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diff --git a/15202.txt b/15202.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..024997d --- /dev/null +++ b/15202.txt @@ -0,0 +1,21932 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Young Folks Treasury, Volume 2 (of 12), by +Various, Edited by Hamilton Wright Mabie + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Young Folks Treasury, Volume 2 (of 12) + +Author: Various + +Release Date: February 28, 2005 [eBook #15202] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG FOLKS TREASURY, VOLUME 2 (OF +12)*** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Sandra Brown, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 15202-h.htm or 15202-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/2/0/15202/15202-h/15202-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/2/0/15202/15202-h.zip) + + + + + +YOUNG FOLKS' TREASURY + +In 12 Volumes + +HAMILTON WRIGHT MABIE, Editor + +EDWARD EVERETT HALE, Associate Editor + +VOLUME II: MYTHS AND LEGENDARY HEROES + +HAMILTON WRIGHT MABIE, Editor + +New York +The University Society Inc. +Publishers + + + + + + + +[Illustration: JASON SNATCHED OFF HIS HELMET AND HURLED IT.] + + + + +PARTIAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS, ASSISTANT EDITORS AND ADVISERS + + +HAMILTON WRIGHT MABIE +Editor + +EDWARD EVERETT HALE +Associate Editor + +NICHOLAS MURRAY BUTLER, President Columbia University. + +WILLIAM R. HARPER, Late President Chicago University. + +HON. THEODORE ROOSEVELT, Ex-President of the United States. + +HON. GROVER CLEVELAND, Late President of the United States. + +JAMES CARDINAL GIBBONS, American Roman Catholic prelate. + +ROBERT C. OGDEN, Partner of John Wanamaker. + +HON. GEORGE F. HOAR, Late Senator from Massachusetts. + +EDWARD W. BOK, Editor "Ladies' Home Journal." + +HENRY VAN DYKE, Author, Poet, and Professor of English + +Literature, Princeton University. + +LYMAN ABBOTT, Author, Editor of "The Outlook." + +CHARLES G.D. ROBERTS, Writer of Animal Stories. + +JACOB A. RIIS, Author and Journalist. + +EDWARD EVERETT HALE, Jr., English Professor at Union College. + +JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS, Late Author and Creator of "Uncle Remus." + +GEORGE GARY EGGLESTON, Novelist and Journalist. + +RAY STANNARD BAKER, Author and Journalist. + +WILLIAM BLAIKIE, Author of "How to Get Strong and How to Stay So." + +WILLIAM DAVENPORT HULBERT, Writer of Animal Stories. + +JOSEPH JACOBS, Folklore Writer and Editor of the "Jewish +Encyclopedia." + +MRS. VIRGINIA TERHUNE ("Marion Harland"), Author of "Common Sense in +the Household," etc. + +MARGARET E. SANGSTER, Author of "The Art of Home-Making," etc. + +SARAH K. BOLTON, Biographical Writer. + +ELLEN VELVIN, Writer of Animal Stories. + +REV. THEODORE WOOD, F.E.S., Writer on Natural History. + +W.J. BALTZELL, Editor of "The Musician." + +HERBERT T. WADE, Editor and Writer on Physics. + +JOHN H. CLIFFORD, Editor and Writer. + +ERNEST INGERSOLL, Naturalist and Author. + +DANIEL E. WHEELER, Editor and Writer. + +IDA PRENTICE WHITCOMB, Author of "Young People's Story of Music," +"Heroes of History," etc. + +MARK HAMBOURG, Pianist and Composer. + +MME. BLANCHE MARCHESI, Opera Singer and Teacher. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +Introduction + + +MYTHS OF GREECE AND ROME + +Baucis and Philemon + Adapted by C.E. Smith + +Pandora + Adapted by C.E. Smith + +Midas + Adapted by C.E. Smith + +Cadmus + Adapted by C.E. Smith + +Proserpina + Adapted by C.E. Smith + +The Story of Atalanta + Adapted by Anna Klingensmith + +Pyramus and Thisbe + Adapted by Alice Zimmern + +Orpheus + Adapted by Alice Zimmern + + +MYTHS OF SCANDINAVIA + +Baldur + Adapted from A. and E. Keary's version + +Thor's Adventure among the Jotuns + Adapted by Julia Goddard + +The Apples of Idun + Adapted by Hamilton Wright Mabie + +The Gifts of the Dwarfs + +The Punishment of Loki + Adapted from A. and E. Keary's version + + +MYTHS OF INDIA + +The Blind Man, The Deaf Man, and the Donkey + Adapted by M. Frere + +Harisarman + +Why the Fish Laughed + +Muchie Lal + Adapted by M. Frere + +How the Rajah's Son Won the Princess Labam + Adapted by Joseph Jacobs + + +MYTHS OF JAPAN + +The Jellyfish and the Monkey + Adapted by Yei Theodora Ozaki + +The Old Man and-the Devils + +Autumn and Spring + Adapted by Frank Kinder + +The Vision of Tsunu + Adapted by Frank Kinder + +The Star-Lovers + Adapted by Frank Kinder + + + +MYTHS OF THE SLAVS + +The Two Brothers + Adapted by Alexander Chodsko + +The Twelve Months + Adapted by Alexander Chodsko + +The Sun; or, the Three Golden Hairs of the Old Man + Vesevde + Adapted by Alexander Chodsko + + +A MYTH OF AMERICA + +Hiawatha + Adapted from H.R. Schoolcraft's version + + +HEROES OF GREECE AND ROME + +Perseus + Adapted by Mary Macgregor + +Odysseus + Adapted by Jeanie Lang + +The Argonauts + Adapted by Mary Macgregor + +Theseus + Adapted by Mary Macgregor + +Hercules + Adapted by Thomas Cartwright + +The Perilous Voyage of AEneas + Adapted by Alice Zimmern + +How Horatius Held the Bridge + Adapted by Alfred J. Church + +How Cincinnatus Saved Rome + Adapted by Alfred J. Church + + +HEROES OF GREAT BRITAIN + +Beowulf + Adapted by H.E. Marshall + +How King Arthur Conquered Rome + Adapted by E. Edwardson + +Sir Galahad and the Sacred Cup + Adapted by Mary Macgregor + +The Passing of Arthur + Adapted by Mary Macgregor + +Robin Hood + Adapted by H.E. Marshall + +Guy of Warwick + Adapted by H.E. Marshall + +Whittington and His Cat + Adapted by Ernest Rhys + +Tom Hickathrift + Adapted by Ernest Rhys + + +HEROES OF SCANDINAVIA + +The Story of Frithiof + Adapted by Julia Goddard + +Havelok + Adapted by George W. Cox and E.H. Jones + +The Vikings + Adapted by Mary Macgregor + + +HERO OF GERMANY + +Siegfried + Adapted by Mary Macgregor + + +HERO OF FRANCE + +Roland + Adapted by H.E. Marshall + + +HERO OF SPAIN + +The Cid + Adapted by Robert Southey + + +HERO OF SWITZERLAND + +William Tell + Adapted by H.E. Marshall + + +HERO OF PERSIA + +Rustem + Adapted by Alfred J. Church + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +JASON SNATCHED OFF HIS HELMET AND HURLED IT (Frontispiece) + +OUT FLEW A BRIGHT, SMILING FAIRY + +HE CAUGHT HER IN HIS ARMS AND SPRANG INTO THE CHARIOT + +ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE + +THE PUNISHMENT OF LOKI + +THE PRINCESS LABAM ... SHINES SO THAT SHE LIGHTS + UP ALL THE COUNTRY + +HIAWATHA IN HIS CANOE + +SO DANAE WAS COMFORTED AND WENT HOME WITH DICTYS + +ORPHEUS SANG TILL HIS VOICE DROWNED THE SONG OF THE SIRENS + +THEY LEAPT ACROSS THE POOL AND CAME TO HIM + +THESEUS LOOKED UP INTO HER FAIR FACE + +SIR GALAHAD + +ROBIN HOOD IN AN ENCOUNTER + +THE HERO'S SHINING SWORD PIERCED THE HEART OF THE MONSTER + +WILLIAM TELL AND HIS FRIENDS + +(Many of the illustrations in this volume are reproduced by special +permission of E.P. Dutton & Company, owners of American rights.) + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +With such a table of contents in front of this little foreword, I am +quite sure that few will pause to consider my prosy effort. Nor can I +blame any readers who jump over my head, when they may sit beside kind +old Baucis, and drink out of her miraculous milk-pitcher, and hear +noble Philemon talk; or join hands with Pandora and Epimetheus in +their play before the fatal box was opened; or, in fact, be in the +company of even the most awe-inspiring of our heroes and heroines. + +For ages the various characters told about in the following pages have +charmed, delighted, and inspired the people of the world. Like fairy +tales, these stories of gods, demigods, and wonderful men were +the natural offspring of imaginative races, and from generation +to generation they were repeated by father and mother to son and +daughter. And if a brave man had done a big deed he was immediately +celebrated in song and story, and quite as a matter of course, the +deed grew with repetition of these. Minstrels, gleemen, poets, and +skalds (a Scandinavian term for poets) took up these rich themes and +elaborated them. Thus, if a hero had killed a serpent, in time it +became a fiery dragon, and if he won a great battle, the enthusiastic +reciters of it had him do prodigious feats--feats beyond belief. But +do not fancy from this that the heroes were every-day persons. Indeed, +they were quite extraordinary and deserved highest praise of their +fellow-men. + +So, in ancient and medieval Europe the wandering poet or minstrel +went from place to place repeating his wondrous narratives, adding +new verses to his tales, changing his episodes to suit locality or +occasion, and always skilfully shaping his fascinating romances. In +court and cottage he was listened to with breathless attention. He +might be compared to a living novel circulating about the country, for +in those days books were few or entirely unknown. Oriental countries, +too, had their professional story-spinners, while our American Indians +heard of the daring exploits of their heroes from the lips of old men +steeped in tradition. My youngest reader can then appreciate how myths +and legends were multiplied and their incidents magnified. We all know +how almost unconsciously we color and change the stories we repeat, +and naturally so did our gentle and gallant singers through the +long-gone centuries of chivalry and simple faith. + +Every reader can feel the deep significance underlying the myths we +present--the poetry and imperishable beauty of the Greek, the strange +and powerful conceptions of the Scandinavian mind, the oddity and +fantasy of the Japanese, Slavs, and East Indians, and finally the +queer imaginings of our own American Indians. Who, for instance, could +ever forget poor Proserpina and the six pomegranate seeds, the death +of beautiful Baldur, the luminous Princess Labam, the stupid jellyfish +and shrewd monkey, and the funny way in which Hiawatha remade the +earth after it had been destroyed by flood? + +Then take our legendary heroes: was ever a better or braver company +brought together--Perseus, Hercules, Siegfried, Roland, Galahad, +Robin Hood, and a dozen others? But stop, I am using too many +question-marks. There is no need to query heroes known and admired the +world over. + +As true latter-day story-tellers, both Hawthorne and Kingsley retold +many of these myths and legends, and from their classic pages we have +adapted a number of our tales, and made them somewhat simpler and +shorter in form. By way of apology for this liberty (if some should +so consider it), we humbly offer a paragraph from a preface to the +"Wonder Book" written by its author: + +"A great freedom of treatment was necessary but it will be observed +by every one who attempts to render these legends malleable in his +intellectual furnace, that they are marvelously independent of all +temporary modes and circumstances. They remain essentially the same, +after changes that would affect the identity of almost anything else." + +Now to those who have not jumped over my head, or to those who, having +done so, may jump back to this foreword, I trust my few remarks will +have given some additional interest in our myths and heroes of lands +far and near. + +DANIEL EDWIN WHEELER + + + + + + +MYTHS OF MANY COUNTRIES + + + + +MYTHS OF GREECE AND ROME + + + +BAUCIS AND PHILEMON + +ADAPTED BY C.E. SMITH + + +One evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and his wife Baucis sat +at their cottage door watching the sunset. They had eaten their supper +and were enjoying a quiet talk about their garden, and their cow, and +the fruit trees on which the pears and apples were beginning to ripen. +But their talk was very much disturbed by rude shouts and laughter +from the village children, and by the fierce barking of dogs. + +"I fear," said Philemon, "that some poor traveler is asking for a bed +in the village, and that these rough people have set the dogs on him." + +"Well, I never," answered old Baucis. "I do wish the neighbors would +be kinder to poor wanderers; I feel that some terrible punishment will +happen to this village if the people are so wicked as to make fun of +those who are tired and hungry. As for you and me, so long as we have +a crust of bread, let us always be willing to give half of it to any +poor homeless stranger who may come along." + +"Indeed, that we will," said Philemon. + +These old folks, you must know, were very poor, and had to work hard +for a living. They seldom had anything to eat except bread and milk, +and vegetables, with sometimes a little honey from their beehives, or +a few ripe pears and apples from their little garden. But they were +two of the kindest old people in the world, and would have gone +without their dinner any day, rather than refuse a slice of bread or a +cupful of milk to the weary traveler who might stop at the door. + +Their cottage stood on a little hill a short way from the village, +which lay in a valley; such a pretty valley, shaped like a cup, with +plenty of green fields and gardens, and fruit trees; it was a pleasure +just to look at it. But the people who lived in this lovely place +were selfish and hard-hearted; they had no pity for the poor, and were +unkind to those who had no home, and they only laughed when Philemon +said it was right to be gentle to people who were sad and friendless. + +These wicked villagers taught their children to be as bad as +themselves. They used to clap their hands and make fun of poor +travelers who were tramping wearily from one village to another, and +they even taught the dogs to snarl and bark at strangers if their +clothes were shabby. So the village was known far and near as an +unfriendly place, where neither help nor pity was to be found. + +What made it worse, too, was that when rich people came in their +carriages, or riding on fine horses, with servants to attend to them, +the village people would take off their hats and be very polite and +attentive: and if the children were rude they got their ears boxed; +as to the dogs--if a single dog dared to growl at a rich man he was +beaten and then tied up without any supper. + +So now you can understand why old Philemon spoke sadly when he heard +the shouts of the children, and the barking of the dogs, at the far +end of the village street. + +He and Baucis sat shaking their heads while the noise came nearer and +nearer, until they saw two travelers coming along the road on foot. +A crowd of rude children were following them, shouting and throwing +stones, and several dogs were snarling at the travelers' heels. + +They were both very plainly dressed, and looked as if they might not +have enough money to pay for a night's lodging. + +"Come, wife," said Philemon, "let us go and meet these poor people and +offer them shelter." + +"You go," said Baucis, "while I make ready some supper," and she +hastened indoors. + +Philemon went down the road, and holding out his hand to the two men, +he said, "Welcome, strangers, welcome." + +"Thank you," answered the younger of the two travelers. "Yours is a +kind welcome, very different from the one we got in the village; pray +why do you live in such a bad place?" + +"I think," answered Philemon, "that Providence put me here just to +make up as best I can for other people's unkindness." + +The traveler laughed heartily, and Philemon was glad to see him in +such good spirits. He took a good look at him and his companion. The +younger man was very thin, and was dressed in an odd kind of way. +Though it was a summer evening, he wore a cloak which was wrapped +tightly about him; and he had a cap on his head, the brim of which +stuck out over both ears. There was something queer too about his +shoes, but as it was getting dark, Philemon could not see exactly what +they were like. + +One thing struck Philemon very much, the traveler was so wonderfully +light and active that it seemed as if his feet were only kept close to +the ground with difficulty. He had a staff in his hand which was the +oddest-looking staff Philemon had seen. It was made of wood and had a +little pair of wings near the top. Two snakes cut into the wood were +twisted round the staff, and these were so well carved that Philemon +almost thought he could see them wriggling. + +The older man was very tall, and walked calmly along, taking no notice +either of naughty children or yelping dogs. + +When they reached the cottage gate, Philemon said, "We are very poor +folk, but you are welcome to whatever we have in the cupboard. My wife +Baucis has gone to see what you can have for supper." + +They sat down on the bench, and the younger stranger let his staff +fall as he threw himself down on the grass, and then a strange thing +happened. The staff seemed to get up from the ground of its own +accord, and it opened a little pair of wings and half-hopped, +half-flew and leaned itself against the wall of the cottage. + +Philemon was so amazed that he feared he had been dreaming, but before +he could ask any questions, the elder stranger said: "Was there not a +lake long ago covering the spot where the village now stands?" + +"Never in my day," said old Philemon, "nor in my father's, nor my +grandfather's: there were always fields and meadows just as there are +now, and I suppose there always will be." + +"That I am not so sure of," replied the stranger. "Since the people in +that village have forgotten how to be loving and gentle, maybe it were +better that the lake should be rippling over the cottages again," and +he looked very sad and stern. + +He was a very important-looking man, Philemon felt, even though his +clothes were old and shabby; maybe he was some great learned stranger +who did not care at all for money or clothes, and was wandering about +the world seeking wisdom and knowledge. Philemon was quite sure he +was not a common person. But he talked so kindly to Philemon, and +the younger traveler made such funny remarks, that they were all +constantly laughing. + +"Pray, my young friend, what is your name?" Philemon asked. + +"Well," answered the younger man, "I am called Mercury, because I am +so quick." + +"What a strange name!" said Philemon; "and your friend, what is he +called?" + +"You must ask the thunder to tell you that," said Mercury, "no other +voice is loud enough." + +Philemon was a little confused at this answer, but the stranger looked +so kind and friendly that he began to tell them about his good old +wife, and what fine butter and cheese she made, and how happy they +were in their little garden; and how they loved each other very dearly +and hoped they might live together till they died. And the stern +stranger listened with a sweet smile on his face. + +Baucis had now got supper ready; not very much of a supper, she told +them. There was only half a brown loaf and a bit of cheese, a pitcher +with some milk, a little honey, and a bunch of purple grapes. But she +said, "Had we only known you were coming, my goodman and I would have +gone without anything in order to give you a better supper." + +"Do not trouble," said the elder stranger kindly. "A hearty welcome +is better than the finest of food, and we are so hungry that what you +have to offer us seems a feast." Then they all went into the cottage. + +And now I must tell you something that will make your eyes open. You +remember that Mercury's staff was leaning against the cottage wall? +Well, when its owner went in at the door, what should this wonderful +staff do but spread its little wings and go hop-hop, flutter-flutter +up the steps; then it went tap-tap across the kitchen floor and did +not stop till it stood close behind Mercury's chair. No one noticed +this, as Baucis and her husband were too busy attending to their +guests. + +Baucis filled up two bowls of milk from the pitcher, while her husband +cut the loaf and the cheese. "What delightful milk, Mother Baucis," +said Mercury, "may I have some more? This has been such a hot day that +I am very thirsty." + +"Oh dear, I am so sorry and ashamed," answered Baucis, "but the truth +is there is hardly another drop of milk in the pitcher." + +"Let me see," said Mercury, starting up and catching hold of the +handles, "why here is certainly more milk in the pitcher." He poured +out a bowlful for himself and another for his companion. Baucis could +scarcely believe her eyes. "I suppose I must have made a mistake," she +thought, "at any rate the pitcher must be empty now after filling both +bowls twice over." + +"Excuse me, my kind hostess," said Mercury in a little while, "but +your milk is so good that I should very much like another bowlful." + +Now Baucis was perfectly sure that the pitcher was empty, and in order +to show Mercury that there was not another drop in it, she held it +upside down over his bowl. What was her surprise when a stream of +fresh milk fell bubbling into the bowl and overflowed on to the table, +and the two snakes that were twisted round Mercury's staff stretched +out their heads and began to lap it up. + +"And now, a slice of your brown loaf, pray Mother Baucis, and a little +honey," asked Mercury. + +Baucis handed the loaf, and though it had been rather a hard and dry +loaf when she and her husband ate some at tea-time, it was now as soft +and new as if it had just come from the oven. As to the honey, it had +become the color of new gold and had the scent of a thousand flowers, +and the small grapes in the bunch had grown larger and richer, and +each one seemed bursting with ripe juice. + +Although Baucis was a very simple old woman, she could not help +thinking that there was something rather strange going on. She sat +down beside Philemon and told him in a whisper what she had seen. + +"Did you ever hear anything so wonderful?" she asked. + +"No, I never did," answered Philemon, with a smile. "I fear you have +been in a dream, my dear old wife." + +He knew Baucis could not say what was untrue, but he thought that she +had not noticed how much milk there had really been in the pitcher +at first. So when Mercury once more asked for a little milk, Philemon +rose and lifted the pitcher himself. He peeped in and saw that there +was not a drop in it; then all at once a little white fountain gushed +up from the bottom, and the pitcher was soon filled to the brim +with delicious milk. + +Philemon was so amazed that he nearly let the jug fall. "Who are ye, +wonder-working strangers?" he cried. + +"Your guests, good Philemon, and your friends," answered the elder +traveler, "and may the pitcher never be empty for kind Baucis and +yourself any more than for the hungry traveler." + +The old people did not like to ask any more questions; they gave the +guests their own sleeping-room, and then they lay down on the hard +floor in the kitchen. It was long before they fell asleep, not because +they thought how hard their bed was, but because there was so much to +whisper to each other about the wonderful strangers and what they had +done. + +They all rose with the sun next morning. Philemon begged the visitors +to stay a little till Baucis should milk the cow and bake some bread +for breakfast. But the travelers seemed to be in a hurry and wished +to start at once, and they asked Baucis and Philemon to go with them a +short distance to show them the way. + +So they all four set out together, and Mercury was so full of fun and +laughter, and made them feel so happy and bright, that they would have +been glad to keep him in their cottage every day and all day long. + +"Ah me," said Philemon, "if only our neighbors knew what a pleasure +it was to be kind to strangers, they would tie up all their dogs and +never allow the children to fling another stone." + +"It is a sin and shame for them to behave so," said Baucis, "and I +mean to go this very day and tell some of them how wicked they are." + +"I fear," said Mercury, smiling, "that you will not find any of them +at home." + +The old people looked at the elder traveler and his face had grown +very grave and stern. "When men do not feel towards the poorest +stranger as if he were a brother," he said, in a deep, grave voice, +"they are not worthy to remain on the earth, which was made just to be +the home for the whole family of the human race of men and women and +children." + +"And, by the bye," said Mercury, with a look of fun and mischief in +his eyes, "where is this village you talk about? I do not see anything +of it." + +Philemon and his wife turned towards the valley, where at sunset only +the day before they had seen the trees and gardens, and the houses, +and the streets with the children playing in them. But there was no +longer any sign of the village. There was not even a valley. Instead, +they saw a broad lake which filled all the great basin from brim to +brim, and whose waters glistened and sparkled in the morning sun. + +The village that had been there only yesterday was now gone! + +"Alas! what has become of our poor neighbors?" cried the kind-hearted +old people. + +"They are not men and women any longer," answered the elder traveler, +in a deep voice like distant thunder. "There was no beauty and no use +in lives such as theirs, for they had no love for one another, and no +pity in their hearts for those who were poor and weary. Therefore the +lake that was here in the old, old days has flowed over them, and they +will be men and women no more." + +"Yes," said Mercury, with his mischievous smile, "these foolish people +have all been changed into fishes because they had cold blood which +never warmed their hearts, just as the fishes have." + +"As for you, good Philemon, and you, kind Baucis," said the elder +traveler, "you, indeed, gave a hearty welcome to the homeless +strangers. You have done well, my dear old friends, and whatever wish +you have most at heart will be granted." + +Philemon and Baucis looked at one another, and then I do not know +which spoke, but it seemed as if the voice came from them both. "Let +us live together while we live, and let us die together, at the same +time, for we have always loved one another." + +"Be it so," said the elder stranger, and he held out his hands as if +to bless them. The old couple bent their heads and fell on their knees +to thank him, and when they lifted their eyes again, neither Mercury +nor his companion was to be seen. + +So Philemon and Baucis returned to the cottage, and to every traveler +who passed that way they offered a drink of milk from the wonderful +pitcher, and if the guest was a kind, gentle soul, he found the milk +the sweetest and most refreshing he had ever tasted. But if a cross, +bad-tempered fellow took even a sip, he found the pitcher full of sour +milk, which made him twist his face with dislike and disappointment. + +Baucis and Philemon lived a great, great many years and grew very +old. And one summer morning when their friends came to share their +breakfast, neither Baucis nor Philemon was to be found! + +The guests looked everywhere, and all in vain. Then suddenly one of +them noticed two beautiful trees in the garden, just in front of +the door. One was an oak tree and the other a linden tree, and their +branches were twisted together so that they seemed to be embracing. + +No one had ever seen these trees before, and while they were all +wondering how such fine trees could possibly have grown up in a single +night, there came a gentle wind which set the branches moving, and +then a mysterious voice was heard coming from the oak tree. "I am +old Philemon," it said; and again another voice whispered, "And I am +Baucis." And the people knew that the good old couple would live for a +hundred years or more in the heart of these lovely trees. And oh, what +a pleasant shade they flung around! Some kind soul built a seat under +the branches, and whenever a traveler sat down to rest he heard a +pleasant whisper of the leaves over his head, and he wondered why the +sound should seem to say, "Welcome, dear traveler, welcome." + + + + +PANDORA + +ADAPTED BY C.E. SMITH + + +Long, long ago, when this old world was still very young, there lived +a child named Epimetheus. He had neither father nor mother, and to +keep him company, a little girl, who was fatherless and motherless +like himself, was sent from a far country to live with him and be his +playfellow. This child's name was Pandora. + +The first thing that Pandora saw, when she came to the cottage where +Epimetheus lived, was a great wooden box. "What have you in that box, +Epimetheus?" she asked. + +"That is a secret," answered Epimetheus, "and you must not ask any +questions about it; the box was left here for safety, and I do not +know what is in it." + +"But who gave it you?" asked Pandora, "and where did it come from?" + +"That is a secret too," answered Epimetheus. + +"How tiresome!" exclaimed Pandora, pouting her lip. "I wish the great +ugly box were out of the way;" and she looked very cross. + +"Come along, and let us play games," said Epimetheus; "do not let +us think any more about it;" and they ran out to play with the other +children, and for a while Pandora forgot all about the box. + +But when she came back to the cottage, there it was in front of her, +and instead of paying no heed to it, she began to say to herself: +"Whatever can be inside it? I wish I just knew who brought it! Dear +Epimetheus, do tell me; I know I cannot be happy till you tell me all +about it." + +Then Epimetheus grew a little angry. "How can I tell you, Pandora?" he +said, "I do not know any more than you do." + +"Well, you could open it," said Pandora, "and we could see for +ourselves!" + +But Epimetheus looked so shocked at the very idea of opening a box +that had been given to him in trust, that Pandora saw she had better +not suggest such a thing again. + +"At least you can tell me how it came here," she said. + +"It was left at the door," answered Epimetheus, "just before you came, +by a queer person dressed in a very strange cloak; he had a cap that +seemed to be partly made of feathers; it looked exactly as if he had +wings." + +"What kind of a staff had he?" asked Pandora. + +"Oh, the most curious staff you ever saw," cried Epimetheus: "it +seemed like two serpents twisted round a stick." + +"I know him," said Pandora thoughtfully. "It was Mercury, and he +brought me here as well as the box. I am sure he meant the box for me, +and perhaps there are pretty clothes in it for us to wear, and toys +for us both to play with." + +"It may be so," answered Epimetheus, turning away; "but until Mercury +comes back and tells us that we may open it, neither of us has any +right to lift the lid;" and he went out of the cottage. + +"What a stupid boy he is!" muttered Pandora, "I do wish he had a +little more spirit." Then she stood gazing at the box. She had called +it ugly a hundred times, but it was really a very handsome box, and +would have been an ornament in any room. + +It was made of beautiful dark wood, so dark and so highly polished +that Pandora could see her face in it. The edges and the corners were +wonderfully carved. On these were faces of lovely women, and of the +prettiest children, who seemed to be playing among the leaves and +flowers. But the most beautiful face of all was one which had a wreath +of flowers about its brow. All around it was the dark, smooth-polished +wood with this strange face looking out from it, and some days Pandora +thought it was laughing at her, while at other times it had a very +grave look which made her rather afraid. + +The box was not fastened with a lock and key like most boxes, but with +a strange knot of gold cord. There never was a knot so queerly +tied; it seemed to have no end and no beginning, but was twisted so +cunningly, with so many ins and outs, that not even the cleverest +fingers could undo it. + +Pandora began to examine the knot just to see how it was made. "I +really believe," she said to herself, "that I begin to see how it is +done. I am sure I could tie it up again after undoing it. There could +be no harm in that; I need not open the box even if I undo the knot." +And the longer she looked at it, the more she wanted just to try. + +So she took the gold cord in her fingers and examined it very +closely. Then she raised her head, and happening to glance at the +flower-wreathed face, she thought it was grinning at her. "I wonder +whether it is smiling because I am doing wrong," thought Pandora, "I +have a good mind to leave the box alone and run away." + +But just at that moment, as if by accident, she gave the knot a little +shake, and the gold cord untwisted itself as if by magic, and there +was the box without any fastening. + +"This is the strangest thing I have ever known," said Pandora, rather +frightened, "What will Epimetheus say? How can I possibly tie it up +again?" + +She tried once or twice, but the knot would not come right. It had +untied itself so suddenly she could not remember in the least how the +cord had been twisted together. So there was nothing to be done but to +let the box remain unfastened until Epimetheus should come home. + +"But," thought Pandora; "when he finds the knot untied he will know +that I have done it; how shall I ever make him believe that I have not +looked into the box?" And then the naughty thought came into her head +that, as Epimetheus would believe that she had looked into the box, +she might just as well have a little peep. + +She looked at the face with the wreath, and it seemed to smile at her +invitingly, as much as to say: "Do not be afraid, what harm can there +possibly be in raising the lid for a moment?" And then she thought +she heard voices inside, tiny voices that whispered: "Let us out, dear +Pandora, do let us out; we want very much to play with you if you will +only let us out?" + +"What can it be?" said Pandora. "Is there something alive in the box? +Yes, I must just see, only one little peep and the lid will be shut +down as safely as ever. There cannot really be any harm in just one +little peep." + +All this time Epimetheus had been playing with the other children in +the fields, but he did not feel happy. This was the first time he had +played without Pandora, and he was so cross and discontented that the +other children could not think what was the matter with him. You see, +up to this time everybody in the world had always been happy, no one +had ever been ill, or naughty, or miserable; the world was new and +beautiful, and the people who lived in it did not know what trouble +meant. So Epimetheus could not understand what was the matter with +himself, and he stopped trying to play games and went back to Pandora. + +On the way home he gathered a bunch of lovely roses, and lilies, and +orange-blossoms, and with these he made a wreath to give Pandora, who +was very fond of flowers. He noticed there was a great black cloud in +the sky, which was creeping nearer and nearer to the sun, and just as +Ejpimetheus reached the cottage door the cloud went right over the sun +and made everything look dark and sad. + +Epimetheus went in quietly, for he wanted to surprise Pandora with the +wreath of flowers. And what do you think he saw? The naughty little +girl had put her hand on the lid of the box and was just going to open +it. Epimetheus saw this quite well, and if he had cried out at once it +would have given Pandora such a fright she would have let go the lid. +But Epimetheus was very naughty too. Although he had said very little +about the box, he was just as curious as Pandora was to see what was +inside: if they really found anything pretty or valuable in it, he +meant to take half of it for himself; so that he was just as naughty, +and nearly as much to blame as his companion. + +When Pandora raised the lid, the cottage had grown very dark, for the +black cloud now covered the sun entirely and a heavy peal of thunder +was heard. But Pandora was too busy and excited to notice this: she +lifted the lid right up, and at once a swarm of creatures with wings +flew out of the box, and a minute after she heard Epimetheus crying +loudly: "Oh, I am stung, I am stung! You naughty Pandora, why did you +open this wicked box?" + +Pandora let the lid fall with a crash and started up to find out what +had happened to her playmate. The thunder-cloud had made the room so +dark that she could scarcely see, but she heard a loud buzz-buzzing, +as if a great many huge flies had flown in, and soon she saw a crowd +of ugly little shapes darting about, with wings like bats and with +terribly long stings in their tails. It was one of these that had +stung Epimetheus, and it was not long before Pandora began to +scream with pain and fear. An ugly little monster had settled on +her forehead, and would have stung her badly had not Epimetheus run +forward and brushed it away. + +Now I must tell you that these ugly creatures with stings, which had +escaped from the box, were the whole family of earthly troubles. There +were evil tempers, and a great many kinds of cares: and there were +more than a hundred and fifty sorrows, and there were diseases in many +painful shapes. In fact all the sorrows and worries that hurt people +in the world to-day had been shut up in the magic-box, and given +to Epimetheus and Pandora to keep safely, in order that the happy +children in the world might never be troubled by them. If only these +two had obeyed Mercury and had left the box alone as he told them, all +would have gone well. + +But you see what mischief they had done. The winged troubles flew out +at the window and went all over the world: and they made people so +unhappy that no one smiled for a great many days. It was very strange, +too, that from this day flowers began to fade, and after a short time +they died, whereas in the old times, before Pandora opened the box, +they had been always fresh and beautiful. + +Meanwhile Pandora and Epimetheus remained in the cottage: they were +very miserable and in great pain, which made them both exceedingly +cross. Epimetheus sat down sullenly in a corner with his back to +Pandora, while Pandora flung herself on the floor and cried bitterly, +resting her head on the lid of the fatal box. + +Suddenly, she heard a gentle tap-tap inside. "What can that be?" said +Pandora, raising her head; and again came the tap, tap. It sounded +like the knuckles of a tiny hand knocking lightly on the inside of the +box. + +"Who are you?" asked Pandora. + +A sweet little voice came from inside: "Only lift the lid and you will +see." + +But Pandora was afraid to lift the lid again. She looked across +to Epimetheus, but he was so cross that he took no notice. Pandora +sobbed: "No, no, I am afraid; there are so many troubles with stings +flying about that we do not want any more?" + +"Ah, but I am not one of these," the sweet voice said, "they are no +relations of mine. Come, come, dear Pandora, I am sure you will let me +out." + +The voice sounded so kind and cheery that it made Pandora feel better +even to listen to it. Epimetheus too had heard the voice. He stopped +crying. Then he came forward, and said: "Let me help you, Pandora, as +the lid is very heavy." + +So this time both the children opened the box, and out flew a bright, +smiling little fairy, who brought light and sunshine with her. She +flew to Epimetheus and with her finger touched his brow where the +trouble had stung him, and immediately the pain was gone. + +Then she kissed Pandora, and her hurt was better at once. + +[Illustration: OUT FLEW A BRIGHT SMILING LITTLE FAIRY.] + +"Pray who are you, kind fairy?" Pandora asked. + +"I am called Hope," answered the sunshiny figure. "I was shut up in +the box so that I might be ready to comfort people when the family of +troubles got loose in the world." + +"What lovely wings you have! They are just like a rainbow. And will +you stay with us," asked Epimetheus, "for ever and ever?" + +"Yes," said Hope, "I shall stay with you as long as you live. +Sometimes you will not be able to see me, and you may think I am dead, +but you will find that I come back again and again when you have given +up expecting me, and you must always trust my promise that I will +never really leave you." + +"Yes, we do trust you," cried both children. And all the rest of their +lives when the troubles came back and buzzed about their heads and +left bitter stings of pain, Pandora and Epimetheus would remember +whose fault it was that the troubles had ever come into the world +at all, and they would then wait patiently till the fairy with the +rainbow wings came back to heal and comfort them. + + + + +MIDAS + +ADAPTED BY C.E. SMITH + + +Once upon a time there lived a very rich King whose name was Midas, +and he had a little daughter whom he loved very dearly. This King was +fonder of gold than of anything else in the whole world: or if he did +love anything better, it was the one little daughter who played so +merrily beside her father's footstool. + +But the more Midas loved his daughter, the more he wished to be rich +for her sake. He thought, foolish man, that the best thing he could do +for his child was to leave her the biggest pile of yellow glittering +gold that had ever been heaped together since the world began. So he +gave all his thoughts and all his time to this purpose. + +When he worked in his garden, he used to wish that the roses had +leaves made of gold, and once when his little daughter brought him +a handful of yellow buttercups, he exclaimed, "Now if these had only +been real gold they would have been worth gathering." He very soon +forgot how beautiful the flowers, and the grass, and the trees were, +and at the time my story begins Midas could scarcely bear to see or to +touch anything that was not made of gold. + +Every day he used to spend a great many hours in a dark, ugly room +underground: it was here that he kept all his money, and whenever +Midas wanted to be very happy he would lock himself into this +miserable room and would spend hours and hours pouring the glittering +coins out of his money-bags. Or he would count again and again the +bars of gold which were kept in a big oak chest with a great iron lock +in the lid, and sometimes he would carry a boxful of gold dust from +the dark corner where it lay, and would look at the shining heap by +the light that came from a tiny window. + +To his greedy eyes there never seemed to be half enough; he was quite +discontented. "What a happy man I should be," he said one day, "if +only the whole world could be made of gold, and if it all belonged to +me!" + +Just then a shadow fell across the golden pile, and when Midas looked +up he saw a young man with a cheery rosy face standing in the thin +strip of sunshine that came through the little window. Midas was +certain that he had carefully locked the door before he opened his +money-bags, so he knew that no one, unless he were more than a mortal, +could get in beside him. The stranger seemed so friendly and pleasant +that Midas was not in the least afraid. + +"You are a rich man, friend Midas," the visitor said. "I doubt if any +other room in the whole world has as much gold in it as this." + +"May be," said Midas in a discontented voice, "but I wish it were much +more; and think how many years it has taken me to gather it all! If +only I could live for a thousand years, then I might be really rich. + +"Then you are not satisfied?" asked the stranger. Midas shook his +head. + +"What would satisfy you?" the stranger said. + +Midas looked at his visitor for a minute, and then said, "I am tired +of getting money with so much trouble. I should like everything I +touch to be changed into gold." + +The stranger smiled, and his smile seemed to fill the room like a +flood of sunshine. "Are you quite sure, Midas, that you would never be +sorry if your wish were granted?" he asked. + +"Quite sure," said Midas: "I ask nothing more to make me perfectly +happy." + +"Be it as you wish, then," said the stranger: "from to-morrow at +sunrise you will have your desire--everything you touch will be +changed into gold." + +The figure of the stranger then grew brighter and brighter, so that +Midas had to close his eyes, and when he opened them again he saw +only a yellow sunbeam in the room, and all around him glittered the +precious gold which he had spent his life in gathering. + +How Midas longed for the next day to come! He scarcely slept that +night, and as soon as it was light he laid his hand on the chair +beside his bed; then he nearly cried when he saw that nothing +happened: the chair remained just as it was. "Could the stranger have +made a mistake," he wondered, "or had it been a dream?" + +He lay still, getting angrier and angrier each minute until at +last the sun rose, and the first rays shone through his window and +brightened the room. It seemed to Midas that the bright yellow sunbeam +was reflected very curiously from the covering of his bed, and he sat +up and looked more closely. + +What was his delight when he saw that the bedcover on which his hands +rested had become a woven cloth of the purest and brightest gold! +He started up and caught hold of the bed-post--instantly it became a +golden pillar. He pulled aside the window-curtain and the tassel grew +heavy in his hand--it was a mass of gold! He took up a book from +the table, and at his first touch it became a bundle of thin golden +leaves, in which no reading could be seen. + +Midas was delighted with his good fortune. He took his spectacles from +his pocket and put them on, so that he might see more distinctly what +he was about. But to his surprise he could not possibly see through +them: the clear glasses had turned into gold, and, of course, though +they were worth a great deal of money, they were of no more use as +spectacles. + +Midas thought this was rather troublesome, but he soon forgot all +about it. He went downstairs, and how he laughed with pleasure when he +noticed that the railing became a bar of shining gold as he rested his +hand on it; even the rusty iron latch of the garden door turned yellow +as soon as his fingers pressed it. + +How lovely the garden was! In the old days Midas had been very fond of +flowers, and had spent a great deal of money in getting rare trees and +flowers with which to make his garden beautiful. + +Red roses in full bloom scented the air: purple and white violets +nestled under the rose-bushes, and birds were singing happily in the +cherry-trees, which were covered with snow-white blossoms. But since +Midas had become so fond of gold he had lost all pleasure in his +garden: this morning he did not even see how beautiful it was. + +He was thinking of nothing but the wonderful gift the stranger had +brought him, and he was sure he could make the garden of far more +value than it had ever been. So he went from bush to bush and touched +the flowers. And the beautiful pink and red color faded from the +roses: the violets became stiff, and then glittered among bunches of +hard yellow leaves: and showers of snow-white blossoms no longer fell +from the cherry-trees; the tiny petals were all changed into flakes +of solid gold, which glittered so brightly in the sunbeams that Midas +could not bear to look at them. + +But he was quite satisfied with his morning's work, and went back to +the palace for breakfast feeling very happy. + +Just then he heard his little daughter crying bitterly, and she came +running into the room sobbing as if her heart would break. "How +now, little lady," he said, "pray what is the matter with you this +morning?" + +"Oh dear, oh dear, such a dreadful thing has happened!" answered the +child. "I went to the garden to gather you some roses, and they are +all spoiled; they have grown quite ugly, and stiff, and yellow, and +they have no scent. What can be the matter?" and she cried bitterly. + +Midas was ashamed to confess that he was to blame, so he said nothing, +and they sat down at the table. The King was very hungry, and he +poured out a cup of coffee and helped himself to some fish, but the +instant his lips touched the coffee it became the color of gold, and +the next moment it hardened into a solid lump. "Oh dear me!" exclaimed +the King, rather surprised. + +"What is the matter, father?" asked his little daughter. + +"Nothing, child, nothing," he answered; "eat your bread and milk +before it gets cold." + +Then he looked at the nice little fish on his plate, and he gently +touched its tail with his finger. To his horror it at once changed +into gold. He took one of the delicious hot cakes, and he had scarcely +broken it when the white flour changed into yellow crumbs which shone +like grains of hard sea-sand. + +"I do not see how I am going to get any breakfast," he said to +himself, and he looked with envy at his little daughter, who had dried +her tears and was eating her bread and milk hungrily. "I wonder if it +will be the same at dinner," he thought, "and if so, how am I going to +live if all my food is to be turned into gold?" + +Midas began to get very anxious and to think about many things he +had never thought of before. Here was the very richest breakfast that +could be set before a King, and yet there was nothing that he could +eat! The poorest workman sitting down to a crust of bread and a cup of +water was better off than King Midas, whose dainty food was worth its +weight in gold. + +He began to doubt whether, after all, riches were the only good thing +in the world, and he was so hungry that he gave a groan. + +His little daughter noticed that her father ate nothing, and at first +she sat still looking at him and trying to find out what was the +matter. Then she got down from her chair, and running to her father, +she threw her arms lovingly round his knees. + +Midas bent down and kissed her. He felt that his little daughter's +love was a thousand times more precious than all the gold he had +gained since the stranger came to visit him. "My precious, precious +little girl!" he said, but there was no answer. + +Alas! what had he done? The moment that his lips had touched his +child's forehead, a change took place. Her sweet, rosy face, so full +of love and happiness, hardened and became a glittering yellow color; +her beautiful brown curls hung like wires of gold from the small head, +and her soft, tender little figure grew stiff in his arms. + +Midas had often said to people that his little daughter was worth her +weight in gold, and it had become really true. Now when it was too +late, he felt how much more precious was the warm tender heart that +loved him than all the gold that could be piled up between the earth +and sky. + +He began to wring his hands and to wish that he was the poorest man in +the wide world, if the loss of all his money might bring back the rosy +color to his dear child's face. + +While he was in despair he suddenly saw a stranger standing near the +door, the same visitor he had seen yesterday for the first time in his +treasure-room, and who had granted his wish. + +"Well, friend Midas," he said, "pray how are you enjoying your new +power?" + +Midas shook his head. "I am very miserable," he said. + +"Very miserable, are you?" exclaimed the stranger. "And how does that +happen: have I not faithfully kept my promise; have you not everything +that your heart desired?" + +"Gold is not everything," answered Midas, "and I have lost all that my +heart really cared for." + +"Ah!" said the stranger, "I see you have made some discoveries since +yesterday. Tell me truly, which of these things do you really think +is most worth--a cup of clear cold water and a crust of bread, or +the power of turning everything you touch into gold; your own little +daughter, alive and loving, or that solid statue of a child which +would be valued at thousands of dollars?" + +"O my child, my child!" sobbed Midas, wringing his hands. "I would not +have given one of her curls for the power of changing all the world +into gold, and I would give all I possess for a cup of cold water and +a crust of bread." + +"You are wiser than you were, King Midas," said the stranger. "Tell +me, do you really wish to get rid of your fatal gift?" + +"Yes," said Midas, "it is hateful to me." + +"Go then," said the stranger, "and plunge into the river that flows at +the bottom of the garden: take also a pitcher of the same water, and +sprinkle it over anything that you wish to change back again from gold +to its former substance." + +King Midas bowed low, and when he lifted his head the stranger was +nowhere to be seen. + +You may easily believe that King Midas lost no time in getting a +big pitcher, then he ran towards the river. On reaching the water +he jumped in without even waiting to take off his shoes. "How +delightful!" he said, as he came out with his hair all dripping, "this +is really a most refreshing bath, and surely it must have washed away +the magic gift." + +Then he dipped the pitcher into the water, and how glad he was to see +that it became just a common earthen pitcher and not a golden one as +it had been five minutes before! He was conscious, also of a change in +himself: a cold, heavy weight seemed to have gone, and he felt light, +and happy, and human once more. Maybe his heart had been changing into +gold too, though he could not see it, and now it had softened again +and become gentle and kind. + +Midas hurried back to the palace with the pitcher of water, and the +first thing he did was to sprinkle it by handfuls all over the golden +figure of his little daughter. You would have laughed to see how the +rosy color came back to her cheeks, and how she began to sneeze and +choke, and how surprised she was to find herself dripping wet and her +father still throwing water over her. + +You see she did not know that she had been a little golden statue, for +she could not remember anything from the moment when she ran to kiss +her father. + +King Midas then led his daughter into the garden, where he sprinkled +all the rest of the water over the rose-bushes, and the grass, and the +trees; and in a minute they were blooming as freshly as ever, and the +air was laden with the scent of the flowers. + +There were two things left, which, as long as he lived, used to remind +King Midas of the stranger's fatal gift. One was that the sands at +the bottom of the river always sparkled like grains of gold: and the +other, that his little daughter's curls were no longer brown. They had +a golden tinge which had not been there before that miserable day when +he had received the fatal gift, and when his kiss had changed them +into gold. + + + + +CADMUS + +ADAPTED BY C.E. SMITH + + +Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix, the three sons of King Agenor, were +playing near the seashore in their father's kingdom of Phoenicia, and +their little sister Europa was beside them. + +They had wandered to some distance from the King's palace and were now +in a green field, on one side of which lay the sea, sparkling brightly +in the sunshine, and with little waves breaking on the shore. + +The three boys were very happy gathering flowers and making wreaths +for their sister Europa. The little girl was almost hidden under the +flowers and leaves, and her rosy face peeped merrily out among them. +She was really the prettiest flower of them all. + +While they were busy and happy, a beautiful butterfly came flying +past, and the three boys, crying out that it was a flower with wings, +set off to try to catch it. + +Europa did not run after them. She was a little tired with playing all +day long, so she sat still on the green grass and very soon she closed +her eyes. + +For a time she listened to the sea, which sounded, she thought, just +like a voice saying, "Hush, hush," and telling her to go to sleep. But +if she slept at all it was only for a minute. Then she heard something +tramping on the grass and, when she looked up, there was a snow-white +bull quite close to her! + +Where could he have come from? Europa was very frightened, and she +started up from among the tulips and lilies and cried out, "Cadmus, +brother Cadmus, where are you? Come and drive this bull away." But her +brother was too far off to hear her, and Europa was so frightened that +her voice did not sound very loud; so there she stood with her blue +eyes big with fear, and her pretty red mouth wide open, and her face +as pale as the lilies that were lying on her golden hair. + +As the bull did not touch her she began to peep at him, and she saw +that he was a very beautiful animal; she even fancied he looked quite +a kind bull. He had soft, tender, brown eyes, and horns as smooth +and white as ivory: and when he breathed you could feel the scent of +rosebuds and clover blossoms in the air. + +The bull ran little races round Europa and allowed her to stroke his +forehead with her small hands, and to hang wreaths of flowers on his +horns. He was just like a pet lamb, and very soon Europa quite forgot +how big and strong he really was and how frightened she had been. +She pulled some grass and he ate it out of her hand and seemed quite +pleased to be friends. He ran up and down the field as lightly as a +bird hopping in a tree; his hoofs scarcely seemed to touch the grass, +and once when he galloped a good long way Europa was afraid she would +not see him again, and she called out, "Come back, you dear bull, I +have got you a pink clover-blossom." Then he came running and bowed +his head before Europa as if he knew she was a King's daughter, and +knelt down at her feet, inviting her to get on his back and have a +ride. + +At first Europa was afraid: then she thought there could surely be no +danger in having just one ride on the back of such a gentle animal, +and the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to go. + +What a surprise it would be to Cadmus, and Phoenix, and Cilix if they +met her riding across the green field, and what fun it would be if +they could all four ride round and round the field on the back of this +beautiful white bull that was so tame and kind! + +"I think I will do it," she said, and she looked round the field. +Cadmus and his brothers were still chasing the butterfly away at the +far end. "If I got on the bull's back I should soon be beside them," +she thought. So she moved nearer, and the gentle white creature looked +so pleased, and so kind, she could not resist any longer, and with a +light bound she sprang up on his back: and there she sat holding an +ivory horn in each hand to keep her steady. + +"Go very gently, good bull," she said, and the animal gave a little +leap in the air and came down as lightly as a feather. Then he began a +race to that part of the field where the brothers were, and where they +had just caught the splendid butterfly. Europa shouted with delight, +and how surprised the brothers were to see their sister mounted on the +back of a white bull! + +They stood with their mouths wide open, not sure whether to be +frightened or not. But the bull played round them as gently as a +kitten, and Europa looked down all rosy and laughing, and they were +quite envious. Then when he turned to take another gallop round the +field, Europa waved her hand and called out "Good-by," as if she was +off for a journey, and Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix shouted "Good-by" +all in one breath. They all thought it such good fun. + +And then, what do you think happened? The white bull set off as +quickly as before, and ran straight down to the seashore. He scampered +across the sand, then he took a big leap and plunged right in among +the waves. The white spray rose in a shower all over him and Europa, +and the poor child screamed with fright. The brothers ran as fast as +they could to the edge of the water, but it was too late. + +The white bull swam very fast and was soon far away in the wide blue +sea, with only his snowy head and tail showing above the water. Poor +Europa was holding on with one hand to the ivory horn and stretching +the other back towards her dear brothers. + +And there stood Cadmus and Phoenix and Cilix looking after her and +crying bitterly, until they could no longer see the white head among +the waves that sparkled in the sunshine. + +Nothing more could be seen of the white bull, and nothing more of +their beautiful sister. + +This was a sad tale for the three boys to carry back to their parents. +King Agenor loved his little girl Europa more than his kingdom or +anything else in the world, and when Cadmus came home crying and told +how a white bull had carried off his sister, the King was very angry +and full of grief. + +"You shall never see my face again," he cried, "unless you bring back +my little Europa. Begone, and enter my presence no more till you come +leading her by the hand;" and his eyes flashed fire and he looked so +terribly angry that the poor boys did not even wait for supper, but +stole out of the palace wondering where they should go first. + +While they were standing at the gate, the Queen came hurrying after +them. "Dear children," she said, "I will come with you." + +"Oh no, mother," the boys answered, "it is a dark night, and there is +no knowing what troubles we may meet with; the blame is ours, and we +had better go alone." + +"Alas!" said the poor Queen, weeping, "Europa is lost, and if I should +lose my three sons as well, what would become of me? I must go with my +children." + +The boys tried to persuade her to stay at home, but the Queen cried so +bitterly that they had to let her go with them. + +Just as they were about to start, their playfellow Theseus came +running to join them. He loved Europa very much, and longed to search +for her too. So the five set off together: the Queen, and Cadmus, +and Phoenix, and Cilix, and Theseus, and the last they heard was King +Agenor's angry voice saying, "Remember this, never may you come up +these steps again, till you bring back my little daughter." + +The Queen and her young companions traveled many a weary mile: the +days grew to months, and the months became years, and still they found +no trace of the lost Princess. Their clothes were worn and shabby, and +the peasant people looked curiously at them when they asked, "Have you +seen a snow-white bull with a little Princess on its back, riding as +swiftly as the wind?" + +And the farmers would answer, "We have many bulls in our fields, but +none that would allow a little Princess to ride on its back: we have +never seen such a sight." + +At last Phoenix grew weary of the search. "I do not believe Europa +will ever be found, and I shall stay here," he said one day when they +came to a pleasant spot. So the others helped him to build a small hut +to live in, then they said good-by and went on without him. + +Then Cilix grew tired too. "It is so many years now since Europa was +carried away that she would not know me if I found her. I shall wait +here," he said. So Cadmus and Theseus built a hut for him too, and +then said good-by. + +After many long months Theseus broke his ankle, and he too had to +be left behind, and once more the Queen and Cadmus wandered on to +continue the search. + +The poor Queen was worn and sad, and she leaned very heavily on her +son's arm. "Cadmus," she said one day, "I must stay and rest." + +"Why, yes, mother, of course you shall, a long, long rest you must +have, and I will sit beside you and watch." + +But the Queen knew she could go no further. "Cadmus," she said, "you +must leave me here, and, go to the wise woman at Delphi and ask her +what you must do next. Promise me you will go!" + +And Cadmus promised. The tired Queen lay down to rest, and in the +morning Cadmus found that she was dead, and he must journey on alone. + +He wandered for many days till he came in sight of a high mountain +which the people told him was called Parnassus, and on the steep +side of this mountain was the famous city of Delphi for which he was +looking. The wise woman lived far up the mountain-side, in a hut like +those he had helped his brothers to build by the roadside. + +When he pushed aside the branches he found himself in a low cave, with +a hole in the wall through which a strong wind was blowing. He bent +down and put his mouth to the hole and said, "O sacred goddess, tell +me where I must look now for my dear sister Europa, who was carried +off so long ago by a bull?" + +At first there was no answer. Then a voice said softly, three times, +"Seek her no more, seek her no more, seek her no more." + +"What shall I do, then?" said Cadmus. And the answer came, in a hoarse +voice, "Follow the cow, follow the cow, follow the cow." + +"But what cow," cried Cadmus, "and where shall I follow?" + +And once more the voice came, "Where the stray cow lies down, there is +your home;" and then there was silence. + +"Have I been dreaming?" Cadmus thought, "or did I really hear a +voice?" and he went away thinking he was very little wiser for having +done as the Queen had told him. + +I do not know how far he had gone when just before him he saw a +brindled cow. She was lying down by the wayside, and as Cadmus came +along she got up and began to move slowly along the path, stopping now +and then to crop a mouthful of grass. + +Cadmus wondered if this could be the cow he was to follow, and he +thought he would look at her more closely, so he walked a little +faster; but so did the cow. "Stop, cow," he cried, "hey brindle, +stop," and he began to run; and much to his surprise so did the cow, +and though he ran as hard as possible, he could not overtake her. + +So he gave it up. "I do believe this may be the cow I was told about," +he thought. "Any way, I may as well follow her and surely she will lie +down somewhere." + +On and on they went. Cadmus thought the cow would never stop, and +other people who had heard the strange story began to follow too, and +they were all very tired and very far away from home when at last the +cow lay down. His companions were delighted and began to cut down wood +to make a fire, and some ran to a stream to get water. Cadmus lay +down to rest close beside the cow. He was wishing that his mother +and brothers and Theseus had been with him now, when suddenly he was +startled by cries and shouts and screams. + +He ran towards the stream, and there he saw the head of a big serpent +or dragon, with fiery eyes and with wide open jaws which showed rows +and rows of horrible sharp teeth. Before Cadmus could reach it, the +monster had killed all his poor companions and was busy devouring +them. The stream was an enchanted one, and the dragon had been told to +guard it so that no mortal might ever touch the water, and the people +round about knew this, so that for a hundred years none of them had +ever come near the spot. + +The dragon had been asleep and was very hungry, and when he saw Cadmus +he opened his huge jaws again, ready to devour him too. But Cadmus was +very angry at the death of all his companions, and drawing his sword +he rushed at the monster. With one big bound he leaped right into the +dragon's mouth, so far down that the two rows of terrible teeth could +not close on him or do him any harm. The dragon lashed with his tail +furiously, but Cadmus stabbed him again and again, and in a short time +the great monster lay dead. + +"What shall I do now?" he said aloud. All his companions were dead, +and he was alone once more. "Cadmus," said a voice, "pluck out the +dragon's teeth and plant them in the earth." + +Cadmus looked round and there was nobody to be seen. But he set to +work and cut out the huge teeth with his sword, and then he made +little holes in the ground and planted the teeth. In a few minutes the +earth was covered with rows of armed men, fierce-looking soldiers with +swords and helmets who stood looking at Cadmus in silence. + +"Throw a stone among these men," came the voice again, and Cadmus +obeyed. At once all the men began to fight, and they cut and stabbed +each other so furiously that in a short time only five remained alive +out of all the hundreds that had stood before him. "Cadmus," said +the voice once more, "tell these men to stop fighting and help you +to build a palace." And as soon as Cadmus spoke, the five big men +sheathed their swords, and they began to carry stones, and to carve +these for Cadmus, as if they had never thought of such a thing as +fighting each other! + +They built a house for each of themselves, and there was a beautiful +palace for Cadmus made of marble, and of fine kinds of red and green +stone, and there was a high tower with a flag floating from a tall +gold flag-post. + +When everything was ready, Cadmus went to take possession of his new +house, and, as he entered the great hall, he saw a lady coming slowly +towards him. She was very lovely and she wore a royal robe which shone +like sunbeams, with a crown of stars on her golden hair, and round her +neck was a string of the fairest pearls. + +Cadmus was full of delight. Could this be his long lost sister Europa +coming to make him happy after all these weary years of searching and +wandering? + +How much he had to tell her about Phoenix, and Cilix, and dear Theseus +and of the poor Queen's lonely grave in the wilderness! But as he went +forward to meet the beautiful lady he saw she was a stranger. He +was thinking what he should say to her, when once again he heard the +unknown voice speak. + +"No, Cadmus," it said, "this is not your dear sister whom you have +sought so faithfully all over the wide world. This is Harmonia, +a daughter of the sky, who is given to you instead of sister and +brother, and friend and mother. She is your Queen, and will make happy +the home which you have won by so much suffering." + +So King Cadmus lived in the palace with his beautiful Queen, and +before many years passed there were rosy little children playing in +the great hall, and on the marble steps of the palace, and running +joyfully to meet King Cadmus as he came home from looking after his +soldiers and his workmen. + +And the five old soldiers that sprang from the dragon's teeth grew +very fond of these little children, and they were never tired of +showing them how to play with wooden swords and to blow on a penny +trumpet, and beat a drum and march like soldiers to battle. + + + + +PROSERPINA + +ADAPTED BY C.E. SMITH + + +Mother Ceres was very fond of her little daughter Proserpina. She did +not of ten let her go alone into the fields for fear she should be +lost. But just at the time when my story begins she was very busy. +She had to look after the wheat and the corn, and the apples and the +pears, all over the world, and as the weather had been bad day after +day she was afraid none of them would be ripe when harvest-time came. + +So this morning Mother Ceres put on her turban made of scarlet poppies +and got into her car. This car was drawn by a pair of winged dragons +which went very fast, and Mother Ceres was just ready to start, when +Proserpina said, "Dear mother, I shall be very lonely while you are +away, may I run down to the sands, and ask some of the sea-children to +come out of the water to play with me?" + +"Yes, child, you may," answered Mother Ceres, "but you must take care +not to stray away from them, and you are not to play in the fields by +yourself with no one to take care of you." + +Proserpina promised to remember what her mother said, and by the time +the dragons with their big wings had whirled the car out of sight she +was already on the shore, calling to the sea-children to come to play +with her. + +They knew Proserpina's voice and came at once: pretty children with +wavy sea-green hair and shining faces, and they sat down on the wet +sand where the waves could still break over them, and began to make a +necklace for Proserpina of beautiful shells brought from their home at +the bottom of the sea. + +Proserpina was so delighted when they hung the necklace round her neck +that she wanted to give them something in return. "Will you come with +me into the fields," she asked, "and I will gather flowers and make +you each a wreath?" + +"Oh no, dear Proserpina," said the sea-children, "we may not go with +you on the dry land. We must keep close beside the sea and let the +waves wash over us every minute or two. If it were not for the salt +water we should soon look like bunches of dried sea-weed instead of +sea-children." + +"That is a great pity," said Proserpina, "but if you wait for me +here, I will run to the fields and be back again with my apron full +of flowers before the waves have broken over you ten times. I long +to make you some wreaths as beautiful as this necklace with all its +colored shells." + +"We will wait, then," said the sea-children: "we will lie under +the water and pop up our heads every few minutes to see if you are +coming." + +Proserpina ran quickly to a field where only the day before she had +seen a great many flowers; but the first she came to seemed rather +faded, and forgetting what Mother Ceres had told her, she strayed +a little farther into the fields. Never before had she found such +beautiful flowers! Large sweet-scented violets, purple and white; deep +pink roses; hyacinths with the biggest of blue bells; as well as many +others she did not know. They seemed to grow up under her feet, and +soon her apron was so full that the flowers were falling out of the +corners. + +Proserpina was just going to turn back to the sands to make the +wreaths for the sea-children, when she cried out with delight. Before +her was a bush covered with the most wonderful flowers in the world. +"What beauties!" said Proserpina, and then she thought, "How strange! +I looked at that spot only a moment ago; why did I not see the +flowers?" + +They were such lovely ones too. More than a hundred different kinds +grew on the one bush: the brightest, gayest flowers Proserpina had +ever seen. But there was a shiny look about them and about the leaves +which she did not quite like. Somehow it made her wonder if this was +a poison plant, and to tell the truth she was half inclined to turn +round and run away. + +"How silly I am!" she thought, taking courage: "it is really the most +beautiful bush I ever saw. I will pull it up by the roots and carry it +home to plant in mother's garden." + +Holding her apron full of flowers with one hand, Proserpina seized the +large shrub with the other and pulled and pulled. + +What deep roots that bush had! She pulled again with all her might, +and the earth round the roots began to stir and crack, so she gave +another big pull, and then she let go. She thought there was a +rumbling noise right below her feet, and she wondered if the roots +went down to some dragon's cave. Then she tried once again, and up +came the bush so quickly that Proserpina nearly fell backwards. There +she stood, holding the stem in her hand and looking at the big hole +which its roots had left in the earth. + +To her surprise this hole began to grow wider and wider, and deeper +and deeper, and a rumbling noise came out of it. Louder and louder it +grew, nearer and nearer it came, just like the tramp of horses' feet +and the rattling of wheels. + +Proserpina was too frightened now to run away, and soon she saw a +wonderful thing. Two black horses, with smoke coming out of their +nostrils and with long black tails and flowing black manes, came +tearing their way out of the earth, and a splendid golden chariot was +rattling at their heels. + +The horses leaped out of the hole, chariot and all, and came close to +the spot where Proserpina stood. + +Then she saw there was a man in the chariot. He was very richly +dressed, with a crown on his head all made of diamonds which sparkled +like fire. He was a very handsome man, but looked rather cross and +discontented, and he kept rubbing his eyes and covering them with his +hand, as if he did not care much for the bright sunshine. + +As soon as he saw Proserpina, the man waved to her to come a little +nearer. "Do not be afraid," he said. "Come! would you not like to ride +a little way with me in my beautiful chariot?" + +But Proserpina was very frightened, and no wonder. The stranger did +not look a very kind or pleasant man. His voice was so gruff and deep, +and sounded just like the rumbling Proserpina had heard underneath the +earth. + +She at once began to cry out, "Mother, mother! O Mother Ceres, come +quickly and save me!" + +[Illustration: HE CAUGHT HER IN HIS ARMS AND SPRANG INTO THE CHARIOT.] + +But her voice was very shaky and too faint for Mother Ceres to hear, +for by this time she was many thousands of miles away making the corn +grow in another country. + +No sooner did Proserpina begin to cry out than the strange man leaped +to the ground; he caught her in his arms and sprang into the chariot, +then he shook the reins and shouted to the two black horses to set +off. They began to gallop so fast that it was just like flying, and in +less than a minute Proserpina had lost sight of the sunny fields where +she and her mother had always lived. + +She screamed and screamed and all the beautiful flowers fell out of +her apron to the ground. + +But Mother Ceres was too far away to know what was happening to her +little daughter. + +"Why are you so frightened, my little girl?" said the strange man, and +he tried to soften his rough voice. "I promise not to do you any harm. +I see you have been gathering flowers? Wait till we come to my palace +and I will give you a garden full of prettier flowers than these, all +made of diamonds and pearls and rubies. Can you guess who I am? They +call me Pluto, and I am the King of the mines where all the diamonds +and rubies and all the gold and silver are found: they all belong to +me. Do you see this lovely crown on my head? I will let you have it +to play with. Oh, I think we are going to be very good friends when we +get out of this troublesome sunshine." + +"Let me go home," sobbed Proserpina, "let me go home." + +"My home is better than your mother's," said King Pluto. "It is a +palace made of gold, with crystal windows and with diamond lamps +instead of sunshine; and there is a splendid throne; if you like +you may sit on it and be my little Queen, and I will sit on the +footstool." + +"I do not care for golden palaces and thrones," sobbed Proserpina. "O +mother, mother! Take me back to my mother." + +But King Pluto only shouted to his horses to go faster. + +"You are very foolish, Proserpina," he said, rather crossly. "I am +doing all I can to make you happy, and I want very much to have a +merry little girl to run upstairs and downstairs in my palace and make +it brighter with her laughter. This is all I ask you to do for King +Pluto." + +"Never" answered Proserpina, looking very miserable. "I shall never +laugh again, till you take me back to my mother's cottage." + +And the horses galloped on, and the wind whistled past the chariot, +and Proserpina cried and cried till her poor little voice was almost +cried away, and nothing was left but a whisper. + +The road now began to get very dull and gloomy. On each side were +black rocks and very thick trees and bushes that looked as if they +never got any sunshine. It got darker and darker, as if night was +coming, and still the black horses rushed on leaving the sunny home of +Mother Ceres far behind. + +But the darker it grew, the happier King Pluto seemed to be. +Proserpina began to peep at him, she thought he might not be such a +wicked man after all. + +"Is it much further," she asked, "and will you carry me back when I +have seen your palace?" + +"We will talk of that by and by," answered Pluto. "Do you see these +big gates? When we pass these we are at home; and look! there is my +faithful dog at the door! Cerberus; Cerberus, come here, good dog." + +Pluto pulled the horses' reins, and the chariot stopped between two +big tall pillars. The dog got up and stood on his hind legs, so that +he could put his paws on the chariot wheel. What a strange dog he was! +A big, rough, ugly-looking monster, with three heads each fiercer than +the other. + +King Pluto patted his heads and the dog wagged his tail with delight. +Proserpina was much afraid when she saw that his tail was a live +dragon, with fiery eyes and big poisonous teeth. + +"Will the dog bite me?" she asked, creeping closer to King Pluto. "How +very ugly he is." + +"Oh, never fear," Pluto answered; "he never bites people unless they +try to come in here when I do not want them. Down, Cerberus. Now, +Proserpina, we will drive on." + +The black horses started again and King Pluto seemed very happy to +find himself once more at home. + +All along the road Proserpina could see diamonds, and rubies and +precious stones sparkling, and there were bits of real gold among the +rocks. It was a very rich place. + +Not far from the gateway they came to an iron bridge. Pluto stopped +the chariot and told Proserpina to look at the river which ran +underneath. It was very black and muddy, and flowed slowly, very +slowly, as if it had quite forgotten which way it wanted to go, and +was in no hurry to flow anywhere. + +"This is the river Lethe," said King Pluto; "do you not think it a +very pleasant stream?" + +"I think it is very dismal," said Proserpina. + +"Well, I like it," answered Pluto, who got rather cross when any one +did not agree with him. "It is a strange kind of river. If you drink +only a little sip of the water, you will at once forget all your care +and sorrow. When we reach the palace, you shall have some in a golden +cup, and then you will not cry any more for your mother, and will be +perfectly happy with me." + +"Oh no, oh no!" said Proserpina, sobbing again. "O mother, mother, +I will never forget you; I do not want to be happy by forgetting all +about you." + +"We shall see," said King Pluto; "you do not know what good times we +will have in my palace. Here we are, just at the gate. Look at the big +pillars; they are all made of solid gold." + +He got out of the chariot and carried Proserpina in his arms up a long +stair into the great hall of the palace. It was beautifully lit by +hundreds of diamonds and rubies which shone like lamps. It was very +rich and splendid to look at, but it was cold and lonely and Pluto +must have longed for some one to keep him company; perhaps that was +why he had stolen Proserpina from her sunny home. + +King Pluto sent for his servants and told them to get ready a grand +supper with all kinds of dainty food and sweet things such as children +like. "And be sure not to forget a golden cup filled with the water of +Lethe," he said to the servant. + +"I will not eat anything," said Proserpina, "nor drink a single drop, +even if you keep me for ever in your palace." + +"I should be sorry for that," replied King Pluto. He really wished to +be kind if he had only known how. "Wait till you see the nice things +my cook will make for you, and then you will be hungry." + +Now King Pluto had a secret reason why he wanted Proserpina to eat +some food. You must understand that when people are carried off to the +land of magic, if once they taste any food they can never go back to +their friends. + +If King Pluto had offered Proserpina some bread and milk she would +very likely have taken it as soon as she was hungry, but all the +cook's fine pastries and sweets were things she had never seen at +home, and, instead of making her hungry, she was afraid to touch them. + +But now my story must leave King Pluto's palace, and we must see what +Mother Ceres has been about. + +You remember she had gone off in her chariot with the winged dragons +to the other side of the world to see how the corn and fruit were +growing. And while she was busy in a field she thought she heard +Proserpina's voice calling her. She was sure her little daughter +could not possibly be anywhere near, but the idea troubled her: and +presently she left the fields before her work was half done and, +ordering her dragons with the chariot, she drove off. + +In less than an hour Mother Ceres got down at the door of her cottage. +It was empty! At first she thought "Oh, Proserpina will still be +playing on the shore with the sea-children." So she went to find her. + +"Where is Proserpina, you naughty sea-children?" she asked; "tell me, +have you taken her to your home under the sea?" + +"Oh no, Mother Ceres," they said, "she left us early in the day to +gather flowers for a wreath, and we have seen nothing of her since." + +Ceres hurried off to ask all the neighbors. A poor fisherman had seen +her little footprints in the sand as he went home with his basket of +fish. + +A man in the fields had noticed her gathering flowers. + +Several persons had heard the rattling of chariot wheels or the +rumbling of distant thunder: and one old woman had heard a scream, but +supposed it was only merriment, and had not even looked up. + +None of the neighbors knew where Proserpina was, and Mother Ceres +decided she must seek her daughter further from home. + +By this time it was night, so she lit a torch and set off, telling the +neighbors she would never come back till Proserpina was found. In +her hurry she quite forgot her chariot with the dragons; may be she +thought she could search better on foot. + +So she started on her sad journey, holding her torch in front of her, +and looking carefully along every road and round every corner. + +She had not gone very far before she found one of the wonderful +flowers which Proserpina had pulled from the poison bush. + +"Ha!" said Mother Ceres, examining it carefully, "there is mischief in +this flower: it did not grow in the earth by any help of mine; it is +the work of magic, and perhaps it has poisoned my poor child." And she +hid it in her bosom. + +All night long Ceres sought for her daughter. She knocked at the doors +of farm-houses where the people were all asleep, and they came to see +who was there, rubbing their eyes and yawning. They were very sorry +for the poor mother when they heard her tale--but they knew nothing +about Proserpina. + +At every palace door, too, she knocked, so loudly that the servants +ran quickly, expecting to find a great queen, and when they saw only +a sad lonely woman with a burning torch in her hand, and a wreath of +withered poppies on her head, they were angry and drove her rudely +away. + +But nobody had seen Proserpina, and Mother Ceres wandered about till +the night was passed, without sitting down to rest, and without taking +any food. She did not even remember to put out her torch, and it +looked very pale and small in the bright morning sunshine. + +It must have been a magic torch, for it burned dimly all day, and then +when night came it shone with a beautiful red light, and neither the +wind nor the rain put it out through all these weary days while Ceres +sought for Proserpina. + +It was not only men and women that Mother Ceres questioned about her +daughter. In the woods and by the streams she met other creatures +whose way of talking she could understand, and who knew many things +that we have never learned. + +Sometimes she tapped with her finger against an oak tree, and at once +its rough bark would open and a beautiful maiden would appear: she was +the spirit of the oak, living inside it, and as happy as could be when +its green leaves danced in the breeze. + +Then another time Ceres would find a spring bubbling out of a little +hole in the earth, and she would play with her fingers in the water. +Immediately up through the sandy bed a nymph with dripping hair would +rise and float half out of the water, looking at Mother Ceres, and +swaying up and down with the water bubbles. + +But when the mother asked whether her poor lost child had stopped to +drink of the fountain, the nymph with weeping eyes would answer +"No," in a murmuring voice which was just like the sound of a running +stream. + +Often, too, she met fauns. These were little people with brown faces +who looked as if they had played a great deal in the sun. They had +hairy ears and little horns on their brows, and their legs were like +goats' legs on which they danced merrily about the woods and fields. +They were very kind creatures, and were very sorry for Mother Ceres +when they heard that her daughter was lost. + +And once she met a rude band of satyrs who had faces like monkeys +and who had horses' tails behind; they were dancing and shouting in +a rough, noisy manner, and they only laughed when Ceres told them how +unhappy she was. + +One day while she was crossing a lonely sheep-field she saw the god +Pan: he was sitting at the foot of a tall rock, making music on a +shepherd's flute. He too had horns on his brow, and hairy ears, and +goat's feet. He knew Mother Ceres and answered her questions kindly, +and he gave her some milk and honey to drink out of a wooden bowl. But +he knew nothing of Proserpina. + +And so Mother Ceres went wandering about for nine long days and +nights. Now and then she found a withered flower, and these she picked +up and put in her bosom, because she fancied they might have fallen +from her daughter's hand. All day she went on through the hot +sunshine, and at night the flame of her torch would gleam on the +pathway, and she would continue her weary search without ever sitting +down to rest. + +On the tenth day she came to the mouth of a cave. It was dark inside, +but a torch was burning dimly and lit up half of the gloomy place. +Ceres peeped in and held up her own torch before her, and then she saw +what looked like a woman, sitting on a heap of withered leaves, which +the wind had blown into the cave. She was a very strange-looking +woman: her head was shaped like a dog's, and round it she had a wreath +of snakes. + +As soon as she saw her, Mother Ceres knew that this was a queer kind +of person who was always grumbling and unhappy. Her name was Hecate, +and she would never say a word to other people unless they were +unhappy too. "I am sad enough," thought poor Ceres, "to talk with +Hecate:" so she stepped into the cave and sat down on the withered +leaves beside the dog-headed woman. + +"O Hecate," she said, "if ever you lose a daughter you will know +what sorrow is. Tell me, for pity's sake, have you seen my poor child +Proserpina pass by the mouth of your cave?" + +"No, Mother Ceres," answered Hecate. "I have seen nothing of your +daughter. But my ears, you know, are made so that all cries of +distress or fright all over the world are heard by them. And nine days +ago, as I sat in my cave, I heard the voice of a young girl sobbing +as if in great distress. As well as I could judge, some dragon was +carrying her away." + +"You kill me by saying so," cried Mother Ceres, almost ready to faint; +"where was the sound, and which way did it seem to go?" + +"It passed along very quickly," said Hecate, "and there was a rumbling +of wheels to the eastward. I cannot tell you any more. I advise +you just to come and live here with me, and we will be the two most +unhappy women in all the world." + +"Not yet, dark Hecate," replied Ceres. "Will you first come with your +torch and help me to seek for my child. When there is no more hope +of finding her, then I will come back with you to your dark cave. But +till I know that Proserpina is dead, I will not allow myself time to +sorrow." + +Hecate did not much like the idea of going abroad into the sunshine, +but at last she agreed to go, and they set out together, each carrying +a torch, although it was broad daylight and the sun was shining. Any +people they met ran away without waiting to be spoken to, as soon as +they caught sight of Hecate's wreath of snakes. + +As the sad pair wandered on, a thought struck Ceres. "There is one +person," she exclaimed, "who must have seen my child and can tell +me what has become of her. Why did I not think of him sooner? It is +Phoebus." + +"What!" said Hecate, "the youth that always sits in the sunshine! Oh! +pray do not think of going near him: he is a gay young fellow that +will only smile in your face. And, besides, there is such a glare of +sunshine about him that he will quite blind my poor eyes, which are +weak with so much weeping." + +"You have promised to be my companion," answered Ceres. "Come, let us +make haste, or the sunshine will be gone and Phoebus along with it." + +So they set off in search of Phoebus, both sighing a great deal, +and after a long journey they came to the sunniest spot in the whole +world. There they saw a young man with curly golden hair which seemed +to be made of sunbeams. + +His clothes were like light summer clouds, and the smile on his face +was so bright that Hecate held her hands before her eyes and muttered +that she wished he would wear a veil! Phoebus had a lyre in his hands +and was playing very sweet music, at the same time singing a merry +song. + +As Ceres and her dismal companion came near, Phoebus smiled on them +so cheerfully that Hecate's wreath of snakes gave a spiteful hiss and +Hecate wished she was back in her dark cave. + +But Ceres was too unhappy to know whether Phoebus smiled or looked +angry. + +"Phoebus" she said, "I am in great trouble and have come to you +for help. Can you tell me what has become of my little daughter +Proserpina?" + +"Proserpina, Proserpina did you call her?" answered Phoebus, trying to +remember. He had so many pleasant ideas in his head that he sometimes +forgot what had happened no longer ago than yesterday. + +"Ah yes! I remember now--a very lovely little girl. I am happy to tell +you that I did see Proserpina not many days ago. You may be quite easy +about her. She is safe and in good hands." + +"Oh, where is my dear child?" cried Ceres, clasping her hands and +flinging herself at his feet. + +"Why," replied Phoebus, "as the little girl was gathering flowers she +was snatched up by King Pluto and carried off to his kingdom. I have +never been there myself, but I am told the royal palace is splendidly +built. Proserpina will have gold and silver and diamonds to play with, +and I am sure even although there is no sunshine, she will have a very +happy life." + +"Hush! do not say such a thing," said Ceres. "What has she got to +love? What are all these splendors if she has no one to care for? I +must have her back. Good Phoebus, will you come with me to demand my +daughter from this wicked Pluto?" + +"Pray excuse me," answered Phoebus, with a bow. "I certainly wish you +success, and I am sorry I am too busy to go with you. Besides, King +Pluto does not care much for me. To tell you the truth, his dog with +the three heads would never let me pass the gateway. I always carry +a handful of sunbeams with me, and those, you know, are not allowed +within King Pluto's kingdom." + +So the poor mother said good-by and hastened away along with Hecate. + +Ceres had now found out what had become of her daughter, but she was +not any happier than before. Indeed, her trouble seemed worse than +ever. So long as Proserpina was above-ground there was some hope of +getting her home again. But now that the poor child was shut up behind +King Pluto's iron gates, with the three-headed Cerberus on guard +beside them, there seemed no hope of her escape. + +The dismal Hecate, who always looked on the darkest side of things, +told Ceres she had better come back with her to the cave and spend the +rest of her life in being miserable. But Ceres answered that Hecate +could go back if she wished, but that for her part she would wander +about all the world looking for the entrance to King Pluto's kingdom. +So Hecate hurried off alone to her beloved cave, frightening a great +many little children with her dog's face as she went. + +Poor Mother Ceres! It is sad to think of her all alone, holding up her +never-dying torch and wandering up and down the wide, wide world. So +much did she suffer that in a very short time she began to look quite +old. She wandered about with her hair hanging down her back, and she +looked so wild that people took her for some poor mad woman, and never +thought that this was Mother Ceres who took care of every seed which +was sown in the ground and of all the fruit and flowers. + +Now she gave herself no trouble about seedtime or harvest; there was +nothing in which she seemed to feel any interest, except the children +she saw at play or gathering flowers by the wayside. Then, indeed, she +would stand and look at them with tears in her eyes. + +And the children seemed to understand her sorrow and would gather in +a little group about her knees and look up lovingly into her face, and +Ceres, after giving them a kiss all round, would lead them home and +advise their mothers never to let them stray out of sight. "For if +they do," said she, "it may happen to you as it has happened to me: +the iron-hearted King Pluto may take a liking to your darlings and +carry them away in his golden chariot." + +At last, in her despair, Ceres made up her mind that not a stalk +of grain, nor a blade of grass, not a potato, nor a turnip, nor any +vegetable that is good for man or beast, should be allowed to grow +till her daughter was sent back. She was so unhappy that she even +forbade the flowers to bloom. + +Now you can see what a terrible misfortune had fallen on the earth. +The farmer plowed the ground and planted his seed, as usual, and +there lay the black earth without a single green blade to be seen. The +fields looked as brown in the sunny months of spring as ever they did +in winter. The rich man's garden and the flower-plot in front of the +laborer's cottage were both empty; even the children's gardens showed +nothing but withered stalks. It was very sad to see the poor starving +sheep and cattle that followed behind Ceres, bleating and lowing as if +they knew that she could help them. + +All the people begged her at least to let the grass grow, but Mother +Ceres was too miserable to care for any one's trouble. "Never," she +said. "If the earth is ever to be green again, it must grow along the +path by which my daughter comes back to me." + +At last, as there seemed to be no other way out of it, Mercury, the +favorite messenger of the gods, was sent to King Pluto in the hope +that he would set everything right again by giving up Proserpina. + +Mercury went as quickly as he could to the great iron gates, and with +the help of the wings on his shoes, he took a flying leap right over +Cerberus with his three heads, and very soon he stood at the door of +King Pluto's palace. + +The servants all knew him, as he had often been there in his short +cloak, and cap, and shoes with the wings, and with his curious staff +which had two snakes twisted round it. + +He asked to see the King immediately, and Pluto, who had heard his +voice from the top of the stairs, called out to him to come up at +once, for he was always glad to listen to Mercury's cheery talk. + +And while they are laughing together we must find out what Proserpina +had been doing since we last heard about her. + +You will remember that Proserpina had said she would not taste food so +long as she was kept a prisoner in King Pluto's palace. + +It was now six months since she had been carried off from her home, +and not a mouthful had she eaten, not even when the cook had made all +kinds of sweet things and had ordered all the dainties which children +usually like best. + +Proserpina was naturally a bright, merry little girl, and all this +time she was not so unhappy as you may have thought. + +In the big palace were a thousand rooms, and each was full of +wonderful and beautiful things. It is true there was never any +sunshine in these rooms, and Proserpina used to fancy that the shadowy +light which came from the jeweled lamps was alive: it seemed to float +before her as she walked between the golden pillars, and to close +softly behind her in the echo of her footsteps. + +And Proserpina knew that all the glitter of these precious stones was +not worth a single sunbeam, nor could the rubies and emeralds which +she played with ever be as dear to her as the daisies and buttercups +she had gathered among the soft green grass. + +King Pluto felt how much happier his palace was since Proserpina came, +and so did all his servants. They loved to hear her childish voice +laughing as she ran from room to room, and they felt less old and +tired when they saw again how glad little children can be. + +"My own little Proserpina," King Pluto used to say, "I wish you would +like me a little better. Although I look rather a sad man, I am really +fond of children, and if you would stay here with me always, it would +make me happier than having hundreds of palaces like this." + +"Ah," said Proserpina, "you should have tried to make me like you +first before carrying me off, and now the best thing you can do is to +let me go again; then I might remember you sometimes and think that +you were as kind as you knew how to be. Perhaps I might come back to +pay you a visit one day." + +"No, no," answered Pluto, with his gloomy smile, "I will not trust +you for that. You are too fond of living in the sunshine and gathering +flowers. What an idle, childish thing to do! Do you not think that +these diamonds which I have had dug out of the mine for you are far +prettier than violets?" + +"No, oh no! not half so pretty," said Proserpina, snatching them from +Pluto's hand, and flinging them to the other end of the room. "O my +sweet purple violets, shall I ever see you again?" and she began to +cry bitterly. + +But like most children, she soon stopped crying, and in a short time +she was running up and down the rooms as when she had played on the +sands with the sea-children. And King Pluto, sad and lonely, watched +her and wished that he too was a child, and when Proserpina turned and +saw the great King standing alone in his splendid hall, so grand and +so lonely, with no one to love him, she felt sorry for him. She ran +back and for the first time in all those six months she put her small +hand in his. "I love you a little," she whispered, looking up into his +face. + +"Do you really, dear child?" cried Pluto, bending down his dark face +to kiss her. But Proserpina was a little afraid, he was so dark and +severe-looking, and she shrank back. + +"Well," said Pluto, "it is just what I deserve after keeping you +a prisoner all these months, and starving you besides. Are you not +dreadfully hungry, is there nothing I can get you to eat?" + +In asking this Pluto was very cunning, as you will remember that if +Proserpina once tasted any food in his kingdom, she would never again +be able to go home. + +"No, indeed," said Proserpina. "Your poor fat little cook is always +making me all kinds of good things which I do not want. The one thing +I should like to eat would be a slice of bread baked by my own mother, +and a pear out of her garden." + +When Pluto heard this he began to see that he had made a mistake in +his way of trying to tempt Proserpina to eat. He wondered why he had +never thought of this before, and he at once sent a servant with a +large basket to get some of the finest and juiciest pears in the whole +world. + +But this was just at the time when, as we know, Mother Ceres in her +despair had forbidden any flowers or fruit to grow on the earth, and +the only thing King Pluto's servant could find, after seeking all +over the world was a single dried-up pomegranate, so dried up as to +be hardly worth eating. Still, since there was no better to be had, he +brought it back to the palace, put it on a magnificent gold plate, and +carried it to Proserpina. + +Now it just happened that as the servant was bringing the pomegranate +in at the back door of the palace, Mercury had gone up to the front +steps with his message to King Pluto about Proserpina. + +As soon as Proserpina saw the pomegranate on the golden plate, she +told the servant to take it away again. "I shall not touch it, I can +assure you," she said. "If I were ever so hungry, I should not think +of eating such a dried-up miserable pomegranate as that." + +"It is the only one in the world," said the servant, and he set down +the plate and went away. + +When he had gone, Proserpina could not help coming close to the table +and looking at the dried-up pomegranate with eagerness. To tell the +truth, when she saw something that really suited her taste, she felt +all her six months' hunger come back at once. + +To be sure it was a very poor-looking pomegranate, with no more juice +in it than in an oyster-shell. But there was no choice of such things +in King Pluto's palace, and this was the first fresh fruit Proserpina +had ever seen there, and the last she was ever likely to see, and +unless she ate it up at once, it would only get drier and drier and be +quite unfit to eat. + +"At least I may smell it," she thought, so she took up the pomegranate +and held it to her nose, and somehow, being quite near to her mouth, +the fruit found its way into that little red cave. + +Before Proserpina knew what she was about, her teeth had actually +bitten it of their own accord. + +Just as this fatal deed was done, the door of the hall opened and King +Pluto came in, followed by Mercury, who had been begging him to let +his little prisoner go. + +At the first noise of their coming, Proserpina took the pomegranate +from her mouth. + +Mercury, who saw things very quickly, noticed that Proserpina looked +a little uncomfortable, and when he saw the gold plate empty, he was +sure she had been eating something. + +As for King Pluto, he never guessed the secret. + +"My dear little Proserpina," said the King, sitting down and drawing +her gently between his knees, "here is Mercury, who tells me that a +great many sad things have happened to innocent people because I have +kept you a prisoner down here. And to confess the truth I have been +thinking myself that I really had no right to take you away from your +mother. It was very stupid of me, but I thought this palace was so +dull, and that I should be much happier if I just had a merry little +girl to play in it, and I hoped you would take my crown for a toy and +let me be your playmate. It was very foolish of me, I know." + +"No, it was not foolish," said Proserpina, "you have been very kind to +me, and I have often been quite happy here with you." + +"Thank you, dear," said King Pluto, "but I cannot help seeing that you +think my palace a dark prison and me the hard-hearted jailor, and I +should, indeed, be hard-hearted if I were to keep you longer than six +months. So I give you your liberty. Go back, dear, with Mercury, to +your mother." + +Now, although you might not think so, Proserpina found it impossible +to say good-by to King Pluto without being sorry, and she felt she +ought to tell him about tasting the pomegranate. She even cried a +little when she thought how lonely and dull the great palace with its +jeweled lamps would be after she had left. + +She would like to have thanked him many times, but Mercury hurried +her away. "Come along quickly," he said, "as King Pluto may change his +mind, and take care above all things that you say nothing about the +pomegranate which the servant brought you on the gold plate." + +In a short time they had passed the great gateway with the golden +pillars, leaving Cerberus barking and growling with all his three +heads at once, and beating his dragon tail on the ground. Along the +dark, rocky road they went very quickly, and soon they reached the +upper world again. + +You can guess how excited and happy Proserpina was to see the bright +sunshine. She noticed how green the grass grew on the path behind and +on each side of her. Wherever she set her foot at once there rose a +flower: violets and roses bloomed along the wayside; the grass and the +corn began to grow with ten times their usual quickness to make up for +the dreary months when Mother Ceres had forbidden them to appear above +ground. + +The hungry cattle began to eat, and went on eating all day after their +long fast. And, I can assure you, it was a busy time with all the +farmers when they found that summer was coming with a rush. + +As to the birds, they hopped about from tree to tree among the fresh, +sweet blossoms, and sang for joy that the dreary days were over and +the world was green and young again. + +Mother Ceres had gone back to her empty cottage, and was sitting very +sadly on the doorstep with her burning torch in her hand. She had been +looking wearily at the flame for some moments, when all at once it +flickered and went out. + +"What does this mean?" she thought. "It was a magic torch, and should +have gone on burning till Proserpina was found." + +She looked up, and was surprised to see the bare brown fields suddenly +turning green, just as you sometimes see them turn golden when the sun +comes from behind a dark cloud. + +"Does the Earth dare to disobey me?" exclaimed Mother Ceres angrily. +"Did I not forbid it to be green until my child should be sent back to +me?" + +"Then open your arms, mother dear," cried a well-known voice, "and +take me back again." And Proserpina came running along the pathway and +flung herself on her mother's bosom. + +It would be impossible to tell how happy they were; so happy that they +cried a little, for people cry when they are very glad as well as when +they are unhappy. + +After a little while Mother Ceres looked anxiously at Proserpina. +"My child," she said, "did you taste any food while you were in King +Pluto's palace?" + +"Dearest mother," answered Proserpina, "I will tell you the whole +truth. Until this morning not a morsel of food had passed my lips. +But a servant brought me a pomegranate on a golden-plate, a very dry +pomegranate, with no juice inside, nothing but seeds and skin; and I +was so hungry, and had not tasted any food for such a long time, that +I took just one bite. The moment I tasted it King Pluto and Mercury +came into the room. I had not swallowed a morsel, but O mother! I +hope it was no harm, six pomegranate seeds remained in my mouth and I +swallowed them." + +"O miserable me!" said Mother Ceres. "For each of these six +pomegranate seeds you must spend a month every year in King Pluto's +palace. You are only half restored to me; you will be six months with +me and then six months with the King of Darkness!" + +"Do not be so vexed, mother dear," said Proserpina. "It was very +unkind of King Pluto to carry me off, but then, as he says, it was +such a dismal life for him to lead in that great palace all alone: and +he says he has been much happier since he had me to run about the big +rooms and to play beside him. If only he will let me spend six months +every year with you, I think I can bear to spend the other six months +beside him. After all, he was as kind as he knew how to be, but I am +very glad he cannot keep me the whole year round." + + + + +THE STORY OF ATALANTA + +ADAPTED BY ANNA KLINGENSMITH + + +Atalanta was a maiden whose face you might truly say was boyish for a +girl, yet too girlish for a boy. Her fortune had been told, and it was +to this effect: "Atalanta, do not marry; marriage will be your ruin." +Terrified by this oracle, she fled the society of men, and devoted +herself to the sports of the chase. To all suitors (for she had many) +she imposed a condition which was generally effectual in relieving her +of their persecutions, "I will be the prize of him who shall conquer +me in the race; but death must be the penalty of all who try and +fail." In spite of this hard condition some would try. Hippomenes was +to be judge of the race. "Can it be possible that any will be so rash +as to risk so much for a wife?" said he. But when he saw her ravishing +beauty as she prepared for the race, he changed his mind, and said, +"Pardon me, youths, I knew not the prize you were competing for." As +he surveyed them he wished them all to be beaten, and swelled with +envy of anyone that seemed at all likely to win. While such were +his thoughts, the virgin darted forward. As she ran she looked more +beautiful than ever. The breezes seemed to give wings to her feet; +her hair flew over her shoulders, and the gay fringe of her garment +fluttered behind her. A ruddy hue tinged the whiteness of her skin, +such as a crimson curtain casts on a marble wall. All her competitors +were distanced, and were put to death without mercy. Hippomenes, not +daunted by this result, fixing his eyes on the virgin, said, "Why +boast of beating those laggards? I offer myself for the contest." +Atalanta looked at him with a pitying countenance, and hardly knew +whether she would rather conquer him or not. "What god can tempt one +so young and handsome to throw himself away? I pity him, not for his +beauty (yet he is beautiful), but for his youth. I wish he would give +up the race, or if he will be so mad, I hope he may outrun me." While +she hesitates, revolving these thoughts, the spectators grow impatient +for the race, and her father prompts her to prepare. Then Hippomenes +addressed a prayer to Venus: "Help me, Venus, for you have led me on." +Venus heard and was propitious. + +In the garden of her temple, in her own island of Cyprus, is a tree +with yellow leaves and yellow branches and golden fruit. Hence she +gathered three golden apples, and, unseen by any one else, gave them +to Hippomenes, and told him how to use them. The signal is given; each +starts from the goal and skims over the sand. So light their tread, +you would almost have thought they might run over the river surface +or over the waving grain without sinking. The cries of the spectators +cheered Hippomenes,--"Now, now, do your best! haste, haste! you gain +on her! relax not! one more effort!" It was doubtful whether the youth +or the maiden heard these cries with the greater pleasure. But his +breath began to fail him, his throat was dry, the goal yet far off. At +that moment he threw down one of the golden apples. The virgin was all +amazement. She stopped to pick it up. Hippomenes shot ahead. Shouts +burst forth from all sides. She redoubled her efforts, and soon +overtook him. Again he threw an apple. She stopped again, but again +came up with him. The goal was near; one chance only remained. "Now, +goddess," said he, "prosper your gift!" and threw the last apple off +at one side. She looked at it, and hesitated; Venus impelled her to +turn aside for it. She did so, and was vanquished. The youth carried +off his prize. + + + + +PYRAMUS AND THISBE + +ADAPTED BY ALICE ZIMMERN + + +In Babylon, the great and wonderful city on the Euphrates, there lived +in two adjoining houses a youth and a maiden named Pyramus and Thisbe. +Hardly a day passed without their meeting, and at last they came to +know and love one another. But when Pyramus sought Thisbe in marriage, +the parents would not hear of it, and even forbade the lovers to meet +or speak to each other any more. But though they could no longer be +openly together, they saw each other at a distance and sent messages +by signs and tokens. + +One day to their great delight they discovered a tiny crack in the +wall between the two houses, through which they could hear each other +speak. But a few words whispered through a chink in the wall could not +satisfy two ardent lovers, and they tried to arrange a meeting. They +would slip away one night unnoticed and meet somewhere outside the +city. A spot near the tomb of Ninus was chosen, where a mulberry tree +grew near a pleasant spring of water. + +At nightfall Thisbe put on a thick veil, slipped out of the house +unobserved and made her way in haste to the city gates. She was first +at the trysting-place and sat down under the tree to wait for her +lover. A strange noise made her look up, and she saw by the clear +moonlight a lioness with bloody jaws coming to drink at the spring. +Thisbe sprang up, and dropping her cloak in her haste ran to hide +herself in a neighboring cave. The lioness, who had already eaten, +did not care to pursue her, but finding the cloak lying on the ground, +pulled it to bits and left the marks of blood on the torn mantle. Now +Pyramus in his turn came to the place and found no Thisbe, but only +her torn and bloodstained cloak. "Surely," he thought, "some beast +must have devoured her, for here lies her cloak, all mangled and +bloodstained. Alas, that I came too late! Her love for me led Thisbe +to brave the perils of night and danger, and I was not here to protect +and save her. She dies a victim to her love, but she shall not perish +alone. One same night will see the end of both lovers. Come, ye lions, +and devour me too, 'tis my one prayer. Yet 'tis a coward's part to +pray for death when his own hands can give it." + +With these words he drew Thisbe's cloak towards him, and covered it +with kisses. "My blood too shall stain you," he cried, and plunged his +sword with true aim in his breast. The blood spouted forth as from a +fountain and stained the white fruit of the mulberry overhead. + +While Pyramus lay dying under the tree, Thisbe had recovered from her +fright, and now stole forth from her hiding-place, hoping that her +lover might be at hand. What was her dismay when she saw Pyramus +stretched lifeless on the ground. Kneeling down beside him, she washed +his wound with her tears, and kissed his cold lips, calling on him in +vain to speak. "Speak to me, Pyramus," she cried, "'tis your beloved +Thisbe that calls." + +At the sound of her voice Pyramus opened his failing eyes, and gave +his love one last look, then he closed them for ever. When Thisbe saw +her own cloak and the empty sheath, she guessed that, thinking her +dead, he had sought death himself. + +"'Twas by your own hand you fell," she cried, "a victim to love, and +love will give my hand strength to do the like. Since those who were +parted in life are united in death, perhaps our sorrowing parents will +grant us the boon of a common tomb. May we rest side by side, even as +we have fallen, and may this tree, which has witnessed our despair and +our death, bear the traces for evermore. Let its fruit be clothed in +mourning garb for the death of two hapless lovers." + +With these words she threw herself on the sword of Pyramus. Her last +prayer was granted, for one urn held the ashes of the faithful pair. +And since that night the mulberry tree bears purple fruit to recall to +all generations of lovers the cruel fate of Pyramus and Thisbe. + + + + +ORPHEUS + +ADAPTED BY ALICE ZIMMERN + + +Orpheus, the Thracian singer, was the most famous of all the musicians +of Greece. Apollo himself had given him his golden harp, and on it he +played music of such wondrous power and beauty that rocks, trees +and beasts would follow to hear him. Jason had persuaded Orpheus +to accompany the Argonauts when they went to fetch back the golden +fleece, for he knew that the perils of the way would be lightened by +song. To the sound of his lyre the Argo had floated down to the sea, +and he played so sweetly when they passed the rocks of the Sirens that +the dreadful monsters sang their most alluring strains in vain. + +Orpheus wedded the fair nymph Eurydice, whom he loved dearly, and who +returned his love. But at their marriage the omens were not favorable. +Hymen, the marriage god, came to it with a gloomy countenance and the +wedding torches smoked and would not give forth a cheerful flame. + +Indeed the happiness of Orpheus and Eurydice was to be but +short-lived. For as the new-made bride wandered through the woods with +the other nymphs a poisonous serpent stung her heel, and no remedy +availed to save her. Orpheus was thrown into most passionate grief at +his wife's death. He could not believe that he had lost her for ever, +but prayed day and night without ceasing to the gods above to restore +her to him. When they would not listen, he resolved to make one last +effort to win her back. He would go down to the Lower World and seek +her among the dead, and try whether any prayer or persuasion could +move Pluto to restore his beloved. + +Near Taenarum, in Laconia, was a cave among dark and gloomy rocks, +through which led one of the entrances to the Lower World. This +was the road by which Hercules descended when he went to carry off +Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guards the threshold of Pluto. +Undaunted by the terrors of the place, Orpheus passed through this +gate and down a dark and dismal road to the kingdom of the dead. Here +he came in safety through the crowd of ghosts and phantoms, and stood +at last before the throne of Pluto and Proserpina. Then he touched the +chords of his lyre and chanted these words: + +"Great lords of the world below the earth, to which all we mortals +must one day come, grant me to tell a simple tale and declare unto +you the truth. Not to look upon the blackness of Tartarus have I come +hither, nor yet to bind in chains the snaky heads on Cerberus. It is +my wife I seek. A viper's sting has robbed her of the years that were +her due. I should have borne my loss, indeed I tried to bear it, but I +was overcome by Love, a god well known in the world above, and I think +not without honor in your kingdom, unless the story of Proserpina's +theft be a lying tale. I beseech you, by the realms of the dead, by +mighty Chaos and the silence of your vast kingdom, revoke the untimely +doom of Eurydice. All our lives are forfeit to you. 