fireplace after

the ring until the ashes were up to its ears. But Jack changed himself into a fox, and bit the hare's head off,

and if Farmer Weatherbeard was possessed by the evil one all was now over with him.[25]

ONCE upon a time there was a widow who had two daughters; one of them was pretty and clever, and the

other ugly and lazy. But as the ugly one was her own daughter, she liked her far the best of the two, and the

pretty one had to do all the work of the house, and was in fact the regular maid of all work. Every day she had

to sit by a well on the high road, and spin till her fingers were so sore that they often bled. One day some

drops of blood fell on her spindle, so she dipped it into the well meaning to wash it, but, as luck would have

it, it dropped from her hand and fell right in. She ran weeping to her stepmother, and told her what had

happened, but she scolded her harshly, and was so merciless in her anger that she said:

`Well, since you've dropped the spindle down, you must just go after it yourself, and don't let me see your

Then the poor girl returned to the well, and not knowing what she was about, in the despair and misery of her

heart she sprang into the well and sank to the bottom. For a time she lost all consciousness, and when she

came to herself again she was lying in a lovely meadow, with the sun shining brightly overhead, and a

thousand flowers blooming at her feet. She rose up and wandered through this enchanted place, till she came

`Oh! take me out, take me out, or I shall be burnt to a cinder. I am quite done enough.'

So she stepped up quickly to the oven and took out all the loaves one after the other. Then she went on a little

farther and came to a tree laden with beautiful rosycheeked apples, and as she passed by it called out:

She did as she was asked, and shook the tree till the apples fell like rain and none were left hanging. When

she had gathered them all up into a heap she went on her way again, and came at length to a little house, at

the door of which sat an old woman. The old dame had such large teeth that the girl felt frightened and

`What are you afraid of, dear child? Stay with me and be my little maid, and if you do your work well I will

reward you handsomely; but you must be very careful how you make my bedyou must shake it well till the

feathers fly; then people in the world below say it snows, for I am Mother Holle.'

She spoke so kindly that the girl took heart and agreed readily to enter her service. She did her best to please

the old woman, and shook her bed with such a will that the feathers flew about like snowflakes; so she led a

very easy life, was never scolded, and lived on the fat of the land. But after she had been some time with

Mother Holle she grew sad and depressed, and at first she hardly knew herself what was the matter. At last

`I know I am a thousand times better off here than I ever was in my life before, but notwithstanding, I have a

great longing to go home, in spite of all your kindness to me. I can remain with you no longer, but must

`Your desire to go home pleases me,' said Mother Holle, `and because you have served me so faithfully, I will

So she took her by the hand and led her to an open door, and as the girl passed through it there fell a heavy

`That's a reward for being such a good little maid,' said Mother Holle, and she gave her the spindle too that

had fallen into the well. Then she shut the door, and the girl found herself back in the world again, not far

from her own house; and when she came to the courtyard the old hen, who sat on the top of the wall, called

Then she went in to her stepmother, and as she had returned covered with gold she was welcomed home.

She proceeded to tell all that had happened to her, and when the mother heard how she had come by her

riches, she was most anxious to secure the same luck for her own idle, ugly daughter; so she told her to sit at

the well and spin. In order to make her spindle bloody, she stuck her hand into a hedge of thorns and pricked

her finger. Then she threw the spindle into the well, and jumped in herself after it. Like her sister she came to

the beautiful meadow, and followed the same path. When she reached the baker's oven the bread called out as

`Oh! take me out, take me out, or I shall be burnt to a cinder. I am quite done enough.'

And so she pursued her way. When she came to Mother Holle's house she wasn't the least afraid, for she had

been warned about her big teeth, and she readily agreed to become her maid. The first day she worked very

hard, and did all her mistress told her, for she thought of the gold she would give her; but on the second day

she began to be lazy, and on the third she wouldn't even get up in the morning. She didn't make Mother

Holle's bed as she ought to have done, and never shook it enough to make the feathers fly. So her mistress

Mother Holle led her to the same door as she had done her sister, but when she passed through it, instead of

`That's a reward for your service,' said Mother Holle, and she closed the door behind her.

So the lazy girl came home all covered with pitch, and when the old hen on the top of the wall saw her, it

But the pitch remained sticking to her, and never as long as she lived could it be got off.[26]

THERE was once upon a time a couple of needy folk who lived in a wretched hut, in which there was

nothing but black want; so they had neither food to eat nor wood to burn. But if they had next to nothing of

all else they had the blessing of God so far as children were concerned, and every year brought them one

more. The man was not overpleased at this. He was always going about grumbling and growling, and saying

that it seemed to him that there might be such a thing as having too many of these good gifts; so shortly

before another baby was born he went away into the wood for some firewood, saying that he did not want to

see the new child; he would hear him quite soon enough when he began to squall for some food.

As soon as this baby was born it began to look about the room. `Ah, my dear mother!' said he, `give me some

of my brothers' old clothes, and food enough for a few days, and I will go out into the world and seek my

`Heaven help thee, my son!' said the mother, `that will never do; thou art still far too little.'

But the little creature was determined to do it, and begged and prayed so long that the mother was forced to

let him have some old rags, and tie up a little food for him, and then gaily and happily he went out into the

But almost before he was out of the house another boy was born, and he too looked about him, and said, `Ah,

my dear mother! give me some of my brothers' old clothes, and food for some days, and then I will go out

`Heaven help thee, little creature! thou art far too little for that,' said the woman; `it would never do.'

But she spoke to no purpose, for the boy begged and prayed until he had got some old rags and a bundle of

provisions, and then he set out manfully into the world to find his twin brother.

When the younger had walked for some time he caught sight of his brother a short distance in front of him,

`Wait a minute,' he said; `you are walking as if for a wager, but you ought to have stayed to see your younger

So the elder stood still and looked back, and when the younger had got up to him, and had told him that he

was his brother, he said: `But now, let us sit down and see what kind of food our mother has given us,' and

When they had walked on a little farther they came to a brook which ran through a green meadow, and there

the younger said that they ought to christen each other. `As we had to make such haste, and had no time to do

`I will be called Minnikin,' answered the second; `and you, what will you be called?'

They christened each other and then went onwards. When they had walked for some time they came to a

crossway, and there they agreed to part, and each take his own road. This they did, but no sooner had they

walked a short distance than they met again. So they parted once more, and each took his own road, but in a

very short time the same thing happened againthey met each other before they were at all aware, and so it

happened the third time also. Then they arranged with each other that each should choose his own quarter,

`But if ever you fall into any need or trouble,' said the elder, `call me thrice, and I will come and help you;

`In that case we shall not see each other for some time,' said Minnikin; so they bade farewell to each other,

When Minnikin had walked a long way alone, he met an old, old crookbacked hag, who had only one eye.

`I will give thee a sword which is such a sword that it can conquer a whole army, let it be ever so great,'

The old hag gave him the sword, so she got her eye back. Then Minnikin went onwards, and when he had

wandered on for some time he again met an old, old crookbacked hag, who had only one eye. Minnikin

`I will give thee a ship which can sail over fresh water and salt water, over high hills and deep dales,'

So the old woman gave him a little bit of a ship which was no bigger than he could put in his pocket, and then

she got her eye back, and she went her way and Minnikin his. When he had walked on for a long time, he met

for the third time an old, old crookbacked hag, who had only one eye. This eye also Minnikin stole, and

when the woman screamed and lamented, and asked what had become of her eye, Minnikin said, `What will

So, for teaching that art, the old hag got her eye back, and they both went away by different roads.

But when Minnikin had walked a short distance, it seemed to him that it might be worth while to see what his

ship could do; so he took it out of his pocket, and first he put one foot into it, and then the other, and no

sooner had he put one foot into the ship than it became much larger, and when he set the other foot into it, it

Then Minnikin said: `Now go over fresh water and salt water, over high hills and deep dales, and do not stop

And in an instant the ship went away as swiftly as any bird in the air till it got just below the King's palace,

From the windows of the King's palace many persons had seen Minnikin come sailing thither, and had stood

to watch him; and they were all so astounded that they ran down to see what manner of man this could be

who came sailing in a ship through the air. But while they were running down from the King's palace,

Minnikin had got out of the ship and had put it in his pocket again; for the moment he got out of it, it once

more became as small as it had been when he got it from the old woman, and those who came from the

King's palace could see nothing but a ragged little boy who was standing down by the seashore. The King

asked where he had come from, but the boy said he did not know, nor yet could he tell them how he had got

there, but he begged very earnestly and prettily for a place in the King's palace. If there was nothing else for

him to do, he said he would fetch wood and water for the kitchenmaid, and that he obtained leave to do.

When Minnikin went up to the King's palace he saw that everything there was hung with black both outside

and inside, from the bottom to the top; so he asked the kitchenmaid what that meant.