'Tis but a short +delay, and late or soon we all hasten towards one goal. Hither all our +footsteps tend. This is our last home, yours is the sole enduring rule +over mankind. She too, when she shall have lived her allotted term of +years, will surely come under your sway. Till then, I implore you, +let her be mine. But if the Fates refuse a husband's prayers, I am +resolved never to return hence. My death shall give you a double +boon." + +[Illustration: ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE.] + +Thus he prayed and touched his harp in tune with his words. All around +him the lifeless ghosts came flocking, and as they heard they wept. +Tantalus forgot his hunger and thirst. Ixion's wheel stood still, the +Danaids set aside their leaky urns and Sisyphus sat on his stone to +listen. Never yet had such sweet strains been heard in the world of +gloom. Then, for the first time, tears moistened the cheeks of the +Furies, and even the king and queen of the dead were moved to pity. +They summoned Eurydice, and she came, yet halting from her recent +wound. + +"Take her," says Pluto, "and lead her back to the light. But she must +follow you at a distance, nor must you once turn round to look upon +her till you have passed beyond these realms. Else the boon we grant +you will be but vain." + +A steep path led upward from the realm of darkness, and the way was +hard to find through the gloom. In silence Orpheus led on, till the +goal was close at hand and the welcoming light of the upper air began +to penetrate the darkness. Then a sudden fear struck his heart. Had +Eurydice really followed his steps, or had she turned back, and was +all his toil in vain? Tom with anxiety and longing, he turned to gaze +on his beloved. Dimly he saw her, but for the last time, for a power +she could not resist drew her back. Orpheus stretched out his arms and +tried to seize her, but he only clasped the empty air. "Farewell, a +last farewell," she murmured, and vanished from his sight. + +In vain Orpheus tried to follow her, in vain he besought Charon to +carry him a second time across the waters of Acheron. Seven days he +sat on the further bank without food or drink, nourished by his tears +and grief. Then at last he knew that the gods below were pitiless; and +full of sorrow he returned to the upper earth. + +For three years he wandered among the mountains of Thrace, finding his +only consolation in the music of his lyre, for he shunned all men and +women and would have no bride after Eurydice. + +One day he sat down to rest on a grassy hill in the sunshine, and +played and sang to beguile his sorrow. As he played, the coolness of +shady branches seemed all about him, and looking up he found himself +in the midst of a wood. Oak, poplar, lime, beech, laurel, ash, pine, +plane and maple and many another tree had gathered together here, +drawn from their distant forest homes by the sounds of Orpheus's lyre. +Yes, and the beasts and the birds of the field came too, and Orpheus +sat in their midst and sang and played the tunes of sorrow. + +Suddenly a great noise was heard of laughter and shouting and +merry-making. For this was one of the feasts of Bacchus, and the women +were celebrating his rites, wandering over the mountains with dance +and revel. When they saw Orpheus they set up a shout of derision. +"See," they cried, "the wretched singer who mocks at women and will +have no bride but the dead. Come, let us kill him, and show that no +man shall despise us unpunished." + +With these words they began to throw wands and stones at him, but even +the lifeless objects were softened by the music, and fell harmlessly +to the ground. Then the women raised a wild shout and made such a +clamor with trumpets and cymbals, that the soft tones of the harp were +drowned by the noise. Now at last the shots took effect, and in their +fury the women fell upon him, dealing blow on blow. Orpheus fell +lifeless to the ground. + +But he was not to die unwept. The little birds of the forest mourned +for him, even the stony rocks wept, the trees shed their leaves with +grief, and the dryads and naiads tore their hair and put on the garb +of sorrow. Only the pitiless revelers knew no remorse. They seized the +singer's head and threw it with his lyre into the river Hebrus. There +it floated down stream and, strange to tell, the chords gave forth a +lament, and the lifeless tongue uttered words. "Eurydice, Eurydice," +it cried, till head and lyre were carried down to the sea, and on +to Lesbos, the isle of sweet song, where in after years Alcaeus and +Sappho tuned afresh the lyre of Orpheus. + +But the shade of the dead singer went down to Hades, and found +entrance at last. Thus Orpheus and Eurydice were re-united, and won in +death the bliss that was denied them in life. + + + + + + +MYTHS OF SCANDINAVIA + + + + +BALDUR + +ADAPTED FROM A, AND E. KEARY'S VERSION + + + + +I + +THE DREAM + + +Upon a summer's afternoon it happened that Baldur the Bright and Bold, +beloved of men and the gods, found himself alone in his palace of +Broadblink. Thor was walking among the valleys, his brow heavy +with summer heat; Frey and Gerda sported on still waters in their +cloud-leaf ship; Odin, for once, slept on the top of Air Throne; a +noon-day stillness pervaded the whole earth; and Baldur in Broadblink, +most sunlit of palaces, dreamed a dream. + +The dream of Baldur was troubled. He knew not whence nor why; but when +he awoke he found that a new and weighty care was within him. It was +so heavy that Baldur could scarcely carry it, and yet he pressed it +closely to his heart and said, "Lie there, and do not fall on any one +but me." Then he rose up and walked out from the splendor of his +hall, that he might seek his own mother, Frigga, and tell her what had +happened. He found her in her crystal saloon, calm and kind, and ready +to sympathize; so he walked up to her, his hands pressed closely on +his heart, and lay down at her feet sighing. + +"What is the matter, dear Baldur?" asked Frigga, gently. + +"I do not know, mother," answered he. "I do not know what the matter +is; but I have a shadow in my heart." + +"Take it out, then, my son, and let me look at it," replied Frigga. + +"But I fear, mother, that if I do it will cover the whole earth." + +Then Frigga laid her hand upon the heart of her son that she might +feel the shadow's shape. Her brow became clouded as she felt it; her +parted lips grew pale, and she cried out, "Oh! Baldur, my beloved son! +the shadow is the shadow of death!" + +Then said Baldur, "I will die bravely, my mother." + +But Frigga answered, "You shall not die at all; for I will not sleep +to-night until everything on earth has sworn to me that it will +neither kill nor harm you." + +So Frigga stood up, and called to her everything on earth that had +power to hurt or slay. First she called all metals to her; and heavy +iron-ore came lumbering up the hill into the crystal hall, brass and +gold, copper, silver, lead, and steel, and stood before the Queen, who +lifted her right hand high in the air, saying, "Swear to me that you +will not injure Baldur"; and they all swore, and went. Then she called +to her all stones; and huge granite came with crumbling sandstone, and +white lime, and the round, smooth stones of the seashore, and Frigga +raised her arm, saying, "Swear that you will not injure Baldur"; +and they swore, and went. Then Frigga called to her the trees; and +wide-spreading oak trees, with tall ash and sombre firs, came rushing +up the hill, and Frigga raised her hand, and said, "Swear that you +will not hurt Baldur"; and they said, "We swear," and went. After this +Frigga called to her the diseases, who came blown by poisonous +winds on wings of pain to the sound of moaning. Frigga said to them, +"Swear"; and they sighed, "We swear," then flew away. Then Frigga +called to her all beasts, birds, and venomous snakes, who came to her +and swore, and disappeared. Then she stretched out her hand to Baldur, +while a smile spread over her face, saying, "Now, my son, you cannot +die." + +Just then Odin came in, and when he had heard from Frigga the whole +story, he looked even more mournful than she had done; neither did the +cloud pass from his face when he was told of the oaths that had been +taken. + +"Why do you look so grave, my lord?" demanded Frigga at last. "Baldur +cannot die now." + +But Odin asked very gravely, "Is the shadow gone out of our son's +heart, or is it still there?" + +"It cannot be there," said Frigga, turning away her head resolutely, +and folding her hands before her. + +But Odin looked at Baldur, and saw how it was. The hands pressed to +the heavy heart, the beautiful brow grown dim. Then immediately he +arose, saddled Sleipnir, his eight-footed steed, mounted him, and, +turning to Frigga, said, "I know of a dead prophetess, Frigga, who, +when she was alive, could tell what was going to happen; her grave +lies on the east side of Helheim, and I am going there to awake her, +and ask whether any terrible grief is really coming upon us." + +So saying Odin shook the bridle in his hand, and the eight-footed, +with a bound, leaped forth, rushed like a whirlwind down the mountain +of Asgard, and then dashed into a narrow defile between rocks. + +Sleipnir went on through the defile a long way, until he came to a +place where the earth opened her mouth. There Odin rode in and down a +broad, steep, slanting road which led him to the cavern Gnipa, and the +mouth of the cavern Gnipa yawned upon Niflheim. Then thought Odin to +himself, "My journey is already done." But just as Sleipnir was about +to leap through the jaws of the pit, Garm, the voracious dog who was +chained to the rock, sprang forward, and tried to fasten himself upon +Odin. Three times Odin shook him off, and still Garm, as fierce as +ever, went on with the fight. At last Sleipnir leaped, and Odin thrust +just at the same moment; then horse and rider cleared the entrance, +and turned eastward towards the dead prophetess's grave, dripping +blood along the road as they went; while the beaten Garm stood baying +in the cavern's mouth. + +When Odin came to the grave he got off his horse, and stood with his +face northward, looking through barred enclosures into the city of +Helheim itself. The servants of Hela were very busy there making +preparations for some new guest--hanging gilded couches with curtains +of anguish and splendid misery upon the walls. Then Odin's heart died +within him, and he began to repeat mournful runes in a low tone. + +The dead prophetess turned heavily in her grave at the sound of his +voice, and sat bolt upright. "What man is this," she asked, "who dares +disturb my sleep?" + +Then Odin, for the first time in his life, said what was not true; the +shadow of Baldur dead fell upon his lips, and he made answer, "My name +is Vegtam, the son of Valtam." + +"And what do you want of me?" asked the prophetess. + +"I want to know," replied Odin, "for whom Hela is making ready that +gilded couch in Helheim?" + +"That is for Baldur the Beloved," answered the prophetess. "Now go +away and let me sleep again, for my eyes are heavy." + +But Odin said, "Only one word more. Is Baldur going to Helheim?" + +"Yes, I've told you that he is," was the answer. + +"Will he never come back to Asgard again?" + +"If everything on earth should weep for him," said she, "he will go +back; if not, he will remain in Helheim." + +Then Odin covered his face with his hands and looked into darkness. + +"Do go away," said the prophetess, "I'm so sleepy; I cannot keep my +eyes open any longer." + +But Odin raised his head and said again, "Only tell me one thing. +Just now, as I looked into darkness, it seemed to me that I saw one on +earth who would not weep for Baldur. Who was it?" + +At this she grew very angry and said, "How couldst _thou_ see in +darkness? I know of only one who, by giving away his eye, gained +light. No Vegtam art thou but Odin, chief of men." + +At her angry words Odin became angry, too, and called out as loudly +as he could, "No prophetess nor wise woman, but rather the mother of +three giants." + +"Go, go!" answered the prophetess, falling back in her grave; "no man +shall waken me again until Loki have burst his chains and the Twilight +of the Gods be come." After this Odin mounted the eight-footed once +more and rode thoughtfully home. + + + + +II + +THE PEACESTEAD + + +When Odin came back to Asgard, Hermod took the bridle from his +father's hand and told him that the rest of the gods were gone to the +Peacestead--a broad, green plain which lay just outside the city. This +was the playground of the gods, where they practised trials of skill +and held tournaments and sham fights. These last were always conducted +in the gentlest and most honorable manner; for the strongest law of +the Peacestead was, that no angry blow should be struck, or spiteful +word spoken, upon the sacred field; and for this reason some have +thought it might be well if children also had a Peacestead to play in. + +Odin was too tired from his journey to go to the Peacestead that +afternoon; so he turned away and shut himself up in his palace of +Gladsheim. But when he was gone, Loki came into the city by another +way, and hearing from Hermod where the gods were, set off to join +them. + +When he got to the Peacestead, Loki found that the gods were standing +round in a circle shooting at something, and he peeped between the +shoulders of two of them to find out what it was. To his surprise he +saw Baldur standing in the midst, erect and calm, whilst his friends +and brothers were aiming their weapons at him. Some hewed at him with +their swords,--others threw stones at him--some shot arrows pointed +with steel, and Thor continually swung his great hammer at his head. +"Well," said Loki to himself, "if this is the sport of Asgard, what +must that of Joetunheim be? I wonder what Father Odin and Mother Frigga +would say if they were here?" But as Loki still looked, he became even +more surprised, for the sport went on, and Baldur was not hurt. Arrows +aimed at his very heart glanced back again untinged with blood. The +stones fell down from his broad, bright brow, and left no bruises +there. Swords clave, but did not wound him; Thor's hammer struck him, +and he was not crushed. At this Loki grew perfectly furious with envy +and hatred. "And why is Baldur to be so honored," said he "that even +steel and stone shall not hurt him?" Then Loki changed himself into a +little, dark, bent old woman, with a stick, and hobbled away from the +Peacestead to Frigga's crystal saloon. At the door he knocked with the +stick. + +"Come in!" said the kind voice of Frigga, and Loki lifted the latch. + +Now when Frigga saw, from the other end of the hall, a little, bent, +crippled old woman come hobbling up her crystal floor, she got up with +true queenliness and met her halfway, holding out her hand and saying +in the kindest manner, "Pray sit down, my poor old friend; for it +seems to me that you have come from a great distance." + +"That I have, indeed," answered Loki in a tremulous, squeaking voice. + +"And did you happen to see anything of the gods," asked Frigga, "as +you came?" + +"Just now I passed by the Peacestead and saw them at play." + +"What were they doing?" + +"Shooting at Baldur." + +Then Frigga bent over her work with a pleased smile on her face. "And +nothing hurt him?" + +"Nothing," answered Loki, looking keenly at her. + +"No, no thing," murmured Frigga, still looking down and speaking half +musingly to herself; "for all things have sworn to me that they will +not." + +"Sworn!" exclaimed Loki, eagerly; "what is that you say? Has +everything sworn then?" + +"Everything," answered she, "excepting the little shrub mistletoe, +which grows, you know, on the west side of Valhalla, and to which I +said nothing, because I thought it was too young to swear." + +"Excellent!" thought Loki, and then he got up. + +"You're not going yet, are you?" said Frigga, stretching out her hand +and looking up at last into the eyes of the old woman. + +"I'm quite rested now, thank you," answered Loki in his squeaky voice, +and then he hobbled out at the door, which clapped after him, and +sent a cold gust into the room. Frigga shuddered, and thought that a +serpent was gliding down the back of her neck. + +When Loki had left the presence of Frigga, he changed himself back to +his proper shape and went straight to the west side of Valhalla, +where the mistletoe grew. Then he opened his knife and cut off a large +bunch, saying these words, "Too young for Frigga's oaths, but not too +weak for Loki's work." After which he set off for the Peacestead once +more, the mistletoe in his hand. When he got there he found that +the gods were still at their sport, standing round, taking aim, and +talking eagerly, and Baldur did not seem tired. + +But there was one who stood alone, leaning against a tree, and who +took no part in what was going on. This was Hoedur, Baldur's blind +twin-brother; he stood with his head bent downwards, silent while the +others were speaking, doing nothing when they were most eager; and +Loki thought that there was a discontented expression on his face, +just as if he were saying to himself, "Nobody takes any notice of me." +So Loki went up to him and put his hand upon his shoulder. + +"And why are you standing here all alone, my brave friend?" said he. +"Why don't _you_ throw something at Baldur? Hew at him with a sword, +or show him some attention of that sort." + +"I haven't a sword," answered Hoedur, with an impatient gesture; "and +you know as well as I do, Loki, that Father Odin does not approve of +my wearing warlike weapons, or joining in sham fights, because I am +blind." + +"Oh! is that it?" said Loki. Well, I only know _I_ shouldn't like to +be left out of everything. However, I've got a twig of mistletoe here +which I'll lend you if you like; a harmless little twig enough, but +I shall be happy to guide your arm if you would like to throw it, and +Baldur might take it as a compliment from his twin-brother." + +"Let me feel it," said Hoedur, stretching out his groping hands. + +"This way, this way, my dear friend," said Loki, giving him the twig. +"Now, as hard as ever you can, to do _him honor_; throw!" + +Hoedur threw--Baldur fell, and the shadow of death covered the whole +earth. + + + + +III + +BALDUR DEAD + + +One after another they turned and left the Peacestead, the friends and +brothers of the slain. One after another they turned and went towards +the city; crushed hearts, heavy footsteps, no word amongst them, a +shadow upon all. The shadow was in Asgard, too--had walked through +Frigga's hall and seated itself upon the threshold of Gladsheim. Odin +had just come out to look at it, and Frigga stood by in mute despair +as the gods came up. + +"Loki did it! Loki did it!" they said at last in confused, hoarse +whispers, and they looked from one to another,--upon Odin, upon +Frigga, upon the shadow which they saw before them, and which they +felt within. "Loki did it! Loki, Loki!" they went on saying; but it +was of no use to repeat the name of Loki over and over again when +there was another name they were too sad to utter but which filled all +their hearts--Baldur. Frigga said it first, and then they all went to +look at him lying down so peacefully on the grass--dead, dead. + +"Carry him to the funeral pyre!" said Odin, at length; and four of the +gods stooped down and lifted their dead brother. + +Noiselessly they carried the body tenderly to the seashore and laid +it upon the deck of the majestic ship, Ringhorn, which had been _his_. +Then they stood waiting to see who would come to the funeral. Odin +came, and on his shoulders sat his two ravens, whose croaking drew +clouds down over the Asa's face, for Thought and Memory sang the same +sad song that day. Frigga came,--Frey, Gerda, Freyja, Thor, Hoenir, +Bragi, and Idun. Heimdall came sweeping over the tops of the mountains +on Golden Mane, his swift, bright steed. AEgir the Old groaned from +under the deep, and sent his daughters up to mourn around the dead. +Frost-giants and mountain-giants came crowding round the rimy shores +of Joetunheim to look across the sea upon the funeral of an Asa. Nanna +came, Baldur's fair young wife; but when she saw the dead body of her +husband, her own heart broke with grief, and the gods laid her beside +him on the stately ship. After this Odin stepped forward and placed a +ring on the breast of his son, whispering something at the same +time in his ear; but when he and the rest of the gods tried to push +Ringhorn into the sea before setting fire to it, they found their +hearts too heavy to do it. So they beckoned to the giantess Hyrrokin +to come over from Joetunheim and help them. She, with a single push, +set the ship floating, and then, whilst Thor stood up holding his +hammer high in the air, Odin lighted the funeral pile of Baldur and of +Nanna. + +So Ringhorn went floating towards the deep sea and the funeral fire +burnt on. Its broad red flame burst forth heavenward, but when the +smoke would have gone upward too, the winds came sobbing and carried +it away. + + + + +IV + +HELHEIM + + +When at last the ship Ringhorn had floated out so far to sea that it +looked like a dull red lamp on the horizon, Frigga turned round and +said, "Will any one of you, my children, perform a noble action and +win my love forever?" + +"I will," cried Hermod, before any one else had time to open his lips. + +"Go, then, Hermod," answered Frigga, "saddle Sleipnir with all speed +and ride down to Helheim; there seek out Hela, the stern mistress of +the dead, and entreat her to send our beloved back to us again." + +Hermod was gone in the twinkling of an eye, not in at the mouth of the +earth and through the steep cavern down which Odin went to the dead +prophetess's grave; he chose another way, though not a better one; +for, go to Helheim as you will, the best is but a downward road, and +so Hermod found it--downward, slanting, slippery, dark, and very cold. +At last he came to the Giallar Bru--that sounding river which flows +between the living and the dead, and to the bridge over it which is +paved with stones of glittering gold. Hermod was surprised to see +gold in such a place; but as he rode over the bridge, and looked down +carefully at the stones, he saw that they were only tears which had +been shed round the beds of the dying--only tears, and yet they made +the way seem brighter. But when Hermod reached the other end of the +bridge, he found the courageous woman who, for ages and ages, had been +sitting there to watch the dead go by, and she stopped him saying: + +"What a noise you make! Who are you? Yesterday five troops of dead men +went over the Giallar Bridge and did not shake it so much as you have +done. Besides," she added, looking more closely at Hermod, "you are +not a dead man at all. Your lips are neither cold nor blue. Why, then, +do you ride on the way to Helheim?" + +"I seek Baldur," answered Hermod. "Tell me, have you seen him pass?" + +"Baldur," she said, "has ridden over the bridge; but there below, +towards the north, lies the way to the Abodes of Death." + +So Hermod went on the way until he came to the barred gates of Helheim +itself. There he alighted, tightened his saddle-girths, remounted, +clapped both spurs to his horse, and cleared the gate by one +tremendous leap. Then Hermod found himself in a place where no living +man had ever been before--the City of the Dead. Perhaps you think +there is a great silence there, but you are mistaken. Hermod thought +he had never in his life heard so much noise; for the echoes of all +words were speaking together--words, some newly uttered and some ages +old; but the dead men did not hear who flitted up and down the dark +streets, for their ears had been stunned and become cold long since. +Hermod rode on through the city until he came to the palace of +Hela, which stood in the midst. Precipice was its threshold, the +entrance-hall, Wide Storm, and yet Hermod was not too much afraid to +seek the innermost rooms; so he went on to the banqueting hall, where +Hela sat at the head of her table serving her new guests. Baldur, +alas! sat at her right hand, and on her left his pale young wife. When +Hela saw Hermod coming up the hall she smiled grimly, but beckoned to +him at the same time to sit down, and told him that he might sup that +night with her. It was a strange supper for a living man to sit down +to. Hunger was the table; Starvation, Hela's knife; Delay, her man; +Slowness, her maid; and Burning Thirst, her wine. After supper Hela +led the way to the sleeping apartments. "You see," she said, turning +to Hermod, "I am very anxious about the comfort of my guests. Here are +beds of unrest provided for all, hung with curtains of Weariness, and +look how all the walls are furnished with Despair." + +So saying she strode away, leaving Hermod and Baldur together. The +whole night they sat on those unquiet couches and talked. Hermod could +speak of nothing but the past, and as he looked anxiously round the +room his eyes became dim with tears. But Baldur seemed to see a light +far off, and he spoke of what was to come. + +The next morning Hermod went to Hela, and entreated her to let Baldur +return to Asgard. He even offered to take his place in Helheim if she +pleased; but Hela only laughed at this and said: "You talk a great +deal about Baldur, and boast how much every one loves him; I will +prove now if what you have told me be true. Let everything on earth, +living or dead, weep for Baldur, and he shall go home again; but if +_one_ thing only refuse to weep, then let Helheim hold its own; he +shall _not_ go." + +"Every one will weep willingly," said Hermod, as he mounted Sleipnir +and rode towards the entrance of the city. Baldur went with him as far +as the gate and began to send messages to all his friends in Asgard, +but Hermod would not listen to many of them. + +"You will soon come back to us," he said, "there is no use in sending +messages." + +So Hermod darted homewards, and Baldur watched him through the bars of +Helheim's gateway as he flew along. + +"Not soon, not soon," said the dead Asa; but still he saw the light +far off, and thought of what was to come. + + + + +V + +WEEPING + + +"Well, Hermod, what did she say?" asked the gods from the top of the +hill as they saw him coming; "make haste and tell us what she said." +And Hermod came up. + +"Oh! is that all?" they cried, as soon as he had delivered his +message. "Nothing can be more easy," and then they all hurried off to +tell Frigga. She was weeping already, and in five minutes there was +not a tearless eye in Asgard. + +"But this is not enough," said Odin; "the whole earth must know of our +grief that it may weep with us." + +Then the father of the gods called to him his messenger maidens--the +beautiful Valkyries--and sent them out into all worlds with these +three words on their lips, "Baldur is dead!" But the words were so +dreadful that at first the messenger maidens could only whisper them +in low tones as they went along, "Baldur is dead!" The dull, sad +sounds flowed back on Asgard like a new river of grief, and it seemed +to the gods as if they now wept for the first time--"Baldur is dead!" + +"What is that the Valkyries are saying?" asked the men and women in +all the country round, and when they heard rightly, men left their +labor and lay down to weep--women dropped the buckets they were +carrying to the well, and, leaning their faces over them, filled them +with tears. The children crowded upon the doorsteps, or sat down at +the corners of the streets, crying as if their own mothers were dead. + +The Valkyries passed on. "Baldur is dead!" they said to the empty +fields; and straightway the grass and the wild field-flowers shed +tears. + +"Baldur is dead!" said the messenger maidens to the rocks and stones; +and the very stones began to weep. "Baldur is dead!" the Valkyries +cried; and even the old mammoth's bones which had lain for centuries +under the hills, burst into tears, so that small rivers gushed forth +from every mountain's side. "Baldur is dead!" said the messenger +maidens as they swept over silent sands; and all the shells wept +pearls. "Baldur is dead!" they cried to the sea, and to Joetunheim +across the sea; and when the giants understood it, even they wept, +while the sea rained spray to heaven. After this the Valkyries stepped +from one stone to another until they reached a rock that stood alone +in the middle of the sea; then, all together, they bent forward over +the edge of it, stooped down and peeped over, that they might tell +the monsters of the deep. "Baldur is dead!" they said, and the sea +monsters and the fish wept. Then the messenger maidens looked at one +another and said, "Surely our work is done." So they twined their +arms round one another's waists, and set forth on the downward road to +Helheim, there to claim Baldur from among the dead. + +After he had sent forth his messenger maidens, Odin had seated himself +on the top of Air Throne that he might see how the earth received his +message. At first he watched the Valkyries as they stepped forth north +and south, and east and west; but soon the whole earth's steaming +tears rose up like a great cloud and hid everything from him. Then +he looked down through the cloud and said, "Are you all weeping?" The +Valkyries heard the sound of his voice as they went all together down +the slippery road, and they turned round, stretching out their arms +towards Air Throne, their long hair falling back, while, with choked +voices and streaming eyes, they answered, "The world weeps, Father +Odin; the world and we." + +After this they went on their way until they came to the end of the +cave Gnipa, where Garm was chained, and which yawned over Niflheim. +"The world weeps," they said one to another by way of encouragement, +for here the road was so dreadful; but just as they were about to +pass through the mouth of Gnipa they came upon a haggard witch named +Thaukt, who sat in the entrance with her back to them, and her face +toward the abyss. "Baldur is dead! Weep, weep!" said the messenger +maidens, as they tried to pass her; but Thaukt made answer: + + "What she doth hold, + Let Hela keep; + For naught care I, + Though the world weep, + O'er Baldur's bale. + Live he or die + With tearless eye, + Old Thaukt shall wail." + +And with these words leaped into Niflheim with a yell of triumph. + +"Surely that cry was the cry of Loki," said one of the maidens; but +another pointed towards the city of Helheim, and there they saw the +stern face of Hela looking over the wall. + +"One has not wept," said the grim Queen, "and Helheim holds its own." +So saying she motioned the maidens away with her long, cold hand. + +Then the Valkyries turned and fled up the steep way to the foot of +Odin's throne, like a pale snowdrift that flies before the storm. + + + + +THOR'S ADVENTURES AMONG THE JOETUNS + +ADAPTED BY JULIA GODDARD + + +Once upon a time Thor set out upon his travels, taking Loki with +him, for despite Loki's spirit of mischief he often aided Thor, who +doubtless, in the present expedition, felt that Loki might be of use +to him. + +So they set off together in Thor's chariot, drawn by its two strong +he-goats, and as night drew nigh, stopped at the hut of a peasant, +where they asked food and shelter. + +"Food I have none to give you," said the peasant. "I am a poor man and +not able even to give supper to my children, but if you like to rest +under my roof you are welcome to do so." + +"Never mind the food; I can manage that," said Thor, dismounting from +the chariot and entering the hut. + +It was a poor place, and not at all fitted to receive one of the Asi, +but Thor was glad enough to meet with it, wretched as it was. + +"You can kill the goats," said he; "they will make us an excellent +meal." + +The peasant could not help thinking that it was a pity to kill two +such fine animals; but wisely thinking that this was no affair of his, +and that the stranger had a right to do as he pleased with his own, he +set himself to obey Thor's orders, and with the help of his daughter +Raska soon spread a savory repast before the hungry god and his +attendant. + +"Sit down, all of you," said Thor; "there is enough and to spare." + +So they all sat down, and the peasant and his children shared a more +plentiful meal than had fallen to their lot lately. Thor and Loki +also did ample justice to the food, and when supper was over the +thunder-god bade the peasant gather the bones and place them in the +goatskins, and making them into a bundle he left them on the floor +until the next morning. + +When the morning came and the early sun shone in through the crevices, +Thor raised his hammer, and instead of the bundle of bones the peasant +and his son and daughter saw the two goats standing as fresh and +lively as if nothing had happened to them, saving that one of them +halted a little in his walk. + +When they sought to learn why this should be, it was found that +Thialfe, the boy, in getting the marrow out of one of the bones, had +broken it, and it was this that caused the goat to go lame. + +Thor was very angry, and was very near killing not only Thialfe but +also the peasant and his daughter Raska, but they begged so hard for +their lives that he consented to spare them on condition that the boy +and girl should follow him in his travels. + +To this they agreed, and Thor, leaving the chariot and goats in the +peasant's care, went on his journey, giving Thialfe, who was a very +swift runner, his wallet to carry. + +On and on they journeyed until they came to a great sea. + +"How are we to get over this?" asked Loki. + +"Swim across it," replied Thor. + +And in they all plunged, for Thialfe and Raska were used to a hardy +life, and so were able to swim with scarcely more weariness than Thor +and Loki, and were not long in reaching the opposite shore. + +"The country does not improve," said Loki, looking round upon the +desolate plain that lay outstretched between them and the borders of a +dark forest, which they could just see in the far distance. One or +two huge rocks thrust their jagged points high into the air, and great +blocks of stone were scattered about, but there was no sign of herbage +and not a tree to be seen nearer than the forest belt bounding the +horizon. Heavy gray clouds were drawing nearer and nearer to the +dreary earth, and twilight was fast approaching. "It looks not well," +answered Thor, "but we must push on and perhaps may find it better +as we go onward. Besides, night is drawing nigh, and as there are no +dwellings to be seen we must try to gain the shelter of the forest +before it is too dark to see where we are going." + +So they pushed on, and though they looked to the right hand and to the +left, soon found that they were in a land where no men lived. There +was, therefore, nothing to be done but to quicken their speed, in +order to reach the shelter of the forest. But though they strove +to the utmost, the twilight deepened into darkness and the darkness +became so deep by the time they reached the forest, that they only +knew they had arrived there by Loki's striking his head against a low +branch, and soon after this Thor cried out: + +"Good luck! I have found a house. Follow close after me and we will +make ourselves comfortable for the night." + +For Thor in groping along had come to what he supposed to be a wall of +solid masonry. + +"Where are you?" asked Loki, "for it is so dark that I cannot see +you." + +"Here," answered Thor, stretching out his hand; "take hold and follow +me." + +So Loki clutched Thor's arm, and Thialfe in turn seized the arm of +Loki, whilst Raska clung to her brother and wished herself safe at +home in her father's hut. + +And thus they groped their way along the wall, seeking to find an +entrance to the house. + +At last Thor found a huge entrance opening into a wide, hall, and +passing through this they turned to the left into a large room which +was quite empty, and here, after eating some food, they stretched +themselves upon the hard floor and wearied out with the day's march, +soon fell asleep. + +But they did not sleep long. Their slumbers were broken by a rumbling +sound as of a coming earthquake; the walls of the house shook, and +peals of thunder echoed through the lofty chamber. + +Thor sprang up. "We are scarcely safe here," he said; "let us seek +some other room." Loki jumped up speedily, as did also Thialfe and +Raska, who were in a great fright, wondering what dreadful thing was +going to happen to them. They willingly followed Thor, hoping to find +a safer place. + +To the right they saw another room like a long gallery with a huge +doorway, and into this Loki, Thialfe, and Raska crept, choosing the +farthest corner of it; but Thor took his stand at the doorway to be on +the watch if any fresh danger should threaten them. + +After a somewhat uncomfortable rest, Loki, Thialfe, and Raska were not +sorry to find that the day had dawned, though as there were no windows +in the house, they only knew it by hearing the cock crow. + +Thor was better off, for the doorway was so wide that the sunlight +came pouring in without hindrance. Indeed the huge size of the doorway +made Thor think that the builder must have given up all hope of ever +finding a door large enough to fit into it. + +He strolled away from the house, and the first thing that he saw was +a huge giant fast asleep upon the greensward; and now he knew that the +thunder that had so frightened them in the night had been nothing more +or less than the loud snoring of the giant. + +So wroth was Thor at the thought that such a thing should have made +him afraid, that he fastened on his belt of strength and drew his +sword and made towards the giant as though he would kill him on the +spot. + +But the giant, opening his great round eyes, stared so steadily at +Thor that the god became mazed and could do nothing but stare in +return. + +At last, however, he found voice to ask, "What is your name?" + +"My name," said the giant, raising himself on one elbow, thereby +causing his head to rise so high into the air that Thor thought it was +taking flight altogether, "is Skrymner; you, I believe, are the god +Thor?" + +"I am," answered the god. + +"Do you happen to have picked up my glove?" asked the giant +carelessly. + +Then Thor knew that what he and his companions had taken for a large +house was only the giant's glove, and from this we may judge how huge +a giant Skrymner must have been. + +Thor made no answer, and Skrymner next asked whither Thor was +traveling; and when he found that he was journeying to Utgard, offered +to bear him company, as he too was going to the same place. + +Thor accepted the giant's offer, and after eating a hearty meal, all +were ready for another day's march. + +Skrymner showed himself a kindly giant, and insisted upon carrying +Thor's bag of meal, putting it into his own wallet, which he slung +across his broad shoulders. + +It must have been a strange sight, indeed, to see the great giant +stalking along with his smaller companions at his heels; and we may +well marvel how they managed to keep pace with him, or how Thor was +able to raise his voice to such a pitch as to reach the giant's ears. + +Nevertheless all went well, and they trudged cheerfully along, never +flagging in their talk. + +Once Skrymner took Raska on his shoulder, but the height made her so +giddy that she was glad to come down again and walk quietly by the +side of Thialfe. + +When night overtook them they encamped under one of the great +oak-trees, for they were not yet out of the bounds of the forest. +Skrymner, to judge by his loud snoring, fell asleep the moment he lay +down upon the ground, but Thor and his comrades were not so tired +as to forget that they had tasted nothing since breakfast time. +Accordingly they set to work to open the wallet that Skrymner had +given into their hands before closing his eyes. + +But it was no easy task, and with all their efforts they failed to +open it. Not a knot could they untie, and their fingers were chafed +and aching. + +Neither were they more able to awaken Skyrmner, and Thor's anger waxed +exceedingly fierce. "You shall pay for this," said he, flinging his +hammer at the giant. + +Skrymner half opened the eye nearest to Thor, and said in a very +sleepy voice, "Why will the leaves drop off the trees?" And then he +snored as loudly as before. + +Thor picked up his hammer, and approaching nearer drove it into the +hinder part of the giant's head, who again, half waking up, muttered, +"How troublesome the dust is!" + +Thor was exceedingly astonished at this, but thought nevertheless +that he would once more make trial of his power; so coming up close +to Skrymner he struck with such force as to drive the hammer up to the +handle in the giant's cheek. + +Then Skrymner opened both eyes, and lazily lifting his finger to his +face said, "I suppose there are birds about, for I fancied I felt a +feather fall." + +Now was Thor fairly disconcerted; and the next morning, when the giant +told him that they must now part, as his road led him another way, he +was by no means ill-pleased, and he let Skrymner go without so much as +bidding him "good speed." Skrymner, however, seemed not to notice +that Thor was glad to be quit of his company, and gave him some very +friendly advice before he left him. + +"If you will take my advice," said the giant, "you will give up this +thought of visiting Utgard. The people there are all giants of greater +stature even than I, and they make nothing of little men, such as +you are. Nay, more, you yourself are likely to fare but badly amongst +them, for I see that you are rather apt to think too much of yourself +and to take too much upon you. Be wise while there is time, think of +what I say, and don't go near the city." + +"But I will go there," shouted Thor, almost choked with rage; "I will +go in spite of all the Joetuns of Joetunheim. None shall hinder me, and +the giants shall see and wonder at the mighty power of the god Thor." + +And as he spoke the rising sun fell full upon the city of Utgard, +whose huge brazen gates glittered in the sunlight. Even though they +were so far away, Thor could see how high they were; and as he drew +nearer, their vast size filled him with amazement; but when he reached +them his wonder was beyond all words, for he and his companions seemed +no larger than grasshoppers, in comparison with their height. + +The gates were not open, for it was yet early; so Thor and his +comrades crept through the bars, and entered the city. As they passed +along the streets the houses were so tall that it was only by crossing +to the opposite side of the broad road that they were able to see the +windows in the topmost stories. And the streets were so wide that it +was quite a journey across them. + +Once a mouse darted out of a hole, and Raska screamed, for she thought +it was a grisly bear. The mouse also shrieked and made much more noise +than Raska, as well it might, for a cat so huge that Thialfe half +thought it must be the monster of Midgard seized it, and giving it a +pat with one of its paws laid it dead on the pavement. + +As for the horses, their hoofs were terrible to look at, and Thialfe +and Raska must have climbed up ladders if they wished to see their +heads. + +The people were quite as large as Skrymner had described and Thor and +his companions were obliged to be very careful lest they should get +trodden upon, as it was very doubtful if the people even saw them. + +Still Thor walked along with the proud consciousness that he was the +god Thor; and feeling that though he was so small he was yet a person +of some importance, made his way to the palace, and desired to see the +King. + +After some little time he and his fellow travelers were ushered into +the presence of Utgarda Loke, the King of the country. And Utgarda +Loke, hearing the door open, raised his eyes, thinking to see some +great courtier enter, but he knew nothing of the bows and greetings of +Thor, until happening to cast his eyes to the ground, he saw a little +man with his companions saluting him with much ceremony. + +The King had never seen such small men before, and there was something +so absurd to him in the sight, that he burst out laughing. + +And then all the courtiers laughed also, pretending that they had not +seen the little creatures before. + +It was some time before they all left off laughing, but at length +there was a pause, and Thor essayed to make himself heard. + +"Though we are but small in comparison with the Joetuns," said he +angrily, "we are by no means to be despised, but are gifted with +powers that may surprise you." + +"Really!" answered Utgarda Loke, raising his eyebrows. And then he and +his courtiers laughed louder than before. + +At last there was another pause in their merriment, and the King +added: "However, we are willing to give the strangers a fair trial in +order to prove the truth of what their spokesman, whom I take to be +the god Thor, says. How say you? What can this one do?" And he pointed +to Loki. + +"Please your Majesty, I am very great at eating," returned Loki. + +"Nay," answered Utgarda Loke, "you must grow a little before you are +great at anything." + +At which speech the courtiers again shouted with laughter; but Utgarda +Loke, turning to his servants, bade them make trial of Loki's powers. +So they brought a great trough full of food, and Loki was placed at +one end, and a courtier named Loge at the other. They both fell to +work to devour what was before them, and met at the middle of the +trough. But it was found that while Loki had eaten the flesh of his +portion, Loge had eaten, not only the flesh, but the bones also. +Therefore Loki, was, of course, vanquished. + +Then Utgarda Loke turned to Thialfe. "And pray, in what may this youth +be specially skilled?" he asked. + +"I am a swift skater," answered Thialfe. + +"Try him," said the King. + +And Thialfe was led to a plain of ice, as smooth as glass, and one +named Hugr was set to run against him. But though Thialfe was the +swiftest skater ever known in the world, yet Hugr glided past him so +fleetly that he had returned to the starting-post before Thialfe had +done more than a quarter of the distance. + +Three times did Thialfe match his speed against Hugr, and, three times +beaten, withdrew from the contest as disconsolate as Loki. + +"And now may I ask what you can do yourself?" said the King to Thor. + +"I can drain a wine-cup with any one," replied the god. + +"Try him," said Utgarda Loke. + +And forthwith the royal cupbearer presented a drinking-horn to Thor. + +"If you are as great as you pretend to be," said the King, "you will +drain it at one draught. Some people take two pulls at it, but the +weakest among us can manage it in three." + +Thor took up the horn, and, being very thirsty, took a steady pull at +it. He thought he had done very well, but on removing it from his lips +he marveled to see how little had gone. + +A second time he took a draught, but the horn was far from being +emptied. + +Again a third time he essayed to drain it, but it was full almost to +the brim. + +Therefore he set it down in despair, and confessed himself unable to +drain it. + +"I am disappointed in you," said Utgarda Loke; "you are not half the +man I took you for. I see it is no use asking you to do warrior's +feats; I must try you in a simpler way, in a child's play that we have +amongst us. You shall try to lift my cat from the ground." + +Thor turned quite scarlet, and then became white with rage. + +"Are you afraid?" asked Utgarde Loke; "you look so pale." + +And a large gray cat came leaping along, and planted itself firmly +before Thor, showing its sharp claws, and glaring upon him with its +fiery eyes. + +Thor seized it, but in spite of all his efforts he was only able to +raise one of the cat's paws from the ground. + +"Pooh! pooh!" exclaimed Utgarda Loke, "you are a mere baby, fit only +for the nursery. I believe that my old nurse Hela would be more than a +match for you. Here, Hela, come and wrestle with the mighty god Thor." + +And Utgarda Loke laughed disdainfully. + +Forth stepped a decrepit old woman, with lank cheeks and toothless +jaws. Her eyes were sunken, her brow furrowed, and her scanty locks +were white as snow. + +She advanced towards Thor, and tried to throw him to the ground; +but though he put forth his whole strength to withstand her, he was +surprised to find how powerful she was, and that it needed all his +efforts to keep his feet. For a long time he was successful, but at +length she brought him down upon one knee, and Thor was obliged to +acknowledge himself conquered. + +Ashamed and mortified, he and his companions withdrew to a lodging +for the night, and in the morning were making ready to leave the city +quietly, when Utgarda Loke sent for them. + +He made them a splendid feast, and afterwards went with them beyond +the city gates. + +"Now tell me honestly," said he to Thor, "what do you think of your +success?" + +"I am beyond measure astounded and ashamed," replied the god. + +"Ha! ha!" laughed Utgarda Loke. "I knew that you were. However, as +we are well out of the city I don't mind telling you a secret or two. +Doubtless you will receive a little comfort from my doing so, as you +confess that your coming hither has been to no purpose. + +"In the first place, you have been deceived by enchantments ever since +you came within the borders of Joetunheim. I am the giant you met with +on your way hither, and if I had known as much of your power then as +I do now, you would never have found your way within the walls of +Utgard. + +"Certainly I had had some slight experience of it, for the three blows +you gave me would have killed me had they fallen upon me. But it was +not I, but a huge mountain that you struck at; and if you visit it +again, you will find three valleys cleft in the rocks by the strokes +of your hammer. + +"As for the wallet, I had fastened it with a magic chain, so that you +need not wonder that you could not open it. + +"Loge, with whom Loki strove, was no courtier, but a subtle devouring +flame that consumed all before it." + +Here Loki uttered an exclamation of delight, but Thor bade him be +silent, and Utgarda Loke went on: + +"Thialfe's enemy was Hugr, or Thought, and let man work away as hard +as he pleases, Thought will still outrun him. + +"As for yourself, the end of the drinking-horn, though you did not see +it, reached the sea, and as fast as you emptied it, it filled again, +so that you never could have drained it dry. But the next time that +you stand upon the seashore, you will find how much less the ocean is +by your draughts. + +"The gray cat was no cat, but the great Serpent of Midgard, that +twines round the world, and you lifted him so high that we were all +quite frightened. + +"But your last feat was the most wonderful of all, for Hela was none +other than Death. And never did I see any one before over whom Death +had so little power. + +"And now, my friend, go your way, and don't come near my city again, +for I tell you plainly I do not want you there, and I shall use all +kinds of enchantment to keep you out of it." + +As he ended his speech, Thor raised his hammer, but Utgarda Loke had +vanished. + +"I will return to the city, and be avenged," said Thor. + +But lo! the giant city was nowhere to be seen. A fair pasture-land +spread itself out around him, and through its midst a broad river +flowed peacefully along. + +So Thor and his companions, musing upon their wonderful adventures, +turned their steps homewards. + + + + +THE APPLES OF IDUN + +ADAPTED BY HAMILTON WRIGHT MABIE + + +Once upon a time Odin, Loki, and Hoenir started on a journey. They had +often traveled together before on all sorts of errands, for they had +a great many things to look after, and more than once they had fallen +into trouble through the prying, meddlesome, malicious spirit of Loki, +who was never so happy as when he was doing wrong. When the gods went +on a journey they traveled fast and hard, for they were strong, active +spirits who loved nothing so much as hard work, hard blows, storm, +peril, and struggle. There were no roads through the country over +which they made their way, only high mountains to be climbed by rocky +paths, deep valleys into which the sun hardly looked during half the +year, and swift-rushing streams, cold as ice, and treacherous to the +surest foot and the strongest arm. Not a bird flew through the air, +not an animal sprang through the trees. It was as still as a desert. +The gods walked on and on, getting more tired and hungry at every +step. The sun was sinking low over the steep, pine-crested mountains, +and the travelers had neither breakfasted nor dined. Even Odin was +beginning to feel the pangs of hunger, like the most ordinary mortal, +when suddenly, entering a little valley, the famished gods came upon a +herd of cattle. It was the work of a minute to kill a great ox and to +have the carcass swinging in a huge pot over a roaring fire. + +But never were gods so unlucky before! In spite of their hunger, the +pot would not boil. They piled on the wood until the great flames +crackled and licked the pot with their fiery tongues, but every time +the cover was lifted there was the meat just as raw as when it was +put in. It is easy to imagine that the travelers were not in very good +humor. As they were talking about it, and wondering how it could be, +a voice called out from the branches of the oak overhead, "If you will +give me my fill, I'll make the pot boil." + +The gods looked first at each other and then into the tree, and there +they discovered a great eagle. They were glad enough to get their +supper on almost any terms, so they told the eagle he might have what +he wanted if he would only get the meat cooked. The bird was as good +as his word, and in less time than it takes to tell it supper was +ready. Then the eagle flew down and picked out both shoulders and both +legs. This was a pretty large share, it must be confessed, and Loki, +who was always angry when anybody got more than he, no sooner saw what +the eagle had taken, than he seized a great pole and began to beat the +rapacious bird unmercifully. Whereupon a very singular thing happened, +as singular things always used to happen when the gods were concerned: +the pole stuck fast in the huge talons of the eagle at one end, and +Loki stuck fast at the other end. Struggle as he might, he could not +get loose, and as the great bird sailed away over the tops of the +trees, Loki went pounding along on the ground, striking against rocks +and branches until he was bruised half to death. + +The eagle was not an ordinary bird by any means, as Loki soon found +when he begged for mercy. The giant Thjasse happened to be flying +abroad in his eagle plumage when the hungry travelers came under the +oak and tried to cook the ox. It was into his hands that Loki had +fallen, and he was not to get away until he had promised to pay +roundly for his freedom. + +If there was one thing which the gods prized above their other +treasures in Asgard, it was the beautiful fruit of Idun, kept by the +goddess in a golden casket and given to the gods to keep them forever +young and fair. Without these Apples all their power could not have +kept them from getting old like the meanest of mortals. Without these +Apples of Idun, Asgard itself would have lost its charm; for what +would heaven be without youth and beauty forever shining through it? + +Thjasse told Loki that he could not go unless he would promise to +bring the Apples of Idun. Loki was wicked enough for anything; +but when it came to robbing the gods of their immortality, even he +hesitated. And while he hesitated the eagle dashed hither and thither, +flinging him against the sides of the mountains and dragging him +through the great tough boughs of the oaks until his courage gave out +entirely, and he promised to steal the Apples out of Asgard and give +them to the giant. + +Loki was bruised and sore enough when he got on his feet again to hate +the giant who handled him so roughly, with all his heart, but he was +not unwilling to keep his promise to steal the Apples, if only for +the sake of tormenting the other gods. But how was it to be done? Idun +guarded the golden fruit of immortality with sleepless watchfulness. +No one ever touched it but herself, and a beautiful sight it was to +see her fair hands spread it forth for the morning feasts in Asgard. +The power which Loki possessed lay not so much in his own strength, +although he had a smooth way of deceiving people, as in the goodness +of others who had no thought of his doing wrong because they never did +wrong themselves. + +Not long after all this happened, Loki came carelessly up to Idun as +she was gathering her Apples to put them away in the beautiful carven +box which held them. + +"Good morning, goddess," said he. "How fair and golden your Apples +are! + +"Yes," answered Idun; "the bloom of youth keeps them always +beautiful." + +"I never saw anything like them," continued Loki slowly, as if he were +talking about a matter of no importance, "until the other day." + +Idun looked up at once with the greatest interest and curiosity in her +face. She was very proud of her Apples, and she knew no earthly trees, +however large and fair, bore the immortal fruit. + +"Where have you seen any Apples like them?" she asked. + +"Oh, just outside the gates," said Loki indifferently. "If you care to +see them I'll take you there. It will keep you but a moment. The tree +is only a little way off." + +Idun was anxious to go at once. + +"Better take your Apples with you, to compare them with the others," +said the wily god, as she prepared to go. + +Idun gathered up the golden Apples and went out of Asgard, carrying +with her all that made it heaven. No sooner was she beyond the gates +than a mighty rushing sound was heard, like the coming of a tempest, +and before she could think or act, the giant Thjasse, in his eagle +plumage, was bearing her swiftly away through the air to his desolate, +icy home in Thrymheim, where, after vainly trying to persuade her to +let him eat the Apples and be forever young like the gods, he kept her +a lonely prisoner. + +Loki, after keeping his promise and delivering Idun into the hands of +the giant, strayed back into Asgard as if nothing had happened. The +next morning, when the gods assembled for their feast, there was no +Idun. Day after day went past, and still the beautiful goddess did not +come. Little by little the light of youth and beauty faded from the +home of the gods, and they themselves became old and haggard. Their +strong, young faces were lined with care and furrowed by age, their +raven locks passed from gray to white, and their flashing eyes became +dim and hollow. Bragi, the god of poetry, could make no music while +his beautiful wife was gone he knew not whither. + +Morning after morning the faded light broke on paler and ever paler +faces, until even in heaven the eternal light of youth seemed to be +going out forever. + +Finally the gods could bear the loss of power and joy no longer. They +made rigorous inquiry. They tracked Loki on that fair morning when he +led Idun beyond the gates; they seized him and brought him into solemn +council, and when he read in their haggard faces the deadly hate which +flamed in all their hearts against his treachery, his courage failed, +and he promised to bring Idun back to Asgard if the goddess Freyja +would lend him her falcon guise. No sooner said than done; and with +eager gaze the gods watched him as he flew away, becoming at last only +a dark moving speck against the sky. + +After long and weary flight Loki came to Thrymheim, and was glad +enough to find Thjassa gone to sea and Idun alone in his dreary house. +He changed her instantly into a nut, and taking her thus disguised in +his talons, flew away as fast as his falcon wings could carry him. And +he had need of all his speed, for Thjasse, coming suddenly home and +finding Idun and her precious fruit gone, guessed what had happened, +and, putting on his eagle plumage, flew forth in a mighty rage, with +vengeance in his heart. Like the rushing wings of a tempest, his +mighty pinions beat the air and bore him swiftly onward. From mountain +peak to mountain peak he measured his wide course, almost grazing at +times the murmuring pine forests, and then sweeping high in mid-air +with nothing above but the arching sky, and nothing beneath but the +tossing sea. + +At last he sees the falcon far ahead, and now his flight becomes like +the flash of the lightning for swiftness, and like the rushing of +clouds for uproar. The haggard faces of the gods line the walls +of Asgard and watch the race with tremulous eagerness. Youth and +immortality are staked upon the winning of Loki. He is weary enough +and frightened enough, too, as the eagle sweeps on close behind him; +but he makes desperate efforts to widen the distance between them. +Little by little the eagle gains on the falcon. The gods grow white +with fear; they rush off and prepare great fires upon the walls. With +fainting, drooping wing the falcon passes over and drops exhausted +by the wall. In an instant the fires have been lighted, and the great +flames roar to heaven. The eagle sweeps across the fiery line a second +later and falls, maimed and burned to the ground; where a dozen fierce +hands smite the life out of him, and the great giant Thjasse perishes +among his foes. + +Idun resumes her natural form as Bragi rushes to meet her. The gods +crowd round her. She spreads the feast, the golden Apples gleaming +with unspeakable lustre in the eyes of the gods. They eat; and once +more their faces glow with the beauty of immortal youth, their eyes +flash with the radiance of divine power, and, while Idun stands like +a star for beauty among the throng, the song of Bragi is heard once +more; for poetry and immortality are wedded again. + + + + +THE GIFTS OF THE DWARFS + + +Thor was, you may know, the strongest and noblest of the great giants +of the north. He was tall in stature and had fiery brown eyes, from +which the light flashed like lightning, while his long red beard +waved through the sky as he drove in his goat-drawn chariot. Brilliant +sparks flew from the hoofs and teeth of the two goats, while a crown +of bright stars shone above Thor's head. When he was angered the +wheels of his chariot rumbled and crashed their passage through the +air, until men trembled and hid, telling each other that Thor had gone +to battle with the Rime-giants or other of his enemies. + +Now Thor's wife was named Sib, and she was most beautiful to look +upon. Her soft, browny-gold hair was so long and thick that it would +cover her from the crown of her head to her little feet, and her deep +brown eyes looked into the faces of her friends as those of a mother +look into the face of her child. Loki, the mischief-maker among the +giants, often looked at Sib and longed to do her some evil, for he was +jealous, thinking that it was not right that she should be praised and +loved by everyone; go where he would he could find no one who did not +speak well of her. + +It happened one day when the summer was nearly gone that Loki found +Sib alone and sleeping on a bank near the river, so he drew his knife, +and creeping softly nearer and nearer, cut off her beautiful flowing +hair quite close to her head. Then he joyfully rushed away and strewed +it far and wide over the whole earth, so that it became no longer +living and golden but faded and turned a dull color as the winds blew +it about and the rains beat upon it, and crushed it in between the +rocks and stones. When Sib awoke and was about to push the hair from +her face, she felt that something was wrong. Wonderingly she ran to +the water and looking at her reflection in the clear depths, saw that +nothing but a short stubble stood up all over her head. All her lovely +hair was gone! Only one would have dared to treat her so badly, and in +her grief and anger she called upon Thor to come to her aid. + +Loki had of course fled and was hiding far away in another country +among the rocks when he heard the distant rumblings of thunder, and +tried to shrink deeper into the crevices between the great stones, but +the awful sound grew louder, and at last the angry flash from Thor's +eyes darted to the very spot where the mischievous one lay. Then Thor +pulled him out and shook him from side to side in his enormous hands, +and would have crushed his bones upon the hard rocks had not Loki +in great terror asked what good his death would do, for it certainly +would not bring Sib's hair back. Then Thor set the mischief-maker on +his feet, though still keeping a tight hold on him, and asked what he +would do to repair the evil which he had done. Loki promptly answered +that he would go down into the mountains to the dwarfs, and get +Iwald's sons to make some golden hair for Sib, as good as that which +he had destroyed. Now Iwald had had seven sons, and these all +lived deep below the earth in the great caverns which lie below the +mountains, and these sons were small and dark; they did not like the +daylight for they were dwarfs who could see best without the sun to +dazzle their eyes; they knew where gold and silver grew, and they +could tell where to find beautiful shining stones, which were red, and +white, and yellow, and green; they knew the way all over the world by +running through caverns and passages under the mountains, and wherever +they could find precious stones or metals they built a furnace, and +made an anvil, and hammer and bellows, and everything that was wanted +in a smithy; for they knew how to fashion the most wonderful things +from gold and iron and stone, and they had knowledge which made them +more powerful than the people who lived above the ground. + +Thor let the mischief-maker go to get the help of the dwarfs to repair +the wrong which he had done, and Loki sought about the mountain-side +until he found a hole which would lead him into Iwald's cave, and then +he promptly dropped into it. There in a dark cave gleaming with many +sparkling lights he went to the two cleverest dwarfs who were named +Sindri and Brok, and told them what it was he wanted, adding that he +would be in sore trouble with Thor if they could not help him. Now +Sindri and Brok knew all about Loki perfectly well; they knew all +about his mischievous ways and the evil he so often wrought, but as +they liked Thor and Sib they were willing to give the help which was +asked of them. Thus without more ado, for these dwarfs never wasted +their words, Sindri and Brok began their work. + +Huge blocks of earth-brown stone were cast into the furnace until they +were in a white heat, when drop by drop red gold trickled from them +into the ashes. This was all gathered together, and the glistening +heap taken to the dwarf women, who, crushing it in their hands before +it had hardened, drew it out upon their wheels, and spun it into +fine soft hair. While they were doing this Brok sought amongst his +treasures until he found the blue of the ocean and the tough inner +pith of an underground tree; these, with other things, were cast into +the furnace, and afterwards beaten with his hammer. As the rhythmic +strokes fell, the women sang a song which was like the voice of a +strong, steady wind. Then when this work was finished, the smith drew +forth a little ship, which was carefully placed on one side. The third +time the dwarf went to a dark corner, and brought out an ugly bent bar +of iron, and this, with two feathers from the wings of the wind, +was heated to melting whiteness, and wrought with great cunning and +extreme care, for it was to be a spear for Odin himself, the greatest +of all the heroes. + +Then Brok and Sindri called Loki to them and giving him these three +things bade him hasten back to the gods at Asgard and appease their +wrath. Loki, however, was already beginning to feel sorry that he had +been so successful; he liked teasing folk but he did not like having +to atone for his mischief afterwards. He turned the marvelous gifts +over scornfully in his hands, and said that he did not see anything +very wonderful in _them;_ then, looking at Sindri he added, "However, +Brok has hammered them very skilfully, and I will wager my head that +you could not make anything better." + +Now the brother dwarfs had not by any means expected gratitude, +but neither had they expected any such rudeness as this, so Sindri +determined to give Loki a lesson. Going to one corner of the smithy +he picked up a pig-skin and taking the hammer in his hands, told +his brother to blow steadily, neither to falter nor to fail until +he passed the word that the work was done. Then with strength and +gentleness he wrought with his tools, having cast nothing into the +heat but the pig-skin; with mighty blows and delicate touches he +brought thickness and substance into it, until a board looked at him +from the flames. Loki, fearing for his head, changed himself into an +enormous forest fly, and settling upon Brok's hand, stung with vicious +fury; but the dwarf would not trouble to brush the fly away, and +steadily moved the bellows until his brother called to him to stop, +when they drew forth a strong flexible boar whose bristles were of the +finest gold. + +Then without saying anything or paying any attention to the spiteful +words which Loki kept uttering, Sindri chose from a heap of gold the +most solid lump he could find and flung it into the white flames. +Thrice it was heated and cooled, and the dark elf turned it and worked +it with wonderful skill, and in the glow Loki saw a broad red ring, +which seemed to live and move. Again he tried to spoil the work as a +fly, and bit deeply into Brok's neck, but Brok would not so much as +raise his hand to rid him of the pain. When the ring was finally laid +to cool, so marvelously had it been wrought that from it each ninth +night would fall eight rings as beautiful as itself. + +Now came the last test of Sindri's cunning. He cast into the furnace +a piece of fine iron, and told Brok his hand must neither tremble +nor stay, or the whole of their work would be useless. Then with wild +songs of strength upon his lips he hammered and tapped, until those +who were in the cave felt that they were out among the roaring waves; +they could hear the ice mountains grind and crash to pieces, and +the thunder of Thor's chariot wheels rushing through the heavens. A +frenzied horror seized upon Loki's mind. If these wretched dwarfs were +going to make anything to add to Thor's strength he knew that it would +be his own ruin. So, changing himself to a hornet, he sprang upon the +forehead of Brok, and dug so fiercely into his eyelids that the blood +trickled down and blinded him. Then the dwarf let go of the bellows +for one moment to clear his eyes, and Sindri cried out that what lay +in the furnace came near to being spoiled, and with that he took +a red-hot hammer up with his tongs. It was neither pretty, nor +particularly large, while the handle was an inch too short because of +Loki's spite. + +Then Brok and Loki set out for Asgard, Loki carrying the three +wonderful things which had been given to him, while Brok carried the +three marvels which Sindri had so cunningly wrought and accompanied +the mischief-maker, that the gods might judge who had won the wager +so rashly offered by Loki. When they reached Asgard the gods seated +themselves on their high seats agreeing among themselves that Odin, +Thor and Frey should be judges in this case. + +First, Loki offered to Odin the spear Gungner which was so wonderfully +made that it never failed to hit the thing at which it was thrown, and +it always sped back to the hand which had thrown it. Later, when Odin +carried this spear in battle, if he shook it over his enemies they +became so frightened that they all wanted to run away, but if he shook +it over his friends they were so filled with courage that they could +not be conquered. Then Thor received the hair, and when it was placed +upon Sib's head it grew to her like living tresses, curling and waving +in the wind. To Frey the ship was given, and though it was so small +that it could be folded and carried in his pocket, when it was placed +upon the waves it would grow large enough to hold an army of warriors +with all their war gear; besides, as soon as the sails were hoisted, +the wind would blow it whithersoever it was desired that the ship +should go. + +Brok then made his offerings, and to Odin he gave the ring Drapnir +which had been made with such magic skill that every ninth night eight +other rings dropped off it, though no one could see how they came; +this the greatest of the gods ever wore upon his arm, until the death +of his beautiful son Baldur, when, as token of his great love he +placed it upon the dead youth's breast as he lay on his funeral pyre. +To Frey was given the golden boar, which would run faster than any +horse, over the sea or through the air, and wherever it went, there it +would be light, because the bristles shone so brightly. To Thor Brok +gave the dull-looking hammer, saying, that whatever he struck with it +would be destroyed; that no blow could be hard enough to hurt it; that +if he threw it, it would return to him so that he could never lose it; +and that as he wished so would its size be--yet there was one fault +about it, and that was that the handle was an inch too short. + +It was with great joy that Thor took this treasure, knowing that in it +he had something to help him in fighting the evil Rime-giants who were +always trying to get the whole world for themselves until driven back +by him. + +Then the gods decided that of all the gifts the hammer was the best, +and that, therefore, Loki had lost his wager and must lose his head. +Loki offered to give all sorts of things to save himself, but the +dwarf would not listen to any of them. "Catch me, then!" cried the +mischievous one; but when Brok stretched his hand upon him Loki had +gone, for he wore shoes which would carry him over the sea or through +the air. + +"Catch him!" cried the ugly little dwarf piteously to Thor, and in an +instant Loki stood before them, trembling in Thor's strong grasp. +Then the clever one argued that it was his head only which had been +wagered, and that not one little tiny bit of his neck might be taken, +or the dwarf would have more than his bargain. At this Brok cried +impatiently that the head of a wicked person was of no use to him, all +that he wanted was to stop Loki's tongue so that he could work less +evil, and he took a knife and thread and tried to pierce holes in +Loki's lips, but Loki bewitched the knife so that it would not cut. + +"If only I had Sindri's awl," sighed the dwarf, and instantly his +brother's awl was in his hand. Swiftly it pierced the lips of the +mischief-maker, and swiftly Brok sewed them together and broke off the +thread at the end of the sewing. + +Then the gods gave presents for the dwarfs in return for their +wonderful things, and Brok returned to his cave. As for Loki, it +was not long before he loosed his lips and returned to his +mischief-making. + + + + +THE PUNISHMENT OF LOKI + +ADAPTED FROM A. AND E. KEARY'S VERSION + + +After the death of Baldur, Loki never again ventured to intrude +himself into the presence of the gods. He knew well enough that he had +now done what could never be forgiven him, and that, for the future, +he must bend all his cunning and vigilance to the task of hiding +himself from the gaze of those whom he had so injured, and escaping +the just punishment he had brought upon himself. + +"The world is large, and I am very clever," said Loki to himself, as +he turned his back upon Asgard, and wandered out into Manheim; "there +is no end to the thick woods, and no measure for the deep waters; +neither is there any possibility of counting the various forms under +which I shall disguise myself. Odin will never be able to find me; I +have no cause to fear." But though Loki repeated this over and over +again to himself, he _was_ afraid. + +He wandered far into the thick woods, and covered himself with the +deep waters; he climbed to the tops of misty hills, and crouched in +the dark of hollow caves; but above the wood, and through the water, +and down into the darkness, a single ray of calm, clear light seemed +always to follow him, and he knew that it came from the eye of Odin +who was watching him from Air Throne. + +Then he tried to escape the watchful eye by disguising himself under +various shapes. Sometimes he was an eagle on a lonely mountain-crag; +sometimes he hid himself as one among a troop of timid reindeer; +sometimes he lay in the nest of a wood-pigeon; sometimes he swam, a +bright-spotted fish, in the sea; but, wherever he was, among living +creatures, or alone with dead nature, everything seemed to know him, +and to find a voice in which to say to him, "You are Loki, and you +have killed Baldur." Air, earth, or water, there was no rest for him +anywhere. + +Tired at last of seeking what he could nowhere find, Loki built +himself a house near a narrow, glittering river which, lower down +flashed from a high rock into the sea below. He took care that his +house should have four doors in it, that he might look out on every +side and catch the first glimpse of the gods when they came, as he +knew they would come, to take him away. Here his wife, Siguna, and his +two sons, Ali and Nari, came to live with him. + +Siguna was a kind woman, far too good and kind for Loki. She felt +sorry for him now that she saw he was in great fear, and that every +living thing had turned against him, and she would have hidden him +from the just anger of the gods if she could; but the two sons cared +little about their father's dread and danger; they spent all their +time in quarreling with each other; and their loud, angry voices, +sounding above the waterfall, would speedily have betrayed the +hiding-place, even if Odin's piercing eye had not already found it +out. + +At last, one day when he was sitting in the middle of his house +looking alternately out of all the four doors and amusing himself as +well as he could by making a fishing-net, he spied in the distance +the whole company of the gods approaching his house. The sight of them +coming all together--beautiful, and noble, and free--pierced Loki +with a pang that was worse than death. He rose without daring to look +again, threw his net on a fire that burned on the floor, and, rushing +to the side of the little river, he turned himself into a salmon, +swam down to the deepest, stillest pool at the bottom, and hid himself +between two stones. The gods entered the house, and looked all round +in vain for Loki, till Kvasir, one of Odin's sons, famous for his keen +sight, spied out the remains of the fishing-net in the fire; then Odin +knew at once that there was a river near, and that it was there where +Loki had hidden himself. He ordered his sons to make a new net, and to +cast it into the water, and drag out whatever living thing they could +find there. It was done as he desired. Thor held one end of the net, +and all the rest of the gods drew the other through the water. When +they pulled it up the first time, however, it was empty, and they +would have gone away disappointed had not Kvasir, looking earnestly at +the meshes of the net, saw that something living had certainly touched +them. They then added a weight to the net, and threw it with such +force that it reached the bottom of the river, and dragged up the +stones in the pool. + +Loki now saw the danger he was in of being caught in the net, and, as +there was no other way of escape, he rose to the surface, swam down +the river as quickly as he could, and leaped over the net into the +waterfall. He swam and leaped quick as a flash of lightning, but not +so quickly but that the gods saw him, knew him through his disguise, +and resolved that he should no longer escape. They themselves divided +into two bands. Thor waded down the river to the waterfall; the other +gods stood in a group below. Loki swam backwards and forwards between +them. First he thought he would dart out into the sea, and then that +he would spring over the net back again into the river. This last +seemed the easiest way of escape, and with the greatest speed he +attempted it. Thor, however, was watching for him, and as soon as Loki +leaped out of the water he stretched out his hand and caught him +while he was yet turning in the air. Loki wriggled his slippery, slimy +length through Thor's fingers; but the Thunderer grasped him tightly +by the tail, and, holding him in this manner in this hand, waded +to the shore. There Father Odin and the other gods met him; and, at +Odin's first searching look, Loki was obliged to drop his disguise, +and, cowering and frightened, to assume his proper shape before the +assembled lords. One by one they turned their faces from him; for, in +looking at him, they seemed to see over again the death of Baldur the +Beloved. + +You were told that there were high rocks looking over the sea near +Loki's house. One of these, higher than the rest, had midway four +projecting stones, and to these the gods resolved to bind Loki so that +he should never again be able to torment the inhabitants of Manheim or +Asgard by his evil-doings. Thor proposed to return to Asgard, to bring +a chain with which to bind the prisoner; but Odin assured him that +he had no need to take such a journey. "Loki," he said, "has already +forged for himself a chain stronger than any you can make. While +we have been occupied in catching him, his two sons, Ali and Nari, +transformed into wolves by their evil passions, have fought with and +destroyed each other. With their sinews we must make a chain to bind +their father, and from that he can never escape." + +It was done as Asa Odin said. A rope was made of the dead wolves' +sinews, and as soon as it touched Loki's body it turned into bands of +iron and bound him immovably to the rock. Secured in this manner the +gods left him. + +[Illustration: THE PUNISHMENT OF LOKI.] + +But his punishment did not end here. A snake, whose fangs dropped +poison, glided to the top of the rock and leaned his head over to peer +at Loki. The eyes of the two met and fixed each other. The serpent +could never move away afterwards; but every moment a burning drop from +his tongue fell down on Loki's shuddering face. + +In all the world there was only one who pitied him. His kind wife ever +afterwards stood beside him and held a cup over his head to catch the +poison. When the cup was full, she was obliged to turn away to empty +it, and the deadly drops fell again on Loki's face. He shuddered and +shrank from them, and the whole earth trembled. So will he lie bound +till the Twilight of the Gods be here. + + + + + + +MYTHS OF INDIA + + + + +THE BLIND MAN, THE DEAF MAN, AND THE DONKEY + +ADAPTED BY M. FRERE + + +A Blind Man and a Deaf Man once entered into partnership. The Deaf Man +was to see for the Blind Man, and the Blind Man was to hear for the +Deaf Man. + +One day they went together to an entertainment where there was music +and dancing. The Deaf Man said: "The dancing is very good, but the +music is not worth listening to"; and the Blind Man said: "On the +contrary, I think the music very good, but the dancing is not worth +looking at." + +After this they went together for a walk in the jungle, and there +found a washerman's Donkey that had strayed away from its owner, and a +great big kettle (such as washermen boil clothes in), which the Donkey +was carrying with him. + +The Deaf Man said to the Blind Man: "Brother, here are a Donkey and +a washerman's great big kettle, with nobody to own them! Let us take +them with us--they may be useful to us some day." "Very well," said +the Blind Man; "we will take them with us." So the Blind Man and the +Deaf Man went on their way, taking the Donkey and the great big kettle +with them. A little farther on they came to an ant's nest, and the +Deaf Man said to the Blind Man: "Here are a number of very fine black +ants, much larger than any I ever saw before. Let us take some of them +home to show our friends." "Very well," answered the Blind Man; "we +will take them as a present to our friends." So the Deaf Man took a +silver snuff-box out of his pocket, and put four or five of the finest +black ants into it; which done, they continued their journey. + +But before they had gone very far a terrible storm came on. It +thundered and lightened and rained and blew with such fury that it +seemed as if the whole heavens' and earth were at war. "Oh dear! oh +dear!" cried the Deaf Man, "how dreadful this lightning is! Let us +make haste and get to some place of shelter." "I don't see that it's +dreadful at all," answered the blind Man; "but the thunder is very +terrible; we had better certainly seek some place of shelter." + +Now, not far off was a lofty building, which looked exactly like a +fine temple. The Deaf Man saw it, and he and the Blind Man resolved to +spend the night there; and having reached the place, they went in and +shut the door, taking the Donkey and the great big kettle with them. +But this building, which they mistook for a temple was in truth no +temple at all, but the house of a very powerful Rakshas or ogre; and +hardly had the Blind Man, the Deaf Man, and the Donkey got inside and +fastened the door, than the Rakshas, who had been out, returned home. +To his surprise, he found the door fastened and heard people moving +about inside his house. "Ho! ho!" cried he to himself, "some men have +got in here, have they? I'll soon make mince-meat of them." So he +began to roar in a voice louder than the thunder, and to cry: "Let me +into my house this minute, you wretches; let me in, let me in, I say," +and to kick the door and batter it with his great fists. But though +his voice was very powerful, his appearance was still more alarming, +insomuch that the Deaf Man, who was peeping at him through a chink in +the wall, felt so frightened that he did not know what to do. But the +Blind Man was very brave (because he couldn't see), and went up to +the door and called out: "Who are you, and what do you mean by coming +battering at the door in this way at this time of night?" + +"I'm a Rakshas," answered the Rakshas angrily, "and this is my house. +Let me in this instant or I'll kill you." All this time the Deaf Man, +who was watching the Rakshas, was shivering and shaking in a terrible +fright, but the Blind Man was very brave (because he couldn't see), +and he called out again: "Oh, you're a Rakshas, are you? Well, if +you're Rakshas, I'm Bakshas; and Bakshas is as good as Rakshas." + +"Bakshas!" roared the Rakshas. "Bakshas! Bakshas! What nonsense is +this? There is no such creature as a Bakshas!" "Go away," replied the +Blind Man, "and don't dare to make any further disturbance, lest I +punish you with a vengeance; for know that I'm Bakshas, and Bakshas +is Rakshas's father." "My father?" answered the Rakshas. "Heavens and +earth! Bakshas, and my father! I never heard such an extraordinary +thing in my life. You my father; and in there! I never knew my father +was called Bakshas!" + +"Yes," replied the Blind Man; "go away instantly, I command you, for +I am your father Bakshas." "Very well," answered the Rakshas (for he +began to get puzzled and frightened); "but if you are my father, let +me first see your face." (For he thought: "Perhaps they are deceiving +me.") The Blind Man and the Deaf Man didn't know what to do; but at +last they opened the door a very tiny chink and poked the Donkey's +nose out. When the Rakshas saw it he thought to himself: "Bless me, +what a terribly ugly face my father Bakshas has!" He then called out: +"O father Bakshas, you have a very big, fierce face; but people have +sometimes very big heads and very little bodies. Pray let me see your +body as well as head before I go away." Then the Blind Man and the +Deaf Man rolled the washerman's great big kettle with a thundering +noise past the chink in the door, and the Rakshas, who was watching +attentively, was very much surprised when he saw this great black +thing rolling along the floor, and he thought: "In truth, my father +Bakshas has a very big body as well as a big head. He's big enough to +eat me up altogether. I'd better go away." But still he could not help +being a little doubtful, so he cried: "O Bakshas, father Bakshas! you +have indeed got a very big head and a very big body; but do, before +I go away, let me hear you scream," for all Rakshas scream fearfully. +Then the cunning Deaf Man (who was getting less frightened) pulled the +silver snuff-box out of his pocket, and took the black ants out of it, +and put one black ant in the Donkey's right ear, and another black ant +in the Donkey's left ear, and another and another. The ants pinched +the poor Donkey's ears dreadfully, and the Donkey was so hurt and +frightened he began to bellow as loud as he could: "Eh augh! eh augh! +eh augh! augh! augh!" and at this terrible noise the Rakshas fled away +in a great fright, saying: "Enough, enough, father Bakshas! the sound +of your voice would make the most refractory obedient." And no sooner +had he gone than the Deaf Man took the ants out of the Donkey's ears, +and he and the Blind Man spent the rest of the night in peace and +comfort. + +Next morning the Deaf Man woke the Blind Man early, saying: "Awake, +brother, awake: here we are indeed in luck! The whole floor is covered +with heaps of gold and silver and precious stones." And so it was, for +the Rakshas owned a vast amount of treasure, and the whole house was +full of it. "That is a good thing," said the Blind Man. "Show me where +it is and I will help you to collect it." So they collected as much +treasure as possible and made four great bundles of it. The Blind Man +took one great bundle, the Deaf Man took another, and, putting the +other two great bundles on the Donkey, they started off to return +home. But the Rakshas, whom they had frightened away the night before, +had not gone very far off, and was waiting to see what his father +Bakshas might look like by daylight. He saw the door of his house open +and watched attentively, when out walked--only a Blind Man, a Deaf +Man, and a Donkey, who were all three laden with large bundles of +his treasure. The Blind Man carried one bundle, the Deaf Man carried +another bundle, and two bundles were on the Donkey. + +The Rakshas was extremely angry, and immediately called six of his +friends to help him kill the Blind Man, the Deaf Man, and the Donkey, +and recover the treasure. + +The Deaf Man saw them coming (seven great Rakshas, with hair a yard +long and tusks like an elephant's), and was dreadfully frightened; +but the Blind Man was very brave (because he couldn't see), and said: +"Brother, why do you lag behind in that way?" "Oh!" answered the Deaf +Man, "there are seven great Rakshas with tusks like an elephant's +coming to kill us! What can we do?" "Let us hide the treasure in the +bushes," said the Blind Man; "and do you lead me to a tree; then I +will climb up first, and you shall climb up afterward, and so we shall +be out of their way." The Deaf Man thought this good advice; so he +pushed the Donkey and the bundles of treasure into the bushes, and led +the Blind Man to a high soparee-tree that grew close by; but he was a +very cunning man, this Deaf Man, and instead of letting the Blind Man +climb up first and following him, he got up first and let the Blind +Man clamber after, so that he was farther out of harm's way than his +friend. + +When the Rakshas arrived at the place and saw them both perched out of +reach in the soparee-tree, he said to his friends: "Let us get on each +other's shoulders; we shall then be high enough to pull them down." So +one Rakshas stooped down, and the second got on his shoulders, and +the third on his, and the fourth on his, and the fifth on his, and the +sixth on his; and the seventh and the last Rakshas (who had invited +all the others) was just climbing up when the Deaf Man (who was +looking over the Blind Man's shoulder) got so frightened that in his +alarm he caught hold of his friend's arm, crying: "They're coming, +they're coming!" The Blind Man was not in a very secure position, and +was sitting at his ease, not knowing how close the Rakshas were. The +consequence was, that when the Deaf Man gave him this unexpected push, +he lost his balance and tumbled down on to the neck of the seventh +Rakshas, who was just then climbing up. The Blind Man had no idea +where he was, but thought he had got on to the branch of some other +tree; and, stretching out his hand for something to catch hold of, +caught hold of the Rakshas's two great ears, and pinched them very +hard in his surprise and fright. The Rakshas couldn't think what it +was that had come tumbling down upon him; and the weight of the Blind +Man upsetting his balance, down he also fell to the ground, knocking +down in their turn the sixth, fifth, fourth, third, second, and first +Rakshas, who all rolled one over another, and lay in a confused heap +at the foot of the tree together. + +Meanwhile the Blind Man called out to his friend: "Where am I? What +has happened? Where am I? Where am I?" The Deaf Man (who was safe up +in the tree) answered: "Well done, brother! never fear! never fear! +You're all right, only hold on tight. I'm coming down to help you." +But he had not the least intention of leaving his place of safety. +However, he continued to call out: "Never mind, brother; hold on as +tight as you can. I'm coming, I'm coming," and the more he called out, +the harder the Blind Man pinched the Rakshas's ears, which he mistook +for some kind of palm branches. + +The six other Rakshas, who had succeeded, after a good deal of +kicking, in extricating themselves from their unpleasant position, +thought they had had quite enough of helping their friend, and ran +away as fast as they could; and the seventh, thinking from their going +that the danger must be greater than he imagined, and being, moreover, +very much afraid of the mysterious creature that sat on his shoulders, +put his hands to the back of his ears and pushed off the Blind Man, +and then, (without staying to see who or what he was) followed his six +companions as fast as he could. + +As soon as all the Rakshas were out of sight, the Deaf Man came down +from the tree, and, picking up the Blind Man, embraced him, saying: +"I could not have done better myself. You have frightened away all our +enemies, but you see I came to help you as fast as possible." He then +dragged the Donkey and the bundles of treasure out of the bushes, gave +the Blind Man one bundle to carry, took the second himself, and put +the remaining two on the Donkey, as before. This done, the whole party +set off to return home. But when they had got nearly out of the jungle +the Deaf Man said to the Blind Man: "We are now close to the village; +but if we take all this treasure home with us, we shall run great risk +of being robbed. I think our best plan would be to divide it equally; +then you can take care of your half and I will take care of mine, and +each one can hide his share here in the jungle, or wherever pleases +him best." "Very well," said the Blind Man; "do you divide what we +have in the bundles into two equal portions, keeping one half yourself +and giving me the other." The cunning Deaf Man, however, had no +intention of giving up half of the treasure to the Blind Man; so he +first took his own bundle of treasure and hid it in the bushes, +and then he took the two bundles off the Donkey and hid them in the +bushes; and he took a good deal of treasure out of the Blind Man's +bundle, which he also hid. Then, taking the small quantity that +remained, he divided it into two equal portions, and placing half +before the Blind Man and half in front of himself, said: "There, +brother, is your share to do what you please with." The Blind Man put +out his hand, but when he felt what a very little heap of treasure +it was, he got very angry, and cried: "This is not fair--you are +deceiving me; you have kept almost all the treasure for yourself and +only given me a very little." "Oh, oh! how can you think so?" answered +the Deaf Man; "but if you will not believe me, feel for yourself. See, +my heap of treasure is no larger than yours." + +The Blind Man put out his hands again to feel how much his friend +had kept; but in front of the Deaf Man lay only a very small heap, no +larger than what he had himself received. At this he got very cross, +and said: "Come, come, this won't do. You think you can cheat me in +this way because I am blind; but I'm not so stupid as all that, I +carried a great bundle of treasure, you carried a great bundle of +treasure, and there were two great bundles on the Donkey. Do you mean +to pretend that all that made no more treasure than these two little +heaps! No, indeed; I know better than that." "Stuff and nonsense!" +answered the Deaf Man. "Stuff or no stuff," continued the other, "you +are trying to take me in, and I won't be taken in by you." "No, I'm +not," said the Deaf Man. "Yes, you are," said the Blind Man; and so +they went on bickering, scolding, growling, contradicting, until the +Blind Man got so enraged that he gave the Deaf Man a tremendous box on +the ear. The blow was so violent that it made the Deaf Man hear! The +Deaf Man, very angry, gave his neighbor in return so hard a blow in +the face that it opened the Blind Man's eyes! + +So the Deaf Man could hear as well as see, and the Blind Man could see +as well as hear! This astonished them both so much that they became +good friends at once. The Deaf Man confessed to have hidden the bulk +of the treasure, which he thereupon dragged forth from its place of +concealment, and having divided it equally, they went home and enjoyed +themselves. + + + + +HARISARMAN + + +There was in a certain village, a certain Brahman named Harisarman. +He was poor and foolish and unhappy for want of employment, and he had +very many children. He wandered about begging with his family, and +at last he reached a certain city, and entered the service of a +rich householder called Sthuladatta. His sons became keepers of +Sthuladatta's cows and other property, and his wife a servant to +him, and he himself lived near his house, performing the duty of an +attendant. One day there was a feast on account of the marriage of +the daughter of Sthuladatta, largely attended by many friends of the +bridegroom and merry-makers. Harisarman hoped that he would be able to +fill himself up to the throat with oil and flesh and other dainties, +and get the same for his family, in the house of his patron. While he +was anxiously expecting to be fed, no one thought of him. + +Then he was distressed at getting nothing to eat, and he said to his +wife at night: "It is owing to my poverty and stupidity that I am +treated with such disrespect here; so I will pretend by means of an +artifice to possess a knowledge of magic, so that I may become +an object of respect to this Sthuladatta; so, when you get an +opportunity, tell him that I possess magical knowledge." He said this +to her, and after turning the matter over in his mind, while people +were asleep he took away from the house of Sthuladatta a horse on +which his master's son-in-law rode. He placed it in concealment at +some distance, and in the morning the friends of the bridegroom could +not find the horse, though they searched in every direction. Then, +while Sthuladatta was distressed at the evil omen, and searching for +the thieves who had carried off the horse, the wife of Harisarman came +and said to him: "My husband is a wise man, skilled in astrology and +magical sciences; he can get the horse back for you--why do you not +ask him?" When Sthuladatta heard that, he called Harisarman, who said, +"Yesterday I was forgotten, but to-day, now the horse is stolen, I +am called to mind;" and Sthuladatta then propitiated the Brahman with +these words: "I forgot you, forgive me," and asked him to tell him +who had taken away their horse. Then Harisarman drew all kinds of +pretended diagrams, and said: "The horse has been placed by thieves +on the boundary line south from this place. It is concealed there, and +before it is carried off to a distance, as it will be at close of +day, go quickly and bring it." When they heard that, many men ran and +brought the horse quickly, praising the discernment of Harisarman. +Then Harisarman was honored by all men as a sage, and dwelt there in +happiness, honored by Sthuladatta. + +Now, as days went on, much treasure, both of gold and jewels, had been +stolen by a thief from the palace of the King. As the thief was +not known, the King quickly summoned Harisarman on account of his +reputation for knowledge of magic. And he, when summoned, tried to +gain time, and said: "I will tell you to-morrow," and then he was +placed in a chamber by the King and carefully guarded. And he was sad +because he had pretended to have knowledge. Now, in that palace there +was a maid named Jihva (which means Tongue), who, with the assistance +of her brother, had stolen that treasure from the interior of the +palace. She, being alarmed at Harisarman's knowledge, went at night +and applied her ear to the door of that chamber in order to find out +what he was about. And Harisarman, who was alone inside, was at that +very moment blaming his own tongue, that had made a vain assumption +of knowledge. He said: "Oh, tongue, what is this that you have done +through your greediness? Wicked one, you will soon receive punishment +in full." When Jihva heard this, she thought, in her terror, that she +had been discovered by this wise man, and she managed to get in where +he was, and, falling at his feet, she said to the supposed wizard: +"Brahman, here I am, that Jihva whom you have discovered to be the +thief of the treasure, and after I took it I buried it in the earth in +a garden behind the palace, under a pomegranate tree. So spare me, and +receive the small quantity of gold which is in my possession." + +When Harisarman heard that, he said to her proudly: "Depart, I +know all this; I know the past, present, and future, but I will not +denounce you, a miserable creature that has implored my protection. +But whatever gold is in your possession you must give back to me." +When he said this to the maid, she consented, and departed quickly. +But Harisarman reflected in his astonishment: "Fate brings about, as +if in sport, things impossible; for, when calamity was so near, who +would have thought chance would have brought us success? While I was +blaming my jihva, the thief Jihva suddenly flung herself at my feet. +Secret crimes manifest themselves by means of fear." Thus thinking, he +passed the night happily in the chamber. And in the morning he brought +the King, by some skilful parade of pretended knowledge, into the +garden and led him up to the treasure, which was buried under the +pomegranate tree, and said the thief had escaped with a part of it. +Then the King was pleased, and gave him the revenue of many villages. + +But the minister, named Devajnanin, whispered in the King's ear: "How +can a man possess such knowledge unattainable by men without having +studied the books of magic? You may be certain that this is a specimen +of the way he makes a dishonest livelihood, by having a secret +intelligence with thieves. It will be much better to test him by +some new artifice." Then the King of his own accord brought a covered +pitcher into which he had thrown a frog, and said to Harisarman: +"Brahman, if you can guess what there is in this pitcher, I will do +you great honor to-day." When the Brahman Harisarman heard that, he +thought that his last hour had come, and he called to mind the pet +name of "Froggie," which his father had given him in his childhood in +sport; and, impelled by luck, he called to himself by his pet name, +lamenting his hard fate, and suddenly called out: "This is a fine +pitcher for you, Froggie; it will soon become the swift destroyer of +your helpless self." The people there, when they heard him say that, +raised a shout of applause, because his speech chimed in so well with +the object presented to him, and murmured: "Ah! a great sage; he knows +even about the frog!" Then the King, thinking that this was all due to +knowledge of divination, was highly delighted, and gave Harisarman the +revenue of more villages, with gold, an umbrella, and state carriages +of all kinds. So Harisarman prospered in the world. + + + + +WHY THE FISH LAUGHED + + +As a certain fisherwoman passed by a palace crying her fish, the Queen +appeared at one of the windows and beckoned her to come near and +show what she had. At that moment a very big fish jumped about in the +bottom of the basket. + +"Is it a he or a she?" inquired the Queen. "I wish to purchase a +she-fish." + +On hearing this the fish laughed aloud. + +"It's a he," replied the fisherwoman, and proceeded on her rounds. + +The Queen returned to her room in a great rage; and on coming to see +her in the evening, the King noticed that something had disturbed her. + +"Are you indisposed?" he said. + +"No; but I am very much annoyed at the strange behavior of a fish. A +woman brought me one to-day, and on my inquiring whether it was a male +or female, the fish laughed most rudely." + +"A fish laugh! Impossible! You must be dreaming." + +"I am not a fool. I speak of what I have seen with my own eyes and +have heard with my own ears." + +"Passing strange! Be it so. I will inquire concerning it." + +On the morrow the King repeated to his vizier what his wife had +told him, and bade him investigate the matter, and be ready with a +satisfactory answer within six months, on pain of death. The vizier +promised to do his best, though he felt almost certain of failure. For +five months he labored indefatigably to find a reason for the laughter +of the fish. He sought everywhere and from every one. The wise and +learned, and they who were skilled in magic and in all manner of +trickery, were consulted. Nobody, however, could explain the matter; +and so he returned broken-hearted to his house, and began to arrange +his affairs in prospect of certain death, for he had had sufficient +experience of the King to know that his Majesty would not go back from +his threat. Among other things, he advised his son to travel for a +time, until the King's anger should have somewhat cooled. + +The young fellow, who was both clever and handsome, started off +whithersoever fate might lead him. He had been gone some days, when +he fell in with an old farmer, who also was on a journey to a certain +village. Finding the old man very pleasant, he asked him if he might +accompany him, professing to be on a visit to the same place. The old +farmer agreed, and they walked along together. The day was hot, and +the way was long and weary. + +"Don't you think it would be pleasanter if you and I sometimes gave +each other a lift?" said the youth. + +"What a fool the man is!" thought the old farmer. + +Presently they passed through a field of corn ready for the sickle, +and looking like a sea of gold as it waved to and fro in the breeze. + +"Is this eaten or not?" said the young man. + +Not understanding his meaning, the old man replied, "I don't know." + +After a little while the two travelers arrived at a big village, where +the young man gave his companion a clasp-knife, and said, "Take this, +friend, and get two horses with it; but mind and bring it back, for it +is very precious." + +The old man, looking half amused and half angry, pushed back the +knife, muttering something to the effect that his friend was either a +fool himself, or else trying to play the fool with him. The young man +pretended not to notice his reply, and remained almost silent till +they reached the city, a short distance outside which was the old +farmer's house. They walked about the bazaar and went to the mosque, +but nobody saluted them or invited them to come in and rest. + +"What a large cemetery!" exclaimed the young man. + +"What does the man mean," thought the old farmer, "calling this +largely populated city a cemetery?" + +On leaving the city their way led through a graveyard where a few +people were praying beside a tomb and distributing _chapatis_ and +_kulchas_ to passers-by, in the name of their beloved dead. They +beckoned to the two travelers and gave them as much as they would. + +"What a splendid city this is!" said the young man. + +"Now, the man must surely be demented!" thought the old farmer. "I +wonder what he will do next? He will be calling the land water, and +the water land; and be speaking of light where there is darkness, +and of darkness when it is light." However, he kept his thoughts to +himself. + +Presently they had to wade through a stream that ran along the edge +of the cemetery. The water was rather deep, so the old farmer took +off his shoes and pajamas and crossed over; but the young man waded +through it with his shoes and pajamas on. + +"Well! I never did see such a perfect fool, both in word and in deed," +said the old man to himself. + +However, he liked the fellow; and thinking that he would amuse his +wife and daughter, he invited him to come and stay at his house as +long as he had occasion to remain in the village. + +"Thank you very much," the young man replied; "but let me first +inquire, if you please, whether the beam of your house is strong." + +The old farmer left him in despair, and entered his house laughing. + +"There is a man in yonder field," he said, after returning their +greetings. "He has come the greater part of the way with me, and I +wanted him to put up here as long as he had to stay in this village. +But the fellow is such a fool that I cannot make anything out of him. +He wants to know if the beam of this house is all right. The man must +be mad!" and saying this, he burst into a fit of laughter. + +"Father," said the farmer's daughter, who was a very sharp and wise +girl, "this man, whosoever he is, is no fool, as you deem him. He only +wishes to know if you can afford to entertain him." + +"Oh, of course," replied the farmer. "I see. Well, perhaps you can +help me to solve some of his other mysteries. While we were walking +together he asked whether he should carry me or I should carry him, as +he thought that would be a pleasanter mode of proceeding." + +"Most assuredly," said the girl; "he meant that one of you should tell +a story to beguile the time." + +"Oh yes. Well, we were passing through a corn-field, when he asked me +whether it was eaten or not." + +"And didn't you know the meaning of this, father? He simply wished to +know if the man was in debt or not; because, if the owner of the field +was in debt, then the produce of the field was as good as eaten to +him; that is, it would have to go to his creditors." + +"Yes, yes, yes, of course! Then, on entering a certain village, he +bade me take his clasp-knife and get two horses with it, and bring +back the knife to him." + +"Are not two stout sticks as good as two horses for helping one +along on the road? He only asked you to cut a couple of sticks and be +careful not to lose his knife." + +"I see," said the farmer. "While we were walking over the city we +did not see anybody that we knew, and not a soul gave us a scrap of +anything to eat, till we were passing the cemetery; but there some +people called to us and put into our hands some _chapatis_ and +_kulchas_, so my companion called the city a cemetery, and the +cemetery a city." + +"This also is to be understood, father, if one thinks of the city +as the place where everything is to be obtained, and of inhospitable +people as worse than the dead. The city, though crowded with people, +was as if dead, as far as you were concerned; while, in the cemetery, +which is crowded with the dead, you were saluted by kind friends and +provided with bread." + +"True, true!" said the astonished farmer. "Then, just now, when we +were crossing the stream, he waded through it without taking off his +shoes and pajamas." + +"I admire his wisdom," replied the girl. "I have often thought how +stupid people were to venture into that swiftly flowing stream and +over those sharp stones with bare feet. The slightest stumble and they +would fall, and be wetted from head to foot. This friend of yours is a +most wise man. I should like to see him and speak to him." + +"Very well," said the farmer; "I will go and find him, and bring him +in." + +"Tell him, father, that our beams are strong enough, and then he will +come in. I'll send on ahead a present to the man, to show him that we +can afford to have him for our guest." + +Accordingly she called a servant and sent him to the young man with +a present of a basin of _ghee_, twelve _chapatis_, and a jar of milk, +and the following message: "O friend, the moon is full; twelve months +make a year, and the sea is overflowing with water." + +Half-way the bearer of this present and message met his little son, +who, seeing what was in the basket, begged his father to give him some +of the food. His father foolishly complied. Presently he saw the young +man, and gave him the rest of the present and the message. + +"Give your mistress my salaam," he replied, "and tell her that the +moon is new, and that I can find only eleven months in the year, and +the sea is by no means full." + +Not understanding the meaning of these words, the servant repeated +them word for word, as he had heard them, to his mistress; and thus +his theft was discovered, and he was severely punished. After a little +while the young man appeared with the old farmer. Great attention was +shown to him, and he was treated in every way as if he were the son of +a great man, although his humble host knew nothing of his origin. At +length he told them everything--about the laughing of the fish, his +father's threatened execution, and his own banishment--and asked their +advice as to what he should do. + +"The laughing of the fish," said the girl, "which seems to have been +the cause of all this trouble, indicates that there is a man in the +palace who is plotting against the King's life." + +"Joy, joy!" exclaimed the vizier's son. "There is yet time for me to +return and save my father from an ignominious and unjust death, and +the King from danger." + +The following day he hastened back to his own country, taking with him +the farmer's daughter. Immediately on arrival he ran to the palace and +informed his father of what he had heard. The poor vizier, now almost +dead from the expectation of death, was at once carried to the King, +to whom he repeated the news that his son had just brought. + +"Never!" said the King. + +"But it must be so, your Majesty," replied the vizier; "and in order +to prove the truth of what I have heard, I pray you to call together +all the maids in your palace and order them to jump over a pit, which +must be dug. We'll soon find out whether there is any man there." + +The King had the pit dug, and commanded all the maids belonging to +the palace to try to jump over it. All of them tried, but only one +succeeded. That one was found to be a man! + +Thus was the Queen satisfied, and the faithful old vizier saved. + +Afterward, as soon as could be, the vizier's son married the old +farmer's daughter; and a most happy marriage it was. + + + + +MUCHIE LAL + +ADAPTED BY M. FRERE + + +Once upon a time there were a Rajah and Ranee who had no children. +Long had they wished and prayed that the gods would send them a son, +but it was all in vain--their prayers were not granted. One day a +number of fish were brought into the royal kitchen to be cooked for +the Rajah's dinner, and amongst them was one little fish that was not +dead, but all the rest were dead. One of the palace maid-servants, +seeing this, took the little fish and put him in a basin of water. +Shortly afterward the Ranee saw him, and thinking him very pretty, +kept him as a pet; and because she had no children she lavished all +her affection on the fish and loved him as a son; and the people +called him Muchie Rajah (the Fish Prince). + +In a little while Muchie Rajah had grown too long to live in the small +basin, so they put him into a larger one, and then (when he grew too +long for that) into a big tub. In time, however, Muchie Rajah became +too large for even the big tub to hold him; so the Ranee had a tank +made for him, in which he lived very happily, and twice a day she fed +him with boiled rice. Now, though the people fancied Muchie Rajah was +only a fish, this was not the case. He was, in truth, a young Rajah +who had angered the gods, and been by them turned into a fish and +thrown into the river as a punishment. + +One morning, when the Ranee brought him his daily meal of boiled rice, +Muchie Rajah called out to her and said, "Queen Mother, Queen Mother, +I am so lonely here all by myself! Cannot you get me a wife?" The +Ranee promised to try, and sent messengers to all the people she knew, +to ask if they would allow one of their children to marry her son, the +Fish Prince. But they all answered: "We cannot give one of our dear +little daughters to be devoured by a great fish, even though he is the +Muchie Rajah and so high in your Majesty's favor." + +At news of this the Ranee did not know what to do. She was so +foolishly fond of Muchie Rajah, however, that she resolved to get him +a wife at any cost. Again she sent out messengers, but this time she +gave them a great bag containing a lac of gold mohurs, and said to +them: "Go into every land until you find a wife for my Muchie Rajah, +and to whoever will give you a child to be the Muchie Ranee you shall +give this bag of gold mohurs." The messengers started on their search, +but for some time they were unsuccessful; not even the beggars were to +be tempted to sell their children, fearing the great fish would devour +them. At last one day the messengers came to a village where there +lived a Fakeer, who had lost his first wife and married again. His +first wife had had one little daughter, and his second wife also had +a daughter. As it happened, the Fakeer's second wife hated her little +stepdaughter, always gave her the hardest work to do and the least +food to eat, and tried by every means in her power to get her out of +the way, in order that the child might not rival her own daughter. +When she heard of the errand on which the messengers had come, she +sent for them when the Fakeer was out, and said to them: "Give me the +bag of gold mohurs, and you shall take my little daughter to marry the +Muchie Rajah." ("For," she thought to herself, "the great fish will +certainly eat the girl, and she will thus trouble us no more.") Then, +turning to her stepdaughter, she said: "Go down to the river and wash +your _saree_, that you may be fit to go with these people, who will +take you to the Ranee's court." At these words the poor girl went down +to the river very sorrowful, for she saw no hope of escape, as her +father was from home. As she knelt by the river-side, washing her +_saree_ and crying bitterly, some of her tears fell into the hole of +an old Seven-headed Cobra, who lived on the river-bank. This Cobra was +a very wise animal, and seeing the maiden, he put his head out of his +hole, and said to her: "Little girl, why do you cry?" "Oh, sir," +she answered, "I am very unhappy; for my father is from home, and my +stepmother has sold me to the Ranee's people to be the wife of the +Muchie Rajah, that great fish, and I know he will eat me up." "Do +not be afraid, my daughter," said the Cobra; "but take with you these +three stones and tie them up in the corner of your _saree_;" and so +saying, he gave her three little round pebbles. "The Muchie Rajah, +whose wife you are to be, is not really a fish, but a Rajah who has +been enchanted. Your home will be a little room which the Ranee has +had built in the tank wall. When you are taken there, wait and be sure +you don't go to sleep, or the Muchie Rajah will certainly come and +eat you up. But as you hear him coming rushing through the water, be +prepared, and as soon as you see him, throw this first stone at him; +he will then sink to the bottom of the tank. The second time he comes, +throw the second stone, when the same thing will happen. The third +time he comes, throw this third stone, and he will immediately resume +his human shape." So saying, the old Cobra dived down again into his +hole. The Fakeer's daughter took the stones and determined to do as +the Cobra had told her, though she hardly believed it would have the +desired effect. + +When she reached the palace the Ranee spoke kindly to her, and said to +the messengers: "You have done your errand well; this is a dear little +girl." Then she ordered that she should be let down the side of the +tank in a basket to a little room which had been prepared for her. +When the Fakeer's daughter got there, she thought she had never seen +such a pretty place in her life (for the Ranee had caused the little +room to be very nicely decorated for the wife of her favorite); and +she would have felt very happy away from her cruel stepmother and all +the hard work she had been made to do, had it not been for the dark +water that lay black and unfathomable below the door and the fear of +the terrible Muchie Rajah. + +After waiting some time she heard a rushing sound, and little waves +came dashing against the threshold; faster they came and faster, and +the noise got louder and louder, until she saw a great fish's head +above the water--Muchie Rajah was coming toward her open-mouthed. The +Fakeer's daughter seized one of the stones that the Cobra had given +her and threw it at him, and down he sank to the bottom of the tank; +a second time he rose and came toward her, and she threw the second +stone at him, and he again sank down; a third time he came more +fiercely than before, when, seizing a third stone, she threw it with +all her force. No sooner did it touch him than the spell was broken, +and there, instead of a fish, stood a handsome young Prince. The poor +little Fakeer's daughter was so startled that she began to cry. But +the Prince said to her: "Pretty maiden, do not be frightened. You have +rescued me from a horrible thraldom, and I can never thank you enough; +but if you will be the Muchie Ranee, we will be married to-morrow." +Then he sat down on the doorstep, thinking over his strange fate and +watching for the dawn. + +Next morning early several inquisitive people came to see if the +Muchie Rajah had eaten up his poor little wife, as they feared he +would; what was their astonishment, on looking over the tank wall, +to see, not the Muchie Rajah, but a magnificent Prince! The news soon +spread to the palace. Down came the Rajah, down came the Ranee, down +came all their attendants, and dragged Muchie Rajah and the Fakeer's +daughter up the side of the tank in a basket; and when they heard +their story there were great and unparalleled rejoicings. The Ranee +said, "So I have indeed found a son at last!" And the people were so +delighted, so happy and so proud of the new Prince and Princess, that +they covered all their path with damask from the tank to the palace, +and cried to their fellows, "Come and see our new Prince and Princess! +Were ever any so divinely beautiful? Come see a right royal couple,--a +pair of mortals like the gods!" And when they reached the palace the +prince was married to the Fakeer's daughter. + +There they lived very happily for some time. The Muchie Ranee's +stepmother, hearing what had happened, came often to see her +stepdaughter, and pretended to be delighted at her good fortune; and +the Ranee was so good that she quite forgave all her stepmother's +former cruelty, and always received her very kindly. At last, one day, +the Muchie Ranee said to her husband, "It is a weary while since I saw +my father. If you will give me leave, I should much like to visit my +native village and see him again." "Very well," he replied, "you may +go. But do not stay away long; for there can be no happiness for me +till you return." So she went, and her father was delighted to see +her; but her stepmother, though she pretended to be very kind, was in +reality only glad to think she had got the Ranee into her power, and +determined, if possible, never to allow her to return to the palace +again. One day, therefore, she said to her own daughter, "It is hard +that your stepsister should have become Ranee of all the land instead +of being eaten up by the great fish, while we gained no more than a +lac of gold mohurs. Do now as I bid you, that you may become Ranee in +her stead." She then went on to instruct her that she must invite the +Ranee down to the river-bank, and there beg her to let her try on her +jewels, and while putting them on give her a push and drown her in the +river. + +The girl consented, and standing by the river-bank, said to her +stepsister, "Sister, may I try on your jewels?