`Oh, I will tell you that,' answered the kitchenmaid. `The King's daughter was long ago promised away to

three Trolls, and next Thursday evening one of them is to come to fetch her. Ritter Red has said that he will

be able to set her free, but who knows whether he will be able to do it? so you may easily imagine what grief

So when Thursday evening came, Ritter Red accompanied the Princess to the seashore; for there she was to

meet the Troll, and Ritter Red was to stay with her and protect her. He, however, was very unlikely to do the

Troll much injury, for no sooner had the Princess seated herself by the seashore than Ritter Red climbed up

into a great tree which was standing there, and hid himself as well as he could among the branches.

The Princess wept, and begged him most earnestly not to go and leave her; but Ritter Red did not concern

In the meantime Minnikin begged the kitchenmaid very prettily to give him leave to go down to the strand

`Oh, what could you do down at the strand?' said the kitchen maid. `You have nothing to do there.'

`Oh yes, my dear, just let me go,' said Minnikin. `I should so like to go and amuse myself with the other

`Well, well, go then!' said the kitchenmaid, `but don't let me find you staying there over the time when the

pan has to be set on the fire for supper, and the roast put on the spit; and mind you bring back a good big

Just as he got to the place where the King's daughter was sitting, the Troll came rushing up with a great

whistling and whirring, and he was so big and stout that he was terrible to see, and he had five heads.

So the Troll struck at him with a great thick iron bar which he had in his fist, till the sods flew five yards up

`Fie!' said Minnikin. `That was not much of a blow. Now you shall see one of mine.'

So he grasped the sword which he had got from the old crook backed woman, and slashed at the Troll so

When the Princess saw that she was delivered she was so delighted that she did not know what she was

`Come and sleep a bit with your head in my lap,' she said to Minnikin, and as he slept she put a golden dress

But when Ritter Red saw that there was no longer any danger afoot, he lost no time in creeping down from

the tree. He then threatened the Princess, until at length she was forced to promise to say that it was he who

had rescued her, for he told her that if she did not he would kill her. Then he took the Troll's lungs and tongue

and put them in his pockethandkerchief, and led the Princess back to the King's palace; and whatsoever had

been lacking to him in the way of honour before was lacking no longer, for the King did not know how to

As for Minnikin, first he went out on the Troll's ship and took a great quantity of gold and silver hoops away

When the kitchenmaid caught sight of all this gold and silver she was quite amazed, and said: `My dear

friend Minnikin, where have you got all that from?' for she was half afraid that he had not come by it

`Oh,' answered Minnikin, `I have been home a while, and these hoops had fallen off some of our buckets, so I

So when the kitchenmaid heard that they were for her, she asked no more questions about the matter. She

Next Thursday evening all went just the same, and everyone was full of grief and affliction, but Ritter Red

said that he had been able to deliver the King's daughter from one Troll, so that he could very easily deliver

her from another, and he led her down to the seashore. But he did not do much harm to this Troll either, for

when the time came when the Troll might be expected, he said as he had said before: `It is better that one

Minnikin once more begged the cook's leave to go down to the seashore for a short time.

`My dear, do let me go!' said Minnikin; `I should so like to go down there and amuse myself a little with the

So this time also she said that he should have leave to go, but he must first promise that he would be back by

the time the joint was turned and that he would bring a great armful of wood with him.

No sooner had Minnikin got down to the strand than the Troll came rushing along with a great whistling and

So the Troll struck at him with his iron clubwhich was still bigger than that which the first Troll had

`Fie!' said Minnikin. `That was not much of a blow. Now you shall see one of my blows.'

Then he grasped his sword and struck at the Troll, so that all his ten heads danced away over the sands.

And again the King's daughter said to him, `Sleep a while on my lap,' and while Minnikin lay there she drew

As soon as Ritter Red saw that there was no longer any danger afoot, he crept down from the tree and

threatened the Princess, until at last she was again forced to promise to say that it was he who had rescued

her; after which he took the tongue and the lungs of the Troll and put them in his pockethandkerchief, and

then he conducted the Princess back to the palace. There was joy and gladness in the palace, as may be

imagined, and the King did not know how to show enough honour and respect to Ritter Red.

Minnikin, however, took home with him an armful of gold and silver hoops from the Troll's ship. When he

came back to the King's palace the kitchenmaid clapped her hands and wondered where he could have got

all that gold and silver; but Minnikin answered that he had been home for a short time, and that it was only

the hoops which had fallen off some pails, and that he had brought them away for the kitchenmaid.

When the third Thursday evening came, everything happened exactly as it had happened on the two former

occasions. Everything in the King's palace was hung with black, and everyone was sorrowful and distressed;

but Ritter Red said that he did not think that they had much reason to be afraidhe had delivered the King's

daughter from two Trolls, so he could easily deliver her from the third as well.

He led her down to the strand, but when the time drew near for the Troll to come, he climbed up into the tree

The Princess wept and entreated him to stay, but all to no purpose. He stuck to his old speech, `It is better that

However, he begged until at last he got leave to go, but he was forced to promise that he would be back again

Almost immediately after he had got down to the seashore the Troll came with a great whizzing and

whirring, and he was much, much bigger than either of the two former ones, and he had fifteen heads.

`I will teach you,' yelled the Troll, and struck at him with his iron club so that the earth flew up fifteen yards

`Fie!' said Minnikin. `That was not much of a blow. Now I will let you see one of my blows.'

So saying he grasped his sword, and cut at the Troll in such a way that all his fifteen heads danced away over

Then the Princess was delivered, and she thanked Minnikin and blessed him for saving her.

`Sleep a while now on my lap,' said she, and while he lay there she put a garment of brass upon him.

`But now, how shall we have it made known that it was you who saved me?' said the King's daughter.

`That I will tell you,' answered Minnikin. `When Ritter Red has taken you home again, and given out that it

was he who rescued you, he will, as you know, have you to wife, and half the kingdom. But when they ask

you on your weddingday whom you will have to be your cupbearer, you must say, ``I will have the ragged

boy who is in the kitchen, and carries wood and water for the kitchenmaid;'' and when I am filling your cups

for you, I will spill a drop upon his plate but none upon yours, and then he will be angry and strike me, and

this will take place thrice. But the third time you must say, ``Shame on you thus to smite the beloved of mine

heart. It is he who delivered me from the Troll, and he is the one whom I will have.'' '

Then Minnikin ran back to the King's palace as he had done before, but first he went on board the Troll's ship

and took a great quantity of gold and silver and other precious things, and out of these he once more gave to

No sooner did Ritter Red see that all danger was over than he crept down from the tree, and threatened the

King's daughter till he made her promise to say that he had rescued her. Then he conducted her back to the

King's palace, and if honour enough had not been done him before it was certainly done now, for the King

had no other thought than how to make much of the man who had saved his daughter from the three Trolls;

and it was settled then that Ritter Red should marry her, and receive half the kingdom.

On the weddingday, however, the Princess begged that she might have the little boy who was in the kitchen,

and carried wood and water for the kitchenmaid, to fill the winecups at the wedding feast.

`Oh, what can you want with that dirty, ragged boy, in here?' said Ritter Red, but the Princess said that she

insisted on having him as cupbearer and would have no one else; and at last she got leave, and then

everything was done as had been agreed on between the Princess and Minnikin. He spilt a drop on Ritter

Red's plate but none upon hers, and each time that he did it Ritter Red fell into a rage and struck him. At the

first blow all the ragged garments which he had worn in the kitchen fell from off Minnikin, at the second

blow the brass garments fell off, and at the third the silver raiment, and there he stood in the golden raiment,

Then the King's daughter said: `Shame on you thus to smite the beloved of my heart. It is he who delivered

Ritter Red swore that he was the man who had saved her, but the King said: `He who delivered my daughter

So Ritter Red ran off at once for his handkerchief with the lungs and tongue, and Minnikin went and brought

all the gold and silver and precious things which he had taken out of the Trolls' ships; and they each of them

`He who has such precious things in gold and silver and diamonds,' said the King, `must be the one who

killed the Troll, for such things are not to be had anywhere else.' So Ritter Red was thrown into the snakepit,

One day the King went out walking with Minnikin, and Minnikin asked him if he had never had any other

`Yes,' said the King, `I had another daughter, but the Troll carried her away because there was no one who

could deliver her. You are going to have one daughter of mine, but if you can set free the other, who has been

taken by the Troll, you shall willingly have her too, and the other half of the kingdom as well.'

`I may as well make the attempt,' said Minnikin, `but I must have an iron rope which is five hundred ells

long, and then I must have five hundred men with me, and provisions for five weeks, for I have a long voyage

So the King said he should have these things, but the King was afraid that he had no ship large enough to

`But I have a ship of my own,' said Minnikin, and he took the one which the old woman had given him out of

his pocket. The King laughed at him and thought that it was only one of his jokes, but Minnikin begged him

just to give him what he had asked for, and then he should see something. Then all that Minnikin had asked

for was brought; and first he ordered them to lay the cable in the ship, but there was no one who was able to

lift it, and there was only room for one or two men at a time in the little bit of a ship. Then Minnikin himself

took hold of the cable, and laid one or two links of it into the ship, and as he threw the links into it the ship

grew bigger and bigger, and at last it was so large that the cable, and the five hundred men, and provisions,

`Now go over fresh water and salt water, over hill and dale, and do not stop until thou comest to where the

King's daughter is,' said Minnikin to the ship, and off it went in a moment over land and water till the wind

When they had sailed thus a long, long way, the ship stopped short in the middle of the sea.