--how pretty they are!" +"Yes," said the Ranee, "and we shall be able to see in the river how +they look." So, undoing her necklaces, she clasped them round the +other's neck. But while she was doing so her stepsister gave her a +push, and she fell backward into the water. The girl watched to +see that the body did not rise, and then, running back, said to her +mother, "Mother, here are all the jewels, and she will trouble us no +more." But it happened that just when her stepsister pushed the Ranee +into the river her old friend the Seven-headed Cobra chanced to be +swimming across it, and seeing the little Ranee likely to be drowned, +he carried her on his back until he reached his hole, into which he +took her safely. Now this hole, in which the Cobra and his wife and +all his little ones lived, had two entrances,--the one under the water +and leading to the river, and the other above water, leading out into +the open fields. To this upper end of his hole the Cobra took the +Muchie Ranee, where he and his wife took care of her; and there she +lived with them for some time. Meanwhile, the wicked Fakeer's wife, +having dressed up her own daughter in all the Ranee's jewels, took her +to the palace, and said to the Muchie Rajah, "See, I have brought your +wife, my dear daughter, back safe and well." The Rajah looked at her, +and thought, "This does not look like my wife." However, the room was +dark and the girl was cleverly disguised, and he thought he might be +mistaken. Next day he said again: "My wife must be sadly changed or +this cannot be she, for she was always bright and cheerful. She had +pretty loving ways and merry words, while this woman never opens +her lips." Still, he did not like to seem to mistrust his wife, and +comforted himself by saying, "Perhaps she is tired with the long +journey." On the third day, however, he could bear the uncertainty +no longer, and tearing off her jewels, saw, not the face of his own +little wife, but another woman. Then he was very angry and turned her +out of doors, saying, "Begone; since you are but the wretched tool of +others, I spare your life." But of the Fakeer's wife he said to his +guards, "Fetch that woman here instantly; for unless she can tell me +where my wife is, I will have her hanged." It chanced, however, that +the Fakeer's wife had heard of the Muchie Rajah having turned her +daughter out of doors; so, fearing his anger, she hid herself, and was +not to be found. + +Meantime, the Muchie Ranee, not knowing how to get home, continued to +live in the great Seven-headed Cobra's hole, and he and his wife and +all his family were very kind to her, and loved her as if she had been +one of them; and there her little son was born, and she called him +Muchie Lal, after the Muchie Rajah, his father. Muchie Lal was a +lovely child, merry and brave, and his playmates all day long were the +young Cobras. When he was about three years old a bangle-seller came +by that way, and the Muchie Ranee bought some bangles from him and put +them on her boy's wrists and ankles; but by the next day, in playing, +he had broke them all. Then, seeing the bangle-seller, the Ranee +called him again and bought some more, and so on every day until the +bangle-seller got quite rich from selling so many bangles for the +Muchie Lal; for the Cobra's hole was full of treasure, and he gave the +Muchie Ranee as much money to spend every day as she liked. There was +nothing she wished for he did not give her, only he would not let her +try to get home to her husband, which she wished more than all. +When she asked him he would say: "No, I will not let you go. If your +husband comes here and fetches you, it is well; but I will not allow +you to wander in search of him through the land alone." + +And so she was obliged to stay where she was. + +All this time the poor Muchie Rajah was hunting in every part of the +country for his wife, but he could learn no tidings of her. For +grief and sorrow at losing her he had gone almost distracted, and did +nothing but wander from place to place, crying, "She is gone! she is +gone!" Then, when he had long inquired without avail of all the people +in her native village about her, he one day met a bangle-seller and +said to him, "Whence do you come?" The bangle-seller answered, "I have +just been selling bangles to some people who live in a Cobra's hole +in the river-bank." "People! What people?" asked the Rajah. "Why," +answered the bangle-seller, "a woman and a child; the child is the +most beautiful I ever saw. He is about three years old, and of course, +running about, is always breaking his bangles and his mother buys him +new ones every day." "Do you know what the child's name is?" said the +Rajah. "Yes," answered the bangle-seller carelessly, "for the lady +always calls him her Muchie Lal." "Ah," thought the Muchie +Rajah, "this must be my wife." Then he said to him again, "Good +bangle-seller, I would see these strange people of whom you speak; +cannot you take me there?" "Not to-night," replied the bangle-seller; +"daylight has gone, and we should only frighten them; but I shall be +going there again to-morrow, and then you may come too. Meanwhile, +come and rest at my house for the night, for you look faint and +weary." The Rajah consented. Next morning, however, very early, he +woke the bangle-seller, saying, "Pray let us go now and see the people +you spoke about yesterday." "Stay," said the bangle-seller; "it is +much too early. I never go till after breakfast." So the Rajah had to +wait till the bangle-seller was ready to go. At last they started off, +and when they reached the Cobra's hole the first thing the Rajah saw +was a fine little boy playing with the young Cobras. + +As the bangle-seller came along, jingling his bangles, a gentle voice +from inside the hole called out, "Come here, my Muchie Lal, and try +on your bangles." Then the Muchie Rajah, kneeling down at the mouth +of the hole, said, "Oh, lady, show your beautiful face to me." At the +sound of his voice the Ranee ran out, crying, "Husband, husband! have +you found me again?" And she told him how her sister had tried to +drown her, and how the good Cobra had saved her life and taken care of +her and her child. Then he said, "And will you now come home with me?" +And she told him how the Cobra would never let her go, and said, "I +will first tell him of your coming; for he has been a father to me." +So she called out, "Father Cobra, father Cobra, my husband has come +to fetch me; will you let me go?" "Yes," he said, "if your husband +has come to fetch you, you may go." And his wife said, "Farewell, dear +lady, we are loath to lose you, for we have loved you as a daughter." +And all the little Cobras were very sorrowful to think that they +must lose their playfellow, the young Prince. Then the Cobra gave the +Muchie Rajah and the Muchie Ranee and Muchie Lal all the most costly +gifts he could find in his treasure-house; and so they went home, +where they lived very happy ever after. + + + + +HOW THE RAJAH'S SON WON THE PRINCESS LABAM + +ADAPTED BY JOSEPH JACOBS + + +In a country there was a Rajah who had an only son who every day went +out to hunt. One day the Ranee his mother, said to him, "You can hunt +wherever you like on these three sides; but you must never go to the +fourth side." This she said because she knew if he went on the fourth +side he would hear of the beautiful Princess Labam, and that then he +would leave his father and mother and seek for the Princess. + +The young Prince listened to his mother, and obeyed her for some +time; but one day, when he was hunting on the three sides where he was +allowed to go, he remembered what she had said to him about the fourth +side, and he determined to go and see why she had forbidden him to +hunt on that side. When he got there, he found himself in a jungle, +and nothing in the jungle but a quantity of parrots, who lived in it. +The young Rajah shot at some of them, and at once they all flew away +up to the sky. All, that is, but one, and this was their Rajah, who +was called Hiraman parrot. + +When Hiraman parrot found himself left alone, he called out to the +other parrots, "Don't fly away and leave me alone when the Rajah's son +shoots. If you desert me like this, I will tell the Princess Labam." + +Then the parrots all flew back to their Rajah, chattering. The Prince +was greatly surprised, and said, "Why, these birds can talk!" Then he +said to the parrots, "Who is the Princess Labam? Where does she live?" +But the parrots would not tell him where she lived. "You can never get +to the Princess Labam's country." That is all they would say. + +The Prince grew very sad when they would not tell him anything more; +and he threw his gun away and went home. When he got home, he would +not speak or eat, but lay on his bed for four or five days, and seemed +very ill. + +At last he told his father and mother that he wanted to go and see the +Princess Labam. "I must go," he said; "I must see what she is like. +Tell me where her country is." + +"We do not know where it is," answered his father and mother. + +"Then I must go and look for it," said the Prince. + +"No, no," they said, "you must not leave us. You are our only son. +Stay with us. You will never find the Princess Labam." + +"I must try and find her," said the Prince. "Perhaps God will show +me the way. If I live and I find her, I will come back to you; but +perhaps I shall die, and then I shall never see you again. Still I +must go." + +So they had to let him go, though they cried very much at parting with +him. His father gave him fine clothes to wear, and a fine horse. +And he took his gun, and his bow and arrows, and a great many other +weapons; "for," he said, "I may want them." His father, too, gave him +plenty of rupees. + +Then he himself got his horse all ready for the journey, and he said +good-by to his father and mother; and his mother took her handkerchief +and wrapped some sweetmeats in it, and gave it to her son. "My child," +she said to him, "when you are hungry eat some of these sweetmeats." + +He then set out on his journey, and rode on and on till he came to a +jungle in which were a tank and shady trees. He bathed himself and his +horse in the tank, and then sat down under a tree. "Now," he said to +himself, "I will eat some of the sweetmeats my mother gave me, and I +will drink some water, and then I will continue my journey." He opened +his handkerchief and took out a sweetmeat. He found an ant in it. He +took out another. There was an ant in that one too. So he laid the two +sweetmeats on the ground, and he took out another, and another, and +another, until he had taken them all out; but in each he found an ant. +"Never mind," he said, "I won't eat the sweetmeats; the ants shall +eat them." Then the Ant-Rajah came and stood before him and said, "You +have been good to us. If ever you are in trouble, think of me and we +will come to you." + +The Rajah's son thanked him, mounted his horse and continued his +journey. He rode on and on until he came to another jungle, and there +he saw a tiger who had a thorn in his foot, and was roaring loudly +from the pain. + +"Why do you roar like that?" said the young Rajah. "What is the matter +with you?" + +"I have had a thorn in my foot for twelve years," answered the tiger, +"and it hurts me so; that is why I roar." + +"Well," said the Rajah's son, "I will take it out for you. But +perhaps, as you are a tiger, when I have made you well, you will eat +me?" + +"Oh no," said the tiger, "I won't eat you. Do make me well." + +Then the Prince took a little knife from his pocket and cut the thorn +out of the tiger's foot; but when he cut, the tiger roared louder than +ever--so loud that his wife heard him in the next jungle, and came +bounding along to see what was the matter. The tiger saw her coming, +and hid the Prince in the jungle, so that she should not see him. + +"What man hurt you that you roared so loud?" said the wife. + +"No one hurt me," answered the husband; "but a Rajah's son came and +took the thorn out of my foot." + +"Where is he? Show him to me," said his wife. + +"If you promise not to kill him, I will call him," said the tiger. + +"I won't kill him; only let me see him," answered his wife. + +Then the tiger called the Rajah's son, and when he came the tiger +and his wife made him a great many salaams. Then they gave him a good +dinner, and he stayed with them for three days. Every day he looked at +the tiger's foot, and the third day it was quite healed. Then he said +good-by to the tigers, and the tiger said to him, "If ever you are in +trouble, think of me, and we will come to you." + +The Rajah's son rode on and on till he came to a third jungle. Here +he found four fakeers whose teacher and master had died, and had left +four things,--a bed, which carried whoever sat on it whithersoever he +wished to go; a bag, that gave its owner whatever he wanted, jewels, +food or clothes; a stone bowl that gave its owner as much water as +he wanted, no matter how far he might be from a tank; and a stick and +rope, to which its owner had only to say, if any one came to make war +on him, "Stick, beat as many men and soldiers as are here," and the +stick would beat them and the rope would tie them up. + +The four fakeers were quarreling over these four things. One said, "I +want this;" another said, "You cannot have it, for I want it;" and so +on. + +The Rajah's son said to them, "Do not quarrel for these things. I will +shoot four arrows in four different directions. Whichever of you gets +to my first arrow, shall have the first thing--the bed. Whosoever gets +to the second arrow, shall have the second thing--the bag. He who gets +to the third arrow, shall have the third thing--the bowl. And he who +gets to the fourth arrow, shall have the last things--the stick and +rope." To this they agreed. And the Prince shot off his first arrow. +Away raced the fakeers to get it. When they brought it back to him he +shot off the second, and when they had found and brought it to him he +shot off his third, and when they had brought him the third he shot +off the fourth. + +While they were away looking for the fourth arrow the Rajah's son let +his horse loose in the jungle and sat on the bed, taking the bowl, the +stick and rope, and the bag with him. Then he said, "Bed, I wish to +go to the Princess Labam's country." The little bed instantly rose up +into the air and began to fly, and it flew and flew till it came to +the Princess Labam's country, where it settled on the ground. The +Rajah's son asked some men he saw, "Whose country is this?" + +"The Princess Labam's country," they answered. Then the Prince went on +till he came to a house where he saw an old woman. + +"Who are you?" she said. "Where do you come from?" + +"I come from a far country," he said; "do let me stay with you +to-night." + +"No," she answered, "I cannot let you stay with me; for our King has +ordered that men from other countries may not stay in his country. You +cannot stay in my house." + +"You are my aunty," said the Prince; "let me remain with you for this +one night. You see it is evening, and if I go into the jungle, then +the wild beasts will eat me." + +"Well," said that old woman, "you may stay here to-night; but +to-morrow morning you must go away, for if the King hears you have +passed the night in my house, he will have me seized and put into +prison." + +Then she took him into her house, and the Rajah's son was very glad. +The old woman began preparing dinner, but he stopped her. "Aunty," he +said, "I will give you food." He put his hand into his bag, saying, +"Bag, I want some dinner," and the bag gave him instantly a delicious +dinner, served up on two gold plates. The old woman and the Rajah's +son then dined together. + +When they had finished eating, the old woman said, "Now I will fetch +some water." + +"Don't go," said the Prince. "You shall have plenty of water +directly." So he took his bowl and said to it, "Bowl, I want some +water," and then it filled with water. When it was full, the Prince +cried out, "Stop, bowl!" and the bowl stopped filling. "See, aunty," +he said, "with this bowl I can always get as much water as I want." + +By this time night had come. "Aunty," said the Rajah's son, "why don't +you light a lamp?" + +"There is no need," she said. "Our king has forbidden the people +in his country to light any lamps; for, as soon as it is dark, his +daughter, the Princess Labam, comes and sits on her roof, and she +shines so that she lights up all the country and our houses, and we +can see to do our work as if it were day." + +When it was quite black night the Princess got up. She dressed herself +in her rich clothes and jewels, and rolled up her hair, and across her +head she put a band of diamonds and pearls. Then she shone like the +moon and her beauty made night day. She came out of her room and sat +on the roof of her palace. In the daytime she never came out of her +house; she only came out at night. All the people in her father's +country then went about their work and finished it. + +The Rajah's son, watched the Princess quietly, and was very happy. He +said to himself, "How lovely she is!" + +At midnight, when everybody had gone to bed, the Princess came down +from her roof and went to her room; and when she was in bed and +asleep, the Rajah's son got up softly and sat on his bed. "Bed," he +said to it, "I want to go to the Princess Labam's bed-room." So the +little bed carried him to the room where she lay fast asleep. + +The young Rajah took his bag and said, "I want a great deal of +betel-leaf," and it at once gave him quantities of betel-leaf. This he +laid near the Princess's bed, and then his little bed carried him back +to the old woman's house. + +Next morning all the Princess's servants found the betel-leaf, and +began to eat it. "Where did you get all that betel-leaf?" asked the +Princess. + +"We found it near your bed," answered the servants. Nobody knew the +Prince had come in the night and put it all there. + +In the morning the old woman came to the Rajah's son. "Now it is +morning," she said, "and you must go; for if the King finds out all I +have done for you, he will seize me." + +"I am ill to-day, dear aunty," said the Prince; "do let me stay till +to-morrow morning." + +"Good," said the old woman. So he stayed, and they took their dinner +out of the bag, and the bowl gave them water. + +[Illustration: THE PRINCESS LABAM ... SHINES SO THAT SHE LIGHTS UP ALL +THE COUNTRY.] + +When night came the Princess got up and sat on her roof, and at twelve +o'clock, when every one was in bed, she went to her bed-room, and was +soon fast asleep. Then the Rajah's son sat on his bed, and it carried +him to the Princess. He took his bag and said, "Bag, I want a most +lovely shawl." It gave him a splendid shawl, and he spread it over the +Princess as she lay asleep. Then he went back to the old woman's house +and slept till morning. + +In the morning, when the Princess saw the shawl she was delighted. +"See, mother," she said; "Khuda must have given me this shawl, it is +so beautiful." Her mother was very glad too. + +"Yes, my child," she said; "Khuda must have given you this splendid +shawl." + +When it was morning the old woman said to the Rajah's son, "Now you +must really go." + +"Aunty," he answered, "I am not well enough yet. Let me stay a few +days longer. I will remain hidden in your house, so that no one may +see me." So the old woman let him stay. + +When it was black night, the Princess put on her lovely clothes and +jewels and sat on her roof. At midnight she went to her room and +went to sleep. Then the Rajah's son sat on his bed and flew to +her bed-room. There he said to his bag, "Bag, I want a very, very +beautiful ring." The bag gave him a glorious ring. Then he took the +Princess Labam's hand gently to put on the ring, and she started up +very much frightened. + +"Who are you?" she said to the Prince. "Where do you come from? Why do +you come to my room?" + +"Do not be afraid, Princess," he said; "I am no thief. I am a great +Rajah's son. Hiraman parrot, who lives in the jungle where I went to +hunt, told me your name, and then I left my father and mother and came +to see you." + +"Well," said the Princess, "as you are the son of such a great Rajah, +I will not have you killed, and I will tell my father and mother that +I wish to marry you." + +The Prince then returned to the old woman's house; and when morning +came the Princess said to her mother, "The son of a great Rajah has +come to this country, and I wish to marry him." Her mother told this +to the King. + +"Good," said the King; "but if this Rajah's son wishes to marry my +daughter, he must first do whatever I bid him. If he fails I will kill +him. I will give him eighty pounds weight of mustard seed, and out of +this he must crush the oil in one day. If he cannot do this he shall +die." + +In the morning the Rajah's son told the old woman that he intended +to marry the Princess. "Oh," said the old woman, "go away from this +country, and do not think of marrying her. A great many Rajahs and +Rajahs' sons have come here to marry her, and her father has had them +all killed. He says whoever wishes to marry his daughter must first do +whatever he bids him. If he can, then he shall marry the Princess; if +he cannot, the King will have him killed. But no one can do the things +the King tells him to do; so all the Rajahs and Rajahs' sons who have +tried have been put to death. You will be killed too, if you try. Do +go away." But the Prince would not listen to anything she said. + +The King sent for the Prince to the old woman's house, and his +servants brought the Rajah's son to the King's court-house to the +King. There the King gave him eighty pounds of mustard seed, and told +him to crush all the oil out of it that day, and bring it next morning +to him to the court-house. "Whoever wishes to marry my daughter," he +said to the Prince, "must first do all I tell him. If he cannot, then +I have him killed. So if you cannot crush all the oil out of this +mustard seed you will die." + +The Prince was very sorry when he heard this. "How can I crush the oil +out of all this mustard seed in one day?" he said to himself; "and if +I do not, the King will kill me." He took the mustard seed to the old +woman's house, and did not know what to do. At last he remembered the +Ant-Rajah, and the moment he did so, the Ant-Rajah and his ants came +to him. "Why do you look so sad?" said the Ant-Rajah. + +The Prince showed him the mustard seed, and said to him, "How can I +crush the oil out of all this mustard seed in one day? And if I do not +take the oil to the King to-morrow morning, he will kill me." + +"Be happy," said the Ant-Rajah; "lie down and sleep; we will crush all +the oil out for you during the day, and to-morrow morning you shall +take it to the King." The Rajah's son lay down and slept, and the ants +crushed out the oil for him. The Prince was very glad when he saw the +oil. + +The next morning he took it to the court-house to the King. But the +King said, "You cannot yet marry my daughter. If you wish to do so, +you must fight with my two demons, and kill them." The King a long +time ago had caught two demons, and then, as he did not know what to +do with them, he had shut them up in a cage. He was afraid to let them +loose for fear they would eat up all the people in his country; and he +did not know how to kill them. So all the Rajahs and Rajahs' sons who +wanted to marry the Princess Labam had to fight with these demons; +"for," said the King to himself, "perhaps the demons may be killed, +and then I shall be rid of them." + +When he heard of the demons the Rajah's son was very sad. "What can I +do?" he said to himself. "How can I fight with these two demons?" Then +he thought of his tiger: and the tiger and his wife came to him and +said, "Why are you so sad?" The Rajah's son answered, "The King has +ordered me to fight with his two demons and kill them. How can I do +this?" "Do not be frightened," said the tiger. "Be happy. I and my +wife will fight with them for you." + +Then the Rajah's son took out of his bag two splendid coats. They were +all gold and silver, and covered with pearls and diamonds. These he +put on the tigers to make them beautiful, and he took them to the +King, and said to him, "May these tigers fight your demons for me?" +"Yes," said the King, who did not care in the least who killed his +demons, provided they were killed. "Then call your demons," said the +Rajah's son, "and these tigers will fight them." The King did so, +and the tigers and the demons fought and fought until the tigers had +killed the demons. + +"That is good," said the King. "But you must do something else before +I give you my daughter. Up in the sky I have a kettle-drum. You must +go and beat it. If you cannot do this, I will kill you." + +The Rajah's son thought of his little bed; so he went to the old +woman's house and sat on his bed. "Little bed," he said, "up in the +sky is the King's kettle-drum. I want to go to it." The bed flew up +with him, and the Rajah's son beat the drum, and the King heard him. +Still, when he came down, the King would not give him his daughter. +"You have," he said to the Prince, "done the three things I told you +to do; but you must do one thing more." "If I can, I will," said the +Rajah's son. + +Then the King showed him the trunk of a tree that was lying near his +court-house. It was a very, very thick trunk. He gave the Prince a wax +hatchet, and said, "To-morrow morning you must cut this trunk in two +with this wax hatchet." + +The Rajah's son went back to the old woman's house. He was very sad, +and thought that now the Rajah would certainly kill him. "I had his +oil crushed out by the ants," he said to himself. "I had his demons +killed by the tigers. My bed helped to beat this kettle-drum. But now +what can I do? How can I cut that thick tree-trunk in two with a wax +hatchet?" + +At night he went on his bed to see the Princess. "To-morrow," he said +to her, "your father will kill me." "Why?" asked the Princess. + +"He has told me to cut a thick tree-trunk in two with a wax hatchet. +How can I ever do that?" said the Rajah's son. "Do not be afraid," +said the Princess; "do as I bid you, and you will cut it in two quite +easily." + +Then she pulled out a hair from her head and gave it to the Prince. +"To-morrow," she said, "when no one is near you, you must say to the +tree-trunk, 'The Princess Labam commands you to let yourself be cut +in two by this hair.' Then stretch the hair down the edge of the wax +hatchet's blade." + +The Prince next day did exactly as the Princess had told him; and the +minute the hair that was stretched down the edge of the hatchet blade +touched the tree-trunk it split into two pieces. + +The King said, "Now you can marry my daughter." Then the wedding took +place. All the Rajahs and Kings of the countries round were asked +to come to it, and there were great rejoicings. After a few days the +bridegroom said to his bride "Let us go to my father's country." The +Princess Labam's father gave them a quantity of camels and horses and +rupees and servants; and they traveled in great state to the distant +country, where they lived happily. + +The prince always kept his bag, bowl, bed, stick and rope; only, as no +one ever came to make war on him, he never needed to use the stick or +rope. + + + + + + +MYTHS OF JAPAN + + + + +THE JELLYFISH AND THE MONKEY + +ADAPTED BY YEI THEODORA OZAKI + + +Long, long ago, in old Japan, the Kingdom of the Sea was governed by a +wonderful King. He was called Rin Jin, or the Dragon King of the Sea. +His power was immense, for he was the ruler of all sea creatures both +great and small, and in his keeping were the Jewels of the Ebb and +Flow of the Tide. The Jewel of the Ebbing Tide when thrown into the +ocean caused the sea to recede from the land, and the Jewel of the +Flowing Tide made the waves to rise mountains high and to flow in upon +the shore like a tidal wave. + +The palace of Rin Jin was at the bottom of the sea, and was so +beautiful that no one has ever seen anything like it even in dreams. +The walls were of coral, the roof of jadestone and chalcedony, and +the floors were of the finest mother-of-pearl. But the Dragon King, in +spite of his wide-spreading kingdom, his beautiful palace and all its +wonders, and his power, which none disputed throughout the whole sea, +was not at all happy, for he reigned alone. At last he thought that if +he married he would not only be happier, but also more powerful. So +he decided to take a wife. Calling all his fish retainers together, +he chose several of them as ambassadors to go through the sea and seek +for a young Dragon Princess who would be his bride. + +At last they returned to the palace bringing with them a lovely young +dragon. Her scales were of a glittering green like the wings of summer +beetles, her eyes threw out glances of fire, and she was dressed in +gorgeous robes. All the jewels of the sea worked in with embroidery +adorned them. + +The King fell in love with her at once, and the wedding ceremony was +celebrated with great splendor. Every living thing in the sea, from +the great whales down to the little shrimps, came in shoals to offer +their congratulations to the bride and bridegroom and to wish them a +long and prosperous life. Never had there been such an assemblage or +such gay festivities in the Fish-World before. The train of bearers +who carried the bride's possessions to her new home seemed to reach +across the waves from one end of the sea to the other. Each fish +carried a phosphorescent lantern and was dressed in ceremonial robes, +gleaming blue and pink and silver; and the waves as they rose and fell +and broke that night seemed to be rolling masses of white and green +fire, for the phosphorus shone with double brilliancy in honor of the +event. + +Now for a time the Dragon King and his bride lived very happily. They +loved each other dearly, and the bridegroom day after day took delight +in showing his bride all the wonders and treasures of his coral +palace, and she was never tired of wandering with him through its vast +halls and gardens. Life seemed to them both like a long summer's day. + +Two months passed in this happy way, and then the Dragon Queen fell +ill and was obliged to stay in bed. The King was sorely troubled when +he saw his precious bride so ill, and at once sent for the fish doctor +to come and give her some medicine. He gave special orders to the +servants to nurse her carefully and to wait upon her with diligence, +but in spite of all the nurses' assiduous care and the medicine that +the doctor prescribed, the young Queen showed no signs of recovery, +but grew daily worse. + +Then the Dragon King interviewed the doctor and blamed him for +not curing the Queen. The doctor was alarmed at Rin Jin's evident +displeasure, and excused his want of skill by saying that although he +knew the right kind of medicine to give the invalid, it was impossible +to find it in the sea. + +"Do you mean to tell me that you can't get the medicine here?" asked +the Dragon King. + +"It is just as you say!" said the doctor. + +"Tell me what it is you want for the Queen?" demanded Rin Jin. + +"I want the liver of a live monkey!" answered the doctor. + +"The liver of a live monkey! Of course that will be most difficult to +get," said the King. + +"If we could only get that for the Queen, her Majesty would soon +recover," said the doctor. + +"Very well, that decides it; we _must_ get it somehow or other. But +where are we most likely to find a monkey?" asked the King. + +Then the doctor told the Dragon King that some distance to the south +there was a Monkey Island where a great many monkeys lived. + +"If only you could capture one of those monkeys?" said the doctor. + +"How can any of my people capture a monkey?" said the Dragon King, +greatly puzzled. "The monkeys live on dry land, while we live in the +water; and out of our element we are quite powerless! I don't see what +we can do!" + +"That has been my difficulty too," said the doctor. "But amongst your +innumerable servants, you surely can find one who can go on shore for +that express purpose!" + +"Something must be done," said the King, and calling his chief steward +he consulted him on the matter. + +The chief steward thought for some time, and then, as if struck by a +sudden thought, said joyfully: + +"I know what we must do! There is the _kurage_ (jellyfish). He is +certainly ugly to look at, but he is proud of being able to walk on +land with his four legs like a tortoise. Let us send him to the Island +of Monkeys to catch one." + +The jellyfish was then summoned to the King's presence, and was told +by his Majesty what was required of him. + +The jellyfish, on being told of the unexpected mission which was to +be entrusted to him, looked very troubled, and said that he had never +been to the island in question, and as he had never had any experience +in catching monkeys he was afraid that he would not be able to get +one. + +"Well," said the chief steward, "if you depend on your strength or +dexterity you will never catch a monkey. The only way is to play a +trick on one!" + +"How can I play a trick on a monkey? I don't know how to do it," said +the perplexed jellyfish. + +"This is what you must do," said the wily chief steward. "When you +approach the Island of Monkeys and meet some of them, you must try +to get very friendly with one. Tell him that you are a servant of the +Dragon King, and invite him to come and visit you and see the Dragon +King's palace. Try and describe to him as vividly as you can the +grandeur of the palace and the wonders of the sea so as to arouse his +curiosity and make him long to see it all!" + +"But how am I to get the monkey here? You know monkeys don't swim!" +said the reluctant jellyfish. + +"You must carry him on your back. What is the use of your shell if you +can't do that!" said the chief steward. + +"Won't he be very heavy?" queried _kurage_ again. + +"You mustn't mind that, for you are working for the Dragon King!" +replied the chief steward. + +"I will do my best then," said the jellyfish, and he swam away from +the palace and started off towards the Monkey Island. Swimming +swiftly he reached his destination in a few hours, and was landed by a +convenient wave upon the shore. On looking round he saw not far away a +big pine-tree with drooping branches and on one of those branches was +just what he was looking for--a live monkey. + +"I'm in luck!" thought the jellyfish. "Now I must flatter the creature +and try to entice him to come back with me to the palace, and my part +will be done!" + +So the jellyfish slowly walked towards the pine-tree. In those ancient +days the jellyfish had four legs and a hard shell like a tortoise. +When he got to the pine-tree he raised his voice and said: + +"How do you do, Mr. Monkey? Isn't it a lovely day?" + +"A very fine day," answered the monkey from the tree. "I have never +seen you in this part of the world before. Where have you come from +and what is your name?" + +"My name is _kurage_ or jellyfish. I am one of the servants of the +Dragon King. I have heard so much of your beautiful island that I have +come on purpose to see it," answered the jellyfish. + +"I am very glad to see you," said the monkey. + +"By-the-bye," said the jellyfish, "have you ever seen the palace of +the Dragon King of the Sea where I live?" + +"I have often heard of it, but I have never seen it!" answered the +monkey. + +"Then you ought most surely to come. It is a great pity for you to go +through life without seeing it. The beauty of the palace is beyond all +description--it is certainly to my mind the most lovely place in the +world," said the jellyfish. + +"Is it so beautiful as all that?" asked the monkey in astonishment. + +Then the jellyfish saw his chance, and went on describing to the best +of his ability the beauty and grandeur of the Sea King's palace, and +the wonders of the garden with its curious trees of white, pink and +red coral, and the still more curious fruits like great jewels hanging +on the branches. The monkey grew more and more interested, and as he +listened he came down the tree step by step so as not to lose a word +of the wonderful story. + +"I have got him at last!" thought the jellyfish, but aloud he said: + +"Mr. Monkey, I must now go back. As you have never seen the palace of +the Dragon King, won't you avail yourself of this splendid opportunity +by coming with me? I shall then be able to act as guide and show you +all the sights of the sea, which will be even more wonderful to you--a +land-lubber." + +"I should love to go," said the monkey, "but how am I to cross the +water? I can't swim, as you surely know!" + +"There is no difficulty about that. I can carry you on my back." + +"That will be troubling you too much," said the monkey. + +"I can do it quite easily. I am stronger than I look, so you needn't +hesitate," said the jellyfish, and taking the monkey on his back he +stepped into the sea. + +"Keep very still, Mr. Monkey," said the jellyfish. "You mustn't fall +into the sea; I am responsible for your safe arrival at the King's +palace." + +"Please don't go so fast, or I am sure I shall fall off," said the +monkey. + +Thus they went along, the jellyfish skimming through the waves with +the monkey sitting on his back. When they were about halfway, the +jellyfish, who knew very little of anatomy, began to wonder if the +monkey had his liver with him or not! + +"Mr. Monkey, tell me, have you such a thing as a liver with you?" + +The monkey was very much surprised at this queer question, and asked +what the jellyfish wanted with a liver. + +"That is the most important thing of all," said the stupid jellyfish, +"so as soon as I recollected it, I asked you if you had yours with +you?" + +"Why is my liver so important to you?" asked the monkey. + +"Oh! you will learn the reason later," said the jellyfish. + +The monkey grew more and more curious and suspicious, and urged the +jellyfish to tell him for what his liver was wanted, and ended up by +appealing to his hearer's feelings by saying that he was very troubled +at what he had been told. + +Then the jellyfish, seeing how anxious the monkey looked, was sorry +for him, and told everything. How the Dragon Queen had fallen ill, +and how the doctor had said that only the liver of a live monkey would +cure her, and how the Dragon King had sent him to find one. + +"Now I have done as I was told, and as soon as we arrive at the palace +the doctor will want your liver, so I feel sorry for you!" said the +silly jellyfish. + +The poor monkey was horrified when he learnt all this, and very angry +at the trick played upon him. He trembled with fear at the thought of +what was in store for him. + +But the monkey was a clever animal, and he thought it the wisest plan +not to show any sign of the fear he felt, so he tried to calm himself +and to think of some way by which he might escape. + +"The doctor means to cut me open and then take my liver out! Why I +shall die!" thought the monkey. At last a bright thought struck him, +so he said quite cheerfully to the jellyfish: + +"What a pity it was, Mr. Jellyfish, that you did not speak of this +before we left the island!" + +"If I had told you why I wanted you to accompany me you would +certainly have refused to come," answered the jellyfish. + +"You are quite mistaken," said the monkey. "Monkeys can very well +spare a liver or two, especially when it is wanted for the Dragon +Queen of the Sea. If I had only guessed of what you were in need, I +should have presented you with one without waiting to be asked. I have +several livers. But the greatest pity is, that as you did not speak in +time, I have left all my livers hanging on the pine-tree." + +"Have you left your liver behind you?" asked the jellyfish. + +"Yes," said the cunning monkey, "during the daytime I usually leave +my liver hanging up on the branch of a tree, as it is very much in the +way when I am climbing about from tree to tree. To-day, listening to +your interesting conversation, I quite forgot it, and left it behind +when I came off with you. If only you had spoken in time I should have +remembered it, and should have brought it along with me!" + +The jellyfish was very disappointed when he heard this, for he +believed every word the monkey said. The monkey was of no good without +a liver. Finally the jellyfish stopped and told the monkey so. + +"Well," said the monkey, "that is soon remedied. I am really sorry to +think of all your trouble; but if you will only take me back to the +place where you found me, I shall soon be able to get my liver." + +The jellyfish did not at all like the idea of going all the way back +to the island again; but the monkey assured him that if he would be so +kind as to take him back he would get his very best liver, and bring +it with him the next time. Thus persuaded, the jellyfish turned his +course towards the Monkey Island once more. + +No sooner had the jellyfish reached the shore than the sly monkey +landed, and getting up into the pine-tree where the jellyfish had +first seen him, he cut several capers amongst the branches with joy at +being safe home again, and then looking down at the jellyfish said: + +"So many thanks for all the trouble you have taken! Please present my +compliments to the Dragon King on your return!" + +The jellyfish wondered at this speech and the mocking tone in which +it was uttered. Then he asked the monkey if it wasn't his intention to +come with him at once after getting his liver. + +The monkey replied laughingly that he couldn't afford to lose his +liver; it was too precious. + +"But remember your promise!" pleaded the jellyfish, now very +discouraged. + +"That promise was false, and anyhow it is now broken!" answered the +monkey. Then he began to jeer at the jellyfish and told him that he +had been deceiving him the whole time; that he had no wish to lose +his life, which he certainly would have done had he gone on to the Sea +King's Palace to the old doctor waiting for him, instead of persuading +the jellyfish to return under false pretences. + +"Of course, I won't _give_ you my liver, but come and get it if you +can!" added the monkey mockingly from the tree. + +There was nothing for the jellyfish to do now but to repent of his +stupidity, and return to the Dragon King of the Sea and confess his +failure, so he started sadly and slowly to swim back. The last thing +he heard as he glided away, leaving the island behind him, was the +monkey laughing at him. + +Meanwhile the Dragon King, the doctor, the chief steward, and all the +servants were waiting impatiently for the return of the jellyfish. +When they caught sight of him approaching the palace, they hailed him +with delight. They began to thank him profusely for all the trouble he +had taken in going to Monkey Island, and then they asked him where the +monkey was. + +Now the day of reckoning had come for the jellyfish. He quaked all +over as he told his story. How he had brought the monkey half way over +the sea, and then had stupidly let out the secret of his commission; +how the monkey had deceived him by making him believe that he had left +his liver behind him. + +The Dragon King's wrath was great, and he at once gave orders that the +jellyfish was to be severely punished. The punishment was a horrible +one. All the bones were to be drawn out from his living body, and he +was to be beaten with sticks. + +The poor jellyfish, humiliated and horrified beyond all words, cried +out for pardon. But the Dragon King's order had to be obeyed. +The servants of the palace forthwith each brought out a stick and +surrounded the jellyfish, and after pulling out his bones they beat +him to a flat pulp, and then took him out beyond the palace gates and +threw him into the water. Here he was left to suffer and repent +his foolish chattering, and to grow accustomed to his new state of +bonelessness. + +From this story it is evident that in former times the jellyfish once +had a shell and bones something like a tortoise, but, ever since the +Dragon King's sentence was carried out on the ancestor of the jelly +fishes, his descendants have all been soft and boneless just as you +see them to-day thrown up by the waves high upon the shores of Japan. + + + + +THE OLD MAN AND THE DEVILS + + +A long time ago there was an old man who had a big lump on the right +side of his face. One day he went into the mountain to cut wood, when +the rain began to pour and the wind to blow so very hard that, finding +it impossible to return home, and filled with fear, he took refuge in +the hollow of an old tree. While sitting there doubled up and unable +to sleep, he heard the confused sound of many voices in the distance +gradually approaching to where he was. He said to himself: "How +strange! I thought I was all alone in the mountain, but I hear the +voices of many people." So, taking courage, he peeped out, and saw a +great crowd of strange-looking beings. Some were red, and dressed in +green clothes; others were black, and dressed in red clothes; some had +only one eye; others had no mouth; indeed, it is quite impossible to +describe their varied and strange looks. They kindled a fire, so that +it became as light as day. They sat down in two cross-rows, and began +to drink wine and make merry just like human beings. They passed the +wine cup around so often that many of them soon drank too much. One of +the young devils got up and began to sing a merry song and to dance; +so also many others; some danced well, others badly. One said: "We +have had uncommon fun to-night, but I would like to see something +new." + +Then the old man, losing all fear, thought he would like to dance, +and saying, "Let come what will, if I die for it, I will have a dance, +too," crept out of the hollow tree and, with his cap slipped over his +nose and his ax sticking in his belt, began to dance. The devils +in great surprise jumped up, saying, "Who is this?" but the old man +advancing and receding, swaying to and fro, and posturing this way and +that way, the whole crowd laughed and enjoyed the fun, saying: "How +well the old man dances! You must always come and join us in our +sport; but, for fear you might not come, you must give us a pledge +that you will." So the devils consulted together, and, agreeing that +the lump on his face, which was a token of wealth, was what he valued +most highly, demanded that it should be taken. The old man replied: "I +have had this lump many years, and would not without good reason part +with it; but you may have it, or an eye, or my nose either if you +wish." So the devils laid hold of it, twisting and pulling, and took +it off without giving him any pain, and put it away as a pledge that +he would come back. Just then the day began to dawn, and the birds to +sing, so the devils hurried away. + +The old man felt his face and found it quite smooth, and not a trace +of the lump left. He forgot all about cutting wood, and hastened home. +His wife, seeing him, exclaimed in great surprise, "What has happened +to you?" So he told her all that had befallen him. + +Now, among the neighbors there was another old man who had a big lump +on the left side of his face. Hearing all about how the first old man +had got rid of his misfortune, he determined that he would also try +the same plan. So he went and crept into the hollow tree, and waited +for the devils to come. Sure enough, they came just as he was told, +and they sat down, drank wine, and made merry just as they did before. +The second old man, afraid and trembling, crept out of the hollow +tree. The devils welcomed him, saying: "The old man has come; now let +us see him dance." This old fellow was awkward, and did not dance as +well as the other, so the devils cried out: "You dance badly, and are +getting worse and worse; we will give you back the lump which we took +from you as a pledge." Upon this, one of the devils brought the lump, +and stuck it on the other side of his face; so the poor old fellow +returned home with a lump on each side. + + + + +AUTUMN AND SPRING + +ADAPTED BY FRANK HINDER + + +A fair maiden lay asleep in a rice field. The sun was at its height, +and she was weary. Now a god looked down upon the rice field. He knew +that the beauty of the maiden came from within, that it mirrored the +beauty of heavenly dreams. He knew that even now, as she smiled, she +held converse with the spirit of the wind or the flowers. + +The god descended and asked the dream-maiden to be his bride. She +rejoiced, and they were wed. A wonderful red jewel came of their +happiness. + +Long, long afterwards, the stone was found by a farmer, who saw that +it was a very rare jewel. He prized it highly, and always carried it +about with him. Sometimes, as he looked at it in the pale light of +the moon, it seemed to him that he could discern eyes in its depths. +Again, in the stillness of the night, he would awaken and think that a +clear soft voice called him by name. + +One day, the farmer had to carry the midday meal to his workers in +the field. The sun was very hot, so he loaded a cow with the bowls of +rice, the millet dumplings, and the beans. Suddenly, Prince Ama-boko +stood in the path. He was angry, for he thought that the farmer was +about to kill the cow. The Prince would hear no word of denial; his +wrath increased. The farmer became more and more terrified, and, +finally, took the precious stone from his pocket and presented it as +a peace-offering to the powerful Prince. Ama-boko marveled at the +brilliancy of the jewel, and allowed the man to continue his journey. + +The Prince returned to his home. He drew forth the treasure, and it +was immediately transformed into a goddess of surpassing beauty. Even +as she rose before him, he loved her, and ere the moon waned they were +wed. The goddess ministered to his every want. She prepared delicate +dishes, the secret of which is known only to the gods. She made wine +from the juice of a myriad herbs, wine such as mortals never taste. + +But, after a time, the Prince became proud and overbearing. He began +to treat his faithful wife with cruel contempt. The goddess was sad, +and said: "You are not worthy of my love. I will leave you and go +to my father." Ama-boko paid no heed to these words, for he did not +believe that the threat would be fulfilled. But the beautiful goddess +was in earnest. She escaped from the palace and fled to Naniwa, where +she is still honored as Akaru-hime, the Goddess of Light. + +Now the Prince was wroth when he heard that the goddess had left him, +and set out in pursuit of her. But when he neared Naniwa, the gods +would not allow his vessel to enter the haven. Then he knew that +his priceless red jewel was lost to him forever. He steered his ship +towards the north coast of Japan, and landed at Tajima. Here he was +well received, and highly esteemed on account of the treasures which +he brought with him. He had costly strings of pearls, girdles of +precious stones, and a mirror which the wind and the waves obeyed. +Prince Ama-boko remained at Tajima, and was the father of a mighty +race. + +Among his children's children was a Princess so renowned for her +beauty that eighty suitors sought her hand. One after the other +returned sorrowfully home, for none found favor in her eyes. At last, +two brothers came before her, the young God of the Autumn, and the +young God of the Spring. The elder of the two, the God of Autumn, +first urged his suit. But the Princess refused him. He went to his +younger brother and said, "The Princess does not love me, neither will +you be able to win her heart." + +But the Spring God was full of hope, and replied, "I will give you a +cask of rice wine if I do not win her, but if she consents to be my +bride, you shall give a cask of _sake_ to me." + +Now the God of Spring went to his mother, and told her all. She +promised to aid him. Thereupon she wove, in a single night, a robe and +sandals from the unopened buds of the lilac and white wistaria. Out of +the same delicate flowers she fashioned a bow and arrows. Thus clad, +the God of Spring made his way to the beautiful Princess. + +As he stepped before the maiden, every bud unfolded, and from the +heart of each blossom came a fragrance that filled the air. The +Princess was overjoyed, and gave her hand to the God of Spring. + +The elder brother, the God of Autumn, was filled with rage when he +heard how his brother had obtained the wondrous robe. He refused to +give the promised cask of _sake_. When the mother learned that the +god had broken his word, she placed stones and salt in the hollow of +a bamboo cane, wrapped it round with bamboo leaves, and hung it in the +smoke. Then she uttered a curse upon her first-born: "As the leaves +wither and fade, so must you. As the salt sea ebbs, so must you. As +the stone sinks, so must you." + +The terrible curse fell upon her son. While the God of Spring remains +ever young, ever fragrant, ever full of mirth, the God of Autumn is +old, and withered, and sad. + + + + +THE VISION OF TSUNU + +ADAPTED BY FRANK RINDER + + +When the five tall pine-trees on the windy heights of Mionoseki were +but tiny shoots, there lived in the Kingdom of the Islands a pious +man. His home was in a remote hamlet surrounded by mountains and great +forests of pine. Tsunu had a wife and sons and daughters. He was a +woodman, and his days were spent in the forest and on the hillsides. +In summer he was up at cock-crow, and worked patiently, in the soft +light under the pines, until nightfall. Then, with his burden of logs +and branches, he went slowly homeward. After the evening meal, he +would tell some old story or legend. Tsunu was never weary of relating +the wondrous tales of the Land of the Gods. Best of all he loved to +speak of Fuji-yama, the mountain that stood so near his home. + +In times gone by, there was no mountain where now the sacred peak +reaches up to the sky; only a far-stretching plain bathed in sunlight +all day. The peasants in the district were astonished, one morning, +to behold a mighty hill where before had been the open plain. It had +sprung up in a single night, while they slept. Flames and huge stones +were hurled from its summit; the peasants feared that the demons from +the under-world had come to wreak vengeance upon them. But for many +generations there have been peace and silence on the heights. The good +Sun-Goddess loves Fuji-yama. Every evening she lingers on his summit, +and when at last she leaves him, his lofty crest is bathed in soft +purple light. In the evening the Matchless Mountain seems to rise +higher and higher into the skies, until no mortal can tell the place +of his rest. Golden clouds enfold Fuji-yama in the early morning. +Pilgrims come from far and near, to gain blessing and health for +themselves and their families from the sacred mountain. + +On the self-same night that Fuji-yama rose out of the earth, a strange +thing happened in the mountainous district near Kyoto. The inhabitants +were awakened by a terrible roar, which continued throughout the +night. In the morning every mountain had disappeared; not one of the +hills that they loved was to be seen. A blue lake lay before them. It +was none other than the lute-shaped Lake Biwa. The mountains had, in +truth, traveled under the earth for more than a hundred miles, and now +form the sacred Fuji-yama. + +As Tsunu stepped out of his hut in the morning, his eyes sought the +Mountain of the Gods. He saw the golden clouds, and the beautiful +story was in his mind as he went to his work. + +One day the woodman wandered farther than usual into the forest. At +noon he was in a very lonely spot. The air was soft and sweet, the sky +so blue that he looked long at it, and then took a deep breath. Tsunu +was happy. + +Now his eye fell on a little fox who watched him curiously from the +bushes. The creature ran away when it saw that the man's attention had +been attracted. Tsunu thought, "I will follow the little fox and see +where she goes." Off he started in pursuit. He soon came to a bamboo +thicket. The smooth, slender stems waved dreamily, the pale green +leaves still sparkled with the morning dew. But it was not this which +caused the woodman to stand spellbound. On a plot of mossy grass +beyond the thicket, sat two maidens of surpassing beauty. They were +partly shaded by the waving bamboos, but their faces were lit up by +the sunlight. Not a word came from their lips, yet Tsunu knew that +the voices of both must be sweet as the cooing of the wild dove. The +maidens were graceful as the slender willow, they were fair as the +blossom of the cherry-tree. Slowly they moved the chessmen which +lay before them on the grass. Tsunu hardly dared to breathe, lest he +should disturb them. The breeze caught their long hair, the sunlight +played upon it.... The sun still shone.... The chessmen were still +slowly moved to and fro.... The woodman gazed enraptured. + +"But now," thought Tsunu, "I must return, and tell those at home of +the beautiful maidens." Alas, his knees were stiff and weak. "Surely +I have stood here for many hours," he said. He leaned for support upon +his axe; it crumbled into dust. Looking down he saw that a flowing +white beard hung from his chin. + +For many hours the poor woodman tried in vain to reach his home. +Fatigued and wearied, he came at last to a hut. But all was changed. +Strange faces peered curiously at him. The speech of the people was +unfamiliar. "Where are my wife and my children?" he cried. But no one +knew his name. + +Finally, the poor woodman came to understand that seven generations +had passed since he bade farewell to his dear ones in the early +morning. While he had gazed at the beautiful maidens, his wife, his +children, and his children's children had lived and died. + +The few remaining years of Tsunu's life were spent as a pious pilgrim +to Fuji-yama, his well-loved mountain. + +Since his death he has been honored as a saint who brings prosperity +to the people of his native country. + + + + +THE STAR-LOVERS + +ADAPTED BY FRANK RINDER + + +Shokujo, daughter of the Sun, dwelt with her father on the banks of +the Silver River of Heaven, which we call the Milky Way. She was a +lovely maiden, graceful and winsome, and her eyes were tender as the +eyes of a dove. Her loving father, the Sun, was much troubled because +Shokujo did not share in the youthful pleasures of the daughters of +the air. A soft melancholy seemed to brood over her, but she never +wearied of working for the good of others, and especially did she +busy herself at her loom; indeed she came to be called the Weaving +Princess. + +The Sun bethought him that if he could give his daughter in marriage, +all would be well; her dormant love would be kindled into a flame that +would illumine her whole being and drive out the pensive spirit which +oppressed her. Now there lived, hard by, a right honest herdsman, +named Kingen, who tended his cows on the borders of the Heavenly +Stream. The Sun-King proposed to bestow his daughter on Kingen, +thinking in this way to provide for her happiness and at the same time +keep her near him. Every star beamed approval, and there was joy in +the heavens. + +The love that bound Shokujo and Kingen to one another was a great +love. With its awakening, Shokujo forsook her former occupations, nor +did she any longer labor industriously at the loom, but laughed, and +danced, and sang, and made merry from morn till night. The Sun-King +was sorely grieved, for he had not foreseen so great a change. Anger +was in his eyes, and he said, "Kingen is surely the cause of this, +therefore I will banish him to the other side of the River of Stars." + +When Shokujo and Kingen heard that they were to be parted, and could +thenceforth, in accordance with the King's decree, meet but once a +year, and that upon the seventh night of the seventh month, their +hearts were heavy. The leave-taking between them was a sad one, +and great tears stood in Shokujo's eyes as she bade farewell to her +lover-husband. In answer to the behest of the Sun-King, myriads of +magpies flocked together, and, outspreading their wings, formed a +bridge on which Kingen crossed the River of Heaven. The moment that +his foot touched the opposite bank, the birds dispersed with noisy +chatter, leaving poor Kingen a solitary exile. He looked wistfully +towards the weeping figure of Shokujo, who stood on the threshold of +her now desolate home. + +Long and weary were the succeeding days, spent as they were by Kingen +in guiding his oxen and by Shokujo in plying her shuttle. The Sun-King +was gladdened by his daughter's industry. When night fell and the +heavens were bright with countless lights, the lovers were wont, +standing on the banks of the celestial stream, to waft across it sweet +and tender messages, while each uttered a prayer for the speedy coming +of the wondrous night. + +The long-hoped-for month and day drew nigh, and the hearts of the +lovers were troubled lest rain should fall; for the Silver River, full +at all times, is at that season often in flood, and the bird-bridge +might be swept away. + +The day broke cloudlessly bright. It waxed and waned, and one by one +the lamps of heaven were lighted. At nightfall the magpies assembled, +and Shokujo, quivering with delight, crossed the slender bridge and +fell into the arms of her lover. Their transport of joy was as the joy +of the parched flower, when the raindrop falls upon it; but the moment +of parting soon came, and Shokujo sorrowfully retraced her steps. + +Year follows year, and the lovers still meet in that far-off land on +the seventh night of the seventh month, save when rain has swelled +the Silver River and rendered the crossing impossible. The hope of a +permanent reunion still fills the hearts of the Star-Lovers, and is to +them as a sweet fragrance and a beautiful vision. + + + + + + +MYTHS OF THE SLAVS + + + + +THE TWO BROTHERS + +ADAPTED BY ALEXANDER CHODSKO + + +Once upon a time there were two brothers whose father had left them +but a small fortune. The eldest grew very rich, but at the same time +cruel and wicked, whereas there was nowhere a more honest or kinder +man than the younger. But he remained poor, and had many children, so +that at times they could scarcely get bread to eat. At last, one day +there was not even this in the house, so he went to his rich brother +and asked him for a loaf of bread. Waste of time! His rich brother +only called him beggar and vagabond, and slammed the door in his face. + +The poor fellow, after this brutal reception, did not know which way +to turn. Hungry, scantily clad, shivering with cold, his legs could +scarcely carry him along. He had not the heart to go home, with +nothing for the children, so he went towards the mountain forest. But +all he found there were some wild pears that had fallen to the ground. +He had to content himself with eating these, though they set his teeth +on edge. But what was he to do to warm himself, for the east wind with +its chill blast pierced him through and through. "Where shall I go?" +he said; "what will become of us in the cottage? There is neither food +nor fire, and my brother has driven me from his door." It was just +then he remembered having heard that the top of the mountain in front +of him was made of crystal, and had a fire forever burning upon it. "I +will try and find it," he said, "and then I may be able to warm myself +a little." So he went on climbing higher and higher till he reached +the top, when he was startled to see twelve strange beings sitting +round a huge fire. He stopped for a moment, but then said to himself, +"What have I to lose? Why should I fear? God is with me. Courage!" + +So he advanced towards the fire, and bowing respectfully, said: "Good +people, take pity on my distress. I am very poor, no one cares for me, +I have not even a fire in my cottage; will you let me warm myself at +yours?" They all looked kindly at him, and one of them said: "My son, +come sit down with us and warm yourself." + +So he sat down, and felt warm directly he was near them. But he dared +not speak while they were silent. What astonished him most was that +they changed seats one after another, and in such a way that each one +passed round the fire and came back to his own place. When he drew +near the fire an old man with long white beard and bald head arose +from the flames and spoke to him thus: + +"Man, waste not thy life here; return to thy cottage, work, and live +honestly. Take as many embers as thou wilt, we have more than we +need." + +And having said this he disappeared. Then the twelve filled a large +sack with embers, and, putting it on the poor man's shoulders, advised +him to hasten home. + +Humbly thanking them, he set off. As he went he wondered why the +embers did not feel hot, and why they should weigh no more than a sack +of paper. He was thankful that he should be able to have a fire, but +imagine his astonishment when on arriving home he found the sack to +contain as many gold pieces as there had been embers; he almost went +out of his mind with joy at the possession of so much money. With all +his heart he thanked those who had been so ready to help him in his +need. + +He was now rich, and rejoiced to be able to provide for his family. +Being curious to find out how many gold pieces there were, and not +knowing how to count, he sent his wife to his rich brother for the +loan of a quart measure. + +This time the brother was in a better temper, so he lent what was +asked of him, but said mockingly, "What can such beggars as you have +to measure?" + +The wife replied, "Our neighbor owes us some wheat; we want to be sure +he returns us the right quantity." + +The rich brother was puzzled, and suspecting something he, unknown +to his sister-in-law, put some grease inside the measure. The trick +succeeded, for on getting it back he found a piece of gold sticking +to it. Filled with astonishment, he could only suppose his brother had +joined a band of robbers: so he hurried to his brother's cottage, and +threatened to bring him before the justice of the peace if he did +not confess where the gold came from. The poor man was troubled, and, +dreading to offend his brother, told the story of his journey to the +Crystal Mountain. + +Now the elder brother had plenty of money for himself, yet he was +envious of the brother's good fortune, and became greatly displeased +when he found that his brother won every one's esteem by the good use +he made of his wealth. At last, he too determined to visit the Crystal +Mountain. + +"I may meet with as good luck as my brother," said he to himself. + +Upon reaching the Crystal Mountain he found the twelve seated round +the fire as before, and thus addressed them: + +"I beg of you, good people, to let me warm myself, for it is bitterly +cold, and I am poor and homeless." + +But one of them replied: "My son, the hour of thy birth was favorable; +thou art rich, but a miser; thou art wicked, for thou hast dared to +lie to us. Well dost thou deserve thy punishment." + +Amazed and terrified he stood silent, not daring to speak. Meanwhile +the twelve changed places one after another, each at last returning +to his own seat. Then from the midst of the flames arose the +white-bearded old man and spoke thus sternly to the rich man: + +"Woe unto the willful! Thy brother is virtuous, therefore have I +blessed him. As for thee, thou are wicked, and so shalt not escape our +vengeance." + +At these words the twelve arose. The first seized the unfortunate man, +struck him, and passed him on to the second; the second also struck +him and passed him on to the third; and so did they all in their turn, +until he was given up to the old man, who disappeared with him into +the fire. + +Days, weeks, months went by, but the rich man never returned, and none +knew what had become of him. I think, between you and me, the younger +brother had his suspicions but he very wisely kept them to himself. + + + + +THE TWELVE MONTHS + +ADAPTED BY ALEXANDER CHODSKO + + +There was once a widow who had two daughters, Helen, her own child by +her dead husband, and Marouckla, his daughter by his first wife. She +loved Helen, but hated the poor orphan, because she was far prettier +than her own daughter. Marouckla did not think about her good looks, +and could not understand why her stepmother should be angry at the +sight of her. The hardest work fell to her share; she cleaned out the +rooms, cooked, washed, sewed, spun, wove, brought in the hay, milked +the cow, and all this without any help. Helen, meanwhile, did nothing +but dress herself in her best clothes and go to one amusement after +another. But Marouckla never complained; she bore the scoldings and +bad temper of mother and sister with a smile on her lips, and the +patience of a lamb. But this angelic behavior did not soften them. +They became even more tyrannical and grumpy, for Marouckla grew daily +more beautiful while Helen's ugliness increased. So the stepmother +determined to get rid of Marouckla, for she knew that while she +remained her own daughter would have no suitors. Hunger, every kind +of privation, abuse, every means was used to make the girl's life +miserable. The most wicked of men could not have been more mercilessly +cruel than these two vixens. But in spite of it all Marouckla grew +ever sweeter and more charming. + +One day in the middle of winter Helen wanted some wood-violets. + +"Listen," cried she to Marouckla; "you must go up the mountain and +find me some violets, I want some to put in my gown; they must be +fresh and sweet-scented--do you hear?" + +"But, my dear sister, who ever heard of violets blooming in the snow?" +said the poor orphan. + +"You wretched creature! Do you dare to disobey me?" said Helen. "Not +another word; off with you. If you do not bring me some violets from +the mountain forest, I will kill you." + +The stepmother also added her threats to those of Helen, and with +vigorous blows they pushed Marouckla outside and shut the door upon +her. The weeping girl made her way to the mountain. The snow lay deep, +and there was no trace of any human being. Long she wandered hither +and thither, and lost herself in the wood. She was hungry, and +shivered with cold, and prayed to die. Suddenly she saw a light in +the distance, and climbed towards it, till she reached the top of +the mountain. Upon the highest peak burnt a large fire, surrounded by +twelve blocks of stone, on which sat twelve strange beings. Of these +the first three had white hair, three were not quite so old, three +were young and handsome, and the rest still younger. + +There they all sat silently looking at the fire. They were the twelve +months of the year. The great Setchene (January) was placed higher +than the others; his hair and mustache were white as snow, and in his +hand he held a wand. At first Marouckla was afraid, but after a while +her courage returned and drawing near she said: + +"Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? I am chilled by the +winter cold." + +The great Setchene raised his head and answered: + +"What brings thee here, my daughter? What dost thou seek?" + +"I am looking for violets," replied the maiden. + +"This is not the season for violets; dost thou not see the snow +everywhere?" said Setchene. + +"I know well, but my sister Helen and my stepmother have ordered me to +bring them violets from your mountain: if I return without them they +will kill me. I pray you, good shepherds, tell me where they may be +found?" + +Here the great Setchene arose and went over to the youngest of the +months, and placing his wand in his hand, said: + +"Brother Brezene (March), do thou take the highest place." + +Brezene obeyed, at the same time waving his wand over the fire. +Immediately the flames rose towards the sky, the snow began to melt +and the tress and shrubs to bud; the grass became green, and from +between its blades peeped the pale primrose. It was Spring, and the +meadows were blue with violets. + +"Gather them quickly, Marouckla," said Brezene. + +Joyfully she hastened to pick the flowers, and having soon a large +bunch she thanked them and ran home. Helen and the stepmother were +amazed at the sight of the flowers, the scent of which filled the +house. + +"Where did you find them?" asked Helen. + +"Under the trees on the mountain slope," said Marouckla. + +Helen kept the flowers for herself and her mother; she did not even +thank her stepsister for the trouble she had taken. The next day she +desired Marouckla to fetch her strawberries. + +"Run," said she, "and fetch me strawberries from the mountain: they +must be very sweet and ripe." + +"But who ever heard of strawberries ripening in the snow?" exclaimed +Marouckla. + +"Hold your tongue, worm; don't answer me; if I don't have my +strawberries I will kill you." + +Then the stepmother pushed her into the yard and bolted the door. The +unhappy girl made her way towards the mountain and to the large fire +round which sat the twelve months. The great Setchene occupied the +highest place. + +"Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? The winter cold chills +me," said she, drawing near. + +The great Setchene raised his head and asked: + +"Why comest thou here? What dost thou seek?" + +"I am looking for strawberries," said she. + +"We are in the midst of winter," replied Setchene; strawberries do not +grow in the snow." + +"I know," said the girl sadly, "but my sister and stepmother have +ordered me to bring them strawberries; if I do not they will kill me. +Pray, good shepherds, tell me where to find them." + +The great Setchene arose, crossed over to the month opposite him, and +putting the wand into his hand, said: + +"Brother Tchervene (June), do thou take the highest place." + +Tchervene obeyed, and as he waved his wand over the fire the flames +leapt towards the sky. Instantly the snow melted, the earth was +covered with verdure, trees were clothed with leaves, birds began +to sing, and various flowers blossomed in the forest. It was summer. +Under the bushes masses of star-shaped flowers changed into ripening +strawberries. Before Marouckla had time to cross herself they covered +the glade, making it look like a sea of blood. + +"Gather them quickly, Marouckla," said Tchervene. + +Joyfully she thanked the months, and having filled her apron +ran happily home. Helen and her mother wondered at seeing the +strawberries, which filled the house with their delicious fragrance. + +"Wherever did you find them?" asked Helen crossly. + +"Right up among the mountains; those from under the beech trees are +not bad." + +Helen gave a few to her mother and ate the rest herself; not one did +she offer to her stepsister. Being tired of strawberries, on the third +day she took a fancy for some fresh red apples. + +"Run, Marouckla," said she, "and fetch me fresh red apples from the +mountain." + +"Apples in winter, sister? why, the trees have neither leaves nor +fruit." + +"Idle creature, go this minute," said Helen; "unless you bring back +apples we will kill you." + +As before, the stepmother seized her roughly and turned her out of +the house. The poor girl went weeping up the mountain, across the deep +snow upon which lay no human footprint, and on towards the fire round +which were the twelve months. Motionless sat they, and on the highest +stone was the great Setchene. + +"Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? The winter cold chills +me," said she, drawing near. + +The great Setchene raised his head. + +"Why com'st thou here? What dost thou seek?" asked he. + +"I am come to look for red apples," replied Marouckla. + +"But this is winter, and not the season for red apples," observed the +great Setchene. + +"I know," answered the girl, "but my sister and stepmother, sent me to +fetch red apples from the mountain; if I return without them they will +kill me." + +Thereupon the great Setchene arose and went over to one of the elderly +months, to whom he handed the wand, saying: + +"Brother Zare (September), do thou take the highest place." + +Zare moved to the highest stone and waved his wand over the fire. +There was a flare of red flames, the snow disappeared, but the fading +leaves which trembled on the trees were sent by a cold northeast +wind in yellow masses to the glade. Only a few flowers of autumn were +visible, such as the fleabane and red gillyflower, autumn colchicums +in the ravine, and under the beeches bracken and tufts of northern +heather. At first Marouckla looked in vain for red apples. Then she +espied a tree which grew at a great height, and from the branches +of this hung the bright red fruit. Zare ordered her to gather some +quickly. The girl was delighted and shook the tree. First one apple +fell, then another. + +"That is enough," said Zare, "hurry home." + +Thanking the months, she returned joyfully. Helen marveled and the +stepmother wondered at seeing the fruit. + +"Where did you gather them?" asked the stepsister. + +"There are more on the mountain top," answered Marouckla. + +"Then why did you not bring more?" said Helen angrily; "you must have +eaten them on your way back, you wicked girl." + +"No, dear sister, I have not even tasted them," said Marouckla. "I +shook the tree twice; one apple fell each time. I was not allowed to +shake it again, but was told to return home." + +"May God smite you with his thunderbolt," said Helen, striking her. + +Marouckla prayed to die rather than suffer such ill-treatment. Weeping +bitterly, she took refuge in the kitchen. Helen and her mother found +the apples more delicious than any they had ever tasted, and when they +had eaten both longed for more. + +"Listen, mother," said Helen. "Give me my cloak; I will fetch some +more apples myself, or else that good-for-nothing wretch will eat them +all on the way. I shall be able to find the mountain and the tree. The +shepherds may cry 'Stop,' but I shall not leave go till I have shaken +down all the apples." + +In spite of her mother's advice she put on her cloak, covered her head +with a warm hood, and took the road to the mountain. The mother stood +and watched her till she was lost in the distance. + +Snow covered everything, not a human footprint was to be seen on its +surface. Helen lost herself and wandered hither and thither. After +a while she saw a light above her, and following in its direction +reached the mountain top. There was the flaming fire, the twelve +blocks of stone, and the twelve months. At first she was frightened +and hesitated; then she came nearer and warmed her hands. She did not +ask permission, nor did she speak one polite word. + +"What has brought thee here? What dost thou seek?" said the great +Setchene severely. + +"I am not obliged to tell you, old graybeard; what business is it of +yours?" she replied disdainfully, turning her back on the fire and +going towards the forest. + +The great Setchene frowned, and waved his wand over his head. +Instantly the sky became covered with clouds, the fire went down, snow +fell in large flakes, an icy wind howled round the mountain. Amid the +fury of the storm Helen added curses against her stepsister. The cloak +failed to warm her benumbed limbs. The mother kept on waiting for her; +she looked from the window, she watched from the doorstep, but her +daughter came not. The hours passed slowly, but Helen did not return. + +"Can it be that the apples have charmed her from her home?" thought +the mother. Then she clad herself in hood and shawl and went in search +of her daughter. Snow fell in huge masses; it covered all things, it +lay untouched by human footsteps. For long she wandered hither and +thither; the icy northeast wind whistled in the mountain, but no voice +answered her cries. + +Day after day Marouckla worked and prayed, and waited; but neither +stepmother nor sister returned, they had been frozen to death on the +mountain. The inheritance of a small house, a field, and a cow fell to +Marouckla. In course of time an honest farmer came to share them with +her, and their lives were happy and peaceful. + + + + +THE SUN; OR, THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSEVEDE + +ADAPTED BY ALEXANDER CHODSKO + + +Can this be a true story? It is said that once there was a King who +was exceedingly fond of hunting the wild beasts in his forests. One +day he followed a stag so far and so long that he lost his way. Alone +and overtaken by night, he was glad to find himself near a small +thatched cottage in which lived a charcoal-burner. + +"Will you kindly show me the way to the highroad? You shall be +handsomely rewarded." + +"I would willingly," said the charcoal-burner, "But God is going to +send my wife a little child, and I cannot leave her alone. Will you +pass the night under our roof? There is a truss of sweet hay in the +loft where you may rest, and to-morrow morning I will be your guide." + +The King accepted the invitation and went to bed in the loft. Shortly +after a son was born to the charcoal-burner's wife. But the King +could not sleep. At midnight he heard noises in the house, and looking +through a crack in the flooring he saw the charcoal-burner asleep, his +wife almost in a faint, and by the side of the newly-born babe three +old women dressed in white, each holding a lighted taper in her hand, +and all talking together. Now these were the three Soudiche or Fates, +you must know. + +The first said, "On this boy I bestow the gift of confronting great +dangers." + +The second said, "I bestow the power of happily escaping all these +dangers, and of living to a good old age." + +The third said, "I bestow upon him for wife the Princess born at the +self-same hour as he, and daughter of the very King sleeping above in +the loft." + +At these words the lights went out and silence reigned around. + +Now the King was greatly troubled, and wondered exceedingly; he felt +as if he had received a sword-thrust in the chest. He lay awake all +night thinking how to prevent the words of the Fates from coming true. + +With the first glimmer of morning light the baby began to cry. The +charcoal-burner, on going over to it, found that his wife was dead. + +"Poor little orphan," he said sadly, "what will become of thee without +a mother's care?" + +"Confide this child to me," said the King, "I will look after it. He +shall be well provided for. You shall be given a sum of money large +enough to keep you without having to burn charcoal." + +The poor man gladly agreed, and the King went away promising to send +some one for the child. The Queen and the courtiers thought it would +be an agreeable surprise for the King to hear that a charming little +Princess had been born on the night he was away. But instead of being +pleased he frowned and calling one of his servants, said to him, "Go +to the charcoal-burner's cottage in the, forest, and give the man this +purse in exchange for a new-born infant. On your way back drown +the child. See well that he is drowned, for if he should in any way +escape, you yourself shall suffer in his place." + +The servant was given the child in a basket, and on reaching the +center of a narrow bridge that stretched across a wide and deep river, +he threw both basket and baby into the water. + +"A prosperous journey to you, Mr. Son-in-Law," said the King, on +hearing the servant's story; for he fully believed the child was +drowned. But it was far from being the case; the little one was +floating happily along in its basket cradle, and slumbering as +sweetly as if his mother had sung him to sleep. Now it happened that +a fisherman, who was mending his nets before his cottage door, saw +the basket floating down the river. He jumped at once into his boat, +picked it up, and ran to tell his wife the good news. + +"Look," said he, "you have always longed for a son; here is a +beautiful little boy the river has sent us." + +The woman was delighted, and took the infant and loved it as her own +child. They named him _Plavacek_ (the floater), because he had come to +them floating on the water. + +The river flowed on. Years passed away. The little baby grew into a +handsome youth; in all the villages round there were none to compare +with him. Now it happened that one summer day the King was riding +unattended, and the heat being very great he reined in his horse +before the fisherman's door to ask for a drink of water. Plavacek +brought the water. The King looked at him attentively, then turning to +the fisherman, said, "That is a good-looking lad; is he your son?" + +"He is and he isn't," replied the fisherman. "I found him, when he was +quite a tiny baby, floating down the stream in a basket. So we adopted +him and brought him up as our own son." + +The King turned as pale as death, for he guessed that he was the same +child he had ordered to be drowned. Then recovering himself he got +down from his horse and said: "I want a trusty messenger to take a +message to the palace, could you send him with it?" + +"With pleasure! Your Majesty may be sure of its safe delivery." + +Thereupon the King wrote to the Queen as follows: + +"The man who brings you this letter is the most dangerous of all my +enemies. Have his head cut off at once; no delay, no pity, he must be +executed before my return. Such is my will and pleasure." + +This he carefully folded and sealed with the royal seal. + +Plavacek took the letter and set off immediately. But the forest +through which he had to pass was so large, and the trees so thick, +that he missed the path and was overtaken by the darkness before the +journey was nearly over. In the midst of his trouble he met an old +woman who said, "Where are you going, Plavacek? Where are you going?" + +"I am the bearer of a letter from the King to the Queen, but have +missed the path to the palace. Could you, good mother, put me on the +right road?" + +"Impossible to-day, my child; it is getting dark, and you would not +have time to get there. Stay with me to-night. You will not be with +strangers, for I am your godmother." + +Plavacek agreed. Thereupon they entered a pretty little cottage that +seemed suddenly to sink into the earth. Now while he slept the old +woman changed his letter for another, which ran thus: + +"Immediately upon the receipt of this letter introduce the bearer +to the Princess our daughter, I have chosen this young man for my +son-in-law, and it is my wish they should be married before my return +to the palace. Such is my pleasure." + +The letter was duly delivered, and when the Queen had read it, she +ordered everything to be prepared for the wedding. Both she and her +daughter greatly enjoyed Plavacek's society, and nothing disturbed the +happiness of the newly married pair. + +Within a few days the King returned, and on hearing what had taken +place was very angry with the Queen. + +"But you expressly bade me have the wedding before your return. Come, +read your letter again, here it is," said she. + +He closely examined the letter; the paper, handwriting, seal--all were +undoubtedly his. He then called his son-in-law, and questioned him +about his journey. Plavacek hid nothing: he told how he had lost his +way, and how he had passed the night in a cottage in the forest. + +"What was the old woman like?" asked the King. + +From Plavacek's description the King knew it was the very same who, +twenty years before, had foretold the marriage of the Princess with +the charcoal-burner's son. After some moments' thought the King +said: "What is done is done. But you will not become my son-in-law +so easily. No, i' faith! As a wedding present you must bring me three +golden hairs from the head of Dede-Vsevede." + +In this way he thought to get rid of his son-in-law, whose very +presence was distasteful to him. The young fellow took leave of his +wife and set off. "I know not which way to go," said he to himself, +"but my godmother the witch will surely help me." + +But he found the way easily enough. He walked on and on and on for +a long time over mountain, valley, and river, until he reached the +shores of the Black Sea. There he found a boat and boatman. + +"May God bless you, old boatman," said he. + +"And you, too, my young traveler. Where are you going?" + +"To Dede-Vsevede's castle for three of his golden hairs." + +"Ah, then you are very welcome. For a long weary while I have been +waiting for such a messenger as you. I have been ferrying passengers +across for these twenty years, and not one of them has done anything +to help me. If you will promise to ask Dede-Vsevede when I shall be +released from my toil I will row you across." + +Plavacek promised, and was rowed to the opposite bank. He continued +his journey on foot until he came in sight of a large town half in +ruins, near which was passing a funeral procession. The King of that +country was following his father's coffin, and with the tears running +down his cheeks. + +"May God comfort you in your distress," said Plavacek. + +"Thank you, good traveler. Where are you going?" + +"To the house of Dede-Vsevede in quest of three of his golden hairs." + +"To the house of Dede-Vsevede? Indeed! What a pity you did not come +sooner, we have long been expecting such a messenger as you. Come and +see me by-and-by." + +When Plavacek presented himself at court the King said to him: + +"We understand you are on your way to the house of Dede-Vsevede! Now +we have an apple-tree here that bears the fruit of everlasting youth. +One of these apples eaten by a man, even though he be dying, will cure +him and make him young again. For the last twenty years neither fruit +nor flower has been found on this tree. Will you ask Dede-Vsevede the +cause of it?" + +"That I will, with pleasure." + +Then Plavacek continued his journey, and as he went he came to a large +and beautiful city where all was sad and silent. Near the gate was an +old man who leaned on a stick and walked with difficulty. + +"May God bless you, good old man." + +"And you, too, my handsome young traveler. Where are you going?" + +"To Dede-Vsevede's palace in search of three of his golden hairs." + +"Ah, you are the very messenger I have so long waited for. Allow me to +take you to my master the King." + +On their arrival at the palace, the King said, "I hear you are an +ambassador to Dede-Vsevede. We have here a well, the water of +which renews itself. So wonderful are its effects that invalids are +immediately cured on drinking it, while a few drops sprinkled on a +corpse will bring it to life again. For the past twenty years this +well has remained dry: if you will ask old Dede-Vsevede how the flow +of water may be restored I will reward you royally." + +Plavacek promised to do so, and was dismissed with good wishes. He +then traveled through deep dark forests, in the midst of which might +be seen a large meadow: out of it grew lovely flowers, and in the +center stood a castle built of gold. It was the home of Dede-Vsevede. +So brilliant with light was it that it seemed to be built of fire. +When he entered there was no one there but an old woman spinning. + +"Greeting, Plavacek, I am well pleased to see you." + +She was his godmother, who had given him shelter in her cottage when +he was the bearer of the King's letter. + +"Tell me what brings you here from such a distance," she went on. + +"The King would not have me for his son-in-law, unless I first got him +three golden hairs from the head of Dede-Vsevede. So he sent me here +to fetch them." + +The Fate laughed. "Dede-Vsevede indeed! Why, I am his mother, it is +the shining sun himself. He is a child at morning time, a grown man +at midday, a decrepit old man, looking as if he had lived a hundred +years, at eventide. But I will see that you have the three hairs from +his head; I am not your godmother for nothing. All the same you must +not remain here. My son is a good lad, but when he comes home he +is hungry, and would very probably order you to be roasted for his +supper. Now I will turn this empty bucket upside down, and you shall +hide underneath it." + +Plavacek begged the Fate to obtain from Dede-Vsevede the answers to +the three questions he had been asked. + +"I will do so certainly, but you must listen to what he says." + +Suddenly a blast of wind howled round the palace, and the Sun entered +by a western window. He was an old man with golden hair. + +"I smell human flesh," cried he, "I am sure of it. Mother, you have +some one here." + +"Star of day," she replied, "whom could I have here that you would not +see sooner than I? The fact is that in your daily journeys the scent +of human flesh is always with you, so when you come home at evening it +clings to you still." + +The old man said nothing, and sat down to supper. When he had finished +he laid his golden head on the Fate's lap and went to sleep. Then she +pulled out a hair and threw it on the ground. It fell with a metallic +sound like the vibration of a guitar string. + +"What do you want, mother?" asked he. + +"Nothing, my son; I was sleeping, and had a strange dream." + +"What was it, mother?" + +"I thought I was in a place where there was a well, and the well was +fed from a spring, the water of which cured all diseases. Even the +dying were restored to health on drinking that water, and the dead who +were sprinkled with it came to life again. For the last twenty years +the well has run dry. What must be done to restore the flow of water?" + +"That is very simple. A frog has lodged itself in the opening of the +spring, this prevents the flow of water. Kill the frog, and the water +will return to the well." + +He slept again, and the old woman pulled out another golden hair, and +threw it on the ground. + +"Mother, what do you want?" + +"Nothing, my son, nothing; I was dreaming. In my dream I saw a large +town, the name of which I have forgotten. And there grew an apple-tree +the fruit of which had the power to make the old young again. A single +apple eaten by an old man would restore to him the vigor and freshness +of youth. For twenty years this tree has not borne fruit. What can be +done to make it fruitful?" + +"The means are not difficult. A snake hidden among the roots destroys +the sap. Kill the snake, transplant the tree, and the fruit will grow +as before." + +He again fell asleep, and the old woman pulled out another golden +hair. + +"Now mother, why will you not let me sleep?" said the old man, really +vexed; and he would have got up. + +"Lie down, my darling son, do not disturb yourself. I am sorry I +awoke you, but I have had a very strange dream. It seemed that I saw a +boatman on the shores of the Black Sea, and he complained that he had +been toiling at the ferry for twenty years without any one having come +to take his place. For how much longer must this poor old man continue +to row?" + +"He is a silly fellow. He has but to place his oars in the hands +of the first comer and jump ashore. Who ever receives the oars will +replace him as ferryman. But leave me in peace now, mother, and do not +wake me again. I have to rise very early, and must first dry the eyes +of a Princess. The poor thing spends all night weeping for her husband +who has been sent by the King to get three of my golden hairs." + +Next morning the wind whistled round Dede-Vsevede's palace, and +instead of an old man, a beautiful child with golden hair awoke on +the old woman's lap. It was the glorious sun. He bade her good-by, and +flew out of the eastern window. The old woman turned up the bucket and +said to Plavacek: "Look, here are the three golden hairs. You now +know the answers to your questions. May God direct you and send you +a prosperous journey. You will not see me again, for you will have no +further need of me." + +He thanked her gratefully and left her. On arriving at the town with +the dried-up well, he was questioned by the King as to what news he +had brought. + +"Have the well carefully cleaned out," said he, "kill the frog that +obstructs the spring, and the wonderful water will flow again." + +The King did as he was advised, and rejoiced to see the water return. +He gave Plavacek twelve swan-white horses, and as much gold and silver +as they could carry. + +On reaching the second town and being asked by the King what news he +had brought, he replied, "Excellent; one could not wish for better. +Dig up your apple-tree, kill the snake that lies among the roots, +transplant the tree, and it will produce apples like those of former +times." + +And all turned out as he had said, for no sooner was the tree +replanted than it was covered with blossoms that gave it the +appearance of a sea of roses. The delighted King gave him twelve +raven-black horses, laden with as much wealth as they could carry. +He then journeyed to the shores of the Black Sea. There the boatman +questioned him as to what news he had brought respecting his release. +Plavacek first crossed with his twenty-four horses to the opposite +bank, and then replied that the boatman might gain his freedom by +placing the oars in the hands of the first traveler who wished to be +ferried over. + +Plavacek's royal father-in-law could not believe his eyes when he +saw Dede-Vsevede's three golden hairs. As for the Princess, his young +wife, she wept tears, but of joy, not sadness, to see her dear one +again, and she said to him, "How did you get such splendid horses and +so much wealth, dear husband?" + +And he answered her, "All this represents the price paid for the +weariness of spirit I have felt; it is the ready money for hardships +endured and services given. Thus, I showed one King how to regain +possession of the Apples of Youth: to another I told the secret of +reopening the spring of water that gives health and life." + +"Apples of Youth! Water of Life!" interrupted the King. "I will +certainly go and find these treasures for myself. Ah, what joy! having +eaten of these apples I shall become young again; having drunk of the +Water of Immortality, I shall live forever." + +And he started off in search of these treasures. But he has not yet +returned from his search. + + + + + + +A MYTH OF AMERICA + + + + +HIAWATHA + +ADAPTED FROM H.R. SCHOOLCRAFT's VERSION + + +Hiawatha was living with his grandmother near the edge of a wide +prairie. On this prairie he first saw animals and birds of every +kind. He there also saw exhibitions of divine power in the sweeping +tempests, in the thunder and lightning, and the various shades of +light and darkness which form a never ending scene for observation. +Every new sight he beheld in the heavens was a subject of remark; +every new animal or bird an object of deep interest; and every sound +uttered by the animal creation a new lesson, which he was expected to +learn. He often trembled at what he heard and saw. To this scene his +grandmother sent him at an early age to watch. The first sound he +heard was that of an owl, at which he was greatly terrified, and +quickly descending the tree he had climbed, he ran with alarm to the +lodge. "Noko! Noko!" (grandma) he cried, "I have heard a momendo." She +laughed at his fears, and asked him what kind of a noise it made. He +answered, "It makes a noise like this: Ko-ko-ko-ho." She told him +that he was young and foolish; that what he had heard was only a bird, +deriving its name from the noise it made. + +He went back and continued his watch. While there, he thought to +himself, "It is singular that I am so simple, and my grandmother so +wise, and that I have neither father nor mother. I have never heard a +word about them. I must ask and find out." He went home and sat down +silent and dejected. At length his grandmother asked him, "Hiawatha, +what is the matter with you?" He answered, "I wish you would tell me +whether I have any parents living and who my relatives are." Knowing +that he was of a wicked and revengeful disposition, she dreaded +telling him the story of his parentage, but he insisted on her +compliance. "Yes," she said, "you have a father and three brothers +living. Your mother is dead. She was taken without the consent of her +parents by your father the West. Your brothers are the North, East, +and South, and, being older than yourself, your father has given them +great power with the winds, according to their names. You are the +youngest of his children. I have nourished you from your infancy, for +your mother died in giving you birth, owing to the ill-treatment of +your father. I have no relations besides you this side of the planet +on which I was born, and from which I was precipitated by female +jealousy. Your mother was my only child, and you are my only hope." + +He appeared to be rejoiced to hear that his father was living, for +he had already thought in his heart to try and kill him. He told his +grandmother he should set out in the morning to visit him. She said it +was a long distance to the place where The West lived. But that had +no effect to stop him for he had now attained manhood, possessed a +giant's height, and was endowed by nature with a giant's strength and +power. He set out and soon reached the place, for every step he took +covered a large surface of ground. The meeting took place on a high +mountain in the West. His father appeared very happy to see him. They +spent some days in talking with each other. + +One evening Hiawatha asked his father what he was most afraid of on +earth. He replied, "Nothing." "But is there not something you dread +here? Tell me." At last his father said, yielding, "Yes, there is a +black stone found in such a place. It is the only earthly thing I am +afraid of; for if it should hit me, or any part of my body, it would +injure me very much." He said this as a secret, and in return asked +his son the same question. Knowing each other's power, although the +son's was limited, the father feared him on account of his great +strength. Hiawatha answered, "Nothing!" intending to avoid the +question, or to refer to some harmless object as the one of which he +was afraid. He was asked again, and again, and answered, "Nothing!" +But the West said, "There must be something you are afraid of." "Well! +I will tell you," said Hiawatha, "what it is." But, before he would +pronounce the word, he affected great dread. "_Ie-ee_--_Ie-ee_--it +is--it is," said he, "yeo! yeo! I cannot name it; I am seized with a +dread." The West told him to banish his fears. He commenced again, in +a strain of mock sensitiveness repeating the same words; at last +he cried out, "It is the root of the bulrush." He appeared to be +exhausted by the effort of pronouncing the word, in all this skilfully +acting a studied part. + +Some time after he observed, "I will get some of the black rock;" +the West said, "Far be it from you; do not so, my son." He still +persisted. "Well," said the father, "I will also get the bulrush root." +Hiawatha immediately cried out, "Do not--do not," affecting as before, +to be in great dread of it, but really wishing, by this course, to +urge on the West to procure it, that he might draw him into combat. He +went out and got a large piece of the black rock, and brought it home. +The West also took care to bring the dreaded root. + +In the course of conversation he asked his father whether he had been +the cause of his mother's death. The answer was "Yes!" He then took +up the rock and struck him. Blow led to blow, and here commenced an +obstinate and furious combat, which continued several days. Fragments +of the rock, broken off under Hiawatha's blows, can be seen in various +places to this day. The root did not prove as mortal a weapon as his +well-acted fears had led his father to expect, although he suffered +severely from the blows. This battle commenced on the mountains. The +West was forced to give ground. Hiawatha drove him across rivers, and +over mountains and lakes, and at last he came to the brink of this +world. + +"Hold!" cried he, "my son; you know my power, and that it is +impossible to kill me. Desist, and I will also portion you out with +as much power as your brothers. The four quarters of the globe are +already occupied; but you can go and do a great deal of good to the +people of this earth, which is infested with large serpents, beasts, +and monsters, who make great [Blank Page] havoc among the inhabitants. +Go and do good. You have the power now to do so, and your fame with +the beings of this earth will last forever. When you have finished +your work, I will have a place provided for you. You will then go and +sit with your brother in the north." + +[Illustration: FROM THE "COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE" BY PERMISSION. + +HIAWATHA IN HIS CANOE.] + +Hiawatha was pacified. He returned to his lodge, where he was confined +by the wounds he had received. But owing to his grandmother's skill in +medicine he was soon recovered. She told him that his grandfather, +who had come to the earth in search of her, had been killed by +Meg-gis-sog-won, who lived on the opposite side of the great lake. +"When he was alive," she continued, "I was never without oil to put on +my head, but now my hair is fast falling off for the want of it." + +"Well!" said he, "Noko, get cedar bark and make me a line, while I +make a canoe." When all was ready, he went out to the middle of the +lake to fish. He put his line down, saying, "Me-she-nah-ma-gwai (the +name of the kingfish), take hold of my bait." He kept repeating this +for some time. At last the king of the fishes said, "Hiawatha troubles +me. Here, Trout, take hold of his line," which was very heavy, so +that his canoe stood nearly perpendicular; but he kept crying out, +"Wha-ee-he! wha-ee-he!" till he could see the trout. As soon as he saw +him, he spoke to him. "Why did you take hold of my hook? Shame, shame +you ugly fish." The trout, being thus rebuked, let go. + +Hiawatha put his line again in the water, saying, "King of fishes, +take hold of my line." But the king of fishes told a monstrous sunfish +to take hold of it; for Hiawatha was tiring him with his incessant +calls. He again drew up his line with difficulty, saying as before, +"Wha-ee-he! wha-ee-he!" while his canoe was turning in swift circles. +When he saw the sunfish, he cried, "Shame, shame you odious fish! why +did you dirty my hook by taking it in your mouth? Let go, I say, let +go." The sunfish did so, and told the king of fishes what Hiawatha +said. Just at that moment the bait came near the king, and hearing +Hiawatha continually crying out, "Me-she-nah-ma-gwai, take hold of my +hook," at last he did so, and allowed himself to be drawn up to the +surface, which he had no sooner reached than, at one mouthful, he took +Hiawatha and his canoe down. When he came to himself, he found that +he was in the fish's belly, and also his canoe. He now turned his +thoughts to the way of making his escape. Looking in his canoe, he saw +his war-club, with which he immediately struck the heart of the +fish. He then felt a sudden motion, as if he were moving with great +velocity. The fish observed to the others, "I am sick at stomach for +having swallowed this dirty fellow, Hiawatha." Just at this moment he +received another severe blow on the heart. Hiawatha thought, "If I +am thrown up in the middle of the lake, I shall be drowned; so I must +prevent it." He drew his canoe and placed it across the fish's throat, +and just as he had finished the fish commenced vomiting, but to no +effect. In this he was aided by a squirrel, who had accompanied him +unperceived until that moment. This animal had taken an active part in +helping him to place his canoe across the fish's throat. For this +act he named him, saying, "For the future, boys shall always call you +Ajidaumo [Upside Down]!" + +He then renewed his attack upon the fish's heart, and succeeded, by +repeated blows, in killing him, which he first knew by the loss of +motion, and by the sound of the beating of the body against the +shore. He waited a day longer to see what would happen. He heard birds +scratching on the body, and all at once the rays of light broke in. He +could see the heads of gulls, who were looking in by the opening they +had made. "Oh!" cried Hiawatha, "my younger brothers, make the opening +larger, so that I can get out." They told each other that their +brother Hiawatha was inside of the fish. They immediately set about +enlarging the orifice, and in a short time liberated him. After he got +out he said to the gulls, "For the future you shall be called Kayoshk +[Noble Scratchers]!" + +The spot where the fish happened to be driven ashore was near his +lodge. He went up and told his grandmother to go and prepare as much +oil as she wanted. All besides, he informed her, he should keep for +himself. + +Some time after this, he commenced making preparations for a war +excursion against the Pearl Feather, the Manito who lived on the +opposite side of the great lake, who had killed his grandfather. The +abode of his spirit was defended, first, by fiery serpents, who hissed +fire so that no one could pass them; and, in the second place, by a +large mass of gummy matter lying on the water, so soft and adhesive, +that whoever attempted to pass, or whatever came in contact with it, +was sure to stick there. + +He continued making bows and arrows without number, but he had no +heads for his arrows. At last Noko told him that an old man who lived +at some distance could make them. He sent her to get some. She soon +returned with her conaus, or wrapper, full. Still he told her he had +not enough, and sent her again. She returned with as many more. He +thought to himself, "I must find out the way of making these heads." +Cunning and curiosity prompted him to make the discovery. But he +deemed it necessary to deceive his grandmother in so doing. "Noko," +said he, "while I take my drum and rattle, and sing my war-songs, +go and try to get me some larger heads for my arrows, for those you +brought me are all of the same size. Go and see whether the old +man cannot make some a little larger." He followed her as she went, +keeping at a distance, and saw the old artificer at work, and so +discovered his process. He also beheld the old man's daughter, and +perceived that she was very beautiful. He felt his breast beat with +a new emotion, but said nothing. He took care to get home before his +grandmother, and commenced singing as if he had never left his lodge. +When the old woman came near, she heard his drum and rattle, without +any suspicion that he had followed her. She delivered him the +arrow-heads. + +One evening the old woman said, "My son, you ought to fast before you +go to war, as your brothers frequently do, to find out whether +you will be successful or not." He said he had no objection, and +immediately commenced a fast for several days. He would retire +every day from the lodge so far as to be out of the reach of his +grandmother's voice. + +After having finished his term of fasting and sung his war-song from +which the Indians of the present day derive their custom--he embarked +in his canoe, fully prepared for war. In addition to the usual +implements, he had a plentiful supply of oil. He traveled rapidly +night and day, for he had only to will or speak, and the canoe went. +At length he arrived in sight of the fiery serpents. He stopped to +view them. He saw they were some distance apart, and that the flame +only which issued from them reached across the pass. He commenced +talking as a friend to them; but they answered, "We know you, +Hiawatha, you cannot pass." He then thought of some expedient to +deceive them, and hit upon this. He pushed his canoe as near as +possible. All at once he cried out, with a loud and terrified voice, +"What is that behind you?" The serpents instantly turned their heads, +when, at a single word, he passed them. "Well!" said he, placidly, +after he had got by, "how do you like my exploit?" He then took up his +bow and arrows, and with deliberate aim shot them, which was easily +done, for the serpents were stationary, and could not move beyond a +certain spot. They were of enormous length and of a bright color. + +Having overcome the sentinel serpents, he went on in his magic canoe +till he came to a soft gummy portion of the lake, called Pigiu-wagumee +or Pitchwater. He took the oil and rubbed it on his canoe, and then +pushed into it. The oil softened the surface and enabled him to slip +through it with ease, although it required frequent rubbing, and +a constant re-application of the oil. Just as his oil failed, he +extricated himself from this impediment, and was the first person who +ever succeeded in overcoming it. + +He now came in view of land, on which he debarked in safety, and could +see the lodge of the Shining Manito, situated on a hill. He commenced +preparing for the fight, putting his arrows and clubs in order, and +just at the dawn of