`Ah, now we have got there,' said Minnikin, `but how we are to get back again is a very different thing.'

Then he took the cable and tied one end of it round his body. `Now I must go to the bottom,' he said, `but

when I give a good jerk to the cable and want to come up again, you must all pull like one man, or there will

be an end of all life both for you and for me.' So saying he sprang into the water, and yellow bubbles rose up

all around him. He sank lower and lower, and at last he came to the bottom. There he saw a large hill with a

door in it, and in he went. When he had got inside he found the other Princess sitting sewing, but when she

`Ah, heaven be praised!' she cried, `I have not seen a Christian man since I came here.'

`Alas! you will not be able to get me,' said the King's daughter. `It is no use even to think of that; if the Troll

`You had better tell me about him,' said Minnikin. `Where is he gone? It would be amusing to see him.'

So the King's daughter told Minnikin that the Troll was out trying to get hold of someone who could brew a

hundred lasts of malt at one brewing, for there was to be a feast at the Troll's, at which less than that would

`Ah! if only the Troll were not so quicktempered I might have told him that,' answered the Princess, `but he

is so illnatured that he will tear you to pieces, I fear, as soon as he comes in. But I will try to find some way

of doing it. Can you hide yourself here in the cupboard? and then we will see what happens.'

Minnikin did this, and almost before he had crept into the cupboard and hidden himself, came the Troll.

`Yes, a bird flew over the roof with a Christian man's bone in his bill, and let it fall down our chimney,'

answered the Princess. `I made haste enough to get it away again, but it must be that which smells so,

Then the Princess asked if he had got hold of anyone who could brew a hundred lasts of malt at one brewing.

`A short time since there was a man here who said he could do it,' said the King's daughter.

`How clever you always are!' said the Troll. `How could you let him go away? You must have known that I

`Well, but I didn't let him go, after all,' said the Princess; `but father is so quicktempered, so I hid him in the

When Minnikin came, the Troll asked if it were true that he could brew a hundred lasts of malt at one

`It is well then that I have lighted on thee,' said the Troll. `Fall to work this very minute, but Heaven help thee

`Oh, it shall taste well,' said Minnikin, and at once set himself to work to brew.

`But I must have more trolls to help to carry what is wanted,' said Minnikin; `these that I have are good for

So he got more and so many that there was a swarm of them, and then the brewing went on. When the

sweetwort was ready they were all, as a matter of course, anxious to taste it, first the Troll himself and then

the others; but Minnikin had brewed the wort so strong that they all fell down dead like so many flies as soon

as they had drunk any of it. At last there was no one left but one wretched old hag who was lying behind the

`Oh, poor old creature!' said Minnikin, `you shall have a taste of the wort too like the rest.' So he went away

and scooped up a little from the bottom of the brewing vat in a milk pan, and gave it to her, and then he was

While Minnikin was now standing there looking about him, he cast his eye on a large chest. This he took and

filled it with gold and silver, and then he tied the cable round himself and the Princess and the chest, and

tugged at the rope with all his might, whereupon his men drew them up safe and sound.

As soon as Minnikin had got safely on his ship again, he said: `Now go over salt water and fresh water, over

hill and dale, and do not stop until thou comest unto the King's palace.' And in a moment the ship went off so

When those who were in the King's palace saw the ship, they lost no time in going to meet him with song and

music, and thus they marched up towards Minnikin with great rejoicings; but the gladdest of all was the King,

But now Minnikin was not happy, for both the Princesses wanted to have him, and he wanted to have none

other than the one whom he had first saved, and she was the younger. For this cause he was continually

walking backwards and forwards, thinking how he could contrive to get her, and yet do nothing that was

unkind to her sister. One day when he was walking about and thinking of this, it came into his mind that if he

only had his brother, King Pippin, with him, who was so like himself that no one could distinguish the one

from the other, he could let him have the elder Princess and half the kingdom; as for himself, he thought, the

other half was quite enough. As soon as this thought occurred to him he went outside the palace and called

for King Pippin, but no one came. So he called a second time, and a little louder, but no! still no one came. So

Minnikin called for the third time, and with all his might, and there stood his brother by his side.

`I told you that you were not to call me unless you were in the utmost need,' he said to Minnikin, `and there is

not even so much as a midge here who can do you any harm!' and with that he gave Minnikin such a blow

`Shame on you to strike me!' said Minnikin. `First have I won one Princess and half the kingdom, and then

the other Princess and the other half of the kingdom; and now, when I was just thinking that I would give you

one of the Princesses and one of the halves of the kingdom, do you think you have any reason to give me

When King Pippin heard that he begged his brother's pardon, and they were reconciled at once and became

`Now, as you know,' said Minnikin, `we are so like each other that no one can tell one of us from the other; so

just change clothes with me and go up to the palace, and then the Princesses will think that I am coming in,

and the one who kisses you first shall be yours, and I will have the other.' For he knew that the elder Princess

King Pippin at once agreed to this. He changed clothes with his brother, and went into the palace. When he

entered the Princess's apartments they believed that he was Minnikin, and both of them ran up to him at once;

but the elder, who was bigger and stronger, pushed her sister aside, and threw her arms round King Pippin's

neck and kissed him; so he got her to wife, and Minnikin the younger sister. It will be easy to understand that

two weddings took place, and they were so magnificent that they were heard of and talked about all over

THERE was once on a time a widower who had a son and a daughter by his first wife. They were both good

children, and loved each other with all their hearts. After some time had gone by the man married again, and

he chose a widow with one daughter who was ugly and wicked, and her mother was ugly and wicked too.

From the very day that the new wife came into the house there was no peace for the man's children, and not a

corner to be found where they could get any rest; so the boy thought that the best thing he could do was to go

When he had roamed about for some time he came to the King's palace, where he obtained a place under the

coachman; and very brisk and active he was, and the horses that he looked after were so fat and sleek, that

But his sister, who was still at home, fared worse and worse. Both her stepmother and her stepsister were

always finding fault with her, whatsoever she did and whithersoever she went, and they scolded her and

abused her so that she never had an hour's peace. They made her do all the hard work, and hard words fell to

One day they sent her to the brook to fetch some water home, and an ugly and horrible head rose up out of

`Yes, I will wash you with pleasure,' said the girl, and began to wash and scrub the ugly face, but she couldn't

help thinking that it was a very unpleasant piece of work. When she had done it, and done it well, another

`Yes, I will brush you with pleasure,' said the girl, and set to work with the tangled hair, and, as may be easily

When she had got it done, another and a much more ugly and horriblelooking head rose up out of the water.

`Yes, I will kiss you,'' said the man's daughter, and she did it, but she thought it was the worst bit of work that

So the heads all began to talk to each other, and to ask what they should do for this girl who was so full of

`She shall be the prettiest girl that ever was, and fair and bright as the day,' said the first head.

So when the man's daughter went home, looking as beautiful and bright as day, the stepmother and her

daughter grew much more illtempered, and it was worse still when she began to talk, and they saw that

golden coins dropped from her mouth. The stepmother fell into such a towering passion that she drove the

man's daughter into the pigstyeshe might stay there with her fine show of gold, the stepmother said, but

It was not long before the mother wanted her own daughter to go to the stream to fetch some water.

When she got there with her pails, the first head rose up out of the water close to the bank. `Wash me, girl!' it

So again the heads talked together about what they should do for this girl who was so illtempered and full of

her own importance, and they agreed that she should have a nose that was four ells long, and a jaw that was

three ells, and a fir bush in the middle of her forehead, and every time she spoke ashes should fall from her

When she came back to the cottage door with her pails, she called to her mother who was inside, `Open the

When the mother came and saw her you may imagine what a state of mind she was in, and how she screamed

Now the brother, who was in service in the King's palace, had taken a portrait of his sister, and he had carried

the picture away with him, and every morning and evening he knelt down before it and prayed for his sister,

The other stableboys had heard him doing this, so they peeped through the keyhole into his room, and saw

that he was kneeling there before a picture; so they told everyone that every morning and evening the youth

knelt down and prayed to an idol which he had; and at last they went to the King himself, and begged that he

too would peep through the keyhole, and see for himself what the youth did. At first the King would not

believe this, but after a long, long time, they prevailed with him, and he crept on tiptoe to the door, peeped

through, and saw the youth on his knees, with his hands clasped together before a picture which was hanging

So the King called to him again, but the youth was praying so fervently that he did not hear him this time

So the youth sprang to the door and unlocked it, but in his haste he forgot to hide the picture.