day began his attack, yelling and shouting, and +crying with triple voices, "Surround him! surround him! run up! run +up!" making it appear that he had many followers. He advanced crying +out, "It was you that killed my grandfather," and with this shot his +arrows. + +The combat continued all day. Hiawatha's arrows had no effect, for his +antagonist was clothed with pure wampum. He was now reduced to three +arrows, and it was only by extraordinary agility that he could escape +the blows which the Manito kept making at him. At that moment a large +woodpecker (the ma-ma) flew past, and lit on a tree. "Hiawatha" he +cried, "your adversary has a vulnerable point; shoot at the lock of +hair on the crown of his head." He shot his first arrow so as only to +draw blood from that part. The Manito made one or two unsteady steps, +but recovered himself. He began to parley, but, in the act, received a +second arrow, which brought him to his knees. But he again recovered. +In so doing, however, he exposed his head, and gave his adversary a +chance to fire his third arrow, which penetrated deep, and brought him +a lifeless corpse to the ground. Hiawatha uttered his saw-saw-quan, +and taking his scalp as a trophy, he called the woodpecker to come and +receive a reward for his information. He took the blood of the Manito +and rubbed it on the woodpecker's head, the feathers of which are red +to this day. + +After this victory he returned home, singing songs of triumph and +beating his drum. When his grandmother heard him, she came to the +shore and welcomed him with songs and dancing. Glory fired his mind. +He displayed the trophies he had brought in the most conspicuous +manner, and felt an unconquerable desire for other adventures. He +felt himself urged by the consciousness of his power to new trials of +bravery, skill, and necromantic prowess. He had destroyed the Manito +of Wealth, and killed his guardian serpents, and eluded all his +charms. He did not long remain inactive. + +His next adventure was upon the water, and proved him the prince of +fishermen. He captured a fish of such a monstrous size, that the fat +and oil he obtained from it formed a small lake. He therefore invited +all the animals and fowls to a banquet, and he made the order in which +they partook of this repast the measure of their fatness. As fast as +they arrived, he told them to plunge in. The bear came first, and was +followed by the deer, opossum, and such other animals as are noted for +their peculiar fatness at certain seasons. The moose and bison +came tardily. The partridge looked on till the reservoir was nearly +exhausted. The hare and marten came last, and these animals have +consequently no fat. + +When this ceremony was over, he told the assembled animals and birds +to dance, taking up his drum and crying, "New songs from the south, +come, brothers, dance." He directed them to pass in a circle around +him, and to shut their eyes. They did so. When he saw a fat fowl pass +by him, he adroitly wrung off its head, at the same time beating his +drum and singing with greater vehemence, to drown the noise of the +fluttering, and crying out, in a tone of admiration, "That's the way, +my brothers, _that's_ the way." At last a small duck [the diver], +thinking there was something wrong, opened one eye and saw what he was +doing. Giving a spring and crying, "Ha-ha-a! Hiawatha is killing us," +he made for the water. Hiawatha followed him, and, just as the duck +was getting into the water, gave him a kick, which is the cause of his +back being flattened and his legs being straightened out backward, so +that when he gets on land he cannot walk, and his tail feathers are +few. Meantime the other birds flew off, and the animals ran into the +woods. + +After this Hiawatha, set out to travel. He wished to outdo all +others, and to see new countries. But after walking over America and +encountering many adventures he became satisfied as well as fatigued. +He had heard of great feats in hunting, and felt a desire to try his +power in that way. One evening, as he was walking along the shores of +a great lake, weary and hungry, he encountered a great magician in +the form of an old wolf, with six young ones, coming towards him. The +wolf, as soon as he saw him, told his whelps to keep out of the way +of Hiawatha, "for I know," continued he, "that it is he that we +see yonder." The young wolves were in the act of running off, when +Hiawatha cried out, "My grandchildren, where are you going? Stop, and +I will go with you." He appeared rejoiced to see the old wolf, and +asked him whither he was journeying. Being told that they were looking +for a place where they could find most game, and where they might pass +the winter, he said he would like to go with them, and addressed the +old wolf in the following words: "Brother, I have a passion for the +chase; are you willing to change me into a wolf?" He was answered +favorably, and his transformation immediately effected. + +Hiawatha was fond of novelty. He found himself a wolf corresponding in +size with the others, but he was not quite satisfied with the change, +crying out, "Oh, make me a little larger." They did so. "A little +larger still," he exclaimed. They said, "Let us humor him," and +granted his request. "Well," said he, "_that_ will do." He looked at +his tail. "Oh!" cried he, "do make my tail a little longer and more +bushy." They did so. They then all started off in company, dashing +up a ravine. After getting into the woods some distance, they fell in +with the tracks of moose. The young ones went after them, Hiawatha and +the old wolf following at their leisure. "Well," said the wolf, "whom +do you think is the fastest of the boys? Can you tell by the jumps +they take?" "Why," he replied, "that one that takes such long jumps, +he is the fastest, to be sure." "Ha! ha! you are mistaken," said the +old wolf. "He makes a good start, but he will be the first to tire +out; this one who appears to be behind, will be the one to kill the +game." + +They then came to the place where the boys had started in chase. One +had dropped his small bundle. "Take that, Hiawatha," said the old +wolf. "Esa," he replied, "what will I do with a dirty dogskin?" The +wolf took it up; it was a beautiful robe. "Oh, I will carry it now," +said Hiawatha. "Oh no," replied the wolf, who at the moment exerted +his magic power; "it is a robe of pearls!" And from this moment he +omitted no occasion to display his superiority, both in the art of +the hunter and the magician above his conceited companion. Coming to +a place where the moose had lain down, they saw that the young wolves +had made a fresh start after their prey. "Why," said the wolf, "this +moose is poor. I know by the tracks, for I can always tell whether +they are fat or not." They next came to a place where one of the +wolves had bit at the moose, and had broken one of his teeth on a +tree. "Hiawatha," said the wolf, "one of your grandchildren has shot +at the game. Take his arrow; there it is." "No," he replied; "what +will I do with a dirty dog's tooth!" The old wolf took it up, and +behold! it was a beautiful silver arrow. When they overtook the +youngsters, they had killed a very fat moose. + +Hiawatha was extremely hungry; but, alas! such is the power of +enchantment, he saw nothing but the bones picked quite clean. He +thought to himself, "Just as I expected, dirty, greedy fellows!" +However, he sat down without saying a word. At length the old wolf +spoke to one of the young ones, saying, "Give some meat to your +grandfather." One of them obeyed, and, coming near to Hiawatha, opened +his mouth as if he was about to snarl. Hiawatha jumped up saying, "You +filthy dog, you have eaten so much that your stomach refuses to hold +it. Get you gone into some other place." The old wolf, hearing the +abuse, went a little to one side to see, and behold, a heap of fresh +ruddy meat, with the fat lying all ready prepared. He was followed +by Hiawatha, who, having the enchantment instantly removed, put on +a smiling face. "Amazement!" said he; "how fine the meat is." "Yes," +replied the wolf; "it is always so with us; we know our work, and +always get the best. It is not a long tail that makes a hunter." +Hiawatha bit his lip. + +They then commenced fixing their winter quarters, while the youngsters +went out in search of game, and soon brought in a large supply. +One day, during the absence of the young wolves, the old one amused +himself in cracking the large bones of a moose. "Hiawatha," said he, +"cover your head with the robe, and do not look at me while I am at +these bones, for a piece may fly in your eye." He did as he was told; +but, looking through a rent that was in the robe, he saw what the +other was about. Just at that moment a piece flew off and hit him on +the eye. He cried out, "Tyau, why do you strike me, you old dog?" The +wolf said, "You must have been looking at me." But deception commonly +leads to falsehood. "No, no," he said, "why should I want to look at +you?" "Hiawatha," said the wolf, "you _must_ have been looking, or you +would not have been hurt." "No, no," he replied again, "I was not. I +will repay the saucy wolf this," thought he to himself. So, next day, +taking up a bone to obtain the marrow, he said to the wolf, "Cover +your head and don't look at me, for I fear a piece may fly in your +eye." The wolf did so. He then took the leg-bone of the moose, and +looking first to see if the wolf was well covered, he hit him a blow +with all his might. The wolf jumped up, cried out, and fell prostrate +from the effects of the blow. "Why," said he, "do you strike me so?" +"Strike you!" he replied; "no, you must have been looking at me." +"No," answered the wolf, "I say I have not." But he persisted in the +assertion, and the poor magician had to give up. + +Hiawatha was an expert hunter when he earnestly tried to be. He went +out one day and killed a fat moose. He was very hungry, and sat down +to eat. But immediately he fell into great doubts as to the proper +point to begin. "Well," said he, "I do not know where to begin. At the +head? No! People will laugh, and say 'he ate him backwards!'" He went +to the side. "No!" said he, "they will say I ate him sideways." He +then went to the hind-quarter. "No!" said he, "they will say I ate him +toward the head. I will begin _here_, say what they will." He took +a delicate piece from the rump, and was just ready to put it in his +mouth, when a tree close by made a creaking sound, caused by the +rubbing of one large branch against another. This annoyed him. "Why!" +he exclaimed, "I cannot eat while I hear such a noise. Stop! stop!" +said he to the tree. He was putting the morsel again to his mouth, +when the noise was repeated. He put it down, exclaiming, "I _cannot +eat_ in such confusion," and immediately left the meat, although very +hungry, to go and put a stop to the racket. He climbed the tree and +was pulling at the limb, when his arm was caught between two branches +so that he could not extricate himself. While thus held fast, he saw a +pack of wolves coming in the direction towards his meat. "Go that way! +go that way!" he cried out; "why do you come here?" The wolves talked +among themselves and said, "Hiawatha must have something here, or he +would not tell us to go another way." "I begin to know him," said an +old wolf, "and all his tricks. Let us go forward and see." They came +on and finding the moose, soon made away with the whole carcass. +Hiawatha looked on wistfully to see them eat till they were fully +satisfied, and they left him nothing but the bare bones. The next +heavy blast of wind opened the branches and liberated him. He went +home, thinking to himself, "See the effect of meddling with frivolous +things when I already had valuable possessions." + +Next day the old wolf addressed him thus: "My brother, I am going to +separate from you, but I will leave behind me one of the young +wolves to be your hunter." He then departed. In this act Hiawatha was +disenchanted, and again resumed his mortal shape. He was sorrowful and +dejected, but soon resumed his wonted air of cheerfulness. The young +wolf that was left with him was a good hunter, and never failed to +keep the lodge well supplied with meat. One day he addressed him +as follows: "My grandson, I had a dream last night, and it does not +portend good. It is of the large lake which lies in _that_ direction. +You must be careful never to cross it, even if the ice should appear +good. If you should come to it at night weary or hungry, you must make +the circuit of it." Spring commenced, and the snow was melting fast +before the rays of the sun, when one evening the wolf came to the +lake weary with the day's chase. He disliked the journey of making its +circuit. "Hwooh!" he exclaimed, "there can be no great harm in trying +the ice, as it appears to be sound. Nesho, my grandfather, is over +cautious on this point." He had gone but half way across when the ice +gave way, and falling in, he was immediately seized by the serpents, +who knowing he was Hiawatha's grandson, were thirsting for revenge +upon him. Meanwhile Hiawatha sat pensively in his lodge. + +Night came on, but no grandson returned. The second and third night +passed, but he did not appear. Hiawatha became very desolate and +sorrowful. "Ah!" said he, "he must have disobeyed me, and has lost his +life in that lake I told him of. Well!" said he at last, "I must mourn +for him." So he took coal and blackened his face. But he was much +perplexed as to the right mode of mourning. "I wonder," said he, "how +I must do it? I will cry 'Oh! my grandson! Oh! my grandson!'" He burst +out laughing. "No! no! that won't do. I will try 'Oh! my heart! Oh! my +heart! ha! ha! ha!' That won't do either. I will cry, 'Oh my drowned +grandson.'" + +This satisfied him, and he remained in his lodge and fasted, till his +days of mourning were over. "Now," said he, "I will go in search of +him." He set out and traveled till he came to the great lake. He then +raised the lamentation for his grandson which had pleased him, +sitting down near a small brook that emptied itself into the lake, and +repeating his cries. Soon a bird called Ke-ske-mun-i-see came near to +him. The bird inquired, "What are you doing here?" "Nothing," Hiawatha +replied; "but can you tell me whether any one lives in this lake, and +what brings you here yourself?" "Yes!" responded the bird; "the Prince +of Serpents lives here, and I am watching to see whether the body of +Hiawatha's grandson will not drift ashore, for he was killed by the +serpents last spring. But are you not Hiawatha himself?" "No," was the +reply, with his usual deceit; "how do you think _he_ could get to this +place? But tell me, do the serpents ever appear? When? Where? Tell +me all about their habits." "Do you see that beautiful white sandy +beach?" said the bird. "Yes!" he answered. "It is there," continued +the bird, "that they bask in the sun. Before they come out, the lake +will appear perfectly calm; not even a ripple will appear. After +midday you will see them." + +"Thank you," he replied; "I am Hiawatha. I have come in search of the +body of my grandson, and to seek my revenge. Come near me that I may +put a medal round your neck as a reward for your information." The +bird unsuspectingly came near, and received a white medal, which can +be seen to this day. While bestowing the medal, he attempted slyly to +wring the bird's head off, but it escaped him, with only a disturbance +of the crown feathers of its head, which are rumpled backward. He +had found out all he wanted to know, and then desired to conceal the +knowledge obtained by killing his informant. + +He went to the sandy beach indicated, and transformed himself into an +oak stump. He had not been there long before the lake became perfectly +calm. Soon hundreds of monstrous serpents came crawling on the beach. +One of the number was beautifully white. He was the Prince. The others +were red and yellow. The Prince spoke to those about him as follows: +"I never saw that black stump standing there before. It may be +Hiawatha. There is no knowing but that he may be somewhere about here. +He has the power of an evil genius, and we should be on our guard +against his wiles." One of the large serpents immediately went and +twisted himself around it to the top, and pressed it very hard. The +greatest pressure happened to be on his throat; he was just ready to +cry out when the serpent let go. Eight of them went in succession and +did the like, but always let go at the moment he was ready to cry out. +"It cannot be he," they said. "He is too great a weak-heart for that." +They then coiled themselves in a circle about their Prince. It was a +long time before they fell asleep. When they did so, Hiawatha, took +his bow and arrows, and cautiously stepping over the serpents till he +came to the Prince, drew up his arrow with the full strength of his +arm, and shot him in the left side. He then gave a saw-saw-quan and +ran off at full speed. + +The sound uttered by the snakes on seeing their Prince mortally +wounded, was horrible. They cried, "Hiawatha has killed our Prince; +go in chase of him." Meantime he ran over hill and valley, to gain the +interior of the country, with all his strength and speed, treading a +mile at a step. But his pursuers were also spirits, and he could +hear that something was approaching him fast. He made for the highest +mountain, and climbed the highest tree on its summit, when, dreadful +to behold, the whole lower country was seen to be overflowed, and the +water was gaining rapidly on the highlands. He saw it reach to the +foot of the mountains, and at length it came up to the foot of the +tree, but there was no abatement. + +The flood rose steadily and perceptibly. He soon felt the lower part +of his body to be immersed in it. He addressed the tree; "Grandfather, +stretch yourself." The tree did so. But the waters still rose. He +repeated his request, and was again obeyed. He asked a third time, and +was again obeyed; but the tree replied, "It is the last time; I cannot +get any higher." The waters continued to rise till they reached up +to his chin, at which point they stood, and soon began to abate. Hope +revived in his heart. He then cast his eyes around the illimitable +expanse, and spied a loon. "Dive down, my brother," he said to him, +"and fetch up some earth, so that I can make a new earth." The bird +obeyed, but rose up to the surface a lifeless form. He then saw a +muskrat. "Dive!" said he, "and if you succeed, you may hereafter live +either on land or water, as you please; or I will give you a chain of +beautiful little lakes, surrounded with rushes, to inhabit." He dove +down, but floated up senseless. He took the body and breathed in +his nostrils, which restored him to life. "Try again," said he. The +muskrat did so. He came up senseless the second time, but clutched a +little earth in one of his paws, from which, together with the carcass +of the dead loon, he created a new earth as large as the former had +been, with all living animals, fowls, and plants. + +As he was walking to survey the new earth, he heard some one singing. +He went to the place, and found a female spirit, in the disguise of an +old woman, singing these words, and crying at every pause: + + "Ma nau bo sho, O do zheem un, + Ogeem au wun, Onis sa waun, + Hee-Ub bub ub bub (crying). + Dread Hiawatha in revenge, + For his grandson lost-- + Has killed the chief--the king." + +"Noko," said he, "what is the matter?" "Matter!" said she, "where have +you been, that you have not heard how Hiawatha shot my son, the Prince +of serpents, in revenge for the loss of his grandson, and how the +earth was overflowed, and created anew? So I brought my son here, that +he might kill and destroy the inhabitants, as he did on the former +earth. But," she continued, casting a scrutinizing glance, "N'yau! +indego Hiawatha! hub! ub! ub! ub! Oh, I am afraid you are Hiawatha!" +He burst out into a laugh to quiet her fears. "Ha! ha! ha! how can +that be? Has not the old world perished, and all that was in it?" +"Impossible! impossible!" "But, Noko," he continued, "what do you +intend doing with all that cedar cord on your back?" "Why," said she, +"I am fixing a snare for Hiawatha, if he should be on this earth; and, +in the mean time, I am looking for herbs to heal my son. I am the only +person that can do him any good. He always gets better when I sing: + + "'Hiawatha a ne we guawk, + Koan dan mau wah, ne we guawk, + Koan dan mau wah, ne we guawk, + It is Hiawatha's dart, + I try my magic power to withdraw." + +Having found out, by conversation with her, all he wished, he put her +to death. He then took off her skin, and assuming this disguise, took +the cedar cord on his back, and limped away singing her songs. He +completely aped the gait and voice of the old woman. He was met by one +who told him to make haste; that the Prince was worse. At the lodge, +limping and muttering, he took notice that they had his grandson's +hide to hang over the door. "Oh dogs!" said he; "the evil dogs!" He +sat down near the door, and commenced sobbing like an aged woman. One +observed, "Why don't you attend the sick, and not sit there making +such a noise?" He took up the poker and laid it on them, mimicking the +voice of the old woman. "Dogs that you are! why do you laugh at me? +You know very well that I am so sorry that I am nearly out of my +head." + +With that he approached the Prince, singing the songs of the old +woman, without exciting any suspicion. He saw that his arrow had gone +in about one half its length. He pretended to make preparations for +extracting it, but only made ready to finish his victim; and giving +the dart a sudden thrust, he put a period to the Prince's life. He +performed this act with the power of a giant, bursting the old woman's +skin, and at the same moment rushing through the door, the serpents +following him, hissing and crying out, "Perfidy! murder! vengeance! it +is Hiawatha." He immediately transformed himself into a wolf, and ran +over the plain with all his speed, aided by his father the West Wind. +When he got to the mountains he saw a badger. "Brother," said he, +"make a hole quick, for the serpents are after me." The badger obeyed. +They both went in, and the badger threw all the earth backward, so +that it filled up the way behind. + +The serpents came to the badger's burrow, and decided to watch, "We +will starve him out," said they; so they continue watching. Hiawatha +told the badger to make an opening on the other side of the mountain, +from which he could go out and hunt, and bring meat in. Thus they +lived some time. One day the badger came in his way and displeased +him. He immediately put him to death, and threw out his carcass, +saying, "I don't like you to be getting in my way so often." + +After living in this confinement for some time alone, he decided to +go out. He immediately did so; and after making the circuit of the +mountain, came to the corpse of the Prince, who had been deserted by +the serpents to pursue his destroyer. He went to work and skinned him. +He then drew on his skin, in which there were great virtues, took up +his war-club, and set out for the place where he first went in the +ground. He found the serpents still watching. When they saw the form +of their dead Prince advancing towards them, fear and dread took hold +of them. Some fled. Those who remained Hiawatha killed. Those who fled +went towards the South. + +Having accomplished the victory over the reptiles, Hiawatha returned +to his former place of dwelling and married the arrow-maker's +daughter. + + + + + + + + +LEGENDARY HEROES OF MANY COUNTRIES + + + + + + + +HEROES OF GREECE AND ROME + + + + +PERSEUS + +ADAPTED BY MARY MACGREGOR + + + + +I + +PERSEUS AND HIS MOTHER + + +Once upon a time there were two Princes who were twins. They lived +in a pleasant vale far away in Hellas. They had fruitful meadows and +vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses, and all that men +could need to make them blest. And yet they were wretched, because +they were jealous of each other. + +From the moment they were born they began to quarrel, and when they +grew up, each tried to take away the other's share of the kingdom and +keep all for himself. + +And there came a prophet to one of the hard-hearted Princes and said, +"Because you have risen up against your own family, your own family +shall rise up against you. Because you have sinned against your +kindred, by your kindred shall you be punished. Your daughter Danae +shall bear a son, and by that son's hands you shall die. So the gods +have said, and it shall surely come to pass." + +At that the hard-hearted Prince was very much afraid, but he did not +mend his ways. For when he became King, he shut up his fair daughter +Danae in a cavern underground, lined with brass, that no one might come +near her. So he fancied himself more cunning than the gods. + +Now it came to pass that in time Danae bore a son, so beautiful a babe +that any but the King would have had pity on it. But he had no pity, +for he took Danae and her babe down to the seashore, and put them into +a great chest and thrust them out to sea, that the winds and the waves +might carry them whithersoever they would. + +And away and out to sea before the northwest wind floated the mother +and her babe, while all who watched them wept, save that cruel King. + +So they floated on and on, and the chest danced up and down upon the +billows, and the babe slept in its mother's arms. But the poor mother +could not sleep, but watched and wept, and she sang to her babe as +they floated. + +Now they are past the last blue headland and in the open sea. There is +nothing round them but waves, and the sky and the wind. But the waves +are gentle and the sky is clear, and the breeze is tender and low. + +So a night passed and a day, and a long day it was to Danae, and +another night and day beside, till Danae was faint with hunger and +weeping, and yet no land appeared. + +And all the while the babe slept quietly, and at last poor Danae +drooped her head and fell asleep likewise, with her cheek against her +babe's. + +After a while she was awakened suddenly, for the chest was jarring and +grinding, and the air was full of sound. She looked up, and over her +head were mighty cliffs, and around her rocks and breakers and flying +flakes of foam. + +She clasped her hands together and shrieked aloud for help. And when +she cried, help met her, for now there came over the rocks a tall and +stately man, and looked down wondering upon poor Danae, tossing about +in the chest among the waves. + +He wore a rough cloak, and on his head a broad hat to shade his face, +and in his hand he carried a trident, which is a three-pronged fork +for spearing fish, and over his shoulder was a casting net. + +[Illustration: SO DANAE WAS COMFORTED AND WENT HOME WITH DICTYS.] + +But Danae could see that he was no common man by his height and his +walk, and his flowing golden hair and beard, and by the two servants +who came behind him carrying baskets for his fish. + +She had hardly time to look at him, before he had laid aside his +trident and leapt down the rocks, and thrown his casting net so surely +over Danae and the chest, that he drew it and her and the babe safe +upon a ledge of rock. + +Then the fisherman took Danae by the hand and lifted her out of the +chest and said, "O beautiful damsel, what strange chance has brought +you to this island in so frail a ship? Who are you, and whence? Surely +you are some king's daughter, and this boy belongs to the gods." +And as he spoke he pointed to the babe, for its face shone like the +morning star. + +But Danae only held down her head and sobbed out, "Tell me to what land +I have come, and among what men I have fallen." + +And he said, "Polydectes is King of this isle, and he is my brother. +Men call me Dictys the Netter, because I catch the fish of the shore." + +Then Danae fell down at his feet and embraced his knees and cried, "O +Sir, have pity upon a stranger, whom cruel doom has driven to your +land, and let me live in your house as a servant. But treat me +honorably, for I was once a king's daughter, and this my boy is of +no common race. I will not be a charge to you, or eat the bread of +idleness, for I am more skilful in weaving and embroidery than all the +maidens of my land." + +And she was going on, but Dictys stopped her and raised her up and +said, "My daughter, I am old, and my hairs are growing gray, while I +have no children to make my home cheerful. Come with me, then, and you +shall be a daughter to me and to my wife, and this babe shall be our +grandchild." + +So Danae was comforted and went home with Dictys, the good fisherman, +and was a daughter to him and to his wife, till fifteen years were +past. + + + + +II + +HOW PERSEUS VOWED A RASH VOW + + +Fifteen years were past and gone, and the babe was now grown to be a +tall lad and a sailor. + +His mother called him Perseus, but all the people in the isle called +him the King of the Immortals. + +For though he was but fifteen, Perseus was taller by a head than +any man in the island. And he was brave and truthful, and gentle and +courteous, for good old Dictys had trained him well, and well it was +for Perseus that he had done so. For now Danae and her son fell into +great danger, and Perseus had need of all his strength to defend his +mother and himself. + +Polydectes, the King of the island, was not a good man like his +brother Dictys, but he was greedy and cunning and cruel. + +And when he saw fair Danae, he wanted to marry her. But she would not, +for she did not love him, and cared for no one but her boy. + +At last Polydectes became furious, and while Perseus was away at sea, +he took poor Danae away from Dictys, saying, "If you will not be my +wife, you shall be my slave." + +So Danae was made a slave, and had to fetch water from the well, and +grind in the mill. + +But Perseus was far away over the seas, little thinking that his +mother was in great grief and sorrow. + +Now one day, while the ship was lading, Perseus wandered into a +pleasant wood to get out of the sun, and sat down on the turf and fell +asleep. And as he slept a strange dream came to him, the strangest +dream he had ever had in his life. + +There came a lady to him through the wood, taller than he, or any +mortal man, but beautiful exceedingly, with great gray eyes, clear and +piercing, but strangely soft and mild. On her head was a helmet, and +in her hand a spear. And over her shoulder, above her long blue robes, +hung a goat-skin, which bore up a mighty shield of brass, polished +like a mirror. + +She stood and looked at him with her clear gray eyes. And Perseus +dropped his eyes, trembling and blushing, as the wonderful lady spoke. +"Perseus, you must do an errand for me." + +"Who are you, lady? And how do you know my name?" + +Then the strange lady, whose name was Athene, laughed, and held up +her brazen shield, and cried, "See here, Perseus, dare you face such +a monster as this and slay it, that I may place its head upon this +shield?" + +And in the mirror of the shield there appeared a face, and as Perseus +looked on it his blood ran cold. It was the face of a beautiful woman, +but her cheeks were pale, and her lips were thin. Instead of hair, +vipers wreathed about her temples and shot out their forked tongues, +and she had claws of brass. + +Perseus looked awhile and then said, "If there is anything so fierce +and ugly on earth, it were a noble deed to kill it. Where can I find +the monster?" + +Then the strange lady smiled again and said, "You are too young, for +this is Medusa the Gorgon. Return to your home, and when you have done +the work that awaits you there, you may be worthy to go in search of +the monster." + +Perseus would have spoken, but the strange lady vanished, and he +awoke, and behold it was a dream. + +So he returned home, and the first thing he heard was that his mother +was a slave in the house of Polydectes. + +Grinding his teeth with rage, he went out, and away to the King's +palace, and through the men's rooms and the women's rooms, and so +through all the house, till he found his mother sitting on the floor +turning the stone hand-mill, and weeping as she turned it. + +And he lifted her up and kissed her, and bade her follow him forth. +But before they could pass out of the room Polydectes came in. + +When Perseus saw the King, he flew upon him and cried, "Tyrant! is +this thy mercy to strangers and widows? Thou shalt die." And because +he had no sword he caught up the stone hand-mill, and lifted it to +dash out Polydectes's brains. + +But his mother clung to him, shrieking, and good Dictys too entreated +him to remember that the cruel King was his brother. + +Then Perseus lowered his hand, and Polydectes, who had been trembling +all this while like a coward, let Perseus and his mother pass. + +So Perseus took his mother to the temple of Athene, and there the +priestess made her one of the temple sweepers. And there they knew +that she would be safe, for not even Polydectes would dare to drag her +out of the temple. And there Perseus and the good Dictys and his wife +came to visit her every day. + +As for Polydectes, not being able to get Danae by force, he cast about +how he might get her by cunning. He was sure he could never get back +Danae as long as Perseus was in the island, so he made a plot to get +rid of him. First he pretended to have forgiven Perseus, and to +have forgotten Danae, so that for a while all went smoothly. Next he +proclaimed a great feast and invited to it all the chiefs and the +young men of the island, and among them Perseus, that they might all +do him homage as their King, and eat of his banquet in his hall. + +On the appointed day they all came, and as the custom was then, each +guest brought with him a present for the King. One brought a horse, +another a shawl, or a ring, or a sword, and some brought baskets of +grapes, but Perseus brought nothing, for he had nothing to bring, +being only a poor sailor lad. + +He was ashamed, however, to go into the King's presence without a +gift. So he stood at the door, sorrowfully watching the rich men go +in, and his face grew very red as they pointed at him and smiled and +whispered, "And what has Perseus to give?" + +Perseus blushed and stammered, while all the proud men round laughed +and mocked, till the lad grew mad with shame, and hardly knowing what +he said, cried out: + +"A present! See if I do not bring a nobler one than all of yours +together!" + +"Hear the boaster! What is the present to be?" cried they all, +laughing louder than ever. + +Then Perseus remembered his strange dream, and he cried aloud, "The +head of Medusa the Gorgon!" + +He was half afraid after he had said the words, for all laughed louder +than ever, and Polydectes loudest of all, while he said: + +"You have promised to bring me the Gorgon's head. Then never appear +again in this island without it. Go!" + +Perseus saw that he had fallen into a trap, but he went out without a +word. + +Down to the cliffs he went, and looked across the broad blue sea, and +wondered if his dream were true. + +"Athene, was my dream true? Shall I slay the Gorgon?" he prayed. +"Rashly and angrily I promised, but wisely and patiently will I +perform." + +But there was no answer nor sign, not even a cloud in the sky. + +Three times Perseus called, weeping, "Rashly and angrily I promised, +but wisely and patiently will I perform." + +Then he saw afar off a small white cloud, as bright as silver. And +as it touched the cliffs, it broke and parted, and within it appeared +Athene, and beside her a young man, whose eyes were like sparks of +fire. + +And they came swiftly towards Perseus, and he fell down and worshiped, +for he knew they were more than mortal. + +But Athene spoke gently to him and bade him have no fear. "Perseus," +she said, "you have braved Polydectes, and done manfully. Dare you +brave Medusa the Gorgon?" + +Perseus answered, "Try me, for since you spoke to me, new courage has +come into my soul." + +And Athene said, "Perseus, this deed requires a seven years' journey, +in which you cannot turn back nor escape. If your heart fails, you +must die, and no man will ever find your bones." + +And Perseus said, "Tell me, O fair and wise Athene, how I can do but +this one thing, and then, if need be, die." + +Then Athene smiled and said, "Be patient and listen. You must go +northward till you find the Three Gray Sisters, who have but one eye +and one tooth amongst them. Ask them the way to the daughters of the +Evening Star, for they will tell you the way to the Gorgon, that you +may slay her. But beware! for her eyes are so terrible that whosoever +looks on them is turned to stone." + +"How am I to escape her eyes?" said Perseus; "will she not freeze me +too?" + +"You shall take this polished shield," said Athene, "and look, not +at her herself, but at her image in the shield, so you may strike her +safely. And when you have struck off her head, wrap it, with your face +turned away, in the folds of the goat-skin on which the shield hangs. +So you bring it safely back to me and win yourself renown and a place +among heroes." + +Then said Perseus, "I will go, though I die in going. But how shall I +cross the seas without a ship? And who will show me the way? And how +shall I slay her, if her scales be iron and brass?" + +But the young man who was with Athene spoke, "These sandals of mine +will bear you across the seas, and over hill and dale like a bird, as +they bear me all day long. The sandals themselves will guide you on +the road, for they are divine and cannot stray, and this sword itself +will kill her, for it is divine and needs no second stroke. Arise and +gird them on, and go forth." + +So Perseus arose, and girded on the sandals and the sword. + +And Athene cried, "Now leap from the cliff and be gone!" + +Then Perseus looked down the cliff and shuddered, but he was ashamed +to show his dread, and he leaped into the empty air. + +And behold! instead of falling, he floated, and stood, and ran along +the sky. + + + + +III + +HOW PERSEUS SLEW THE GORGON + + +So Perseus started on his journey, going dryshod over land and sea, +and his heart was high and joyful, for the sandals bore him each day a +seven days' journey. + +And at last by the shore of a freezing sea, beneath the cold winter +moon, he found the Three Gray Sisters. There was no living thing +around them, not a fly, not a moss upon the rocks. + +They passed their one eye each to the other, but for all that they +could not see, and they passed the one tooth from one to the other, +but for all that they could not eat, and they sat in the full glare of +the moon, but they were none the warmer for her beams. + +And Perseus said, "Tell me, O Venerable Mothers, the path to the +daughters of the Evening Star." + +They heard his voice, and then one cried, "Give me the eye that I may +see him," and another, "Give me the tooth that I may bite him," but +they had no answer for his question. + +Then Perseus stepped close to them, and watched as they passed the eye +from hand to hand. And as they groped about, he held out his own hand +gently, till one of them put the eye into it, fancying that it was the +hand of her sister. + +At that Perseus sprang back and laughed and cried, "Cruel old women, +I have your eye, and I will throw it into the sea, unless you tell me +the path to the daughters of the Evening Star and swear to me that you +tell me right." + +Then they wept and chattered and scolded, but all in vain. They were +forced to tell the truth, though when they told it, Perseus could +hardly make out the way. But he gave them back the eye and leaped away +to the southward, leaving the snow and ice behind. + +At last he heard sweet voices singing, and he guessed that he was come +to the garden of the daughters of the Evening Star. + +When they saw him they trembled and said, "Are you come to rob our +garden and carry off our golden fruit?" + +But Perseus answered, "I want none of your golden fruit. Tell me the +way which leads to the Gorgon that I may go on my way and slay her." + +"Not yet, not yet, fair boy," they answered, "come dance with us +around the trees in the garden." + +"I cannot dance with you, fair maidens, so tell me the way to the +Gorgon, lest I wander and perish in the waves." + +Then they sighed and wept, and answered, "The Gorgon! She will freeze +you into stone." + +But Perseus said, "The gods have lent me weapons, and will give me +wisdom to use them." + +Then the fair maidens told him that the Gorgon lived on an island +far away, but that whoever went near the island must wear the hat of +darkness, so that he could not himself be seen. And one of the fair +maidens held in her hand the magic hat. + +While all the maidens kissed Perseus and wept over him, he was only +impatient to be gone. So at last they put the magic hat upon his head, +and he vanished out of their sight. + +And Perseus went on boldly, past many an ugly sight, till he heard +the rustle of the Gorgons' wings and saw the glitter of their brazen +claws. Then he knew that it was time to halt, lest Medusa should +freeze him into stone. + +He thought awhile with himself and remembered Athene's words. Then he +rose into the air, and held the shield above his head and looked up +into it, that he might see all that was below him. + +And he saw three Gorgons sleeping, as huge as elephants. He knew that +they could not see him, because the hat of darkness hid him, and yet +he trembled as he sank down near them, so terrible were those brazen +claws. + +Medusa tossed to and fro restlessly in her sleep. Her long neck +gleamed so white in the mirror that Perseus had not the heart to +strike. But as he looked, from among her tresses the vipers' heads +awoke and peeped up, with their bright dry eyes, and showed their +fangs and hissed. And Medusa as she tossed showed her brazen claws, +and Perseus saw that for all her beauty she was as ugly as the others. + +Then he came down and stepped to her boldly, and looked steadfastly +on his mirror, and struck with his sword stoutly once, and he did not +need to strike again. + +He wrapped the head in the goat-skin, turning away his eyes, and +sprang into the air aloft, faster than he ever sprang before. + +And well his brave sandals bore him through cloud and sunshine across +the shoreless sea, till he came again to the gardens of the fair +maidens. + +Then he asked them, "By what road shall I go homeward again?" + +And they wept and cried, "Go home no more, but stay and play with us, +the lonely maidens." + +But Perseus refused and leapt down the mountain, and went on like a +sea-gull, away and out to sea. + + + + +IV + +HOW PERSEUS MET ANDROMEDA + + +So Perseus flitted onward to the north-east, over many a league of +sea, till he came to the rolling sandhills of the desert. + +Over the sands he went, he never knew how far nor how long, hoping all +day to see the blue sparkling Mediterranean, that he might fly across +it to his home. + +But now came down a mighty wind, and swept him back southward toward +the desert. All day long he strove against it, but even the sandals +could not prevail. And when morning came there was nothing to be seen, +save the same old hateful waste of sand. + +At last the gale fell, and he tried to go northward again, but again +down came the sandstorms and swept him back into the desert; and then +all was calm and cloudless as before. + +Then he cried to Athene, "Shall I never see my mother more, and the +blue ripple of the sea and the sunny hills of Hellas?" + +So he prayed, and after he had prayed there was a great silence. + +And Perseus stood still awhile and waited, and said, "Surely I am not +here but by the will of the gods, for Athene will not lie. Were not +these sandals to lead me in the right road?" + +Then suddenly his ears were opened and he heard the sound of running +water. And Perseus laughed for joy, and leapt down the cliff and drank +of the cool water, and ate of the dates, and slept on the turf, and +leapt up and went forward again, but not toward the north this time. + +For he said, "Surely Athene hath sent me hither, and will not have me +go homeward yet. What if there be another noble deed to be done before +I see the sunny hills of Hellas?" + +So Perseus flew along the shore above the sea, and at the dawn of a +day he looked towards the cliffs. At the water's edge, under a black +rock, he saw a white image stand. + +"This," thought he, "must surely be the statue of some sea-god. I will +go near and see." + +And he came near, but when he came it was no statue he found, but a +maiden of flesh and blood, for he could see her tresses streaming in +the breeze. And as he came closer still, he could see how she shrank +and shivered when the waves sprinkled her with cold salt spray. + +Her arms were spread above her head and fastened to the rock with +chains of brass, and her head drooped either with sleep or weariness +or grief. But now and then she looked up and wailed, and called her +mother. + +Yet she did not see Perseus, for the cap of darkness was on his head. + +In his heart pity and indignation, Perseus drew near and looked upon +the maid. Her cheeks were darker than his, and her hair was blue-black +like a hyacinth. + +Perseus thought, "I have never seen so beautiful a maiden, no, not in +all our isles. Surely she is a king's daughter. She is too fair, at +least, to have done any wrong. I will speak to her," and, lifting the +magic hat from his head, he flashed into her sight. She shrieked with +terror, but Perseus cried, "Do not fear me, fair one. What cruel men +have bound you? But first I will set you free." + +And he tore at the fetters, but they were too strong for him, while +the maiden cried, "Touch me not. I am a victim for the sea-gods. They +will slay you if you dare to set me free." + +"Let them try," said Perseus, and drawing his sword he cut through the +brass as if it had been flax. + +"Now," he said, "you belong to me, and not to these sea-gods, +whosoever they may be." + +But she only called the more on her mother. Then he clasped her in his +arms, and cried, "Where are these sea-gods, cruel and unjust, who doom +fair maids to death? Let them measure their strength against mine. But +tell me, maiden, who you are, and what dark fate brought you here." + +And she answered, weeping, "I am the daughter of a King, and my mother +is the Queen with the beautiful tresses, and they call me Andromeda. +I stand here to atone for my mother's sin, for she boasted of me once +that I was fairer than the Queen of the Fishes. So she in her wrath +sent the sea-floods and wasted all the land. And now I must be +devoured by a sea-monster to atone for a sin which I never committed." + +But Perseus laughed and said, "A sea-monster! I have fought with worse +than he." + +Andromeda looked up at him, and new hope was kindled in her heart, so +proud and fair did he stand, with one hand round her, and in the other +the glittering sword. + +But still she sighed and said, "Why will you die, young as you are? Go +you your way, I must go mine." + +Perseus cried, "Not so: I slew the Gorgon by the help of the gods, and +not without them do I come hither to slay this monster, with that same +Gorgon's head. Yet hide your eyes when I leave you, lest the sight of +it freeze you too to stone." + +But the maiden answered nothing, for she could not believe his words. + +Then suddenly looking up, she pointed to the sea and shrieked, "There +he comes with the sunrise as they said. I must die now. Oh go!" And +she tried to thrust him away. + +And Perseus said, "I go, yet promise me one thing ere I go,--that if +I slay this beast you will be my wife and come back with me to my +kingdom, for I am a King's son. Promise me, and seal it with a kiss." + +Then she lifted up her face and kissed him, and Perseus laughed for +joy and flew upward, while Andromeda crouched trembling on the rock. + +On came the great sea-monster, lazily breasting the ripple and +stopping at times by creek or headland. His great sides were fringed +with clustering shells and seaweeds, and the water gurgled in and out +of his wide jaws as he rolled along. At last he saw Andromeda and shot +forward to take his prey. + +Then down from the height of the air fell Perseus like a shooting +star, down to the crests of the waves, while Andromeda hid her face as +he shouted, and then there was silence for a while. + +When at last she looked up trembling, Andromeda saw Perseus springing +towards her, and instead of the monster, a long black rock, with the +sea rippling quietly round it. + +Who then so proud as Perseus, as he leapt back to the rock and lifted +his fair Andromeda in his arms and flew with her to the cliff-top, as +a falcon carries a dove! Who so proud as Perseus, and who so joyful as +the people of the land! + +And the King and the Queen came, and all the people came with songs +and dances to receive Andromeda back again, as one alive from the +dead. + +Then the King said to Perseus, "Hero of the Hellens, stay here with me +and be my son-in-law, and I will give you the half of my kingdom." + +"I will be your son-in-law," said Perseus, "but of your kingdom will I +have none, for I long after the pleasant land of Greece, and my mother +who waits for me at home." + +Then said the King, "You must not take my daughter away at once, for +she is to us as one alive from the dead. Stay with us here a year, and +after that you shall return with honor." + +And Perseus consented, but before he went to the palace he bade the +people bring stones and wood and build an altar to Athene, and there +he offered bullocks and rams. Then they made a great wedding feast, +which lasted seven whole days. + +But on the eighth night Perseus dreamed a dream. He saw standing +beside him Athene as he had seen her seven long years before, and she +stood and called him by name, and said, "Perseus, you have played +the man, and see, you have your reward. Now give me the sword and the +sandals, and the hat of darkness, that I may give them back to those +to whom they belong. But the Gorgon's head you shall keep a while, for +you will need it in your land of Hellas." + +And Perseus rose to give her the sword, and the cap, and the sandals, +but he woke and his dream vanished away. Yet it was not altogether a +dream, for the goat-skin with the head was in its place, but the sword +and the cap and the sandals were gone, and Perseus never saw them +more. + + + + +V + +HOW PERSEUS CAME HOME AGAIN + + +When a year was ended, Perseus rowed away in a noble galley, and in +it he put Andromeda and all her dowry of jewels and rich shawls and +spices from the East, and great was the weeping when they rowed away. + +And when Perseus reached the land, of Hellas he left his galley on the +beach, and went up as of old. He embraced his mother and Dictys, and +they wept over each other, for it was seven years and more since they +had parted. + +Then Perseus went out and up to the hall of Polydectes, and underneath +the goat-skin he bore the Gorgon's head. + +When he came to the hall, Polydectes sat at the table, and all his +nobles on either side, feasting on fish and goats' flesh, and drinking +blood-red wine. + +Perseus stood upon the threshold and called to the King by name. But +none of the guests knew the stranger, for he was changed by his long +journey. He had gone out a boy, and he was come home a hero. + +But Polydectes the Wicked, knew him, and scornfully he called, "Ah, +foundling! have you found it more easy to promise than to fulfil?" + +"Those whom the gods help fulfil their promises," said Perseus, as +he drew back the goat-skin and held aloft the Gorgon's head, saying, +"Behold!" + +Pale grew Polydectes and his guests as they looked upon that dreadful +face. They tried to rise from their seats, but from their seats they +never rose, but stiffened, each man where he sat, into a ring of cold +gray stones. + +Then Perseus turned and left them, and went down to his galley in +the bay. He gave the kingdom to good Dictys, and sailed away with his +mother and his bride. And Perseus rowed westward till he came to his +old home, and there he found that his grandfather had fled. + +The heart of Perseus yearned after his grandfather, and he said, +"Surely he will love me now that I am come home with honor. I will go +and find him and bring him back, and we will reign together in peace." + +So Perseus sailed away, and at last he came to the land where his +grandfather dwelt, and all the people were in the fields, and there +was feasting and all kinds of games. + +Then Perseus did not tell his name, but went up to the games unknown, +for he said, "If I carry away the prize in the games, my grandfather's +heart will be softened towards me." + +And when the games began, Perseus was the best of all at running and +leaping, and wrestling and throwing. And he won four crowns and took +them. + +Then he said to himself, "There is a fifth crown to be won. I will win +that also, and lay them all upon the knees of my grandfather." + +So he took the stones and hurled them five fathoms beyond all the +rest. And the people shouted, "There has never been such a hurler in +this land!" + +Again Perseus put out all his strength and hurled. But a gust of wind +came from the sea and carried the quoit aside, far beyond all the +rest. And it fell on the foot of his grandfather, and he swooned away +with the pain. + +Perseus shrieked and ran up to him, but when they lifted the old man +up, he was dead. Then Perseus rent his clothes and cast dust on his +head, and wept a long while for his grandfather. + +At last he rose and called to all people aloud and said, "The gods are +true: what they have ordained must be; I am Perseus the grandson +of this dead man." Then he told them how a prophet had said that he +should kill his grandfather. + +So they made great mourning for the old King, and burnt him on a right +rich pile. + +And Perseus went to the temple and was purified from the guilt of his +death, because he had done it unknowingly. + +Then he went home and reigned well with Andromeda, and they had four +sons and three daughters. + +And when they died, the ancients say that Athene took them up to the +sky. All night long Perseus and Andromeda shine as a beacon for +wandering sailors, but all day long they feast with the gods, on the +still blue peaks in the home of the Immortals. + + + + +ODYSSEUS + +ADAPTED BY JEANIE LANG + + + + +I + +HOW ODYSSEUS LEFT TROYLAND AND SAILED FOR HIS KINGDOM PAST THE LAND OF +THE LOTUS EATERS + + +In the days of long ago there reigned over Ithaca, a rugged little +island in the sea to the west of Greece, a King whose name was +Odysseus. + +Odysseus feared no man. Stronger and braver than other men was he, +wiser, and more full of clever devices. Far and wide he was known as +Odysseus of the many counsels. Wise, also, was his Queen, Penelope, +and she was as fair as she was wise, and as good as she was fair. + +While their only child, a boy named Telemachus, was still a baby, +there was a very great war in Troyland, a country far across the sea. + +The brother of the overlord of all Greece beseiged Troy, and the kings +and princes of his land came to help him. Many came from afar, but +none from a more distant kingdom than Odysseus. Wife and child and old +father he left behind him and sailed away with his black-prowed ships +to fight in Troyland. + +For ten years the siege of Troy went on, and of the heroes who fought +there, none was braver than Odysseus. Clad as a beggar he went into +the city and found out much to help the Greek armies. With his long +sword he fought his way out again, and left many of the men of Troy +lying dead behind him. And many other brave feats did Odysseus do. + +After long years of fighting, Troy at last was taken. With much rich +plunder the besiegers sailed homewards, and Odysseus set sail for his +rocky island, with its great mountain, and its forests of trembling +leaves. + +Of gladness and of longing his heart was full. With a great love he +loved his fair wife and little son and old father, and his little +kingdom by the sea was very dear to him. + +"I can see nought beside sweeter than a man's own country," he said. +Very soon he hoped to see his dear land again, but many a long and +weary day was to pass ere Odysseus came home. + +Odysseus was a warrior, and always he would choose to fight rather +than to be at peace. + +As he sailed on his homeward way, winds drove his ships near the +shore. He and his company landed, sacked the nearest city, and slew +the people. Much rich plunder they took, but ere they could return to +their ships, a host of people came from inland. In the early morning, +thick as leaves and flowers in the spring they came, and fell upon +Odysseus and his men. + +All day they fought, but as the sun went down the people of the land +won the fight. Back to their ships went Odysseus and his men. Out of +each ship were six men slain. While they were yet sad at heart and +weary from the fight, a terrible tempest arose. + +Land and sea were blotted out, the ships were driven headlong, and +their sails were torn to shreds by the might of the storm. For two +days and two nights the ships were at the mercy of the tempests. At +dawn on the third day, the storm passed away, and Odysseus and his men +set up their masts and hoisted their white sails, and drove homeward +before the wind. + +So he would have come safely to his own country, but a strong current +and a fierce north wind swept the ships from their course. For nine +days were they driven far from their homeland, across the deep sea. + +On the tenth day they reached the Land of the Lotus Eaters. The +dwellers in that land fed on the honey-sweet fruit of the lotus +flower. Those who ate the lotus ceased to remember that there was a +past or a future. All duties they forgot, and all sadness. All day +long they would sit and dream and dream idle, happy dreams that never +ended. + +Here Odysseus and his men landed and drew water. Three of his warriors +Odysseus sent into the country to see what manner of men dwelt there. +To them the Lotus Eaters gave their honey-sweet food, and no sooner +had each man eaten than he had no wish ever to return to the ships. He +longed for ever to stay in that pleasant land, eating the lotus fruit, +and dreaming the happy hours away. + +Back to the ships Odysseus dragged the unwilling men, weeping that +they must leave so much joy behind. Beneath the benches of his ship he +tightly bound them, and swiftly he made his ships sail from the shore, +lest yet others of his company might eat of the lotus and forget their +homes and their kindred. + +Soon they had all embarked, and, with heavy hearts, the men of Ithaca +smote the gray sea-water with their long oars, and sped away from the +land of forgetfulness and of sweet day-dreams. + + + + +II + +HOW ODYSSEUS CAME TO THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPES, AND HIS ADVENTURES +THERE + + +On and on across the waves sailed the dark-prowed ships of Odysseus, +until again they came to land. + +It was the Land of the Cyclopes, a savage and lawless people, who +never planted, nor plowed, nor sowed, and whose fields yet gave them +rich harvests of wheat and of barley, and vines with heavy clusters of +grapes. In deep caves, high up on the hills, these people dwelt, and +each man ruled his own wife and children, but himself knew no ruler. + +Outside the harbor of the Land of the Cyclopes lay a thickly wooded +island. No hunters went there, for the Cyclopes owned neither ships +nor boats, so that many goats roamed unharmed through the woods and +cropped the fresh green grass. + +It was a green and pleasant land. Rich meadows stretched down to the +sea, the vines grew strong and fruitful, and there was a fair harbor +where ships might be run right on to the beach. At the head of the +harbor was a well of clear water flowing out of a cave, and with +poplars growing around it. Thither Odysseus directed his ships. It was +dark night, with no moon to guide, and mist lay deep on either side, +yet they passed the breakers and rolling surf without knowing it, and +anchored safely on the beach. + +All night they slept, and when rosy dawn came they explored the island +and slew with their bows and long spears many of the wild goats of the +woods. + +All the livelong day Odysseus and his men sat and feasted. As they ate +and drank, they looked across the water at the Land of the Cyclopes, +where the smoke of wood fires curled up to the sky, and from whence +they could hear the sound of men's voices and the bleating of +sheep and goats. When darkness fell, they lay down to sleep on the +sea-beach, and when morning dawned Odysseus called his men together +and said to them: "Stay here, all the rest of you, my dear companions, +but I will go with my own ship and my ship's company and see what kind +of men are those who dwell in this land across the harbor." + +So saying, he climbed into his ship, and his men rowed him across to +the Land of the Cyclopes. When they were near the shore they saw a +great cave by the sea. It was roofed in with green laurel boughs and +seemed to be meant for a fold to shelter sheep and goats. Round about +it a high outer wall was firmly built with stones, and with tall and +leafy pines and oak-trees. + +In this cave, all alone with his flocks and herds, dwelt a huge and +hideous one-eyed giant. Polyphemus was his name, and his father was +Poseidon, god of the sea. + +Taking twelve of his best men with him, Odysseus left the others to +guard the ship and sallied forth to the giant's cave. With him he +carried a goat-skin full of precious wine, dark red, and sweet and +strong, and a large sack of corn. + +Soon they came to the cave, but Polyphemus was not there. He had taken +off his flocks to graze in the green meadows, leaving behind him in +the cave folds full of lambs and kids. The walls of the cave were +lined with cheeses, and there were great pans full of whey, and giant +bowls full of milk. + +"Let us first of all take the cheeses," said the men of Odysseus to +their King, "and carry them to the ships. Then let us return and drive +all the kids and lambs from their folds down to the shore, and sail +with them in our swift ships homeward over the sea." + +But Odysseus would not listen to what they said. He was too great +hearted to steal into the cave like a thief and take away the giant's +goods without first seeing whether Polyphemus might not treat him as +a friend, receiving from him the corn and wine he had brought, and +giving him gifts in return. + +So they kindled a fire, and dined on some of the cheeses, and sat +waiting for the giant to return. + +Towards evening he came, driving his flocks before him, and carrying +on his back a huge load of firewood, which he cast down on the floor +with such a thunderous noise that Odysseus and his men fled in fear +and hid themselves in the darkest corners of the cave. When he had +driven his sheep inside, Polyphemus lifted from the ground a rock so +huge that two-and-twenty four-wheeled wagons could not have borne it, +and with it blocked the doorway. Then, sitting down, he milked the +ewes and bleating goats, and placed the lambs and kids each beside its +own mother. + +Half of the milk he curdled and placed in wicker baskets to make into +cheeses, and the other half he left in great pails to drink when he +should have supper. When all this was done, he kindled a fire, and +when the flames had lit up the dark-walled cave he spied Odysseus and +his men. + +"Strangers, who are ye?" he asked, in his great, rumbling voice. +"Whence sail ye over the watery ways? Are ye merchants? or are ye +sea-robbers who rove over the sea, risking your own lives and bringing +evil to other men?" + +The sound of the giant's voice, and his hideous face filled the hearts +of the men with terror, but Odysseus made answer: "From Troy we +come, seeking our home, but driven hither by winds and waves. Men of +Agamemnon, the renowned and most mightily victorious Greek general, +are we, yet to thee we come and humbly beg for friendship." + +At this the giant, who had nothing but cruelty in his heart, mocked at +Odysseus. + +"Thou art a fool," said he, "and I shall not spare either thee or thy +company. But tell me where thou didst leave thy good ship? Was it near +here, or at the far end of the island?" + +But Odysseus of the many counsels knew that the giant asked the +question only to bring evil on the men who stayed by the ship, and so +he answered: "My ship was broken in pieces by the storm and cast up on +the rocks on the shore, but I, with these my men, escaped from death." + +Not one word said Polyphemus in reply, but sprang up, clutched hold of +two of the men, and dashed their brains out on the stone floor. Then +he cut them up, and made ready his supper, eating the two men, bones +and all, as if he had been a starving lion, and taking great draughts +of the milk from the giant pails. When his meal was done, he stretched +himself on the ground beside his sheep and goats, and slept. + +In helpless horror Odysseus and his men had watched the dreadful +sight, but when the monster slept they began to make plans for their +escape. At first Odysseus thought it might be best to take his sharp +sword and stab Polyphemus in the breast. But then he knew that even +were he thus to slay the giant, he and his men must die. For strength +was not left them to roll away the rock from the cave's mouth, and so +they must perish like rats in a trap. + +All night they thought what they should do, but could think of nought +that would avail, and so they could only moan in their bitterness of +heart and wait for the dawn. When dawn's rosy fingers touched the sky, +Polyphemus awoke. He kindled a fire, and milked his flocks, and gave +each ewe her lamb. When this work was done he snatched yet other two +men, dashed their brains out, and made of them his morning meal. After +the meal, he lifted the stone from the door, drove the flocks out, and +set the stone back again. Then, with a loud shout, he turned his sheep +and goats towards the hills and left Odysseus and his remaining eight +men imprisoned in the cave, plotting and planning how to get away, and +how to avenge the death of their comrades. + +At last Odysseus thought of a plan. By the sheepfold there lay a huge +club of green olive wood that Polyphemus had cut and was keeping +until it should be dry enough to use as a staff. So huge was it +that Odysseus and his men likened it to the mast of a great merchant +vessel. From this club Odysseus cut a large piece and gave it to his +men to fine down and make even. While they did this, Odysseus himself +sharpened it to a point and hardened the point in the fire. When it +was ready, they hid it amongst the rubbish on the floor of the cave. +Then Odysseus made his men draw lots who should help him to lift this +bar and drive it into the eye of the giant as he slept, and the lot +fell upon the four men that Odysseus would himself have chosen. + +In the evening Polyphemus came down from the hills with his flocks and +drove them all inside the cave. Then he lifted the great doorstone and +blocked the doorway, milked the ewes and goats, and gave each lamb and +kid to its mother. This done, he seized other two of the men, dashed +out their brains, and made ready his supper. + +From the shadows of the cave Odysseus now stepped forward, bearing in +his hands an ivy bowl, full of the dark red wine. + +"Drink wine after thy feast of men's flesh," said Odysseus, "and see +what manner of drink this was that our ship held." + +Polyphemus grasped the bowl, gulped down the strong wine, and smacked +his great lips over its sweetness. + +"Give me more," he cried, "and tell me thy name straightway, that I +may give thee a gift. Mighty clusters of grapes do the vines of our +land bear for us, but this is a rill of very nectar and ambrosia." + +Again Odysseus gave him the bowl full of wine, and yet again, until +the strong wine went to the giant's head and made him stupid. + +Then said Odysseus: "Thou didst ask me my name, and didst say that +thou wouldst give me a gift. Noman is my name, and Noman they call me, +my father and mother and all my fellows." + +Then answered the giant out of his pitiless heart: "I will eat thy +fellows first, Noman, and thee the last of all. That shall be thy +gift." + +Soon the wine made him so sleepy that he sank backwards with his great +face upturned and fell fast asleep. + +As soon as the giant slept, Odysseus thrust into the fire the stake he +had prepared, and made it red hot, all the while speaking cheerfully +and comfortingly to his men. When it was so hot that the wood, green +though it was, began to blaze, they drew it out and thrust it into +the giant's eye. Round and round they whirled the fiery pike, as a +man bores a hole in a plank, until the blood gushed out, and the eye +frizzled and hissed, and the flames singed and burned the eyelids, and +the eye was burned out. With a great and terrible cry the giant sprang +to his feet, and Odysseus and the others fled from before him. From +his eye he dragged the blazing pike, all dripping with his blood, and +dashed it to the ground. Then, maddened with pain, he called with a +great and terrible cry on the other Cyclopes, who dwelt in their caves +on the hill-tops round which the wind swept. The giants, hearing his +horrid yells, rushed to help him. + +"What ails thee, Polyphemus?" they asked. "Why dost thou cry aloud +in the night and awake us from our sleep? Surely no one stealeth thy +flocks? None slayeth thee by force or by craft." + +From the other side of the great stone moaned Polyphemus: "Noman is +slaying me by craft." + +Then the Cyclopes said: "If no man is hurting thee, then indeed it +must be a sickness that makes thee cry so loud, and this thou must +bear, for we cannot help." + +With that they strode away from the cave and left the blind giant +groaning and raging with pain. Groping with his hands, he found the +great stone that blocked the door, lifted it away, and sat himself +down in the mouth of the cave, with his arms stretched out, hoping +to catch Odysseus and his men if they should try to escape. Sitting +there, he fell asleep, and, as soon as he slept, Odysseus planned and +plotted how best to win freedom. + +The rams of the giant's flocks were great strong beasts, with fleeces +thick and woolly, and as dark as the violet. With twisted slips of +willow Odysseus lashed every three of them together, and under the +middle ram of each three he bound one of his men. For himself he +kept the best ram of the flock, young and strong, and with a fleece +wonderfully thick and shaggy. Underneath this ram Odysseus curled +himself, and clung, face upwards, firmly grasping the wool with his +hands. In this wise did he and his men wait patiently for the dawn. + +When rosy dawn came, the ewes in the pens bleated to be milked and the +rams hastened out to the hills and green meadows. As each sheep passed +him, Polyphemus felt along its back, but never guessed that the six +remaining men of Odysseus were bound beneath the thick-fleeced rams. +Last of all came the young ram to which Odysseus clung, moving slowly, +for his fleece was heavy, and Odysseus whom he bore was heavier still. +On the ram's back Polyphemus laid his great hands. "Dear ram," said +he, "once wert thou the very first to lead the flocks from the cave, +the first to nibble the tender buds of the pasture, the first to find +out the running streams, and the first to come home when evening fell. +But to-day thou art the very last to go. Surely thou art sorrowful +because the wicked Noman hath destroyed my eye. I would thou couldst +speak and tell me where Noman is hidden. Then should I seize him and +gladly dash out his brains on the floor of the cave." + +Very, very still lay Odysseus while the giant spoke, but the ram +slowly walked on past the savage giant, towards the meadows near the +sea. Soon it was far enough from the cave for Odysseus to let go his +hold and to stand up. Quickly he loosened the bonds of the others, and +swiftly then they drove the rams down to the shore where their ship +lay. Often they looked round, expecting to see Polyphemus following +them, but they safely reached the ship and got a glad welcome from +their friends, who rejoiced over them, but would have wept over the +men that the cannibal giant had slain. + +"There is no time to weep," said Odysseus, and he made his men hasten +on board the ship, driving the sheep before them. + +Soon they were all on board, and the gray sea-water was rushing off +their oars, as they sailed away from the land of the Cyclopes. + +But before they were out of sight of land, the bold Odysseus lifted up +his voice and shouted across the water: + +"Hear me, Polyphemus, thou cruel monster! Thine evil deeds were very +sure to find thee out. Thou hast been punished because thou hadst no +shame to eat the strangers who came to thee as thy guests!" + +The voice of Odysseus rang across the waves, and reached Polyphemus as +he sat in pain at the mouth of his cave. + +In a fury the giant sprang up, broke off the peak of a great hill +and cast it into the sea, where it fell just in front of the ship of +Odysseus. + +So huge a splash did the vast rock give, that the sea heaved up and +the backwash of the water drove the ship right to the shore. + +Odysseus snatched up a long pole and pushed the ship off once more. +Silently he motioned to the men to row hard, and save themselves and +their ship from the angry giant. When they were once more out at sea, +Odysseus wished again to mock Polyphemus. + +In vain his men begged him not to provoke a monster so mighty that he +could crush their heads and the timbers of their ship with one cast of +a stone. Once more Odysseus shouted across the water: + +"Polyphemus, if any one shall ask thee who blinded thee, tell them it +was Odysseus of Ithaca." + +Then moaned the giant: + +"Once, long ago, a soothsayer told me that Odysseus should make me +blind. But ever I looked for the coming of a great and gallant hero, +and now there hath come a poor feeble, little dwarf, who made me weak +with wine before he dared to touch me." + +Then he begged Odysseus to come back, and said he would treat him +kindly, and told him that he knew that his own father, the god of the +sea, would give him his sight again. + +"Never more wilt thou have thy sight," mocked Odysseus; "thy father +will never heal thee." + +Then Polyphemus, stretching out his hands, and looking up with his +sightless eye to the starry sky, called aloud to Poseidon, god of the +sea, to punish Odysseus. + +"If he ever reaches his own country," he cried, "let him come late +and in an evil case, with all his own company lost, and in the ship of +strangers, and let him find sorrows in his own house." + +No answer came from Poseidon, but the god of the sea heard his son's +prayer. + +With all his mighty force Polyphemus then cast at the ship a rock far +greater than the first. It all but struck the end of the rudder, but +the huge waves that surged up from it bore on the ship, and carried it +to the further shore. + +There they found the men with the other ships waiting in sorrow and +dread, for they feared that the giants had killed Odysseus and his +company. Gladly they drove the rams of Polyphemus on to the land, and +there feasted together until the sun went down. + +All night they slept on the sea beach, and at rosy dawn Odysseus +called to his men to get into their ships and loose the hawsers. +Soon they had pushed off, and were thrusting their oars into the gray +sea-water. + +Their hearts were sore, because they had lost six gallant men of their +company, yet they were glad as men saved from death. + + + + +III + +HOW ODYSSEUS MET WITH CIRCE, THE SIRENS, AND CALYPSO + + +Across the seas sailed Odysseus and his men till they came to an +island where lived AEolus the keeper of the winds. When Odysseus again +set sail, AEolus gave him a great leather bag in which he had placed +all the winds except the wind of the west. His men thought the bag to +be full of gold and silver, so, while Odysseus slept they loosened the +silver thong, and, with a mighty gust all the winds rushed out driving +the ship far away from their homeland. + +Ere long they reached another island, where dwelt a great enchantress, +Circe of the golden tresses, whose palace Eurylochus discovered. +Within they heard Circe singing, so they called to her and she came +forth and bade them enter. Heedlessly they followed her, all but +Eurylochus. Then Circe smote them with her magic wand and they were +turned into swine. + +When Odysseus heard what had befallen his men he was very angry and +would have slain her with his sword. But Circe cried: "Sheathe thy +sword, I pray thee, Odysseus, and let us be at peace." Then said +Odysseus: "How can I be at peace with thee, Circe? How can I trust +thee?" Then Circe promised to do Odysseus no harm, and to let him +return in safety to his home. + +Then she opened the doors of the sty and waved her wand. And the swine +became men again even handsomer and stronger than before. + +For a whole year Odysseus and his men stayed in the palace, feasting +and resting. When they at last set sail again the sorceress told +Odysseus of many dangers he would meet on his homeward voyage, and +warned him how to escape from them. + +In an island in the blue sea through which the ship of Odysseus would +sail toward home, lived some beautiful mermaids called Sirens. Even +more beautiful than the Sirens' faces were their lovely voices by +which they lured men to go on shore and there slew them. In the +flowery meadows were the bones of the foolish sailors who had seen +only the lovely faces and long, golden hair of the Sirens, and had +lost their hearts to them. + +Against these mermaids Circe had warned Odysseus, and he repeated her +warnings to his men. + +Following her advice he filled the ears of the men with wax and bade +them bind him hand and foot to the mast. + +Past the island drove the ship, and the Sirens seeing it began their +sweet song. "Come hither, come hither, brave Odysseus," they sang. +Then Odysseus tried to make his men unbind him, but Eurylochus and +another bound him yet more tightly to the mast. + +When the island was left behind, the men took the wax from their ears +and unbound their captain. After passing the Wandering Rocks with +their terrible sights and sounds the ship came to a place of great +peril. Beyond them were yet two huge rocks between which the sea +swept. + +One of these ran up to the sky, and in this cliff was a dark cave in +which lived Scylla a horrible monster, who, as the ship passed seized +six of the men with her six dreadful heads. + +In the cliff opposite lived another terrible creature called Charybdis +who stirred the sea to a fierce whirlpool. + +By a strong wind the ship was driven into this whirlpool, but Odysseus +escaped on a broken piece of wreckage to the shores of an island. + +On this island lived Calypso of the braided tresses, a goddess feared +by all men. But, to Odysseus she was very kind and he soon became as +strong as ever. + +"Stay with me, and thou shalt never grow old and never die," said +Calypso. + +A great homesickness had seized Odysseus, but no escape came for eight +years. Then Athene begged the gods to help him. They called on Hermes, +who commanded Calypso to let him go. She wanted him to stay with her +but promised to send him away. She told him to make a raft which she +would furnish with food and clothing for his need. + +He set out and in eighteen days saw the land of the Phaeacians appear. +But when safety seemed near, Poseidon, the sea-god, returned from his +wanderings and would have destroyed him had it not been that a fair +sea-nymph gave him her veil to wind around his body. This he did and +finally reached the shore. + + + + +IV + +HOW ODYSSEUS MET WITH NAUSICAA + + +In the land of the Phaeacians there dwelt no more beautiful, nor any +sweeter maiden, than the King's own daughter. Nausicaa was her name, +and she was so kind and gentle that every one loved her. + +To the land of the Phaeacians the north wind had driven Odysseus, and +while he lay asleep in his bed of leaves under the olive-trees, the +goddess Athene went to the room in the palace where Nausicaa slept, +and spoke to her in her dreams. + +"Some day thou wilt marry, Nausicaa," she said, "and it is time +for thee to wash all the fair raiment that is one day to be thine. +To-morrow thou must ask the King, thy father, for mules and for a +wagon, and drive from the city to a place where all the rich clothing +may be washed and dried." + +When morning came Nausicaa remembered her dream, and went to tell her +father. + +Her mother was sitting spinning yarn of sea-purple stain, and her +father was just going to a council meeting. + +"Father, dear," said the Princess, "couldst thou lend me a high wagon +with strong wheels, that I may take all my fair linen to the river +to wash. All yours, too, I shall take, so that thou shalt go to the +council in linen that is snowy clean, and I know that my five brothers +will also be glad if I wash their fine clothing for them." + +This she said, for she felt too shy to tell her father what Athene had +said about her getting married. + +But the King knew well why she asked. "I do not grudge thee mules, +nor anything else, my child," he said. "Go, bid the servants prepare a +wagon." + +The servants quickly got ready the finest wagon that the King had, and +harnessed the best of the mules. And Nausicaa's mother filled a basket +with all the dainties that she knew her daughter liked best, so that +Nausicaa and her maidens might feast together. The fine clothes were +piled into the wagon, the basket of food was placed carefully beside +them, and Nausicaa climbed in, took the whip and shining reins, and +touched the mules. Then with clatter of hoofs they started. + +When they were come to the beautiful, clear river, amongst whose reeds +Odysseus had knelt the day before, they unharnessed the mules and +drove them along the banks of the river to graze where the clover +grew rich and fragrant. Then they washed the clothes, working hard +and well, and spread them out to dry on the clean pebbles down by the +seashore. + +Then they bathed, and when they had bathed they took their midday meal +by the bank of the rippling river. + +When they had finished, the sun had not yet dried the clothes, so +Nausicaa and her maidens began to play ball. As they played they sang +a song that the girls of that land would always sing as they threw the +ball to one another. All the maidens were fair, but Nausicaa of the +white arms was the fairest of all. + +From hand to hand they threw the ball, growing always the merrier, +until, when it was nearly time for them to gather the clothes together +and go home, Nausicaa threw it very hard to one of the others. The +girl missed the catch. The ball flew into the river, and, as it was +swept away to the sea, the Princess and all her maidens screamed +aloud. + +Their cries awoke Odysseus, as he lay asleep in his bed of leaves. + +"I must be near the houses of men," he said; "those are the cries of +girls at play." + +With that he crept out from the shelter of the olive-trees. He had no +clothes, for he had thrown them all into the sea before he began his +terrible swim for life. But he broke off some leafy branches and held +them round him, and walked down to where Nausicaa and her maidens +were. + +Like a wild man of the woods he looked, and when they saw him coming +the girls shrieked and ran away. Some of them hid behind the rocks on +the shore, and some ran out to the shoals of yellow sand that jutted +into the sea. + +But although his face was marred with the sea-foam that had crusted on +it, and he looked a terrible, fierce, great creature, Nausicaa was too +brave to run away. + +Shaking she stood there, and watched him as he came forward, and stood +still a little way off. Then Odysseus spoke to her, gently and kindly, +that he might take away her fear. + +He told her of his shipwreck, and begged her to show him the way to +the town, and give him some old garment, or any old wrap in which she +had brought the linen, so that he might have something besides leaves +with which to cover himself. + +"I have never seen any maiden half so beautiful as thou art," he said. +"Have pity on me, and may the gods grant thee all thy heart's desire." + +Then said Nausicaa: "Thou seemest no evil man, stranger, and I will +gladly give thee clothing and show thee the way to town. This is the +land of the Phaeacians, and my father is the King." + +To her maidens then she called: + +"Why do ye run away at the sight of a man? Dost thou take him for +an enemy? He is only a poor shipwrecked man. Come, give him food and +drink, and fetch him clothing." + +The maidens came back from their hiding-places, and fetched some of +the garments of Nausicaa's brothers which they had brought to wash, +and laid them beside Odysseus. + +Odysseus gratefully took the clothes away, and went off to the river. +There he plunged into the clear water, and washed the salt crust from +off his face and limbs and body, and the crusted foam from his hair. +Then he put on the beautiful garments that belonged to one of the +Princes, and walked down to the shore where Nausicaa and her maidens +were waiting. + +So tall and handsome and strong did Odysseus look, with his hair +curling like hyacinth flowers around his head, that Nausicaa said to +her maidens: "This man, who seemed to us so dreadful so short a time +ago, now looks like a god. I would that my husband, if ever I have +one, should be as he." + +Then she and her maidens brought him food and wine, and he ate +hungrily, for it was many days since he had eaten. + +When he had finished, they packed the linen into the wagon, and yoked +the mules, and Nausicaa climbed into her place. + +"So long as we are passing through the fields," she said to Odysseus, +"follow behind with my maidens, and I will lead the way. But when we +come near the town with its high walls and towers, and harbors full +of ships, the rough sailors will stare and say, 'Hath Nausicaa gone to +find herself a husband because she scorns the men of Phaeacia who would +wed her? Hath she picked up a shipwrecked stranger, or is this one of +the gods who has come to make her his wife?' Therefore come not with +us, I pray thee, for the sailors to jest at. There is a fair poplar +grove near the city, with a meadow lying round it. Sit there until +thou thinkest that we have had time to reach the palace. Then seek the +palace--any child can show thee the way--and when thou art come to the +outer court pass quickly into the room where my mother sits. Thou wilt +find her weaving yarn of sea-purple stain by the light of the fire. +She will be leaning her head back against a pillar, and her maidens +will be standing round her. My father's throne is close to hers, +but pass him by, and cast thyself at my mother's knees. If she feels +kindly towards thee and is sorry for thee, then my father is sure to +help thee to get safely back to thine own land." + +Then Nausicaa smote her mules with the whip, and they trotted quickly +off, and soon left behind them the silver river with its whispering +reeds, and the beach with its yellow sand. + +Odysseus and the maidens followed the wagon, and just as the sun was +setting they reached the poplar grove in the meadow. + +There Odysseus stayed until Nausicaa should have had time to reach +the palace. When she got there, she stopped at the gateway, and her +brothers came out and lifted down the linen, and unharnessed the +mules. Nausicaa went up to her room, and her old nurse kindled a fire +for her and got ready her supper. + +When Odysseus thought it was time to follow, he went to the city. +He marveled at the great walls and at the many gallant ships in the +harbors. But when he reached the King's palace, he wondered still +more. Its walls were of brass, so that from without, when the doors +stood open, it looked as if the sun or moon were shining within. A +frieze of blue ran round the walls. All the doors were made of gold, +the doorposts were of silver, the thresholds of brass, and the hook of +the door was of gold. In the halls were golden figures of animals, and +of men who held in their hands lighted torches. Outside the courtyard +was a great garden filled with blossoming pear-trees and pomegranates, +and apple-trees with shining fruit, and figs, and olives. All the year +round there was fruit in that garden. There were grapes in blossom, +and grapes purple and ready to eat, and there were great masses of +snowy pear-blossom, and pink apple-blossom, and golden ripe pears, and +rosy apples. + +At all of those wonders Odysseus stood and gazed, but it was not for +long; for he hastened through the halls to where the Queen sat in the +firelight, spinning her purple yarn. He fell at her knees, and silence +came on all those in the room when they looked at him, so brave and so +handsome did he seem. + +"Through many and great troubles have I come hither, Queen," said he; +"speed, I pray you, my parting right quickly, that I may come to mine +own country. Too long have I suffered great sorrows far away from my +own friends." + +Then he sat down amongst the ashes by the fire, and for a little space +no one spoke. + +At last a wise old courtier said to the King: "Truly it is not right +that this stranger should sit in the ashes by the fire. Bid him arise, +and give him meat and drink." + +At this the King took Odysseus by the hand and asked him to rise. He +made one of his sons give up his silver inlaid chair, and bade his +servants fetch a silver basin and a golden ewer that Odysseus might +wash his hands. All kinds of dainties to eat and drink he also made +them bring, and the lords and the courtiers who were there feasted +along with Odysseus, until it was time for them to go to their own +homes. + +Before they went the King promised Odysseus a safe convoy back to his +own land. + +When he was left alone with the King and Queen, the latter said to +him: "Tell us who thou art. I myself made the clothing that thou +wearest. From whence didst thou get it?" + +Then Odysseus told her of his imprisonment in the island of Calypso, +of his escape, of the terrible storm that shattered his raft, and of +how at length he reached the shore and met with Nausicaa. + +"It was wrong of my daughter not to bring thee to the palace when she +came with her maids," said the King. + +But Odysseus told him why it was that Nausicaa had bade him stay +behind. + +"Be not vexed with this blameless maiden," he said. "Truly she is the +sweetest and the fairest maiden I ever saw." + +Then Odysseus went to the bed that the servants had prepared for him. +They had spread fair purple blankets over it, and when it was ready +they stood beside it with their torches blazing, golden and red. + +"Up now, stranger, get thee to sleep," said they. "Thy bed is made." + +Sleep was very sweet to Odysseus that night as he lay in the soft bed +with warm blankets over him. He was no longer tossed and beaten by +angry seas, no longer wet and cold and hungry. The roar of furious +waves did not beat in his ears, for all was still in the great halls +where the flickering firelight played on the frieze of blue, and +turned the brass walls into gold. + +Next day the King gave a great entertainment for Odysseus. There were +boxing and wrestling and leaping and running, and in all of these the +brothers of Nausicaa were better than all others who tried. + +But when they came to throw the weight, and begged Odysseus to try, he +cast a stone heavier than all others, far beyond where the Phaeacians +had thrown. + +That night there was feasting in the royal halls, and the King's +minstrels played and sang songs of the taking of Troy, and of the +bravery of the great Odysseus. And Odysseus listened until his heart +could bear no more, and tears trickled down his cheeks. Only the King +saw him weep. He wondered much why Odysseus wept, and at last he asked +him. + +So Odysseus told the King his name, and the whole story of his +adventures since he had sailed away from Troyland. + +Then the King and Queen and their courtiers gave rich gifts to +Odysseus. A beautiful silver-studded sword was the King's gift to him. + +Nausicaa gave him nothing, but she stood and gazed at him in his +purple robes and felt more sure than ever that he was the handsomest +and the greatest hero she had ever seen. + +"Farewell, stranger," she said to him when the hour came for her to go +to bed, for she knew she would not see him on the morrow. "Farewell, +stranger. Sometimes think of me when thou art in thine own land." + +Then said Odysseus: "All the days of my life I shall remember thee, +Nausicaa, for thou hast given me my life." + +Next day a company of the Phaeacians went down to a ship that lay by +the seashore, and with them went Odysseus. They carried the treasures +that had been given to him and put them on board, and spread a rug on +the deck for him. There Odysseus lay down, and as soon as the splash +of the oars in the water and the rush and gush of the water from the +bow of the boat told him that the ship was sailing speedily to his +dear land of Ithaca, he fell into a sound sleep. Onward went the ship, +so swiftly that not even a hawk flying after its prey could have kept +pace with her. When the bright morning stars arose, they were close to +Ithaca. The sailors quickly ran their vessel ashore and gently carried +the sleeping Odysseus, wrapped round in his rug of bright purple, to +where a great olive-tree bent its gray leaves over the sand. They laid +him under the tree, put his treasures beside him, and left him, still +heavy with slumber. Then they climbed into their ship and sailed away. + +While Odysseus slept the goddess Athene shed a thick mist round him. +When he awoke, the sheltering heavens, the long paths, and the trees +in bloom all looked strange to him when seen through the grayness of +the mist. + +"Woe is me!" he groaned. "The Phaeacians promised to bring me to +Ithaca, but they have brought me to a land of strangers, who will +surely attack me and steal my treasures." + +But while he was wondering what he should do, the goddess Athene came +to him. She was tall and fair and noble to look upon, and she smiled +upon Odysseus with her kind gray eyes. + +Under the olive-tree she sat down beside him, and told him all that +had happened in Ithaca while he was away, and all that he must do to +win back his kingdom and his Queen. + + + + +THE ARGONAUTS + +ADAPTED BY MARY MACGREGOR + + + + +I + +HOW THE CENTAUR TRAINED THE HEROES + + +Now I have a tale to tell of heroes who sailed away into a distant +land, to win themselves renown for ever in the adventures of the +Golden Fleece. + +And what was the Golden Fleece? + +It was the fleece of the wondrous ram who bore a boy called Phrixus +and a girl called Helle across the sea; and the old Greeks said that +it hung nailed to a beech-tree in the War-god's wood. + +For when a famine came upon the land, their cruel stepmother wished to +kill Phrixus and Helle, that her own children might reign. + +She said Phrixus and Helle must be sacrificed on an altar, to turn +away the anger of the gods, who sent the famine. + +So the poor children were brought to the altar, and the priest stood +ready with his knife, when out of the clouds came the Golden Ram, and +took them on his back and vanished. + +And the ram carried the two children far away, over land and sea, +till at a narrow strait Helle fell off into the sea, and those narrow +straits are called "Hellespont" after her, and they bear that name +until this day. + +Then the ram flew on with Phrixus to the northeast, across the sea +which we call the Black Sea, and at last he stopped at Colchis, on the +steep sea-coast. + +And Phrixus married the King's daughter there, and offered the ram in +sacrifice, and then it was that the ram's fleece was nailed to a beech +in the wood of the War-god. + +After a while Phrixus died, but his spirit had no rest, for he was +buried far from his native land and the pleasant hills of Hellas. + +So he came in dreams to the heroes of his country, and called sadly +by their beds, "Come and set my spirit free, that I may go home to my +fathers and to my kinsfolk." + +And they asked, "How shall we set your spirit free?" + +"You must sail over the sea to Colchis, and bring home the Golden +Fleece. Then my spirit will come back with it, and I shall sleep with +my fathers and have rest." + +He came thus, and called to them often, but when they woke they looked +at each other and said, "Who dare sail to Colchis or bring home the +Golden Fleece?" + +And in all the country none was brave enough to try, for the man and +the time were not come. + +Now Phrixus had a cousin called AEson, who was King in Iolcos by the +sea. And a fierce and lawless stepbrother drove AEson out of Iolcos by +the sea, and took the kingdom to himself and ruled over it. + +When AEson was driven out, he went sadly away out of the town, leading +his little son by the hand. And he said to himself, "I must hide the +child in the mountains, or my stepbrother will surely kill him because +he is the heir." + +So he went up from the sea, across the valley, through the vineyards +and the olive groves, and across the river, toward Pelion, the ancient +mountain, whose brows are white with snow. + +He went up and up into the mountain, over marsh, and crag, and down, +till the boy was tired and footsore, and AEson had to bear him in his +arms till he came to the mouth of a lonely cave, at the foot of a +mighty cliff. + +Above the cliff the snow-wreaths hung, dripping and cracking in the +sun. But at its foot, around the cave's mouth, grew all fair flowers +and herbs, as if in a garden. There they grew gaily in the sunshine +and in the spray of the torrent from above, while from the cave came +the sound of music, and a man's voice singing to the harp. + +Then AEson put down the lad, and whispered, "Fear not, but go in, and +whomsoever you shall find, lay your hands upon his knees and say, 'In +the name of Zeus, the father of gods and men, I am your guest from +this day forth.'" + +So the lad went in without trembling, for he too was a hero's son, but +when he was within, he stopped in wonder to listen to that magic song. + +And there he saw the singer, lying upon bear-skins and fragrant +boughs, Cheiron the ancient Centaur, the wisest of all beneath the +sky. + +Down to the waist he was a man, but below he was a noble horse. His +white hair rolled down over his broad shoulders, and his white beard +over his broad brown chest. His eyes were wise and mild, and his +forehead like a mountain-wall. In his hands he held a harp of gold, +and he struck it with a golden key. And as he struck, he sang till his +eyes glittered and filled all the cave with light. + +As he sang the boy listened wide-eyed, and forgot his errand in the +song. At the last old Cheiron was silent, and called the lad with a +soft voice. + +And the lad ran trembling to him, and would have laid his hands upon +his knees. + +But Cheiron smiled, and drew the lad to him, and laid his hand upon +his golden locks, and said, "Are you afraid of my horse's hoofs, fair +boy, or will you be my pupil from this day?" + +"I would gladly have horse's hoofs like you, if I could sing such +songs as yours," said the lad. + +And Cheiron laughed and said, "Sit here till sundown, when your +playfellows will come home, and you shall learn like them to be a +king, worthy to rule over gallant men." + +Then he turned to AEson, who had followed his son into the cave, and +said, "Go back in peace. This boy shall not cross the river again till +he has become a glory to you and to your house." + +And AEson wept over his son and went away, but the boy did not weep, so +full was his fancy of that strange cave, and the Centaur and his song, +and the playfellows whom he was to see. + +Then Cheiron put the lyre into his hands, and taught him how to play +it, till the sun sank low behind the cliff, and a shout was heard +outside. + +And then in came the sons of the heroes, and great Cheiron leapt up +joyfully, and his hoofs made the cave resound as the lads shouted, +"Come out, Father Cheiron, and see our game!" + +One cried, "I have killed two deer," and another, "I took a wild cat +among the crags," and another shouted, "I have dragged a wild goat by +its horns," and another carried under each arm a bear-cub. And Cheiron +praised them all, each as he deserved. + +Then the lads brought in wood and split it, and lighted a blazing +fire. Others skinned the deer and quartered them, and set them to +roast before the flames. + +While the venison was cooking, they bathed in the snow-torrent and +washed away the dust. + +And then all ate till they could eat no more, for they had tasted +nothing since the dawn, and drank of the clear spring water, for wine +is not fit for growing lads. + +When the remnants of the meal were put away, they all lay down upon +the skins and leaves about the fire, and each took the lyre in turn, +and sang and played with all his heart. + +After a while they all went out to a plot of grass at the cave's +mouth, and there they boxed and ran and wrestled and laughed till the +stones fell from the cliffs. + +Then Cheiron took his lyre, and all the lads joined hands, and as he +played they danced to his measure, in and out and round and round. + +There they danced hand in hand, till the night fell over land and sea, +while the black glen shone with the gleam of their golden hair. + +And the lad danced with them, delighted, and then slept a wholesome +sleep, upon fragrant leaves of bay and myrtle and flowers of thyme. + +He rose at the dawn and bathed in the torrent, and became a +schoolfellow to the heroes' sons, and forgot Iolcos by the sea, and +his father and all his former life. + +But he grew strong and brave and cunning, upon the pleasant downs of +Pelion, in the keen, hungry mountain-air. + +And he learned to wrestle, to box and to hunt, and to play upon the +harp. Next he learned to ride, for old Cheiron used to mount him on +his back. He learned too the virtue of all herbs, and how to cure all +wounds, and Cheiron called him Jason the Healer, and that is his name +until this day. + + + + +II + +HOW JASON LOST HIS SANDAL + + +And ten years came and went, and Jason was grown to be a mighty man. + +Now it happened one day that Jason stood on the mountain, and looked +north and south and east and west. And Cheiron stood by him and +watched him, for he knew that the time was come. + +When Jason looked south, he saw a pleasant land, with white-walled +towns and farms nestling along the shore of a land-locked bay, while +the smoke rose blue among the trees, and he knew it for Iolcos by the +sea. + +Then he sighed and asked, "Is it true what the heroes tell me--that I +am heir of that fair land?" + +"And what good would it be to you, Jason, if you were heir of that +fair land?" + +"I would take it and keep it." + +"A strong man has taken it and kept it long. Are you stronger than +your uncle Pelias the Terrible?" + +"I can try my strength with his," said Jason. + +But Cheiron sighed and said, "You have many a danger to go through +before you rule in Iolcos by the sea, many a danger and many a woe, +and strange troubles in strange lands, such as man never saw before." + +"The happier I," said Jason, "to see what man never saw before!" + +Cheiron sighed and said, "Will you go to Iolcos by the sea? Then +promise me two things before you go! Speak harshly to no soul whom you +may meet, and stand by the word which you shall speak." + +Jason promised. Then he leapt down the mountain, to take his fortune +like a man. + +He went down through the thickets and across the downs of thyme, till +he came to the vineyard walls, and the olives in the glen. And among +the olives roared the river, foaming with a summer flood. + +And on the bank of the river sat a woman, all wrinkled, gray and old. +Her head shook with old age, and her hands shook on her knees. + +When she saw Jason, she spoke, whining, "Who will carry me across the +flood?" + +But Jason, heeding her not, went towards the waters. Yet he thought +twice before he leapt, so loud roared the torrent all brown from the +mountain rains. + +The old woman whined again, "I am weak and old, fair youth. For Hera's +sake, the Queen of the Immortals, carry me over the torrent." + +Jason was going to answer her scornfully, when Cheiron's words, "Speak +harshly to no soul whom you may meet," came to his mind. + +So he said, "For Hera's sake, the Queen of the Immortals, I will carry +you over the torrent, unless we both are drowned midway." + +Then the old dame leapt upon his back as nimbly as a goat. Jason +staggered in, wondering, and the first step was up to his knees. + +The first step was up to his knees, and the second step was up to his +waist. The stones rolled about his feet, and his feet slipped about +the stones. So he went on, staggering and panting, while the old woman +cried upon his back, "Fool, you have wet my mantle! Do you mock at +poor old souls like me?" + +Jason had half a mind to drop her and let her get through the torrent +alone, but Cheiron's words were in his mind, and he said only, +"Patience, mother, the best horse may stumble some day." + +At last he staggered to the shore and set her down upon the bank. He +lay himself panting awhile, and then leapt up to go upon his journey, +but he first cast one look at the old woman, for he thought, "She +should thank me once at least." + +And as he looked, she grew fairer than all women and taller than all +men on earth. + +Her garments shone like the summer sea, and her jewels like the stars +of heaven. And she looked down on him with great soft eyes, with great +eyes, mild and awful, which filled all the glen with light. Jason fell +upon his knees and hid his face between his hands. + +And she spoke: "I am Hera, the Queen of Olympus. As thou hast done to +me, so will I do to thee. Call on me in the hour of need, and try if +the Immortals can forget!" + +When Jason looked up, she rose from off the earth, like a pillar of +tall white cloud, and floated away across the mountain peaks, towards +Olympus, the holy hill. + +Then a great fear fell on Jason, but after a while he grew light +of heart. He blessed old Cheiron and said, "Surely the Centaur is a +prophet and knew what would come to pass when he bade me speak harshly +to no soul whom I might meet." + +Then he went down towards Iolcos, and as he walked he found that he +had lost one of his sandals in the flood. + +And as he went through the streets the people came out to look at him, +so tall and fair he was. But some of the elders whispered together, +and at last one of them stopped Jason and called to him, "Fair lad, +who are you and whence come you, and what is your errand in the town?" + +"My name, good father, is Jason, and I come from Pelion up above. My +errand is to Pelias your King. Tell me, then, where his palace is." + +But the old man said, "I will tell you, lest you rush upon your ruin +unawares. The oracle has said that a man wearing one sandal should +take the kingdom from Pelias and keep it for himself. Therefore beware +how you go up to his palace, for he is fiercest and most cunning of +all kings." Jason laughed a great laugh in his pride. "Good news, good +father, both for you and me. For that very end, to take his kingdom, I +came into the town." + +Then he strode on toward the palace of Pelias his uncle, while all +the people wondered at the stranger. And he stood in the doorway and +cried, "Come out, come out, Pelias the Valiant, and fight for your +kingdom like a man." + +Pelias came out, wondering. "Who are you, bold youth?" he cried. + +"I am Jason, the son of AEson, the heir of all the land." + +Then Pelias lifted up his hands and eyes and wept, or seemed to weep, +and blessed the gods who had brought his nephew to him, never to leave +him more. "For," said he, "I have but three daughters, and no son +to be my heir. You shall marry whichsoever of my daughters you shall +choose. But come, come in and feast." + +So he drew Jason in and spoke to him so lovingly, and feasted him so +well, that Jason's anger passed. + +When supper was ended his three cousins came into the hall, and Jason +thought he would like well to have one of them for his wife. + +But soon he looked at Pelias, and when he saw that he still wept, he +said, "Why do you look so sad, my uncle?" + +Then Pelias sighed heavily again and again, like a man who had to tell +some dreadful story, and was afraid to begin. + +At last he said, "For seven long years and more have I never known a +quiet night, and no more will he who comes after me, till the Golden +Fleece be brought home." + +Then he told Jason the story of Phrixus and of the Golden Fleece, and +told him what was a lie, that Phrixus' spirit tormented him day and +night. And his daughters came and told the same tale, and wept and +said, "Oh, who will bring home the Golden Fleece, that the spirit +of Phrixus may rest, and that we may rest also, for he never lets us +sleep in peace?" + +Jason sat awhile, sad and silent, for he had often heard of that +Golden Fleece, but he looked on it as a thing hopeless and impossible +for any mortal man to win. + +When Pelias saw him silent he began to talk of other things. "One +thing there is," said Pelias, "on which I need your advice, for, +though you are young, I see in you a wisdom beyond your years. There +is one neighbor of mine whom I dread more than all men on earth. I am +stronger than he now and can command him, but I know that if he stay +among us, he will work my ruin in the end. Can you give me a plan, +Jason, by which I can rid myself of that man?" + +After a while, Jason answered half-laughing, "Were I you, I would send +him to fetch that same Golden Fleece, for if he once set forth after +it, you would never be troubled with him more." + +At that a little smile came across the lips of Pelias, and a flash of +wicked joy into his eyes. Jason saw it and started, and he remembered +the warning of the old man, and his own one sandal and the oracle, and +he saw that he was taken in a trap. + +But Pelias only answered gently, "My son, he shall be sent forthwith." + +"You mean me!" cried Jason, starting up, "because I came here with one +sandal," and he lifted his fist angrily, while Pelias stood up to +him like a wolf at bay. Whether of the two was the stronger and the +fiercer it would be hard to tell. + +But after a moment Pelias spoke gently, "Why so rash, my son? I have +not harmed you. You will go, and that gladly, for you have a hero's +heart within you, and the love of glory." + +Jason knew that he was entrapped, but he cried aloud, "You have well +spoken, cunning uncle of mine, I love glory. I will go and fetch the +Golden Fleece. Promise me but this in return, and keep your word as I +keep mine. Treat my father lovingly while I am gone, for the sake of +the all-seeing Zeus, and give me up the kingdom for my own on the day +that I bring back the Golden Fleece." + +Then Pelias looked at him and almost loved him, in the midst of all +his hate, and he said, "I promise, and I will perform. It will be no +shame to give up my kingdom to the man who wins that fleece." + +So they both went and lay down to sleep. But Jason could not sleep for +thinking how he was to win the Golden Fleece. Sometimes Phrixus seemed +to call him in a thin voice, faint and low, as if it came from far +across the sea. Sometimes he seemed to see the eyes of Hera, and to +hear her words again, "Call on me in the hour of need, and see if the +Immortals can forget." + +On the morrow Jason went to Pelias and said, "Give me a lamb, that +I may sacrifice to Hera." And as he stood by the altar Hera sent a +thought into his mind. And he went back to Pelias and said, "If you +are indeed in earnest, give me two heralds that they may go round to +all the Princes, who were pupils of the Centaur with me. Then together +we will fit out a ship, and take what shall befall." + +At that Pelias praised his wisdom and hastened to send the heralds +out, for he said in his heart, "Let all the Princes go with Jason, +and, like him, never return, so shall I be lord of the land and the +greatest king in Hellas." + + + + +III + +HOW THEY BUILT THE SHIP ARGO + + +So the heralds went out and cried to all the heroes, "Who dare come to +the adventures of the Golden Fleece?" + +And Hera stirred the hearts of all the Princes, and they came from all +their valleys to the yellow sand of Iolcos by the sea. + +All the city came out to meet them, and the men were never tired with +looking at their heights and their beauty and the glitter of their +arms. + +But the women sighed over them and whispered, "Alas, they are all +going to their death!" + +Then the heroes felled the mountain pines and shaped them with the +axe, and Argus the famed shipbuilder taught them to build a galley, +the first long ship which ever sailed the seas. They named her Argo, +after Argus the shipbuilder, and worked at her all day long. + +But Jason went away into a far-off land, till he found Orpheus the +prince of minstrels, where he dwelt in his cave. + +And he asked him, "Will you leave your mountains, Orpheus, my +playfellow in old times, and sail with the heroes to bring home the +Golden Fleece? And will you charm for us all men and all monsters with +your magic harp and song?" + +Then Orpheus sighed, "Have I not had enough of toil and of weary +wandering far and wide, since I lived in Cheiron's cave, above Iolcos +by the sea? And now must I go out again, to the ends of all the +earth, far away into the misty darkness? But a friend's demand must be +obeyed." + +So Orpheus rose up sighing, and took his harp. He led Jason to the +holy oak, and he bade him cut down a bough and sacrifice to Hera. And +they took the bough and came to Iolcos, and nailed it to the prow of +the ship. + +And at last the ship was finished, and they tried to launch her down +the beach; but she was too heavy for them to move her, and her keel +sank deep into the sand. + +Then all the heroes looked at each other blushing, but Jason spoke +and said, "Let us ask the magic bough; perhaps it can help us in our +need." + +And a voice came from the bough, and Jason heard the words it said, +and bade Orpheus play upon the harp, while the heroes waited round, +holding the pine-trunk rollers to help the Argo toward the sea. + +Then Orpheus took his harp and began his magic song. And the good ship +Argo heard him and longed to be away and out at sea, till she stirred +in every timber, and heaved from stem to stern, and leapt up from the +sand upon the rollers, and plunged onward like a gallant horse till +she rushed into the whispering sea. + +And they stored her well with food and water, and settled themselves +each man to his oar, keeping time to the harp of Orpheus. + +Then away across the bay they rowed southward, while the people lined +the cliffs. But the women wept while the men shouted at the starting +of that gallant crew. + + + + +IV + +HOW THE ARGONAUTS WON THE GOLDEN FLEECE + + +The heroes rowed across the bay, and while they waited there for a +southwest wind, they chose themselves a captain from their crew. And +some called for the strongest and hugest to be their captain, but more +called for Jason, because he was the wisest of them all. + +So Jason was chosen captain, and each hero vowed to stand by him +faithfully in the adventure of the Golden Fleece. + +They sailed onward and northward to Pelion. And their hearts yearned +for the dear old mountain, as they thought of the days gone by, of the +sports of their boyhood, and their hunting, and their lessons in the +cave beneath the cliff. Then at last they said, "Let us land here and +climb the dear old hill once more. We are going on a fearful journey. +Who knows if we shall see Pelion again? Let us go up to Cheiron our +master, and ask his blessing ere we start." + +So the helmsman steered them to the shore, under the crags of Pelion, +and they went up through the dark pine-forests toward the Centaur's +cave. + +Then, as Cheiron saw them, he leapt up and welcomed them every one, +and set a feast of venison before them. And after supper all the +heroes clapped their hands and called on Orpheus to sing, but he +refused, and said, "How can I, who am the younger, sing before our +ancient host?" + +So they called on Cheiron to sing. And he sang of heroes who fought +with fists and teeth, and how they tore up the pine-trees in their +fury, and hurled great crags of stone, while the mountains thundered +with the battle, and the land was wasted far and wide. + +And the heroes praised his song right heartily, for some of them had +helped in that great fight. + +Then Orpheus took the lyre and sang of the making of the wondrous +world. And as he sang, his voice rose from the cave above the crags, +and through the tree-tops. The trees bowed their heads when they heard +it, and the forest beasts crept close to listen, and the birds forsook +their nests and hovered near. And old Cheiron clapped his hands +together and beat his hoofs upon the ground, for wonder at that magic +song. + +Now the heroes came down to the ship, and Cheiron came down with +them, weeping, and kissed them one by one, and promised to them great +renown. + +And the heroes wept when they left him, till their great hearts could +weep no more, for he was kind and just, and wiser than all beasts and +men. + +Then Cheiron went up to a cliff and prayed for them, that they might +come home safe and well, while the heroes rowed away and watched +him standing on his cliff above the sea, with his great hands raised +toward heaven, and his white locks waving in the wind. They strained +their eyes to watch him to the last, for they felt that they should +look on him no more. + +So they rowed on over the long swell of the sea eastward, and out into +the open sea which we now call the Black Sea. + +All feared that dreadful sea, and its rocks and fogs and bitter +storms, and the heroes trembled for all their courage, as they came +into that wild Black Sea, and saw it stretching out before them, +without a shore, as far as eye could see. + +Then Orpheus spoke and warned them that they must come now to the +wandering blue rocks. + +Soon they saw them, and their blue peaks shone like spires and castles +of gray glass, while an ice-cold wind blew from them and chilled all +the heroes' hearts. + +As they neared them, they could see the rocks heaving, as they rolled +upon the long sea-waves, crashing and grinding together, till the roar +went up to heaven. + +The heroes' hearts sank within them, and they lay upon their oars in +fear, but Orpheus called to the helmsman, "Between the blue rocks we +must pass, so look for an opening, and be brave, for Hera is with us." + +The cunning helmsman stood silent, clenching his teeth, till he saw a +heron come flying mast-high toward the rocks, and hover awhile before +them, as if looking for a passage through. Then he cried, "Hera has +sent us a pilot; let us follow the bird." + +The heron flapped to and fro a moment till he saw a hidden gap, and +into it he rushed like an arrow, while the heroes watched what would +befall. + +And the blue rocks dashed together as the bird fled swiftly