When the King entered and saw it, he stood still as if he were in fetters, and could not stir from the spot, for

But the youth told him that she was his sister, and that he had painted her, and that if she was not prettier than

`Well, if she is as beautiful as that, I will have her for my Queen,' said the King, and he commanded the youth

to go home and fetch her without a moment's delay, and to lose no time in coming back. The youth promised

When the brother arrived at home to fetch his sister, her stepmother and stepsister would go too. So they all

set out together, and the man's daughter took with her a casket in which she kept her gold, and a dog which

was called Little Snow. These two things were all that she had inherited from her mother. When they had

travelled for some time they had to cross the sea, and the brother sat down at the helm, and the mother and

the two half sisters went to the forepart of the vessel, and they sailed a long, long way. At last they came in

`Look at that white strand there; that is where we shall land,' said the brother, pointing across the sea.

`He says that you are to throw your casket out into the sea,' answered the stepmother.

`Well, if my brother says so, I must do it,' said the man's daughter, and she flung her casket into the sea.

When they had sailed for some time longer, the brother once more pointed over the sea. `There you may see

`Now he says that you are to throw your dog into the sea,' answered the stepmother.

The man's daughter wept, and was sorely troubled, for Little Snow was the dearest thing she had on earth, but

`If my brother says that, I must do it, but Heaven knows how unwilling I am to throw thee out, Little Snow!'

`There may'st thou see the King coming out to meet thee,' said the brother, pointing to the seashore.

`Now he says that you are to make haste and throw yourself overboard,' answered the stepmother.

She wept and she wailed, but as her brother had said that, she thought she must do it; so she leaped into the

But when they arrived at the palace, and the King beheld the ugly bride with a nose that was four ells long, a

jaw that was three ells, and a forehead that had a bush in the middle of it, he was quite terrified; but the

wedding feast was all prepared, as regarded brewing and baking, and all the wedding guests were sitting

But he was very wroth, and none can blame him for that; so he caused the brother to be thrown into a pit full

On the first Thursday night after this, a beautiful maiden came into the kitchen of the palace, and begged the

kitchenmaid, who slept there, to lend her a brush. She begged very prettily, and got it, and then she brushed

A little dog was with her, and she said to it, `Go out, Little Snow, and see if it will soon be day!'

This she said thrice, and the third time that she sent out the dog to see, it was very near dawn. Then she was

`Out on thee, ugly Bushy Bride, Sleeping so soft by the young King's side, On sand and stones my bed I

In the morning the kitchenmaid related what she had seen and heard, and the King said that next Thursday

night he himself would watch in the kitchen and see if this were true, and when it had begun to grow dark he

went out into the kitchen to the girl. But though he rubbed his eyes and did everything he could to keep

himself awake it was all in vain, for the Bushy Bride crooned and sang till his eyes were fast closed, and

This time also, as before, she borrowed a brush and brushed her hair with it, and the gold dropped down as

she did it; and again she sent the dog out three times, and when day dawned she departed, but as she was

going she said as she had said before, `I shall come once more, and then never again.'

On the third Thursday night the King once more insisted on keeping watch. Then he set two men to hold him;

each of them was to take an arm, and shake him and jerk him by the arm whenever he seemed to be going to

fall asleep; and he set two men to watch his Bushy Bride. But as the night wore on the Bushy Bride again

began to croon and to sing, so that his eyes began to close and his head to droop on one side. Then came the

lovely maiden, and got the brush and brushed her hair till the gold dropped from it, and then she sent her

Little Snow out to see if it would soon be day, and this she did three times. The third time it was just

`Out on thee, ugly Bushy Bride, Sleeping so soft by the young King's side, On sand and stones my bed I

`Now I shall never come again,' she said, and then she turned to go. But the two men who were holding the

King by the arms seized his hands and forced a knife into his grasp, and then made him cut her little finger

Thus the true bride was freed. The King then awoke, and she told him all that had taken place, and how her

stepmother and stepsister had betrayed her. Then the brother was at once taken out of the snakepitthe

snakes had never touched himand the stepmother and stepsister were flung down into it instead of him.

No one can tell how delighted the King was to get rid of that hideous Bushy Bride, and get a Queen who was

And now the real wedding was held, and held in such a way that it was heard of and spoken about all over

seven kingdoms. The King and his bride drove to church, and Little Snow was in the carriage too. When the

blessing was given they went home again, and after that I saw no more of them.[28]

ONCE upon a time, in the middle of winter when the snowflakes were falling like feathers on the earth, a

Queen sat at a window framed in black ebony and sewed. And as she sewed and gazed out to the white

landscape, she pricked her finger with the needle, and three drops of blood fell on the snow outside, and

`Oh! what wouldn't I give to have a child as white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as ebony!'

And her wish was granted, for not long after a little daughter was born to her, with a skin as white as snow,

lips and cheeks as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony. They called her Snowdrop, and not long after her

After a year the King married again. His new wife was a beautiful woman, but so proud and overbearing that

she couldn't stand any rival to her beauty. She possessed a magic mirror, and when she used to stand before it

But Snowdrop was growing prettier and prettier every day, and when she was seven years old she was as

beautiful as she could be, and fairer even than the Queen herself. One day when the latter asked her mirror

Then the Queen flew into the most awful passion, and turned every shade of green in her jealousy. From this

hour she hated poor Snowdrop like poison, and every day her envy, hatred, and malice grew, for envy and

jealousy are like evil weeds which spring up and choke the heart. At last she could endure Snowdrop's

`Take the child out into the wood, and never let me see her face again. You must kill her, and bring me back

The Huntsman did as he was told and led Snowdrop out into the wood, but as he was in the act of drawing

`Oh, dear Huntsman, spare my life, and I will promise to fly forth into the wide wood and never to return

`Well, run along, poor child.' For he thought to himself: `The wild beasts will soon eat her up.'

And his heart felt lighter because he hadn't had to do the deed himself. And as he turned away a young boar

came running past, so he shot it, and brought its lungs and liver home to the Queen as a proof that Snowdrop

was really dead. And the wicked woman had them stewed in salt, and ate them up, thinking she had made an

Now when the poor child found herself alone in the big wood the very trees around her seemed to assume

strange shapes, and she felt so frightened she didn't know what to do. Then she began to run over the sharp

stones, and through the bramble bushes, and the wild beasts ran past her, but they did her no harm. She ran as

far as her legs would carry her, and as evening approached she saw a little house, and she stepped inside to

rest. Everything was very small in the little house, but cleaner and neater than anything you can imagine. In

the middle of the room there stood a little table, covered with a white tablecloth, and seven little plates and

forks and spoons and knives and tumblers. Side by side against the wall there were seven little beds, covered

with snowwhite counterpanes. Snowdrop felt so hungry and so thirsty that she ate a bit of bread and a little

porridge from each plate, and drank a drop of wine out of each tumbler. Then feeling tired and sleepy she lay

down on one of the beds, but it wasn't comfortable; then she tried all the others in turn, but one was too long,

and another too short, and it was only when she got to the seventh that she found one to suit her exactly. So

When it got quite dark the masters of the little house returned. They were seven dwarfs who worked in the

mines, right down deep in the heart of the mountain. They lighted their seven little lamps, and as soon as their

eyes got accustomed to the glare they saw that someone had been in the room, for all was not in the same

Then the first Dwarf looked round and saw a little hollow in his bed, and he asked again:

But when the seventh came to his bed, he started back in amazement, for there he beheld Snowdrop fast

asleep. Then he called the others, who turned their little lamps full on the bed, and when they saw Snowdrop

And they were so enchanted by her beauty that they did not wake her, but let her sleep on in the little bed. But

the seventh Dwarf slept with his companions one hour in each bed, and in this way he managed to pass the

In the morning Snowdrop awoke, but when she saw the seven little Dwarfs she felt very frightened. But they

were so friendly and asked her what her name was in such a kind way, that she replied:

Then she told them how her stepmother had wished her put to death, and how the Huntsman had spared her

life, and how she had run the whole day till she had come to their little house. The Dwarfs, when they had

`Will you stay and keep house for us, cook, make the beds, the washing, sew and knit? and if you give

And so she took up her abode with them. Every morning the Dwarfs went into the mountain to dig for gold,

and in the evening, when they returned home, Snowdrop always had their supper ready for them. But during

`Beware of your stepmother. She will soon find out you are here, and whatever you do don't let anyone into

Now the Queen, after she thought she had eaten Snowdrop's lungs and liver, never dreamed but that she was

once more the most beautiful woman in the world; so stepping before her mirror one day she said:

`My Lady Queen, you are fair, 'tis true, But Snowdrop is fairer far than you. Snowdrop, who dwells with the

When the Queen heard these words she was nearly struck dumb with horror, for the mirror always spoke the

truth, and she knew now that the Huntsman must have deceived her, and that Snowdrop was still alive. She

pondered day and night how she might destroy her, for as long as she felt she had a rival in the land her

jealous heart left her no rest. At last she hit upon a plan. She stained her face and dressed herself up as an old

peddler wife, so that she was quite unrecognisable. In this guise she went over the seven hills till she came to

the house of the seven Dwarfs. There she knocked at the door, calling out at the same time:

`Good wares, fine wares,' she answered; `laces of every shade and description,' and she held one up that was

`Surely I can let the honest woman in,' thought Snowdrop; so she unbarred the door and bought the pretty

`Good gracious! child,' said the old woman, `what a figure you've got. Come! I'll lace you up properly for

Snowdrop, suspecting no evil, stood before her and let her lace her bodice up, but the old woman laced her so

quickly and so tightly that it took Snowdrop's breath away, and she fell down dead.