through, +but they struck but one feather from his tail, and then rebounded at +the shock. + +Then the helmsman cheered the heroes, and they shouted, while the +oars bent beneath their strokes as they rushed between those toppling +ice-crags. But ere the rocks could meet again they had passed them, +and were safe out in the open sea. + +After that they sailed on wearily along the coast, past many a mighty +river's mouth, and past many a barbarous tribe. And at day dawn they +looked eastward, till, shining above the tree-tops, they saw the +golden roofs of King Aietes, the Child of the Sun. + +Then out spoke the helmsman, "We are come to our goal at last, for +there are the roofs of Aietes, and the woods where all poisons grow. +But who can tell us where among them is hid the Golden Fleece?" + +But Jason cheered the heroes, for his heart was high and bold, and he +said, "I will go alone to Aietes, and win him with soft words. Better +so than to go altogether and to come to blows at once." But the heroes +would not stay behind so they rowed boldly up the stream. + +And a dream came to Aietes and filled his heart with fear. Then he +leapt up and bade his servants bring his chariot, that he might go +down to the river-side, and appease the nymphs and the heroes whose +spirits haunt the bank. + +So he went down in his golden chariot, and his daughters by his side, +Medeia, the fair witch-maiden, and Chalciope, who had been Phrixus' +wife, and behind him a crowd of servants and soldiers, for he was a +rich and mighty prince. + +And as he drove down by the reedy river, he saw the Argo sliding up +beneath the bank, and many a hero in her, like Immortals for beauty +and strength. But Jason was the noblest of all, for Hera, who loved +him, gave him beauty and height and terrible manhood. + +When they came near together and looked into each other's eyes, the +heroes were awed before Aietes as he shone in his chariot like his +father, the glorious Sun. For his robes were of rich gold tissue, and +the rays of his diadem flashed fire. And in his hand he bore a jeweled +scepter, which glittered like the stars. + +Sternly Aietes looked at the heroes, and sternly he spoke and loud, +"Who are you, and what want you here that you come to our shore? Know +this is my kingdom and these are my people who serve me. Never yet +grew they tired in battle, and well they know how to face a foe." + +And the heroes sat silent awhile before the face of that ancient King. +But Hera, the awful goddess, put courage into Jason's heart, and he +rose and shouted loudly in answer to the King. + +"We are no lawless men. We come, not to plunder or carry away slaves +from your land, but we have come on a quest to bring home the Golden +Fleece. And these too, my bold comrades, they are no nameless men, for +some are the sons of Immortals, and some of heroes far renowned. We +too never tire in battle, and know well how to give blows and to +take. Yet we wish to be guests at your table; it will be better so for +both." + +Then Aietes' rage rushed up like a whirlwind, and his eyes flashed +fire as he heard; but he crushed his anger down in his heart and spoke +mildly. + +"If you will fight, then many a man must die. But if you will be ruled +by me you will find it better far to choose the best man among you, +and let him fulfil the labors which I demand. Then I will give him the +Golden Fleece for a prize and a glory to you all." + +So he said, and then turned his horses and drove back in silence to +the town. + +The heroes sat dumb with sorrow, for there was no facing the thousands +of King Aietes' men and the fearful chance of war. + +But Chalciope, the widow of Phrixus, went weeping to the town, for she +remembered her husband and all the pleasures of her youth while she +watched the fair face of his kinsmen and their long locks of golden +hair. + +And she whispered to Medeia, her sister, "Why should all these brave +men die? Why does not my father give up the fleece, that my husband's +spirit may have rest?" + +Medeia's heart pitied the heroes, and Jason most of all, and she +answered, "Our father is stern and terrible, and who can win the +Golden Fleece?" + +But Chalciope said, "These men are not like our men; there is nothing +which they cannot dare nor do." + +Then Medeia thought of Jason and his brave countenance, and said, "If +there was one among them who knew no fear, I could show him how to win +the fleece." + +So in the dusk of the evening they went down to the river-side, +Chalciope and Medeia the witch-maiden, and with them a lad. And the +lad crept forward, among the beds of reeds, till he came to where +Jason kept ward on shore, leaning upon his lance, full of thought. + +And the lad said, "Chalciope waits for you, to talk about the Golden +Fleece." + +Then Jason went boldly with the boy and found the two Princesses. When +Chalciope saw him, she wept and took his hands and cried, "O cousin of +my beloved Phrixus, go home before you die!" + +"It would be base to go home now, fair Princess, and to have sailed +all these seas in vain." + +Then both the Princesses besought him, but Jason said, "It is too late +to return!" + +"But you know not," said Medeia, "what he must do who would win +the fleece. He must tame the two brazen-footed bulls, which breathe +devouring flame, and with them he must plow ere nightfall four acres +in a field. He must sow the acres with serpents' teeth, of which each +tooth springs up into an armed man. Then he must fight with all these +warriors. And little will it profit him to conquer them, for the +fleece is guarded by a serpent more huge than any mountain pine. Over +his body you must step if you would reach the Golden Fleece." + +Then Jason laughed bitterly: "Unjustly is that fleece kept here, and +by an unjust and lawless King, and unjustly shall I die in my youth, +for I will attempt it ere another sun be set." + +Medeia trembled and said, "No mortal man can reach that fleece unless +I guide him through." + +But Jason cried, "No wall so high but it may be climbed at last, and +no wood so thick but it may be crawled through. No serpent so wary +but he may be charmed, and I may yet win the Golden Fleece, if a wise +maiden help bold men." + +And he looked at Medeia with his glittering eye, till she blushed and +trembled and said, "Who can face the fire of the bulls' breath and +fight ten thousand armed men?" + +"He whom you help," said Jason, flattering her, "for your fame is +spread over all the earth." + +And Medeia said slowly, "Why should you die? I have an ointment here. +I made it from the magic ice-flower. Anoint yourself with that, and +you shall have in you the strength of seven, and anoint your shield +with it, and neither fire nor sword shall harm you. Anoint your helmet +with it, before you sow the serpents' teeth, and when the sons of +earth spring up, cast your helmet among them, and every man of them +shall perish." + +Then Jason fell on his knees before her, and thanked her and kissed +her hands, and she gave him the vase of ointment, and fled trembling +through the reeds. + +And Jason told his comrades what had happened, and showed them the box +of ointment. + +So at sunrise Jason went and bathed and anointed himself from head to +foot, and his shield and his helmet and his weapons. And when the sun +had risen, Jason sent two of his heroes to tell Aietes that he was +ready for the fight. + +Up among the marble walls they went, and beneath the roofs of gold, +and stood in the hall of Aietes, while he grew pale with rage. + +"Fulfil your promise to us, Child of the blazing Sun," the heroes +cried to King Aietes. "Give us the serpents' teeth, and let loose the +fiery bulls, for we have found a champion among us, who can win the +Golden Fleece!" + +Aietes grew more pale with rage, for he had fancied that they had fled +away by night, but he could not break his promise, so he gave them the +serpents' teeth. Then he called his chariot and his horses, and sent +heralds through all the town, and all the people went out with him to +the dreadful War-god's field. + +There Aietes sat upon his throne, with his warriors on each hand, +thousands and tens of thousands clothed from head to foot in steel +chain mail. And the people and women crowded to every window and bank +and wall, while the heroes stood together, a mere handful in the midst +of that great host. + +Chalciope was there, and Medeia, wrapped closely in her veil; but +Aietes did not know that she was muttering cunning spells between her +lips. + +Then Jason cried, "Fulfil your promise, and let your fiery bulls come +forth!" + +Aietes bade open the gates, and the magic bulls leapt out. Their +brazen hoofs rang upon the ground as they rushed with lowered heads +upon Jason, but he never flinched a step. The flame of their breath +swept round him, but it singed not a hair of his head. And the bulls +stopped short and trembled when Medeia began her spell. + +Then Jason sprang upon the nearest, and seized him by the horns, and +up and down they wrestled, till the bull fell groveling on his knees. +For the heart of the bull died within him, beneath the steadfast eye +of that dark witch-maiden and the magic whisper of her lips. + +So both the bulls were tamed and yoked, and Jason bound them to the +plow and goaded them onward with his lance, till he had plowed the +sacred field. And all the heroes shouted, but Aietes bit his lips with +rage, for half of Jason's work was done. + +Then Jason took the serpents' teeth and sowed them, and waited what +would befall. + +And Medeia looked at him and at his helmet, lest he should forget the +lesson she had taught him. + +Now every furrow heaved and bubbled, and out of every clod arose a +man. Out of the earth they arose by thousands, each clad from head +to foot in steel, and drew their swords and rushed on Jason where he +stood in the midst alone. + +The heroes grew pale with fear for him, but Aietes laughed an angry +laugh. + +Then Jason snatched off his helmet and hurled it into the thickest of +the throng. And hate and fear and suspicion came upon them, and one +cried to his fellows, "Thou didst strike me," and another, "Thou art +Jason, thou shalt die," and each turned his hand against the rest, +and they fought and were never weary, till they all lay dead upon the +ground. + +And the magic furrows opened, and the kind earth took them home again, +and Jason's work was done. + +Then the heroes rose and shouted, and Jason cried to the King, "Lead +me to the Golden Fleece this moment before the sun goes down." + +But Aietes thought, "Who is this, who is proof against all magic? He +may kill the serpent yet!" So he delayed, and sat taking counsel with +his princes. Afterwards he bade a herald cry, "To-morrow we will meet +these heroes and speak about the Golden Fleece!" + +Then he turned and looked at Medeia. "This is your doing, false +witch-maid," he said; "you have helped these yellow-haired strangers." + +Medeia shrank and trembled, and her face grew pale with fear, and +Aietes knew that she was guilty, and he whispered, "If they win the +fleece, you die." + +Now the heroes went marching toward their ship, growling, like lions +cheated of their prey. "Let us go together to the grove and take +the fleece by force," they said. But Jason held them back, while he +praised them for brave heroes, for he hoped for Medeia's help. + +And after a time she came trembling, and wept a long while before she +spoke. At last she said, "I must die, for my father has found out that +I have helped you." + +But all the heroes cried, "If you die we die with you, for without you +we cannot win the fleece, and home we will never go without it." + +"You need not die," said Jason to the witch-maiden. "Flee home with +us across the sea. Show us but how to win the fleece, and come with us +and you shall be my queen, and rule over the rich princes in Iolcos by +the sea." + +And all the heroes pressed round and vowed to her that she should be +their queen. + +Medeia wept and hid her face in her hands. "Must I leave my home and +my people?" she sobbed. "But the lot is cast: I will show you how to +win the Golden Fleece. Bring up your ship to the woodside, and moor +her there against the bank. And let Jason come up at midnight and one +brave comrade with him, and meet me beneath the wall." + +Then all the heroes cried together, "I will go--and I--and I!" + +But Medeia calmed them and said, "Orpheus shall go with Jason, and +take his magic harp." + +And Orpheus laughed for joy and clapped his hands, because the choice +had fallen on him. + +So at midnight they went up the bank and found Medeia, and she brought +them to a thicket beside the War-god's gate. + +And the base of the gate fell down and the brazen doors flew wide, +and Medeia and the heroes ran forward, and hurried through the poison +wood, guided by the gleam of the Golden Fleece, until they saw it +hanging on one vast tree in the midst. + +Jason would have sprung to seize it, but Medeia held him back and +pointed to the tree-foot, where a mighty serpent lay, coiled in and +out among the roots. + +When the serpent saw them coming, he lifted up his head and watched +them with his small bright eyes, and flashed his forked tongue. + +But Medeia called gently to him, and he stretched out his long spotted +neck, and licked her hand. Then she made a sign to Orpheus, and he +began his magic song. + +And as he sung, the forest grew calm, and the leaves on every tree +hung still, and the serpent's head sank down and his coils grew limp, +and his glittering eyes closed lazily, till he breathed as gently as a +child. + +Jason leapt forward warily and stept across that mighty snake, and +tore the fleece from off the tree-trunk. Then the witch-maiden with +Jason and Orpheus turned and rushed down to the bank where the Argo +lay. + +There was silence for a moment, when Jason held the Golden Fleece on +high. Then he cried, "Go now, good Argo, swift and steady, if ever you +would see Pelion more." + +And she went, as the heroes drove her, grim and silent all, with +muffled oars. On and on, beneath the dewy darkness, they fled swiftly +down the swirling stream, on and on till they heard the merry music of +the surge. + +Into the surge they rushed, and the Argo leapt the breakers like a +horse, till the heroes stopped, all panting, each man upon his oar, as +she slid into the broad sea. + +Then Orpheus took his harp and sang a song of praise, till the heroes' +hearts rose high again, and they rowed on, stoutly and steadfastly, +away into the darkness of the West. + + + + +V + +HOW THE ARGONAUTS REACHED HOME + + +So the heroes fled away in haste, but Aietes manned his fleet and +followed them. + +Then Medeia, the dark witch-maiden, laid a cruel plot, for she killed +her young brother who had come with her, and cast him into the sea, +and said, "Ere my father can take up his body and bury it, he must +wait long and be left far behind." + +And all the heroes shuddered, and looked one at the other in shame. +When Aietes came to the place he stopped a long while and bewailed his +son, and took him up and went home. + +So the heroes escaped for a time, but Zeus saw that evil deed, and out +of the heavens he sent a storm and swept the Argo far from her course. +And at last she struck on a shoal, and the waves rolled over her and +through her, and the heroes lost all hope of life. + +Then out spoke the magic bough, which stood upon the Argo's prow, "For +your guilt, you must sail a weary way to where Circe, Medeia's sister, +dwells among the islands of the West; she shall cleanse you of your +guilt." + +Whither they went I cannot tell, nor how they came to Circe's isle, +but at last they reached the fairy island of the West. + +And Jason bid them land, and as they went ashore they met Circe coming +down toward the ship, and they trembled when they saw her, for her +hair and face and robes shone flame. + +Then Circe cried to Medeia, "Ah, wretched girl, have you forgotten +your sins that you come hither, where the flowers bloom all the year +round? Where is your aged father, and the brother whom you killed? I +will send you food and wine, but your ship must not stay here, for she +is black with your wickedness." + +And the heroes prayed, but in vain, and cried, "Cleanse us from our +guilt!" but she sent them away and said, "Go eastward, that you may be +cleansed, and after that you may go home." + +Slowly and wearily they sailed on, till one summer's eve they came to +a flowery island, and as they neared it they heard sweet songs. + +[Illustration: ORPHEUS SANG TILL HIS VOICE DROWNED THE SONG OF THE +SIRENS.] + +Medeia started when she heard, and cried, "Beware, O heroes, for here +are the rocks of the Sirens. You must pass close by them, but those +who listen to that song are lost." + +Then Orpheus spoke, he, the king of all minstrels, "Let them match +their song against mine;" so he caught up his lyre and began his magic +song. + +Now they could see the Sirens. Three fair maidens, sitting on the +beach, beneath a rock red in the setting sun. + +Slowly they sung and sleepily, and as the heroes listened the oars +fell from their hands, and their heads dropped, and they closed their +heavy eyes, and all their toil seemed foolishness, and they thought of +their renown no more. + +Then Medeia clapped her hands together and cried, "Sing louder, +Orpheus, sing louder." + +And Orpheus sang till his voice drowned the song of the Sirens, and +the heroes caught their oars again and cried, "We will be men, and we +will dare and suffer to the last." + +And as Orpheus sang, they dashed their oars into the sea and kept +time to his music as they fled fast away, and the Sirens' voices died +behind them, in the hissing of the foam. + +But when the Sirens saw that they were conquered, they shrieked for +envy and rage and leapt into the sea, and were changed into rocks. + +Then, as the Argonauts rowed on, they came to a fearful whirlpool, and +they could neither go back nor forward, for the waves caught them and +spun them round and round. While they struggled in the whirlpool, +they saw near them on the other side of the strait a rock stand in the +water--a rock smooth and slippery, and half way up a misty cave. + +When Orpheus saw the rock he groaned. "Little will it help us," he +cried, "to escape the jaws of the whirlpool. For in that cave lives a +sea-hag, and from her cave she fishes for all things that pass by, and +never ship's crew boasted that they came safe past her rock." + +Then out of the depths came Thetis, the silver-footed bride of one of +the heroes. She came with all her nymphs around her, and they played +like snow-white dolphins, diving in from wave to wave before the ship, +and in her wake and beside her, as dolphins play. And they caught the +ship and guided her, and passed her on from hand to hand, and tossed +her through the billows, as maidens do the ball. + +And when the sea-hag stooped to seize the ship, they struck her, and +she shrank back into her cave affrighted, and the Argo leapt safe past +her, while a fair breeze rose behind. + +Then Thetis and her nymphs sank down to their coral caves beneath the +sea, and their gardens of green and purple, where flowers bloom all +the year round, while the heroes went on rejoicing, yet dreading what +might come next. + +They rowed away for many a weary day till their water was spent and +their food eaten, but at last they saw a long steep island. + +"We will land here," they cried, "and fill our water casks upon the +shore." + +But when they came nearer to the island they saw a wondrous sight. For +on the cliffs stood a giant, taller than any mountain pine. + +When he saw the Argo and her crew he came toward them, more swiftly +than the swiftest horse, and he shouted to them, "You are pirates, you +are robbers! If you land you shall die the death." + +Then the heroes lay on their oars in fear, but Medeia spoke: "I know +this giant. If strangers land he leaps into his furnace, which flames +there among the hills, and when he is red-hot he rushes on them, and +burns them in his brazen hands. But he has but one vein in all his +body filled with liquid fire, and this vein is closed with a nail. I +will find out where the nail is placed, and when I have got it into my +hands you shall water your ship in peace." + +So they took the witch-maiden and left her alone on the shore. And she +stood there all alone in her beauty till the giant strode back red-hot +from head to heel. + +When he saw the maiden he stopped. And she looked boldly up into his +face and sang a magic song, and she held up a flash of crystal and +said, "I am Medeia, the witch-maiden. My sister Circe gave me this and +said, 'Go, reward Talus, the faithful giant, for his fame is gone out +into all lands.' So come and I will pour this into your veins, that +you may live for ever young." + +And he listened to her false words, that simple Talus, and came near. + +But Medeia said, "Dip yourself in the sea first and cool yourself, +lest you burn my tender hands. Then show me the nail in your vein, and +in that will I pour the liquid from the crystal flask." + +Then that simple Talus dipped himself in the sea, and came and knelt +before Medeia and showed the secret nail. + +And she drew the nail out gently, but she poured nothing in, and +instead the liquid fire streamed forth. + +Talus tried to leap up, crying, "You have betrayed me, false +witch-maiden." + +But she lifted up her hands before him and sang, till he sank beneath +her spell. + +And as he sank, the earth groaned beneath his weight and the liquid +fire ran from his heel, like a stream of lava, to the sea. + +Then Medeia laughed and called to the heroes, "Come and water your +ship in peace." + +So they came and found the giant lying dead, and they fell down and +kissed Medeia's feet, and watered their ship, and took sheep and oxen, +and so left that inhospitable shore. + +At the next island they went ashore and offered sacrifices, and +Orpheus purged them from their guilt. + +And at last, after many weary days and nights, all worn and tired, the +heroes saw once more Pelion and Iolcos by the sea. + +They ran the ship ashore, but they had no strength left to haul her +up the beach, and they crawled out on the pebbles and wept, till they +could weep no more. + +For the houses and the trees were all altered, and all the faces they +saw were strange, so that their joy was swallowed up in sorrow. + +The people crowded round and asked them, "Who are you, that you sit +weeping here?" + +"We are the sons of your princes, who sailed in search of the Golden +Fleece, and we have brought it home. Give us news of our fathers and +mothers, if any of them be left alive on earth." + +Then there was shouting and laughing and weeping, and all the kings +came to the shore, and they led away the heroes to their homes, and +bewailed the valiant dead. + +And Jason went up with Medeia to the palace of his uncle Pelias. And +when he came in, Pelias and AEson, Jason's father, sat by the fire, two +old men, whose heads shook together as they tried to warm themselves +before the fire. + +Jason fell down at his father's knee and wept and said, "I am your own +son Jason, and I have brought home the Golden Fleece and a Princess of +the Sun's race for my bride." + +Then his father clung to him like a child, and wept, and would not let +him go, and cried, "Promise never to leave me till I die." + +And Jason turned to his uncle Pelias, "Now give me up the kingdom and +fulfil your promise, as I have fulfilled mine." And his uncle gave him +his kingdom. + +So Jason stayed at Iolcos by the sea. + + + + +THESEUS + +ADAPTED BY MARY MACGREGOR + + + + +I + +HOW THESEUS LIFTED THE STONE + + +Once upon a time there was a Princess called Aithra. She had one fair +son named Theseus, the bravest lad in all the land. And Aithra never +smiled but when she looked at him, for her husband had forgotten her, +and lived far away. + +Aithra used to go up to the temple of the gods, and sit there all day, +looking out across the bay, over the purple peaks of the mountains to +the Attic shore beyond. + +When Theseus was full fifteen years old, she took him up with her to +the temple, and into the thickets which grew in the temple yard. She +led him to a tall plane-tree, and there she sighed and said, "Theseus, +my son, go into that thicket and you will find at the plane-tree foot +a great flat stone. Lift it, and bring me what lies underneath." + +Then Theseus pushed his way in through the thick bushes, and searching +among their roots he found a great flat stone, all overgrown with ivy +and moss. + +He tried to lift it, but he could not. And he tried till the sweat ran +down his brow from the heat, and the tears from his eyes for shame, +but all was of no avail. And at last he came back to his mother and +said, "I have found the stone, but I cannot lift it, nor do I think +that any man could, in all the land." + +Then she sighed and said, "The day may come when you will be a +stronger man than lives in all the land." And she took him by the hand +and went into the temple and prayed, and came down again with Theseus +to her home. + +And when a full year was past, she led Theseus up again to the temple +and bade him lift the stone, but he could not. + +Then she sighed again and said the same words again, and went down and +came again next year. But Theseus could not lift the stone then, nor +the year after. + +He longed to ask his mother the meaning of that stone, and what might +be underneath it, but her face was so sad that he had not the heart to +ask. + +So he said to himself, "The day shall surely come when I will lift +that stone." + +And in order to grow strong he spent all his days in wrestling and +boxing, and hunting the boar and the bull and the deer among rocks, +till upon all the mountains there was no hunter so swift as Theseus, +and all the people said, "Surely the gods are with the lad!" + +When his eighteenth year was past, Aithra led him up again to the +temple and said, "Theseus, lift the stone this day, or never know who +you are." + +And Theseus went into the thicket and stood over the stone and tugged +at it, and it moved. + +Then he said, "If I break my heart in my body it shall come up." And +he tugged at it once more, and lifted it, and rolled it over with a +shout. + +When he looked beneath it, on the ground lay a sword of bronze, with a +hilt of glittering gold, and beside it a pair of golden sandals. + +Theseus caught them up and burst through the bushes and leapt to his +mother, holding them high above his head. + +But when she saw them she wept long in silence, hiding her fair face +in her shawl. And Theseus stood by her and wept also, he knew not why. + +When she was tired of weeping Aithra lifted up her head and laid her +finger on her lips, and said, "Hide them in your cloak, Theseus, my +son, and come with me where we can look down upon the sea." + +They went outside the sacred wall and looked down over the bright blue +sea, and Aithra said, "Do you see the land at our feet?" + +And Theseus said, "Yes, this is where I was born and bred." + +And she asked, "Do you see the land beyond?" + +And the lad answered, "Yes, that is Attica, where the Athenian people +live!" + +"That is a fair land and large, Theseus, my son, and it looks towards +the sunny south. There the hills are sweet with thyme, and the meadows +with violet, and the nightingales sing all day in the thickets. There +are twelve towns well peopled, the homes of an ancient race. What +would you do, Theseus, if you were king of such a land?" + +Theseus stood astonished, as he looked across the broad bright sea +and saw the fair Attic shore. His heart grew great within him, and he +said, "If I were king of such a land, I would rule it wisely and well, +in wisdom and in might." + +And Aithra smiled and said, "Take, then, the sword and the sandals and +go to thy father AEgeus, King of Athens, and say to him, 'The stone is +lifted!' Then show him the sword and the sandals, and take what the +gods shall send." + +But Theseus wept, "Shall I leave you, O my mother?" + +She answered, "Weep not for me." Then she kissed Theseus and wept over +him, and went into the temple, and Theseus saw her no more. + + + + +II + +HOW THESEUS SLEW THE CLUB-BEARER AND THE PINE-BENDER + + +So Theseus stood there alone, with his mind full of many hopes. And +first he thought of going down to the harbor and hiring a swift ship +and sailing across the bay to Athens. But even that seemed too slow +for him, and he longed for wings to fly across the sea and find his +father. + +After a while his heart began to fail him, and he sighed and said +within himself, "What if my father have other sons around him, whom he +loves? What if he will not receive me? He has forgotten me ever since +I was born. Why should he welcome me now?" + +Then he thought a long while sadly, but at last he cried aloud, "Yes, +I will make him love me. I will win honor, and do such deeds that +AEgeus shall be proud of me though he had fifty other sons." + +"I will go by land and into the mountains, and so round to Athens. +Perhaps there I may hear of brave adventures, and do something which +shall win my father's love." + +So Theseus went by land and away into the mountains, with his father's +sword upon his thigh. And he went up into the gloomy glens, up and up, +till the lowland grew blue beneath his feet, and the clouds drove damp +about his head. But he went up and up, ever toiling on through bog and +brake, till he came to a pile of stones. + +On the stones a man was sitting wrapped in a cloak of bear-skin. When +he saw Theseus, he rose, and laughed till the glens rattled. + +"Who art thou, fair fly, who hast walked into the spider's web?" + +Theseus walked on steadily, and made no answer, but he thought, "Is +this some robber? Has an adventure come to me already?" + +But the strange man laughed louder than ever and said, "Bold fly, know +thou not these glens are the web from which no fly ever finds his way +out again, and I am the spider who eats the flies? Come hither and let +me feast upon you. It is of no use to run away, for these glens in the +mountain make so cunning a web, that through it no man can find his +way home." + +Still Theseus came steadily on, and he asked, "And what is your name, +bold spider, and where are your spider's fangs?" + +The strange man laughed again. "Men call me the Club-bearer, and here +is my spider's fang," and he lifted off from the stones at his side a +mighty club of bronze. "With this I pound all proud flies," he said. +"So give me up that gay sword of yours, and your mantle, and your +golden sandals, lest I pound you and by ill-luck you die!" + +But Theseus wrapped his mantle round his left arm quickly, in hard +folds, and drew his sword, and rushed upon the Club-bearer, and the +Club-bearer rushed on him. + +Thrice he struck at Theseus and made him bend under the blows like +a sapling. And thrice Theseus sprang upright after the blow, and he +stabbed at the Club-bearer with his sword, but the loose folds of the +bear-skin saved him. + +Then Theseus grew angry and closed with him, and caught him by the +throat, and they fell and rolled over together. But when Theseus rose +up from the ground the Club-bearer lay still at his feet. + +So Theseus took the strange man's club and his bear-skin and went upon +his journey down the glens, till he came to a broad green valley, and +he saw flocks and herds sleeping beneath the trees. And by the side +of a pleasant fountain were nymphs and shepherds dancing, but no one +piped to them as they danced. + +[Illustration: THEY LEAPT ACROSS THE POOL AND CAME TO HIM.] + +When they saw Theseus they shrieked, and the shepherds ran off and +drove away their flocks, while the nymphs dived into the fountain and +vanished. + +Theseus wondered and laughed, "What strange fancies have folks here, +who run away from strangers, and have no music when they dance." But +he was tired and dusty and thirsty, so he thought no more of them, +but drank and bathed in the clear pool, and then lay down in the shade +under a plane-tree, while the water sang him to sleep as it trickled +down from stone to stone. + +And when he woke he heard a whispering, and saw the nymphs peeping at +him across the fountain from the dark mouth of a cave, where they +sat on green cushions of moss. One said, "Surely he is not the +Club-bearer," and another, "He looks no robber, but a fair and gentle +youth." + +Then Theseus smiled and called them. "Fair nymphs, I am not the +Club-bearer. He sleeps among the kites and crows, but I have brought +away his bear-skin and his club." + +They leapt across the pool, and came to him, and called the shepherds +back. And Theseus told them how he had slain the Club-bearer, and the +shepherds kissed his feet and sang, "Now we shall feed our flocks in +peace, and not be afraid to have music when we dance. For the cruel +Club-bearer has met his match, and he will listen for our pipes no +more." + +Then the shepherds brought him kids' flesh and wine, and the nymphs +brought him honey from the rocks. + +And Theseus ate and drank with them, and they begged him to stay, but +he would not. + +"I have a great work to do;" he said, "I must go towards Athens." + +And the shepherds said, "You must look warily about you, lest you meet +the robber, called the Pine-bender. For he bends down two pine-trees +and binds all travelers hand and foot between them, and when he lets +the trees go their bodies are torn in sunder." + +But Theseus went on swiftly, for his heart burned to meet that cruel +robber. And in a pine-wood at last he met him, where the road ran +between high rocks. + +There the robber sat upon a stone by the wayside, with a young +fir-tree for a club across his knees, and a cord laid ready by his +side, and over his head, upon the fir-top, hung the bones of murdered +men. + +Then Theseus shouted to him, "Holla, thou valiant Pine-bender, hast +thou two fir-trees left for me?" + +The robber leapt to his feet and answered, pointing to the bones above +his head, "My larder has grown empty lately, so I have two fir-trees +ready for thee." + +He rushed on Theseus, lifting his club, and Theseus rushed upon him, +and they fought together till the greenwoods rang. + +Then Theseus heaved up a mighty stroke and smote the Pine-bearer down +upon his face, and knelt upon his back, and bound him with his own +cord, and said, "As thou hast done to others, so shall it be done +to thee." And he bent down two young fir-trees and bound the robber +between them for all his struggling and his prayers, and as he let the +trees go the robber perished, and Theseus went on, leaving him to the +hawks and crows. + +Clearing the land of monsters as he went, Theseus saw at last the +plain of Athens before him. + +And as he went up through Athens all the people ran out to see him, +for his fame had gone before him, and every one knew of his mighty +deeds, and they shouted, "Here comes the hero!" + +But Theseus went on sadly and steadfastly, for his heart yearned after +his father. He went up the holy stairs to the spot where the palace +of AEgeus stood. He went straight into the hall and stood upon the +threshold and looked round. + +He saw his cousins sitting at the table, and loud they laughed and +fast they passed the wine-cup round, but no AEgeus sat among them. + +They saw Theseus and called to him, "Holla, tall stranger at the door, +what is your will to-day?" + +"I come to ask for hospitality." + +"Then take it and welcome. You look like a hero and a bold warrior, +and we like such to drink with us." + +"I ask no hospitality of you; I ask it of AEgeus the King, the master +of this house." + +At that some growled, and some laughed and shouted, "Heyday! we are +all masters here." + +"Then I am master as much as the rest of you," said Theseus, and he +strode past the table up the hall, and looked around for AEgeus, but he +was nowhere to be seen. + +The revelers looked at him and then at each other, and each whispered +to the man next him, "This is a forward fellow; he ought to be thrust +out at the door." + +But each man's neighbor whispered in return, "His shoulders are broad; +will you rise and put him out?" So they all sat still where they were. + +Then Theseus called to the servants and said, "Go tell King AEgeus, +your master, that Theseus is here and asks to be his guest awhile." + +A servant ran and told AEgeus, where he sat in his chamber with Medeia, +the dark witch-woman, watching her eye and hand. + +And when AEgeus heard of Theseus he turned pale and again red, and rose +from his seat trembling, while Medeia, the witch, watched him like a +snake. + +"What is Theseus to you?" she asked. + +But he said hastily, "Do you not know who this Theseus is? The hero +who has cleared the country from all monsters. I must go out and +welcome him." + +So AEgeus came into the hall, and when Theseus saw him his heart leapt +into his mouth, and he longed to fall on his neck and welcome him. +But he controlled himself and thought, "My father may not wish for me, +after all. I will try him before I discover myself." And he bowed low +before AEgeus and said, "I have delivered the King's realm from many +monsters, therefore I am come to ask a reward of the King." + +Old AEgeus looked on him and loved him, but he only sighed and said, +"It is little that I can give you, noble lad, and nothing that is +worthy of you." + +"All I ask," said Theseus, "is to eat and drink at your table." + +"That I can give you," said AEgeus, "if at least I am master in my own +hall." + +Then he bade them put a seat for Theseus, and set before him the best +of the feast, and Theseus sat and ate so much that all the company +wondered at him, but always he kept his club by his side. + +But Medeia, the dark witch-maiden, was watching all the while, and she +saw how the heart of AEgeus opened to Theseus, and she said to herself, +"This youth will be master here, unless I hinder it." + +Then she went back modestly to her chamber, while Theseus ate and +drank, and all the servants whispered, "This, then, is the man who +killed the monsters! How noble are his looks, and how huge his size! +Ah, would he were our master's son!" + +Presently Medeia came forth, decked in all her jewels and her rich +Eastern robes, and looking more beautiful than the day, so that all +the guests could look at nothing else. And in her right hand she held +a golden cup, and in her left a flask of gold. She came up to Theseus, +and spoke in a sweet and winning voice, "Hail to the hero! drink of my +charmed cup, which gives rest after every toil and heals all wounds;" +and as she spoke she poured sparkling wine into the cup. + +Theseus looked up into her fair face and into her deep dark eyes, and +as he looked he shrank and shuddered, for they were dry eyes like the +eyes of a snake. + +Then he rose and said, "The wine is rich, and the wine-bearer fair. +Let her pledge me first herself in the cup that the wine may be +sweeter." + +Medeia turned pale and stammered, "Forgive me, fair hero, but I am ill +and dare drink no wine." + +Theseus looked again into her eyes and cried, "Thou shalt pledge me in +that cup or die!" + +Then Medeia shrieked and dashed the cup to the ground and fled, for +there was strong poison in that wine. + +And Medeia called her dragon chariot, and sprang into it, and fled +aloft, away over land and sea, and no man saw her more. + +[Illustration: THESEUS LOOKED UP INTO HER FAIR FACE.] + +AEgeus cried, "What have you done?" + +But Theseus said, "I have rid the land of one enchantment, now I will +rid it of one more." + +And he came close to AEgeus and drew from his cloak the sword and the +sandals, and said the words which his mother bade him, "The stone is +lifted." + +AEgeus stepped back a pace and looked at the lad till his eyes grew +dim, and then he cast himself on his neck and wept, and Theseus wept, +till they had no strength left to weep more. + +Then AEgeus turned to all the people and cried, "Behold my son!" + +But the cousins were angry and drew their swords against Theseus. +Twenty against one they fought, and yet Theseus beat them all, till at +last he was left alone in the palace with his new-found father. + +But before nightfall all the town came up, with dances and songs, +because the King had found an heir to his royal house. + +So Theseus stayed with his father all the winter through, and when +spring drew near, he saw all the people of Athens grow sad and silent. +And he asked the reason of the silence and the sadness, but no one +would answer him a word. + +Then he went to his father and asked him, but AEgeus turned away his +face and wept. + +But when spring had come, a herald stood in the market-place and +cried, "O people and King of Athens, where is your yearly tribute?" +Then a great lamentation arose throughout the city. + +But Theseus stood up before the herald and cried, "I am a stranger +here. Tell me, then, why you come?" + +"To fetch the tribute which King AEgeus promised to King Minos. Blood +was shed here unjustly, and King Minos came to avenge it, and would +not leave Athens till the land had promised him tribute--seven youths +and seven maidens every year, who go with me in a black-sailed ship." + +Then Theseus groaned inwardly and said, "I will go myself with these +youths and maidens, and kill King Minos upon his royal throne." + +But AEgeus shrieked and cried, "You shall not go, my son, you shall not +go to die horribly, as those youths and maidens die. For Minos thrusts +them into a labyrinth, and no one can escape from its winding ways, +before they meet the Minotaur, the monster who feeds upon the flesh +of men. There he devours them horribly, and they never see this land +again." + +And Theseus said, "Therefore all the more will I go with them, and +slay the accursed Minotaur." + +Then AEgeus clung to his knees, but Theseus would not stay, and at +last he let him go, weeping bitterly, and saying only this last word, +"Promise me but this, if you return in peace, though that may hardly +be. Take down the black sail of the ship, for I shall watch for it all +day upon the cliffs, and hoist instead a white sail, that I may know +afar off that you are safe." + +And Theseus promised, and went out, and to the market-place, where the +herald stood and drew lots for the youths and maidens who were to sail +in that sad ship. + +The people stood wailing and weeping as the lot fell on this one and +on that, but Theseus strode into the midst and cried, "Here is one who +needs no lot. I myself will be one of the seven." + +And the herald asked in wonder, "Fair youth, do you know whither you +are going?" + +"I know," answered Theseus boldly; "let us go down to the black-sailed +ship." + +So they went down to the black-sailed ship, seven maidens and seven +youths, and Theseus before them all. And the people followed them, +lamenting. But Theseus whispered to his companions, "Have hope, for +the monster is not immortal." + +Then their hearts were comforted a little, but they wept as they went +on board; and the cliffs rang with the voice of their weeping. + + + + +III + +HOW THESEUS SLEW THE MINOTAUR + + +And the ship sailed slowly on, till at last it reached the land of +Crete, and Theseus stood before King Minos, and they looked each other +in the face. + +Minos bade take the youths and the maidens to prison, and cast them to +the Minotaur one by one. + +Then Theseus cried, "A boon, O Minos! Let me be thrown first to the +monster. For I came hither, for that very purpose, of my own will and +not by lot." + +"Who art thou, thou brave youth?" asked the King. + +"I am the son of AEgeus, the King of Athens, and I am come here to end +the yearly tribute." + +And Minos pondered a while, looking steadfastly at him, and he +thought, "The lad means to atone by his own death for his father's +sin;" and he answered mildly, "Go back in peace, my son. It is a pity +that one so brave should die." + +But Theseus said, "I have sworn that I will not go back till I have +seen the monster face to face." + +At that Minos frowned and said, "Then thou shalt see him." + +And they led Theseus away into the prison, with the other youths and +maidens. + +Now Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, saw Theseus as she came out of her +white stone hall, and she loved him for his courage and his beauty, +and she said, "It is shameful that such a youth should die." And by +night she went down to the prison and told him all her heart, and +said, "Flee down to your ship at once, for I have bribed the guards +before the door. Flee, you and all your friends, and go back in peace, +and take me with you. For I dare not stay after you are gone. My +father will kill me miserably, if he knows what I have done." + +And Theseus stood silent awhile, for he was astonished and confounded +by her beauty. + +But at last he said, "I cannot go home in peace till I have seen and +slain this Minotaur, and put an end to the terrors of my land." + +"And will you kill the Minotaur? How then will you do it?" asked +Ariadne in wonder. + +"I know not, nor do I care, but he must be strong if he be too strong +for me," said Theseus. + +Then she loved him all the more and said, "But when you have killed +him, how will you find your way out of the labyrinth?" + +"I know not, neither do I care, but it must be a strange road if I do +not find it out before I have eaten up the monster's carcass." + +Then Ariadne loved him yet more, and said, "Fair youth, you are too +bold, but I can help you, weak as I am. I will give you a sword, and +with that perhaps you may slay the monster, and a clue of thread, and +by that perhaps you may find your way out again. Only promise me that +if you escape you will take me home with you." + +Then Theseus laughed and said, "Am I not safe enough now?" And he hid +his sword, and rolled up the clue in his hand, and then he fell down +before Ariadne and kissed her hands and her feet, while she wept over +him a long while. Then the Princess went away, and Theseus lay down +and slept sweetly. + +When evening came the guards led him away to the labyrinth. And he +went down into that doleful gulf, and he turned on the left hand and +on the right hand, and went up and down till his head was dizzy, but +all the while he held the clue. For when he went in he fastened it to +a stone and left it to unroll out of his hand as he went on, and +it lasted till he met the Minotaur in a narrow chasm between black +cliffs. + +And when he saw the Minotaur, he stopped a while, for he had never +seen so strange a monster. His body was a man's, but his head was the +head of a bull, and his teeth were the teeth of a lion. When he saw +Theseus, he roared and put his head down and rushed right at him. + +But Theseus stepped aside nimbly, and as the monster passed by, cut +him in the knee, and ere he could turn in the narrow path, he followed +him, and stabbed him again and again from behind, till the monster +fled, bellowing wildly. + +Theseus followed him, holding the clue of thread in his left hand, and +at last he came up with him, where he lay panting, and caught him by +the horns, and forced his head back, and drove the keen sword through +his throat. + +Then Theseus turned and went back, limping and weary, feeling his +way by the clue of thread, till he came to the mouth of that doleful +place, and saw waiting for him--whom but Ariadne? + +And he whispered, "It is done," and showed her the sword. Then she +laid her finger on her lips, and led him to the prison and opened the +doors, and set all the prisoners free, while the guards lay sleeping +heavily, for Ariadne had drugged them with wine. + +So they fled to their ship together, and leapt on board and hoisted up +the sail, and the night lay dark around them, so that they escaped all +safe, and Ariadne became the wife of Theseus. + +But that fair Ariadne never came to Athens with her husband. Some say +that, as she lay sleeping on the shore, one of the gods found her +and took her up into the sky, and some say that the gods drove away +Theseus, and took Ariadne from him by force. But, however that may be, +in his haste or his grief, Theseus forgot to put up the white sail. + +Now AEgeus his father sat on the cliffs and watched day after day, and +strained his old eyes across the waters to see the ship afar. And when +he saw the black sail he gave up Theseus for dead, and in his grief he +fell into the sea and was drowned, and it is called the AEgean Sea to +this day. + +Then Theseus was King of Athens, and he guarded it and ruled it well, +and many wise things he did, so that his people honored him after he +was dead, for many a hundred years, as the father of their freedom and +of their laws. + + + + +HERCULES + +ADAPTED BY THOMAS CARTWRIGHT + + + + +I + +THE TWELVE LABORS OF HERCULES + + +Hercules, the hero of strength and courage, was the son of Jupiter and +Alcmene. His life was one long series of wonders. + +As soon as he was born, Juno, who hated Alcmene with an exceeding +great hatred, went to the Fates and begged them to make the life of +the newly-born babe hard and perilous. + +The Fates were three, namely, Clotho who spun the thread of life, +Lachesis who settled the lot of gods and mortals in life, and Atropos +who cut the thread of life spun by Clotho. + +When once the Fates had decided what the lot of any being, whether god +or man, was to be, Jupiter himself could not alter their decision. + +It was to these fateful three, then, that Juno made her prayer +concerning the infant Hercules. She could not, however, prevent him +from having an honorable career, since it was written that he should +triumph over all dangers and difficulties that might beset him. + +All that was conceded to her was that Hercules should be put under the +dominion of Eurystheus, King of Thebes, his eldest brother, a harsh +and pitiless man. This only half satisfied the hatred of Juno, but it +made the life of Hercules exceedingly bitter. + +In fact, Hercules was but a child, when Juno sent two enormous +serpents against him. These serpents, gliding into his cradle, were on +the point of biting the child when he, with his own hands, seized them +and strangled the life out of their slimy bodies. + +Having grown up to man's estate, Hercules did many mighty deeds of +valor that need not be recounted here. But the hatred of Juno always +pursued him. At length, when he had been married several years, she +made him mad and impelled him in his madness to kill his own beloved +children! + +When he came again to his sober senses, and learnt that he was the +murderer of his own offspring he was filled with horror, and betook +himself into exile so that he might hide his face from his fellow men. +After a time he went to the oracle at Delphi to ask what he should do +in atonement for his dreadful deed. + +He was ordered to serve his brother Eurystheus--who, by the help of +Juno, had robbed him of his kingdom--for twelve years. After this he +was to become one of the Immortals. Eurystheus feared that Hercules +might use his great strength and courage against him, in punishment +for the evil that he had done. He therefore resolved to banish him +and to impose such tasks upon him as must certainly bring about his +destruction. Hence arose the famous twelve labors of Hercules. + +Eurystheus first set Hercules to keep his sheep at Nemea and to +kill the lion that ofttimes carried off the sheep, and sometimes the +shepherd also. + +The man-eater lurked in a wood that was hard by the sheep-run. +Hercules would not wait to be attacked by him. Arming himself with a +heavy club and with a bow and arrows, he went in search of the lion's +lair and soon found it. + +Finding that arrows and club made no impression upon the thick skin of +the lion, the hero was constrained to trust entirely to his own thews +and sinews. Seizing the lion with both hands, he put forth all his +mighty strength and strangled the beast just as he had strangled the +serpents in his cradle. Then, having despoiled the dead man-eater of +his skin, Hercules henceforth wore this trophy as a garment, and as a +shield and buckler. + +In those days, there was in Greece a monstrous serpent known as the +Hydra of Lerna, because it haunted a marsh of that name whence it +issued in search of prey. As his second labor, Hercules was sent to +slay this creature. + +This reptile had nine heads of which the midmost was immortal. When +Hercules struck off one of these heads with his club, two others +at once appeared in its place. By the help of his servant, Hercules +burned off the nine heads, and buried the immortal one beneath a huge +rock. + +The blood of the Hydra was a poison so subtle that Hercules, by +dipping the points of his arrows therein, made them so deadly that no +mortal could hope to recover from a wound inflicted by them. We shall +see later that Hercules himself died from the poison of one of these +self-same arrows. + +The third labor imposed upon Hercules by Eurystheus was the capture of +the Arcadian Stag. This remarkable beast had brazen feet and antlers +of solid gold. Hercules was to carry the stag alive to Eurystheus. + +It proved no easy task to do this. The stag was so fleet of foot that +no one had been able to approach it. For more than a year, over hill +and dale, Hercules pursued the beast without ever finding a chance of +capturing it without killing it. + +At length he shot at it and wounded it with an arrow--not, you may +be sure, with one of the poisoned ones--and, having caught it thus +wounded, he carried it on his shoulder to his brother and thus +completed the third of his labors. + +In the neighborhood of Mount Erymanthus, in Arcadia, there lived, in +those far-off days, a savage boar that was in the habit of sallying +forth from his lair and laying waste the country round about, nor had +any man been able to capture or restrain him. To free the country from +the ravages of this monster was the fourth labor of Hercules. + +Having tracked the animal to his lurking place after chasing him +through the deep snow, Hercules caught him in a net and bore him away +in triumph on his shoulders to the feet of the amazed Eurystheus. + +Augeas, King of Elis, in Greece, not far from Mount Olympus, owned a +herd of oxen 3,000 in number. They were stabled in stables that had +not been cleaned out for thirty years. The stench was terrible and +greatly troubled the health of the land. Eurystheus set Hercules the +task of cleaning out these Augean stables in a single day! + +But the wit of the hero was equal to the occasion. With his great +strength he diverted the flow of two rivers that ran their courses +near the stables and made them flow right through the stables +themselves, and lo! the nuisance that had been growing for thirty +years was no more! Such was the fifth labor of Hercules. + +On an island in a lake near Stymphalus, in Arcadia, there nested in +those days some remarkable and terrible birds--remarkable because +their claws, wings and beaks were brazen, and terrible because they +fed on human flesh and attacked with their terrible beaks and claws +all who came near the lake. To kill these dreadful birds was the sixth +labor. + +Minerva supplied Hercules with a brazen rattle with which he roused +the birds from their nests, and then slew them with his poisoned +arrows while they were on the wing. + +This victory made Hercules popular throughout the whole of Greece, and +Eurystheus saw that nothing he could devise was too hard for the hero +to accomplish. + +The seventh labor was to capture a mad bull that the Sea-god Neptune +had let loose in the island of Crete, of which island Minos was at +that time King. + +This ferocious creature breathed out from his nostrils a whirlwind of +flaming fire. But Hercules was, as you no doubt have guessed, too much +for the brazen bull. + +He not only caught the monster, but tamed him, and bore him aloft on +his shoulders, into the presence of the affrighted Eurystheus, who was +at a loss to find a task impossible for Hercules to perform. + +The taking of the mares of Diomedes was the eighth labor. These horses +were not ordinary horses, living on corn. They were flesh eaters, and +moreover, they devoured human beings, and so were hateful to mankind. + +On this occasion Hercules was not alone. He organised a hunt and, +by the help of a few friends, caught the horses and led them to +Eurystheus. The scene of this labor was Thrace, an extensive region +lying between the AEgean Sea, the Euxine or Black Sea, and the Danube. + +Seizing the girdle of Hippolyte was the next feat set for the hero. +This labor was due to the desire of the daughter of Eurystheus for the +girdle of Hippolyte, Queen of the Amazons--a tribe of female warriors. +It is said that the girls had their right breasts cut off in order +that they might use the bow with greater ease in battle! This, indeed, +is the meaning of the term Amazon, which signifies "breastless." + +After a troublesome journey Hercules arrived safely at the Court of +Hippolyte, who received him kindly; and this labor might, perchance, +have been a bloodless one had not his old enemy Juno stirred up the +female warriors against him. + +In the fight that followed, Hercules killed Hippolyte--a feat scarcely +to be proud of--and carried off her girdle, and thus the vanity of the +daughter of Eurystheus was gratified. + +To capture the oxen of Geryon was the tenth labor of Hercules. In the +person of Geryon we meet another of those strange beings in which +the makers of myths and fairy tales seem to revel. Geryon was +a three-bodied monster whose cattle were kept by a giant and a +two-headed dog! + +It is said that Hercules, on his way to the performance of this tenth +labor, formed the Pillars of Hercules--those two rocky steeps +that guard the entrance to the Straits of Gibraltar, i.e., Calpa +(Gibraltar) and Abyla (Ceuta)--by rending asunder the one mountain +these two rocks are said to have formed, although now they are +eighteen miles apart. + +Hercules slew the giant, the two-headed dog and Geryon himself, and in +due course brought the oxen to Eurystheus. + +Sometime afterwards, Eurystheus, having heard rumors of a wonderful +tree which, in some unknown land, yielded golden apples, was moved +with great greed to have some of this remarkable fruit. Hence he +commanded Hercules to make the quest of this tree his eleventh labor. +The hero had no notion where the tree grew, but he was bound by his +bond to obey the King, so he set out and after a time reached the +kingdom of Atlas, King of Africa. He had been told that Atlas could +give him news of the tree. + +I must tell you that King Atlas, having in the olden time helped the +Titans in their wars against the gods, was undergoing punishment for +this offence, his penance being to hold up the starry vault of heaven +upon his shoulders. This means, perhaps, that in the kingdom of Atlas +there were some mountains so high that their summits seemed to touch +the sky. + +Hercules offered to relieve Atlas of his load for a time, if he would +but tell him where the famous tree was, upon which grew the golden +fruit. Atlas consented, and for some days Hercules supported the earth +and the starry vault of heaven upon his shoulders. + +Then Atlas opened the gate of the Garden of the Hesperides to +Hercules. These Hesperides were none other than the three daughters of +Atlas, and it was their duty, in which they were helped by a dragon, +to guard the golden apples. + +Hercules killed the dragon and carried off the apples, but they were +afterwards restored to their place by Minerva. + +Cerberus, as perhaps you know, was the triple-headed dog that guarded +the entrance to the nether world. To bring up this three-headed +monster from the land of the dead was the last of the twelve labors. +It was also the hardest. + +Pluto, the god of the nether world, told Hercules he might carry +off the dog if he could take him without using club or spear--never +dreaming that the hero could perform such a difficult feat. + +Hercules penetrated to the entrance of Pluto's gloomy regions, and, +putting forth his strength succeeded, not only in seizing Cerberus, +but also in carrying him to Eurystheus, and so brought the twelve +labors to an end, and was released from his servitude to his cruel +brother. + +These exploits of strength and endurance do not by any means complete +the tale of the wonderful doings of the great Greek hero. He continued +his deeds of daring to the end of his life. + +One of the last of his exploits was to kill the eagle that daily +devoured the liver of Prometheus, whose story is both curious and +interesting. + +He is said to have been the great friend of mankind, and was chained +to a rock on Mount Caucasus because he stole fire from heaven and gave +it as a gift to the sons of man. + +While in chains an eagle was sent by Jupiter daily to feed on +Prometheus's liver, which Jupiter made to grow again each night. From +this continuous torture he was released by Hercules, who slew the +eagle and burst asunder the bonds of this friend of man. + + + + +II + +HERCULES IN THE NETHER WORLD + + +Theseus and Pirithous were two Athenians, who, after having been at +enmity for a long time at last became the very best of friends. They, +like Hercules, had passed their youth in doing doughty deeds for the +benefit of mankind, and their fame had spread abroad throughout the +land of Greece. This did not prevent them from forming a very foolish +project. They actually planned to go down to Hades and carry off +Pluto's wife, Proserpina, whom Pirithous himself wished to marry. + +This rashness brought about their ruin, for they were seized by +Pluto and chained to a rock. All this Hercules, who was the friend +of Theseus, learnt while on one of his journeys, and he resolved to +rescue Theseus from his eternal punishment. + +As for Pirithous, the prime mover in the attempted outrage, him +Hercules meant to leave to his fate. + +Hercules had been warned to take a black dog to sacrifice to Hecate +and a cake to mollify Cerberus, as was usual; but he would not listen +to such tales and meant to force his way to Theseus. When he found +himself face to face with Cerberus he seized him, threw him down and +chained him with strong chains. + +The next difficulty in the way was black and muddy Acheron, the first +of the seven rivers that ran round Hades, and formed a barrier between +the living and the departed. + +This river had not always run under the vaults of Hades. Formerly its +course was upon the earth. But when the Titans attempted to scale +the heaven, this river had the ill luck to quench their thirst, +and Jupiter to punish even the waters of the river for abetting his +enemies, turned its course aside into the under world where its waves, +slow-moving and filthy, lost themselves in Styx, the largest of all +the rivers of Hades, which ran round Pluto's gloomy kingdom no less +than nine times. + +On reaching the banks of Styx, Hercules was surprised to see flying +around him a crowd of disconsolate spirits, whom Charon the Ferryman +refused to row across Styx, because they could not pay him his fee of +an obol, a Greek coin worth about three cents of our money, which the +Greeks were accustomed to place in the mouths of their dead for the +purpose, as they thought, of paying Charon his ferry fee. + +Fierce Charon frowned when he beheld Hercules for he feared his light +boat of bark would sink under his weight, it being only adapted for +the light and airy spirits of the dead; but when the son of Jupiter +told him his name he was mollified and allowed the hero to take his +place at his side. + +As soon as the boat had touched the shore, Hercules went towards the +gloomy palace of Pluto where he with difficulty, on account of the +darkness, saw Pluto seated upon an ebony throne by the side of his +beloved Proserpina. + +Pluto was not at all pleased to see the hero, as he hated the living +and had interest only in the shades of the dead. When Hercules +announced himself, however, he gave him a permit to go round his +kingdom and, in addition, acceded to his prayer for the release of +Theseus. + +At the foot of Pluto's throne Hercules saw Death the Reaper. He was +clothed in a black robe spotted with stars and his fleshless hand +held the sharp sickle with which he is said to cut down mortals as the +reaper cuts down corn. + +Our hero was glad to escape from this dismal palace and as he did not +know exactly where to find Theseus he began to make the circuit of +Hades. During his progress he saw the shades of many people of whom, +on earth, he had heard much talk. + +He had been wandering about some time when, in a gloomy chamber, he +saw three old sisters, wan and worn, spinning by the feeble light of +a lamp. They were the Fates, deities whose duty it was to thread the +days of all mortals who appeared on earth, were it but for an instant. + +Clotho, the spinner of the thread of life, was the eldest of the +three. She held in her hand a distaff, wound with black and white +woollen yarn, with which were sparingly intermixed strands of silk and +gold. The wool stood for the humdrum everyday life of man: the silk +and gold marked the days of mirth and gladness, always, alas! too few +in number. + +Lachesis, the second of the Fates, was quickly turning with her left +hand a spindle, while her right hand was leading a fine thread which +the third sister, Atropos by name, used to cut with a pair of sharp +shears at the death of each mortal. + +You may imagine how hard these three sisters worked when you remember +that the thread of life of every mortal had to pass through their +fateful fingers. Hercules would have liked them to tell him how long +they had yet to spin for him, but they had no time to answer questions +and so the hero passed on. + +Some steps farther he stopped before three venerable looking old men, +seated upon a judgment seat, judging, as it seemed, a man newly come +to Pluto's kingdom. + +They were Minos, AEacus and Rhadamanthus, the three judges of Hades, +whose duty it was to punish the guilty by casting them into a dismal +gulf, Tartarus, whence none might ever emerge, and to reward the +innocent by transporting them to the Elysian Fields where delight +followed delight in endless pleasure. + +These judges could never be mistaken because Themis, the Goddess of +Justice, held in front of them a pair of scales in which she weighed +the actions of men. Their decrees were instantly carried out by a +pitiless goddess, Nemesis, or Vengeance by name, armed with a whip red +with the gore of her sinful victims. + + + + +III + +BLACK TARTARUS AND THE ELYSIAN FIELDS + + +Immediately on quitting the presence of the three judges, Hercules saw +them open out before him an immense gulf whence arose thick clouds of +black smoke. This smoke hid from view a river of fire that rolled its +fiery waves onwards with a deafening din. + +Not far remote from this rolled Cocytus, another endless stream, fed +by the tears of the wretches doomed to Black Tartarus, in which place +of eternal torment Hercules now found himself. + +The rulers of these mournful regions were the Furies who, with unkempt +hair and armed with whips, tormented the condemned without mercy by +showing them continually in mirrors the images of their former crimes. + +Into Tartarus were thrown, never to come out again, the shades or +manes of traitors, ingrates, perjurers, unnatural children, murderers +and hypocrites who had during their lives pretended to be upright and +honorable in order to deceive the just. + +But these wretches were not the only denizens of Black Tartarus. There +were to be seen great scoundrels who had startled the world with their +frightful crimes. For these Pluto and the Furies had invented special +tortures. + +Among the criminals so justly overtaken by the divine vengeance +Hercules noticed Salmoneus, whom he had formerly met upon earth. This +madman, whose pride had overturned his reason, thought himself to be a +god equal to the Thunderer himself. + +In order to imitate remotely the rolling of thunder, he used to be +driven at night, over a brazen bridge, in a chariot, whence he hurled +lighted torches upon his unhappy slaves who were crowded on the bridge +and whom his guards knocked down in imitation of Jove's thunder-bolts. + +Indignant at the pride and cruelty of the tyrant, Jupiter struck him +with lightning in deadly earnest and then cast him into the outer +darkness of Tartarus, where he was for ever burning without being +consumed. + +Sisyphus, the brother of Salmoneus, was no better than he. When on +earth, he had been the terror of Attica, where, as a brigand, he had +robbed and murdered with relentless cruelty. + +Theseus, whom Hercules was bent on freeing from his torment, had met +and killed this robber-assassin, and Jupiter, for his sins, decreed +that the malefactor should continually be rolling up a hill in +Tartarus a heavy stone which, when with incredible pains he had +brought nearly to the top, always rolled back again, and he had to +begin over and over again the heart-breaking ascent. + +Some distance from Sisyphus Hercules came upon Tantalus, who, in the +flesh, had been King of Phrygia, but who now, weak from hunger and +parched with thirst, was made to stand to his chin in water with +branches of tempting luscious fruit hanging ripe over his head. When +he essayed to drink the water it always went from him, and when he +stretched out his hand to pluck the fruit, back the branches sprang +out of reach. + +In addition an immense rock, hung over his head, threatened every +moment to crush him. + +It is said that Tantalus, when in the flesh, had betrayed the secrets +of the gods and also committed other great crimes. For this he was +"tantalized" with food and drink, which, seeming always to be within +his reach, ever mocked his hopes by eluding his grasp. + +The groans of a crowd of disheveled women next attracted the +affrighted attention of Hercules. They were forty-nine of the fifty +daughters of Danaus, King of Argos, who, at the instigation of their +father, had killed their husbands because Danaus thought they were +conspiring to depose him. + +One only of the fifty, to wit Hypermnestra, had the courage to disobey +this unlawful command and so saved the life of Lynceus, her husband, +with whom she fled. Later on Lynceus returned and slew the cruel King +in battle. + +To punish the forty-nine Danaides, Jupiter cast them into the outer +darkness of Black Tartarus, where they were ever engaged in the +hopeless task of pouring water into a sieve. Hypermnestra, on the +contrary, was honored while alive, and also after her death, for +loving goodness even more than she loved her father. + +Glutted with horror Hercules at length quitted gloomy Tartarus and +beheld in front of him still another river. This was Lethe. Whoso +drank the waters of this river, which separated the place of torment +from the abode of the blest, lost memory of all that had been +aforetime in his mind, and so was no longer troubled by even the +remembrance of human misery. + +Across Lethe stretched the Elysian Fields where the shades of the +blest dwelt in bliss without alloy. An enchanting greenness made the +sweet-smelling groves as pleasant to the eye as they were to the sense +of smell. Sunlit, yet never parched with torrid heat, everywhere their +verdure charmed the delighted eye, and all things conspired to make +the shades of the good and wise, who were privileged to dwell in these +Elysian Fields, delightfully happy. + +Hercules saw, in these shady regions of the blest, a crowd of kings, +heroes and men and women of lower degree who, while on earth, had +loved and served their fellow men. + +Having at length found and released Theseus, Hercules set out with him +for the upper world. The two left Hades by an ivory door, the key of +which Pluto had confided to their care. + +What awesome tales they had to recount to their wondering friends of +the marvels of Black Tartarus and of Radiant Elysium! + + + + +IV + +THE TUNIC OF NESSUS THE CENTAUR + + +There abode in Thessaly, in the days of Hercules, a strange race of +men who had the head and arms of a man together with the body of a +horse. They were called Centaurs, or Bull-Slayers. + +One of them named Cheiron, famous for his knowledge of medicine, +music and botany, had been the teacher of Hercules. But many of them, +although learned, were not good. Hercules and Theseus had waged war on +them and had killed many, so that their numbers were greatly lessened. + +Having married Deianira, the daughter of a powerful King of Calydon, +in Greece, Hercules was traveling home with her when he came to +the banks of a river and was at a loss how to cross it. Seeing his +perplexity, Nessus, one of the Centaurs, offered to take Deianira on +his back and carry her over the stream. This offer Hercules gladly +accepted. + +No sooner, however, did the crafty Centaur obtain possession of +Deianira than he made off with her, intending to have her as his own +wife. You can easily imagine how angry this outrage made Hercules. He +shot one of his poisoned arrows with so much force that it went right +through the traitor Centaur, and wounded him even unto death. + +But, before dying, Nessus had time to tell Deianira that if she wanted +to keep Hercules always true to her she had but to take his shirt, +and, when her husband's love was waning, prevail on him to wear it. + +Deianira took the shirt, and shortly afterwards, being afraid that her +husband was ceasing to love her, she sent it to him as a present. + +Now, you will remember that Hercules had shot through the shirt of +Nessus one of his poisoned arrows, and you will not be surprised +to hear that some of the poison had remained in the shirt. So when +Hercules put it on, which he did immediately upon receiving it, he was +seized with frenzy and, in his madness, he uttered terrible cries and +did dreadful deeds. + +With his powerful hands he broke off huge pieces of rock, tore up +pine-trees by their roots and hurled them with resounding din into the +valley. + +He could not take off the fatal shirt, and as he tore off portions of +it he tore, at the same time, his quivering flesh. + +The servant of Deianira who had carried him the fatal shirt, and who +wished to solace him in his pain, he seized as she approached him and +flung headlong into the sea, where she was changed into a rock that +long, so runs the legend, kept its human form. + +But at length the majesty and the courage of the hero asserted +themselves, and, although still in agony, his madness left him. + +Calling to his side his friend Philoctetes, he wished to embrace +him once more before dying; but fearful lest he should, in so doing, +infect his friend with the deadly poison that was consuming him, he +cried in his agony: "Alas, I am not even permitted to embrace thee!" + +Then he gathered together the trees he had uprooted and made a huge +funeral pyre, such as was used by the ancients in burning their dead. +Climbing to the top of the heap, he spread out the skin of the Nemean +lion, and, supporting himself upon his club, gave the signal for +Philoctetes to kindle the fire that was to reduce him to ashes. + +In return for this service he gave Philoctetes a quiver full of those +deadly arrows that had been dipped in the blood of the Hydra of Lerna. + +He further enjoined his friend to let no man know of his departure +from life, to the intent that the fear of his approach might prevent +fresh monsters and new robbers from ravaging the earth. + +Thus died Hercules, and after his death he was received as a god +amongst the Immortals on Mount Olympus, where he married Hebe, Jove's +cupbearer. In his honor mortals were commanded to build altars and to +raise temples. + + + + +THE PERILOUS VOYAGE OF AENEAS + +ADAPTED BY ALICE ZIMMEKN + + +Once upon a time, nearly three thousand years ago, the city of Troy +in Asia Minor was at the height of its prosperity. It was built on a +fortified hill on the southern slopes of the Hellespont, and encircled +by strong walls that the gods had helped to build. Through their +favor Troy became so strong and powerful that she subdued many of +the neighboring states and forced them to fight for her and do her +bidding. Thus it happened that when the Greeks came to Asia with an +army of 100,000 men, Troy was able to hold out against them for nine +years, and in the tenth was only taken by a trick. + +In the "Iliad" of Homer you may read all about the quarrel between the +Trojans and Greeks, the fighting before Troy and the brave deeds done +by Hector and Achilles, and many other heroes. You will see there how +the gods took part in the quarrel, and how Juno, who was the wife of +Jupiter and queen of heaven, hated Troy because Paris had given the +golden apple to Venus as the fairest among goddesses. Juno never +forgave this insult to her beauty, and vowed that she would not rest +till the hated city was destroyed and its very name wiped from the +face of the earth. You shall now hear how she carried out her threat, +and overwhelmed AEneas with disasters. + +After a siege that lasted ten years Troy was taken at last by means +of the wooden horse, which the Trojans foolishly dragged into the city +with their own hands. Inside it were hidden a number of Greeks, who +were thus carried into the heart of the enemy's city. The Trojans +celebrated the departure of the Greeks by feasting and drinking far +into the night; but when at last they retired to rest, the Greeks +stole out of their hiding-place, and opened the gates to their army, +which had only pretended to withdraw. Before the Trojans had recovered +their wits the town was full of enemies, who threw blazing torches on +the houses and killed every citizen who fell into their hands. + +Among the many noble princes who fought against the Greeks none was +braver and handsomer than AEneas. His mother was the goddess Venus, and +his father a brave and powerful Prince named Anchises, while Creusa, +his wife, was one of King Priam's daughters. On that dreadful night, +when the Greeks were burning and killing in the very streets of Troy, +AEneas lay sleeping in his palace when there appeared to him a strange +vision. He thought that Hector stood before him carrying the images of +the Trojan gods and bade him arise and leave the doomed city. "To you +Troy entrusts her gods and her fortunes. Take these images, and go +forth beyond the seas, and with their auspices found a new Troy on +foreign shores." + +Roused from his slumbers AEneas sprang up in haste, put on his armor +and rushed into the fray. He was joined by a few comrades, and +together they made their way through the enemy, killing all who +blocked their path. But when they reached the royal palace and found +that the Greeks had already forced their way in and killed the aged +man by his own hearth, AEneas remembered his father and his wife and +his little son Ascanius. Since he could not hope to save the city he +might at least take thought for his own kin. While he still hesitated +whether to retire or continue the fight, his goddess mother appeared +and bade him go and succor his household. "Your efforts to save the +city are vain," she said. "The gods themselves make war on Troy. Juno +stands by the gate urging on the Greeks, Jupiter supplies them with +hope and courage, and Neptune is breaking down with his trident the +walls he helped to raise. Fly, my son, fly. I will bring you safely to +your own threshold." + +Guided by her protecting hand, AEneas came in safety to his palace, +and bade his family prepare in all haste for flight. But his father +refused to stir a step. "Let me die here at the enemy's hands," he +implored. "Better thus than to go into exile in my old age. Do you go, +my son, whither the gods summon you, and leave me to my fate." In +vain AEneas reasoned and pleaded, in vain he refused to go without his +father; neither prayers nor entreaties would move Anchises till the +gods sent him a sign. Suddenly the child's hair burst into flames. +The father and mother were terrified, but Anchises recognised the good +omen, and prayed the gods to show whether his interpretation was the +true one. In answer there came a clap of thunder and a star flashed +across the sky and disappeared among the woods on Mount Ida. Then +Anchises was sure that the token was a true one. "Delay no more!" he +cried. "I will accompany you, and go in hope wheresoever the gods of +my country shall lead me. This is a sign from heaven, and the gods, if +it be their will, may yet preserve our city." + +"Come then, father!" cried AEneas joyfully. "Let me take you on my +back, for your feeble limbs would move too slowly for the present +danger. You shall hold the images of the gods, since it would be +sacrilege for me to touch them with my blood-stained hands. Little +Ascanius shall take my hand, and Creusa will follow us closely." + +He now ordered the servants to collect all the most valuable +possessions, and bring them to him at the temple of Ceres, just +outside the city. Then he set out with father, wife and son, and they +groped their way through the city by the light of burning homesteads. +Thus they passed at last through the midst of the enemy, and reached +the temple of Ceres. There, to his dismay, AEneas missed Creusa. He +rushed back to the city and made his way to his own house. He found it +in flames, and the enemy were sacking the ruins. Nowhere could he find +a trace of his wife. Wild with grief and anxiety he wandered at random +through the city till suddenly he fancied he saw Creusa. But it was +her ghost, not her living self. She spoke to her distracted husband +and bade him grieve no more. "Think not," she said, "that this has +befallen without the will of the gods. The Fates have decided that +Creusa shall not follow you to your new home. There are long and weary +wanderings before you, and you must traverse many stormy seas before +you come to the western land where the river Tiber pours its gentle +stream through the fertile pastures of Italy. There shall you find +a kingdom and a royal bride. Cease then to mourn for Creusa." AEneas +tried to clasp her in his arms, but in vain, for he only grasped the +empty air. Then he understood that the gods desired him to go forth +into the world alone. + +While AEneas was seeking Creusa a group of Trojans who had escaped +the enemy and the flames had collected at the temple of Ceres, and he +found them ready and willing to join him and follow his fortunes. The +first rays of the sun were touching the peaks of Ida when Aeneas +and his comrades turned their backs on the ill-fated city, and went +towards the rising sun and the new hope. + +For several months AEneas and his little band of followers lived as +refugees among the hills of Ida, and their numbers grew as now one, +now another, came to join them. All through the winter they were hard +at work cutting down trees and building ships, which were to carry +them across the seas. When spring came the fleet was ready, and the +little band set sail. First they merely crossed the Hellespont to +Thrace, for Aeneas hoped to found a city here and revive the name of +Troy. But bad omens came to frighten the Trojans and drive them back +to their ships. + +They now took a southward course, and sailed on without stopping till +they reached Delos, the sacred isle of Apollo. Here Aeneas entered the +temple and offered prayer to the lord of prophecy. "Grant us a home, +Apollo, grant us an abiding city. Preserve a second Troy for the +scanty remnant that escaped the swords of the Greeks and the wrath +of cruel Achilles. Tell us whom to follow, whither to turn, where to +found our city." + +His prayer was not offered in vain, for a voice spoke in answer. "Ye +hardy sons of Dardanus, the land that erst sent forth your ancestral +race shall welcome you back to its fertile fields. Go and seek your +ancient mother. There shall the offspring of AEneas rule over all the +lands, and their children's children unto the furthest generations." + +When he had heard this oracle, Anchises said, "In the middle of the +sea lies an island called Crete, which is sacred to Jupiter. There +we shall find an older Mount Ida, and beside it the cradle of our +race. Thence, if tradition speaks truth, our great ancestor Teucrus +set sail for Asia and there he founded his kingdom, and named our +mountain Ida. Let us steer our course therefore to Crete, and if +Jupiter be propitious, the third dawn will bring us to its shores." + +Accordingly they set out again full of hope, and passed in and out +again among the gleaming islands of the AEgean, till at last they +came to Crete. There they disembarked, and began to build a city. +The houses were rising, the citadel was almost ready, the fields were +planted and sown, and the young men were seeking wives, when suddenly +the crops were stricken by a blight and the men by a pestilence. +Surely, they thought, this could not be the home promised them by +Apollo. In this distress Anchises bade his son return to Delos and +implore the gods to vouchsafe further counsel. + +At night AEneas lay down to rest, troubled by many anxieties, when +suddenly he was roused by the moonlight streaming through the window +and illuminating the images of the Trojan gods. It seemed as though +they opened their lips and spoke to him. "All that Apollo would have +told you at Delos, we may declare to you here, for he has given us a +message to you. We followed your arms after the burning of Troy, +and traversed the ocean under your guidance, and we shall raise your +descendants to the stars and give dominion to their city. But do not +seek it here. These are not the shores that Apollo assigns you, nor +may Crete be your abiding place. Far to the west lies the land which +the Greeks called Hesperia, but which now bears the name of Italy. +There is our destined home; thence came Dardanus, our great ancestor +and the father of our race." + +Amazed at this vision, AEneas sprang up and lifted his hands to heaven +in prayer. Then he hastened to tell Anchises of this strange event. +They resolved to tarry no longer, but turning their backs on the +rising walls they drew their ships down to the sea again, and once +more set forth in search of a new country. + +Now they sailed towards the west, and rounded the south of Greece into +the Ionian Sea. But a storm drove them out of their course, and the +darkness was so thick that they could not tell night from day, and the +helmsman, Palinurus, knew not whither he was steering. Thus they were +tossed about aimlessly for three days and nights, till at last they +saw land ahead and, lowering their sails, rowed safely into a quiet +harbor. Not a human being was in sight, but herds of cattle grazed on +the pastures, and goats sported untended on the rocks. Here was even +food in plenty for hungry men. They killed oxen and goats, and made +ready a feast for themselves, and a sacrifice for the gods. The repast +was prepared, and AEneas and his comrades were about to enjoy it, +when a sound of rustling wings was heard all round them. Horrible +creatures, half birds, half women, with long talons and cruel beaks, +swooped down on the tables and carried off the food before the eyes +of the terrified banqueters. These were the Harpies, who had once been +sent to plague King Phineus, and when they were driven away by two of +the Argonauts, Zetes and Calais, took refuge in these islands. In vain +the Trojans attacked them with their swords, for the monsters would +fly out of reach, and then dart back again on a sudden, and pounce +once more on the food, while Celaeno, chief of the Harpies, perched on +a rock and chanted in hoarse tones a prophecy of ill omen. "You that +kill our oxen and seek to drive us from our rightful home, hearken to +my words, which Jupiter declared to Apollo, and Apollo told even to +me. You are sailing to Italy, and you shall reach Italy and enter its +harbors. But you are not destined to surround your city with a wall, +till cruel hunger and vengeance for the wrong you have done us force +you to gnaw your very tables with your teeth." + +When the Trojans heard this terrible prophecy their hearts sank within +them, and Anchises, lifting his hands to heaven, besought the gods to +avert this grievous doom. Thus, full of sad forebodings, they returned +to their ships. + +Their way now lay along the western coast of Greece, and they were +glad to slip unnoticed past the rocky island of Ithaca, the home of +Ulysses the wily. For they did not know that he was still held captive +by the nymph Calypso, and that many years were to pass before he +should be restored to his kingdom. They next cast anchor off Leucadia, +and passed the winter in these regions. In spring they sailed north +again, and landed in Epirus, and here to their surprise they found +Helenus, one of the sons of Priam, ruling over a Greek people. He +welcomed his kinsman joyfully and, having the gift of prophecy from +Apollo, foretold the course of his wanderings. "Italy, which you deem +so near, is a far-distant land, and many adventures await you before +you reach that shore where lies your destined home. Before you reach +it, you will visit Sicily, and the realms of the dead and the +island of Circe. But I will give you a sign whereby you may know the +appointed place. When by the banks of a secluded stream you shall +see a huge white sow with her thirty young ones, then shall you have +reached the limit of your wanderings. Be sure to avoid the eastern +coast of Italy opposite these shores. Wicked Greek tribes have their +dwelling there, and it is safer to pass at once to the western coast. +On your left, you will hear in the Strait the thundering roar of +Charybdis, and on the right grim Scylla sits scowling in her cave +ready to spring on the unwary traveler. Better take a long circuit +round Sicily than come even within sight and sound of Scylla. As soon +as you touch the western shores of Italy, go to the city of Cumae and +the Sibyl's cavern. Try to win her favor, and she will tell you of the +nations of Italy and the wars yet to come, and how you may avoid each +peril and accomplish every labor. One warning would I give you and +enjoin it with all my power. If you desire to reach your journey's end +in safety, forget not to do homage to Juno. Offer up prayers to her +divinity, load her altars with gifts. Then, and then only, may you +hope for a happy issue from all your troubles!" + +So once more the Trojans set sail, and obedient to the warnings of +Helenus they avoided the eastern coast of Italy, and struck southward +towards Sicily. Far up the channel they heard the roar of Charybdis +and hastened their speed in fear. Soon the snowy cone of Etna came +into view with its column of smoke rising heavenward. As they lay at +anchor hard by, a ragged, half-starved wretch ran out of the woods +calling loudly on AEneas for succor. This was one of the comrades of +Ulysses, who had been left behind by mistake, and lived in perpetual +dread of the savage Cyclopes. AEneas was moved to pity, and though the +man was a Greek and an enemy, he took him on board and gave him +food and succor. Before they left this place they had a glimpse of +Polyphemus himself. The blind giant came down the cliff with his +flock, feeling his way with a huge staff of pine-trunk. He even +stepped into the sea, and walked far out without wetting his thighs. +The Trojans hastily slipped their cables, and made away. Polyphemus +heard the sound of their oars, and called his brother Cyclopes to +come and seize the strangers, but they were too late to overtake the +fugitives. + +After this they continued their southward course, passing the island +where Syracuse now stands, and rounding the southern coast of Sicily. +Then they sailed past the tall rock of Acragas and palm-loving +Selinus, and so came to the western corner, where the harbor of +Drepanun gave them shelter. Here a sorrow overtook AEneas, that neither +the harpy nor the seer had foretold. Anchises, weary with wandering +and sick of long-deferred hope, fell ill and died. Sadly AEneas sailed +from hence without his trusted friend and counselor, and steered his +course for Italy. + +At last the goal seemed at hand and the dangers of the narrow strait +had been escaped. But AEneas had a far more dangerous enemy than Scylla +and Charybdis, for Juno's wrath was not yet appeased. He had offered +prayer and sacrifice, as Helenus bade him, but her long-standing +grudge was not so easily forgotten. She hated Troy and the +Trojans with an undying hatred, and would not suffer even these +few-storm-tossed wanderers to seek their new home in peace. She knew +too that it was appointed by the Fates that a descendant of this +fugitive Trojan should one day found a city destined to eclipse in +wealth and glory her favorite city of Carthage. This she desired to +avert at all costs, and if even the queen of heaven was not strong +enough to overrule fate, at least she resolved that the Trojans +should not enter into their inheritance without many and grievous +tribulations. + +Off the northerncoast of Sicily lies a group of small islands, still +called the AEolian Isles, after AEolus, king of the winds, whose palace +stood upon the largest. Here he lived in a rock-bound castle, and kept +the boisterous winds fast bound in strong dungeons, that they might +not go forth unbidden to work havoc and destruction. But for his +restraining hand they would have burst forth and swept away land and +sea in their fury. To this rocky fortress Juno came with a request +to AEolus. "Men of a race hateful to me are now crossing the sea. I +beseech you, therefore, send a storm to scatter the ships and drown +the men in the waves. As a reward I will give you one of my fairest +nymphs in marriage." Thus she urged, and at her bidding AEolus struck +the rock and the prison gates were opened. The winds at once rushed +forth in all directions. The clouds gathered and blotted out sky +and daylight, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and the Trojans +thought their last hour had come. Even AEneas lost heart, and envied +the lot of those who fell before Troy by the sword of Diomede. Soon +a violent gust struck his ship, the oars were broken, and the prow +turned round and exposed the side to the waves. The water closed +over it, then opened again, and drew down the vessel, leaving the men +floating on the water. Three ships were dashed against sunken rocks, +three were driven among the shallows and blocked with a mound of +sand. Another was struck from stem to stern, then sucked down into a +whirlpool. One after another the rest succumbed, and it seemed as if +each moment must see their utter destruction. + +Meantime Neptune in his palace at the bottom of the sea had noticed +the sudden disturbance of the waters, and now put out his head above +the waves to learn the cause of this commotion. When he saw the +shattered Trojan ships he guessed that this was Juno's work. Instantly +he summoned the winds and chid them for daring to disturb the waters +without his leave. "Begone," he said, "and tell your master AEolus that +the dominion of the sea is mine, not his. Let him be content to keep +guard over you and see that you do not escape from your prison." While +he spoke Neptune was busy calming the waters, and it was not long +before he put the clouds to flight and brought back the sunshine. +Nymphs came to push the ships off the rocks, and Neptune himself +opened a way out of the shallows. Then he returned to his chariot, and +his white horses carried him lightly across the calm waters. + +Thankful to have saved a few of his ships, all shattered and leaking +as they were, AEneas bade the helmsman steer for the nearest land. What +was their joy to see within easy reach a quiet harbor closed in by +a sheltering island. The entrance was guarded by twin cliffs, and a +forest background closed in the scene. Once within this shelter the +weary vessels needed no anchor to secure them. Here at last AEneas +and his comrades could stretch their aching limbs on dry land. They +kindled a fire of leaves with a flint, and dried their sodden corn for +a scanty meal. + +AEneas now climbed one of the hills to see whether he might catch a +glimpse of any of the missing ships. Not a sail was in sight, but in +the valley below he spied a herd of deer grazing. Here was better food +for hungry men. Drawing an arrow from his quiver, he fitted it to his +bow, let fly, and a mighty stag fell to his aim. Six others shared +its fate, then AEneas returned with his booty and bade his friends make +merry with venison and Sicilian wine from the ships. As they ate and +drank, he tried to hearten the Trojans. "Endure a little longer," he +urged. "Think of the perils through which we have passed, remember the +dreadful Cyclopes and cruel Scylla. Despair not now, for one day the +memory of past sufferings shall delight your hours of ease. Through +toils and hardships we are making our way to Latium, where the gods +have promised us a peaceful home and a new and glorious Troy. Hold out +a little while, and wait for the happy days in store." + + + + +HOW HORATIUS HELD THE BRIDGE + +ADAPTED BY ALFRED J. CHURCH + + +King Tarquin[1] and his son Lucius (for he only remained to him of the +three) fled to Lars Porsenna, King of Clusium, and besought him that +he would help them. "Suffer not," they said, "that we, who are Tuscans +by birth, should remain any more in poverty and exile. And take heed +also to thyself and thine own kingdom if thou permit this new fashion +of driving forth kings to go unpunished. For surely there is that in +freedom which men greatly desire, and if they that be kings defend not +their dignity as stoutly as others seek to overthrow it, then shall +the highest be made even as the lowest, and there shall be an end of +kingship, than which there is nothing more honorable under heaven." +With these words they persuaded King Porsenna, who judging it well for +the Etrurians that there should be a king at Rome, and that king an +Etrurian by birth, gathered together a great army and came up against +Rome. But when men heard of his coming, so mighty a city was Clusium +in those days, and so great the fame of King Porsenna, there was such +fear as had never been before. Nevertheless they were steadfastly +purposed to hold out. And first all that were in the country fled into +the city, and round about the city they set guards to keep it, part +thereof being defended by walls, and part, for so it seemed, +being made safe by the river. But here a great peril had well-nigh +over-taken the city; for there was a wooden bridge on the river by +which the enemy had crossed but for the courage of a certain Horatius +Cocles. The matter fell out in this wise. + +[Footnote 1: King Tarquin had been driven from Rome because of his +tyranny.] + +There was a certain hill which men called Janiculum on the side of the +river, and this hill King Porsenna took by a sudden attack. Which when +Horatius saw (for he chanced to have been set to guard the bridge, and +saw also how the enemy were running at full speed to the place, and +how the Romans were fleeing in confusion and threw away their arms +as they ran), he cried with a loud voice, "Men of Rome, it is to no +purpose that ye thus leave your post and flee, for if ye leave this +bridge behind you for men to pass over, ye shall soon find that ye +have more enemies in your city than in Janiculum. Do ye therefore +break it down with axe and fire as best ye can. In the meanwhile I, +so far as one man may do, will stay the enemy." And as he spake he ran +forward to the farther end of the bridge and made ready to keep the +way against the enemy. Nevertheless there stood two with him, Lartius +and Herminius by name, men of noble birth both of them and of great +renown in arms. So these three for a while stayed the first onset of +the enemy; and the men of Rome meanwhile brake down the bridge. And +when there was but a small part remaining, and they that brake it down +called to the three that they should come back, Horatius bade Lartius +and Herminius return, but he himself remained on the farther side, +turning his eyes full of wrath in threatening fashion on the princes +of the Etrurians, and crying, "Dare ye now to fight with me? or why +are ye thus come at the bidding of your master, King Porsenna, to rob +others of the freedom that ye care not to have for yourselves?" For a +while they delayed, looking each man to his neighbor, who should first +deal with this champion of the Romans. Then, for very shame, they all +ran forward, and raising a great shout, threw their javelins at him. +These all he took upon his shield, nor stood the less firmly in his +place on the bridge, from which when they would have thrust him by +force, of a sudden the men of Rome raised a great shout, for the +bridge was now altogether broken down, and fell with a great crash +into the river. And as the enemy stayed a while for fear, Horatius +turned him to the river and said, "O Father Tiber, I beseech thee this +day with all reverence that thou kindly receive this soldier and his +arms." And as he spake he leapt with all his arms into the river and +swam across to his own people, and though many javelins of the enemy +fell about him, he was not one whit hurt. Nor did such valor fail to +receive due honor from the city. For the citizens set up a statue of +Horatius in the market-place; and they gave him of the public land so +much as he could plow about in one day. Also there was this honor paid +him, that each citizen took somewhat of his own store and gave it to +him, for food was scarce in the city by reason of the siege. + + + + +HOW CINCINNATUS SAVED ROME + +ADAPTED BY ALFRED J. CHURCH + + +It came to pass that the AEquians brake the treaty of peace which they +had made with Rome, and, taking one Gacchus Cloelius for their leader, +marched into the land of Tusculum; and when they had plundered the +country there-abouts, and had gathered together much booty, they +pitched their camp on Mount AEgidus. To them the Romans sent three +ambassadors, who should complain of the wrong done and seek redress. +But when they would have fulfilled their errand, Gracchus the AEquin +spake, saying, "If ye have any message from the Senate of Rome, tell +it to this oak, for I have other business to do;" for it chanced that +there was a great oak that stood hard by, and made a shadow over the +general's tent. Then one of the ambassadors, as he turned to depart, +made reply, "Yes, let this sacred oak and all the gods that are in +heaven hear how ye have wrongfully broken the treaty of peace; and let +them that hear help us also in the day of battle, when we shall avenge +on you the laws both of gods and of men that ye set at nought." + +When the ambassadors had returned to Rome the Senate commanded that +there should be levied two armies; and that Minucius the Consul should +march with the one against the AEquians on Mount AEgidus, and that the +other should hinder the enemy from their plundering. This levying the +tribunes of the Commons sought to hinder; and perchance had done so, +but there also came well-nigh to the walls of the city a great host of +the Sabines plundering all the country. Thereupon the people willingly +offered themselves and there were levied forthwith two great armies. +Nevertheless when the Consul Minucius had marched to Mount AEgidus, and +had pitched his camp not far from the AEquians, he did nought for fear +of the enemy, but kept himself within his entrenchments. And when the +enemy perceived that he was afraid, growing the bolder for his lack of +courage, they drew lines about him, keeping him in on every side. Yet +before that he was altogether shut up there escaped from his camp five +horsemen, that bare tidings to Rome how that the Consul, together with +his army, was besieged. The people were sorely dismayed to hear such +tidings; nor, when they cast about for help, saw they any man that +might be sufficient for such peril, save only Cincinnatus. By common +consent, therefore, he was made Dictator for six months, a thing that +may well be noted by those who hold that nothing is to be accounted of +in comparison of riches, and that no man may win great honor or show +forth singular virtue unless he be well furnished with wealth. For +here in this great peril of the Roman people there was no hope of +safety but in one who was cultivating with his own hand a little plot +of scarcely three acres of ground. For when the messengers of the +people came to him they found him plowing, or, as some say, digging a +ditch. When they had greeted each other, the messengers said, "May the +Gods prosper this thing to the Roman people and to thee. Put on thy +robe and hear the words of the people." Then said Cincinnatus, being +not a little astonished, "Is all well?" and at the same time he called +to his wife Racilia that she should bring forth his robe from the +cottage. So she brought it forth, and the man wiped from him the dust +and the sweat, and clad himself in his robe, and stood before the +messengers. These said to him, "The people of Rome make thee Dictator, +and bid thee come forthwith to the city." And at the same time they +told how the Consul and his army were besieged by the AEquians. So +Cincinnatus departed to Rome; and when he came to the other side of +the Tiber there met him first his three sons, and next many of his +kinsfolk and friends, and after them a numerous company of the nobles. +These all conducted him to his house, the lictors, four and twenty +in number, marching before him. There was also assembled a very great +concourse of the people, fearing much how the Dictator might deal with +them, for they knew what manner of man he was, and that there was no +limit to his power, nor any appeal from him. + +The next day, before dawn, the Dictator came into the market-place, +and appointed one Lucius Tarquinius to be Master of the Horse. This +Tarquinius was held by common consent to excel all other men in +exercises of war; only, though, being a noble by birth, he should have +been among the horsemen, he had served for lack of means, as a foot +soldier. This done he called an assembly of the people and commanded +that all the shops in the city should be shut; that no man should +concern himself with any private business, but all that were of an age +to go to the war should be present before sunset in the Field of Mars, +each man having with him provisions of cooked food for five days, and +twelve stakes. As for them that were past the age, they should prepare +the food while the young men made ready their arms and sought for +the stakes. These last they took as they found them, no man hindering +them; and when the time appointed by the Dictator was come, all were +assembled, ready, as occasion might serve, either to march or to give +battle. Forthwith they set out, the Dictator leading the foot soldiers +by their legions, and Tarquinius the horsemen, and each bidding them +that followed make all haste. "We must needs come," they said, "to our +journey's end while it is yet night. Remember that the Consul and his +army have been besieged now for three days, and that no man knows what +a day or a night may bring forth." The soldiers themselves also were +zealous to obey, crying out to the standard-bearers that they should +quicken their steps, and to their fellows that they should not lag +behind. Thus they came at midnight to Mount AEdigus, and when they +perceived that the enemy was at hand they halted the standards. Then +the Dictator rode forward to see, so far as the darkness would suffer +him, how great was the camp of the AEquians and after what fashion +it was pitched. This done he commanded that the baggage should be +gathered together into a heap, and that the soldiers should stand +every man in his own place. After this he compassed about the whole +army of the enemy with his own army, and commanded that at a set +signal every man should shout, and when they had shouted should dig a +trench and set up therein the stakes. This the soldiers did, and the +noise of the shouting passed over the camp of the enemy and came into +the city, causing therein great joy, even as it caused great fear +in the camp. For the Romans cried, "These be our countrymen and they +bring us help." Then said the Consul, "We must make no delay. By that +shout is signified, not that they are come only, but that they are +already dealing with the enemy. Doubtless the camp of the AEquians is +even now assailed from without. Take ye your arms and follow me." So +the legion went forth, it being yet night, to the battle, and as they +went they shouted, that the Dictator might be aware. Now the AEquians +had set themselves to hinder the making of a ditch and rampart which +should shut them in; but when the Romans from the camp fell upon them, +fearing lest these should make their way through the midst of their +camp, they left them that were with Cincinnatus to finish their +entrenching, and fought with the Consul. And when it was now light, +lo! they were already shut in, and the Romans, having finished their +entrenching, began to trouble them. And when the AEquians perceived +that the battle was now on either side of them, they could withstand +no longer, but sent ambassadors praying for peace, and saying, "Ye +have prevailed; slay us not, but rather permit us to depart, leaving +our arms behind us." Then said the Dictator, "I care not to have the +blood of the AEquians. Ye may depart, but ye shall depart passing under +the yoke, that ye may thus acknowledge to all men that ye are indeed +vanquished." Now the yoke is thus made. There are set up in the ground +two spears, and over them is bound by ropes a third spear. So the +AEquians passed under the yoke. + +In the camp of the enemy there was found abundance of spoil. This the +Dictator gave wholly to his own soldiers. "Ye were well-nigh a spoil +to the enemy," said he to the army of the Consul, "therefore ye shall +have no share in the spoiling of them. As for thee, Minucius, be +thou a lieutenant only till thou hast learnt how to bear thyself as a +consul." Meanwhile at Rome there was held a meeting of the Senate, +at which it was commanded that Cincinnatus should enter the city in +triumph, his soldiers following him in order of march. Before his +chariot there were led the generals of the enemy; also the standards +were carried in the front; and after these came the army, every man +laden with spoil. That day there was great rejoicing in the city, +every man setting forth a banquet before his doors in the street. + +After this, Virginius, that had borne false witness against Caeso, was +found guilty of perjury, and went into exile. And when Cincinnatus +saw that justice had been done to this evildoer, he resigned his +dictatorship, having held it for sixteen days only. + + + + + + +HEROES OF GREAT BRITAIN + + + + +BEOWULF + +ADAPTED BY H.E. MARSHALL + + + + +I + +HOW BEOWULF OVERCAME THE OGRE AND THE WATER-WITCH + + +Long ago, there lived in Daneland a King, beloved of all, called +Hrothgar. He was valiant and mighty in war, overcoming all his foes +and taking from them much spoil. Looking upon his great treasure, King +Hrothgar said, "I will build me a great hall. It shall be vast and +wide, adorned within and without with gold and ivory, with gems and +carved work. It shall be a hall of joy and feasting." + +Then King Hrothgar called his workmen and gave them commandment to +build the hall. They set to work, and becoming each day more fair, the +hall was at length finished. It stood upon a height, vast and stately, +and as it was adorned with the horns of deer, King Hrothgar named it +Hart Hall. The King made a great feast. To it his warriors young and +old were called, and he divided his treasure, giving to each rings +of gold. And so in the hall there was laughter and song and great +merriment. Every evening when the shadows fell, and the land grew dark +without, the knights and warriors gathered in the hall to feast. And +when the feast was over, and the great fire roared upon the hearth, +the minstrel took his harp and sang. Far over dreary fen and moorland +the light glowed cheerfully, and the sound of song and harp awoke the +deep silence of the night. Within the hall was light and gladness, but +without there was wrath and hate. For far on the moor there lived +a wicked giant named Grendel, prowling at night to see what evil he +might do. + +Very terrible was this ogre Grendel to look upon. Thick black hair +hung about his face, and his teeth were long and sharp, like the tusks +of an animal. His huge body and great hairy arms had the strength of +ten men. He wore no armor, for his skin was tougher than any coat +of mail that man or giant might weld. His nails were like steel and +sharper than daggers, and by his side there hung a great pouch in +which he carried off those whom he was ready to devour. Day by day the +music of harp and song was a torture to him and made him more and more +mad with jealous hate. + +At length he crept through the darkness to Hart Hall where the +warriors slept after feast and song. Arms and armor had been thrown +aside, so with ease the ogre slew thirty of the bravest. Howling with +wicked joy he carried them off and devoured them. The next night, +again the wicked one crept stealthily through the darkening moorland +until he reached Hart Hall, stretched forth his hand, and seized the +bravest of the warriors. In the morning each man swore that he would +not again sleep beneath the roof of the hall. For twelve years it +stood thus, no man daring, except in the light of day, to enter it. + +And now it came to pass that across the sea in far Gothland the tale +of Grendel and his wrath was carried to Beowulf the Goth, who said he +would go to King Hrothgar to help him. Taking with him fifteen good +comrades, he set sail for Daneland. + +When Hrothgar was told that Beowulf had come to help him, he said, +"I knew him when he was yet a lad. His father and his mother have I +known. Truly he hath sought a friend. I have heard that he is much +renowned in war, and hath the strength of thirty men in the grip of +his hand. I pray Heaven he hath been sent to free us from the horror +of Grendel. Bid Beowulf and his warriors to enter." + +Guided by the Danish knight, Beowulf and his men went into Hart Hall +and stood before the aged Hrothgar. After friendly words of greeting +Beowulf said, "And now will I fight against Grendel, bearing neither +sword nor shield. With my hands alone will I grapple with the fiend, +and foe to foe we will fight for victory." + +That night Beowulf's comrades slept in Hart Hall. Beowulf alone +remained awake. Out of the mists of the moorland the Evil Thing +strode. Loud he laughed as he gazed upon the sleeping warriors. +Beowulf, watchful and angry, curbed his wrath. Grendel seized one of +the men, drank his blood, crushed his bones, and swallowed his horrid +feast. Then Beowulf caught the monster and fought till the noise of +the contest was as of thunder. The knights awoke and tried to plunge +their swords into the hide of Grendel, but in vain. By enchantments he +had made himself safe. At length the fight came to an end. The sinews +in Grendel's shoulder burst, the bones cracked. The ogre tore himself +free, leaving his arm in Beowulf's mighty grip. + +Sobbing forth his death-song, Grendel fled till he reached his +dwelling in the lake of the water-dragons, and there plunged in. The +dark waves closed over him and he sank to his home. Loud were the +songs of triumph in Hart Hall, great the rejoicing, for Beowulf had +made good his boast. He had cleansed the hall of the ogre. A splendid +feast was made and much treasure given to Beowulf by the King and +Queen. + +Again did the Dane lords sleep in the great hall, but far away in the +water-dragons' lake the mother of Grendel wept over the dead body +of her son, desiring revenge. Very terrible to look upon was this +water-witch. As the darkness fell she crept across the moorland to +Hart Hall. In she rushed eager for slaughter. A wild cry rang through +the hall. The water-witch fled, but in doing so carried off the best +beloved of all the King's warriors. + +Quickly was Beowulf called and he rode forth to the dark lake. Down +and down he dived till he came to the cave of the water-witch whom he +killed after a desperate struggle. Hard by on a couch lay the body of +Grendel. Drawing his sword he smote off the ogre's head. Swimming up +with it he reached the surface and sprang to land, and was greeted by +his faithful thanes. Four of them were needed to carry the huge head +back to Hart Hall. + +His task being done Beowulf made haste to return to his own land that +he might seek his own King, Hygelac, and lay before him the treasures +that Hrothgar had given him. With gracious words the old King thanked +the young warrior, and bade him to come again right speedily. Hygelac +listened with wonder and delight to all that had happened in Daneland +and graciously received the splendid gifts. + +For many years Beowulf lived beloved of all, and when it befell that +Hygelac died in battle, the broad realm of Gothland was given unto +Beowulf to rule. And there for fifty years he reigned a well-loved +King. + + + + +II + +HOW THE FIRE DRAGON WARRED WITH THE GOTH FOLK + + +And now when many years had come and gone and the realm had long time +been at peace, sorrow came upon the people of the Goths. And thus it +was that the evil came. + +It fell upon a time that a slave by his misdeeds roused his master's +wrath, and when his lord would have punished him he fled in terror. +And as he fled trembling to hide himself, he came by chance into a +great cave. + +There the slave hid, thankful for refuge. But soon he had cause to +tremble in worse fear than before, for in the darkness of the cave +he saw that a fearful dragon lay asleep. Then as the slave gazed +in terror at the awful beast, he saw that it lay guarding a mighty +treasure. + +Never had he seen such a mass of wealth. Swords and armor inlaid with +gold, cups and vessels of gold and silver set with precious stones, +rings and bracelets lay piled around in glittering heaps. + +For hundreds of years this treasure had lain there in secret. A great +prince had buried it in sorrow for his dead warriors. In his land +there had been much fighting until he alone of all his people was +left. Then in bitter grief he gathered all his treasure and hid it in +this cave. + +"Take, O earth," he cried, "what the heroes might not keep. Lo! good +men and true once before earned it from thee. Now a warlike death hath +taken away every man of my people. There is none now to bear the sword +or receive the cup. There is no more joy in the battle-field or in the +hall of peace. So here shall the gold-adorned helmet molder, here the +coat of mail rust and the wine-cup lie empty." + +Thus the sad prince mourned. Beside his treasure he sat weeping both +day and night until death took him also, and of all his people there +was none left. + +So the treasure lay hidden and secret for many a day. + +Then upon a time it happened that a great dragon, fiery-eyed and +fearful, as it flew by night and prowled seeking mischief, came upon +the buried hoard. + +As men well know, a dragon ever loveth gold. So to guard his new-found +wealth lest any should come to rob him of it, he laid him down there +and the cave became his dwelling. Thus for three hundred years he lay +gloating over his