`Now you are no longer the fairest,' said the wicked old woman, and then she hastened away.

In the evening the seven Dwarfs came home, and you may think what a fright they got when they saw their

dear Snowdrop lying on the floor, as still and motionless as a dead person. They lifted her up tenderly, and

when they saw how tightly laced she was they cut the lace in two, and she began to breathe a little and

gradually came back to life. When the Dwarfs heard what had happened, they said:

`Depend upon it, the old peddler wife was none other than the old Queen. In future you must be sure to let no

As soon as the wicked old Queen got home she went straight to her mirror, and said:

`My Lady Queen, you are fair, 'tis true, But Snowdrop is fairer far than you. Snowdrop, who dwells with the

When she heard this she became as pale as death, because she saw at once that Snowdrop must be alive

`This time,' she said to herself, `I will think of something that will make an end of her once and for all.'

And by the witchcraft which she understood so well she made a poisonous comb; then she dressed herself up

and assumed the form of another old woman. So she went over the seven hills till she reached the house of

`But surely you are not forbidden to look out?' said the old woman, and she held up the poisonous comb for

It pleased the girl so much that she let herself be taken in, and opened the door. When they had settled their

Poor Snowdrop thought no evil, but hardly had the comb touched her hair than the poison worked and she fell

`Now, my fine lady, you're really done for this time,' said the wicked woman, and she made her way home as

Fortunately it was now near evening, and the seven Dwarfs returned home. When they saw Snowdrop lying

dead on the ground, they at once suspected that her wicked stepmother had been at work again; so they

searched till they found the poisonous comb, and the moment they pulled it out of her head Snowdrop came

to herself again, and told them what had happened. Then they warned her once more to be on her guard, and

`My Lady Queen, you are fair, 'tis true, But Snowdrop is fairer far than you. Snowdrop, who dwells with the

Then she went to a little secret chamber, which no one knew of but herself, and there she made a poisonous

apple. Outwardly it looked beautiful, white with red cheeks, so that everyone who saw it longed to eat it, but

anyone who might do so would certainly die on the spot. When the apple was quite finished she stained her

face and dressed herself up as a peasant, and so she went over the seven hills to the seven Dwarfs'. She

knocked at the door, as usual, but Snowdrop put her head out of the window and called out:

`Are you afraid of being poisoned?' asked the old woman. `See, I will cut this apple in half. I'll eat the white

But the apple was so cunningly made that only the red cheek was poisonous. Snowdrop longed to eat the

tempting fruit, and when she saw that the peasant woman was eating it herself, she couldn't resist the

temptation any longer, and stretching out her hand she took the poisonous half. But hardly had the first bite

passed her lips than she fell down dead on the ground. Then the eyes of the cruel Queen sparkled with glee,

`As white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as ebony, this time the Dwarfs won't be able to bring you

Then her jealous heart was at restat least, as much at rest as a jealous heart can ever be.

When the little Dwarfs came home in the evening they found Snowdrop lying on the ground, and she neither

breathed nor stirred. They lifted her up, and looked round everywhere to see if they could find anything

poisonous about. They unlaced her bodice, combed her hair, washed her with water and wine, but all in vain;

the child was dead and remained dead. Then they placed her on a bier, and all the seven Dwarfs sat round it,

weeping and sobbing for three whole days. At last they made up their minds to bury her, but she looked as

blooming as a living being, and her cheeks were still such a lovely colour, that they said:

So they had a coffin made of transparent glass, and they laid her in it, and wrote on the lid in golden letters

that she was a royal Princess. Then they put the coffin on the top of the mountain, and one of the Dwarfs

always remained beside it and kept watch over it. And the very birds of the air came and bewailed

Snowdrop's death, first an owl, and then a raven, and last of all a little dove.

Snowdrop lay a long time in the coffin, and she always looked the same, just as if she were fast asleep, and

Now it happened one day that a Prince came to the wood and passed by the Dwarfs' house. He saw the coffin

on the hill, with the beautiful Snowdrop inside it, and when he had read what was written on it in golden

But the Dwarf said: `No; we wouldn't part with it for all the gold in the world.'

`Well, then,' he replied, `give it to me, because I can't live without Snowdrop. I will cherish and love it as my

He spoke so sadly that the good Dwarfs had pity on him, and gave him the coffin, and the Prince made his

servants bear it away on their shoulders. Now it happened that as they were going down the hill they

stumbled over a bush, and jolted the coffin so violently that the poisonous bit of apple Snowdrop had

swallowed fell out of her throat. She gradually opened her eyes, lifted up the lid of the coffin, and sat up alive

The Prince answered joyfully, `You are with me,' and he told her all that had happened. adding, `I love you

better than anyone in the whole wide world. Will you come with me to my father's palace and be my wife?'

Snowdrop consented, and went with him, and the marriage was celebrated with great pomp and splendour.

Now Snowdrop's wicked stepmother was one of the guests invited to the wedding feast. When she had

dressed herself very gorgeously for the occasion, she went to the mirror, and said:

When the wicked woman heard these words she uttered a curse, and was beside herself with rage and

mortification. At first she didn't want to go to the wedding at all, but at the same time she felt she would

never be happy till she had seen the young Queen. As she entered Snowdrop recognised her, and nearly

fainted with fear; but redhot iron shoes had been prepared for the wicked old Queen, and she was made to

THERE was once a man who had three sons. The youngest of them was called Dullhead, and was sneered

One day it happened that the eldest son wished to go into the forest to cut wood, and before he started his

mother gave him a fine rich cake and a bottle of wine, so that he might be sure not to suffer from hunger or

When he reached the forest he met a little old grey man who wished him `Goodmorning,' and said: `Do give

me a piece of that cake you have got in your pocket, and let me have a draught of your wineI am so hungry

But this clever son replied: `If I give you my cake and wine I shall have none left for myself; you just go your

own way;' and he left the little man standing there and went further on into the forest. There he began to cut

down a tree, but before long he made a false stroke with his axe, and cut his own arm so badly that he was

Then the second son went to the forest, and his mother gave him a good cake and a bottle of wine as she had

to his elder brother. He too met the little old grey man, who begged him for a morsel of cake and a draught of

But the second son spoke most sensibly too, and said: `Whatever I give to you I deprive myself of. Just go

your own way, will you?' Not long after his punishment overtook him, for no sooner had he struck a couple

of blows on a tree with his axe, than he cut his leg so badly that he had to be carried home.

But his father answered: `Both your brothers have injured themselves. You had better leave it alone; you

But Dullhead begged so hard to be allowed to go that at last his father said: `Very well, thengo. Perhaps

when you have hurt yourself, you may learn to know better.' His mother only gave him a very plain cake

When he got to the forest, he too met the little grey old man, who greeted him and said: `Give me a piece of

And Dullhead replied: `I've only got a cindercake and some sour beer, but if you care to have that, let us sit

So they sat down, and when Dullhead brought out his cake he found it had turned into a fine rich cake, and

the sour beer into excellent wine. Then they ate and drank, and when they had finished the little man said:

`Now I will bring you luck, because you have a kind heart and are willing to share what you have with others.

There stands an old tree; cut it down, and amongst its roots you'll find something.' With that the little man

Then Dullhead fell to at once to hew down the tree, and when it fell he found amongst its roots a goose,

whose feathers were all of pure gold. He lifted it out, carried it off, and took it with him to an inn where he

Now the landlord of the inn had three daughters, and when they saw the goose they were filled with curiosity

as to what this wonderful bird could be, and each longed to have one of its golden feathers.

The eldest thought to herself: `No doubt I shall soon find a good opportunity to pluck out one of its feathers,'

and the first time Dullhead happened to leave the room she caught hold of the goose by its wing. But, lo and

behold! her fingers seemed to stick fast to the goose, and she could not take her hand away.

Soon after the second daughter came in, and thought to pluck a golden feather for herself too; but hardly had

she touched her sister than she stuck fast as well. At last the third sister came with the same intentions, but

The younger sister could not imagine why she was to keep off, and thought to herself: `If they are both there,

So she sprang to them; but no sooner had she touched one of them than she stuck fast to her. So they all three

Next morning Dullhead tucked the goose under his arm and went off, without in the least troubling himself

about the three girls who were hanging on to it. They just had to run after him right or left as best they could.

In the middle of a field they met the parson, and when he saw this procession he cried: `For shame, you bold

girls! What do you mean by running after a young fellow through the fields like that? Do you call that proper

behaviour?' And with that he caught the youngest girl by the hand to try and draw her away. But directly he

Not long after the clerk came that way, and was much surprised to see the parson following the footsteps of

three girls. `Why, where is your reverence going so fast?' cried he; `don't forget there is to be a christening

today;' and he ran after him, caught him by the sleeve, and hung on to it himself: As the five of them trotted

along in this fashion one after the other, two peasants were coming from their work with their hoes. On

seeing them the parson called out and begged them to come and rescue him and the clerk. But no sooner did

they touch the clerk than they stuck on too, and so there were seven of them running after Dullhead and his

After a time they all came to a town where a King reigned whose daughter was so serious and solemn that no

one could ever manage to make her laugh. So the King had decreed that whoever should succeed in making

When Dullhead heard this he marched before the Princess with his goose and its appendages, and as soon as

she saw these seven people continually running after each other she burst out laughing, and could not stop

herself. Then Dullhead claimed her as his bride, but the King, who did not much fancy him as a soninlaw,

made all sorts of objections, and told him he must first find a man who could drink up a whole cellarful of

Dullhead bethought him of the little grey man, who could, he felt sure, help him; so he went off to the forest,

and on the very spot where he had cut down the tree he saw a man sitting with a most dismal expression of

Dullhead asked him what he was taking so much to heart, and the man answered: `I don't know how I am

ever to quench this terrible thirst I am suffering from. Cold water doesn't suit me at all. To be sure I've

`I think I can help you,' said Dullhead. `Come with me, and you shall drink to your heart's content.' So he

took him to the King's cellar, and the man sat down before the huge casks and drank and drank till he drank

Then Dullhead asked once more for his bride, but the King felt vexed at the idea of a stupid fellow whom

people called `Dullhead' carrying off his daughter, and he began to make fresh conditions. He required

Dullhead to find a man who could eat a mountain of bread. Dullhead did not wait to consider long but went

straight off to the forest, and there on the same spot sat a man who was drawing in a strap as tight as he could

round his body, and making a most woeful face the while. Said he: `I've eaten up a whole oven full of loaves,

but what's the good of that to anyone who is as hungry as I am? I declare my stomach feels quite empty, and I

Dullhead was delighted, and said: `Get up and come with me, and you shall have plenty to eat,' and he

Now the King had given orders to have all the flour in his kingdom brought together, and to have a huge

mountain baked of it. But the man from the wood just took up his stand before the mountain and began to eat,

For the third time Dullhead asked for his bride, but again the King tried to make some evasion, and demanded

a ship `which could sail on land or water! When you come sailing in such a ship,' said he, `you shall have my

Again Dullhead started off to the forest, and there he found the little old grey man with whom he had shared

his cake, and who said: `I have eaten and I have drunk for you, and now I will give you the ship. I have done

Then he gave Dullhead a ship which could sail on land or water, and when the King saw it he felt he could no

So they celebrated the wedding with great rejoicings; and after the King's death Dullhead succeeded to the

THERE was once upon a time a couple of poor folks who lived in a wretched hut, far away from everyone

else, in a wood. They only just managed to live from hand to mouth, and had great difficulty in doing even so

much as that, but they had three sons, and the youngest of them was called Cinderlad, for he did nothing else

One day the eldest lad said that he would go out to earn his living; he soon got leave to do that, and set out on

his way into the world. He walked on and on for the whole day, and when night was beginning to fall he

came to a royal palace. The King was standing outside on the steps, and asked where he was going.

`Wilt thou serve me, and watch my seven foals?' asked the King. `If thou canst watch them for a whole day

and tell me at night what they eat and drink, thou shalt have the Princess and half my kingdom, but if thou

The youth thought that it was very easy work to watch the foals, and that he could do it well enough.

Next morning, when day was beginning to dawn, the King's Master of the Horse let out the seven foals; and

they ran away, and the youth after them just as it chanced, over hill and dale, through woods end bogs. When

the youth had run thus for a long time he began to be tired, and when he had held on a little longer he was

heartily weary of watching at all, and at the same moment he came to a cleft in a rock where an old woman

As soon as she caught sight of the youth, who was running after the foals till the perspiration streamed down

The lad was willing enough, so he sat down in the cleft of the rock beside the old hag, and laid his head on

her knees, and she combed his hair all day while he lay there and gave himself up to idleness.

`I may just as well go straight home again,' said he, `for it is no use to go to the King's palace.'

`Wait till it is dusk,' said the old hag, `and then the King's foals will pass by this place again, and you can run

home with them; no one will ever know that you have been lying here all day instead of watching the foals.'

So when they came she gave the lad a bottle of water and a bit of moss, and told him to show these to the

`Hast thou watched faithfully and well the whole day long?' said the King, when the lad came into his

`Then you are able to tell me what it is that my seven foals eat and drink,' said the King.

So the youth produced the bottle of water and the bit of moss which he had got from the old woman, saying:

Then the King knew how his watching had been done, and fell into such a rage that he ordered his people to

chase the youth back to his own home at once; but first they were to cut three red stripes in his back, and rub

When the youth reached home again, anyone can imagine what a state of mind he was in. He had gone out

Next day the second son said that he would now go out into the world to seek his fortune. His father and

mother said `No,' and bade him look at his brother's back, but the youth would not give up his design, and

stuck to it, and after a long, long time he got leave to go, and set forth on his way. When he had walked all

day he too came to the King's palace, and the King was standing outside on the steps, and asked where he

was going; and when the youth replied that he was going about in search of a place, the King said that he

might enter into his service and watch his seven foals. Then the King promised him the same punishment and

The youth at once consented to this and entered into the King's service, for he thought he could easily watch

In the grey light of dawn the Master of the Horse let out the seven foals, and off they went again over hill and

dale, and off went the lad after them. But all went with him as it had gone with his brother. When he had run

after the foals for a long, long time and was hot and tired, he passed by a cleft in the rock where an old

The youth liked the thought of this, let the foals run where they chose, and seated himself in the cleft of the

rock by the side of the old hag. So there he sat with his head on her lap, taking his ease the livelong day.

The foals came back in the evening, and then he too got a bit of moss and a bottle of water from the old hag,

which things he was to show to the King. But when the King asked the youth: `Canst thou tell me what my

seven foals eat and drink?' and the youth showed him the bit of moss and the bottle of water, and said: `Yes

here may you behold their meat, and here their drink,' the King once more became wroth, and commanded

that three red stripes should be cut on the lad's back, that salt should be strewn upon them, and that he should

then be instantly chased back to his own home. So when the youth got home again he too related all that had

happened to him, and he too said that he had gone out in search of a place once, but that never would he do it

On the third day Cinderlad wanted to set out. He had a fancy to try to watch the seven foals himself, he said.

The two others laughed at him, and mocked him. `What I when all went so ill with us, do you suppose that

you are going to succeed? You look like succeedingyou who have never done anything else but lie and

The two brothers laughed at him, and his father and mother begged him not to go, but all to no purpose, and

Cinderlad set out on his way. So when he had walked the whole day, he too came to the King's palace as

`From whence do you come, then?' inquired the King, for by this time he wanted to know a little more about

So Cinderlad told him whence he came, and that he was brother to the two who had watched the seven foals

for the King, and then he inquired if he might be allowed to try to watch them on the following day.

`Oh, shame on them!' said the King, for it enraged him even to think of them. `If thou art brother to those

`Well, but as I have come here, you might just give me leave to make the attempt,' said Cinderlad.

`Oh, very well, if thou art absolutely determined to have thy back flayed, thou may'st have thine own way if

Next morning, in the grey light of dawn, the Master of the Horse let out the seven foals again, and off they set

over hill and dale, through woods and bogs, and off went Cinderlad after them. When he had run thus for a

long time, he too came to the cleft in the rock. There the old hag was once more sitting spinning from her

`Come to me, then; come to me!' said Cinderlad, as he passed by jumping and running, and keeping tight hold

`Yes, now I see something that is white,' said Cinderlad. `It looks like the trunk of a great thick birch tree.'

When they got to the trunk, the eldest foal broke it down on one side, and then they saw a door where the

trunk had been standing, and inside this there was a small room, and in the room there was scarcely anything

but a small fireplace and a couple of benches, but behind the door hung a great rusty sword and a small

Cinderlad tried, but could not do it; so he had to take a draught from the pitcher, and then one more, and after

`Good,' said the Foal; `and now thou must take the sword away with thee, and with it shalt thou cut off the

heads of all seven of us on thy weddingday, and then we shall become princes again as we were before. For

we are brothers of the Princess whom thou art to have when thou canst tell the King what we eat and drink,

but there is a mighty Troll who has cast a spell over us. When thou hast cut off our heads, thou must take the

greatest care to lay each head at the tail of the body to which it belonged before, and then the spell which the

`Yes,' said Cinderlad; `now I see something like a bluish streak, far, far away.'

There was a long, handsome bridge over the river, and when they had got to the other side of it they again

travelled on a long, long way, and then once more the Foal inquired if Cinderlad saw anything. Yes, this time

he saw something that looked black, far, far away, and was rather like a church tower.