treasure, no man disturbing him. + +But now at length it chanced that the fleeing slave lighted upon the +hoard. His eyes were dazzled by the shining heap. Upon it lay a cup of +gold, wondrously chased and adorned. + +"If I can but gain that cup," said the slave to himself, "I will +return with it to my master, and for the sake of the gold he will +surely forgive me." + +So while the dragon slept, trembling and fearful the slave crept +nearer and nearer to the glittering mass. When he came quite near he +reached forth his hand and seized the cup. Then with it he fled back +to his master. + +It befell then as the slave had foreseen. For the sake of the wondrous +cup his misdeeds were forgiven him. + +But when the dragon awoke his fury was great. Well knew he that mortal +man had trod his cave and stolen of his hoard. + +Round and round about he sniffed and searched until he discovered the +footprints of his foe. Eagerly then all over the ground he sought +to find the man who, while he slept, had done him this ill. Hot +and fierce of mood he went backwards and forwards round about his +treasure-heaps. All within the cave he searched in vain. Then coming +forth he searched without. All round the hill in which his cave was +he prowled, but no man could he find, nor in all the wilds around was +there any man. + +Again the old dragon returned, again he searched among his +treasure-heap for the precious cup. Nowhere was it to be found. It was +too surely gone. + +But the dragon, as well as loving gold, loved war. So now in angry +mood he lay couched in his lair. Scarce could he wait until darkness +fell, such was his wrath. With fire he was resolved to repay the loss +of his dear drinking-cup. + +At last, to the joy of the great winged beast, the sun sank. Then +forth from his cave he came, flaming fire. + +Spreading his mighty wings, he flew through the air until he came to +the houses of men. Then spitting forth flame, he set fire to many a +happy homestead. Wherever the lightning of his tongue struck, there +fire flamed forth, until where the fair homes of men had been there +was naught but blackened ruins. Here and there, this way and that, +through all the land he sped, and wherever he passed fire flamed +aloft. + +The warfare of the dragon was seen from far. The malice of the worm +was known from north to south, from east to west. All men knew how the +fearful foe hated and ruined the Goth folk. + +Then having worked mischief and desolation all night through, the +fire-dragon turned back; to his secret cave he slunk again ere break +of day. Behind him he left the land wasted and desolate. + +The dragon had no fear of the revenge of man. In his fiery warfare he +trusted to find shelter in his hill, and in his secret cave. But in +that trust he was misled. + +Speedily to King Beowulf were the tidings of the dragon and his +spoiling carried. For alas! even his own fair palace was wrapped in +flame. Before his eyes he saw the fiery tongues lick up his treasures. +Even the Gift-seat of the Goths melted in fire. + +Then was the good King sorrowful. His heart boiled within him with +angry thoughts. The fire-dragon had utterly destroyed the pleasant +homes of his people. For this the war-prince greatly desired to punish +him. + +Therefore did Beowulf command that a great shield should be made for +him, all of iron. He knew well that a shield of wood could not help +him in this need. Wood against fire! Nay, that were useless. His +shield must be all of iron. + +Too proud, too, was Beowulf, the hero of old time, to seek the winged +beast with a troop of soldiers. Not thus would he overcome him. He +feared not for himself, nor did he dread the dragon's war-craft. For +with his valor and his skill Beowulf had succeeded many a time. He had +been victorious in many a tumult of battle since that day when a young +man and a warrior prosperous in victory, he had cleansed Hart Hall by +grappling with Grendel and his kin. + +And now when the great iron shield was ready, he chose eleven of his +best thanes and set out to seek the dragon. Very wrathful was the old +King, very desirous that death should take his fiery foe. He hoped, +too, to win the great treasure of gold which the fell beast guarded. +For already Beowulf had learned whence the feud arose, whence came the +anger which had been so hurtful to his people. And the precious cup, +the cause of all the quarrel, had been brought to him. + +With the band of warriors went the slave who had stolen the cup. He +it was who must be their guide to the cave, for he alone of all +men living knew the way thither. Loth he was to be their guide. But +captive and bound he was forced to lead the way over the plain to the +dragon's hill. + +Unwillingly he went with lagging footsteps until at length he came +to the cave hard by the seashore. There by the sounding waves lay the +savage guardian of the treasure. Ready for war and fierce was he. It +was no easy battle that was there prepared for any man, brave though +he might be. + +And now on the rocky point above the sea King Beowulf sat himself +down. Here he would bid farewell to all his thanes ere he began the +combat. For what man might tell which from that fight should come +forth victorious? + +Beowulf's mind was sad. He was now old. His hair was white, his face +was wrinkled and gray. But still his arm was strong as that of a young +man. Yet something within him warned him that death was not far off. + +So upon the rocky point he sat and bade farewell to his dear comrades. + +"In my youth," said the aged King, "many battles have I dared, and +yet must I, the guardian of my people, though I be full of years, seek +still another feud. And again will I win glory if the wicked spoiler +of my land will but come forth from his lair." + +Much he spoke. With loving words he bade farewell to each one of his +men, greeting his dear comrades for the last time. + +"I would not bear a sword or weapon against the winged beast," he said +at length, "if I knew how else I might grapple with the wretch, as of +old I did with Grendel. But I ween this war-fire is hot, fierce, and +poisonous. Therefore I have clad me in a coat of mail, and bear this +shield all of iron. I will not flee a single step from the guardian of +the treasure. But to us upon this rampart it shall be as fate will. + +"Now let me make no more vaunting speech. Ready to fight am I. Let me +forth against the winged beast. Await ye here on the mount, clad in +your coats of mail, your arms ready. Abide ye here until ye see which +of us twain in safety cometh forth from the clash of battle. + +"It is no enterprise for you, or for any common man. It is mine alone. +Alone I needs must go against the wretch and prove myself a warrior. +I must with courage win the gold, or else deadly, baleful war shall +fiercely snatch me, your lord, from life." + +Then Beowulf arose. He was all clad in shining armor, his gold-decked +helmet was upon his head, and taking his shield in hand he strode +under the stony cliffs towards the cavern's mouth. In the strength of +his single arm he trusted against the fiery dragon. + +No enterprise this for a coward. + + + + +III + +HOW BEOWULF OVERCAME THE DRAGON + + +Beowulf left his comrades upon the rocky point jutting out into the +sea, and alone he strode onward until he spied a great stone arch. +From beneath the arch, from out the hillside, flowed a stream seething +with fierce, hot fire. In this way the dragon guarded his lair, for it +was impossible to pass such a barrier unhurt. + +So upon the edge of this burning river Beowulf stood and called aloud +in anger. Stout of heart and wroth against the winged beast was he. + +The King's voice echoed like a war-cry through the cavern. The dragon +heard it and was aroused to fresh hate of man. For the guardian of the +treasure-hoard knew well the sound of mortal voice. Now was there no +long pause ere battle raged. + +First from out the cavern flamed forth the breath of the winged +beast. Hot sweat of battle rose from out the rock. The earth shook and +growling thunder trembled through the air. + +The dragon, ringed around with many-colored scales, was now hot for +battle, and, as the hideous beast crept forth, Beowulf raised his +mighty shield and rushed against him. + +Already the King had drawn his sword. It was an ancient heirloom, keen +of edge and bright. Many a time it had been dyed in blood; many a time +it had won glory and victory. + +But ere they closed, the mighty foes paused. Each knew the hate and +deadly power of the other. + +The mighty Prince, firm and watchful, stood guarded by his shield. The +dragon, crouching as in ambush, awaited him. + +Then suddenly like a flaming arch the dragon bent and towered, and +dashed upon the Lord of the Goths. Up swung the arm of the hero, and +dealt a mighty blow to the grisly, many-colored beast. But the famous +sword was all too weak against such a foe. The edge turned and bit +less strongly than its great king had need, for he was sore pressed. +His shield, too, proved no strong shelter from the wrathful dragon. + +The warlike blow made greater still the anger of the fiery foe. Now he +belched forth flaming fire. All around fierce lightnings darted. + +Beowulf no longer hoped for glorious victory. His sword had failed +him. The edge was turned and blunted upon the scaly foe. He had never +thought the famous steel would so ill serve him. Yet he fought on +ready to lose his life in such good contest. + +Again the battle paused, again the King and dragon closed in fight. + +The dragon-guardian of the treasure had renewed his courage. His heart +heaved and boiled with fire, and fresh strength breathed from him. +Beowulf was wrapped in flame. Dire was his need. + +Yet of all his comrades none came near to help. Nay, as they watched +the conflict they were filled with base fear, and fled to the wood +hard by for refuge. + +Only one among them sorrowed for his master, and as he watched his +heart was wrung with grief. + +Wiglaf was this knight called, and he was Beowulf's kinsman. Now when +he saw his liege lord hard pressed in battle he remembered all the +favors Beowulf had heaped upon him. He remembered all the honors +and the wealth which he owed to his King. Then could he no longer be +still. Shield and spear he seized, but ere he sped to aid his King he +turned to his comrades. + +"When our lord and King gave us swords and armor," he cried, "did we +not promise to follow him in battle whenever he had need? When he of +his own will chose us for this expedition he reminded us of our fame. +He said he knew us to be good warriors, bold helmet-wearers. And +although indeed our liege lord thought to do this work of valor alone, +without us, because more than any man he hath done glorious and rash +deeds, lo! now is the day come that hath need of strength and of good +warriors. Come, let us go to him. Let us help our chieftain although +the grim terror of fire be hot. + +"Heaven knoweth I would rather the flame would blast my body than his +who gave me gold. It seemeth not fitting to me that we should bear +back our shields to our homes unless we may first fell the foe and +defend the life of our King. Nay, it is not of the old custom of the +Goths that the King alone should suffer, that he alone should sink in +battle. Our lord should be repaid for his gifts to us, and so he shall +be by me even if death take us twain." + +But none would hearken to Wiglaf. So alone he sped through the deadly +smoke and flame, till to his master's side he came offering aid. + +"My lord Beowulf," he cried, "fight on as thou didst in thy +youth-time. Erstwhile didst thou say that thou wouldst not let thy +greatness sink so long as life lasteth. Defend thou thy life with all +might. I will support thee to the utmost." + +When the dragon heard these words his fury was doubled. The fell +wicked beast came on again belching forth fire, such was his hatred of +men. The flame-waves caught Wiglaf's shield, for it was but of wood. +It was burned utterly, so that only the stud of steel remained. His +coat of mail alone was not enough to guard the young warrior from +the fiery enemy. But right valiantly he went on fighting beneath the +shelter of Beowulf's shield now that his own was consumed to ashes by +the flames. + +Then again the warlike King called to mind his ancient glories, again +he struck with main strength with his good sword upon the monstrous +head. Hate sped the blow. + +But alas! as it descended the famous sword Naegling snapped asunder. +Beowulf's sword had failed him in the conflict, although it was an old +and well-wrought blade. To him it was not granted that weapons should +help him in battle. The hand that swung the sword was too strong. His +might overtaxed every blade however wondrously the smith had welded +it. + +And now a third time the fell fire-dragon was roused to wrath. He +rushed upon the King. Hot, and fiercely grim the great beast seized +Beowulf's neck in his horrid teeth. The hero's life-blood gushed +forth, the crimson stream darkly dyed his bright armor. + +Then in the great King's need his warrior showed skill and courage. +Heeding not the flames from the awful mouth, Wiglaf struck the dragon +below the neck. His hand was burned with the fire, but his sword dived +deep into the monster's body and from that moment the flames began to +abate. + +The horrid teeth relaxed their hold, and Beowulf, quickly recovering +himself, drew his deadly knife. Battle-sharp and keen it was, and with +it the hero gashed the dragon right in the middle. + +The foe was conquered. Glowing in death he fell. They twain had +destroyed the winged beast. Such should a warrior be, such a thane in +need. + +To the King it was a victorious moment. It was the crown of all his +deeds. + +Then began the wound which the fire-dragon had wrought him to burn and +to swell. Beowulf soon found that baleful poison boiled in his heart. +Well knew he that the end was nigh. Lost in deep thought he sat upon +the mound and gazed wondering at the cave. Pillared and arched with +stone-work it was within, wrought by giants and dwarfs of old time. + +And to him came Wiglaf his dear warrior and tenderly bathed his wound +with water. + +Then spake Beowulf, in spite of his deadly wound he spake, and all his +words were of the ending of his life, for he knew that his days of joy +upon this earth were past. + +"Had a son been granted to me, to him I should have left my +war-garments. Fifty years have I ruled this people, and there has been +no king of all the nations round who durst meet me in battle. I have +known joys and sorrows, but no man have I betrayed, nor many false +oaths have I sworn. For all this may I rejoice, though I be now sick +with mortal wounds. The Ruler of Men may not upbraid me with treachery +or murder of kinsmen when my soul shall depart from its body. + +"But now, dear Wiglaf, go thou quickly to the hoard of gold which +lieth under the hoary rock. The dragon lieth dead; now sleepeth he +for ever, sorely wounded and bereft of his treasure. Then haste thee, +Wiglaf, for I would see the ancient wealth, the gold treasure, the +jewels, the curious gems. Haste thee to bring it hither; then after +that I have seen it, I shall the more contentedly give up my life and +the kingship that I so long have held." + +Quickly Wiglaf obeyed his wounded lord. Into the dark cave he +descended, and there outspread before him was a wondrous sight. +Treasure of jewels, many glittering and golden, lay upon the ground. +Wondrous vessels of old time with broken ornaments were scattered +round. Here, too, lay old and rusty helmets, mingled with bracelets +and collars cunningly wrought. + +Upon the walls hung golden flags. From one a light shone forth by +which the whole cavern was made clear. And all within was silent. No +sign was there of any guardian, for without lay the dragon, sleeping +death's sleep. + +Quickly Wiglaf gathered of the treasures all that he could carry. +Dishes and cups he took, a golden ensign and a sword curiously +wrought. In haste he returned, for he knew not if he should find his +lord in life where he had left him. + +And when Wiglaf came again to where Beowulf sat he poured the treasure +at his feet. But he found his lord in a deep swoon. Again the brave +warrior bathed Beowulf's wound and laved the stricken countenance of +his lord, until once more he came to himself. + +Then spake the King: "For this treasure I give thanks to the Lord of +All. Not in vain have I given my life, for it shall be of great good +to my people in need. And now leave me, for on this earth longer I may +not stay. Say to my warriors that they shall raise a mound upon the +rocky point which jutteth seaward. High shall it stand as a memorial +to my people. Let it soar upward so that they who steer their slender +barks over the tossing waves shall call it Beowulf's mound." + +The King then took from his neck the golden collar. To Wiglaf, his +young thane and kinsman, he gave it. He gave also his helmet adorned +with gold, his ring and coat of mail, and bade the warrior use them +well. + +"Thou art the last of our race," he said. "Fate hath swept away all my +kinsmen, all the mighty earls. Now I too must follow them." + +That was the last word of the aged King. From his bosom the soul fled +to seek the dwellings of the just. At Wiglaf's feet he lay quiet and +still. + + + + +HOW KING ARTHUR CONQUERED ROME + +ADAPTED BY E. EDWARDSON + + +King Arthur had just brought a great war to an end, and in honor of +his victory he was holding a royal feast with the kings and princes +that were his vassals and all the knights of the Round Table, when +twelve grave and ancient men entered the banquet-hall where he sat +at table. They bore each an olive-branch in his hand, to signify that +they were ambassadors from Lucius the Emperor of Rome, and after they +had reverently made obeisance to King Arthur, they delivered their +message as follows: + +"The high and mighty Emperor Lucius sends you greeting, O King of +Britain, and he commands you to acknowledge him as your lord, and +to pay the tribute which is due from this realm, and which, it is +recorded, was paid by your father and others who came before him. +Yet you rebelliously withhold it and keep it back, in defiance of +the statutes and decrees made by the first Emperor of Rome, the noble +Julius Caesar, who conquered this country. And be assured that if you +disobey this command, the Emperor Lucius will come in his might and +make war against you and your kingdom, and will inflict upon you a +chastisement that shall serve for ever as a warning to all kings and +princes not to withhold the tribute due to that noble empire to which +belongs dominion over the whole world." + +Thus they spoke, and King Arthur having heard their request, bade +them withdraw, saying that he would take the advice of his counselors +before giving them his answer; but some of the younger knights that +were in the hall declared that it was a disgrace to all who were +at the feast that such language should be used to the King in their +hearing, and they would fain have fallen upon the ambassadors and +slain them. But King Arthur, hearing their murmurs, declared that any +insult or wrong suffered by the ambassadors should be punished with +death. Then he sent them to their quarters, escorted by one of his +knights, who was ordered to provide them with whatever they wanted. + +"Let nothing be grudged these men of Rome," said the King "though the +demand they make is an affront alike to me and to you who are of my +court. I should be dishonored were the ambassadors not treated with +the respect due to them, seeing that they are great lords in their own +land." + +As soon as the ambassadors had left the hall, King Arthur asked his +knights and lords what was their advice and counsel in the matter. The +first to give his opinion was Sir Cador of Cornwall. + +"Sir," said Sir Cador, "the message brought by these lords is most +welcome to me. We have spent full many days at rest and in idleness, +and now my hope is that you will wage war against the Romans. In that +war we shall, I have little doubt, win great honor." + +"I am sure," answered King Arthur, "that this affair is welcome to +you, but I seek, above all, your aid in devising a grave and suitable +answer to the demand they have made. And let no man doubt that I hold +that demand to be a grievous insult. The tribute they claim, in my +opinion, not only is not due, but cannot be due; for more than one +British knight having been Emperor of Rome, it is, I hold, the duty of +Rome to acknowledge the lordship of Britain, rather than of Britain to +acknowledge that of Rome. What think ye?" + +"Sir," replied King Anguish of Scotland, "you ought of right to be +lord over all other kings, for throughout Christendom there is neither +knight nor man of high estate worthy to be compared with you. My +advice is, never yield to the Romans. When they reigned over us, they +oppressed our principal men, and laid heavy and extortionate burdens +upon the land. For that cause I, standing here, solemnly vow vengeance +upon them for the evil they then did, and, to support you in your +quarrel, I will at my own cost furnish twenty thousand good fighting +men. This force I will command in person, and I will bring it to your +aid whenever you choose to summon me." + +In like manner, the King of Little Britain, as Brittany was called +in those days, undertook to furnish thirty thousand men; and all the +others who were present agreed to fight on King Arthur's side, and to +assist him to the utmost of their power. So he, having thanked +them heartily for the courage and good will towards him that they +displayed, had the ambassadors summoned back into the banquet-hall and +addressed them thus: + +"I would have you go back to him who sent you, and I would have you +say to him that I will pay no heed to any orders or demands that may +be brought from him; and as for tribute so far am I from allowing +that there is any tribute due from me or to any other man or prince +upon earth, be he heathen or Christian, that I claim lordship over +the empire he now has. And say further to him, that I have determined +and resolved to go to Rome with my army, to take possession of the +empire and to subdue all that behave themselves rebelliously. +Therefore, let your master and all the other men of Rome get +themselves ready to do homage to me, and to acknowledge me as their +emperor and governor, and let them know that if they refuse, they +will be punished befittingly." + +Then King Arthur bade his treasurer give handsome gifts to the +ambassadors, and repay in full the cost of their journey, and he +assigned Sir Cador as their escort to see them safely out of the +country. So they took their leave, and going to Sandwich, sailed +thence, and passed through Flanders and Germany over the Alps into +Italy to the court of the Emperor. + +When the Emperor heard what message King Arthur had entrusted to +them, and understood that this was indeed the reply to his demand for +tribute, he was grievously angry. + +"Of truth," he said, "I never doubted that King Arthur would obey my +commands and submit, as it befits him and all other kings to submit +themselves to me." + +"Sir," answered one of the ambassadors, "I beseech you not to speak +thus boastfully. In very truth my companions and myself were dismayed +when we saw King Arthur face to face, and my fear is that you have +made a rod for your own back, for his intention is to become lord over +this empire. His threats, I warn you, are no idle talk. He is a very +different man from what you hoped he was, and his court is the most +noble upon earth. Never had any one of us beheld such magnificence +as we beheld there on New Year's Day, when nine kings, besides other +princes, lords, and knights, sat at table with King Arthur. Nor do +I believe that there could be found anywhere another band of knights +worthy to be matched with the knights who sit at his Round Table, nor +a more manly man than the King himself. And since I verily believe +his ambition is such that he would not be satisfied though he had +conquered the whole world, my advice is that you have careful watch +kept upon the borders of your lands and upon the ways over the +mountains, for I am certain that you would do wisely to guard yourself +well against him." + +"Well," answered Lucius, "my intention is before Easter to cross the +Alps and to descend into France and seize the lands that belong to +him there. With me I shall take my mighty warriors from Tuscany and +Lombardy, and all the subjects and allies I have shall be summoned to +my aid." + +Then the Emperor picked out wise old knights and sent them east and +west throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe, to summon his allies from +Turkey, Syria, Portugal, and the other distant lands that were subject +to him; and in the meantime he assembled his forces from Rome, +and from the countries between Rome and Flanders, and he collected +together as his bodyguard fifty giants who were sons of evil spirits. +Putting himself at the head of this mighty host, Lucius departed from +Rome, and marching through Savoy, crossed the mountains, meaning to +lay waste the lands King Arthur had conquered. He besieged and took +a castle near Cologne, which he garrisoned with Saracens and +unbelievers. Then he passed on, plundering and pillaging the country, +till he entered Burgundy, where he halted to collect the whole of +his army before invading and laying utterly waste the land of Little +Britain. + +In the meantime preparations were being made on the side of the +British. A parliament was held at York, and there it was resolved that +all the navy of the kingdom should be got ready and assembled +within fifteen days at Sandwich. Sir Baudewaine of Britain, and Sir +Constantine, the son of Sir Cador of Cornwall, were chosen by the King +to be his viceroys during his absence; and to them, in the presence +of all his lords, he confided the care of his kingdom, and he also +entrusted to them Queen Guinevere. She, when the time drew near for +the departure of her lord, wept and lamented so piteously that at last +she swooned, and was carried away to her chamber by the ladies that +attended upon her. Then King Arthur mounted his horse, and, putting +himself at the head of his troops, made proclamation in a loud voice +that should death befall him during this expedition, his wish was +that Sir Constantine, who was his heir by blood, should succeed to his +possessions and to his throne. + +So King Arthur and his army came to Sandwich, where they found +awaiting them a great multitude of galleys and vessels of all sorts, +on which they embarked and set out to sea. That night, as the King lay +asleep in his cabin, he dreamed a marvelous dream. A dreadful dragon +appeared, flying out of the west. Its head was all enameled with azure +enamel. Its wings and its claws glistened like gold. Its feet were +black as jet. Its body was sheathed in scales that shone as armor +shines after it has been polished, and it had a very great and +remarkable tail. Then there came a cloud out of the east. The grimmest +beast man ever saw rode upon this cloud; it was a wild boar, roaring +and growling so hideously that it was terrifying to hear it. The +dragon flew down the wind like a falcon and struck at this boar; but +it defended itself with its grisly tusks, and wounded the dragon +in the breast so severely that its blood, pouring into the sea in +torrents, made all the waves red. Then the dragon turned and flew +away, and having mounted up to a great height, again swooped down +upon the boar and fastened its claws in the beast's back. The boar +struggled, and raged, and writhed, but all in vain. It was at the +mercy of its foe, and so merciless was the dragon that it never +loosened its grip till it had torn the boar limb from limb and bone +from bone, and scattered it piecemeal upon the surface of the sea. + +Then King Arthur awoke, and, starting up in great dismay, sent for a +wise man that was on board the ship and bade him interpret the dream. + +"Sir," the wise man said, "the dragon which you saw in your dream +surely betokens your own self, its golden wings signifying the +countries you have won with your sword, and its marvelous tail the +knights of the Round Table. As for the boar that was slain, that may +betoken either a tyrant that torments his people, or some hideous +and abominable giant with whom you are about to fight. And the dream +foreshadows victory for you. Therefore, though it was very dreadful, +you should take comfort from it and be of a good heart." + +Before long the sailors sighted land, and the army disembarked at a +port in Flanders, where many great lords were awaiting the arrival +of King Arthur, as had been ordained. And to him, soon after he had +arrived, there came a husbandman bringing grievous news. A monstrous +giant had for years infested the country on the borders of Little +Britain, and had slain many people and devoured such numbers of +children that there were none left for him to prey upon. And being in +search of victims, and coming upon the Duchess of Little Britain as +she rode with her knights, he had laid hands upon her and carried +her off to his den in a mountain. Five hundred men that followed the +duchess could not rescue her, but they heard such heartrending cries +and shrieks that they had little doubt she had been put to death. + +"Now," said the husbandman, "as you are a great and noble King and a +valiant conqueror, and as this lady was wife to Sir Howel, who is your +own cousin, take pity on her and on all of us, and avenge us upon this +vile giant." + +"Alas," King Arthur replied, "this is a grievous and an evil matter. +I would give all my kingdom to have been at hand, so that I might have +saved that fair lady." + +Then he asked the husbandman whether he could show him the place where +the giant would be found, and the man said that was easy to do, for +there were always two fires burning outside the den he haunted. In +that den, the husbandman believed, was stored more treasure than the +whole realm of France contained. + +Then the King took Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere apart privately into his +tent, and bade them secretly get ready their horses and armor, and his +own, for it was his intention that night, after evensong, to set out +on a pilgrimage to St. Michael's Mount with them, and nobody besides +them was to accompany him. So when evening came, the King, and Sir +Kay, and Sir Bedivere armed themselves, and taking their horses, rode +as fast as they could to the foot of St. Michael's Mount. There the +King alighted and bade his knights stay where they were, while he +himself ascended the mount. + +He went up the hillside till he came to a huge fire. Close to it was a +newly made grave, by which was sitting a sorrowful widow wringing +her hands and making great lamentation. King Arthur saluted her +courteously, and asked for whom she was weeping. She prayed him to +speak softly, for "Yonder," said she, "is a monstrous giant that +will come and destroy you should your voice reach his ears. Luckless +wretch, what brings you to this mountain?" asked the widow. "Fifty +such knights as you could not hold their ground against the monster." + +"Lady," he replied, "the mighty conqueror King Arthur has sent me +as his ambassador to this giant, to inquire why he ventures thus to +misuse and maltreat the people of the land." + +"A useless embassy in very truth!" she said. "Little does he care for +King Arthur, or for any other man. Not many days have passed since +he murdered the fairest lady in the world, the wife of Sir Howel of +Little Britain; and had you brought with you King Arthur's own wife, +Queen Guinevere, he would not be afraid to murder her. Yet, if you +must needs speak with him, you will find him yonder over the crest of +the hill." + +"This is a fearful warning you give me," said the King. "Yet none the +less, believe me, will I accomplish the task that has been allotted +me." + +Having climbed up to the crest of the hill, King Arthur looked down, +and close below him he saw the giant basking at his ease by the side +of a great fire. + +"Thou villain!" cried the King--"thou villain! short shall be thy life +and shameful shall be thy death. Rise and defend yourself. My sword +shall avenge that fair duchess whom you murdered." + +Starting from the ground, the giant snatched up his great iron club, +and aiming a swinging blow at King Arthur's head, swept the crest off +his helmet. Then the King flew at him, and they wrestled and wrestled +till they fell, and as they struggled on the ground King Arthur again +and again smote the giant with his dagger, and they rolled and tumbled +down the hill till they reached the sea-beach at its foot, where Sir +Kay and Sir Bedivere were waiting their lord's return. Rushing to his +aid, the two knights at once set their master free, for they found +that the giant, in whose arms he was locked, was already dead. + +Then King Arthur sent Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere up the hill to fetch +the sword and shield that he had let fall and left there, and also the +giant's iron club and cloak, and he told them they might keep whatever +treasure they found in his den, for he desired nothing besides the +club and the cloak. So they went and did as they were bidden, and +brought away as much treasure as they desired. + +When the news of the oppressor's death was spread abroad, the people +came in throngs to thank the King, who had delivered them; but he bade +them rather give thanks to Heaven. Then, having distributed among +them the treasure his knights had not needed, and having commanded Sir +Howel to build upon the hill which the giant had haunted a chapel in +honor of St. Michael, he returned to his army, and led it into the +country of Champagne, where he pitched his camp in a valley. + +That evening two men, of whom one was the Marshal of France, came into +the pavilion where King Arthur sat at table. They brought news that +the Emperor was in Burgundy, burning and sacking towns and villages, +so that, unless King Arthur came quickly to their succor, the men of +those parts would be forced to surrender themselves and their goods to +Rome. + +Hearing this, King Arthur summoned four of his knights--Sir Gawaine, +Sir Bors, Sir Lionel, and Sir Badouine--and ordered them to go with +all speed to the Emperor's camp, and all upon him either to leave the +land at once or make ready for battle, since King Arthur would not +suffer the people to be harried any longer. These four knights, +accordingly, rode off with their followers, and before very long they +came to a meadow, where, pitched by the side of a stream, they saw +many stately tents, and in the middle of them one which, it was plain, +must be the Emperor's, for above it floated a banner on which was an +eagle. + +Then they halted and took counsel what it would be best to do, and it +was agreed that the rest of the party should remain in ambush in +the wood while Sir Gawaine and Sir Bors delivered the message they +brought. Having heard it, the Emperor Lucius said they had better +return and advise King Arthur to make preparations for being subdued +by Rome and losing all his possessions. To this taunt Sir Gawaine and +Sir Bors made angry replies, whereupon Sir Gainus, a knight who was +near of kin to the Emperor, laughed, and said that British knights +behaved as if the whole world rested on their shoulders. Sir Gawaine +was infuriated beyond all measure by these words, and he and Sir Bors +fled as fast as their horses could put legs to the ground, dashing +headlong through woods and across streams, till they came to the spot +where they had left their comrades in ambush. + +The Romans followed in hot pursuit, and pressed them hard all the way. +One knight, indeed, had almost overtaken them, when Sir Bors turned +and ran him through with his spear. Then Sir Lionel and Sir Badouine +came to their assistance, and there was a great and fierce encounter, +and such was the bravery of the British that they routed the Romans +and chased them right up to their tents. There the enemy made a stand, +and Sir Bors was taken prisoner; but Sir Gawaine, drawing his good +sword, vowed that he would either rescue his comrade or never look +King Arthur in the face again, and falling upon the men that had +captured Sir Bors, he delivered him out of their hands. + +Then the fight waxed hotter and hotter, and the British knights were +in such jeopardy that Sir Gawaine dispatched a messenger to bring him +help as quickly as it could be sent, for he was wounded and sorely +hurt. King Arthur, having received the message, instantly mustered his +army; but before he could set out, into the camp rode Sir Gawaine and +his companions, bringing with them many prisoners. And the only one +of the band who had suffered any hurt was Sir Gawaine, whom the king +consoled as best he could, bidding his surgeon at once attend to his +wounds. + +Thus ended the first battle between the Britons and the Romans. That +night there was great rejoicing in the camp of King Arthur; and on the +next day all the prisoners were sent to Paris, with Sir Launcelot du +Lake and Sir Cador, and many other knights to guard them. On the way, +passing through a wood, they were beset by a force the Emperor Lucius +had placed there in ambush. Then Sir Launcelot, though the enemy had +six men for every one he had with him, fought with such fury that no +one could stand up against him; and at last, in dread of his prowess +and might, the Romans and their allies the Saracens turned and fled as +though they had been sheep and Sir Launcelot a wolf or a lion. But +the skirmish had lasted so long that tidings of it had reached King +Arthur, who arrayed himself and hurried to the aid of his knights. +Finding them already victorious, he embraced them one by one, saying +that they were indeed worthy of whatever honors had been granted them +in the past, and that no other king had ever had such noble knights as +he had. + +To this Sir Cador answered that they might one and all claim at least +the merit of not having deserted their posts, but that the honor of +the day belonged to Sir Launcelot, for it passed man's wit to describe +all the feats of arms he had performed. Then Sir Cador told the King +that certain of his knights were slain, and who they were, whereupon +King Arthur wept bitterly. + +"Truly," he said, "your valor nearly was the destruction of you all. +Yet you would not have been disgraced in my eyes had you retreated. +To me it seems a rash and foolhardy thing for knights to stand their +ground when they find themselves overmatched." + +"Nay," replied Sir Launcelot, "I think otherwise; for a knight who has +once been put to shame may never recover the honor he has forfeited." + +There was among the Romans who escaped from that battle a senator. +He went to the Emperor Lucius and said, "Sir, my advice is that you +withdraw your army, for this day has proved that grievous blows are +all we shall win here. There is not one of King Arthur's knights that +has not proved himself worth a hundred of ours." + +"Alas," cried Lucius, "that is coward's talk and to hear it grieves me +more than all the losses I have sustained this day." + +Then he ordered one of his most trusty allies to take a great +force and advance as fast as he possibly could, the Emperor himself +intending to follow in all haste. Warning of this having been brought +secretly to the British camp, King Arthur sent part of his forces +to Sessoigne to occupy the towns and castles before the Romans could +reach him. The rest he posted up and down the country, so as to cut +off every way by which the enemy might escape. + +Before long the Emperor entered the valley of Sessoigne, and found +himself face to face with King Arthur's men, drawn up in battle +array. Seeing that retreat was impossible--for he was hemmed in by his +enemies, and had either to fight his way through them or surrender--he +made an oration to his followers, praying them to quit themselves like +men that day, and to remember that to allow the Britons to hold their +ground would bring disgrace upon Rome, the mistress of the world. + +Then, at the Emperor's command, his trumpeters sounded their trumpets +so defiantly that the very earth trembled and shook; and the two hosts +joined battle, rushing at one another with mighty shouts. Many knights +fought nobly that day, but none more nobly than King Arthur. Riding up +and down the battle-field, he exhorted his knights to bear themselves +bravely; and wherever the fray was thickest, and his people most +sorely pressed, he dashed to the rescue and hewed down the Romans with +his good sword Excalibur. Among those he slew was a marvelous great +giant called Galapus. First of all, King Arthur smote off this giant's +legs by the knees, saying that made him a more convenient size to deal +with, and then he smote off his head. Such was the hugeness of the +body of Galapus, that, as it fell, it crushed six Saracens to death. + +But though King Arthur fought thus fiercely, and Sir Gawaine and all +the other knights of the Round Table did nobly, the host of their +enemies was so great that it seemed as if the battle would never come +to an end, the Britons having the advantage at one moment and the +Romans at another. + +Now, among the Romans, no man fought more bravely than the Emperor +Lucius. King Arthur, spying the marvelous feats of arms he performed, +rode up and challenged him to a single combat. They exchanged many a +mighty blow, and at last Lucius struck King Arthur across the face, +and inflicted a grievous wound. Feeling the smart of it, King Arthur +dealt back such a stroke that his sword Excalibur clove the Emperor's +helmet in half, and splitting his skull, passed right down to his +breast-bone. + +Thus Lucius, the Emperor of the Romans, lost his life; and when it +was known that he was slain, his whole army turned and fled, and King +Arthur and his knights chased them, slaying all they could overtake. +Of the host that followed Lucius, more than a hundred thousand men +fell that day. + +King Arthur, after he had won the great battle in which the Emperor +Lucius was slain, marched into Lorraine, and so on through Brabant +and Flanders into Germany, and across the mountains into Lombardy, and +thence into Tuscany, and at last came to Rome, and on Christmas Day he +was crowned emperor by the Pope with great state and solemnity. And +he stayed in Rome a little while, setting in order the affairs of +his possession, and distributing among his knights posts of honor and +dignity, and also great estates, as rewards for their services. + +After these affairs had been duly arranged, all the British lords and +knights assembled in the presence of the King, and said to him: + +"Noble Emperor, now that, Heaven be thanked for it, this great war is +over, and your enemies so utterly vanquished that henceforward, as we +believe, no man, however great or mighty he may be, will dare to stand +up against you, we beseech you to grant us leave to return to our +wives and our homes, that there we may rest ourselves." + +This request King Arthur granted, saying that it would be wise, seeing +they had met with such good fortune so far, to be content with it and +to return home. Also he gave orders that there should be no plundering +or pillaging of the country through which they had to pass on their +way back, but that they should, on pain of death, pay the full price +for victuals or whatever else they took. + +So King Arthur and his host set off from Rome and came over the sea +and landed at Sandwich, where Queen Guinevere came to meet her lord. +And at Sandwich and throughout the land there were great festivities, +and noble gifts were presented to the King; for his people rejoiced +mightily both because he had returned safely home, and because of the +great victories he had achieved. + + + + +SIR GALAHAD AND THE SACRED CUP + +ADAPTED BY MARY MACGREGOR + + + "My strength is as the strength of ten, + Because my heart is pure," + +sang Galahad gladly. He was only a boy, but he had just been made a +knight by Sir Lancelot, and the old abbey, where he had lived all his +life, rang with the echo of his song. + +Sir Lancelot heard the boy's clear voice singing in triumph. As he +stopped to listen, he caught the words, + + "My strength is as the strength of ten, + Because my heart is pure," + +and the great knight wished he were a boy again, and could sing that +song too. + +[Illustration: SIR GALAHAD.] + +Twelve nuns lived in the quiet abbey, and they had taught Galahad +lovingly and carefully, ever since he had come to them as a beautiful +little child. And the boy had dwelt happily with them there in the +still old abbey, and he would be sorry to leave them, but he was a +knight now. He would fight for the King he reverenced so greatly, and +for the country he loved so well. + +Yet when Sir Lancelot left the abbey the next day, Galahad did not go +with him. He would stay in his old home a little longer, he thought. +He would not grieve the nuns by a hurried farewell. + +Sir Lancelot left the abbey alone, but as he rode along he met two +knights, and together they reached Camelot, where the King was holding +a great festival. + +King Arthur welcomed Sir Lancelot and the two knights. "Now all the +seats at our table will be filled," he said gladly. For it pleased the +King when the circle of his knights was unbroken. + +Then all the King's household went to service at the minster, and when +they came back to the palace they saw a strange sight. + +In the dining-hall the Round Table at which the King and his knights +always sat seemed strangely bright. + +The King looked more closely, and saw that at one place on this +Round Table were large letters. And he read, "This is the seat of +Sir Galahad, the Pure-hearted." But only Sir Lancelot knew that Sir +Galahad was the boy-knight he had left behind him in the quiet old +abbey. + +"We will cover the letters till the Knight of the Pure Heart comes," +said Sir Lancelot; and he took silk and laid it over the glittering +letters. + +Then as they sat down to table they were disturbed by Sir Kay, the +steward of the King's kitchen. + +"You do not sit down to eat at this festival," Sir Kay reminded the +King, "till you have seen or heard some great adventure." And the +King told his steward that the writing in gold had made him forget his +usual custom. + +As they waited a squire came hastily into the hall. "I have a strange +tale to tell," he said. "As I walked along the bank of the river I saw +a great stone, and it floated on the top of the water, and into the +stone there has been thrust a sword." + +Then the King and all his knights went down to the river, and they +saw the stone, and it was like red marble. And the sword that had +been thrust into the stone was strong and fair. The handle of it was +studded with precious stones, and among the stones there were letters +of gold. + +The King stepped forward, and bending over the sword read these +words: "No one shall take me away save him to whom I belong. I will +hang only by the side of the best knight in the world." + +The King turned to Sir Lancelot. "The sword is yours, for surely there +lives no truer knight." + +But Sir Lancelot answered gravely, "The sword is not mine. It will +never hang by my side, for I dare not try to take it." + +The King was sorry that his great knight's courage failed, but he +turned to Sir Gawaine and asked him to try to take the sword. + +And at first Sir Gawaine hesitated. But when he looked again at the +precious stones that sparkled on the handle, he hesitated no longer. +But he no sooner touched the sword than it wounded him, so that he +could not use his arm for many days. + +Then the King turned to Sir Percivale. And because Arthur wished it, +Sir Percivale tried to take the sword; but he could not move it. And +after that no other knight dared to touch the fair sword; so they +turned and went back to the palace. + +In the dining-hall the King and his knights sat down once more at the +Round Table, and each knight knew his own chair. And all the seats +were filled except the chair opposite the writing in gold. + +It had been a day full of surprise, but now the most wonderful thing +of all happened. For as they sat down, suddenly all the doors of the +palace shut with a loud noise, but no one had touched the doors. And +all the windows were softly closed, but no one saw the hands that +closed them. + +Then one of the doors opened, and there came in a very old man dressed +all in white, and no one knew whence he came. + +By his side was a young man in red armor. He had neither sword nor +shield, but hanging by his side was an empty sheath. + +There was a great silence in the hall as the old man said, slowly and +solemnly, "I bring you the young knight Sir Galahad, who is descended +from a king. He shall do many great deeds, and he shall see the Holy +Grail." + +"He shall see the Holy Grail," the knights repeated, with awe on their +faces. + +For far back, in the days of their boyhood, they had heard the story +of the Holy Grail. It was the Sacred Cup out of which their Lord had +drunk before He died. + +And they had been told how sometimes it was seen carried by angels, +and how at other times in a gleam of light. But in whatever way it +appeared, it was seen only by those who were pure in heart. + +And as the old man's words, "He shall see the Holy Grail," fell on +their ears, the knights thought of the story they had heard so long +ago, and they were sorry, for they had never seen the Sacred Cup, and +they knew that it was unseen only by those who had done wrong. + +But the old man was telling the boy-knight to follow him. He led +him to the empty chair, and lifted the silk that covered the golden +letters. "This is the seat of Sir Galahad, the Pure-hearted," he read +aloud. And the young knight sat in the empty seat that belonged to +him. + +Then the old man left the palace, and twenty noble squires met him, +and took him back to his own country. + +When dinner was ended, the King went over to the chair where his +boy-knight sat, and welcomed him to the circle of the Round Table. +Afterwards he took Sir Galahad's hand, and led him out of the palace +to show him the strange red stone that floated on the river. When +Sir Galahad heard how the knights could not draw the sword out of the +stone, he knew that this adventure was his. + +"I will try to take the sword," said the boy-knight, "and place it in +my sheath, for it is empty," and he pointed to his side. Then he laid +his hand on the wonderful sword, and easily drew it out of the stone, +and placed it in his sheath. + +"God has sent you the sword, now He will send you a shield as well," +said King Arthur. + +Then the King proclaimed that the next day there would be a tournament +in the meadows of Camelot. For before his knights went out to new +adventures, he would see Sir Galahad proved. + +And in the morning the meadows lay bright in the sunshine. And the +boy-knight rode bravely to his first combat, and over-threw many men; +but Sir Lancelot and Sir Percivale he could not overthrow. + +When the tournament was over the King and his knights went home to +supper, and each sat in his own seat at the Round Table. + +All at once there was a loud crashing noise, a noise that was louder +than any peal of thunder. Was the King's wonderful palace falling to +pieces? + +But while the noise still sounded a marvelous light stole into the +room, a light brighter than any sunbeam. + +As the knights looked at one another, each seemed to the other to have +a new glory and a new beauty in his face. + +And down the sunbeam glided the Holy Grail. It was the Sacred Cup they +had all longed to see. But no one saw it, for it was invisible to all +but the pure-hearted Sir Galahad. + +As the strange light faded away, King Arthur heard his knights vowing +that they would go in search of the Holy Grail, and never give up the +quest till they had found it. + +And the boy-knight knew that he too would go over land and sea, till +he saw again the wonderful vision. + +That night the King could not sleep, for his sorrow was great. His +knights would wander into far-off countries, and many of them would +forget that they were in search of the Holy Grail. Would they not have +found the Sacred Cup one day if they had stayed with their King and +helped to clear the country of its enemies? + +In the morning the streets of Camelot were crowded with rich and poor. +And the people wept as they watched the knights ride away on their +strange quest. And the King wept too, for he knew that now there would +be many empty chairs at the Round Table. + +The knights rode together to a strange city and stayed there all +night. The next day they separated, each going a different way. + +Sir Galahad rode on for four days without adventure. At last he came +to a white abbey, where he was received very kindly. And he found two +knights there, and one was a king. + +"What adventure has brought you here?" asked the boy-knight. + +Then they told him that in this abbey there was a shield. And if any +man tried to carry it, he was either wounded or dead within three +days. + +"But to-morrow I shall try to bear it," said the king. + +"In the name of God, let me take the shield," said Sir Galahad +gravely. + +"If I fail, you shall try to bear it," said the king. And Galahad was +glad, for he had still no shield of his own. + +Then a monk took the king and the young knight behind the altar, and +showed them where the shield hung. It was as white as snow, but in the +middle there was a red cross. + +"The shield can be borne only by the worthiest knight in the world," +the monk warned the king. + +"I will try to bear it, though I am no worthy knight," insisted the +king; and he took the shield and rode down into the valley. + +And Galahad waited at the abbey, for the king had said he would send +his squire to tell the young knight how the shield had protected him. + +For two miles the king rode through the valley, till he reached a +hermitage. And he saw a warrior there, dressed in white armor, and +sitting on a white horse. + +The warrior rode quickly towards the king, and struck him so hard that +he broke his armor. Then he thrust his spear through the king's right +shoulder, as though he held no shield. + +"The shield can be borne only by a peerless knight. It does not belong +to you," said the warrior, as he gave it to the squire, telling him +to carry it back to the abbey and to give it to Sir Galahad with his +greeting. + +"Then tell me your name," said the squire. + +"I will tell neither you nor any one on earth," said the warrior. And +he disappeared, and the squire saw him no more. + +"I will take the wounded King to an abbey, that his wounds may be +dressed," thought the squire. + +And with great difficulty the King and his squire reached an abbey. +And the monks thought his life could not be saved, but after many days +he was cured. + +Then the squire rode back to the abbey where Galahad waited. "The +warrior who wounded the King bids you bear this shield," he said. + +Galahad hung the shield round his neck joyfully, and rode into the +valley to seek the warrior dressed in white. + +And when they met they saluted each other courteously. And the warrior +told Sir Galahad strange tales of the white shield, till the knight +thanked God that now it was his. And all his life long the white +shield with the red cross was one of his great treasures. + +Now Galahad rode back to the abbey, and the monks were glad to see him +again. "We have need of a pure knight," they said, as they took Sir +Galahad to a tomb in the churchyard. + +A pitiful noise was heard, and a voice from the tomb cried, "Galahad, +servant of God, do not come near me." But the young knight went +towards the tomb and raised the stone. + +Then a thick smoke was seen, and through the smoke a figure uglier +than any man leaped from the tomb, shouting, "Angels are round thee, +Galahad, servant of God. I can do you no harm." + +The knight stooped down and saw a body all dressed in armor lying +there, and a sword lay by its side. + +"This was a false knight," said Sir Galahad. "Let us carry his body +away from this place." + +"You will stay in the abbey and live with us," entreated the monks. +But the boy-knight could not rest. Would he see the light that was +brighter than any sunbeam again? Would his adventures bring him at +last to the Holy Grail? + +Sir Galahad rode on many days, till at last he reached a mountain. On +the mountain he found an old chapel. It was empty and very desolate. +Galahad knelt alone before the altar, and asked God to tell him what +to do next. + +And as he prayed a voice said, "Thou brave knight, go to the Castle of +Maidens and rescue them." + +Galahad rose, and gladly journeyed on to the Castle of Maidens. + +There he found seven knights, who long ago had seized the castle from +a maiden to whom it belonged. And these knights had imprisoned her and +many other maidens. + +When the seven knights saw Sir Galahad they came out of the castle. +"We will take this young knight captive, and keep him in prison," they +said to each other, as they fell upon him. + +But Sir Galahad smote the first knight to the ground, so that he +almost broke his neck. And as his wonderful sword flashed in the +light, sudden fear fell on the six knights that were left and they +turned and fled. + +Then an old man took the keys of the castle to Galahad. And the knight +opened the gates of the castle, and set free many prisoners. He gave +the castle back to the maiden to whom it belonged, and sent for all +the knights in the country round about to do her homage. + +Then once again Sir Galahad rode on in search of the Holy Grail. And +the way seemed long, yet on and on he rode, till at last he reached +the sea. + +There, on the shore, stood a maiden, and when she saw Sir Galahad, she +led him to a ship and told him to enter. + +The wind rose and drove the ship, with Sir Galahad on board, between +two rocks. But when the ship could not pass that way, the knight left +it, and entered a smaller one that awaited him. + +In this ship was a table, and on the table, covered with a red cloth, +was the Holy Grail. Reverently Sir Galahad sank on his knees. But +still the Sacred Cup was covered. + +At last the ship reached a strange city, and on the shore sat a +crippled man. Sir Galahad asked his help to lift the table from the +ship. + +"For ten years I have not walked without crutches," said the man. + +"Show that you are willing, and come to me," urged the knight. + +And the cripple got up, and when he found that he was cured, he ran +to Sir Galahad, and together they carried the wonderful table to the +shore. + +Then all the city was astonished, and the people talked only of the +great marvel. "The man that was a cripple for ten years can walk," +each said to the other. + +The king of the city heard the wonderful tale, but he was a cruel king +and a tyrant. "The knight is not a good man," he said to his people, +and he commanded that Galahad should be put in prison. And the prison +was underneath the palace, and it was dark and cold there. + +But down into the darkness streamed the light that had made Galahad so +glad long ago at Camelot. And in the light Galahad saw the Holy Grail. + +A year passed and the cruel king was very ill, and he thought he would +die. Then he remembered the knight he had treated so unkindly, and who +was still in the dark, cold prison. "I will send for him, and ask him +to forgive me," murmured the king. + +And when Galahad was brought to the palace, he willingly forgave the +tyrant who had put him in prison. + +Then the king died, and there was great dismay in the city, for where +would they find a good ruler to sit on the throne? + +As they wondered, they heard a voice that told them to make Sir +Galahad their king, and in great joy the knight was crowned. + +Then the new king ordered a box of gold and precious stones to be +made, and in this box he placed the wonderful table he had carried +away from the ship. "And every morning I and my people will come here +to pray," he said. + +For a year Sir Galahad ruled the country well and wisely. + +"A year ago they crowned me king," thought Galahad gravely, as he woke +one morning. He would get up early, and go to pray at the precious +table. + +But before the king reached the table he paused. It was early. Surely +all the city was asleep. Yet some one was already there, kneeling +before the table on which, uncovered, stood the Sacred Cup. + +The man kneeling there looked holy as the saints look. Surrounding him +was a circle of angels. Was it a saint who kneeled, or was it the Lord +Himself? + +When the man saw Sir Galahad, he said, "Come near, thou servant of +Jesus Christ, and thou shalt see what thou hast so much longed to +see." + +And with joy Sir Galahad saw again the Holy Grail. Then as he kneeled +before it in prayer, his soul left his body and was carried into +heaven. + + + + +THE PASSING OF ARTHUR + +ADAPTED BY MARY MACGREGOR + + +It was not to win renown that King Arthur had gone far across the sea, +for he loved his own country so well, that to gain glory at home made +him happiest of all. + +But a false knight with his followers was laying waste the country +across the sea, and Arthur had gone to wage war against him. + +"And you, Sir Modred, will rule the country while I am gone," the King +had said. And the knight smiled as he thought of the power that would +be his. + +At first the people missed their great King Arthur, but as the months +passed they began to forget him, and to talk only of Sir Modred and +his ways. + +And he, that he might gain the people's praise, made easier laws than +ever Arthur had done, till by and by there were many in the country +who wished that the King would never come back. + +When Modred knew what the people wished, he was glad, and he made up +his mind to do a cruel deed. + +He would cause letters to be written from beyond the sea, and the +letters would tell that the great King Arthur had been slain in +battle. + +And when the letters came the people read, "King Arthur is dead," and +they believed the news was true. + +And there were some who wept because the noble King was slain, but +some had no time to weep. "We must find a new king," they said. And +because his laws were easy, these chose Sir Modred to rule over them. + +The wicked knight was pleased that the people wished him to be their +king. "They shall take me to Canterbury to crown me," he said proudly. +And the nobles took him there, and amid shouts and rejoicings he was +crowned. + +But it was not very long till other letters came from across the sea, +saying that King Arthur had not been slain, and that he was coming +back to rule over his own country once more. + +When Sir Modred heard that King Arthur was on his way home, he +collected a great army and went to Dover to try to keep the King from +landing. + +But no army would have been strong enough to keep Arthur and his +knights away from the country they loved so well. They fought fiercely +till they got on shore and scattered all Sir Modred's men. + +Then the knight gathered another army, and chose a new battle-field. + +But King Arthur fought so bravely that he and his men were again +victorious, and Sir Modred fled to Canterbury. + +Many of the people began to forsake the false knight now, and saying +that he was a traitor, they went back to King Arthur. + +But still Sir Modred wished to conquer the King. He would go through +the counties of Kent and Surrey and raise a new army. + +Now King Arthur had dreamed that if he fought with Sir Modred again +he would be slain. So when he heard that the knight had raised another +army, he thought, "I will meet this traitor who has betrayed me. +When he looks in my face, he will be ashamed and remember his vow of +obedience." + +And he sent two bishops to Sir Modred. "Say to the knight that the +King would speak with him alone," said Arthur. + +And the traitor thought, "The King wishes to give me gold or great +power, if I send my army away without fighting," "I will meet King +Arthur," he said to the bishops. + +But because he did not altogether trust the King he said he would take +fourteen men with him to the meeting-place, "and the King must have +fourteen men with him too," said Sir Modred. "And our armies shall +keep watch when we meet, and if a sword is lifted it shall be the +signal for battle." + +Then King Arthur arranged a feast for Sir Modred and his men. And as +they feasted all went merrily till an adder glided out of a little +bush and stung one of the knight's men. And the pain was so great, +that the man quickly drew his sword to kill the adder. + +And when the armies saw the sword flash in the light, they sprang to +their feet and began to fight, "for this is the signal for battle," +they thought. + +And when evening came there were many thousand slain and wounded, and +Sir Modred was left alone. But Arthur had still two knights with him, +Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere. + +When King Arthur saw that his army was lost and all his knights slain +but two, he said, "Would to God I could find Sir Modred, who has +caused all this trouble." + +"He is yonder," said Sir Lucan, "but remember your dream, and go not +near him." + +"Whether I die or live," said the King, "he shall not escape." And +seizing his spear he ran to Sir Modred, crying, "Now you shall die." + +And Arthur smote him under the shield, and the spear passed through +his body, and he died. + +Then, wounded and exhausted, the King fainted, and his knights lifted +him and took him to a little chapel not far from a lake. + +As the King lay there, he heard cries of fear and pain from the +distant battle-field. + +"What causes these cries?" said the King wearily. And to soothe the +sick King, Sir Lucan said he would go to see. + +And when he reached the battle-field, he saw in the moonlight that +robbers were on the field stooping over the slain, and taking from +them their rings and their gold. And those that were only wounded, the +robbers slew, that they might take their jewels too. + +Sir Lucan hastened back, and told the King what he had seen. + +"We will carry you farther off, lest the robbers find us here," +said the knights. And Sir Lucan lifted the King on one side and Sir +Bedivere lifted him on the other. + +But Sir Lucan had been wounded in the battle, and as he lifted the +King he fell back and died. + +Then Arthur and Sir Bedivere wept for the fallen knight. + +Now the King felt so ill that he thought he would not live much +longer, and he turned to Sir Bedivere: "Take Excalibur, my good +sword," he said, "and go with it to the lake, and throw it into its +waters. Then come quickly and tell me what you see." + +Sir Bedivere took the sword and went down to the lake. But as he +looked at the handle with its sparkling gems and the richness of +the sword, he thought he could not throw it away. "I will hide it +carefully here among the rushes," thought the knight. And when he had +hidden it, he went slowly to the King and told him he had thrown the +sword into the lake. + +"What did you see?" asked the King eagerly. + +"Nothing but the ripple of the waves as they broke on the beach," said +Sir Bedivere. + +"You have not told me the truth," said the King. "If you love me, go +again to the lake, and throw my sword into the water." + +Again the knight went to the water's edge. He drew the sword from its +hiding-place. He would do the King's will, for he loved him. But again +the beauty of the sword made him pause. "It is a noble sword; I will +not throw it away," he murmured, as once more he hid it among the +rushes. Then he went back more slowly, and told the King that he had +done his will. + +"What did you see?" asked the King. + +"Nothing but the ripples of the waves as they broke on the beach," +repeated the knight. + +"You have betrayed me twice," said the King sadly, "and yet you are +a noble knight! Go again to the lake, and do not betray me for a rich +sword." + +Then for the third time Sir Bedivere went to the water's edge, and +drawing the sword from among the rushes, he flung it as far as he +could into the lake. + +And as the knight watched, an arm and a hand appeared above the +surface of the lake. He saw the hand seize the sword, and shaking it +three times, disappear again under the water. Then Sir Bedivere went +back quickly to the King, and told him what he had seen. + +"Carry me to the lake," entreated Arthur, "for I have been here too +long." + +And the knight carried the King on his shoulders down to the water's +side. There they found a barge lying, and seated in it were three +queens, and each queen wore a black hood. And when they saw King +Arthur they wept. + +"Lay me in the barge," said the King. And when Sir Bedivere had laid +him there, King Arthur rested his head on the lap of the fairest +queen. And they rowed from land. + +Sir Bedivere, left alone, watched the barge as it drifted out of +sight, and then he went sorrowfully on his way, till he reached a +hermitage. And he lived there as a hermit for the rest of his life. + +And the barge was rowed to a vale where the King was healed of his +wound. + +And some say that now he is dead, but others say that King Arthur will +come again, and clear the country of its foes. + + + + +ROBIN HOOD + +ADAPTED BY H.E. MARSHALL + + + + +I + +HOW ROBIN HOOD CAME TO LIVE IN THE GREEN WOOD + + +Very many years ago there ruled over England a king, who was called +Richard Coeur de Lion. Coeur de Lion is French and means lion-hearted. +It seems strange that an English king should have a French name. But +more than a hundred years before this king reigned, a French duke +named William came to England, defeated the English in a great battle, +and declared himself king of all that southern part of Britain called +England. + +He brought with him a great many Frenchmen, or Normans, as they were +called from the name of the part of France over which this duke ruled. +These Normans were all poor though they were very proud and haughty. +They came with Duke William to help him to fight because he promised +to give them money and lands as a reward. Now Duke William had not a +great deal of money nor many lands of his own. So when he had beaten +the English, or Saxons, as they were called in those days, he stole +lands and houses, money and cattle from the Saxon nobles and gave them +to the Normans. The Saxon nobles themselves had very often to become +the servants of these proud Normans. Thus it came about that two races +lived in England, each speaking their own language, and each hating +the other. + +This state of things lasted for a very long time. Even when Richard +became king, more than a hundred years after the coming of Duke +William, there was still a great deal of hatred between the two races. + +Richard Coeur de Lion, as his name tells you, was a brave and noble +man. He loved danger; he loved brave men and noble deeds. He hated all +mean and cruel acts, and the cowards who did them. He was ever ready +to help the weak against the strong, and had he stayed in England +after he became king he might have done much good. He might have +taught the proud Norman nobles that true nobility rests in being kind +and gentle to those less strong and less fortunate than ourselves, and +not in fierceness and cruelty. + +Yet Richard himself was neither meek nor gentle. He was indeed very +fierce and terrible in battle. He loved to fight with people who were +stronger or better armed than himself. He would have been ashamed to +hurt the weak and feeble. + +But Richard did not stay in England. Far, far over the seas there is +a country called Palestine. There our Lord was born, lived, and died. +Christian people in all ages must think tenderly and gratefully of +that far-off country. But at this time it had fallen into the hands of +the heathen. It seemed to Christian people in those days that it would +be a terrible sin to allow wicked heathen to live in the Holy Land. So +they gathered together great armies of brave men from every country in +the world and sent them to try to win it back. Many brave deeds +were done, many terrible battles fought, but still the heathen kept +possession. + +Then brave King Richard of England said he too would fight for the +city of our Lord. So he gathered together as much money as he could +find, and as many brave men as would follow him, and set out for the +Holy Land. Before he went away he called two bishops who he thought +were good and wise men, and said to them: "Take care of England while +I am gone. Rule my people wisely and well, and I will reward you +when I return." The bishops promised to do as he asked. Then he said +farewell and sailed away. + +Now King Richard had a brother who was called Prince John. Prince John +was quite different from King Richard in every way. He was not at all +a nice man. He was jealous of Richard because he was king, and angry +because he himself had not been chosen to rule while Richard was in +Palestine. As soon as his brother had gone, John went to the bishops +and said, "You must let me rule while the King is away." And the +bishops allowed him to do so. Deep down in his wicked heart John meant +to make himself king altogether, and never let Richard come back any +more. + +A very sad time now began for the Saxons. John tried to please the +haughty Normans because they were great and powerful, and he hoped +they would help to make him king. He thought the best way to please +them was to give them land and money. So as he had none of his own (he +was indeed called John Lackland) he took it from the Saxons and gave +it to the Normans. Thus many of the Saxons once more became homeless +beggars, and lived a wild life in the forests, which covered a great +part of England at this time. + +Now among the few Saxon nobles who still remained, and who had not +been robbed of their lands and money, there was one called Robert, +Earl of Huntingdon. He had one son also named Robert, but people +called him Robin. He was a favorite with every one. Tall, strong, +handsome, and full of fun, he kept his father's house bright with +songs and laughter. He was brave and fearless too, and there was no +better archer in all the countryside. And with it all he was gentle +and tender, never hurting the weak nor scorning the poor. + +But Robert of Huntingdon had a bitter enemy. One day this enemy came +with many soldiers behind him, determined to kill the earl and take +all his goods and lands. There was a fierce and terrible fight, but +in the end Robert and all his men were killed. His house was burned +to the ground and all his money stolen. Only Robin was saved, because +he was such a splendid archer that no soldier would go near him, +either to kill him or take him prisoner. He fought bravely till the +last, but when he saw that his father was dead and his home in +flames, he had no heart to fight any longer. So taking his bow and +arrows, he fled to the great forest of Sherwood. + +Very fast he had to run, for Prince John's men were close behind him. +Soon he reached the edge of the forest, but he did not stop there. +On and on he went, plunging deeper and deeper under the shadow of the +trees. At last he threw himself down beneath a great oak, burying his +face in the cool, green grass. + +His heart felt hot and bitter. He was full of rage and fierce thoughts +of revenge. Cruel men in one day had robbed him of everything. His +father, his home, servants, cattle, land, money, his name even, all +were gone. He was bruised, hungry, and weary. Yet as he lay pressing +his face against the cool, green grass, and clutching the soft, damp +moss with his hands, it was not sorrow or pain he felt, but only a +bitter longing for revenge. + +[Illustration: ROBIN HOOD IN AN ENCOUNTER.] + +The great, solemn trees waved gently overhead in the summer breeze, +the setting sun sent shafts of golden light into the cool, blue +shadows, birds sang their evening songs, deer rustled softly through +the underwood, and bright-eyed squirrels leaped noiselessly from +branch to branch. Everywhere there was calm and peace except in poor +Robin's angry heart. + +Robin loved the forest. He loved the sights and scents, and the sounds +and deep silences of it. He felt as if it were a tender mother who +opened her wide arms to him. Soon it comforted him, and at last the +tears came hot and fast, and sobs shook him as he lay on the grass. +The bitterness and anger had all melted out of his heart; only sorrow +was left. + +In the dim evening light Robin knelt bareheaded on the green grass +to say his prayers. Then, still bareheaded, he stood up and swore an +oath. This was the oath: + + "I swear to honor God and the King, + To help the weak and fight the strong, + To take from the rich and give to the poor, + So God will help, me with His power." + +Then he lay down on the grass under the trees with his good longbow +beside him, and fell fast asleep. + +And this is how Robin Hood first came to live in the Green Wood and +have all his wonderful adventures. + + + + +II + +THE MEETING OF ROBIN HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN + + +When Robin first came to live in Sherwood Forest he was rather sad, +for he could not at once forget all he had lost. But he was not long +lonely. When it became known that he had gone to live in the Green +Wood, other poor men, who had been driven out of their homes by the +Normans, joined him. They soon formed a band and were known as the +"Merry Men." + +Robin was no longer called Robin of Huntingdon, but Robin of Sherwood +Forest. Very soon people shortened Sherwood into Hood, though some +people say he was called Hood from the green hoods he and his men +wore. How he came to have his name does not matter very much. People +almost forgot that he was really an earl, and he became known, not +only all over England, but in many far countries, as Robin Hood. + +Robin was captain of the band of Merry Men. Next to him came Little +John. He was called Little John because he was so tall, just as Midge +the miller's son was called Much because he was so small. + +Robin loved Little John best of all his friends. Little John loved +Robin better than any one else in all the world. Yet the first time +they met they fought and knocked each other about dreadfully. + + "How they came acquainted, I'll tell you in brief, + If you will but listen a while; + For this very jest, among all the rest, + I think it may cause you to smile." + +It happened on a bright sunshiny day in early spring. All through the +winter Robin and his men had had a very dull time. Nearly all their +fun and adventures happened with people traveling through the forest. +As there were no trains, people had to travel on horseback. In winter +the roads were bad, and the weather so cold and wet, that most people +stayed at home. So it was rather a quiet time for Robin and his men. +They lived in great caves during the winter, and spent their time +making stores of bows and arrows, and mending their boots and clothes. + +This bright sunshiny morning Robin felt dull and restless, so he took +his bow and arrows, and started off through the forest in search of +adventure. + +He wandered on for some time without meeting any one. Presently he +came to a river. It was wide and deep, swollen by the winter rains. +It was crossed by a very slender, shaky bridge, so narrow, that if two +people tried to pass each other on it, one would certainly fall into +the water. + +Robin began to cross the bridge, before he noticed that a great, tall +man, the very tallest man he had ever seen, was crossing too from the +other side. + +"Go back and wait until I have come over," he called out as soon as he +noticed the stranger. + +The stranger laughed, and called out in reply, "I have as good a right +to the bridge as you. _You_ can go back till _I_ get across." + +This made Robin very angry. He was so accustomed to being obeyed that +he was very much astonished too. Between anger and astonishment he +hardly knew what he did. + +He drew an arrow from his quiver, and fitting it to his bow, called +out again, "If you don't go back I'll shoot." + +"If you do, I'll beat you till you are black and blue," replied the +stranger. + + "Quoth bold Robin Hood, 'Thou dost prate like an ass, + For, were I to bend my bow, + I could send a dart quite through thy proud heart, + Before thou couldst strike a blow.'" + +"If I talk like an ass you talk like a coward," replied the stranger. +"Do you call it fair to stand with your bow and arrow ready to shoot +at me when I have only a stick to defend myself with? I tell you, you +are a coward. You are afraid of the beating I would give you." + +Robin was not a coward, and he was not afraid. So he threw his bow and +arrows on the bank behind him. + +"You are a big, boastful bully," he said. "Just wait there until I get +a stick. I hope I may give you as good a beating as you deserve." + +The stranger laughed. "I won't run away; don't be afraid," he said. + +Robin Hood stepped to a thicket of trees and cut himself a good, thick +oak stick. While he was doing this, he looked at the stranger, and saw +that he was not only taller but much stronger than himself. + +However, that did not frighten Robin in the least. He was rather glad +of it indeed. The stranger had said he was a coward. He meant to prove +to him that he was not. + +Back he came with a fine big stick in his hand and a smile on his +face. The idea of a real good fight had made his bad temper fly away, +for, like King Richard, Robin Hood was rather fond of a fight. + +"We will fight on the bridge," said he, "and whoever first falls into +the river has lost the battle." + +"All right," said the stranger. "Whatever you like. I'm not afraid." + +Then they fell to, with right good will. + +It was very difficult to fight standing on such a narrow bridge. They +kept swaying backwards and forwards trying to keep their balance. With +every stroke the bridge bent and trembled beneath them as if it would +break. All the same they managed to give each other some tremendous +blows. First Robin gave the stranger such a bang that his very bones +seemed to ring. + +"Aha!" said he, "I'll give you as good as I get," and crack he went at +Robin's crown. + +Bang, smash, crack, bang, they went at each other. Their blows fell +fast and thick as if they had been threshing corn. + + "The stranger gave Robin a knock on the crown, + Which caused the blood to appear, + Then Robin enraged, more fiercely engaged, + And followed with blows more severe. + + "So thick and so fast did he lay it on him, + With a passionate fury and ire, + At every stroke he made him to smoke, + As if he had been all on fire." + +When Robin's blows came so fast and furious, the stranger felt he +could not stand it much longer. Gathering all his strength, with one +mighty blow he sent Robin backwards, right into the river. Head over +heels he went, and disappeared under the water. + +The stranger very nearly fell in after him. He was so astonished at +Robin's sudden disappearance that he could not think for a minute or +two where he had vanished to. He knelt down on the bridge, and stared +into the water. "Hallo, my good man," he called. "Hallo, where are +you?" + +He thought he had drowned Robin, and he had not meant to do that. All +the same he could not help laughing. Robin had looked so funny as he +tumbled into the water. + +"I'm here," called Robin, from far down the river. "I'm all right. I'm +just swimming with the tide." + +The current was very strong and had carried him down the river a good +way. He was, however, gradually making for the bank. Soon he caught +hold of the overhanging branches of a tree and pulled himself out. The +stranger came running to help him too. + +"You are not an easy man to beat or to drown either," he said with a +laugh, as he helped Robin on to dry land again. + +"Well," said Robin, laughing too, "I must own that you are a brave man +and a good fighter. It was a fair fight, and you have won the battle. +I don't want to quarrel with you any more. Will you shake hands and be +friends with me?" + +"With all my heart," said the stranger. "It is a long time since I +have met any one who could use a stick as you can." + +So they shook hands like the best of friends, and quite forgot that a +few minutes before they had been banging and battering each other as +hard as they could. + +Then Robin put his bugle-horn to his mouth, and blew a loud, loud +blast. + + "The echoes of which through the valleys did ring, + At which his stout bowmen appeared, + And clothed in green, most gay to be seen, + So up to their master they steered." + +When the stranger saw all these fine men, dressed in green, and +carrying bows and arrows, come running to Robin he was very much +astonished. "O master dear, what has happened?" cried Will Stutely, +the leader, as he ran up. "You have a great cut in your forehead, +and you are soaked through and through," he added, laying his hand on +Robin's arm. + +"It is nothing," laughed Robin. "This young fellow and I have been +having a fight. He cracked my crown and then tumbled me into the +river." + +When they heard that, Robin's men were very angry. "If he has tumbled +our master into the river, we will tumble him in," said they; "we will +see how he likes that." And they seized him, and would have dragged +him to the water to drown him, but Robin called out, "Stop, stop! +it was a fair fight. He is a brave man, and we are very good friends +now." + +Then turning to the stranger, Robin bowed politely to him, saying, "I +beg you to forgive my men. They will not harm you now they know that +you are my friend, for I am Robin Hood." + +The stranger was very much astonished when he heard that he had +actually been fighting with bold Robin Hood, of whom he had heard so +many tales. + +"If you will come and live with me and my Merry Men," went on Robin, +"I will give you a suit of Lincoln green. I will teach you how to use +bow and arrows as well as you use your good stick." + +"I should like nothing better," replied the stranger. "My name is John +Little, and I promise to serve you faithfully." + +"John Little!" said Will Stutely laughing. "John Little! what a name +for a man that height! John Little! why he is seven feet tall if he is +an inch!" + +Will laughed and laughed, till the tears ran down his face. He thought +it was such a funny name for so big a man. + +Robin laughed because Will laughed. Then John Little laughed because +Robin laughed. Soon they were all laughing as hard as they could. The +wind carried the sound of it away, till the folk in the villages round +about said, "Hark! how Robin Hood and his Merry Men do laugh!" + +"Well," said Robin at last, "I have heard it said, 'Laugh and grow +fat,' but if we don't get some dinner soon I think we will all grow +very lean. Come along, my little John, I'm sure you must be hungry +too." + +"Little John," said Will Stutely, "that's the very name for him. We +must christen him again, and I will be his godfather." + +Back to their forest home they all went, laughing and talking as +merrily as possible, taking John Little along with them. Dinner +was waiting for them when they arrived. The head cook was looking +anxiously through the trees, saying, "I do wish Master Robin would +come, or the roast venison will be too much cooked and the rabbits +will be stewed to rags." + +Just at that moment they appeared. The cook was struck dumb at the +sight of the giant, stalking along beside Robin. "Where has master +gotten that Maypole?" he said, laughing to himself, as he ran away to +dish the dinner. + +They had a very merry dinner. Robin found that John was not only a +good fighter but that he had a wise head and a witty tongue. He was +more and more delighted with his new companion. + +But Will and the others had not forgotten that he was to be christened +again. Seven of them came behind him, and in spite of all his kicking +and struggling wrapped him up in a long, green cloak, pretending he +was a baby. + +It was a very noisy christening. The men all shouted and laughed. John +Little laughed and screamed in turn, and kicked and struggled all the +time. + +"Hush, baby, hush," they said. But the seven-foot baby wouldn't hush. + +Then Will stepped up beside him and began to speak. + + "This infant was called John Little, quoth he, + Which name shall be changed anon, + The words we'll transpose, so wherever he goes, + His name shall be called Little John." + +They had some buckets of water ready. These they poured over poor +Little John till he was as wet as Robin had been after he fell into +the river. The men roared with laughter. Little John looked so funny +as he rolled about on the grass, trying to get out of his long, wet, +green robe. He looked just like a huge green caterpillar. + +Robin laughed as much as any one. At last he said, "Now, Will, don't +you think that is enough?" + +"Not a bit," said Will. "You wouldn't let us duck him in the river +when we had him there so we have brought the river to him." + +At last all the buckets were empty, and the christening was over. Then +all the men stood round in a ring and gave three cheers for Little +John, Robin's new man. + + "Then Robin he took the sweet pretty babe, + And clothed him from top to toe + In garments of green, most gay to be seen, + And gave him a curious longbow." + +After that they sang, danced and played the whole afternoon. Then when +the sun sank and the long, cool shadows fell across the grass they all +said "good night" and went off into their caves to sleep. + +From that day Little John always lived with Robin. They became very, +very great friends and Little John was next to Robin in command of the +men. + + "And so ever after as long as he lived, + Although he was proper and tall, + Yet, nevertheless, the truth to express, + Still Little John they did him call." + + + + +III + +ROBIN HOOD AND THE BUTCHER + + +The Sheriff of Nottingham hated Robin and would have been very glad if +any one had killed him. + +The Sheriff was a very unkind man. He treated the poor Saxons very +badly. He often took away all their money, and their houses and left +them to starve. Sometimes, for a very little fault, he would cut off +their ears or fingers. The poor people used to go into the wood, and +Robin would give them food and money. Sometimes they went home again, +but very often they stayed with him, and became his men. + +The Sheriff knew this, so he hated Robin all the more, and he was +never so happy as when he had caught one of Robin's men and locked him +up in prison. + +But try how he might, he could not catch Robin. All the same Robin +used to go to Nottingham very often, but he was always so well +disguised that the Sheriff never knew him. So he always escaped. + +The Sheriff was too much afraid of him to go into the forest to try +to take him. He knew his men were no match for Robin's. Robin's men +served him and fought for him because they loved him. The Sheriff's +men only served him because they feared him. + +One day Robin was walking through the forest when he met a butcher. + +This butcher was riding gaily along to the market at Nottingham. He +was dressed in a blue linen coat, with leather belt. On either side of +his strong gray pony hung a basket full of meat. + +In these days as there were no trains, everything had to be sent by +road. The roads were so bad that even carts could not go along them +very much, for the wheels stuck in the mud. Everything was carried on +horseback, in sacks or baskets called panniers. + +The butcher rode gaily along, whistling as he went. Suddenly Robin +stepped from under the trees and stopped him. + +"What have you there, my man?" he asked. + +"Butcher's meat," replied the man. "Fine prime beef and mutton for +Nottingham market. Do you want to buy some?" + +"Yes, I do," said Robin. "I'll buy it all and your pony too. How much +do you want for it? I should like to go to Nottingham and see what +kind of a butcher I will make:" + +So the butcher sold his pony and all his meat to Robin. Then Robin +changed clothes with him. He put on the butcher's blue clothes and +leather belt, and the butcher went off in Robin's suit of Lincoln +green, feeling very grand indeed. + +Then Robin mounted his pony and off he went to Nottingham to sell his +meat at the market. + +When he arrived he found the whole town in a bustle. In those days +there were very few shops, so every one used to go to market to buy +and sell. The country people brought butter and eggs and honey to +sell. With the money they got they bought platters and mugs, pots and +pans, or whatever they wanted, and took it back to the country with +them. + +All sorts of people came to buy: fine ladies and poor women, rich +knights and gentlemen, and humble workers, every one pushing and +crowding together. Robin found it quite difficult to drive his pony +through the crowd to the corner of the market-place where the butchers +had their stalls. + +He got there at last, however, laid out his meat, and began to cry +with the best of them. + +"Prime meat, ladies. Come and buy. Cheapest meat in all the market, +ladies. Come buy, come buy. Twopence a pound, ladies. Twopence a +pound. Come buy. Come buy." + +"What!" said every one, "beef at twopence a pound! I never heard of +such a thing. Why it is generally tenpence." + +You see Robin knew nothing at all about selling meat, as he never +bought any. He and his men used to live on what they shot in the +forest. + +When it became known that there was a new butcher, who was selling +his meat for twopence a pound, every one came crowding round his stall +eager to buy. All the other butchers stood idle until Robin had no +more beef and mutton left to sell. + +As these butchers had nothing to do, they began to talk among +themselves and say, "Who is this man? He has never been here before." + +"Do you think he has stolen the meat?" + +"Perhaps his father has just died and left him a business." + +"Well, his money won't last long at this rate." + +"The sooner he loses it all, the better for us. We will never be able +to sell anything as long as he comes here giving away beef at twopence +a pound." + +"It is perfectly ridiculous," said one old man, who seemed to be the +chief butcher. "These fifty years have I come and gone to Nottingham +market, and I have never seen the like of it--never. He is ruining the +trade, that's what he is doing." + +They stood at their stalls sulky and cross, while all their customers +crowded round Robin. + +Shouts of laughter came from his corner, for he was not only selling +beef and mutton, but making jokes about it all the time. + +"I tell you what," said the old butcher, "it is no use standing here +doing nothing. We had better go and talk to him, and find out, if we +can, who he is. We must ask him to come and have dinner with us and +the Sheriff in the town hall to-day." For on market days the butchers +used to have dinner all together in the town hall, after market was +over, and the sheriff used to come and have dinner with them. + + "So, the butchers stepped up to jolly Robin, + Acquainted with him for to be; + Come, butcher, one said, we be all of one trade, + Come, will you go dine with me?" + +"Thank you," said Robin, "I should like nothing better. I have had a +busy morning and am very hungry and thirsty." + +"Come along, then," said the butchers. + +The old man led the way with Robin, and the others followed two by +two. + +As they walked along, the old butcher began asking Robin questions, to +try and find out something about him. + +"You have not been here before?" he said. + +"Have I not?" replied Robin. + +"I have not seen you, at least." + +"Have you not?" + +"You are new to the business?" + +"Am I?" + +"Well, you seem to be," said the old butcher, getting rather cross. + +"Do I?" replied Robin, laughing. + +At last they came to the town hall, and though they had talked all the +time the old butcher had got nothing out of Robin, and was not a bit +the wiser. + +The Sheriff's house was close to the town hall, so as dinner was +not quite ready all the butchers went to say "How do you do?" to the +Sheriff's wife. + +She received them very kindly, and was quite interested in Robin +when she heard that he was the new butcher who had been selling such +wonderfully cheap meat. Robin had such pleasant manners too, that she +thought he was a very nice man indeed. She was quite sorry when the +Sheriff came and took him away, saying dinner was ready. + +"I hope to see you again, kind sir," she said when saying good-by. +"Come to see me next time you have meat to sell." + +"Thank you, lady, I will not forget your kindness," replied Robin, +bowing low. + +At dinner the Sheriff sat at one end of the table and the old butcher +at the other. Robin, as the greatest stranger, had the place of honor +on the Sheriff's right hand. + +At first the dinner was very dull. All the butchers were sulky and +cross, only Robin was merry. He could not help laughing to himself at +the idea of dining with his great enemy the Sheriff of Nottingham. +And not only dining with him, but sitting on his right hand, and being +treated as an honored guest. + +If the Sheriff had only known, poor Robin would very soon have been +locked up in a dark dungeon, eating dry bread instead of apple-pie and +custard and all the fine things they were having for dinner. + +However, Robin was so merry, that very soon the butchers forgot to be +cross and sulky. Before the end of dinner all were laughing till their +sides ached. + +Only the Sheriff was grave and thinking hard. He was a greedy old man, +and he was saying to himself, "This silly young fellow evidently does +not know the value of things. If he has any cattle I might buy them +from him for very little. I could sell them again to the butchers for +a good price. In that way I should make a lot of money." + +After dinner he took Robin by the arm and led him aside. + +"See here, young man," he said, "I like your looks. But you seem new +to this business. Now, don't you trust these men," pointing to the +butchers. "They are all as ready as can be to cheat you. You take my +advice. If you have any cattle to sell, come to me. I'll give you a +good price." + +"Thank you," said Robin, "it is most kind of you." + + "Hast thou any horned beasts, the Sheriff then said, + Good fellow, to sell to me? + Yes, that I have, good master Sheriff, + I have hundreds two or three. + + "And a hundred acres of good free land, + If you please it for to see; + And I'll make you as good assurance of it, + As ever my father did me." + +The Sheriff nearly danced for joy when he heard that Robin had so many +horned cattle for sale. He had quite made up his mind that it would be +very easy to cheat this silly young fellow. Already he began to count +the money he would make. He was such a greedy old man. But there was a +wicked twinkle in Robin's eye. + +"Now, young man, when can I see these horned beasts of yours?" asked +the Sheriff. "I can't buy a pig in a poke, you know. I must see them +first. And the land too, and the land too," he added, rubbing his +hands, and jumping about in excitement. + +"The sooner the better," said Robin. "I start for home to-morrow +morning. If you like to ride with me I will show you the horned beasts +and the land too." + +"Capital, capital," said the Sheriff. "To-morrow morning then, after +breakfast, I go with you. And see here, young man," he added, catching +hold of Robin's coat-tails as he was going away, "you won't go and +sell to any one else in the meantime? It is a bargain, isn't it?" + +"Oh, certainly. I won't even speak of it to any one," replied Robin; +and he went away, laughing heartily to himself. + +That night the Sheriff went into his counting-house and counted out +three hundred pounds in gold. He tied it up in three bags, one hundred +pounds in each bag. + +"It's a lot of money," he said to himself, "a lot of money. Still, I +suppose, I must pay him something for his cattle. But it is a lot of +money to part with," and he heaved a big sigh. + +He put the gold underneath his pillow in case any one should steal it +during the night. Then he went to bed and tried to sleep. But he was +too excited; besides the gold under his pillow made it so hard and +knobby that it was most uncomfortable. + +At last the night passed, and in the morning. + + "The Sheriff he saddled his good palfrey, + And with three hundred pounds in gold + Away he went with bold Robin Hood, + His horned beasts to behold." + +The sun shone and the birds sang as they merrily rode along. When +the Sheriff saw that they were taking the road to Sherwood Forest, he +began to feel a little nervous. + +"There is a bold, bad man in these woods," he said. "He is called +Robin Hood. He robs people, he--do you think we will meet him?" + +"I am quite sure we won't meet him," replied Robin with a laugh. + +"Well, I hope not, I am sure," said the Sheriff. "I never dare to ride +through the forest unless I have my soldiers with me. He is a bold, +bad man." + +Robin only laughed, and they rode on right into the forest. + + "But when a little farther they came, + Bold Robin he chanced to spy + An hundred head of good fat deer + Come tripping the Sheriff full nigh." + +"Look there," he cried, "look! What do you think of my horned beasts?" + +"I think," said the Sheriff, in a trembling voice, "I think I should +like to go back to Nottingham." + +"What! and not buy any horned cattle? What is the matter with them? +Are they not fine and fat? Are they not a beautiful color? Come, come, +Sheriff, when you have brought the money for them too." + +At the mention of money the Sheriff turned quite pale and clutched +hold of his bags. "Young man," he said, "I don't like you at all. I +tell you I want to go back to Nottingham. This isn't money I have in +my bags, it is only pebble-stones." + + "Then Robin put his horn to his mouth, + And blew out blasts three; + Then quickly and anon there came Little John, + And all his company." + +"Good morning, Little John," said Robin. + +"Good morning, Master Robin," he replied. "What orders have you for +to-day?" + +"Well, in the first place I hope you have something nice for dinner, +because I have brought the Sheriff of Nottingham to dine with us," +answered Robin. + +"Yes," said Little John, "the cooks are busy already as we thought you +might bring some one back with you. But we hardly expected so fine +a guest as the Sheriff of Nottingham," he added, making a low bow to +him. "I hope he intends to pay honestly." + +For that was Robin Hood's way. He always gave a very fine dinner to +these naughty men who had stolen money from poor people, and then he +made them pay a great deal of money for it. + +The Sheriff was very much afraid when he knew that he had really +fallen into the hands of Robin Hood. He was angry too when he thought +that he had actually had Robin in his own house the day before, and +could so easily have caught and put him in prison, if he had only +known. + +They had a very fine dinner, and the Sheriff began to feel quite +comfortable and to think he was going to get off easily, when Robin +said, "Now, Master Sheriff, you must pay for your dinner." + +"Oh! indeed I am a poor man," said the Sheriff, "I have no money." + +"No money! What have you in your saddle-bags, then?" asked Robin. + +"Only pebbles, nothing but pebbles, as I told you before," replied the +frightened Sheriff. + +"Little John, go and search the Sheriff's saddle-bags," said Robin. + +Little John did as he was told, and counted out three hundred pounds +upon the ground. + +"Sheriff," said Robin sternly, "I shall keep all this money and divide +it among my men. It is not half as much as you have stolen from them. +If you had told me the truth about it, I might have given you some +back. But I always punish people who tell lies. You have done so many +evil deeds," he went on, "that you deserve to be hanged." + +The poor Sheriff shook in his shoes. + +"Hanged you should be," continued Robin, "but your good wife was kind +to me yesterday. For her sake, I let you go. But if you are not kinder +to my people I will not let you off so easily another time." And Robin +called for the Sheriff's pony. + + "Then Robin he brought him through the wood, + And set him on his dapple gray: + Oh, have me commended to your wife at home, + So Robin went laughing away." + + + + +GUY OF WARWICK + +ADAPTED BY H.E. MARSHALL + + + + +I + +GUY'S EARLY ADVENTURES AND HIS FIGHT WITH THE DUN COW + + +Long ago England was divided into several kingdoms, each having a +king. In a great battle the King of Northumbria was defeated and one +of his lords, Gordian, lost all he owned. He and his wife Brunhilda +journeyed forth to seek a new home and at last reached Warwick, where +Gordian was made the steward of Lord Rohand. + +Not long after Brunhilda and Gordian went to live in Warwick, their +little son Guy was born. As he grew older he became a great favorite +and was often invited to the castle. + +Lord Rohand heard of Guy and asked him to a great dinner at Warwick +Castle and afterwards to join in a tournament. To Guy was given a seat +quite near the earl and opposite his lovely daughter Phyllis. She was +the most beautiful lady in the kingdom and Guy longed to show her how +well he could fight. Never did Guy fight so well; he conquered every +one of the knights, and won the prize. Phyllis crowned him with roses +and put the chain of gold around his neck. + +After this Phyllis and Guy were much together and at last Guy said +suddenly, "Phyllis, I love thee. I cannot help it." In great anger she +sent him away. Guy grew very sad and Phyllis very lonely and at length +she sent for Guy and said, "Go away and make thyself famous, then will +I marry thee." + +Guy rode gaily away and sailed over to Germany. There he heard of +a great tournament. Whoever fought best was to marry the Emperor's +daughter Blanche, which means white. Besides marrying the Princess, +the bravest knight was to receive a pure white horse, two white +hounds, and a white falcon. So it was called the White Tournament. + +When Guy told the herald that he was the son of Lord Gordian he was +admitted. All the lords and ladies looked at him scornfully because he +wore plain black armor with nothing painted upon his shield. As he had +not worn spurs, he was not yet a knight. Guy entered the lists and +met and conquered Prince Philaner, the Emperor's son, Duke Otto, Duke +Ranier, and Duke Louvain. + +Guy took the prize offered with the exception of the hand of Blanche. +"For my fair Phyllis alone I keep my love," he said. + +Guy went back to England and heard that a terrible dun-colored cow had +appeared in Warwickshire. It was twelve feet high and eighteen feet +long. Its horns were thicker than an elephant's tusks curled and +twisted. The King said that whoever would kill the Dun Cow should be +made a knight and receive a great deal of land and money. Guy went out +to meet him and after a fearful encounter was able to deal a deathblow +with his battle-axe behind the beast's ear. + +Then the King gave the new knight a pair of golden spurs, and Lady +Phyllis fastened them on. In memory of Guy's deed one rib of the Dun +Cow was hung up at the gate of Coventry and another in the Castle of +Warwick. + + + + +II + +TRAVELS AND DEEDS IN MANY LANDS + + +Guy next went to France, where he was wounded at a tournament. His +enemy, Duke Otto, bribed fifteen villains to lie in wait, take him and +cast him into prison. With the help of his friend Heraud, Guy was able +to slay them all, but one of the traitor men smote Heraud so hard that +he fell to the ground as if dead. + +One day news was brought to Guy that Ledgwin of Louvain was shut up +in his city of Arrascoun sore beset by the Emperor. Gathering his +soldiers and knights together he set out to help his friend and was +overjoyed to find Heraud in the guise of a pilgrim sitting by the +roadside. Heraud had been nursed back to health by a kind hermit. At +once he put on armor and rode forth with Guy to the city of Arrascoun +to release Ledgwin. There was a great battle but the Almains who +surrounded the city were defeated and the Emperor yielded and forgave +Ledgwin. + +While in Greece, Guy went out hunting and came upon a most wonderful +sight, a conflict between a lion and a dragon. Just when the dragon +was about to crush the lion Guy drew his sword, and setting spurs +to his horse, sprang upon the dragon. The fight was then between +the dragon and Guy. It seemed at first that the dragon would be the +victor, but, like a flash, Guy leaped from his horse and plunged his +sword deep into the brute's side. For a moment his speckled crest +quivered, then all was still. + +Guy thought he would have to kill the lion too, but as it came near +it licked Guy's feet and fawned upon him, purring softly like a great +pussy-cat. When Guy rode back the lion trotted after him and lived +with him every day. + +Guy had an enemy at court, Morgadour, who hated the brave knight and +said, "I cannot kill thee, Guy of Warwick, but I will grieve thee. I +will kill thy lion." This he did in secret. The King was angry when +the deed was discovered and told Guy to meet him in combat, which he +did, and slew Morgadour. + +Laden with riches, Guy reached home again, this time to marry the +beautiful Phyllis. There was a great and splendid wedding. For fifteen +days the feasting and merriment lasted. + +For some time Guy and Phyllis lived happily together. Then one sad day +Earl Rohand died and Guy became Earl of Warwick. + +As the new earl was one day thinking of his past life, it seemed to +him that he had caused much bloodshed. Thereupon he decided to go to +the Holy Land, and there, at the Sepulcher of our Lord, do penance for +his sins. Phyllis begged him to stay; but Guy said, "I must go." So, +dressed in pilgrim robes, with staff in hand he set out on his long +journey. + +One day as he walked he came upon an old man who was sad because the +giant Ameraunt was keeping his daughter and fifteen sons in a strong +castle. "I am Earl Jonas of Durras," he said, "and I seek Guy of +Warwick to help me." + +Guy said if the earl would give him meat and drink, weapons and armor, +he would see what he could do. + +A splendid coat of mail was brought with shield and sword. Guy called +to the giant to come forth. "That will I," replied the giant, "and +make short work with thee." + +Ameraunt stalked forth and the fight began. All day it lasted before +Guy with his sword cut the giant's head off. + +Taking the keys of the castle, which lay on the ground, he immediately +released Earl of Jonas's children and other noble knights and brave +ladies. + +Putting off his armor, he dressed himself once more in his pilgrim's +robe, and with his staff in his hand set out again upon his journey. + + + + +III + +HOW GUY FOUGHT WITH THE GIANT COLBRAND + + +For some time after Guy went away Phyllis was very sorrowful. She wept +and mourned, and was so sad that she longed to die. At times she even +thought of killing herself. She would draw out Guy's great sword, +which he had left behind, and think how easy it would be to run +it through her heart. But she remembered that the good fairies had +promised to send her a little son, and so she made up her mind to live +until he came. When the good fairies brought the baby she called +him Reinbroun, and he was so pretty and so dear that Phyllis was +comforted. + +Then, because her lord was far away, and could not attend to his great +lands nor to the ruling of his many servants, Phyllis did so for +him. She ruled and ordered her household well; she made new roads and +rebuilt bridges which had been broken down. She journeyed through all +the land, seeing that wrong was made right and evildoers punished. +She fed the poor, tended the sick, and comforted those in sorrow, and, +besides all this, she built great churches and abbeys. + +So year after year passed, but still Guy did not return. All day +Phyllis was busy and had no time for grief, but when evening came she +would go to pace up and down the path (which to this day is called +"Fair Phyllis's Walk") where she and Guy had often walked together. +Now as she wandered there alone, the hot, slow tears would come, and +she would feel miserable and forsaken. + +At last, after many years full of adventures and travel, Guy reached +England once more. He was now an old man. His beard was long, his +hair had grown white, and in the weather-beaten pilgrim none could +recognize the gallant knight and earl, Guy of Warwick. + +When Guy landed in England he found the whole country in sore dread. +For Anlaf, King of Denmark, had invaded England with a great army. +With fire and sword he had wasted the land, sparing neither tower nor +town, man, woman, nor child, but destroying all that came in his path. +Fight how they might, the English could not drive out the Danes. + +Now they were in deep despair, for the enemy lay before the King's +city of Winchester. With them was a terrible giant called Colbrand, +and Anlaf had sent a message to King Athelstane, as the King who now +reigned over all England was called, demanding that he should either +find a champion to fight with Colbrand or deliver over his kingdom. + +So the King had sent messengers north, south, east, and west, but in +all the land no knight could be found who was brave enough to face the +awful giant. And now within the great church of Winchester the King +with his priests and people knelt, praying God to send a champion. + +"Where, then, is Heraud?" asked Guy of the man who told this tale. +"Where is Heraud, who never yet forsook man in need?" + +"Alas! he has gone far beyond the seas," replied the man, "and so has +Guy of Warwick. We know not where they are." + +Then Guy took his staff and turned his steps toward Winchester. Coming +there, he found the King sitting among his wise men. "I bid you," he +was saying to them, "give me some counsel how I may defend my country +against the Danes. Is there any knight among you who will fight this +giant? Half my kingdom he shall have, and that gladly, if he conquer." + +But all the wise men, knights and nobles, stood silent and looked upon +the ground. + +"Oh, we is me!" then cried the King, "that I rule over such cowards. +To what have my English come that I may not find one knight among +them bold enough to do battle for his King and country? Oh that Guy of +Warwick were here!" + +Then through the bright crowd of steel-clad nobles there came a tall +old man, dressed in a worn, dark, pilgrim's robe, with bare feet and +head, and a staff in his hand. + +"My Lord King," he said, "I will fight for thee." + +"Thou," said the King in astonishment, "thou seemest more fit to pray +than to fight for us." + +"Believe me, my Lord King," said Guy, for of course it was he, "this +hand has often held a sword, and never yet have I been worsted in +fight." + +"Then since there is none other," said the King, "fight, and God +strengthen thee." + +Now Guy was very tall, and no armor could be found anywhere to fit +him. "Send to the Countess of Warwick," said Guy at last. "Ask her to +lend the earl's weapons and armor for the saving of England." + +"That is well thought of," said the King. + +So a swift messenger was sent to Warwick Castle, and he presently +returned with Guy's armor. He at once put it on, and the people +marveled that it should fit him so well, for none knew, or guessed, +that the pilgrim was Guy himself. + +Guy went then out to meet the giant, and all the people crowded to the +walls of Winchester to watch their champion fight. + +Colbrand came forth. He was so huge that no horse could carry him, +and he wore a whole wagon-load of weapons. His armor was pitch-black +except his shield, which was blood-red and had a white owl painted +upon it. He was a fearsome sight to look upon, and as he strode along +shaking his spear every one trembled for Guy. + +It was a terrible and unequal fight. Tall though Guy was, he could +reach no higher than the giant's shoulder with his spear, but yet he +wounded him again and again. + +"I have never fought with any like thee," cried Colbrand. "Yield, +and I will ask King Anlaf to make thee a general in the Danish army. +Castle and tower shalt thou have, and everything that thou canst +desire, if thou but do as I counsel thee." + +"Better death than that," replied Guy, and still fought on. At last, +taking his battle-axe in both hands, he gave Colbrand such a blow that +his sword dropped to the ground. As the giant reeled under the stroke, +Guy raised his battle-axe once more. + + "His good axe he reared on high + With both hands full mightily; + He smote him in the neck so well, + That the head flew that very deal. + The giant dead on the earth lay; + The Danes made great sorrow that day." + +Seeing their champion fall, the Danes fled to their ships. England was +saved. + +Then out of the city came all the people with the priests and King in +great procession, and singing hymns of praise as they went, they led +Guy back. + +The King brought Guy to his palace and offered him splendid robes and +great rewards, even to the half of the kingdom. But Guy would have +none of them. "Give me my pilgrim's dress again," he said. And, in +spite of all the King could say, he put off his fine armor and dressed +himself again in his dark pilgrim's robe. + +"Tell me at least thy name," said the King, "so that the minstrels +may sing of thy great deeds, and that in years to come the people may +remember and bless thee." + +"Bless God, not me," replied Guy. "He it was gave me strength and +power against the giant." + +"Then if thou wilt not that the people know," said the King, "tell thy +name to me alone." + +"So be it," said Guy. "Walk with me half a mile out of the city, thou +and I alone. Then will I tell thee my name." + +So the King in his royal robes, and the pilgrim in his dull, dark +gown, passed together out of the city gate. When they had gone half a +mile, Guy stood still. "Sire," he said, "thou wouldst know my name. I +am Guy of Warwick, thine own knight. Once thou didst love me well, now +I am as thou dost see me." + +At first the King could hardly believe that this poor man was really +the great Earl of Warwick, but when he became sure of it he threw his +arms round Guy and kissed him. "Dear friend, we have long mourned for +thee as dead," he cried. "Now thou wilt come with me and help me to +rule, and I will honor thee above all men." + +But Guy would not go back. He made the King promise to tell no man who +he was. This he did for the sake of the oath which he had sworn, that +he would never again fight for glory but only for a righteous cause. +Then once more they kissed, and each turned his own way, the King +going sadly back to Winchester. + +As he entered the gates the people crowded round him, eager to know +who the pilgrim was. But King Athelstane held up his hand. "Peace," he +said, "I indeed know, but I may not tell you. Go to your homes, thank +God for your deliverance, and pray for him who overcame the giant." + + + + +IV + +HOW AT LAST GUY WENT HOME + + +After Guy left the King, he journeyed on towards Warwick. And when he +came to the town over which he was lord and master no one knew him. So +he mixed with the poor men who came every morning to the castle gates +to receive