When the Foals got into the churchyard they turned into men and looked like the sons of a king, and their

clothes were so magnificent that they shone with splendour, and they went into the church and received bread

and wine from the priest, who was standing before the altar, and Cinderlad went in too. But when the priest

had laid his hands on the princes and read the blessing, they went out of the church again, and Cinderlad went

out too, but he took with him a flask of wine and some consecrated bread. No sooner had the seven princes

come out into the churchyard than they became foals again, and Cinderlad got upon the back of the youngest,

First they went over the bridge, and then past the trunk of the birch tree, and then past the old hag who sat in

the cleft of the rock spinning, and they went by so fast that Cinderlad could not hear what the old hag

screeched after him, but just heard enough to understand that she was terribly enraged.

It was all but dark when they got back to the King at nightfall, and he himself was standing in the courtyard

`Hast thou watched well and faithfully the whole day?' said the King to Cinderlad.

So Cinderlad pulled out the consecrated bread and the flask of wine, and showed them to the King. `Here

`Yes, diligently and faithfully hast thou watched,' said the King, `and thou shalt have the Princess and half the

So all was made ready for the wedding, and the King said that it was to be so stately and magnificent that

But when they sat down to the marriagefeast, the bridegroom arose and went down to the stable, for he said

that he had forgotten something which he must go and look to. When he got there, he did what the foals had

bidden him, and cut off the heads of all the seven. First the eldest, and then the second, and so on according

to their age, and he was extremely careful to lay each head at the tail of the foal to which it had belonged, and

when that was done, all the foals became princes again. When he returned to the marriagefeast with the

seven princes, the King was so joyful that he both kissed Cinderlad and clapped him on the back, and his

`Half my kingdom is thine already,' said the King, `and the other half shall be thine after my death, for my

sons can get countries and kingdoms for themselves now that they have become princes again.'

Therefore, as all may well believe, there was joy and merriment at that wedding.[31]

THERE was once upon a time a marvellous musician. One day he was wandering through a wood all by

himself, thinking now of one thing, now of another, till there was nothing else left to think about. Then he

`Time hangs very heavily on my hands when I'm all alone in the wood. I must try and find a pleasant

So he took his fiddle out, and fiddled till he woke the echoes round. After a time a wolf came through the

`Oh! it's a Wolf, is it?' said he. `I've not the smallest wish for his society.'

`Oh, my dear musician, how beautifully you play! I wish you'd teach me how it's done.'

`That's easily learned,' answered the fiddler; `you must only do exactly as I tell you.'

`Of course I will,' replied the Wolf. `I can promise that you will find me a most apt pupil.'

So they joined company and went on their way together, and after a time they came to an old oak tree, which

`Now,' said the Musician, `if you want to learn to fiddle, here's your chance. Lay your front paws in this

The Wolf did as he was told, and the Musician quickly seized a stone, and wedged both his fore paws so

`Time hangs very heavily on my hands when I'm all alone in the wood; I must try and find a companion.'

So he drew out his fiddle, and fiddled away lustily. Presently a fox slunk through the trees.

`Aha I what have we here?' said the Musician. `A fox; well, I haven't the smallest desire for his company.'

`My dear friend, how beautifully you play the fiddle; I would like to learn how you do it.'

`Nothing easier,' said the Musician. `if you'll promise to do exactly as I tell you.'

When they had gone a bi of the way, they came to a path with high trees on each side. Here the Musician

halted, bent a stout hazel bough down to the ground from one side of the path, and put his foot on the end of

`Give me your left front paw, my little Fox, if you really wish to learn how it's done.'

The Fox did as he was told, and the Musician tied his front paw to the end of one of the branches.

This he bound to the other branch, and having carefully seen that his knots were all secure, he stepped off the

ends of the branches, and they sprang back, leaving the poor Fox suspended in midair.

`Just you wait where you are till I return,' said the Musician, and he went on his way again.

`Time hangs heavily on my hands when I'm all alone in the wood; I must try and find another companion.'

So he took out his fiddle and played as merrily as before. This time a little hare came running up at the sound.

`Oh! here comes a hare,' said the Musician; `I've not the smallest desire for his company.'

`How beautifully you play, dear Mr. Fiddler,' said the little Hare. `I wish I could learn how you do it.'

They went on a bit together, till they came to a thin part of the wood, where they found an aspen tree

growing. The Musician bound a long cord round the little Hare's neck, the other end of which he fastened to

`Now, my merry little friend,' said the Musician, `run twenty times round the tree.'

The little Hare obeyed, and when it had run twenty times round the tree, the cord had twisted itself twenty

times round the trunk, so that the poor little beast was held a fast prisoner, and it might bite and tear as much

In the meantime the Wolf had pulled and bitten and scratched at the stone, till at last he succeeded in getting

his paws out. Full of anger, he hurried after the Musician, determined when he met him to tear him to pieces.

The Wolf pulled the branches down, bit the cord in two, and set the Fox free. So they went on their way

together, both vowing vengeance on the Musician. They found the poor imprisoned little Hare, and having set

During this time the Musician had once more played his fiddle, and had been more fortunate in the result. The

sounds pierced to the ears of a poor woodman, who instantly left his work, and with his hatchet under his arm

`At last I've got a proper sort of companion,' said the Musician, `for it was a human being I wanted all along,

And he began playing so enchantingly that the poor man stood there as if bewitched, and his heart leapt for

And as he stood thus, the Wolf and Fox and little Hare came up, and the woodman saw at once that they

meant mischief. He lifted his glittering axe and placed himself in front of the Musician, as much as to say: `If

you touch a hair of his head, beware, for you will have to answer for it to me.'

Then the beasts were frightened, and they all three ran back into the wood, and the Musician played the

woodman one of his best tunes, by way of thanks, and then continued his way.[32]

[This is a very old story: the Danes who used to fight with the English in King Alfred's time knew this story.

They have carved on the rocks pictures of some of the things that happen in the tale, and those carvings may

still be seen. Because it is so old and so beautiful the story is told here again, but it has a sad endingindeed

it is all sad, and all about fighting and killing, as might be expected from the Danes.]

ONCE upon a time there was a King in the North who had won many wars, but now he was old. Yet he took

a new wife, and then another Prince, who wanted to have married her, came up against him with a great

army. The old King went out and fought bravely, but at last his sword broke, and he was wounded and his

men fled. But in the night, when the battle was over, his young wife came out and searched for him among

the slain, and at last she found him, and asked whether he might be healed. But he said `No,' his luck was

gone, his sword was broken, and he must die. And he told her that she would have a son, and that son would

be a great warrior, and would avenge him on the other King, his enemy. And he bade her keep the broken

pieces of the sword, to make a new sword for his son, and that blade should be called Gram.

Then he died. And his wife called her maid to her and said, `Let us change clothes, and you shall be called by

So this was done, and they hid in a wood, but there some strangers met them and carried them off in a ship to

Denmark. And when they were brought before the King, he thought the maid looked like a Queen, and the

Queen like a maid. So he asked the Queen, `How do you know in the dark of night whether the hours are

`I know because, when I was younger, I used to have to rise and light the fires, and still I waken at the same

Then he asked the Queen, who was dressed like a maid, `How do you know in the dark of night whether the

`My father gave me a gold ring,' said she, `and always, ere the dawning, it grows cold on my finger.'

`A rich house where the maids wore gold,' said the King. `Truly you are no maid, but a King's daughter.'

So he treated her royally, and as time went on she had a son called Sigurd, a beautiful boy and very strong.

He had a tutor to be with him, and once the tutor bade him go to the King and ask for a horse.

`Choose a horse for yourself,' said the King; and Sigurd went to the wood, and there he met an old man with a

Then the old man said, `Drive all the horses into the river, and choose the one that swims across.'

So Sigurd drove them, and only one swam across. Sigurd chose him: his name was Grani, and he came of

Sleipnir's breed, and was the best horse in the world. For Sleipnir was the horse of Odin, the God of the

But a day or two later his tutor said to Sigurd, `There is a great treasure of gold hidden not far from here, and

But Sigurd answered, `I have heard stories of that treasure, and I know that the dragon Fafnir guards it, and

`He is no bigger than other dragons,' said the tutor, `and if you were as brave as your father you would not

Then his tutor, whose name was Regin, told him that all this great hoard of red gold had once belonged to his

own father. And his father had three sonsthe first was Fafnir, the Dragon; the next was Otter, who could

put on the shape of an otter when he liked; and the next was himself, Regin, and he was a great smith and

Now there was at that time a dwarf called Andvari, who lived in a pool beneath a waterfall, and there he had

hidden a great hoard of gold. And one day Otter had been fishing there, and had killed a salmon and eaten it,

and was sleeping, like an otter, on a stone. Then someone came by, and threw a stone at the otter and killed it,

and flayed off the skin, and took it to the house of Otter's father. Then he knew his son was dead, and to

punish the person who had killed him he said he must have the Otter's skin filled with gold, and covered all

over with red gold, or it should go worse with him. Then the person who had killed Otter went down and

Then the poor Dwarf was very angry, and he prayed that the gold might never bring any but bad luck to all

Then the otter skin was filled with gold and covered with gold, all but one hair, and that was covered with the

But it brought good luck to nobody. First Fafnir, the Dragon, killed his own father, and then he went and

wallowed on the gold, and would let his brother have none, and no man dared go near it.

So Regin made a sword, and Sigurd tried it with a blow on a lump of iron, and the sword broke.

Then Sigurd went to his mother, and asked for the broken pieces of his father's blade, and gave them to

Regin. And he hammered and wrought them into a new sword, so sharp that fire seemed to burn along its

Sigurd tried this blade on the lump of iron, and it did not break, but split the iron in two. Then he threw a lock

of wool into the river, and when it floated down against the sword it was cut into two pieces. So Sigurd said

that sword would do. But before he went against the Dragon he led an army to fight the men who had killed

When he had been at home a few days, he rode out with Regin one morning to the heath where the Dragon

used to lie. Then he saw the track which the Dragon made when he went to a cliff to drink, and the track was

Then Sigurd went down into that deep place, and dug many pits in it, and in one of the pits he lay hidden with

his sword drawn. There he waited, and presently the earth began to shake with the weight of the Dragon as he

crawled to the water. And a cloud of venom flew before him as he snorted and roared, so that it would have

But Sigurd waited till half of him had crawled over the pit, and then he thrust the sword Gram right into his

Then the Dragon lashed with his tail till stones broke and trees crashed about him.

`Whoever thou art that hast slain me this gold shall be thy ruin, and the ruin of all who own it.'

`I would touch none of it if by losing it I should never die. But all men die, and no brave man lets death

Then Sigurd rode back, and met Regin, and Regin asked him to roast Fafnir's heart and let him taste of it.

So Sigurd put the heart of Fafnir on a stake, and roasted it. But it chanced that he touched it with his finger,

and it burned him. Then he put his finger in his mouth, and so tasted the heart of Fafnir.

Then immediately he understood the language of birds, and he heard the Woodpeckers say:

`There is Sigurd roasting Fafnir's heart for another, when he should taste of it himself and learn all wisdom.'

`That let him do, and then ride over Hindfell, to the place where Brynhild sleeps.'

When Sigurd heard all this, and how Regin was plotting to betray him, he cut off Regin's head with one blow

`We know a fair maid, A fair maiden sleeping; Sigurd, be not afraid, Sigurd, win thou the maid Fortune is

`High over Hindfell Red fire is flaming, There doth the maiden dwell She that should love thee well, Meet for

`There must she sleep till thou Comest for her waking Rise up and ride, for now Sure she will swear the vow

Then Sigurd remembered how the story went that somewhere, far away, there was a beautiful lady enchanted.

She was under a spell, so that she must always sleep in a castle surrounded by flaming fire; there she must

sleep for ever till there came a knight who would ride through the fire and waken her. There he determined to

go, but first he rode right down the horrible trail of Fafnir. And Fafnir had lived in a cave with iron doors, a

cave dug deep down in the earth, and full of gold bracelets, and crowns, and rings; and there, too, Sigurd

found the Helm of Dread, a golden helmet, and whoever wears it is invisible. All these he piled on the back

Now it was night, and on the crest of the hill Sigurd saw a red fire blazing up into the sky, and within the

flame a castle, and a banner on the topmost tower. Then he set the horse Grani at the fire, and he leaped

through it lightly, as if it had been through the heather. So Sigurd went within the castle door, and there he

saw someone sleeping, clad all in armour. Then he took the helmet off the head of the sleeper, and behold,

she was a most beautiful lady. And she wakened and said, `Ah! is it Sigurd, Sigmund's son, who has broken

This curse came upon her when the thorn of the tree of sleep ran into her hand long ago as a punishment

because she had displeased Odin the God. Long ago, too, she had vowed never to marry a man who knew

fear, and dared not ride through the fence of flaming fire. For she was a warrior maid herself, and went armed

into the battle like a man. But now she and Sigurd loved each other, and promised to be true to each other,

and he gave her a ring, and it was the last ring taken from the dwarf Andvari. Then Sigurd rode away, and he

came to the house of a King who had a fair daughter. Her name was Gudrun, and her mother was a witch.

Now Gudrun fell in love with Sigurd, but he was always talking of Brynhild, how beautiful she was and how

dear. So one day Gudrun's witch mother put poppy and forgetful drugs in a magical cup, and bade Sigurd

drink to her health, and he drank, and instantly he forgot poor Brynhild and he loved Gudrun, and they were

Now the witch, the mother of Gudrun, wanted her son Gunnar to marry Brynhild, and she bade him ride out

with Sigurd and go and woo her. So forth they rode to her father's house, for Brynhild had quite gone out of

Sigurd's mind by reason of the witch's wine, but she remembered him and loved him still. Then Brynhild's

father told Gunnar that she would marry none but him who could ride the flame in front of her enchanted

tower, and thither they rode, and Gunnar set his horse at the flame, but he would not face it. Then Gunnar

tried Sigurd's horse Grani, but he would not move with Gunnar on his back. Then Gunnar remembered

witchcraft that his mother had taught him, and by his magic he made Sigurd look exactly like himself, and he

looked exactly like Gunnar. Then Sigurd, in the shape of Gunnar and in his mail, mounted on Grani, and

Grani leaped the fence of fire, and Sigurd went in and found Brynhild, but he did not remember her yet,

Now Brynhild had no help but to promise she would be his wife, the wife of Gunnar as she supposed, for

Sigurd wore Gunnar's shape, and she had sworn to wed whoever should ride the flames. And he gave her a

ring, and she gave him back the ring he had given her before in his own shape as Sigurd, and it was the last

ring of that poor dwarf Andvari. Then he rode out again, and he and Gunnar changed shapes, and each was

himself again, and they went home to the witch Queen's, and Sigurd gave the dwarf's ring to his wife,

Gudrun. And Brynhild went to her father, and said that a King had come called Gunnar, and had ridden the

fire, and she must marry him. `Yet I thought,' she said, `that no man could have done this deed but Sigurd,

Fafnir's bane, who was my true love. But he has forgotten me, and my promise I must keep.'

So Gunnar and Brynhild were married, though it was not Gunnar but Sigurd in Gunnar's shape, that had

And when the wedding was over and all the feast, then the magic of the witch's wine went out of Sigurd's

brain, and he remembered all. He remembered how he had freed Brynhild from the spell, and how she was

his own true love, and how he had forgotten and had married another woman, and won Brynhild to be the

But he was brave, and he spoke not a word of it to the others to make them unhappy. Still he could not keep

away the curse which was to come on every one who owned the treasure of the dwarf Andvari, and his fatal

And the curse soon came upon all of them. For one day, when Brynhild and Gudrun were bathing, Brynhild

waded farthest out into the river, and said she did that to show she was Guirun's superior. For her husband,

Then Gudrun was very angry, and said that it was Sigurd, not Gunnar, who had ridden the flame, and had

Then Brynhild saw the ring which Sigard had given to Gudrun, and she knew it and knew all, and she turned

as pale as a dead woman, and went home. All that evening she never spoke. Next day she told Gunnar, her

husband, that he was a coward and a liar, for he had never ridden the flame, but had sent Sigurd to do it for

him, and pretended that he had done it himself. And she said he would never see her glad in his hall, never

drinking wine, never playing chess, never embroidering with the golden thread, never speaking words of

kindness. Then she rent all her needlework asunder and wept aloud, so that everyone in the house heard her.

For her heart was broken, and her pride was broken in the same hour. She had lost her true love, Sigurd, the

Then Sigurd came and tried to comfort her, but she would not listen, and said she wished the sword stood fast

`Not long to wait,' he said, `till the bitter sword stands fast in my heart, and thou will not live long when I am

dead. But, dear Brynhild, live and be comforted, and love Gunnar thy husband, and I will give thee all the

Then Sigurd was so grieved and his heart so swelled in his breast that it burst the steel rings of his shirt of

Sigurd went out and Brynhild determined to slay him. She mixed serpent's venom and wolf's flesh, and gave

them in one dish to her husband's younger brother, and when he had tasted them he was mad, and he went

into Sigurd's chamber while he slept and pinned him to the bed with a sword. But Sigurd woke, and caught

the sword Gram into his hand, and threw it at the man as he fled, and the sword cut him in twain. Thus died

Sigurd, Fafnir's bane, whom no ten men could have slain in fair fight. Then Gudrun wakened and saw him

dead, and she moaned aloud, and Brynhild heard her and laughed; but the kind horse Grani lay down and died

of very grief. And then Brynhild fell aweeping till her heart broke. So they attired Sigurd in all his golden

armour, and built a great pile of wood on board his ship, and at night laid on it the dead Sigurd and the dead

Brynhild, and the good horse, Grani, and set fire to it, and launched the ship. And the wind bore it blazing out

to sea, flaming into the dark. So there were Sigurd and Brynhild burned together, and the curse of the dwarf