food from the countess. + +Guy listened to what those round him said. He heard them praise and +bless Phyllis, calling her the best woman that had ever lived, and his +heart was glad. + +Pale and trembling, Guy bent before his wife, to receive food from her +hands. He was so changed that even she did not know him, but she felt +very sorry for the poor man who seemed so thin and worn, so she spoke +kindly to him and gave him more food than the others, and told him to +come every day as long as he lived. + +Guy thanked her, and turned slowly away. He remembered that a hermit +lived in a cave not far off, and to him he went. But when he reached +the cave he found it empty. The hermit had been dead many years. + +Guy then made up his mind to live in the cave. Every morning he went +to the castle to receive food from Phyllis. But he would only take +the simplest things, often eating nothing but bread and drinking water +from the spring which flowed near. + +Every evening Guy could hear Phyllis as she paced to and fro, for +her walk was not far from the hermit's cave. But still some strange +enchantment, as it were, held him dumb, and although he still loved +her, although he knew that she sorrowed and longed for him to return +home, he could not say, "I am here." + +At last one day Guy became very ill. He had no longer strength to go +to the castle, so calling a passing countryman to him, he gave him a +ring. It was the ring which Phyllis had given him, and which he had +kept ever with him through all his pilgrimage. "Take this," he said +to the countryman, "and carry it to Fair Phyllis, the Countess of +Warwick." + +But the countryman was afraid. "I have never spoken to a great lady, +and I do not know how to address her," he said. "Besides she may be +angry with me, and I shall get into trouble if I carry a ring to the +earl's wife." + +"Do not fear," said Guy, "the countess will not be angry; rather will +she reward thee. Tell her to come hastily or I die." + +So the countryman took the ring, and, coming to the countess fell upon +his knees. "Lady," he said, "a pilgrim who lives yonder in the forest +sends thee this ring." + +Phyllis took the ring, and, as she looked at it, a strange light +came into her eyes. Like one in a dream she passed her hand over +her forehead. "It is mine own lord, Sir Guy," she cried, and fell +senseless to the ground. + +The countryman was much frightened, but her ladies ran to the countess +and raised her, and soon she opened her eyes. + +"Friend," she said to the countryman, "tell me where is he who gave +thee this ring?" + +"He is in the hermit's cave," replied the man, "and he bade me to say +that thou must hasten ere he die." + +Right glad was Phyllis at the thought of seeing Guy again, yet +sorrowful lest she should find him dead. So, calling for her mule, +she mounted and rode speedily towards the cave, the countryman running +before to show the way. + +And when they came to the cave Phyllis went in, and kneeling beside +Guy, put her arms round him, crying bitterly. "Dear," he said, "weep +not, for I go where sorrows end." Then + + "He kissed her fair and courteously, + With that he died hastily." + +There was sorrow through all the land when it was known that Guy, the +great hero, was dead. He was buried with much pomp and ceremony, the +King and Queen, and all the greatest nobles of the land, coming to +the funeral. And Phyllis, not caring to live longer, now that she knew +that Guy was indeed dead, died too, and they were both buried in the +same grave. + +Then minstrels sang of Guy's valiant deeds, and of how he had slain +giants and dragons, and of how he might have been an emperor and +a king over many lands, and how he was ever a gentle and courteous +knight. + + "Thus endeth the tale of Sir Guy: + God, on his soul have mercy, + And on ours when we be dead, + And grant us in heaven to have stead." + +If you ever go to Warwick you will see, in the castle there, Guy's +sword and armor. Wise people will tell you that they never belonged +to Guy, but to some other men who lived much later. Well, perhaps they +are right. + +Then, when you are at Warwick, you must go to Guy's Cliff, which is +about a mile and a half away. There, in the chapel, is a statue of +Guy, very old and broken. + +You will also see there Fair Phyllis's Walk, the spring from which Guy +used to drink, still called Guy's Well, and the cave where he lived as +a hermit, and where he died. + +Upon the walls of the cave is some writing. You will not be able to +read it, for it is Saxon, but it means, "Cast out, Thou Christ, from +Thy servant this burden." + +Did Guy, I wonder, or some other, in days of loneliness and despair, +carve these words? + +If you ask why Guy did these things--why, when he was happy and had +everything he could desire, he threw away that happiness, and wandered +out into the world to endure hunger, and weariness, and suffering--or +why, when at last he came back and found his beautiful wife waiting +and longing for his return, he did not go to her and be happy again, +I cannot tell you certainly. But perhaps it may be explained in this +way. In those far-off days there was nothing for great men to do but +fight. What they had they had won by the sword, and they kept it +by the sword. So they went swaggering over the world, fighting and +shedding blood, and the more men a knight killed, the more blood he +shed, the greater was his fame. It was impossible for a man to live in +the world and be at peace with his fellows. So when he desired peace +he had to cut himself off from the world and all who lived in it, and +go to live like a hermit in some lonely cave, or wander as a pilgrim +in desolate places. And so it was with Guy. + + + + +WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT + +ADAPTED BY ERNEST RHYS + + +In the reign of the famous King Edward III. there was a little boy +called Dick Whittington, whose father and mother died when he was very +young, so that he remembered nothing at all about them, and was left +a ragged little fellow, running about a country village. As poor Dick +was not old enough to work, he was very badly off; he got but little +for his dinner, and sometimes nothing at all for his breakfast; for +the people who lived in the village were very poor indeed, and could +not spare him much more than the parings of potatoes, and now and then +a hard crust of bread. + +For all this Dick Whittington was a very sharp boy, and was always +listening to what everybody talked about. On Sunday he was sure to +get near the farmers, as they sat talking on the tombstones in the +churchyard, before the parson came; and once a week you might see +little Dick leaning against the sign-post of the village alehouse, +where people stopped to drink as they came from the next market town; +and when the barber's shop door was open, Dick listened to all the +news that his customers told one another. + +In this manner Dick heard a great many very strange things about the +great city called London; for the foolish country people at that time +thought that folks in London were all fine gentlemen and ladies; and +that there was singing and music there all day long; and that the +streets were all paved with gold. + +One day a large wagon and eight horses, all with bells at their heads, +drove through the village while Dick was standing by the sign-post. He +thought that this wagon must be going to the fine town of London; so +he took courage, and asked the wagoner to let him walk with him by the +side of the wagon. As soon as the wagoner heard that poor Dick had no +father or mother, and saw by his ragged clothes that he could not be +worse off than he was, he told him he might go if he would, so they +set off together. + +I could never find out how little Dick contrived to get meat and drink +on the road; nor how he could walk so far, for it was a long way; nor +what he did at night for a place to lie down to sleep in. Perhaps some +good-natured people in the towns that he passed through, when they +saw he was a poor little ragged boy, gave him something to eat; and +perhaps the wagoner let him get into the wagon at night, and take a +nap upon one of the boxes or large parcels in the wagon. + +Dick, however, got safe to London, and was in such a hurry to see the +fine streets paved all over with gold, that I am afraid he did not +even stay to thank the kind wagoner; but ran off as fast as his legs +would carry him, through many of the streets, thinking every moment +to come to those that were paved with gold; for Dick had seen a guinea +three times in his own little village, and remembered what a deal of +money it brought in change; so he thought he had nothing to do but to +take up some little bits of the pavement, and should then have as much +money as he could wish for. + +Poor Dick ran till he was tired, and had quite forgot his friend the +wagoner; but at last, finding it grow dark, and that every way he +turned he saw nothing but dirt instead of gold, he sat down in a dark +corner and cried himself to sleep. + +Little Dick was all night in the streets; and next morning, being very +hungry, he got up and walked about, and asked everybody he met to give +him a halfpenny to keep him from starving; but nobody stayed to answer +him, and only two or three gave him a halfpenny; so that the poor boy +was soon quite weak and faint for the want of victuals. + +At last a good-natured looking gentleman saw how hungry he looked. +"Why don't you go to work, my lad?" said he to Dick. "That I would, +but I do not know how to get any," answered Dick. "If you are willing, +come along with me," said the gentleman, and took him to a hay-field, +where Dick worked briskly, and lived merrily till the hay was made. + +After this he found himself as badly off as before; and being almost +starved again, he laid himself down at the door of Mr. Fitzwarren, +a rich merchant. Here he was soon seen by the cook, who was an +ill-tempered creature, and happened just then to be very busy +preparing dinner for her master and mistress; so she called out to +poor Dick: "What business have you there, you lazy rogue? there is +nothing else but beggars; if you do not take yourself away, we will +see how you will like a sousing of some dish-water; I have some here +hot enough to make you jump." + +Just at that time Mr. Fitzwarren himself came home to dinner; and when +he saw a dirty ragged boy lying at the door, he said to him: "Why do +you lie there, my boy? You seem old enough to work; I am afraid you +are inclined to be lazy." + +"No, indeed, sir," said Dick to him, "that is not the case, for I +would work with all my heart, but I do not know anybody, and I believe +I am very sick for the want of food." + +"Poor fellow, get up; let me see what ails you." + +Dick now tried to rise, but was obliged to lie down again, being too +weak to stand, for he had not eaten any food for three days, and +was no longer able to run about and beg a halfpenny of people in the +street. So the kind merchant ordered him to be taken into the house, +and have a good dinner given him, and be kept to do what dirty work he +was able to do for the cook. + +Little Dick would have lived very happy in this good family if it had +not been for the ill-natured cook, who was finding fault and scolding +him from morning to night, and besides, she was so fond of basting, +that when she had no meat to baste, she would baste poor Dick's head +and shoulders with a broom, or anything else that happened to fall +in her way. At last her ill-usage of him was told to Alice, Mr. +Fitzwarren's daughter, who told the cook she should be turned away if +she did not treat him kinder. + +The ill-humor of the cook was now a little amended; but besides this +Dick had another hardship to get over. His bed stood in a garret, +where there were so many holes in the floor and the walls that every +night he was tormented with rats and mice. A gentleman having given +Dick a penny for cleaning his shoes, he thought he would buy a cat +with it. The next day he saw a girl with a cat, and asked her if she +would let him have it for a penny. The girl said she would, and at the +same time told him the cat was an excellent mouser. + +Dick hid his cat in the garret, and always took care to carry a part +of his dinner to her; and in a short time he had no more trouble with +the rats and mice, but slept quite sound every night. + +Soon after this, his master had a ship ready to sail; and as he +thought it right that all his servants should have some chance for +good fortune as well as himself, he called them all into the parlor +and asked them what they would send out. + +They all had something that they were willing to venture except +poor Dick, who had neither money nor goods, and therefore could send +nothing. + +For this reason he did not come into the parlor with the rest; but +Miss Alice guessed what was the matter, and ordered him to be called +in. She then said she would lay down some money for him, from her +own purse; but the father told her this would not do, for it must be +something of his own. + +When poor Dick heard this, he said he had nothing but a cat which he +bought for a penny some time since of a little girl. + +"Fetch your cat then, my good boy," said Mr. Fitzwarren, "and let her +go." + +Dick went upstairs and brought down poor puss, with tears in his eyes, +and gave her to the captain; for he said he should now be kept awake +again all night by the rats and mice. + +All the company laughed at Dick's odd venture; and Miss Alice, who +felt pity for the poor boy, gave him some money to buy another cat. + +This, and many other marks of kindness shown him by Miss Alice made +the ill-tempered cook jealous of poor Dick, and she began to use him +more cruelly than ever, and always made game of him for sending his +cat to sea. She asked him if he thought his cat would sell for as much +money as would buy a stick to beat him. + +At last poor Dick could not bear this usage any longer, and he thought +he would run away from his place; so he packed up his few things, and +started very early in the morning, on All-hallow's, which is the first +of November. He walked as far as Holloway; and there sat down on a +stone, which to this day is called Whittington's stone, and began to +think to himself which road he should take as he went onwards. + +While he was thinking what he should do, the bells of Bow Church, +which at that time had only six, began to ring, and he fancied their +sound seemed to say to him: + + "Turn again, Whittington, + Lord Mayor of London." + +"Lord Mayor of London!" said he to himself. "Why, to be sure, I would +put up with almost anything now, to be Lord Mayor of London, and ride +in a fine coach, when I grow to be a man! Well, I will go back, and +think nothing of the cuffing and scolding of the old cook, if I am to +be Lord Mayor of London at last." + +Dick went back, and was lucky enough to get into the house, and set +about his work, before the old cook came downstairs. + +The ship, with the cat on board, was a long time at sea; and was at +last driven by the winds on a part of the coast of Barbary, where the +only people were the Moors, that the English had never known before. + +The people then came in great numbers to see the sailors, who were +of different color to themselves, and treated them very civilly; and, +when they became better acquainted, were very eager to buy the fine +things that the ship was loaded with. + +When the captain saw this, he sent patterns of the best things he had +to the King of the country; who was so much pleased with them, that +he sent for the captain to the palace. Here they were placed, as it is +the custom of the country, on rich carpets marked with gold and silver +flowers. The King and Queen were seated at the upper end of the room; +and a number of dishes were brought in for dinner. They had not +sat long, when a vast number of rats and mice rushed in, helping +themselves from almost every dish. The captain wondered at this, and +asked if these vermin were not very unpleasant. + +"Oh, yes," said they, "very destructive; and the King would give +half his treasure to be freed of them, for they not only destroy his +dinner, as you see, but they assault him in his chamber and even in +bed, so that he is obliged to be watched while he is sleeping for fear +of them." + +The captain jumped for joy; he remembered poor Whittington and his +cat, and told the King he had a creature on board the ship that would +despatch all these vermin immediately. The King's heart heaved so high +at the joy which this news gave him that his turban dropped off his +head. "Bring this creature to me," says he; "vermin are dreadful in +a court, and if she will perform what you say, I will load your ship +with gold and jewels in exchange for her." The captain, who knew his +business, took this opportunity to set forth the merits of Mrs Puss. +He told his majesty that it would be inconvenient to part with her, +as, when she was gone, the rats and mice might destroy the goods in +the ship--but to oblige his Majesty he would fetch her. "Run, run!" +said the Queen; "I am impatient to see the dear creature." + +Away went the captain to the ship, while another dinner was got ready. +He put puss under his arm, and arrived at the place soon enough to see +the table full of rats. + +When the cat saw them, she did not wait for bidding, but jumped out of +the captain's arms, and in a few minutes laid almost all the rats and +mice dead at her feet. The rest of them in their fright scampered away +to their holes. + +The King and Queen were quite charmed to get so easily rid of such +plagues, and desired that the creature who had done them so great +a kindness might be brought to them for inspection. Upon which the +captain called: "Pussy, pussy, pussy!" and she came to him. He then +presented her to the queen, who started back, and was afraid to touch +a creature who had made such a havoc among the rats and mice. However, +when the captain stroked the cat and called: "Pussy, pussy," the Queen +also touched her and cried "Putty, putty," for she had not learned +English. He then put her down on the queen's lap, where she, purring, +played with her Majesty's hand, and then sung herself to sleep. + +The King, having seen the exploits of Mrs. Puss, and being informed +that her kittens would stock the whole country, bargained with the +captain for the whole ship's cargo, and then gave him ten times as +much for the cat as all the rest amounted to. + +The captain then took leave of the royal party, and set sail with +a fair wind for England, and after a happy voyage arrived safe in +London. + +One morning Mr. Fitzwarren had just come to his counting-house and +seated himself at the desk, when somebody came tap, tap, at the door. +"Who's there?" said Mr. Fitzwarren. "A friend," answered the other; +"I come to bring you good news of your ship Unicorn." The merchant, +bustling up instantly, opened the door, and who should be seen waiting +but the captain and factor, with a cabinet of jewels, and a bill of +lading, for which the merchant lifted up his eyes and thanked heaven +for sending him such a prosperous voyage. + +They then told the story of the cat, and showed the rich present +that the king and queen had sent for her to poor Dick. As soon as the +merchant heard this, he called out to his servants, + + "Go fetch him--we will tell him of the same; + Pray call him Mr. Whittington by name." + +Mr. Fitzwarren now showed himself to be a good man; for when some +of his servants said so great a treasure was too much for Dick, he +answered: "God forbid I should deprive him of the value of a single +penny." + +He then sent for Dick, who at that time was scouring pots for the +cook, and was quite dirty. + +Mr. Fitzwarren ordered a chair to be set for him, and so he began to +think they were making game of him, at the same time begging them not +to play tricks with a poor simple boy, but to let him go down again, +if they pleased, to his work. + +"Indeed, Mr. Whittington," said the merchant, "we are all quite +in earnest with you, and I most heartily rejoice in the news these +gentlemen have brought you; for the captain has sold your cat to the +King of Barbary, and brought you in return for her more riches than I +possess in the whole world; and I wish you may long enjoy them!" + +Mr. Fitzwarren then told the men to open the great treasure they had +brought with him; and said: "Mr. Whittington has nothing to do but to +put it in some place of safety." + +Poor Dick hardly knew how to behave himself for joy. He begged his +master to take what part of it he pleased, since he owed it all to his +kindness. "No, no," answered Mr. Fitzwarren, "this is all your own; +and I have no doubt but you will use it well." + +Dick next asked his mistress, and then Miss Alice, to accept a part +of his good fortune; but they would not, and at the same time told him +they felt great joy at his good success. But this poor fellow was too +kind-hearted to keep it all to himself; so he made a present to the +captain, the mate, and the rest of Mr. Fitzwarren's servants; and even +to the ill-natured old cook. + +After this Mr. Fitzwarren advised him to send for a proper tradesman +and get himself dressed like a gentleman; and told him he was welcome +to live in his house till he could provide himself with a better. + +When Whittington's face was washed, his hair curled, his hat cocked, +and he was dressed in a nice suit of clothes, he was as handsome and +genteel as any young man who visited at Mr. Fitzwarren's; so that Miss +Alice, who had once been so kind to him, and thought of him with pity, +now looked upon him as fit to be her sweetheart; and the more so, no +doubt, because Whittington was now always thinking what he could do to +oblige her, and making her the prettiest presents that could be. + +Mr. Fitzwarren soon saw their love for each other, and proposed to +join them in marriage; and to this they both readily agreed. A day for +the wedding was soon fixed; and they were attended to church by the +Lord Mayor, the court aldermen, the sheriffs, and a great number of +the richest merchants in London, whom they afterwards treated with a +very rich feast. + +History tells us that Mr. Whittington and his lady lived in great +splendor, and were very happy. They had several children. He was +Sheriff of London, also Mayor, and received the honor of knighthood by +Henry V. + +The figure of Sir Richard Whittington with his cat in his arms, carved +in stone, was to be seen till the year 1780 over the archway of the +old prison of Newgate, that stood across Newgate Street. + + + + +TOM HICKATHRIFT + +ADAPTED BY ERNEST RHYS + + +Long before William the Conqueror, there dwelt a man in the Isle of +Ely, named Thomas Hickathrift, a poor laboring man, but so strong that +he was able to do in one day the ordinary work of two. He had an only +son, whom he christened Thomas, after his own name. The old man put +his son to good learning, but he would take none, for he was none of +the wisest, but something soft, and had no docility at all in him. +God calling this good man, the father, to his rest, his mother, being +tender of him, kept him by her hard labor as well as she could; +but this was no easy matter, for Tom would sit all day in the +chimney-corner, instead of doing anything to help her, and although at +the time we were speaking of he was only ten years old, he would eat +more than four or five ordinary men, and was five feet and a half +in height, and two feet and a half broad. His hand was more like a +shoulder of mutton than a boy's hand, and he was altogether like a +little monster; but yet his great strength was not known. + +Tom's strength came to be known in this manner: his mother, it seems, +as well as himself, for they lived in the days of merry old England, +slept upon straw. Now, being a tidy old creature, she must every now +and then have a new bed, and one day having been promised a bottle of +straw by a neighboring farmer, after much begging she got her son to +fetch it. Tom, however, made her borrow a cart-rope first, before he +would budge a step, without saying what he wanted it for; but the poor +woman, too glad to gain his help upon any terms, let him have it at +once. Tom, swinging the rope round his shoulder went to the farmer's, +and found him with two men threshing in a barn. Having told what he +wanted, the farmer said he might take as much straw as he could carry. +Tom at once took him at his word, and, placing the rope in a right +position, rapidly made up a bundle containing at least a cartload, the +men jeering at him all the while. Their merriment, however, did not +last long, for Tom flung the enormous bundle over his shoulders, and +walked away with it without any difficulty, and left them all gaping +after him. + +After this exploit Tom was no longer allowed to be idle. Every one +tried to secure his services, and we are told many tales of his mighty +strength. On one occasion, having been offered as great a bundle of +fire wood as he could carry, he marched off with one of the largest +trees in the forest. Tom was also extremely fond of attending fairs; +and in cudgeling, wrestling, or throwing the hammer, there was no +one who could compete with him. He thought nothing of flinging a huge +hammer into the middle of a river a mile off, and, in fact, performed +such extraordinary feats, that the folk began to have a fear of him. + +At length a brewer at Lynn, who required a strong lusty fellow to +carry his beer to the Marsh and to Wisbeach, after much persuasion, +and promising him a new suit of clothes and as much as he liked to +eat and drink, secured Tom for his business. The distance he daily +traveled with the beer was upwards of twenty miles, for although there +was a shorter cut through the Marsh, no one durst go that way for fear +of a monstrous giant, who was lord of a portion of the district, and +who killed or made slaves of every one he could lay his hands upon. + +Now, in the course of time, Tom was thoroughly tired of going such a +roundabout way, and without telling his plans to any one, he resolved +to pass through the giant's domain, or lose his life in the attempt. +This was a bold undertaking, but good living had so increased Tom's +strength and courage, that venturesome as he was before, his hardiness +was so much increased that he would have faced a still greater danger. +He accordingly drove his cart in the forbidden direction, flinging the +gates wide open, as if for the purpose of making his daring more plain +to be seen. + +At length he was espied by the giant, who was in a rage at his +boldness, but consoled himself by thinking that Tom and the beer +would soon become his prey. "Sir," said the monster, "who gave you +permission to come this way? Do you not know how I make all stand in +fear of me? and you, like an impudent rogue, must come and fling my +gates open at your pleasure! Are you careless of your life? Do not you +care what you do? But I will make you an example for all rogues under +the sun! Dost thou not see how many thousand heads hang upon yonder +tree--heads of those who have offended against my laws? But thy head +shall hang higher than all the rest for an example!" But Tom made +him answer: "You shall not find me to be one of them." "No!" said the +giant, in astonishment and indignation; "and what a fool you must be +if you come to fight with such a one as I am, and bring never a weapon +to defend yourself!" Quoth Tom, "I have a weapon here that will make +you know you are a traitorous rogue." This speech highly incensed the +giant, who immediately ran to his cave for his club, intending to +dash out Tom's brains at one blow. Tom was now much distressed for a +weapon, as by some chance he had forgot one, and he began to reflect +how very little his whip would help him against a monster twelve feet +in height and six feet round the waist. But while the giant was gone +for his club, Tom bethought himself, and turning his cart upside down, +adroitly took out the axletree, which would serve him for a staff, and +removing a wheel, fitted it to his arm instead of a shield--very good +weapons indeed in time of trouble, and worthy of Tom's wit. When the +monster returned with his club, he was amazed to see the weapons with +which Tom had armed himself; but uttering a word of defiance, he bore +down upon the poor fellow with such heavy strokes that it was as much +as Tom could do to defend himself with his wheel. Tom, however, at +length cut the giant such a blow with the axletree on the side of his +head, that he nearly reeled over. "What!" said Tom, "have you drunk +of my strong beer already?" This inquiry did not, as we may suppose, +mollify the giant, who laid on his blows so sharply and heavily +that Tom was obliged to defend himself. By-and-by, not making any +impression on the wheel, the giant grew tired, and was obliged to ask +Tom if he would let him drink a little, and then he would fight again. +"No," said Tom, "my mother did not teach me that wit: who would be +fool then?" The end may readily be imagined; Tom having beaten +the giant, cut off his head, and entered the cave, which he found +completely filled with gold and silver. + +The news of this victory rapidly spread throughout the country, for +the giant had been a common enemy to the people about. They made +bonfires for joy, and showed their respect to Tom by every means in +their power. A few days afterwards Tom took possession of the cave +and all the giant's treasure. He pulled down the former, and built +a magnificent house on the spot; but as for the land stolen by the +giant, part of it he gave to the poor for their common, merely keeping +enough for himself and his good old mother, Jane Hickathrift. + +Tom was now a great man and a hero with all the country folk, so that +when any one was in danger or difficulty, it was to Tom Hickathrift +he must turn. It chanced that about this time many idle and rebellious +persons drew themselves together in and about the Isle of Ely, and set +themselves to defy the king and all his men. + +By this time, you must know, Tom Hickathrift had secured to himself a +trusty friend and comrade, almost his equal in strength and courage, +for though he was but a tinker, yet he was a great and lusty one. Now +the sheriff of the country came to Tom, under cover of night, full +of fear and trembling, and begged his aid and protection against the +rebels, "else," said he, "we be all dead men!" Tom, nothing loth, +called his friend the tinker, and as soon as it was day, led by the +sheriff, they went out armed with their clubs to the place where the +rebels were gathered together. When they were got thither, Tom and the +tinker marched up to the leaders of the band, and asked them why they +were set upon breaking the king's peace. To this they answered loudly, +"Our will is our law, and by that alone we will be governed!" "Nay," +quoth Tom, "if it be so, these trusty clubs are our weapons, and by +them alone you shall be chastised." These words were no sooner uttered +than they madly rushed on the throng of men, bearing all before them, +and laying twenty or thirty sprawling with every blow. The tinker +struck off heads with such violence that they flew like balls for +miles about, and when Tom had slain hundreds and so broken his trusty +club, he laid hold of a lusty raw-boned miller and made use of him as +a weapon till he had quite cleared the field. + +If Tom Hickathrift had been a hero before, he was twice a hero now. +When the king heard of it all, he sent for him to be knighted, and +when he was Sir Thomas Hickathrift nothing would serve him but that he +must be married to a great lady of the country. + +So married he was, and a fine wedding they had of it. There was a +great feast given, to which all the poor widows for miles round were +invited, because of Tom's mother, and rich and poor feasted together. +Among the poor widows who came was an old woman called Stumbelup, who +with much ingratitude stole from the great table a silver tankard. But +she had not got safe away before she was caught and the people were +so enraged at her wickedness that they nearly hanged her. However, +Sir Tom had her rescued, and commanded that she should be drawn on +a wheelbarrow through the streets and lanes of Cambridge, holding a +placard in her hand on which was written-- + + "I am the naughty Stumbelup, + Who tried to steal the silver cup." + + + + + + +HEROES OF SCANDINAVIA + + + + +THE STORY OF FRITHIOF + +ADAPTED BY JULIA GODDARD + + + + +I + + +In a cottage overshadowed by wide-spreading oaks, and surrounded by a +garden in which bloomed the sweetest flowers of summer, lived an aged +peasant named Hilding. + +Two children might be seen playing about the garden from sunrise to +sunset, but they were not old Hilding's children. The handsome boy +was the son of the thane Thorsten Vikingsson; the little girl, with +dove-like eyes and silken tresses, was the daughter of good King Bele. + +Together the little ones played through the long pleasant days in +their foster-father's garden, or wandered through the woods, or +climbed the hills that sheltered them from the northern winds. The boy +would seek treasures from the birds' nests for his fair companion, +not even fearing to rob the mountain eagle, so that he might bring the +spoil to Ingebjorg. He would also take her far out on the blue sea in +his little boat, and Ingebjorg never felt afraid as long as Frithiof +was with her. + +As Frithiof grew older, he became a great hunter, and once he slew +without weapons a fierce bear, which he brought home in triumph and +laid at Ingebjorg's feet. + +During the winter evenings, they sat by the blazing logs on the +hearth, and Hilding told them wonderful stories of Asgard and all its +glories, of Odin the king of the gods, and of the beautiful Frigga. + +But Frithiof thought she could not be half so beautiful as Ingebjorg. +And once he said so to her, and it pleased her exceedingly. And he +said, moreover, that when he was a man, Ingebjorg should be his wife. +This also she was glad to hear, for she loved Frithiof better than any +one in the world. + +But Old Hilding told them not to talk nonsense, for Ingebjorg was a +king's daughter, and Frithiof but the son of a thane. + + + + +II + + +In a room of his palace stood King Bele. He was leaning on his sword, +musing over all that was past, and thinking of the future. He was an +old man, and he felt that his strength was failing him. + +With him was his faithful friend Thorsten Vikingsson. They had grown +up to manhood together, they had fought in many a battle side by side. +They had been companions at many a feast and revel; and now, when old +age had fallen upon them, they drew closer to one another, feeling +that the hand of death was raised to summon them into another world. + +"The end of life is near," said the King; "the shadow of death is cast +upon me. No longer do I care for all that men call pleasure. The chase +hath lost its charm, the helmet sits heavy upon my brow, and the mead +hath lost its flavor. I would that my sons were here so that I might +give them my blessing." + +Then the servants summoned to King Bele's presence his two sons, Helgi +and Halfdan. Dark was the countenance of Helgi, and there was +blood upon his hands, for he had just been assisting at the midday +sacrifice. But the face of Halfdan was bright as the early morning, +and he was as light and joyous as his brother was dark and gloomy. + +Frithiof also came, for the thane Thorsten Vikingsson desired to see +him, that he too might bless his son when King Bele blessed the royal +princes. + +And the two old friends spoke words of wisdom to their children, and +prayed that the gods might be with them in peace and war, in joy and +sorrow, and grant them a long life and a glorious death. + +And when their counsels and prayers were ended, King Bele said, "And +now, O sons, I bid you remember, in that day when death shall claim +me and my faithful friend, that ye lay our bones side by side near the +shore of the great ocean." + + + + +III + + +In due time, King Bele died, and Helgi and Halfdan shared his kingdom +between them. + +Thorsten Vikingsson died also, and Frithiof became lord of his +ancestral home of Framnaes. + +Rich treasures did that home contain, three of them of magic power. + +The first was the sword of Angurvadel. Blood-red it shone in time of +war, and wo to him who contended with its owner on the battle-field. + +Next was an arm-ring of pure gold, made by the god Voelund, and given +by him to one of Thorsten Vikingsson's forefathers. Once it was stolen +and carried to England by the viking Sote, but Thorsten and his friend +King Bele pursued the robber. Over the sea they sailed after the +viking, and landed at a lonely place where the rocks reared up their +sharp points and made the coast dangerous. + +There were deep caverns which the waters filled when the tide was up, +so lone and dark that men were almost afraid to go into them. + +But Thorsten Vikingsson and the King his master were not daunted. +Hither had they come after the pirate, and here it was that he had +last been heard of; and they searched along the shore and in the +caves, and peered into every hole and cranny, until their eyes grew +strained and heavy, but no viking Sote was to be seen. + +They had almost given up hope of finding him, when, looking through a +chink that had hitherto escaped their notice, a fearful sight was seen +by the valiant thane. + +Within a mighty vault, forming a still, cold tomb, there lay a vessel +all complete, with masts and spars and anchor; and on the deck there +sat a grim skeleton clad in a robe of flame, and on his skinless arm +glittered the golden arm-ring wrought by Voelund. The figure held in +his left hand a blood-stained sword, from which he was trying to scour +away the stains. + +"It is my arm-ring," said Thorsten Vikingsson; "it is the spirit of +the viking Sote." + +And forthwith he forced his way into the tomb, and, after a deadly +conflict with the specter, regained his treasure. + +And the two friends sailed home in triumph. + +The third great thing that Frithiof inherited was the dragon-ship +"Ellide," which his forefathers had won in the following manner: + +One of them, a rough, rude viking, with a tender heart, was out at +sea, and on a wreck that was fast sinking saw an old man with green +locks sitting disconsolately. + +The good-natured viking picked him up, took him home, gave him of the +best of food and of sparkling mead, and would have lodged him in his +house; but the green-haired man said he could not tarry, for he had +many miles to sail that night. + +"But when the sun comes up in the east," added the stranger, "look for +a thank-gift on the wild seashore." + +And behold, as morning dawned, the viking saw a goodly vessel making +gallant headway. As she drew near the land with streamer flying and +broad sails flapping in the wind, the viking saw that there was no +soul on board of her; and yet, without steersman to guide her, the +vessel avoided the shoals and held her way straight to the spot where +he was standing. + +Her prow was a dragon's head, a dragon's tail formed her stern, and +dragon's wings bore her along swifter than an eagle before the storm. + +The green-haired stranger was a sea-god, and the dragon-ship "Ellide" +was his thank-gift. + +Thus Frithiof, though only the son of a thane, had treasures that +might have been coveted by kings and princes. He sat in his father's +halls, surrounded by his companions; upon his right was seated his +bosom friend Bjorn, and twelve bold champions clad in steel were +ranged around the board. And they drank in silence to the memory of +Thorsten Vikingsson. + +But suddenly the harps struck up, and the skalds poured forth their +songs in honor of the dead thane. + +And Frithiof's eyes filled with tears as he listened to his father's +praises. + + + + +IV + + +In spite of Frithiof's wealth, Helgi and Halfdan looked with disdain +upon the son of their father's friend; and when Frithiof asked to have +Ingebjorg for his wife, Helgi scornfully answered, "My sister shall +not wed the son of a thane. If you like to be our serf, we will make +room for you among our servants." + +Then went Frithiof away in wrath. + +There was another suitor for the hand of Ingebjorg, good old King +Ring, who, having lost his wife, thought that the Lily of the North +would make a tender mother for his little son. + +And he sent to Helgi and Halfdan to ask for Ingebjorg in marriage, +but the brothers treated him as they had treated Frithiof; and the old +King was roused, and he swore he would revenge himself. + +Helgi and Halfdan were afraid when they found that Ring was really +making ready for war. They began to get their army into order, and +placed Ingebjorg for safety in the temple of Baldur, and in their +distress they even sent to Frithiof to ask him to come and help them. + +They chose wisely in the messenger they sent to plead for them, for it +was none other than old Hilding, who had been so kind to Frithiof in +his childhood. + +Frithiof was playing at chess with Bjorn when Hilding arrived. He +pretended not to hear the message, and went on with his game. + +"Shall the pawn save the king?" he asked of Bjorn. + +And after a time he added: "There is no other way to save the queen." +Which showed that he had been all the time occupied with Hilding's +errand. + +Therefore he returned with the old peasant, and contrived to see +Ingebjorg in the temple of Baldur, and found that she still loved him +as much as he loved her, and did not wish to marry any one else. + +And again he asked Helgi and Halfdan if they were willing that +Ingebjorg should be his wife. + +And again the brothers said, Nay, with scorn, and told him that he +had profaned the temple of Baldur by speaking to Ingebjorg within its +walls. + +"For such a misdeed," said Helgi, "death or banishment is the doom, +and thou art in our power. Nevertheless, we are willing, as we wish +to make thee useful to us, to forego the penalty. Thou shalt therefore +sail forth to the distant Orkney Isles, and compel Jarl Angantyr to +pay the tribute that he owes us." + +Frithiof would have refused to go, but Ingebjorg persuaded him to +undertake the mission; for she was afraid of her brothers, and knew +that Frithiof would be safer on the wild seas than in their hands. + +At last Frithiof consented, and he took leave of Ingebjorg, and placed +the golden bracelet that Voelund had made upon her arm, praying her to +keep it for his sake. + +And then he sailed away over the heaving waters, and Ingebjorg mourned +that her lover was gone. + + + + +V + + +Over the sea. It was calm enough when Frithiof started; the +storm-winds were asleep, and the waters heaved gently as though they +would fain help speed the dragon-ship peacefully on her way. + +But King Helgi standing on a rock repented that he had suffered the +noble Frithiof to escape his malice; and as he watched the good ship +"Ellide" riding over the sea, he prayed loudly to the ocean-fiends +that they would trouble the waters and raise a fierce tempest to +swallow up Frithiof and the dragon-ship. + +All at once, the sparkling sea turned leaden gray, and the billows +began to roll, the skies grew dark, and the howl of the driving wind +was answered by a sullen roar from the depths beneath. Suddenly, +a blinding flash of lightning played around the vessel, and as it +vanished the pealing thunder burst from the clouds. The raging sea +foamed, and seethed, and tossed the vessel like a feather upon its +angry waves, and deeper sounded the thunder, and more fiercely flashed +the lightning round the masts. + +Wilder, wilder, wilder grew the storm. Alas, for Frithiof! + +"Ho! take the tiller in hand," shouted Frithiof to Bjorn. "and I will +mount to the topmost mast and look out for danger'" + +And when he looked out, he saw the storm-fiends riding on a whale. One +was in form like to a great white bear, the other like unto a terrible +eagle. + +"Now help me, O gift of the sea-god! Help me, my gallant 'Ellide'!" +cried Frithiof. + +And the dragon-ship heard her master's voice, and with her keel +she smote the whale; so he died, and sank to the bottom of the sea, +leaving the storm-fiends tossing upon the waves. + +"Ho, spears and lances, help me in my need!" shouted Frithiof, as he +took aim at the monsters. + +And he transfixed the shrieking storm-fiends, and left them entangled +in the huge coils of seaweed which the storm had uprooted. + +"Ho, ho!" laughed rugged Bjorn, "they are trapped in their own nets." + +And so they were; and they were so much taken up with trying to free +themselves from the seaweed and from Frithiof's long darts, that they +were unable to give any heed to the storm, which therefore went down, +and Frithiof and his crew sailed on, and reached the Orkney Isles in +safety. + +"Here comes Frithiof," said the viking Atle. "I know him by his +dragon-ship." + +And forthwith the viking rose and went forth; he had heard of the +strength of Frithiof, and wished to match himself against him. + +He did not wait to see whether Frithiof came in enmity or friendship. +Fighting was the first thing he thought of, and what he most cared +for. + +However, the viking had the worst of it in the battle. + +"There is witchcraft in thy sword," said he to Frithiof. + +So Frithiof threw his sword aside, and they wrestled together, +unarmed, until Atle was brought to the ground. + +Then spake Frithiof: "And if I had my sword thou wouldst not long be a +living man." + +"Fetch it, then," replied Atle. "I swear by the gods that I will not +move until thou dost return." + +So Frithiof fetched his sword, but when he saw the conquered viking +still upon the ground, he could not bring himself to slay so honorable +a man. + +"Thou art too true and brave to die," said Frithiof. "Rise, let us be +friends." + +And the two combatants went hand in hand to the banquet hall of +Angantyr, Jarl (earl) of the Orkney Islands. + +A splendid hall it was, and a rare company of heroes was there; and +all listened eagerly as Frithiof told his story, and wherefore he had +come. + +"I never paid tribute to King Bele, though he was an old friend of +mine," said the jarl, as Frithiof ended his speech, "nor will I to his +sons. If they want aught of me, let them come and take it." + +"It was by no choice of my own that I came upon such an errand," +returned Frithiof, "and I shall be well content to carry back your +answer." + +"Take also this purse of gold in token of friendship," continued the +jarl, "and remain with us, for I knew thy father." + +Thus Frithiof and the jarl became good friends, and Frithiof consented +to stay for a while in the Orkney Islands; but after a time he ordered +out his good ship "Ellide," and set sail for his native land. + + + + +VI + + +But fearful things had come to pass since he had left his home! +Framnaeas, the dwelling of his fathers, was a heap of ruins, and the +land was waste and desolate. + +And as he stood upon the well-loved spot, striving to find some traces +of the past, his faithful hound bounded forth to greet him, and licked +his master's hand. And then his favorite steed drew near, and thrust +his nose into Frithiof's hand, hoping to find therein a piece of +bread, as in the days of old. His favorite falcon perched upon +his shoulder, and this was Frithiof's welcome to the home of his +ancestors. + +There had been a fierce battle, for King Ring with his army had come +against Helgi and Halfdan, and the country had been laid waste, and +many warriors slain. + +And when all chance of withstanding him was at an end, the brothers, +rather than lose their kingdom, had consented that Ingebjorg should be +the wife of Ring. + +Ingebjorg was married! Frithiof's heart was full of deep sorrow, and +he turned his steps towards the temple of Baldur, hoping that at the +altar of the god he might meet with consolation. + +In the temple he found King Helgi, and the sorrow that was weighing +down Frithiof's heart gave place to hatred and revenge. + +Caring nothing for the sacred place, he rushed madly forward. "Here, +take thy tribute," said he, and he threw the purse that Jarl Angantyr +had given him with such force against the face of the King that Helgi +fell down senseless on the steps of the altar. + +Next, seeing his arm-ring on the arm of the statue, for Helgi had +taken it from Ingebjorg and placed it there, he tried to tear it off, +and, lo! the image tottered and fell upon the fire that was burning +with sweet perfumes before it. + +Scarcely had it touched the fire when it was ablaze, and the +flames spreading rapidly on every side, the whole temple was soon a +smoldering heap of ruins. + +Then Frithiof sought his ship. He vowed that he would lead a viking's +life, and leave forever a land where he had suffered so much sorrow. +And he put out to sea. + +But no sooner were his sails spread than he saw ten vessels in chase +of him, and on the deck of one stood Helgi, who had been rescued from +the burning temple, and had come in chase of him. + +Yet Frithiof was rescued from the danger as if by miracle; for one by +one the ships sank down as though some water-giant had stretched out +his strong arm, and dragged them below, and Helgi only saved himself +by swimming ashore. + +Loud laughed Bjorn. + +"I bored holes in the ships last night," said he; "it is a rare ending +to Helgi's fleet." + +"And now," said Frithiof, "I will forever lead a viking's life. I care +not for aught upon the land. The sea shall be my home. And I will seek +climes far away from here." + +So he steered the good ship "Ellide" southward, and among the isles of +Greece strove to forget the memories of bygone days. + + + + +VII + + +In and out of the sunny islands that lay like studs of emerald on a +silver shield sailed Frithiof, and on the deck of the dragon-ship +he rested through the summer nights, looking up at the moon, and +wondering what she could tell him of the northern land. + +Sometimes he dreamed of his home as it was before the wartime. +Sometimes he dreamed of the days when he and Ingebjorg roamed through +the fields and woods together, or listened to old Hilding's stories by +the blazing hearth; and then he would wake up with a start and stroke +his faithful hound, who was ever near him, saying, "Thou alone knowest +no change; to thee all is alike, so long as thy master is with thee." + +One night, however, as Frithiof was musing on the deck of his vessel, +gazing into the cloudless sky, a vision of the past rose up before +him: old familiar faces crowded round him, and in their midst he +marked one, best beloved of all, pale, sad, with sorrowful eyes; and +her lips moved, and he seemed to hear her say, "I am very sad without +thee, Frithiof." + +Then a great longing came upon Frithiof to see Ingebjorg once more. +He would go northward, even to the country of King Ring; he must see +Ingebjorg. What did he care for danger? He must go. + +To the cold, dark north. + +Yet he dared not go openly, for King Ring looked upon him as an enemy, +and would seize him at once, and if he did not kill him would shut him +up in prison, so that either way he would not see the beautiful Queen. + +Frithiof. therefore disguised himself as an old man, and wrapped in +bearskins, presented himself at the palace. + +The old King sat upon his throne, and at his side was Ingebjorg the +Fair, looking like spring by the side of fading autumn. + +As the strangely dressed figure passed along, the courtiers jeered, +and Frithiof, thrown off his guard, angrily seized one of them, and +twirled him round with but little effort. + +"Ho!" said the King, "thou art a strong old man, O stranger! Whence +art thou?" + +"I was reared in anguish and want," returned Frithiof; "sorrow has +filled a bitter cup for me, and I have almost drunk it to the dregs. +Once I rode upon a dragon, but now it lies dead upon the seashore, and +I am left in my old age to burn salt upon the strand." + +"Thou art not old," answered the wise King; "thy voice is clear, and +thy grasp is strong. Throw off thy rude disguise, that we may know our +guest." + +Then Frithiof threw aside his bearskin, and appeared clad in a mantle +of blue embroidered velvet, and his hair fell like a golden wave upon +his shoulder. + +Ring did not know him, but Ingebjorg did; and when she handed the +goblet for him to drink, her color went and came "like to the northern +light on a field of snow." + +And Frithiof stayed at the court, until the year came round again, and +spring once more put forth its early blossoms. + +One day a gay hunting train went forth, but old King Ring, not being +strong, as in former years, lay down to rest upon the mossy turf +beneath some arching pines, while the hunters rode on. + +Then Frithiof drew near, and in his heart wild thoughts arose. One +blow of his sword, and Ingebjorg was free to be his wife. + +But as he looked upon the sleeping King, there came a whisper from a +better voice, "It is cowardly to strike a sleeping foe." + +And Frithiof shuddered, for he was too brave a man to commit murder. + +"Sleep on, old man," he muttered gently to himself. + +But Ring's sleep was over. He started up. "O Frithiof why hast thou +come hither to steal an old man's bride?" + +"I came not hither for so dark a purpose," answered Frithiof; "I came +but to look on the face of my loved Ingebjorg once more." + +"I know it," replied the King; "I have tried thee, I have proved thee, +and true as tried steel hast thou passed through the furnace. Stay +with us yet a little longer, the old man soon will be gathered to his +fathers, then shall his kingdom and his wife be thine." + +But Frithiof replied that he had already remained too long, and that +on the morrow he must depart. + +Yet he went not; for death had visited the palace, and old King +Ring was stretched upon his bier, while the bards around sang of his +wisdom. + +Then arose a cry among the people, "We must choose a king!" + +And Frithiof raised aloft upon his shield the little son of Ring. + +"Here is your king," he said, "the son of wise old Ring." + +The blue-eyed child laughed and clapped his hands as he beheld the +glittering helmets and glancing spears of the warriors. Then tired of +his high place, he sprang down into the midst of them. + +Loud uprose the shout, "The child shall be our king, and the Jarl +Frithiof regent. Hail to the young King of the Northmen!" + + + + +VIII + + +But Frithiof in the hour of his good fortune did not forget that he +had offended the gods. He must make atonement to Baldur for having +caused the ruin of his temple. He must turn his steps once more +homeward. + +Home! Home! And on his father's grave he sank down with a softened +heart, and grieved over the passion and revenge that had swayed his +deeds. And as he mourned, the voices of unseen spirits answered him, +and whispered that he was forgiven. + +And to his wondering eyes a vision was vouchsafed, and the temple of +Baldur appeared before him, rebuilt in more than its ancient splendor, +and deep peace sank into the soul of Frithiof. + +"Rise up, rise up, Frithiof, and journey onward." + +The words came clear as a command to Frithiof, and he obeyed them. +He rose up, and journeyed to the place where he had left the temple a +heap of blackened ruins. + +And, lo! the vision that had appeared to him was accomplished, for +there stood the beautiful building, stately and fair to look upon. So +beautiful, that, as he gazed, his thoughts were of Valhalla. + +He entered, and the white-robed, silver-bearded priest welcomed the +long-absent viking, and told him that Helgi was dead, and Halfdan +reigned alone. + +"And know, O Frithiof," said the aged man, "that Baldur is better +pleased when the heart grows soft and injuries are forgiven, than with +the most costly sacrifices. Lay aside forever all thoughts of hatred +and revenge, and stretch out to Halfdan the hand of friendship." + +Joy had softened all Frithiofs feelings of anger, and, advancing to +Halfdan, who was standing near the altar, he spoke out manfully. + +"Halfdan," he said, "let us forget the years that have gone by. Let +all past evil and injury be buried in the grave. Henceforth let us +be as brothers, and once more I ask thee, give me Ingebjorg to be my +wife." + +And Halfdan made answer, "Thou shalt be my brother." + +And as he spoke, an inner door flew open, and a sweet chorus of +youthful voices was heard. A band of maidens issued forth, and at +their head walked Ingebjorg, fairer than ever. + +Then Halfdan, leading her to Frithiof, placed her hand within that of +the viking. + +"Behold thy wife," said Halfdan. "Well hast thou won her. May the gods +attend upon your bridal." + +So Ingebjorg became the wife of Frithiof at last. + +Thus steps of sorrow had but led them to a height of happiness that +poets love to sing. Paths thick with thorns had blossomed into roses, +and wreaths of everlasting flowers had crowned the winter snows. And +midst the lights and shadows of the old Northland, their lives flowed +on like to two united streams that roll through quiet pastures to the +ocean of eternity. + + + + +HAVELOK + +ADAPTED BY GEORGE W. COX AND E.H. JONES + + +There was once a King of England named Athelwold. Earl, baron, thane, +knight, and bondsman, all loved him; for he set on high the wise and +the just man, and put down the spoiler and the robber. At that time a +man might carry gold about with him, as much as fifty pounds, and not +fear loss. Traders and merchants bought and sold at their ease without +danger of plunder. But it was bad for the evil person and for such +as wrought shame, for they had to lurk and hide away from the King's +wrath; yet was it unavailing, for he searched out the evil-doer and +punished him, wherever he might be. The fatherless and the widow found +a sure friend in the King; he turned not away from the complaint of +the helpless, but avenged them against the oppressor, were he never +so strong. Kind was he to the poor, neither at any time thought he the +fine bread upon his own table too good to give to the hungry. + +But a death-sickness fell on King Athelwold, and when he knew that his +end was near he was greatly troubled, for he had one little daughter +of tender age, named Goldborough, and he grieved to leave her. + +"O my little daughter, heir to all the land, yet so young thou canst +not walk upon it; so helpless that thou canst not tell thy wants and +yet hast need to give commandment like a queen! For myself I would not +care, being old and not afraid to die. But I had hoped to live till +thou shouldst be of age to wield the kingdom; to see thee ride on +horseback through the land, and round about a thousand knights to do +thy bidding. Alas, my little child, what will become of thee when I am +gone?" + +Then King Athelwold summoned his earls and barons, from Roxborough to +Dover, to come and take counsel with him as he lay a-dying on his bed +at Winchester. And when they all wept sore at seeing the King so near +his end, he said, "Weep not, good friends, for since I am brought to +death's door your tears can in nowise deliver me; but rather give me +your counsel. My little daughter that after me shall be your queen; +tell me in whose charge I may safely leave both her and England till +she be grown of age to rule?" + +And with one accord they answered him, "In the charge of Earl Godrich +of Cornwall, for he is a right wise and a just man, and held in fear +of all the land. Let him be ruler till our queen be grown." + +Then the King sent for a fair linen cloth, and thereon having laid the +mass-book and the chalice and the paton, he made Earl Godrich swear +upon the holy bread and wine to be a true and faithful guardian of his +child, without blame or reproach, tenderly to entreat her, and justly +to govern the realm till she should be twenty winters old; then to +seek out the best, the bravest, and the strongest man as husband for +her and deliver up the kingdom to her hand. And when Earl Godrich +had so sworn, the King shrived him clean of all his sins. Then having +received his Saviour he folded his hands, saying, "Domine, in manus +tuas;" and so he died. + +There was sorrow and mourning among all the people for the death +of good King Athelwold. Many the mass that was sung for him and the +psalter that was said for his soul's rest. The bells tolled and the +priests sang, and the people wept; and they gave him a kingly burial. + +Then Earl Godrich began to govern the kingdom; and all the nobles and +all the churls, both free and thrall, came and did allegiance to him. +He set in all the castles strong knights in whom he could trust, and +appointed justices and sheriffs and peace-sergeants in all the shires. +So he ruled the country with a firm hand, and not a single wight dare +disobey his word, for all England feared him. Thus, as the years went +on, the earl waxed wonderly strong and very rich. + +Goldborough, the King's daughter, throve and grew up the fairest woman +in all the land, and she was wise in all manner of wisdom that is good +and to be desired. But when the time drew on that Earl Godrich should +give up the kingdom to her, he began to think within himself--"Shall +I, that have ruled so long, give up the kingdom to a girl, and let her +be queen and lady over me? And to what end? All these strong earls and +barons, governed by a weaker hand than mine, would throw off the yolk +and split up England into little baronies, evermore fighting betwixt +themselves for mastery. There would cease to be a kingdom, and so +there would cease to be a queen. She cannot rule it, and she shall not +have it. Besides, I have a son. Him will I teach to rule and make him +king." + +So the earl let his oath go for nothing, and went to Winchester where +the maiden was, and fetched her away and carried her off to Dover to a +castle that is by the seashore. Therein he shut her up and dressed her +in poor clothes, and fed her on scanty fare; neither would he let any +of her friends come near her. + +Now there was in Denmark a certain King called Birkabeyn, who had +three children, two daughters and a son. And Birkabeyn fell sick, and +knowing that death had stricken him, he called for Godard, whom +he thought his truest friend, and said, "Godard, here I commend my +children to thee. Care for them, I pray thee, and bring them up as +befits the children of a king. When the boy is grown and can bear a +helm upon his head and wield a spear, I charge thee to make him king +of Denmark. Till then hold my estate and royalty in charge for him." +And Godard swore to guard the children zealously, and to give up the +kingdom to the boy. Then Birkabeyn died and was buried. But no sooner +was the King laid in his grave than Godard despised his oath; for he +took the children, Havelok and his two little sisters, Swanborough and +Helfled, and shut them up in a castle with barely clothes to cover +them. And Havelok, the eldest, was scarce three years old. + +One day Godard came to see the children, and found them all crying +of hunger and cold; and he said angrily, "How now! What is all this +crying about?" The boy Havelok answered him, "We are very hungry, for +we get scarce anything to eat. Is there no more corn, that men cannot +make bread and give us? We are very hungry." But his little sisters +only sat shivering with the cold, and sobbing, for they were too young +to be able to speak. The cruel Godard cared not. He went to where the +little girls sat, and drew his knife, and took them one after another +and cut their throats. Havelok, seeing this sorry sight, was terribly +afraid, and fell down on his knees begging Godard to spare his life. +So earnestly he pleaded that Godard was fain to listen: and listening +he looked upon the knife, red with the children's blood; and when he +saw the still, dead faces of the little ones he had slain, and looked +upon their brother's tearful face praying for life, his cruel courage +failed him quite. He laid down the knife. He would that Havelok were +dead, but feared to slay him for the silence that would come. So the +boy pleaded on; and Godard stared at him as though his wits were gone; +then turned upon his heel and came out from the castle. "Yet," he +thought, "if I should let him go, one day he may wreak me mischief and +perchance seize the crown. But if he dies, my children will be lords +of Denmark after me." Then Godard sent for a fisherman whose name +was Grim, and he said, "Grim, you know you are my bondsman. Do now my +bidding, and to-morrow I shall make thee free and give thee gold and +land. Take this child with thee to-night when thou goest a fishing, +and at moonrise cast him in the sea, with a good anchor fast about +his neck to keep him down. To-day I am thy master and the sin is mine. +To-morrow thou art free." + +Then Grim took up the child and bound him fast, and having thrust a +gag into his mouth so that he could not speak, he put him in a bag and +took him on his back and carried him home. When Grim got home his wife +took the bag from off his shoulders and cast it upon the ground within +doors; and Grim told her of his errand. Now as it drew to midnight he +said, "Rise up, wife, and blow up the fire to light a candle, and get +me my clothes, for I must be stirring." But when the woman came into +the room where Havelok lay, she saw a bright light round the boy's +head, like a sunbeam, and she called to her husband to come and see. +And when he came they both marveled at the light and what it might +mean, for it was very bright and shining. Then they unbound Havelok +and took away the gag, and turning down his shirt they found a +king-mark fair and plain upon his right shoulder. "God help us, wife," +said Grim, "but this is surely the heir of Denmark, son of Birkabeyn +our King! Ay, and he shall be King in spite of Godard." Then Grim fell +down at the boy's feet and said, "Forgive me, my King, that I knew thee +not. We are thy subjects and henceforth will feed and clothe thee till +thou art grown a man and can bear shield and spear. Then deal thou +kindly by me and mine, as I shall deal with thee. But fear not Godard. +He shall never know, and I shall be a bondsman still, for I will never +be free till thou, my King, shall set me free." + +Then was Havelok very glad, and he sat up and begged for bread. And +they hastened and fetched bread and cheese and butter and milk; and +for very hunger the boy ate up the whole loaf, for he was well-nigh +famished. And after he had eaten, Grim made a fair bed and undressed +Havelok and laid him down to rest, saying, "Sleep, my son; sleep fast +and sound and have no care, for nought shall harm thee." + +On the morrow Grim went to Godard, and telling him he had drowned the +boy, asked for his reward. But Godard bade him go home and remain a +bondsman, and be thankful that he was not hanged for so wicked a deed. +After a while Grim, beginning to fear that both himself and Havelok +might be slain, sold all his goods, his corn, and cattle, and fowls, +and made ready his little ship, tarring and pitching it till not a +seam nor a crack could be found, and setting a good mast and sail +therein. Then with his wife, his three sons, his two daughters, and +Havelok, he entered into the ship and sailed away from Denmark; and a +strong north wind arose and drove the vessel to England, and carried +it up the Humber so far as Lindesay, where it grounded on the sands. +Grim got out of the boat with his wife and children and Havelok, and +then drew it ashore. + +On the shore he built a house of earth and dwelt therein, and from +that time the place was called Grimsby, after Grim. + +Grim did not want for food, for he was a good fisherman both with +net and hook, and he would go out in his boat and catch all manner of +fish--sturgeons, turbot, salmon, cod, herrings, mackerel, flounders, +and lampreys, and he never came home empty-handed. He had four baskets +made for himself and his sons, and in these they used to carry the +fish to Lincoln, to sell them, coming home laden with meat and meal, +and hemp and rope to make new nets and lines. Thus they lived for +twelve years. But Havelok saw that Grim worked very hard, and being +now grown a strong lad, he bethought him "I eat more than Grim and all +his five children together, and yet do nothing to earn the bread. I +will no longer be idle, for it is a shame for a man not to work." So +he got Grim to let him have a basket like the rest, and next day took +it out heaped with fish, and sold them well, bringing home silver +money for them. After that he never stopped at home idle. But soon +there arose a great dearth, and corn grew so dear that they could not +take fish enough to buy bread for all. Then Havelok, since he needed +so much to eat, determined that he would no longer be a burden to +the fisherman. So Grim made him a coat of a piece of an old sail, and +Havelok set off to Lincoln barefoot to seek for work. + +It so befell that Earl Godrich's cook, Bertram, wanted a scullion, and +took Havelok into his service. There was plenty to eat and plenty to +do. Havelok drew water and chopped wood, and brought twigs to make +fires, and carried heavy tubs and dishes, but was always merry and +blythe. Little children loved to play with him; and grown knights and +nobles would stop to talk and laugh with him, although he wore nothing +but rags of old sail-cloth which scarcely covered his great limbs, and +all admired how fair and strong a man God had made him. The cook liked +Havelok so much that he bought him new clothes, with shoes and hose; +and when Havelok put them on, no man in the kingdom seemed his peer +for strength and beauty. He was the tallest man in Lincoln, and the +strongest in England. + +Earl Godrich assembled a Parliament in Lincoln, and afterward held +games. Strong men and youths came to try for mastery at the game of +putting the stone. It was a mighty stone, the weight of an heifer. He +was a stalwart man who could lift it to his knee, and few could stir +it from the ground. So they strove together, and he who put the stone +an inch farther than the rest was to be made champion. But Havelok, +though he had never seen the like before, took up the heavy stone, and +put it twelve feet beyond the rest, and after that none would contend +with him. Now this matter being greatly talked about, it came to the +ears of Earl Godrich, who bethought him--"Did not Athelwold bid me +marry his daughter to the strongest man alive? In truth, I will marry +her to this cook's scullion. That will abase her pride; and when she +is wedded to a bondsman she will be powerless to injure me. That will +be better than shutting her up; better than killing her." So he sent +and brought Goldborough to Lincoln, and set the bells ringing, and +pretended great joy, for he said, "Goldborough, I am going to marry +thee to the fairest and stalwartest man living." But Goldborough +answered she would never wed any one but a king. "Ay, ay, my girl; +and so thou wouldst be queen and lady over me? But thy father made +me swear to give thee to the strongest man in England, and that is +Havelok, the cook's scullion; so willing or not willing to-morrow thou +shalt wed." Then the earl sent for Havelok and said, "Master, will you +marry?" "Not I," said Havelok; "for I cannot feed nor clothe a wife. +I have no house, no cloth, no victuals. The very clothes I wear do not +belong to me, but to Bertram the cook, as I do." "So much the better," +said the earl; "but thou shalt either wed her that I shall bring +thee, or else hang from a tree. So choose." Then Havelok said he would +sooner wed. Earl Godrich went back to Goldborough and threatened +her with burning at the stake unless she yielded to his bidding. So, +thinking it God's will, the maid consented. And on the morrow +they were wed by the Archbishop of York, who had come down to the +Parliament, and the earl told money out upon the mass-book for her +dower. + +Now after he was wed, Havelok knew not what to do, for he saw how +greatly Earl Godrich hated him. He thought he would go and see Grim. +When he got to Grimsby he found that Grim was dead, but his children +welcomed Havelok and begged him bring his wife thither, since they +had gold and silver and cattle. And when Goldborough came, they made +a feast, sparing neither flesh nor fowl, wine nor ale. And Grim's sons +and daughters served Havelok and Goldborough. + +Sorrowfully Goldborough lay down at night, for her heart was heavy +at thinking she had wedded a bondsman. But as she fretted she saw a +light, very bright like a blaze of fire, which came out of Havelok's +mouth. And she thought, "Of a truth but he must be nobly born." Then +she looked on his shoulder, and saw the king mark, like a fair cross +of red gold, and at the same time she heard an angel say-- + +"Goldborough, leave sorrowing, for Havelok is a king's son, and shall +be king of England and of Denmark, and thou queen." + +Then was Goldborough glad, and kissed Havelok, who, straightway +waking, said, "I have had a strange dream. I dreamed I was on a high +hill, whence I could see all Denmark; and I thought as I looked that +it was all mine. Then I was taken up and carried over the salt sea to +England, and methought I took all the country and shut it within my +hand." And Goldborough said, "What a good dream is this! Rejoice, for +it means that thou shalt be king of England and of Denmark. Take now +my counsel and get Grim's sons to go with thee to Denmark." + +In the morning Havelok went to the church and prayed to God to speed +him in his undertaking. Then he came home and found Grim's three +sons just going off fishing. Their names were Robert the Red, William +Wendut, and Hugh Raven. He told them who he was, how Godard had slain +his sisters, and delivered him over to Grim to be drowned, and how +Grim had fled with him to England. Then Havelok asked them to go with +him to Denmark, promising to make them rich men. To this they gladly +agreed, and having got ready their ship and victualed it, they set +sail with Havelok and his wife for Denmark. The place of their landing +was hard by the castle of a Danish earl named Ubbe, who had been a +faithful friend to King Birkabeyn. Havelok went to Earl Ubbe, with a +gold ring for a present, asking leave to buy and sell goods from +town to town in that part of the country. Ubbe, beholding the tall, +broad-shouldered, thick-chested man, so strong and cleanly made, +thought him more fit for a knight than for a peddler. He bade Havelok +bring his wife and come and eat with him at his table. So Havelok went +to fetch Goldborough, and Robert the Red and William Wendut led her +between them till they came to the castle, where Ubbe, with a great +company of knights, welcomed them gladly. Havelok stood a head taller +than any of the knights, and when they sat at table Ubbe's wife ate +with him, and Goldborough with Ubbe. It was a great feast, and after +the feast Ubbe sent Havelok and his friends to Bernard Brown, bidding +him take care of them till next day. So Bernard received the guests +and gave them a fine supper. + +Now in the night there came sixty-one thieves to Bernard's house. Each +had a drawn sword and a long knife, and they called to Bernard to undo +the door. He started up and armed himself, and told them to go away. +But the thieves defied him, and with a great boulder broke down the +door. Then Havelok, hearing the din, rose up, and seizing the bar of +the door stood on the threshold and threw the door wide open, saying, +"Come in, I am ready for you!" First came three against him with their +swords, but Havelok slew these with the door bar at a single blow; the +fourth man's crown he broke; he smote the fifth upon the shoulders, +the sixth athwart the neck, and the seventh on the breast; so they +fell dead. Then the rest drew back and began to fling their swords +like darts at Havelok, till they had wounded him in twenty places. In +spite of that, in a little while he had killed a score of the thieves. +Then Hugh Raven, waking up, called Robert and William Wendut. One +seized a staff, each of the others a piece of timber as big as his +thigh, and Bernard his axe, and all three ran out to help Havelok. +So well did Havelok and his fellows fight, breaking ribs and arms and +shanks, and cracking crowns, that not a thief of all the sixty-one was +left alive. Next morning, when Ubbe rode past and saw the sixty-one +dead bodies, and heard what Havelok had done, he sent and brought both +him and Goldborough to his own castle, and fetched a leech to tend his +wounds, and would not hear of his going away; for, said he, "This man +is better than a thousand knights." + +Now that same night, after he had gone to bed, Ubbe awoke about +midnight and saw a great light shining from the chamber where Havelok +and Goldborough lay. He went softly to the door and peeped in to +see what it meant. They were lying fast asleep, and the light was +streaming from Havelok's mouth. Ubbe went and called his knights, and +they also came in and saw this marvel. It was brighter than a hundred +burning tapers; bright enough to count money by. Havelok lay on his +left side with his back towards them, uncovered to the waist; and they +saw the king-mark on his right shoulder sparkle like shining gold and +carbuncle. Then knew they that it was King Birkabeyn's son, and seeing +how like he was to his father, they wept for joy. Thereupon Havelok +awoke, and all fell down and did him homage, saying he should be their +king. On the morrow Ubbe sent far and wide and gathered together earl +and baron, dreng [servant] and thane, clerk, knight and burgess, and +told them all the treason of Godard, and how Havelok had been nurtured +and brought up by Grim in England. Then he showed them their King, and +the people shouted for joy at having so fair and strong a man to rule +them. And first Ubbe sware fealty to Havelok, and after him the others +both great and small. And the sheriffs and constables and all that +held castles in town or burg came out and promised to be faithful to +him. Then Ubbe drew his sword and dubbed Havelok a knight, and set a +crown upon his head and made him King. And at the crowning they held +merry sports--jousting with sharp spears, tilting at the shield, +wrestling, and putting the shot. There were harpers and pipers and +gleemen with their tabors; and for forty days a feast was held with +rich meats in plenty and the wine flowed like water. And first the +King made Robert and William Wendut and Hugh Raven barons, and gave +them land and fee. Then when the feast was done, he set out with +a thousand knights and five thousand sergeants to seek for Godard. +Godard was a-hunting with a great company of men, and Robert riding on +a good steed found him and bade him to come to the King. Godard smote +him and set on his knights to fight with Robert and the King's men. +They fought till ten of Godard's men were slain; the rest began to +flee. "Turn again, O knights!" cried Godard; "I have fed you and shall +feed you yet. Forsake me not in such a plight." So they turned about +and fought again. But the King's men slew every one of them, and took +Godard and bound him and brought him to Havelok. Then King Havelok +summoned all his nobles to sit in judgment and say what should be done +to such a traitor. And they said, "Let him be dragged to the gallows +at the mare's tail, and hanged by the heels in fetters, with this +writing over him: 'This is he that drove the King out of the land, and +took the life of the King's sisters.'" So Godard suffered his doom, +and none pitied him. + +Then Havelok gave his scepter into Earl Ubbe's hand to rule Denmark +on his behalf, and after that took ship and came to Grimsby, where +he built a priory for black monks to pray evermore for the peace of +Grim's soul. But when Earl Godrich understood that Havelok and his +wife were come to England, he gathered together a great army at +Lincoln on the 17th of March, and came to Grimsby to fight with +Havelok and his knights. It was a great battle, wherein more than +a thousand knights were slain. The field was covered with pools of +blood. Hugh Raven and his brothers, Robert and William, did valiantly +and slew many earls; but terrible was Earl Godrich to the Danes, for +his sword was swift and deadly. Havelok came to him and reminding him +of the oath he sware to Athelwold that Goldborough should be queen, +bade him yield the land. But Godrich defied him, and running forward +with his heavy sword cut Havelok's shield in two. Then Havelok smote +him to the earth with a blow upon the helm; but Godrich arose and +wounded him upon the shoulder, and Havelok, smarting with the cut, ran +upon his enemy and hewed off his right hand. Then he took Earl Godrich +and bound him and sent him to the Queen. And when the English knew +that Goldborough was the heir of Athelwold, they laid by their swords +and came and asked pardon of the Queen. And with one accord they took +Earl Godrich and bound him to a stake and burned him to ashes, for the +great outrage he had done. + +Then all the English nobles came and sware fealty to Havelok and +crowned him King in London. Of Grim's two daughters, Havelok wedded +Gunild, the elder, to Earl Reyner of Chester; and Levive, the younger, +fair as a new rose blossom opening to the sun, he married to Bertram, +the cook, whom he made Earl of Cornwall in the room of Godrich. + +Sixty years reigned Havelok and Goldborough in England, and they had +fifteen children, who all became kings and queens. All the world spake +of the great love that was between them. Apart, neither knew joy or +happiness. They never grew weary of each other, for their love was +ever new; and not a word of anger passed between them all their lives. + + + + +THE VIKINGS + +ADAPTED BY MARY MACGREGOR + + + + +I + +CHARACTERS OF THE VIKINGS + + +In Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, in all the villages and towns around +the shores of the Baltic, the viking race was born. + +It has been said that the name "vikings" was first given to those +Northmen who dwelt in a part of Denmark called Viken. However that +may be, it was the name given to all the Northmen who took to a wild, +sea-roving life, because they would often seek shelter with their +boats in one or another of the numerous bays which abounded along +their coasts. + +Thus the vikings were not by any means all kings, as you might think +from their name; yet among them were many chiefs of royal descent. +These, although they had neither subjects nor kingdoms over which to +rule, no sooner stepped on board a viking's boat to take command of +the crew, than they were given title of king. + +The Northmen did not, however, spend all their lives in harrying and +burning other countries. When the seas were quiet in the long, +summer days, they would go off, as I have told you, on their wild +expeditions. But when summer was over, and the seas began to grow +rough and stormy, the viking bands would go home with their booty and +stay there, to build their houses, reap their fields, and, when spring +had come again, to sow their grain in the hope of a plenteous harvest. + +There was thus much that the viking lad had to learn beyond the art +of wielding the battle-axe, poising the spear, and shooting an arrow +straight to its mark. Even a free-born yeoman's son had to work, work +as hard as had the slaves or thralls who were under him. + +The old history books, or Sagas, as the Norseman called them, have, +among other songs, this one about the duties of a well-born lad: + + "He now learnt + To tame oxen + And till the ground, + To timber houses + And build barns, + To make carts + And form plows." + +Indeed, it would have surprised you to see the fierce warriors and +mighty chiefs themselves laying aside their weapons and working in the +fields side by side with their thralls, sowing, reaping, threshing. +Yet this they did. + +Even kings were often to be seen in the fields during the busy harvest +season. They would help their men to cut the golden grain, and with +their own royal hands help to fill the barn when the field was reaped. +To king and yeomen alike, work, well done, was an honorable deed. + +Long before the Sagas were written down, the stories of the heroes +were sung in halls and on battle-fields by the poets of the nation. +These poets were named skalds, and their rank among the Northmen was +high. + +Sometimes the Sagas were sung in prose, at other times in verse. +Sometimes they were tales which had been handed down from father to +son for so many years that it was hard to tell how much of them was +history, how much fable. At other times the Sagas were true accounts +of the deeds of the Norse kings. For the skalds were ofttimes to be +seen on the battle-fields or battleships of the vikings, and then +their songs were of the brave deeds which they had themselves seen +done, of the victories and defeats at which they themselves had been +present. + +The battles which the vikings fought were fought on the sea more +frequently than on the land. + +Their warships were called long-ships and were half-decked The rowers +sat in the center of the boat, which was low, so that their oars could +reach the water. Sails were used, either red or painted in different +stripes, red, blue, yellow, green. These square, brightly colored +sails gave the boats a gay appearance which was increased by the +round shields which were hung outside the gunwale and which were +also painted red, black, or white. At the prow there was usually a +beautifully carved and gorgeously painted figurehead. The stem and +stern of the ships were high. In the stern there was an upper deck, +but in the forepart of the vessel there was nothing but loose planks +on which the sailors could step. When a storm was raging or a battle +was being fought, the loose planks did not, as you may imagine, offer +a very firm foothold. + +The boats were usually built long and pointed for the sake of speed, +and had seats for thirty rowers. Besides the rowers, the long-boats +could hold from sixty to one hundred and fifty sailors. + + + + +II + +HARALD FAIRHAIR + +Harald Fairhair was one of the foremost of the kings of Norway. He was +so brave a Northman that he became king over the whole of Norway. +In eight hundred and sixty-one, when he began to reign, Norway was +divided into thirty-one little kingdoms, over each of which ruled a +little king. Harald Fairhair began his reign by being one of these +little kings. + +Harald was only a boy, ten years of age, when he succeeded his father; +but as he grew up he became a very strong and handsome man, as well as +a very wise and prudent one. Indeed he grew so strong that he fought +with and vanquished five great kings in one battle. + +After this victory, Harald sent, so the old chronicles of the kings +of Norway say, some of his men to a princess named Gyda, bidding them +tell her that he wished to make her his queen. + +But Gyda wished to marry a king who ruled over a whole country, +rather than one who owned but a small part of Norway, and this was the +message she sent back to Harald: + +"Tell Harald," said the maiden, "that I will agree to be his wife if +he will first, for my sake, subdue all Norway to himself, for only +thus methinks can he be called the king of a people." + +The messengers thought Gyda's words too bold, but when King Harald +heard them, he said, "It is wonderful that I did not think of this +before. And now I make a solemn vow and take God to witness, who made +me and rules over all things, that never shall I clip or comb my hair +until I have subdued the whole of Norway with scat [land taxes], and +duties, and domains." + +Then, without delay, Harald assembled a great force and prepared to +conquer all the other little kings who were ruling over the different +parts of Norway. + +In many districts the kings had no warning of Harald's approach, and +before they could collect an army they were vanquished. + +When their ruler was defeated, many of his subjects fled from the +country, manned their ships and sailed away on viking expeditions. +Others made peace with King Harald and became his men. + +Over each district, as he conquered it, Harald placed a jarl or earl, +that he might judge and do justice, and also that he might collect the +scat and fines which Harald had imposed upon the conquered people. As +the earls were given a third part of the money they thus collected, +they were well pleased to take service with King Harald. And indeed +they grew richer, and more powerful too, than they had ever been +before. + +It took King Harald ten long years to do as he had vowed, and make all +Norway his own. During these years a great many new bands of vikings +were formed, and led by their chief or king they left the country, not +choosing to become King Harald's men. + +These viking bands went west, over the sea, to Shetland and Orkney, to +the Hebrides, and also to England, Scotland, and Ireland. + +During the winter they made their home in these lands, but in summer +they sailed to the coast of Norway and did much damage to the towns +that lay along the coast. Then, growing bolder, they ventured inland, +and because of their hatred against King Harald, they plundered and +burned both towns and villages. + +Meanwhile Harald, having fulfilled his vow, had his hair combed and +cut. It had grown so rough and tangled during these ten years that his +people had named him Harald Sufa, which meant "Shock-headed Harald." +Now, however, after his long, yellow hair was combed and clipped, he +was named Harald Fairhair, and by this name he was ever after known. +Nor did the King forget Gyda, for whose sake he had made his vow. He +sent for her, and she, as she had promised, came to marry the King of +all Norway. + +Now the raids of the vikings along the coasts of Norway angered the +King, and he determined that they should end. He therefore set out +with a large fleet in search of his rebellious subjects. + +These, when they heard of his approach, fled to their long-ships and +sailed out to sea. But Harald reached Shetland and slew those vikings +who had not fled, then, landing on the Orkney Isles, he burned and +plundered, sparing no Northman who crossed his path. On the Hebrides +King Harald met with worthy foes, for here were many who had once +themselves been kings in Norway. In all the battles that he fought +Harald was victorious and gained much booty. + +When he went back to Norway the King left one of his jarls to carry on +war against the inhabitants of Scotland. Caithness and Sutherland were +conquered by this jarl for Harald, and thereafter many chiefs, both +Norsemen and Danes, settled there. While Harald Fairhair was ruling +in Norway, a grandson of Alfred the Great became king in England. His +name was Athelstan the Victorious. Now Athelstan liked to think that +he was a greater king than Harald Fairhair. It pleased him, too, to +play what seemed to him a clever trick on his rival across the sea. + +He sent a beautiful sword to Harald. Its hilt was covered with gold +and silver, and set with precious gems. When Athelstan's messenger +stood before the King of Norway he held out the hilt of the sword +toward him, saying "Here is a sword that King Athelstan doth send to +thee." Harald at once seized it by the hilt. Then the messenger smiled +and said, "Now shalt thou be subject to the King of England, for thou +hast taken the sword by the hilt as he desired thee." To take a sword +thus was in those olden days a sign of submission. + +Then Harald was very angry, for he knew that Athelstan had sent this +gift only that he might mock him. He wished to punish the messenger +whom Athelstan had sent with the sword. Nevertheless he remembered +his habit whenever he got angry, to first keep quiet and let his anger +subside, and then look at the matter calmly. By the time the prudent +King had done this, his anger had cooled, and Athelstan's messenger +departed unharmed. + +But with Athelstan Harald still hoped to be equal. + +The following summer he sent a ship to England. It was commanded by +Hauk, and into his hands Harald intrusted his young son Hakon, whom he +was sending to King Athelstan. For what purpose you shall hear. + +Hauk reached England safely, and found the King in London at a feast. +The captain boldly entered the hall where the feasters sat, followed +by thirty of his men, each one of whom had his shield hidden under his +cloak. + +Carrying Prince Hakon, who was a child, in his arms, Hauk stepped +before the King and saluted him. Then before Athelstan knew what he +meant to do, Hauk, had placed the little prince on the King's knee. + +"Why hast thou done this?" said Athelstan to the bold Northman. + +"Harald of Norway asks thee to foster his child," answered Hauk. But +well he knew that his words would make the King of England wroth. For +one who became foster-father to a child was usually of lower rank than +the real father. This, you see, was Harald's way of thanking Athelstan +for his gift of the sword. + +Well, as Hauk expected, the King was very angry when he heard why the +little prince had been placed on his knee. He drew his sword as though +he would slay the child. + +Hauk, however, was quite undisturbed, and said, "Thou hast borne the +child on thy knee, and thou canst murder him if thou wilt, but thou +canst not make an end of all King Harald's sons by so doing." + +Then the viking, with his men, left the hall and strode down to the +river, where they embarked, and at once set sail for Norway. + +When Hauk reached Norway and told the King all that he had done, +Harald was well content, for the King of England had been forced to +become the foster-father of his little son. + +Athelstan's anger against his royal foster-child was soon forgotten, +and ere long he loved him better than any of his own kin. + +He ordered the priest to baptize the little prince, and to teach him +the true faith. + + + + +III + +THE SEA-FIGHT OF THE JOMSVIKINGS + + +While King Harald was reigning in Denmark, he built on the shores of +the Baltic a fortress which he called Jomsburg. In this fortress dwelt +a famous band of vikings named the Jomsvikings. It is one of their +most famous sea-fights that I am going to tell you now. + +The leader of the band was Earl Sigvald, and a bold and fearless +leader he had proved himself. + +It was at a great feast that Sigvald made the rash vow which led to +this mighty battle. After the horn of mead had been handed round not +once or twice only, Sigvald arose and vowed that, before three winters +had passed, he and his band would go to Norway and either kill or +chase Earl Hakon out of the country. + +In the morning Sigvald and his Jomsvikings perhaps felt that they had +vowed more than they were able to perform, yet it was not possible +to withdraw from the enterprise unless they were willing to be called +cowards. They therefore thought it would be well to start without +delay, that they might, if possible, take Earl Hakon unawares. + +In a short time therefore the Jomsviking fleet was ready, and sixty +warships sailed away toward Norway. No sooner did they reach Earl +Hakon's realms than they began to plunder and burn along the coast. +But while they gained booty, they lost time. For Hakon, hearing of +their doings, at once split a war-arrow and sent it all over the +realm. + +It was in this way that Hakon heard that the Jomsvikings were in his +land. In one village the vikings had, as they thought, killed all the +inhabitants. But unknown to them a man had escaped with the loss of +his hand, and hastening to the shore he sailed away in a light boat in +search of the earl. + +Hakon was at dinner when the fugitive stood before him. + +"Art thou sure that thou didst see the Jomsvikings?" asked Hakon, when +he had listened to the man's tidings. + +For answer, the peasant stretched out the arm from which the hand had +been sundered, saying, "Here is the token that the Jomsvikings are in +the land." + +It was then that Hakon sent the war-arrow throughout the land and +speedily gathered together a great force. Eric one of his sons, also +collected troops, but though the preparations for war went on apace, +the Jomsvikings heard nothing of them, and still thought that they +would take Earl Hakon by surprise. + +At length the vikings sailed into a harbor about twenty miles north +of a town called Stad. As they were in want of food some of the band +landed, and marched to the nearest village. Here they slaughtered the +men who could bear arms, burned the houses, and drove all the cattle +they could find before them toward the shore. + +On the way to their ships, however, they met a peasant who said to +them, "Ye are not doing like true warriors, to be driving cows and +calves down to the strand, while ye should be giving chase to the +bear, since ye are come near to the bear's den." By the bear the +peasant meant Earl Hakon, as the vikings well knew. + +"What says the man?" they all cried, together; "can he tell us about +Earl Hakon?" + +"Yesternight he lay inside the island that you can see yonder," said +the peasant; "and you can slay him when you like, for he is waiting +for his men." + +"Thou shalt have all this cattle," cried one of the vikings, "if thou +wilt show us the way to the jarl." + +Then the peasant went on board the vikings' boat, and they hastened to +Sigvald to tell him that the earl lay in a bay but a little way off. + +The Jomsvikings armed themselves as if they were going to meet a large +army, which the peasant said was unnecessary, as the earl had but few +ships and men. + +But no sooner had the Jomsvikings come within sight of the bay than +they knew that the peasant had deceived them. Before them lay more +than three hundred war-ships. + +When the peasant saw that his trick was discovered he jumped +overboard, hoping to swim to shore. But one of the vikings flung a +spear after him, and the peasant sank and was seen no more. + +Now though the vikings had fewer ships than Earl Hakon, they were +larger and higher, and Sigvald hoped that this would help them to gain +the victory. + +Slowly the fleets drew together and a fierce battle began. At first +Hakon's men fell in great numbers, for the Jomsvikings fought with all +their wonted strength. So many spears also were aimed at Hakon himself +that his armor was split asunder and he threw it aside. + +When the earl saw that the battle was going against him, he called his +sons together and said, "I dislike to fight against these men, for I +believe that none are their equals, and I see that it will fare ill +with us unless we hit upon some plan. Stay here with the host and I +will go ashore and see what can be done." + +Then the jarl went into the depths of a forest, and, sinking on his +knees, he prayed to the goddess Thorgerd. But when no answer came +to his cry, Hakon thought she was angry, and to appease her wrath he +sacrificed many precious things to her. Yet still the goddess hid her +face. + +In his despair Hakon then promised to offer human sacrifices, but no +sign was given to him that his offering would be accepted. + +"Thou shalt have my son, my youngest son Erling!" cried the King, +and then at length, so it seemed to Hakon, Thorgerd was satisfied. He +therefore gave his son, who was but seven years old, to his thrall, +and bade him offer the child as a sacrifice to the goddess. + +Then Hakon went back to his ships, and lo! as the battle raged, the +sky began to grow dark though it was but noon, and a storm arose and +a heavy shower of hail fell. The hail was driven by the wind in the +faces of the vikings, and flashes of lightning blinded them and +loud peals of thunder made them afraid. But a short time before the +warriors had flung aside their garments because of the heat; now the +cold was so intense that they could scarce hold their weapons. + +While the storm raged, Hakon praised the gods and encouraged his men +to fight more fiercely. Then, as the battle went against them, the +Jomsvikings saw in the clouds a troll, or fiend. In each finger the +troll held an arrow, which, as it seemed to them, always hit and +killed a man. + +Sigvald saw that his men were growing fearful, and he, too; felt that +the gods were against them. "It seems to me," he said, "that it is +not men whom we have to fight to-day but fiends, and it requires some +manliness to go boldly against them." + +But now the storm abated, and once more the vikings began to conquer. +Then the earl cried again to Thorgerd, saying that now he deserved +victory, for he had sacrificed to her his youngest son. + +Then once more the storm-cloud crept over the sky and a terrific storm +of hail beat upon the vikings, and now they saw, not in the clouds, +but in Hakon's ship, two trolls, and they were speeding arrows among +the enemies of Hakon. + +Even Sigvald, the renowned leader of the Jomsvikings, could not stand +before these unknown powers. He called to his men to flee, for, said +he, "we did not vow to fight against fiends, but against men." + +But though Sigvald sailed away with thirty-five ships, there were some +of his men who scorned to flee even from fiends. Twenty-five ships +stayed behind to continue the fight. + +The viking Bui was commander of one of these. His ship was boarded by +Hakon's men, whereupon he took one of his treasures-chests in either +hand and jumped into the sea. As he jumped he cried, "Overboard, all +Bui's men," and neither he nor those who followed him were ever seen +again. + +Before the day was ended, Sigvald's brother had also sailed away with +twenty-four boats, so that there was left but one boat out of all the +Jomsvikings' fleet. It was commanded by the viking Vagn. + +Earl Hakon sent his son Eric to board this boat, and after a brave +fight it was captured, for Vagn's men were stiff and weary with their +wounds, and could scarce wield their battle-axes or spears. + +With thirty-six of his men Vagn was taken prisoner and brought to +land, and thus Earl Hakon had defeated the famous vikings of Jomsburg. +The victory was due, as Hakon at least believed, to the aid of the +goddess Thorgerd. + +When the weapons and other booty which they had taken had been divided +among the men, Earl Hakon and his chiefs sat down in their warbooths +and appointed a man named Thorkel to behead the prisoners. + +Eighteen were beheaded ere the headsman came to Vagn. Now, as he had a +dislike to this brave viking, Thorkel rushed at him, holding his sword +in both hands. But Vagn threw himself suddenly at Thorkel's feet, +whereupon the headsman tripped over him. In a moment Vagn was on his +feet, Thorkel's sword in his hand, and before any one could stop him +he had slain his enemy. + +Then Earl Eric, Hakon's son, who loved brave men, said, "Vagn, wilt +thou accept life?" + +"That I will," said the bold viking, "if thou give it to all of us who +are still alive." + +"Loose the prisoners!" cried the young earl, and it was done. Thus of +the famous band of Jomsvikings twelve yet lived to do many a valiant +deed in days to come. + + + + + + +HERO OF GERMANY + + + + +SIEGFRIED + +ADAPTED BY MARY MACGREGOR + + + + +I + +MIMER THE BLACKSMITH + + +Siegfried was born a prince and grew to be a hero, a hero with a heart +of gold. Though he could fight, and was as strong as any lion, yet he +could love too and be as gentle as a child. + +The father and mother of the hero-boy lived in a strong castle near +the banks of the great Rhine river. Siegmund, his father, was a rich +king, Sieglinde, his mother, a beautiful queen, and dearly did they +love their little son Siegfried. + +The courtiers and the high-born maidens who dwelt in the castle +honored the little Prince, and thought him the fairest child in all +the land, as indeed he was. + +Sieglinde, his queen-mother, would oftimes dress her little son in +costly garments and lead him by the hand before the proud, strong +men-at-arms who stood before the castle walls. Naught had they but +smiles and gentle words for their little Prince. + +When he grew older, Siegfried would ride into the country, yet always +would he be attended by King Siegmund's most trusted warriors. + +Then one day armed men entered the Netherlands, the country over which +the King Siegmund ruled, and the little Prince was sent away from the +castle, lest by any evil chance he should fall into the hands of the +foe. + +Siegfried was hidden away safe in the thickets of a great forest, and +dwelt there under the care of a blacksmith, named Mimer. + +Mimer was a dwarf, belonging to a strange race of little folk called +Nibelungs. The Nibelungs lived for the most part in a dark little town +beneath the ground. Nibelheim was the name of this little town and +many of the tiny men who dwelt there were smiths. All the livelong +day they would hammer on their little anvils, but all through the long +night they would dance and play with tiny little Nibelung women. + +It was not in the little dark town of Nibelung that Mimer had his +forge, but under the trees of the great forest to which Siegfried had +been sent. + +As Mimer or his pupils wielded their tools the wild beasts would start +from their lair, and the swift birds would wing their flight through +the mazes of the wood, lest danger lay in those heavy, resounding +strokes. + +But Siegfried, the hero-boy, would laugh for glee, and seizing the +heaviest hammer he could see he would swing it with such force upon +the anvil that it would be splintered into a thousand pieces. + +Then Mimer the blacksmith would scold the lad, who was now the +strongest of all the lads under his care; but little heeding his +rebukes, Siegfried would fling himself merrily out of the smithy and +hasten with great strides into the gladsome wood. For now the Prince +was growing a big lad, and his strength was even as the strength of +ten. + +To-day Siegfried was in a merry mood. He would repay Mimer's rebukes +in right good fashion. He would frighten the little blacksmith dwarf +until he was forced to cry for mercy. + +Clad in his forest dress of deerskins, with his hair as burnished gold +blowing around his shoulders, Siegfried wandered away into the depths +of the woodland. + +There he seized the silver horn which hung from his girdle and raised +it to his lips. A long, clear note he blew, and ere the sound had died +away the boy saw a sight which pleased him well. Here was good prey +indeed! A bear, a great big shaggy bear was peering at him out of a +bush, and as he gazed the beast opened its jaws and growled, a fierce +and angry growl. Not a whit afraid was Siegfried. Quick as lightning +he had caught the great creature in his arms, and ere it could turn +upon him, it was muzzled, and was being led quietly along toward the +smithy. + +Mimer was busy at his forge sharpening a sword when Siegfried reached +the doorway. + +At the sound of laughter the little dwarf raised his head. It was the +Prince who laughed. Then Mimer saw the bear, and letting the sword he +held drop to the ground with a clang, he ran to hide himself in the +darkest corner of the smithy. + +Then Siegfried laughed again. He was no hero-boy to-day, for next +he made the big bear hunt the little Nibelung dwarf from corner to +corner, nor could the frightened little man escape or hide himself +in darkness. Again and again as he crouched in a shadowed corner, +Siegfried would stir up the embers of the forge until all the smithy +was lighted with a ruddy glow. + +At length the Prince tired of his game, and unmuzzling the bear he +chased the bewildered beast back into the shelter of the woodland. + +Mimer, poor little dwarf, all a-tremble with his fear, cried angrily, +"Thou mayest go shoot if so it please thee, and bring home thy dead +prey. Dead bears thou mayest bring hither if thou wilt, but live +bears shalt thou leave to crouch in their lair or to roam through the +forest." But Siegfried, the naughty Prince, only laughed at the little +Nibelung's frightened face and harsh, croaking voice. + +Now as the days passed, Mimer the blacksmith began to wish that +Siegfried had never come to dwell with him in his smithy. The +Prince was growing too strong, too brave to please the little dwarf; +moreover, many were the mischievous tricks his pupil played on him. + +Prince though he was, Mimer would see if he could not get rid of his +tormentor. For indeed though, as I have told you, Siegfried had a +heart of gold, at this time the gold seemed to have grown dim and +tarnished. Perhaps that was because the Prince had learned to distrust +and to dislike, nay, more, to hate the little, cunning dwarf. + +However that may be, it is certain that Siegfried played many pranks +upon the little Nibelung, and he, Mimer, determined to get rid of the +quick-tempered, strong-handed Prince. + +One day, therefore, it happened that the little dwarf told Siegfried +to go deep into the forest to bring home charcoal for the forge. And +this Mimer did, though he knew that in the very part of the forest +to which he was sending the lad there dwelt a terrible dragon, named +Regin. Indeed Regin was a brother of the little blacksmith, and would +be lying in wait for the Prince. It would be but the work of a moment +for the monster to seize the lad and greedily to devour him. + +To Siegfried it was always joy to wander afar through the woodland. +Ofttimes had he thrown himself down on the soft, moss-covered ground +and lain there hour after hour, listening to the wood-bird's song. +Sometimes he would even find a reed and try to pipe a tune as sweet +as did the birds, but that was all in vain, as the lad soon found. +No tiny songster would linger to hearken to the shrill piping of his +grassy reed, and the Prince himself was soon ready to fling it far +away. + +It was no hardship then to Siegfried to leave the forge and the hated +little Nibelung, therefore it was that with right good will he set out +in search of charcoal for Mimer the blacksmith. + +As he loitered there where the trees grew thickest, Siegfried took his +horn and blew it lustily. If he could not pipe on a grassy reed, at +least he could blow a rousing note on his silver horn. + +Suddenly, as Siegfried blew, the trees seemed to sway, the earth to +give out fire. Regin, the dragon, had roused himself at the blast, and +was even now drawing near to the Prince. + +It was at the mighty strides of the monster that the trees had seemed +to tremble, it was as he opened his terrible jaws that the earth had +seemed to belch out fire. + +For a little while Siegfried watched the dragon in silence. Then he +laughed aloud, and a brave, gay laugh it was. Alone in the forest, +with a sword, buckled to his side, the hero was afraid of naught, not +even of Regin. The ugly monster was sitting now on a little hillock, +looking down upon the lad, his victim as he thought. + +Then Siegfried called boldly to the dragon, "I will kill thee, for in +truth thou art an ugly monster." + +At those words Regin opened his great jaws, and showed his terrible +fangs. Yet still the boy Prince mocked at the hideous dragon. + +And now Regin in his fury crept closer and closer to the lad, swinging +his great tail, until he well-nigh swept Siegfried from his feet. + +[Illustration: THE HERO'S SHINING SWORD PIERCED THE HEART OF THE +MONSTER.] + +Swiftly then the Prince drew his sword, well tempered as he knew, for +had not he himself wrought it in the forge of Mimer the blacksmith? +Swiftly he drew his sword, and with one bound he sprang upon the +dragon's back, and as he reared himself, down came the hero's +shining sword and pierced into the very heart of the monster. Thus +as Siegfried leaped nimbly to the ground, the dragon fell back dead. +Regin was no longer to be feared. + +Then Siegfried did a curious thing. He had heard the little Nibelung +men who came to the smithy to talk with Mimer, he had heard them +say that whoever should bathe in the blood of Regin the dragon would +henceforth be safe from every foe. For his skin would grow so tough +and horny that it would be to him as an armor through which no sword +could ever pierce. + +Thinking of the little Nibelungs' harsh voices and wrinkled little +faces as they had sat talking thus around Mimer's glowing forge, +Siegfried now flung aside his deerskin dress and bathed himself from +top to toe in the dragon's blood. + +But as he bathed, a leaf from off a linden tree was blown upon his +shoulders, and on the spot where it rested Siegfried's skin was still +soft and tender as when he was a little child. It was only a tiny spot +which was covered by the linden leaf, but should a spear thrust, or an +arrow pierce that tiny spot, Siegfried would be wounded as easily as +any other man. + +The dragon was dead, the bath was over, and clad once more in his +deerskin, Siegfried set out for the smithy. He brought no charcoal for +the forge; all that he carried with him was a heart afire with anger, +a sword quivering to take the life of the Nibelung, Mimer. + +For now Siegfried knew that the dwarf had wished to send him forth to +death, when he bade him go seek charcoal in the depths of the forest. + +Into the dusky glow of the smithy plunged the hero, and swiftly he +slew the traitor Mimer. Then gaily, for he had but slain evil ones of +whom the world was well rid, then gaily Siegfried fared through the +forest in quest of adventure. + + + + +II + +SIEGFRIED WINS THE TREASURE + + +Now this is what befell the Prince. + +In his wanderings he reached the country called Isenland, where the +warlike but beautiful Queen Brunhild reigned. He gazed with wonder +at her castle, so strong it stood on the edge of the sea, guarded by +seven great gates. Her marble palaces also made him marvel, so white +they glittered in the sun. + +But most of all he marveled at this haughty Queen, who refused to +marry any knight unless he could vanquish her in every contest to +which she summoned him. + +Brunhild from the castle window saw the fair face and the strong limbs +of the hero, and demanded that he should be brought into her presence, +and as a sign of her favor she showed the young Prince her magic horse +Gana. + +Yet Siegfried had no wish to conquer the warrior-queen and gain her +hand and her broad dominions for his own. Siegfried thought only of a +wonder-maiden, unknown, unseen as yet, though in his heart he hid an +image of her as he dreamed that she would be. + +It is true that Siegfried had no love for the haughty Brunhild. It is +also true that he wished to prove to her that he alone was a match +for all her boldest warriors, and had even power to bewitch her magic +steed, Gana, if so he willed, and steal it from her side. + +And so one day a spirit of mischief urged the Prince on to a gay +prank, as also a wayward spirit urged him no longer to brook Queen +Brunhild's mien. + +Before he left Isenland, therefore, Siegfried in a merry mood threw +to the ground the seven great gates that guarded the Queen's strong +castle. Then he called to Gana, the magic steed, to follow him into +the world, and this the charger did with a right good will. + +Whether Siegfried sent Gana back to Isenland or not I do not know, but +I know that in the days to come Queen Brunhild never forgave the hero +for his daring feat. + +When the Prince had left Isenland he rode on and on until he came to +a great mountain. Here near a cave he found two little dwarfish +Nibelungs, surrounded by twelve foolish giants. The two little +Nibelungs were princes, the giants were their counselors. + +Now the King of the Nibelungs had but just died in the dark little +underground town of Nibelheim, and the two tiny princes were the sons +of the dead King. + +But they had not come to the mountain-side to mourn for their royal +father. Not so indeed had they come, but to divide the great hoard of +treasure which the King had bequeathed to them at his death. + +Already they had begun to quarrel over the treasure, and the twelve +foolish giants looked on, but did not know what to say or do, so they +did nothing, and never spoke at all. + +The dwarfs had themselves carried the hoard out of the cave where +usually it was hidden, and they had spread it on the mountain-side. + +There it lay, gold as far as the eye could see, and farther. Jewels, +too, were there, more than twelve wagons could carry away in four days +and nights, each going three journeys. + +Indeed, however much you took from this marvelous treasure, never did +it seem to grow less. + +But more precious even than the gold or the jewels of the hoard was a +wonderful sword which it possessed. It was named Balmung, and had been +tempered by the Nibelungs in their glowing forges underneath the glad +green earth. + +Before the magic strength of Balmung's stroke, the strongest warrior +must fall, nor could his armor save him, however close its links had +been welded by some doughty smith. + +As Siegfried rode towards the two little dwarfs, they turned and saw +him, with his bright, fair face, and flowing locks. + +Nimble as little hares they darted to his side, and begged that he +would come and divide their treasure. He should have the good sword +Balmung as reward, they cried. + +Siegfried dismounted, well pleased to do these ugly little men a +kindness. + +But alas! ere long the dwarfs began to mock at the hero with their +harsh voices, and to wag their horrid little heads at him, while +they screamed in a fury that he was not dividing the treasure as they +wished. + +Then Siegfried grew angry with the tiny princes, and seizing the magic +sword, he cut off their heads. The twelve foolish giants also he slew, +and thus became himself master of the marvelous hoard as well as of +the good sword Balmung. + +Seven hundred valiant champions, hearing the blast of the hero's horn, +now gather together to defend the country from this strange young +warrior. But he vanquished them all, and forced them to promise that +they would henceforth serve no other lord save him alone. And this +they did, being proud of his great might. + +Now tidings of the slaughter of the two tiny princes had reached +Nibelheim, and great was the wrath of the little men and little women +who dwelt in the dark town beneath the earth. + +Alberich, the mightiest of all the dwarfs, gathered together his army +of little gnomes to avenge the death of the two dwarf princes and +also, for Alberich was a greedy man, to gain for himself the great +hoard. + +When Siegfried saw Alberich at the head of his army of little men +he laughed aloud, and with a light heart he chased them all into the +great cave on the mountain-side. + +From off the mighty dwarf, Alberich, he stripped his famous Cloak of +Darkness, which made him who wore it not only invisible, but strong +as twelve strong men. He snatched also from the dwarf's fingers his +wishing-rod, which was a Magic Wand. And last of all he made Alberich +and his thousands of tiny warriors take an oath, binding them evermore +to serve him alone. Then hiding the treasure in the cave with the +seven hundred champions whom he had conquered, he left Alberich and +his army of little men to guard it, until he came again. And Alberich +and his dwarfs were faithful to the hero who had shorn them of their +treasure, and served him for evermore. + +Siegfried, the magic sword Balmung by his side, the Cloak of Darkness +thrown over his arm, the Magic Wand in his strong right hand, went +over the mountain, across the plains, nor did he tarry until he came +again to the castle built on the banks of the river Rhine in his own +low-lying country of the Netherlands. + + + + +III + +SIEGFRIED COMES HOME + + +The walls of the old castle rang. King Siegmund, his knights and +liegemen, all were welcoming Prince Siegfried home. They had not seen +their hero-prince since he had been sent long years before to be under +the charge of Mimer the blacksmith. + +He had grown but more fair, more noble, they thought, as they gazed +upon his stalwart limbs, his fearless eyes. + +And what tales of prowess clustered around his name! Already their +Prince had done great deeds as he had ridden from land to land. + +The King and his liegemen had heard of the slaughter of the terrible +dragon, of the capture of the great treasure, of the defiance of the +warlike and beautiful Brunhild. They could wish for no more renowned +prince than their own Prince Siegfried. + +Thus Siegmund and his subjects rejoiced that the heir to the throne +was once again in his own country. + +In the Queen's bower, too, there was great joy. Sieglinde wept, but +her tears were not those of sadness. Sieglinde wept for very gladness +that her son had come home safe from his wonderful adventures. + +Now Siegmund wished to give a great feast in honor of his son. It +should be on his birthday which was very near, the birthday on which +the young Prince would be twenty-one years of age. + +Far and wide throughout the Netherlands and into distant realms +tidings of the feast were borne. Kinsmen and strangers, lords and +ladies, all were asked to the banquet in the great castle hall where +Siegmund reigned supreme. + +It was the merry month of June when the feast was held, and the sun +shone bright on maidens in fair raiment, on knights in burnished +armor. + +Siegfried was to be knighted on this June day along with four hundred +young squires of his father's realm. The Prince was clad in gorgeous +armor, and on the cloak flung around his shoulders jewels were seen to +sparkle in the sunlight, jewels made fast with gold embroidery worked +by the white hands of the Queen and her fair damsels. + +In games and merry pastimes the hours of the day sped fast away, until +the great bell of the Minster pealed, calling the gay company to the +house of God for evensong. Siegfried and the four hundred squires +knelt before the altar, ere they were knighted by the royal hand of +Siegmund the King. + +The solemn service ended, the new-made knights hastened back to the +castle, and there in the great hall a mighty tournament was held. +Knights who had grown gray in service tilted with those who but that +day had been given the grace of knighthood. Lances splintered, shields +fell before the mighty onslaughts of the gallant warriors, until King +Siegmund bade the tilting cease. + +Then in the great hall feasting and song held sway until daylight +faded and the stars shone bright. + +Yet no weariness knew the merrymakers. The next morning, and for six +long summer days, they tilted, they sang, they feasted. + +When at length the great festival drew to a close, Siegmund in the +presence of his guests gave to his dear son Siegfried many lands and +strong castles over which he might be lord. + +To all his son's comrades, too, the King gave steeds and costly +raiment, while Queen Sieglinde bestowed upon them freely coins of +gold. Such abundant gifts had never before been dreamed of as were +thus lavished by Siegmund and Sieglinde on their guests. + +As the rich nobles looked upon the brave young Prince Siegfried, there +were some who whispered among themselves that they would fain have him +to rule in the land. + +Siegfried heard their whispers, but in no wise did he give heed to the +wish of the nobles. + +Never, he thought while his beautiful mother and his bounteous father +lived, would he wear the crown. + +Indeed Siegfried had no wish to sit upon a throne, he wished but to +subdue the evil-doers in the land. Or better still, he wished to go +forth in search of new adventure. And this right soon he did. + + + + +IV + +SIEGFRIED AT THE COURT OF WORMS + + +At the Court of Worms in Burgundy dwelt the Princess Kriemhild, whose +fame for beauty and kindness had spread to many a far-off land. She +lived with her mother Queen Ute and her three brothers King Gunther, +King Gernot, and King Giselher. Her father had long been dead. Gunther +sat upon the throne and had for chief counselor his cruel uncle Hagen. + +One night Kriemhild dreamed that a beautiful wild hawk with feathers +of gold came and perched upon her wrist. It grew so tame that she +took it with her to the hunt. Upward it soared when loosed toward the +bright blue sky. Then the dream-maiden saw two mighty eagles swoop +down upon her petted hawk and tear it to pieces. + +The Princess told her dream to her mother, who said, "The hawk, my +daughter, is a noble knight who shall be thy husband, but, alas, +unless God defend him from his foes, thou shalt lose him ere he has +long been thine." Kriemhild replied, "O lady mother, I wish no knight +to woo me from thy side." "Nay," said the Queen, "Speak not thus, for +God will send to thee a noble knight and strong." + +Hearing of the Princess, Siegfried, who lived in the Netherlands, +began to think that she was strangely like the unknown maiden whose +image he carried in his heart. So he set out to go into Burgundy to +see the beautiful Kriemhild who had sent many knights away. + +Siegfried's father wished to send an army with him but Siegfried said, +"Nay, give me only, I pray thee, eleven stalwart warriors." + +Tidings had reached King Gunther of the band of strangers who had so +boldly entered the royal city. He sent for Hagen, chief counselor, +who said they must needs be princes or ambassadors. "One knight, the +fairest and the boldest, is, methinks, the wondrous hero Siegfried, +who has won great treasure from the Nibelungs, and has killed two +little princely dwarfs, their twelve giants, and seven hundred great +champions of the neighboring country with his good sword Balmung." +Graciously then did the King welcome Siegfried. + +"I beseech thee, noble knight," said the King, "tell me why thou hast +journeyed to this our royal city?" + +Now Siegfried was not ready to speak of the fair Princess, so he told +the King that he had come to see the splendor of the court and to do +great deeds, even to wrest from him the broad realm of Burgundy and +likewise all his castles. "Unless thou dost conquer me I shall rule in +my great might in this realm." + +"We do well to be angry at the words of this bold stripling," said +Hagen. A quarrel arose, but King Gernot, Gunther's brother, made peace +and Siegfried began to think of the wonderlady of his dreams and grew +ashamed of his boasting. + +Then all Burgundy began to hear of Siegfried. At the end of the year +Burgundy was threatened with invasion. King Ludegast and King Ludeger +threatened mighty wars. + +When Siegfried heard of this he said, "If trouble hath come to thee, +my arm is strong to bring thee aid. If thy foes were as many as +thirty thousand, yet with one thousand warriors would I destroy them. +Therefore, leave the battle in my hands." + +When the rude kings heard that Siegfried would fight for Burgundy +their hearts failed for fear and in great haste they gathered their +armies. King Gunther meanwhile had assembled his men and the chief +command was given to Hagen, but Siegfried rode forward to seek the +foe. + +In advance of their warriors stood Ludegast and Ludeger ready for the +fray. Grasping his good sword Balmung, Siegfried first met Ludegast +piercing him through his steel harness with an ugly thrust till he lay +helpless at his feet. Thirty of the King's warriors rode up and beset +the hero, but Siegfried slaughtered all save one. He was spared to +carry the dire tidings of the capture of Ludegast to his army. + +Ludeger had seen the capture of his brother and met the onslaught that +Siegfried soon made upon him. But with a great blow Siegfried struck +the shield from Ludeger's hold, and in a moment more he had him at his +mercy. For the second time that day the Prince was victor over a king. + +When Ute, the mother of Kriemhild, heard that a grand festival +celebrating the prowess of Prince Siegfried was to be held at court, +she made up her mind that she and her daughter would lend their +gracious presence. Many noble guests were there gathered and when the +knights entered the lists the King sent a hundred of his liegemen to +bring the Queen and the Princess to the great hall. When Siegfried saw +the Princess he knew that she was indeed more beautiful than he had +ever dreamed. A messenger was sent by the King bidding him greet the +Princess. "Be welcome here, Sir Siegfried, for thou art a good and +noble knight," said the maiden softly, "for right well hast thou +served my royal brother." + +"Thee will I serve for ever," cried the happy hero, "thee will I serve +for ever, and thy wishes shall ever be my will!" + +Then for twelve glad days were Siegfried and Kriemhild ofttimes side +by side. + + + + +V. + +SIEGFRIED GOES TO ISENLAND + + +Whitsuntide had come and gone when tidings from beyond the Rhine +reached the court at Worms. + +No dread tidings were these, but glad and good to hear, of a matchless +Queen named Brunhild who dwelt in Isenland. King Gunther listened with +right good will to the tales of this warlike maiden, for if she were +beautiful she was also strong as any warrior. Wayward, too, she was, +yet Gunther would fain have her as his queen to sit beside him on his +throne. + +One day the King sent for Siegfried to tell him that he would fain +journey to Isenland to wed Queen Brunhild. + +Now Siegfried, as you know, had been in Isenland and knew some of the +customs of this wayward Queen. So he answered the King right gravely +that it would be a dangerous journey across the sea to Isenland, +nor would he win the Queen unless he were able to vanquish her great +strength. + +He told the King how Brunhild would challenge him to three contests, +or games, as she would call them. And if she were the victor, as +indeed she had been over many a royal suitor, then his life would be +forfeited. + +At her own desire kings and princes had hurled the spear at the +stalwart Queen, and it had but glanced harmless off her shield, while +she would pierce the armor of these valiant knights with her first +thrust. This was one of the Queen's games. + +Then the knights would hasten to the ring and throw the stone from +them as far as might be, yet ever Queen Brunhild threw it farther. For +this was another game of the warrior-queen. + +The third game was to leap beyond the stone which they had thrown, but +ever to their dismay the knights saw this marvelous maiden far outleap +them all. + +These valorous knights, thus beaten in the three contests, had been +beheaded, and therefore it was that Siegfried spoke so gravely to King +Gunther. + +But Gunther, so he said, was willing to risk his life to win so brave +a bride. + +Now Hagen had drawn near to the King, and as he listened to +Siegfried's words, the grim warrior said, "Sire, since the Prince +knows the customs of Isenland, let him go with thee on thy journey, +to share thy dangers, and to aid thee in the presence of this warlike +Queen." + +And Hagen, for he hated the hero, hoped that he might never return +alive from Isenland. + +But the King was pleased with his counselor's words. "Sir Siegfried," +he said, "wilt thou help me to win the matchless maiden Brunhild for +my queen?" + +"That right gladly will I do," answered the Prince, "if thou wilt +promise to give me thy sister Kriemhild as my bride, should I bring +thee back safe from Isenland, the bold Queen at thy side." + +Then the King promised that on the same day that he wedded Brunhild, +his sister should wed Prince Siegfried, and with this promise the hero +was well content. + +"Thirty thousand warriors will I summon to go with us to Isenland," +cried King Gunther gaily. + +"Nay," said the Prince, "thy warriors would but be the victims of +this haughty Queen. As plain knight-errants will we go, taking with us +none, save Hagen the keen-eyed and his brother Dankwart." + +Then King Gunther, his face aglow with pleasure, went with Sir +Siegfried to his sister's bower, and begged her to provide rich +garments in which he and his knights might appear before the beauteous +Queen Brunhild. + +"Thou shalt not beg this service from me," cried the gentle Princess, +"rather shalt thou command that which thou dost wish. See, here have I +silk in plenty. Send thou the gems from off thy bucklers, and I and my +maidens will work them with gold embroideries into the silk." + +Thus the sweet maiden dismissed her brother, and sending for her +thirty maidens who were skilled in needlework she bade them sew their +daintiest stitches, for here were robes to be made for the King and +Sir Siegfried ere they went to bring Queen Brunhild into Rhineland. + +For seven weeks Kriemhild and her maidens were busy in their bower. +Silk white as new-fallen snow, silk green as the leaves in spring +did they shape into garments worthy to be worn by the King and Sir +Siegfried, and amid the gold embroideries glittered many a radiant +gem. + +Meanwhile down by the banks of the Rhine a vessel was being built to +carry the King across the sea to Isenland. + +When all was ready the King and Sir Siegfried went to the bower of the +Princess. They would put on the silken robes and the beautiful cloaks +Kriemhild and her maidens had sewed to see that they were neither too +long nor too short. But indeed the skilful hands of the Princess had +not erred. No more graceful or more beautiful garments had ever before +been seen by the King or the Prince. + +"Sir Siegfried," said the gentle Kriemhild, "care for my royal brother +lest danger befall him in the bold Queen's country. Bring him home +both safe and sound I beseech thee." + +The hero bowed his head and promised to shield the King from danger, +then they said farewell to the maiden, and embarked in the little ship +that awaited them on the banks of the Rhine. Nor did Siegfried forget +to take with him his Cloak of Darkness and his good sword Balmung. + +Now none was there on the ship save King Gunther, Siegfried, Hagen, +and Dankwart, but Siegfried with his Cloak of Darkness had the +strength of twelve men as well as his own strong right hand. + +Merrily sailed the little ship, steered by Sir Siegfried himself. Soon +the Rhine river was left behind and they were out on the sea, a strong +wind filling their sails. Ere evening, full twenty miles had the good +ship made. + +For twelve days they sailed onward, until before them rose the grim +fortress that guarded Isenland. + +"What towers are these?" cried King Gunther, as he gazed upon the +turreted castle which looked as a grim sentinel guarding the land. + +"These," answered the hero, "are Queen Brunhild's towers and this is +the country over which she rules." + +Then turning to Hagen and Dankwart Siegfried begged them to let him +be spokesman to the Queen, for he knew her wayward moods. "And King +Gunther shall be my king," said the Prince, "and I but his vassal +until we leave Isenland." + +And Hagen and Dankwart, proud men though they were, obeyed in all +things the words of the young Prince of the Netherlands. + + + + +VI + +SIEGFRIED SUBDUES BRUNHILD + + +The little ship had sailed on now close beneath the castle, so +close indeed that as the King looked up to the window he could catch +glimpses of beautiful maidens passing to and fro. + +Sir Siegfried also looked and laughed aloud for glee. It would be but +a little while until Brunhild was won and he was free to return to his +winsome lady Kriemhild. + +By this time the maidens in the castle had caught sight of the ship, +and many bright eyes were peering down upon King Gunther and his three +brave comrades. + +"Look well at the fair maidens, sire," said Siegfried to the King. +"Among them all show me her whom thou wouldst choose most gladly as +your bride." + +"Seest thou the fairest of the band," cried the King, "she who is clad +in a white garment? It is she and no other whom I would wed." + +Right merrily then laughed Siegfried. "The maiden," said he gaily, "is +in truth none other than Queen Brunhild herself." + +The King and his warriors now moored their vessel and leaped ashore, +Siegfried leading with him the King's charger. For each knight had +brought his steed with him from the fair land of Burgundy. + +More bright than ever beamed the bright eyes of the ladies at the +castle window. So fair, so gallant a knight never had they seen, +thought the damsels as they gazed upon Sir Siegfried. And all the +while King Gunther dreamed their glances were bent on no other than +himself. + +Siegfried held the noble steed until King Gunther had mounted, and +this he did that Queen Brunhild might not know that he was the Prince +of the Netherlands, owing service to no man. Then going back to the +ship the hero brought his own horse to land, mounted, and rode with +the King toward the castle gate. + +King and Prince were clad alike. Their steeds as well as their +garments were white as snow, their saddles were bedecked with jewels, +and on the harness hung bells, all of bright red gold. Their shields +shone as the sun, their spears they wore before them, their swords +hung by their sides. + +Behind them followed Hagen and Dankwart, their armor black as the +plumage of the wild raven, their shields strong and mighty. + +As they approached the castle gates were flung wide open, and the +liegemen of the great Queen came out to greet the strangers with words +of welcome. They bid their hirelings also take the shields and +chargers from their guests. + +But when a squire demanded that the strangers should also yield their +swords, grim Hagen smiled his grimmest, and cried, "Nay, our swords +will we e'en keep lest we have need of them." Nor was he too well +pleased when Siegfried told him that the custom in Isenland was +that no guest should enter the castle carrying a weapon. It was but +sullenly that he let his sword be taken away along with his mighty +shield. + +After the strangers had been refreshed with wine, her liegemen sent to +the Queen to tell her that strange guests had arrived. + +"Who are the strangers who come thus unheralded to my land?" haughtily +demanded Brunhild. + +But no one could tell her who the warriors were, though some murmured +that the tallest and fairest might be the great hero Siegfried. + +It may be that the Queen thought that if the knight were indeed +Siegfried she would revenge herself on him now for the mischievous +pranks he had played the last time he was in her kingdom. In any case +she said, "If the hero is here he shall enter into contest with me, +and he shall pay for his boldness with his life, for I shall be the +victor." + +Then with five hundred warriors, each with his sword in hand, Brunhild +came down to the knights from Burgundy. + +"Be welcome, Siegfried," she cried, "yet wherefore hast thou come +again to Isenland?" + +"I thank thee for thy greeting, lady," said the Prince, "but thou +hast welcomed me before my lord. He, King Gunther, ruler over the fair +realms of Burgundy, hath come hither to wed with thee." + +Brunhild was displeased that the mighty hero should not himself seek +to win her as a bride, yet since for all his prowess he seemed but a +vassal of the King, she answered, "If thy master can vanquish me in +the contests to which I bid him, then I will be his wife, but if I +conquer thy master, his life, and the lives of his followers will be +forfeited." + +"What dost thou demand of my master?" asked Hagen. + +"He must hurl the spear with me, throw the stone from the ring, and +leap to where it has fallen," said the Queen. + +Now while Brunhild was speaking, Siegfried whispered to the King to +fear nothing, but to accept the Queen's challenge. "I will be near +though no one will see me, to aid thee in the struggle," he whispered. + +Gunther had such trust in the Prince that he at once cried boldly, +"Queen Brunhild, I do not fear even to risk my life that I may win +thee for my bride." + +Then the bold maiden called for her armor, but when Gunther saw her +shield, "three spans thick with gold and iron, which four chamberlains +could hardly bear," his courage began to fail. + +While the Queen donned her silken fighting doublet, which could turn +aside the sharpest spear, Siegfried slipped away unnoticed to the +ship, and swiftly flung around him his Cloak of Darkness. Then unseen +by all, he hastened back to King Gunther's side. + +A great javelin was then given to the Queen, and she began to fight +with her suitor, and so hard were her thrusts that but for Siegfried +the King would have lost his life. + +"Give me thy shield," whispered the invisible hero in the King's ear, +"and tell no one that I am here." Then as the maiden hurled her spear +with all her force against the shield which she thought was held by +the King, the shock well-nigh drove both Gunther and his unseen friend +to their knees. + +But in a moment Siegfried's hand had dealt the Queen such a blow with +the handle of his spear (he would not use the sharp point against a +woman) that the maiden cried aloud, "King Gunther, thou hast won this +fray." For as she could not see Siegfried because of his Cloak of +Darkness, she could not but believe that it was the King who had +vanquished her. + +In her wrath the Queen now sped to the ring, where lay a stone so +heavy that it could scarce be lifted by twelve strong men. + +But Brunhild lifted it with ease, and threw it twelve arms' length +beyond the spot on which she stood. Then, leaping after it, she +alighted even farther than she had thrown the stone. + +Gunther now stood in the ring, and lifted the stone which had again +been placed within it. He lifted it with an effort, but at once +Siegfried's unseen hand grasped it and threw it with such strength +that it dropped even beyond the spot to which it had been flung by the +Queen. Lifting King Gunther with him Siegfried next jumped far +beyond the spot on which the Queen had alighted. And all the warriors +marveled to see their Queen thus vanquished by the strange King. For +you must remember that not one of them could see that it was Siegfried +who had done these deeds of prowess. + +Now in the contest, still unseen, Siegfried had taken from the Queen +her ring and her favorite girdle. + +With angry gestures Brunhild called to her liegemen to come and lay +their weapons down at King Gunther's feet to do him homage. Henceforth +they must be his thralls and own him as their lord. + +As soon as the contests were over, Siegfried had slipped back to the +ship and hidden his Cloak of Darkness. Then boldly he came back to the +great hall, and pretending to know nothing of the games begged to be +told who had been the victor, if indeed they had already taken place. + +When he had heard that Queen Brunhild had been vanquished, the hero +laughed, and cried gaily, "Then, noble maiden, thou must go with us to +Rhineland to wed King Gunther." + +"A strange way for a vassal to speak," thought the angry Queen, and +she answered with a proud glance at the knight, "Nay, that will I not +do until I have summoned my kinsmen and my good lieges. For I will +myself say farewell to them ere ever I will go to Rhineland." + +Thus heralds were sent throughout Brunhild's realms, and soon from +morn to eve her kinsmen and her liegemen rode into the castle, until +it seemed as though a mighty army were assembling. + +"Does the maiden mean to wage war against us," said Hagen grimly. "I +like not the number of her warriors." + +Then said Siegfried, "I will leave thee for a little while and go +across the sea, and soon will I return with a thousand brave warriors, +so that no evil may befall us." + +So the Prince went down alone to the little ship and set sail across +the sea. + + + + +VII + +SIEGFRIED AND THE PRINCESS + + +The ship in which Siegfried set sail drifted on before the wind, while +those in Queen Brunhild's castle marveled, for no one was to be seen +on board. This was because the hero had again donned his Cloak of +Darkness. + +On and on sailed the little ship until at length it drew near to +the land of the Nibelungs. Then Siegfried left his vessel and again +climbed the mountain-side, where long before he had cut off the heads +of the little Nibelung princes. + +He reached the cave into which he had thrust the treasure, and knocked +loudly at the door. The cave was the entrance to Nibelheim the dark, +little town beneath the glad, green grass. + +Siegfried might have entered the cave, but he knocked that he might +see if the treasure were well guarded. + +Then the porter, who was a great giant, when he heard the knock +buckled on his armor and opened the door. Seeing, as he thought in his +haste, a strange knight standing before him he fell upon him with a +bar of iron. So strong was the giant that it was with difficulty that +the Prince overcame him and bound him hand and foot. + +Alberich meanwhile had heard the mighty blows, which indeed had shaken +Nibelheim to its foundations. + +Now the dwarf had sworn fealty to Siegfried, and when he, as the giant +had done, mistook the Prince for a stranger, he seized a heavy whip +with a gold handle and rushed upon him, smiting his shield with the +knotted whip until it fell to pieces. + +Too pleased that his treasures were so well defended to be angry, +Siegfried now seized the little dwarf by his beard, and pulled it +so long and so hard that Alberich was forced to cry for mercy. Then +Siegfried bound him hand and foot as he had done the giant. + +Alberich, poor little dwarf, gnashed his teeth with rage. Who would +guard the treasure now, and who would warn his master that a strong +man had found his way to Nibelheim? + +But in the midst of his fears he heard the stranger's merry laugh. +Nay, it was no stranger, none but the hero-prince could laugh thus +merrily. + +"I am Siegfried your master," then said the Prince. "I did but test +thy faithfulness, Alberich," and laughing still, the hero undid the +cords with which he had bound the giant and the dwarf. + +"Call me here quickly the Nibelung warriors," cried Siegfried, "for I +have need of them." And soon thirty thousand warriors stood before him +in shining armor. + +Choosing one thousand of the strongest and biggest, the Prince marched +with them down to the seashore. There they embarked in ships and +sailed away to Isenland. + +Now it chanced that Queen Brunhild was walking on the terrace of her +sea-guarded castle with King Gunther when she saw a number of sails +approaching. + +"Whose can these ships be?" she cried in quick alarm. + +"These are my warriors who have followed me from Burgundy," answered +the King, for thus had Siegfried bidden him speak. + +"We will go to welcome the fleet," said Brunhild, and together they +met the brave Nibelung army and lodged them in Isenland. + +"Now will I give of my silver and my gold to my liegemen and to +Gunther's warriors," said Queen Brunhild, and she held out the keys +of her treasury to Dankwart that he might do her will. But so lavishly +did the knight bestow her gold and her costly gems and her rich +raiment upon the warriors that the Queen grew angry. + +"Naught shall I have left to take with me to Rhineland," she cried +aloud in her vexation. + +"In Burgundy," answered Hagen, "there is gold enough and to spare. +Thou wilt not need the treasures of Isenland." + +But these words did not content the Queen. She would certainly take at +least twenty coffers of gold as well as jewels and silks with her to +King Gunther's land. + +At length, leaving Isenland to the care of her brother, Queen +Brunhild, with twenty hundred of her own warriors as a bodyguard, +with eighty-six dames and one hundred maidens, set out for the royal +city of Worms. + +For nine days the great company journeyed homeward, and then King +Gunther entreated Siegfried to be his herald to Worms. + +"Beg Queen Ute and the Princess Kriemhild," said the King, "beg them +to ride forth to meet my bride and to prepare to hold high festival in +honor of the wedding-feast." + +Thus Siegfried with four-and-twenty knights sailed on more swiftly +than the other ships, and landing at the mouth of the river Rhine, +rode hastily toward the royal city. + +The Queen and her daughter, clad in their robes of state, received the +hero, and his heart was glad, for once again he stood in the presence +of his dear lady, Kriemhild. + +"Be welcome, my Lord Siegfried," she cried, "thou worthy knight, +be welcome. But where is my brother? Has he been vanquished by the +warrior-queen? Oh, woe is me if he is lost, wo is me that ever I +was born," and the tears rolled down the maiden's cheeks. + +"Nay, now," said the Prince, "thy brother is well and of good cheer. +I have come, a herald of glad tidings. For even now the King is on his +way to Worms, bringing with him his hard-won bride." + +Then the Princess dried her tears, and graciously did she bid the hero +to sit by her side. + +"I would I might give thee a reward for thy services," said the gentle +maiden, "but too rich art thou to receive my gold." + +"A gift from thy hands would gladden my heart," said the gallant +Prince. + +Blithely then did Kriemhild send for four-and-twenty buckles, all +inlaid with precious stones, and these did she give to Siegfried. + +Siegfried bent low before the lady Kriemhild, for well did he love the +gracious giver, yet would he not keep for himself her gifts, but gave +them, in his courtesy, to her four-and-twenty maidens. + +Then the Prince told Queen Ute that the King begged her and the +Princess to ride forth from Worms to greet his bride, and to prepare +to hold high festival in the royal city. + +"It shall be done even as the King desires," said the Queen, while +Kriemhild sat silent, smiling with gladness, because her knight Sir +Siegfried had come home. + +In joy and merriment the days flew by, while the court at Worms +prepared to hold high festival in honor of King Gunther's matchless +bride. + +As the royal ships drew near, Queen Ute and the Princess Kriemhild, +accompanied by many a gallant knight, rode along the banks of the +Rhine to greet Queen Brunhild. + +Already the King had disembarked, and was leading his bride toward his +gracious mother. Courteously did Queen Ute welcome the stranger, while +Kriemhild kissed her and clasped her in her arms. + +Some, as they gazed upon the lovely maidens, said that the warlike +Queen Brunhild was more beautiful than the gentle Princess Kriemhild, +but others, and these were the wiser, said that none could excel the +peerless sister of the King. + +In the great plain of Worms silk tents and gay pavilions had been +placed. And there the ladies took shelter from the heat, while before +them knights and warriors held a gay tournament. Then, in the cool of +the evening, a gallant train of lords and ladies, they rode toward the +castle at Worms. + +Queen Ute and her daughter went to their own apartments, while the +King with Brunhild went into the banquet-hall where the wedding-feast +was spread. + +But ere the feast had begun, Siegfried came and stood before the King. + +"Sire," he said, "hast thou forgotten thy promise, that when Brunhild +entered the royal city thy lady sister should be my bride?" + +"Nay," cried the King, "my royal word do I ever keep," and going out +into the hall he sent for the Princess. + +"Dear sister," said Gunther, as she bowed before him, "I have pledged +my word to a warrior that thou wilt become his bride, wilt thou help +me to keep my promise?" Now Siegfried was standing by the King's side +as he spoke. + +Then the gentle maiden answered meekly, "Thy will, dear brother, +is ever mine. I will take as lord him to whom thou hast promised my +hand." And she glanced shyly at Siegfried, for surely this was the +warrior to whom her royal brother had pledged his word. + +Right glad then was the King, and Siegfried grew rosy with delight +as he received the lady's troth. Then together they went to +the banquet-hall, and on a throne next to King Gunther sat the +hero-prince, the lady Kriemhild by his side. + +When the banquet was ended, the King was wedded to Queen Brunhild, and +Siegfried to the maiden whom he loved so well, and though he had no +crown to place upon her brow, the Princess was well content. + + + + + + +HERO OF FRANCE + + + + +ROLAND + +ADAPTED BY H.E. MARSHALL + + + + +I + +BLANCANDRIN'S MISSION + + +For seven long years the great Emperor Charlemagne had been fighting +in Spain against the Saracens; Saragossa alone remained unconquered, +but word had gone forth that it, too, was doomed. + +King Marsil, not knowing how to save his city from the conqueror, +called a council of his wise men. Blancandrin, a knight of great +valor, was chosen with ten others to set out with olive-branches in +their hands, followed by a great train of slaves bearing presents, to +seek the court of the great Christian King and sue for peace. + +Bending low before Charlemagne, Blancandrin promised for King Marsil +vassalage to the Emperor and baptism in the name of the Holy Christ. +To assure the truth of his words, he said "We will give thee hostages, +I will even send my own son if we keep not faith with thee." + +In the morning Charlemagne called his wise men and told them the +message of Blancandrin. + +Then Roland, one of the twelve chosen knights and the nephew of +Charlemagne, rose flushed with anger and cried, "Believe not this +Marsil, he was ever a traitor. Carry the war to Saragossa. War! I say +war!" + +Ganelon a knight, who hated Roland, strode to the foot of the throne, +saying, "Listen not to the counsel of fools but accept King Marsil's +gifts and promises." + +Following the counsel of Duke Naimes the wisest of the court, +Charlemagne declared that some one should be sent to King Marsil and +asked the lords whom he should send. + +"Send me," cried Roland. "Nay," said Oliver, "let me go rather." But +the Emperor said, "Not a step shall ye go, either one or other of +you." + +"Ah!" said Roland, "if I may not go, then send Ganelon my stepfather." +"Good!" replied the great Emperor, "Ganelon it shall be." + +Ganelon trembled with passion and said, "this is Roland's work," for +he knew he would never return alive to his wife and child. The quarrel +between Roland and Ganelon was bitter indeed. "I hate thee," Ganelon +hissed at last. "I hate thee!" Then, struggling to be calm, he turned +to the Emperor and said, "I am ready to do thy will." + +"Fair Sir Ganelon," said Charlemagne, "this is my message to the +heathen King Marsil. Say to him that he shall bend the knee to gentle +Christ and be baptized in His name. Then will I give him full half of +Spain to hold in fief. Over the other half Count Roland, my nephew, +well beloved, shall reign." + +Without a word of farewell Ganelon went to his own house. There he +clad himself in his finest armor. Commending his wife and child to the +care of the knights who pressed round to bid him Godspeed, Ganelon, +with bent head, turned slowly from their sight and rode to join the +heathen Blancandrin. + + + + +II + +GANELON'S TREASON + + +As Ganelon and Blancandrin rode along together beneath the olive-trees +and through the fruitful vineyards of sunny Spain, the heathen began +to talk cunningly. "What a wonderful knight is thy Emperor," he said. +"He hath conquered the world from sea to sea. But why cometh he within +our borders? Why left he us not in peace?" + +"It was his will," replied Ganelon. "There is no man in all the world +so great as he. None may stand against him." + +"You Franks are gallant men indeed," said Blancandrin, "but your dukes +and counts deserve blame when they counsel the Emperor to fight with +us now." + +"There is none deserveth that blame save Roland," said Ganelon. "Such +pride as his ought to be punished. Oh, that some one would slay him!" +he cried fiercely. "Then should we have peace." + +"This Roland is very cruel," said Blancandrin, "to wish to conquer all +the world as he does. But in whom does he trust for help?" + +"In the Franks," said Ganelon. "They love him with such a great love +that they think he can do no wrong. He giveth them gold and silver, +jewels and armor, so they serve him. Even to the Emperor himself he +maketh rich presents. He will not rest until he hath conquered all the +world, from east to west." + +The Saracen looked at Ganelon out of the corner of his eye. He was a +noble knight, but now that his face was dark with wrath and jealousy, +he looked like a felon. + +"Listen thou to me," said Blancandrin softly. "Dost wish to be avenged +upon Roland? Then, by Mahomet! deliver him into our hands. King Marsil +is very generous; for such a kindness he will willingly give unto thee +of his countless treasure." + +Ganelon heard the tempter's voice, but he rode onward as if unheeding, +his chin sunken upon his breast, his eyes dark with hatred. + +But long ere the ride was ended and Saragossa reached, the heathen +lord and Christian knight had plotted together for the ruin of Roland. + +At length the journey was over, and Ganelon lighted down before King +Marsil, who awaited him beneath the shadow of his orchard-trees, +seated upon a marble throne covered with rich silken rugs. Around +him crowded his nobles, silent and eager to learn how Blancandrin had +fared upon his errand. + +Bowing low, Blancandrin approached the throne, leading Ganelon by the +hand. "Greeting," he said, "in the name of Mahomet. Well, O Marsil, +have I done thy behest to the mighty Christian King. But save that he +raised his hands to heaven and gave thanks to his God, no answer did +he render to me. But unto thee he sendeth one of his nobles, a very +powerful man in France. From him shalt thou learn if thou shalt have +peace or war." + +"Let him speak," said King Marsil. "We will listen." + +"Greeting," said Ganelon, "in the name of God--the God of glory whom +we ought all to adore. Listen ye to the command of Charlemagne: Thou, +O King, shalt receive the Christian faith, then half of Spain will he +leave to thee to hold in fief. The other half shall be given to Count +Roland--a haughty companion thou wilt have there. If thou wilt not +agree to this, Charlemagne will besiege Saragossa, and thou shalt be +led captive to Aix, there to die a vile and shameful death." + +King Marsil shook with anger and turned pale. In his hand he held an +arrow fledged with gold. Now, springing from his throne, he raised his +arm as if he would strike Ganelon. But the knight laid his hand upon +his sword and drew it half out of the scabbard. "Sword," he cried, +"thou art bright and beautiful; oft have I carried thee at the court +of my King. It shall never be said of me that I died alone in a +foreign land, among fierce foes, ere thou wert dipped in the blood of +their bravest and best." + +For a few moments the heathen King and the Christian knight eyed each +other in deep silence. Then the air was filled with shouts. "Part +them, part them!" cried the Saracens. + +The noblest of the Saracens rushed between their King and Ganelon. "It +was a foolish trick to raise thy hand against the Christian knight," +said Marsil's calif, seating him once more upon his throne. "'Twere +well to listen to what he hath to say." + +"Sir," said Ganelon proudly, "thinkest thou for all the threats in the +wide world I will be silent and not speak the message which the mighty +Charlemagne sendeth to his mortal enemy? Nay, I would speak, if ye +were all against me." And keeping his right hand still upon the golden +pommel of his sword, with his left he unclasped his cloak of fur and +silk and cast it upon the steps of the throne. There, in his strength +and splendor, he stood defying them all. + +"'Tis a noble knight!" cried the heathen in admiration. + +Then once more turning to King Marsil, Ganelon gave him the Emperor's +letter. As he broke the seal and read, Marsil's brow grew black with +anger. "Listen, my lords," he cried; "because I slew yonder insolent +Christian knights, the Emperor Charlemagne bids me beware his wrath. +He commands that I shall send unto him as hostage mine uncle the +calif." + +"This is some madness of Ganelon!" cried a heathen knight. "He is only +worthy of death. Give him unto me, and I will see that justice is done +upon him." So saying, he laid his hand upon his sword. + +Like a flash of lightning Ganelon's good blade Murglies sprang from +its sheath, and with his back against a tree, the Christian knight +prepared to defend himself to the last. But once again the fight was +stopped, and this time Blancandrin led Ganelon away. + +Then, walking alone with the King, Blancandrin told of all that he +had done, and of how even upon the way hither, Ganelon had promised +to betray Roland, who was Charlemagne's greatest warrior. "And if he +die," said Blancandrin, "then is our peace sure." + +"Bring hither the Christian knight to me," cried King Marsil. + +So Blancandrin went, and once more leading Ganelon by the hand, +brought him before the King. + +"Fair Sir Ganelon," said the wily heathen, "I did a rash and foolish +thing when in anger I raised my hand to strike at thee. As a token +that thou wilt forget it, accept this cloak of sable. It is worth five +hundred pieces of gold." And lifting a rich cloak, he clasped it about +the neck of Ganelon. + +"I may not refuse it," said the knight, looking down. "May Heaven +reward thee!" + +"Trust me, Sir Ganelon," said King Marsil, "I love thee well. But keep +thou our counsels secret. I would hear thee talk of Charlemagne. He is +very old, is he not?--more than two hundred years old. He must be worn +out and weary, for he hath fought so many battles and humbled so many +kings in the dust. He ought to rest now from his labors in his city of +Aix." + +Ganelon shook his head. "Nay," he said, "such is not Charlemagne. All +those who have seen him know that our Emperor is a true warrior. I +know not how to praise him enough before you, for there is nowhere a +man so full of valor and of goodness. I would rather die than leave +his service." + +"In truth," said Marsil, "I marvel greatly. I had thought that +Charlemagne had been old and worn. Then if it is not so, when will he +cease his wars?" + +"Ah," said Ganelon, "that he will never do so long as his nephew +Roland lives. Under the arch of heaven there bides no baron so +splendid or so proud. Oliver, his friend, also is full of prowess and +of valor. With them and his peers beside him, Charlemagne feareth no +man." + +"Fair Sir Ganelon," said King Marsil boldly, knowing his hatred, "tell +me, how shall I slay Roland?" + +"That I can tell thee," said Ganelon. "Promise thou the Emperor all +that he asketh of thee. Send hostages and presents to him. He will +then return to France. His army will pass through the valley of +Roncesvalles. I will see to it that Roland and his friend Oliver lead +the rear-guard. They will lag behind the rest of the army, then there +shalt thou fall upon them with all thy mighty men. I say not but that +thou shalt lose many a knight, for Roland and his peers will fight +right manfully. But in the end, being so many more than they, thou +shalt conquer. Roland shall lie dead, and slaying him thou wilt cut +off the right arm of Charlemagne. Then farewell to the wondrous army +of France. Never again shall Charlemagne gather such a company, and +within the borders of Spain there shall be peace for evermore." + +When Ganelon had finished speaking, the King threw his arms about his +neck and kissed him. Then turning to his slaves, he commanded them to +bring great treasure of gold, and silver and precious stones, and lay +it at the feet of the knight. + +"But swear to me," said Marsil, "that Roland shall be in the +rear-guard, and swear to me his death." + +And Ganelon, laying his hand upon his sword Murglies, swore by the +holy relics therein, that he would bring Roland to death. + +Then came a heathen knight who gave to Ganelon a sword, the hilt of +which glittered with gems so that the eyes were dazzled in looking +upon it. "Let but Roland be in the rear-guard," he said, "and it is +thine." Then he kissed Ganelon on both cheeks. + +Soon another heathen knight followed him, laughing joyfully. "Here is +my helmet," he cried. "It is the richest and best ever beaten out +of steel. It is thine so that thou truly bring Roland to death and +shame." And he, too, kissed Ganelon. + +Next came Bramimonde, Marsil's queen. She was very beautiful. Her dark +hair was strung with pearls, and her robes of silk and gold swept +the ground. Her hands were full of glittering gems. Bracelets and +necklaces of gold, rubies and sapphires fell from her white fingers. +"Take these," she said, "to thy fair lady. Tell her that Queen +Bramimonde sends them to her because of the great service thou hast +done." And bowing low, she poured the sparkling jewels into Ganelon's +hands. Thus did the heathen reward Ganelon for his treachery. + +"Ho there!" called King Marsil to his treasurer, "are my gifts for the +Emperor ready?" + +"Yea, Sire," answered the treasurer, "seven hundred camels' load of +silver and gold and twenty hostages, the noblest of the land; all are +ready." + +Then King Marsil leant his hand on Ganelon's shoulder. "Wise art thou +and brave," he said, "but in the name of all thou holdest sacred, +forget not thy promise unto me. See, I give thee ten mules laden with +richest treasure, and every year I will send to thee as much again. +Now take the keys of my city gates, take the treasure and the hostages +made ready for thine Emperor. Give them all to him, tell him that I +yield to him all that he asks, but forget not thy promise that Roland +shall ride in the rear-guard." + +Impatient to be gone, Ganelon shook the King's hand from his shoulder. +"Let me tarry no longer," he cried. Then springing to horse he rode +swiftly away. + +Meanwhile Charlemagne lay encamped, awaiting Marsil's answer. And +as one morning he sat beside his tent, with his lords and mighty men +around him, a great cavalcade appeared in the distance. And presently +Ganelon, the traitor, drew rein before him. Softly and smoothly he +began his treacherous tale. "God keep you," he cried; "here I bring +the keys of Saragossa, with treasure rich and rare, seven hundred +camels' load of silver and gold and twenty hostages of the noblest of +the heathen host. And King Marsil bids me say, thou shalt not blame +him that his uncle the calif comes not too, for he is dead. I myself +saw him as he set forth with three hundred thousand armed men upon the +sea. Their vessels sank ere they had gone far from the land, and he +and they were swallowed in the waves." Thus Ganelon told his lying +tale. + +"Now praised be Heaven!" cried Charlemagne. "And thanks, my trusty +Ganelon, for well hast thou sped. At length my wars are done, and home +to gentle France we ride." + +So the trumpets were sounded, and soon the great army, with pennons +waving and armor glittering in the sunshine, was rolling onward +through the land, like a gleaming mighty river. + +But following the Christian army, through valleys deep and dark, by +pathways secret and unknown, crept the heathen host. They were clad +in shining steel from head to foot, swords were by their sides, lances +were in their hands, and bitter hatred in their hearts. Four hundred +thousand strong they marched in stealthy silence. And, alas! the +Franks knew it not. + +When night came the Franks encamped upon the plain. And high upon the +mountain-sides, in a dark forest the heathen kept watch upon them. + +In the midst of his army King Charlemagne lay, and as he slept he +dreamed he stood alone in the valley of Roncesvalles, spear in hand. +There to him came Ganelon, who seized his spear and broke it in pieces +before his eyes, and the noise of the breaking was as the noise of +thunder. In his sleep Charlemagne stirred uneasily, but he did not +wake. The vision passed, and again he dreamed. It seemed to him +that he was now in his own city of Aix. Suddenly from out a forest a +leopard sprang upon him. But even as its fangs closed upon his arm, +a faithful hound came bounding from his hall and fell upon the +savage beast with fury. Fiercely the hound grappled with the leopard. +Snarling and growling they rolled over and over. Now the hound was +uppermost, now the leopard. "Tis a splendid fight!" cried the Franks +who watched. But who should win, the Emperor knew not, for the vision +faded, and still he slept. + +The night passed and dawn came. A thousand trumpets sounded, the camp +was all astir, and the Franks made ready once more to march. + +But Charlemagne was grave and thoughtful, musing on the dream that he +had dreamed. "My knights and barons," he said, "mark well the country +through which we pass. These valleys are steep and straight. It would +go ill with us did the false Saracen forget his oath, and fall upon us +as we pass. To whom therefore shall I trust the rear-guard that we may +march in surety?" + +"Give the command to my stepson, Roland, there is none so brave as +he," said Ganelon. + +As Charlemagne listened he looked at Ganelon darkly. "Thou art a very +demon," he said. "What rage possesseth thee? And if I give command of +the rear to Roland, who, then, shall lead the van?" + +"There is Ogier the Dane," said Ganelon quickly, "who better?" + +Still Charlemagne looked darkly at him. He would not that Roland +should hear, for well he knew his adventurous spirit. + +But already Roland had heard. "I ought to love thee well, Sir +Stepsire," he cried, "for this day hast thou named me for honor. I +will take good heed that our Emperor lose not the least of his men, +nor charger, palfrey, nor mule that is not paid for by stroke of +sword." + +"That know I right well," replied Ganelon, "therefore have I named +thee." + +Then to Charlemagne Roland turned, "Give me the bow of office, Sire, +and let me take command," he said. + +But the Emperor sat with bowed head. In and out of his long white +beard he twisted his fingers. Tears stood in his eyes, and he kept +silence. Such was his love for Roland and fear lest evil should befall +him. + +Then spoke Duke Naimes, "Give the command unto Roland, Sire; there is +none better." + +So, silently, Charlemagne held out the bow of office, and kneeling, +Roland took it. + +Then was Ganelon's wicked heart glad. + +"Nephew," said Charlemagne, "half my host I leave with thee." + +"Nay, Sire," answered Roland proudly, "twenty thousand only shall +remain with me. The rest of ye may pass onward in all surety, for +while I live ye have naught to fear." + +Then in his heart Ganelon laughed. + +So the mighty army passed onward through the vale of Roncesvalles +without doubt or dread, for did not Roland the brave guard the rear? +With him remained Oliver his friend, Turpin, the bold Archbishop of +Rheims, all the peers, and twenty thousand more of the bravest knights +of France. + +As the great army wound along, the hearts of the men were glad. For +seven long years they had been far from home, and now soon they would +see their dear ones again. But the Emperor rode among them sadly with +bowed head. His fingers again twined themselves in his long white +beard, tears once more stood in his eyes. Beside him rode Duke Naimes. +"Tell me, Sire," he said, "what grief oppresseth thee?" + +"Alas," said Charlemagne, "by Ganelon France is betrayed. This night I +dreamed I saw him break my lance in twain. And this same Ganelon it +is that puts my nephew in the rear-guard. And I, I have left him in a +strange land. If he die, where shall I find such another?" + +It was in vain that Duke Naimes tried to comfort the Emperor. He would +not be comforted, and all the hearts of that great company were filled +with fearful, boding dread for Roland. + + + + +III + +ROLAND'S PRIDE + + +Meanwhile King Marsil was gathering all his host. From far and near +came the heathen knights, all impatient to fight, each one eager to +have the honor of slaying Roland with his own hand, each swearing that +none of the twelve peers should ever again see France. + +Among them was a great champion called Chernuble. He was huge and ugly +and his strength was such that he could lift with ease a burden which +four mules could scarcely carry. His face was inky black, his lips +thick and hideous, and his coarse long hair reached the ground. It was +said that in the land from whence he came, the sun never shone, the +rain never fell, and the very stones were black as coal. He too, +swearing that the Franks should die and that France should perish, +joined the heathen host. + +Very splendid were the Saracens as they moved along in the gleaming +sunshine. Gold and silver shone upon their armor, pennons of white and +purple floated over them, and from a thousand trumpets sounded their +battle-song. + +To the ears of the Frankish knights the sound was borne as they rode +through the valley of Roncesvalles. + +"Sir Comrade," said Oliver, "it seemeth me there is battle at hand +with the Saracen foe." + +"Please Heaven it may be so," said Roland. "Our duty is to hold this +post for our Emperor. Let us strike mighty blows, that nothing be said +or sung of us in scorn. Let us fight these heathen for our country and +our faith." + +As Oliver heard the sounds of battle come nearer, he climbed to the +top of the hill, so that he could see far over the country. There +before him he saw the Saracens marching in pride. Their helmets, +inlaid with gold, gleamed in the sun. Gaily painted shields, hauberks +of shining steel, spears and pennons waved and shone, rank upon rank +in countless numbers. + +Quickly Oliver came down from the hill, and went back to the Frankish +army. "I have seen the heathen," he said to Roland. "Never on earth +hath such a host been gathered. They march upon us many hundred +thousand strong, with shield and spear and sword. Such battle as +awaiteth us have we never fought before." + +"Let him be accursed who fleeth!" cried the Franks. "There be few +among us who fear death." + +"It is Ganelon the felon, who hath betrayed us," said Oliver, "let him +be accursed." + +"Hush thee, Oliver," said Roland; "he is my stepsire. Let us hear no +evil of him." + +"The heathen are in fearful force," said Oliver, "and our Franks are +but few. Friend Roland, sound upon thy horn. Then will Charlemagne +hear and return with all his host to help us." + +For round Roland's neck there hung a magic horn of carved ivory. If he +blew upon this in case of need, the sound of it would be carried over +hill and dale, far, far onward. If he sounded it now, Charlemagne +would very surely hear, and return from his homeward march. + +But Roland would not listen to Oliver. "Nay," he said, "I should +indeed be mad to sound upon my horn. If I call for help, I, Roland, I +should lose my fame in all fair France. Nay, I will not sound, but +I shall strike such blows with my good sword Durindal that the blade +shall be red to the gold of the hilt. Our Franks, too, shall strike +such blows that the heathen shall rue the day. I tell thee, they be +all dead men." + +"Oh Roland, friend, wind thy horn," pleaded Oliver. "To the ear of +Charlemagne shall the sound be borne, and he and all his knights will +return to help us." + +"Now Heaven forbid that my kin should ever be pointed at in scorn +because of me," said Roland, "or that fair France should fall to such +dishonor. No! I will not sound upon my horn, but I shall strike such +blows with my sword Durindal that the blade shall be dyed red in the +blood of the heathen." + +In vain Oliver implored. "I see no dishonor shouldst thou wind thy +horn," he said, "for I have beheld the Saracen host. The valleys and +the hills and all the plains are covered with them. They are many and +great, and we are but a little company." + +"So much the better," cried Roland, "my desire to fight them grows +the greater. All the angels of heaven forbid that France, through me, +should lose one jot of fame. Death is better than dishonor. Let us +strike such blows as our Emperor loveth to see." + +Roland was rash as Oliver was wise, but both were knights of wondrous +courage, and now Oliver pleaded no more. "Look," he cried, "look where +the heathen come! Thou hast scorned, Roland, to sound thy horn, and +our noble men will this day do their last deeds of bravery." + +"Hush!" cried Roland, "shame to him who weareth a coward's heart." + +And now Archbishop Turpin spurred his horse to a little hill in +front of the army. "My lords and barons," he cried, turning to them, +"Charlemagne hath left us here to guard the homeward march of his +army. He is our King, and we are bound to die for him, if so need be. +But now, before ye fight, confess your sins, and pray God to forgive +them. If ye die, ye die as martyrs. In God's great paradise your +places await you." + +Then the Franks leapt from their horses and kneeled upon the ground +while the archbishop blessed them, and absolved them from all their +sins. "For penance I command that ye strike the heathen full sore," he +said. + +Then springing from their knees the Franks leapt again into their +saddles, ready now to fight and die. + +"Friend," said Roland, turning to Oliver, "thou wert right. It is +Ganelon who is the traitor. But the Emperor will avenge us upon him. +As for Marsil, he deemeth that he hath bought us, and that Ganelon +hath sold us unto him. But he will find it is with our swords that we +will pay him." + +And now the battle began. "Montjoie!" shouted the Franks. It was the +Emperor's own battle-cry. It means "My joy," and came from the name of +his famous sword Joyeuse or joyous. This sword was the most wonderful +ever seen. Thirty times a day the shimmering light with which it +glowed changed. In the gold of the hilt was encased the head of the +spear with which the side of Christ had been pierced. And because of +this great honor the Emperor called his sword Joyeuse, and from that +the Franks took their battle-cry "Montjoie." Now shouting it, and +plunging spurs into their horses' sides, they dashed upon the foe. +Never before had been such pride of chivalry, such splendor of +knightly grace. + +With boasting words, King Marsil's nephew came riding in front of the +battle. "Ho, felon Franks!" he cried, "ye are met at last. Betrayed +and sold are ye by your King. This day hath France lost her fair fame, +and from Charlemagne is his right hand torn." + +Roland heard him. With spur in side and slackened rein, he dashed upon +the heathen, mad with rage. Through shield and hauberk pierced his +spear, and the Saracen fell dead ere his scoffing words were done. +"Thou dastard!" cried Roland, "no traitor is Charlemagne, but a right +noble king and cavalier." + +King Marsil's brother, sick at heart to see his nephew fall, rode out +with mocking words upon his lips. "This day is the honor of France +lost," he sneered. + +But Oliver struck his golden spurs into his steed's side! "Caitiff, +thy taunts are little worth," he cried, and, pierced through shield +and buckler, the heathen fell. + +Bishop Turpin, too, wielded both sword and lance. "Thou lying coward, +be silent evermore!" he cried, as a scoffing heathen king fell beneath +his blows. "Charlemagne our lord is true and good, and no Frank shall +flee this day." + +"Montjoie! Montjoie!" sounded high above the clang of battle, as +heathen after heathen was laid low. Limbs were lopped, armor flew in +splinters. Many a heathen knight was cloven from brow to saddle bow. +The plain was strewn with the dying and the dead. + +In Roland's hand his lance was shivered to the haft. Throwing the +splintered wood away, he drew his famous Durindal. The naked blade +shone in the sun and fell upon the helmet of Chernuble, Marsil's +mighty champion. The sparkling gems with which it shone were scattered +on the grass. Through cheek and chine, through flesh and bone, drove +the shining steel, and Chernuble fell upon the ground, a black and +hideous heap. "Lie there, caitiff!" cried Roland, "thy Mahomet cannot +save thee. Not unto such as thou is the victory." + +On through the press rode Roland. Durindal flashed and fell and +flashed again, and many a heathen bit the dust. Oliver, too, did +marvelous deeds. His spear, as Roland's, was shivered into atoms. But +scarcely knowing what he did, he fought still with the broken shaft, +and with it brought many a heathen to his death. + +"Comrade, what dost thou?" said Roland. "Is it now the time to fight +with staves? Where is thy sword called Hauteclere with its crystal +pommel and golden guard?" + +"I lacked time in which to draw it," replied Oliver, "there was such +need to strike blows fast and hard." + +But now he drew his shining Hauteclere from its scabbard, and with it +he dealt such blows that Roland cried, "My brother art thou, Oliver, +from henceforth. Ah! such blows our Emperor would dearly love to see." + +Furious and more furious waxed the fight. On all sides might be heard +the cry of "Montjoie! Montjoie!" and many a blow did Frank and heathen +give and take. But although thousands of Saracens lay dead, the Franks +too had lost many of their bravest knights. Shield and spear, banner +and pennon, broken, bloodstained and trampled, strewed the field. + +Fiercer, wilder still, the battle grew. Roland, Oliver, Archbishop +Turpin and all the twelve peers of France fought in the thickest of +the press. Many of the heathen fled, but even in flight they were cut +down. + +Meanwhile over France burst a fearful storm. Thunder rolled, lightning +flashed, the very earth shook and trembled. There was not a town in +all the land but the walls of it were cracked and riven. The sky grew +black at midday, rain and hail in torrents swept the land. "It is the +end of the world," the people whispered in trembling fear. + +Alas, they knew not! It was the earth's great mourning for the death +of Roland, which was nigh. + +The battle waxed horrible. The Saracens fled, and the Franks pursued +till of that great heathen host but one was left. Of the Saracen army +which had set out in such splendor, four hundred thousand strong, one +heathen king alone remained. And he, King Margaris, sorely wounded, +his spear broken, his shield pierced and battered, fled with the +direful news to King Marsil. + +The Franks had won the day, and now mournfully over the plain they +moved, seeking their dead and dying comrades. Weary men and worn were +they, sad at the death of many brother knights, yet glad at the might +and victory of France. + + + + +IV + +ROLAND SOUNDS HIS HORN + + +Alone, King Margaris fled, weary and wounded, until he reached King +Marsil, and fell panting at his feet. + +"Ride! ride! Sire," he cried, "thy army is shattered, thy knights to +the last man lie dead upon the field; but thou wilt find the Franks +in evil plight. Full half of them also lie dead. The rest are sore +wounded and weary. Their armor is broken, their swords and spears are +shattered. They have naught wherewith to defend themselves. To avenge +the death of thy knights were now easy. Ride! oh, ride!" + +In terrible wrath and sorrow King Marsil gathered a new army. In +twenty columns through the valleys they came marching. The sun shone +upon the gems and goldwork of their helmets, upon lances and pennons, +upon buckler and embroidered surcoat. Seven thousand trumpets sounded +to the charge, and the wind carried the clamor afar. + +"Oliver, my comrade," said Roland, when he heard it, "Oliver, my +brother, the traitor Ganelon hath sworn our death. Here his treachery +is plainly to be seen. But the Emperor will bring upon him a terrible +vengeance. As for us, we must fight again a battle fierce and keen. +I will strike with my trusty Durindal and thou with thy Hauteclere +bright. We have already carried them with honor in many battles. With +them we have won many a victory. No man may say scorn of us." + +And so once again the Franks made ready for battle. + +But King Marsil was a wily foe. "Hearken, my barons all," he cried, +"Roland is a prince of wondrous strength. Two battles are not enough +to vanquish him. He shall have three. Half of ye shall go forward now, +and half remain with me until the Franks are utterly exhausted. Then +shall ye attack them. Then shall we see the day when the might of +Charlemagne shall fall and France shall perish in shame." + +So King Marsil stayed upon the hillside while half of his knights +marched upon the Franks with battle-cry and trumpet-call. + +"Oh Heaven, what cometh now!" cried the Franks as they heard the +sound. "Wo, wo, that ever we saw Ganelon the felon." + +Then spoke the brave archbishop to them. "Now it is certain that we +shall die. But it is better to die sword in hand than in slothful +ease. Now is the day when ye shall receive great honor. Now is the +day that ye shall win your crown of flowers. The gates of paradise are +glorious, but therein no coward shall enter." + +"We will not fail to enter," cried the Franks. "It is true that we are +but few, but we are bold and stanch," and striking their golden spurs +into their chargers' flanks, they rode to meet the foe. + +Once more the noise and dust of battle rose. Once more the plain was +strewn with dead, and the green grass was crimson-dyed, and scattered +wide were jewels and gold, splintered weapons, and shattered armor. + +Fearful was the slaughter, mighty the deeds of valor done, until at +last the heathen broke and fled amain. After them in hot pursuit rode +the Franks. Their bright swords flashed and fell again and again, and +all the way was marked with dead. + +At length the heathen cries of despair reached even to where King +Marsil stayed upon the hillside. "Marsil, oh our King! ride, ride, we +have need of thee!" they cried. + +Even to the King's feet the Franks pursued the fleeing foe, slaying +them before his face. + +Then Marsil, mounting upon his horse, led his last knights against the +fearful foe. + +The Franks were nigh exhausted, but still three hundred swords +flashed in the sunlight, three hundred hearts still beat with hope and +courage. + +As Roland watched Oliver ever in the thickest of the fight, dealing +blow upon blow unceasingly, his heart swelled anew with love for him. +"Oh, my comrade leal and true," he cried, "alas! this day shall end +our love. Alas! this day we shall part on earth for ever." + +Oliver heard him and through the press of fighting he urged his horse +to Roland's side. "Friend," he said, "keep near to me. So it please +God we shall at least die together." + +On went the fight, fiercer and fiercer yet, till but sixty weary +Franks were left. Then, sadly gazing upon the stricken field, Roland +turned to Oliver. "Behold! our bravest lie dead," he cried. "Well may +France weep, for she is shorn of all her most valiant knights. Oh my +Emperor, my friend, alas, why wert thou not here? Oliver, my brother, +how shall we speed him now our mournful news?" + +"I know not," said Oliver sadly, "rather come death now than any +craven deed." + +"I will sound upon my horn," said Roland, all his pride broken and +gone. "I will sound upon my horn. Charlemagne will hear it and the +Franks will return to our aid." + +"Shame would that be," cried Oliver. "Our kin would blush for us and +be dishonored all their days. When I prayed of thee thou wouldst not +sound thy horn, and now it is not I who will consent to it. Sound +upon thy horn! No! there is no courage, no wisdom in that now. Had the +Emperor been here we had been saved. But now it is too late, for all +is lost. Nay," he cried in rising wrath, "if ever I see again my fair +sister Aude, I swear to thee thou shalt never hold her in thine +arms. Never shall she be bride of thine." For Roland loved Oliver's +beautiful sister Aude and was loved by her, and when Roland would +return to France she had promised to be his bride. + +"Ah, Oliver, why dost thou speak to me with so much anger and hate," +cried Roland sadly. + +"Because it is thy fault that so many Franks lie dead this day," +answered Oliver. "It is thy folly that hath slain them. Hadst thou +done as I prayed thee our master Charlemagne had been here. This +battle had been fought and won. Marsil had been taken and slain. Thy +madness it is, Roland, that hath wrought our fate. Henceforward we +can serve Charlemagne never more. And now here endeth our loyal +friendship. Oh, bitter the parting this night shall see." + +With terrible grief in his heart, stricken dumb with misery and pain, +Roland gazed upon his friend. But Archbishop Turpin had heard the +strife between the two, and setting spurs to his horse he rode swiftly +towards them. "Sir Roland, and you, Sir Oliver," he cried, "I pray you +strive not thus. See! we all must die, and thy horn, Roland, can avail +nothing now. Great Karl is too far and would return too late. Yet it +were well to sound it. For the Emperor when he hears it will come to +avenge our fall, and the heathen will not return joyously to their +homes. When the Franks come, they will alight from their horses, they +will find our bodies, and will bury them with mourning and with tears, +so we shall rest in hallowed graves, and the beasts of the field shall +not tear our bones asunder." + +"It is well said," cried Roland. + +Then to his lips he laid his horn, and taking a deep breath he blew +mightily upon it. With all the strength left in his weary body he +blew. + +Full, and clear, and high the horn sounded. From mountain peak to +mountain peak the note was echoed, till to the camp of Charlemagne, +full thirty leagues away, it came. + +Then as he heard it, sweet and faint, borne upon the summer wind, the +Emperor drew rein, and bent his ear to listen. "Our men give battle; +it is the horn of Roland," he cried. + +"Nay," laughed Ganelon scornfully, "nay, Sire, had any man but thee +said it I had deemed he lied." + +So slowly and sad at heart, with many a backward glance, the Emperor +rode on. + +Again Roland put his horn to his mouth. He was weary now and faint. +Blood was upon his pale lips, the blue veins in his temples stood out +like cords. Very mournfully he blew upon his horn, but the sound of it +was carried far, very far, although it was so feeble and so low. + +Again to the soft, sweet note Charlemagne bent his ear. Duke Naimes, +too, and all the Frankish knights, paused at the sound. "It is the +horn of Roland," cried the Emperor, "and very surely had there been no +battle, he had not sounded it." + +"There is no battle," said Ganelon in fretful tones. "Thou art grown +old and fearful. Thou talkest as a frightened child. Well thou knowest +the pride of Roland, the strong, bold, great and boastful Roland, that +God hath suffered so long upon His earth. For one hare Roland would +sound his horn all day long. Doubtless now he laughs among his peers. +And besides, who would dare to attack Roland? Who so bold? Of a truth +there is none. Ride on, Sire, ride on. Why halt? Our fair land is +still very far in front." + +So again, yet more unwillingly, the Emperor rode on. + +Crimson-stained were the lips of Roland. His cheeks were sunken and +white, yet once again he raised his horn. Faintly now, in sadness and +in anguish, once again he blew. The soft, sweet notes took on a tone +so pitiful, they wrung the very heart of Charlemagne, where, full +thirty leagues afar, he onward rode. + +"That horn is very long of breath," he sighed, looking backward +anxiously. + +"It is Roland," cried Duke Naimes. "It is Roland who suffers yonder. +On my soul, I swear, there is battle. Some one hath betrayed him. If I +mistake not, it is he who now deceives thee. Arm, Sire, arm! Sound +the trumpets of war. Long enough hast thou hearkened to the plaint of +Roland." + +Quickly the Emperor gave command. Quickly the army turned about, and +came marching backward. The evening sunshine fell upon their pennons +of crimson, gold and blue, it gleamed upon helmet and corslet, upon +lance and shield. Fiercely rode the knights. "Oh, if we but reach +Roland before he die," they cried, "oh, what blows we will strike for +him." + +Alas! alas! they are late, too late! + +The evening darkened, night came, yet on they rode. Through all the +night they rode, and when at length the rising sun gleamed like +flame upon helmet, and hauberk and flowing pennon, they still pressed +onward. + +Foremost the Emperor rode, sunk in sad thought, his fingers twisted +in his long white beard which flowed over his cuirass, his eyes filled +with tears. Behind him galloped his knights--strong men though they +were, every one of them with a sob in his throat, a prayer in his +heart, for Roland, Roland the brave and fearless. + +One knight only had anger in his heart. That knight was Ganelon. And +he by order of the Emperor had been given over to the keeping of the +kitchen knaves. Calling the chief among them, "Guard me well this +felon," said Charlemagne, "guard him as a traitor, who hath sold all +mine house to death." + +Then the chief scullion and a hundred of his fellows surrounded +Ganelon. They plucked him by the hair and buffeted him, each man +giving him four sounding blows. Around his neck they then fastened a +heavy chain, and leading him as one might lead a dancing bear, they +set him upon a common baggage-horse. Thus they kept him until the time +should come that Charlemagne would ask again for the felon knight. + + + + +V + +THE RETURN OF CHARLEMAGNE + + +Roland was dead and bright angels had already carried his soul to +heaven, when Charlemagne and all his host at last rode into the valley +of Roncesvalles. What a dreadful sight was there! Not a path nor +track, not a yard nor foot of ground but was covered with slain Franks +and heathen lying side by side in death. + +Charlemagne gazed upon the scene with grief and horror. "Where art +thou, Roland?" he called. "The archbishop, where is he? Oliver, where +art thou?" All the twelve peers he called by name. But none answered. +The wind moaned over the field, fluttering here and there a fallen +banner, but voice to answer there was none. + +"Alas," sighed Charlemagne, "what sorrow is mine that I was not here +ere this battle was fought!" + +In and out of his long white beard his fingers twisted, and tears of +grief and anger stood in his eyes. Behind him, rank upon rank, crowded +his knights and barons full of wrath and sorrow. Not one among them +but had lost a son or brother, a friend or comrade. For a time they +stood dumb with grief and horror. + +Then spoke Duke Naimes. Wise in counsel, brave in battle was he. +"Look, Sire," he cried, "look where two leagues from us the dust +arises upon the great highway. There is gathered the army of the +heathen. Ride, Sire, ride and avenge our wrongs." + +And so it was, for those who had fled from the battle-field were +gathered together and were now crowding onward to Saragossa. + +"Alas!" said Charlemagne, "they are already far away. Yet they have +taken from me the very flower of France, so for the sake of right and +honor I will do as thou desirest." + +Then the Emperor called to him four of his chief barons. "Rest here," +he said, "guard the field, the valleys and the hills. Leave the dead +lying as they are, but watch well that neither lion nor any other +savage beast come nigh to them. Neither shall any servant or squire +touch them. I forbid ye to let man lay hand upon them till we return." + +"Sire we will do thy will," answered the four. + +Then, leaving a thousand knights to be with them, Charlemagne sounded +his war trumpets, and the army set forth upon the pursuit of the +heathen. Furiously they rode and fast, but already the foe was far. +Anxiously the Emperor looked to the sun as it slowly went down toward +the west. Night was at hand and the enemy still afar. + +Then, alighting from his horse, Charlemagne kneeled upon the green +grass. "Oh Lord, I pray thee," he cried, "make the sun to stop. Say +thou to the night, 'wait.' Say thou to the day, 'remain.'" And as the +Emperor prayed, his guardian angel stooped down and whispered to him, +"Ride onward, Charlemagne! Light shall not fail thee. Thou hast lost +the flower of France. The Lord knoweth it right well. But thou canst +now avenge thee upon the wicked. Ride!" + +Hearing these words, Charlemagne sprang once more to horse and rode +onward. + +And truly a miracle was done for him. The sun stood motionless in +the sky, the heathen fled, the Franks pursued, until in the Valley of +Darkness they fell upon them and beat them with great slaughter. The +heathen still fled, but the Franks surrounded them, closing every +path, and in front flowed the river Ebro wide and deep. Across it +there was no bridge, upon it no boat, no barge. Calling upon their +gods Tervagan and Apollin and upon Mahomet to save them, the heathen +threw themselves into the water. But there no safety they found. +Many, weighted with their heavy armor, sank beneath the waves. Others, +carried by the tide, were swept away, and all were drowned, King +Marsil alone fleeing towards Saragossa. + +When Charlemagne saw that all his enemies were slain, he leapt from +his horse, and, kneeling upon the ground, gave thanks to Heaven. And +even as he rose from his knees the sun went down and all the land was +dim in twilight. + +"Now is the hour of rest," said the Emperor. "It is too late to return +to Roncesvalles, for our steeds are weary and exhausted. Take off +their saddles and their bridles, and let them refresh themselves upon +the field." + +"Sire, it is well said," replied the Franks. + +So the knights, leaping from their horses, took saddle and bridle +from them, and let them wander free upon the green meadows by the +river-side. Then, being very weary, the Franks lay down upon the +grass, all dressed as they were in their armor, and with their swords +girded to their sides, and slept. So worn were they with battle and +with grief, that none that night kept watch, but all alike slept. + +The Emperor too slept upon the ground among his knights and barons. +Like them he lay in his armor. And his good sword Joyeuse was girt +about him. + +The night was clear and the moon shone brightly. And Charlemagne, +lying on the grass, thought bitterly of Roland and of Oliver, and +of all the twelve peers of France who lay dead upon the field of +Roncesvalles. But at last, overcome with grief and weariness, he fell +asleep. + +As the Emperor slept, he dreamed. He thought he saw the sky grow black +with thunder-clouds, then jagged lightning flashed and flamed, hail +fell and wild winds howled. Such a storm the earth had never seen, +and suddenly in all its fury it burst upon his army. Their lances +were wrapped in flame, their shields of gold were melted, hauberks +and helmets were crushed to pieces. Then bears and wolves from out +the forests sprang upon the dismayed knights, devouring them. +Monsters untold, serpents, fiery fiends, and more than thirty thousand +griffins, all rushed upon the Franks with greedy, gaping jaws. + +"Arm! arm! Sire," they cried to him. And Charlemagne, in his dream, +struggled to reach his knights. But something, he knew not what, held +him bound and helpless. Then from out the depths of the forest a lion +rushed upon him. It was a fierce, terrible, and proud beast. It seized +upon the Emperor, and together they struggled, he fighting with his +naked hands. Who would win, who would be beaten, none knew, for the +dream passed and the Emperor still slept. + +Again Charlemagne dreamed. He stood, he thought, upon the marble steps +of his great palace of Aix holding a bear by a double chain. Suddenly +out of the forest there came thirty other bears to the foot of the +steps where Charlemagne stood. They all had tongues and spoke like +men. "Give him back to us, Sire," they said, "he is our kinsman, and +we must help him. It is not right that thou shouldest keep him so long +from us." + +Then from out the palace there came a hound. Bounding among the savage +beasts he threw himself upon the largest of them. Over and over upon +the grass they rolled, fighting terribly. Who would be the victor, who +the vanquished? Charlemagne could not tell. The vision passed, and he +slept till daybreak. + +As the first dim light of dawn crept across the sky, Charlemagne +awoke. Soon all the camp was astir, and before the sun rose high the +knights were riding back over the wide roads to Roncesvalles. + +When once again they reached the dreadful field, Charlemagne wandered +over all the plain until he came where Roland lay. Then taking him in +his arms he made great moan. "My friend, my Roland, who shall now lead +my army? My nephew, beautiful and brave, my pride, my glory, all are +gone. Alas the day! alas!" Thus with tears and cries he mourned his +loss. + +Then said one, "Sire, grieve not overmuch. Command rather that we +search the plain and gather together all our men who have been slain +by the heathen. Then let us bury them with chant, and song and solemn +ceremony, as befits such heroes." + +"Yea," said Charlemagne, "it is well said. Sound your trumpets!" + +So the trumpets were sounded, and over all the field the Franks +searched, gathering their slain brothers and comrades. + +With the army there were many bishops, abbots and monks, and so with +chant and hymn, with prayer and incense, the Franks were laid to rest. +With great honor they were buried. Then, for they could do no more, +their comrades left them. + +Only the bodies of Roland, Oliver and Archbishop Turpin, they did +not lay in Spanish ground. In three white marble coffins covered with +silken cloths they were placed on chariots, ready to be carried back +to the fair land of France. + + + + + + +HERO OF SPAIN + + + + +THE CID + +ADAPTED BY ROBERT SOUTHEY + + + + +I + +RODRIGO AND THE LEPER + + +Rodrigo forthwith set out upon the road, and took with him twenty +knights. And as he went he did great good, and gave alms, feeding the +poor and needy. And upon the way they found a leper, struggling in a +quagmire, who cried out to them with a loud voice to help him for the +love of God; and when Rodrigo heard this, he alighted from his beast +and helped him, and placed him upon the beast before him, and carried +him with him in this manner to the inn where he took up his lodging +that night. At this were his knights little pleased. + +When supper was ready he bade his knights take their seats, and he +took the leper by the hand, and seated him next himself, and ate with +him out of the same dish. The knights were greatly offended at this +foul sight, insomuch that they rose up and left the chamber. But +Rodrigo ordered a bed to be made ready for himself and for the leper, +and they twain slept together. When it was midnight and Rodrigo was +fast asleep, the leper breathed against him between his shoulders, and +that breath was so strong that it passed through him, even through his +breast; and he awoke, being astounded, and felt for the leper by him, +and found him not; and he began to call him, but there was no reply. +Then he arose in fear, and called for a light, and it was brought him; +and he looked for the leper and could see nothing; so he returned +into the bed, leaving the light burning. And he began to think within +himself what had happened, and of that breath which had passed through +him, and how the leper was not there. After a while, as he was thus +musing, there appeared before him one in white garments, who said +unto him, "Sleepest thou or wakest thou, Rodrigo?" and he answered and +said, "I do not sleep: but who art thou that bringest with thee such +brightness and so sweet an odor?" Said he, "I am Saint Lazarus, and +know that I was a leper to whom thou didst so much good and so great +honor for the love of God; and because thou didst this for his sake +hath God now granted thee a great gift; for whensoever that breath +which thou hast felt shall come upon thee, whatever thing thou +desirest to do, and shalt then begin, that shalt thou accomplish to +thy heart's desire, whether it be in battle or aught else, so that thy +honor shall go on increasing from day to day; and thou shalt be feared +both by Moors and Christians, and thy enemies shall never prevail +against thee, and thou shalt die an honorable death in thine own +house, and in thy renown, for God hath blessed thee therefore go +thou on, and evermore persevere in doing good;" and with that he +disappeared. And Rodrigo arose and prayed to our lady and intercessor +St. Mary, that she would pray to her blessed son for him to watch over +his body and soul in all his undertakings; and he continued in prayer +till the day broke. Then he proceeded on his way, and performed his +pilgrimage, doing much good for the love of God and of St. Mary. + + + + +II + +THE KNIGHTING OF RODRIGO + + +Now it came to pass that while the King lay before Coimbra, there came +a pilgrim from the land of Greece on pilgrimage to Santiago; his name +was Estiano, and he was a bishop. And as he was praying in the church +he heard certain of the townsmen and of the pilgrims saying that +Santiago was wont to appear in battle like a knight, in aid of the +Christians. And when he heard this, it nothing pleased him, and +he said unto them, "Friends, call him not a knight, but rather a +fisherman." Upon this it pleased God that he should fall asleep, +and in his sleep Santiago appeared to him with a good and cheerful +countenance, holding in his hand a bunch of keys, and said unto him, +"Thou thinkest it a fable that they should call me a knight, and +sayest that I am not so: for this reason am I come unto thee that +thou never more mayest doubt concerning my knighthood; for a knight of +Jesus Christ I am, and a helper of the Christians against the Moors." + +Then a horse was brought him the which was exceeding white, and the +apostle Santiago mounted upon it, being well clad in bright and fair +armor, after the manner of a knight. And he said to Estiano, "I go +to help King Don Ferrando, who has lain these seven months before +Coimbra, and to-morrow, with these keys which thou seest, will I open +the gates of the city unto him at the third hour, and deliver it into +his hand." Having said this, he departed. And the bishop, when he woke +in the morning, called together the clergy and people of Compostella, +and told them what he had seen and heard. And as he said, even so did +it come to pass; for tidings came, that on that day, and at the third +hour, the gates of the city had been opened. + +King Don Ferrando then assembled his counts and chief captains, and +told them all that the monks of Lorvam had done, in bringing him to +besiege the city, and in supplying his army in their time of need: and +the counts and chief captains made answer and said, "Certes, O King, +if the monks had not given us the stores of their monastery, thou +couldest not have taken the city at this time." The King then called +for the abbot and the brethren, for they were with him in the host, +and said the hours to him daily, and mass in St. Andre's, and buried +there and in their monastery as many as had died during the siege, +either of arrow-wounds or by lances, or of their own infirmities. So +they came before him and gave him joy of his conquest; and he said +unto them, "Take ye now of this city as much as ye desire, since by +God's favor and your counsel I have won it." But they made answer, +"Thanks be to God and to you, and to your forefathers, we have enough +and shall have, if so be that we have your favor and dwell among +Christians. Only for the love of God, and for the remedy of your own +soul, give us one church with its dwelling-houses within the city, +and confirm unto us the gifts made to us in old times by your +forefathers." + +With that the King turned to his sons and his soldiers, and said, "Of +a truth, by our Creator, they who desire so little are men of God. I +would have given them half the city, and they will have only a single +church! Now therefore, since they require but this, on the part of +God Almighty let us grant and confirm unto them what they ask, to +the honor of God and St. Mamede." And the brethren brought him their +charters of King Ramiro, and King Bermudo, and King Alfonso, and +of Gonzalo Moniz, who was a knight and married a daughter of King +Bermudo, and of other good men. And the King confirmed them, and he +bade them make a writing of all which had passed between him and them +at the siege of Coimbra; and when they brought him the writing, they +brought him also a crown of silver and of gold, which had been King +Bermudo's, and which Gonzalo Moniz had given to the monastery in honor +of God and St. Mamede. + +The King saw the crown, set with precious stones, and said, "To what +end bring ye hither this crown?" And they said, "That you should +take it, sire, in return for the good which you have done us." But he +answered, "Far be it from me that I should take from your monastery +what the good men before me have given to it! Take ye back the crown, +and take also ten marks of silver, and make with the money a good +cross, to remain with you forever. And he who shall befriend you, may +God befriend him; but he who shall disturb you or your monastery, may +he be cursed by the living God and by his saints." So the King signed +the writing which he had commanded to be made, and his sons and chief +captains signed it also, and in the writing he enjoined his children +and his children's children, as many as should come after him, to +honor and protect the monastery of Lorvam; upon his blessing he +charged them so to do, because he had found the brethren better than +all the other monks in his dominions. + +Then King Don Ferrando knighted Rodrigo of Bivar in the great mosque +of Coimbra, which he dedicated to St. Mary. And the ceremony was after +this manner: the King girded on his sword, and gave him the kiss, but +not the blow. To do him honor the Queen gave him his horse, and the +Infanta Dona Urraca fastened on his spurs; and from that day forth he +was called Ruydiez. Then the King commanded him to knight nine noble +squires with his own hand; and he took his sword before the altar, +and knighted them. The King then gave Coimbra to the keeping of +Don Sisnando, Bishop of Iria; a man who, having more hardihood than +religion, had by reason of his misdeeds gone over to the Moors, and +sorely infested the Christians in Portugal. But during the siege he +had come to the King's service, and bestirred himself well against the +Moors; and therefore the King took him into his favor, and gave him +the city to keep, which he kept, and did much evil to the Moors till +the day of his death. And the King departed and went to Compostella, +to return thanks to Santiago. + +But then Benalfagi, who was the lord of many lands in Estremadura, +gathered together a great power of the Moors and built up the walls of +Montemor, and from thence waged war against Coimbra, so that they of +Coimbra called upon the King for help. And the King came up against +the town, and fought against it, and took it. Great honor did Ruydiez +win at that siege; for having to protect the foragers, the enemy came +out upon him, and thrice in one day was he beset by them; but he, +though sorely pressed by them, and in great peril, nevertheless +would not send to the camp for succor, but put forth his manhood and +defeated them. And from that day che King gave more power into his +hands, and made him head over all his household. + +Now the men of Leon besought the King that he should repeople Zamora, +which had lain desolate since it was destroyed by Almanzor. And he +went thither and peopled the city, and gave to it good privileges. +And while he was there came messengers from the five kings who were +vassals to Ruydiez of Bivar, bringing him their tribute; and they came +to him, he being with the King, and called him Cid, which signifieth +lord, and would have kissed his hands, but he would not give them his +hand till they had kissed the hand of the King. And Ruydiez took the +tribute and offered the fifth thereof to the King, in token of his +sovereignty; and the King thanked him, but would not receive it; +and from that time he ordered that Ruydiez should be called the Cid, +because the Moors had so called him. + + + + +III + +HOW THE CID MADE A COWARD INTO A BRAVE MAN + + +At this time Martin Pelaez the Asturian came with a convoy of laden +beasts, carrying provisions to the host of the Cid; and as he passed +near the town the Moors sallied out in great numbers against him; but +he, though he had few with him, defended the convoy right well, and +did great hurt to the Moors, slaying many of them, and drove them into +the town. This Martin Pelaez who is here spoken of, did the Cid make +a right good knight, of a coward, as ye shall hear. When the Cid first +began to lay seige to the city of Valencia, this Martin Pelaez came +unto him; he was a knight, a native of Santillana in Asturias, a +hidalgo, great of body and strong of limb, a well-made man and of +goodly semblance, but withal a right coward at heart, which he had +shown in many places when he was among feats of arms. And the Cid +was sorry when he came unto him, though he would not let him perceive +this; for he knew he was not fit to be of his company. Howbeit he +thought that since he was come, he would make him brave, whether he +would or not. + +When the Cid began to war upon the town, and sent parties against it +twice and thrice a day, for the Cid was alway upon the alert, there +was fighting and tourneying every day. One day it fell out that the +Cid and his kinsmen and friends and vassals were engaged in a great +encounter, and this Martin Pelaez was well armed; and when he saw that +the Moors and Christians were at it, he fled and betook himself to his +lodging, and there hid himself till the Cid returned to dinner. And +the Cid saw what Martin Pelaez did, and when he had conquered the +Moors he returned to his lodging to dinner. Now it was the custom of +the Cid to eat at a high table, seated on his bench, at the head. And +Don Alvar Fanez, and Pero Bermudez, and other precious knights, ate in +another part, at high tables, full honorably, and none other knights +whatsoever dared take their seats with them, unless they were such as +deserved to be there; and the others who were not so approved in arms +ate upon _estrados_, at tables with cushions. This was the order in +the house of the Cid, and every one knew the place where he was to +sit at meat, and every one strove all he could to gain the honor +of sitting at the table of Don Alvar Fanez and his companions, by +strenuously behaving himself in all feats of arms; and thus the honor +of the Cid was advanced. + +Martin Pelaez, thinking none had seen his badness, washed his hands +in turn with the other knights, and would have taken his place among +them. And the Cid went unto him, and took him by the hand and said, +"You are not such a one as deserves to sit with these, for they are +worth more than you or than me; but I will have you with me:" and he +seated him with himself at table. And he, for lack of understanding, +thought that the Cid did this to honor him above all the others. On +the morrow the Cid and his company rode towards Valencia, and the +Moors came out to the tourney; and Martin Pelaez went out well armed, +and was among the foremost who charged the Moors, and when he was in +among them he turned the reins, and went back to his lodging; and +the Cid took heed to all that he did, and saw that though he had done +badly he had done better than the first day. And when the Cid had +driven the Moors into the town he returned to his lodging, and as he +sat down to meat he took this Martin Pelaez by the hand, and seated +him with himself, and bade him eat with him in the same dish, for he +had deserved more that day than he had the first. And the knight +gave heed to that saying, and was abashed; howbeit he did as the Cid +commanded him: and after he had dined he went to his lodging and began +to think upon what the Cid had said unto him, and perceived that he +had seen all the baseness which he had done; and then he understood +that for this cause he would not let him sit at board with the other +knights who were precious in arms, but had seated him with himself, +more to affront him than to do him honor, for there were other knights +there better than he, and he did not show them that honor. Then +resolved he in his heart to do better than he had done heretofore. + +Another day it happened that the Cid and his company, along with +Martin Pelaez, rode toward Valencia, and the Moors came out to the +tourney full resolutely, and Martin Pelaez was among the first, and +charged them right boldly; and he smote down and slew presently a good +knight, and he lost there all the bad fear which he had had, and was +that day one of the best knights there: and as long as the tourney +lasted there he remained, smiting and slaying and overthrowing the +Moors, till they were driven within the gates, in such manner that the +Moors marveled at him, and asked where that devil came from, for they +had never seen him before. And the Cid was in a place where he could +see all that was going on, and he gave good heed to him, and had great +pleasure in beholding him, to see how well he had forgotten the great +fear which he was wont to have. And when the Moors were shut up within +the town, the Cid and all his people returned to their lodging, and +Martin Pelaez full leisurely and quietly went to his lodging also, +like a good knight. And when it was the hour of eating, the Cid waited +for Martin Pelaez; and when he came, and they had washed, the Cid +took him by the hand and said, "My friend, you are not such a one as +deserves to sit with me from henceforth; but sit you here with Don +Alvar Fanez, and with these other good knights, for the good feats +which you have done this day have made you a companion for them;" and +from that day forward he was placed in the company of the good. + +The history saith that from that day forward this knight Martin Pelaez +was a right good one, and a right valiant, and a right precious, in +all places where he chanced among feats of arms, and he lived alway +with the Cid, and served him right well and truly. And the history +saith, that after the Cid had won the city of Valencia, on the day +when they conquered and discomfited the King of Seville, this Martin +Pelaez was so good a one, that setting aside the body of the Cid +himself, there was no such good knight there, nor one who bore such +part, as well in the battle as in the pursuit. And so great was +the mortality which he made among the Moors that day, that when he +returned from the business the sleeves of his mail were clotted with +blood, up to the elbow; insomuch that for what he did that day his +name is written in this history, that it may never die. And when the +Cid saw him come in that guise, he did him great honor, such as he +never had done to any knight before that day, and from thenceforward +gave him a place in all his actions and in all his secrets, and he +was his great friend. In this knight Martin Pelaez was fulfilled the +example which saith, that he who betaketh himself to a good tree, hath +good shade, and he who serves a good lord winneth good guerdon; for by +reason of the good service which he did the Cid, he came to such good +state that he was spoken of as ye have heard: for the Cid knew how to +make a good knight, as a good groom knows how to make a good horse. + + + + +IV + +HOW THE CID RULED VALENCIA + + +On the following day after the Christians had taken possession of the +town, the Cid entered it with a great company, and he ascended the +highest tower of the wall and beheld all the city; and the Moors came +unto him, and kissed his hand, saying he was welcome. And the Cid did +great honor unto them. And then he gave order that all the windows of +the towers which looked in upon the town should be closed up, that the +Christians might not see what the Moors did in their houses; and the +Moors thanked him for this greatly. And he commanded and requested the +Christians that they should show great honor to the Moors, and respect +them, and greet them when they met: and the Moors thanked the Cid +greatly for the honor which the Christians did them, saying that they +had never seen so good a man, nor one so honorable, nor one who had +his people under such obedience. + +Now Abeniaf thought to have the love of the Cid; and calling to mind +the wrath with which he had formerly been received, because he had +not taken a gift with him, he took now great riches which he had taken +from those who sold bread for so great a price during the siege of +Valencia, and this he carried to the Cid as a present. Among those +who had sold it were some men from the islands of Majorca, and he +took from them all that they had. This the Cid knew, and he would not +accept his gifts. And the Cid caused proclamation to be made in the +town and throughout the whole district thereof, that the honorable men +and knights and castellans should assemble together in the garden of +Villa Nueva, where the Cid at that time sojourned. And when they were +all assembled, he went out unto them, to a place which was made ready +with carpets and with mats, and he made them take their seats before +him full honorable, and began to speak unto them, saying: "I am a +man who have never possessed a kingdom, neither I nor any man of my +lineage. But the day when I first beheld this city I was well pleased +therewith, and coveted it that I might be its lord; and I besought the +Lord our God that he would give it me. See now what his power is, for +the day when I sat down before Juballa I had no more than four loaves +of bread, and now by God's mercy I have won Valencia. + +"If I administer right and justice here, God will let me enjoy it; if +I do evil, and demean myself proudly and wrongfully, I know that he +will take it away. Now then, let every one go to his own lands, and +possess them even as he was wont to have and to hold them. He who +shall find his field, or his vineyard, or his garden, desert, let him +incontinently enter thereon; and he who shall find his husbanded, let +him pay him that hath cultivated it the cost of his labor, and of +the seed which he hath sown therein, and remain with his heritage, +according to the law of the Moors. Moreover, I have given order that +they who collect my dues take from you no more than the tenth, because +so it is appointed by the custom of the Moors, and it is what ye +have been wont to pay. And I have resolved in my heart to hear your +complaints two days in the week, on the Monday and the Thursday; but +if causes should arise which require haste, come to me when ye will +and I will give judgment, for I do not retire with women to sing and +to drink, as your lords have done, so that ye could obtain no justice, +but will myself see to these things, and watch over ye as friend +over his friend, and kinsman over his kinsman. And I will be cadi and +guazil, and when dispute happens among ye I will decide it." When +he had said these things, they all replied that they prayed God +to preserve him through long and happy years; and four of the most +honorable among them arose and kissed his hands, and the Cid bade them +take their seats again. + +Then the Cid spake unto them and said: "It is told me that Abeniaf +hath done much evil, and committed great wrong toward some of ye, in +that he hath taken great riches from ye to present them to me, saying, +that this he did because ye sold food for a great price during the +siege. But I will accept no such gift; for if I were minded to have +your riches, I could take them, and need not ask them neither from +him, nor from any other; but thing so unseemly as to take that which +is his from any one, without just cause, I will not do. They who have +gotten wealth thus, God hath given it them; let them go to Abeniaf, +and take back what he hath forced from them, for I will order him to +restore the whole." Then he said, "Ye see the riches which I took from +the messengers who went to Murcia; it is mine by right, for I took it +in war because they brake the covenant which they had made, and would +have deceived me: nevertheless I will restore it to the uttermost +centesimo, that nothing thereof shall be lost. And ye shall do homage +to me that ye will not withdraw yourselves, but will abide here, and +do my bidding in all things, and never depart from the covenant which +ye make with me; for I love ye, and am grieved to think of the great +evil and misery which ye endured from the great famine, and of the +mortality which there was. And if ye had done that before which ye +have done now, ye would not have been brought to these sufferings +and have bought the _cafiz_ of wheat at a thousand _maravedis_; but I +trust in God to bring it to one _maravedi_. Be ye now secure in your +lands, and till your fields, and rear cattle; for I have given order +to my men that they offer ye no wrong, neither enter into the town to +buy nor to sell; but that they carry on all their dealings in Alcudia, +and this I do that ye may receive no displeasure. Moreover I command +them not to take any captive into the town, but if this should be +done, lay ye hands on the captive and set him free, without fear, and +if any one should resist, kill him and fear not. I myself will not +enter your city nor dwell therein, but I will build me a place beside +the bridge of Alcantara, where I may go and disport myself at times, +and repair when it is needful." When he had said these things he bade +them go their way. + +Well pleased were the Moors when they departed from him, and they +marveled at the greatness of his promises, and they set their hearts +at rest, and put away the fear which they had had, thinking all their +troubles were over; for in all the promises which the Cid had made +unto them, they believed that he spake truth; but he said these things +only to quiet them, and to make them come to what he wished, even as +came to pass. And when he had done, he sent his Almoxarife, Abdalla +Adiz, to the custom-house, and made him appoint men to collect the +rents of the town for him, which was done accordingly. And when the +Cid had given order concerning his own affairs at his pleasure, the +Moors would fain have entered again into possession of their heritages +as he told them; but they found it all otherwise, for of all the +fields which the Christians had husbanded, they would not yield up +one; albeit they let them enter upon such as were left waste: some +said that the Cid had given them the lands that year, instead of their +pay, and other some that they rented them and had paid rent for the +year. + +The Moors waited till Thursday, when the Cid was to hear complaints, +as he had said unto them. When Thursday came all the honorable men +went to the garden, but the Cid sent to say unto them that he could +not come out that day, because of other causes which he had to +determine; and he desired that they would go their way for that time, +and come again on the Monday: this was to show his mastery. And when +it was Monday they assembled again in the garden, and the Cid came +out to them, and took his seat upon the _estrado_, and the Moors +made their complaint. And when he had heard them he began to make +similitudes, and offer reasons which were not like those which he had +spoken the first day; for he said to them, "I ask of ye, whether it is +well that I should be left without men? or if I were without them, I +should be like unto one who hath lost his right arm, or to a bird that +hath no wings, or to one who should do battle and hath neither +spear nor sword. The first thing which I have to look to is to the +well-being of my people, that they may live in wealth and honor, so +that they may be able to serve me, and defend my honor: for since it +has pleased God to give me the city of Valencia, I will not that there +be any other lord here than me. Therefore I say unto you and command +you, if you would be well with me, and would that I should show favor +unto you, that ye see how to deliver that traitor Abeniaf into my +hands. Ye all know the great treason which he committed upon King +Yahia, his lord and yours, how he slew him, and the misery which he +brought upon you in the siege; and since it is not fitting that a +traitor who hath slain his lord should live among you, and that his +treason should be confounded with your loyalty, see to the obeyment of +my command." + +When the honorable Moors heard this, they were dismayed; verily +they knew that he spake truth touching the death of the King, but it +troubled them that he departed form the promise which he had made; and +they made answer that they would take counsel concerning what he had +said, and then reply. Then five of the best and most honorable among +them withdrew, and went to Abdalla Adiz, and said unto him, "Give us +thy counsel now the best and truest that thou canst, for thou art of +our law, and oughtest to do this: and the reason why we ask counsel of +thee is this. The Cid promised us many things, and now behold he says +nothing to us of what he said before, but moveth other new reasons, at +which great dismay hath seized us. And because thou better knowest his +ways, tell us now what is his pleasure, for albeit we might wish to +do otherwise, this is not a time wherein anything but what he shall +command can be done." When the Almoxarife heard this he made answer, +"Good men, it is easy to understand what he would have, and to do what +should be done. We all know the great treason which Abeniaf committed +against ye all in killing your lord the King; for albeit at that time +ye felt the burden of the Christians, yet was it nothing so great as +after he had killed him, neither did ye suffer such misery. And since +God hath brought him who was the cause to this state, see now by all +means how ye may deliver him into the hands of the Cid; and fear +not, neither take thought for the rest; for though the Cid may do his +pleasure in some things, better is it to have him for lord than this +traitor who hath brought so much evil upon ye. Moreover the things +of this world soon pass away, and my heart tells me that we shall ere +long come out of the bondage of the Cid, and of the Christians; for +the Cid is well-nigh at the full of his days, and we who remain alive +after his death shall then be masters of our city." + +The good men thanked him much, and held themselves to be well advised, +and said that they would do willingly what he bade them; and they +returned forthwith to the Cid, and said unto him that they would +fulfill his commandment. Incontinently did the good men dispeed +themselves of the Cid, and they went into the city, and gathered +together a great posse of armed men, and went to the place where +Abeniaf dwelt; and they assaulted the house and brake the doors, and +entered in and laid hands on him, and his son, and all his company, +and carried them before the Cid. And the Cid ordered Abeniaf to be +cast into prison, and all those who had taken counsel with him for the +death of King Yahia. + +When this was done, the Cid said unto the good men, "Now that ye have +fulfilled my bidding, I hold it good to show favor unto you in that +which ye yourselves shall understand to be fitting for me to grant. +Say therefore what ye would have, and I will do that which I think +behooveth me: but in this manner, that my dwelling-place be within the +city of Valencia, in the Alcazar, and that my Christian men have all +the fortresses in the city." And when the good men heard this, they +were greatly troubled; howbeit they dissembled the sorrow which they +resented, and said unto him, "Sir Cid, order it as you think good, +and we consent thereto." Then said he unto them that he would observe +towards them all the uses and customs of their law, and that he would +have the power, and be lord of all; and they should till their fields +and feed their flocks and herds, and give him his tenth, and he would +take no more. + +When the Moors heard this they were pleased; and since they were to +remain in the town, and in their houses and their inheritances, and +with their uses and customs, and that their mosques were to be left +them, they held themselves not to be badly off. Then they asked the +Cid to let their guazil be the same as he had first appointed, and +that he would give them for their cadi the Alfaqui Alhagi, and let +him appoint whom he would to assist him in distributing justice to the +Moors; and thus he himself would be relieved of the wearisomeness of +hearing them, save only when any great occasion might befall. And the +Cid granted this which they required, and they kissed his hand, +and returned into the town. Nine months did the Cid hold Valencia +besieged, and at the end of that time it fell into his power, and he +obtained possession of the walls, as ye have heard. And one month +he was practising with the Moors that he might keep them quiet, +till Abeniaf was delivered into his hands; and thus ten months were +fulfilled, and they were fulfilled on Thursday, the last day of June, +in the year of the era one thousand one hundred and thirty and one, +which was in the year one thousand ninety and three of the incarnation +of our Lord Jesus Christ. And when the Cid had finished all his +dealings with the Moors, on this day he took horse with all his +company in good array, his banner being carried before him, and his +arms behind; and in this guise, with great rejoicings he entered the +city of Valencia. And he alighted at the Alcazar, and gave order to +lodge all his men round about it; and he bade them plant his banner +upon the highest tower of the Alcazar. Glad was the Campeador, and +all they who were with him, when they saw his banner planted in +that place. And from that day forth was the Cid possessed of all the +castles and fortresses which were in the kingdom of Valencia, and +established in what God had given him, and he and all his people +rejoiced. + + + + +V + +THE CID'S LAST VICTORY + + +Three days after the Cid had died King Bucar came into the port of +Valencia, and landed with all his power, which was so great that there +is not a man in the world who could give account of the Moors whom he +brought. And there came with him thirty and six kings, and one +Moorish queen, who was a negress, and she brought with her two hundred +horsewomen, all negresses like herself, all having their hair shorn +save a tuft on the top, and this was in token that they came as if +upon a pilgrimage, and to obtain the remission of their sins; and +they were all armed in coats of mail and with Turkish bows. King Bucar +ordered his tents to be pitched round about Valencia, and Abenalfarax, +who wrote this history in Arabic, saith that there were full fifteen +thousand tents; and he bade that Moorish negress with her archers +to take their station near the city. And on the morrow they began to +attack the city, and they fought against it three days strenuously; +and the Moors received great loss, for they came blindly up to the +walls and were slain there. And the Christians defended themselves +right well; and every time that they went upon the walls, they sounded +trumpets and tambours, and made great rejoicings, as the Cid had +commanded. This continued for eight days or nine, till the companions +of the Cid had made ready everything for their departure, as he had +commanded. And King Bucar and his people thought that the Cid dared +not come out against them; and they were the more encouraged, and +began to think of making bastiles and engines wherewith to combat the +city, for certes they weened that the Cid Ruydiez dared not come out +against them, seeing that he tarried so long. + +All this while the company of the Cid were preparing all things to go +into Castile, as he had commanded before his death; and his trusty Gil +Diaz did nothing else but labor at this. And the body of the Cid was +thus prepared: first it was embalmed and anointed, and the virtue of +the balsam and myrrh was such that the flesh remained firm and fair, +having its natural color, and his countenance as it was wont to be, +and the eyes open, and his long beard in order, so that there was not +a man who would have thought him dead if he had seen him and not known +it. And on the second day after he had departed, Gil Diaz placed the +body upon a right noble saddle, and this saddle with the body upon +it he put upon a frame; and he dressed the body in a _gambax_ of fine +sendal, next the skin. And he took two boards and fitted them to the +body, one to the breast and the other to the shoulders; these were so +hollowed out and fitted that they met at the sides and under the arms, +and the hind one came up to the pole, and the other up to the beard. +These boards were fastened into the saddle, so that the body could not +move. + +All this was done by the morning of the twelfth day; and all that day +the people of the Cid were busied in making ready their arms, and in +loading beasts with all that they had, so that they left nothing of +any price in the whole city of Valencia, save only the empty houses. +When it was midnight they took the body of the Cid, fastened to the +saddle as it was, and placed it upon his horse Bavieca, and fastened +the saddle well; and the body sat so upright and well that it seemed +as if he was alive. And it had on painted hose of black and white, so +cunningly painted that no man who saw them would have thought but that +they were greaves and cuishes, unless he had laid his hand upon them; +and they put on it a surcoat of green sendal, having his arms blazoned +thereon, and a helmet of parchment, which was cunningly painted that +every one might have believed it to be iron; and his shield was hung +round his neck, and they placed the sword Tizona in his hand, and they +raised his arm, and fastened it up so subtilely that it was a marvel +to see how upright he held the sword. And the Bishop Don Hieronymo +went on one side of him, and the trusty Gil Diaz on the other, and he +led the horse Bavieca, as the Cid had commanded him. And when all this +had been made ready, they went out from Valencia at midnight, through +the gate of Roseros, which is towards Castile. Pero Bermudez went +first with the banner of the Cid, and with him five hundred knights +who guarded it, all well appointed. And after these came all the +baggage. Then came the body of the Cid, with an hundred knights, all +chosen men, and behind them Dona Ximena with all her company, and six +hundred knights in the rear. All these went out so silently, and with +such a measured pace, that it seemed as if there were only a score. +And by the time that they had all gone out it was broad day. + +Now Alvar Fanez Minaya had set the host in order, and while the Bishop +Don Hieronymo and Gil Diaz led away the body of the Cid, and Dona +Ximena, and the baggage, he fell upon the Moors. First he attacked the +tents of that Moorish queen the negress, who lay nearest to the city; +and this onset was so sudden, that they killed full a hundred and +fifty Moors before they had time to take arms or go to horse. But that +Moorish negress was so skilful in drawing the Turkish bow, that it +was held for a marvel; and it is said that they called her in Arabic +_Nugueymat Turya_, which is to say, the Star of the Archers. And she +was the first that got on horseback, and with some fifty that were +with her, did some hurt to the company of the Cid; but in fine they +slew her, and her people fled to the camp. And so great was the uproar +and confusion, that few there were who took arms, but instead thereof +they turned their backs and fled toward the sea. And when King Bucar +and his kings saw this, they were astonished. And it seemed to them +that there came against them on the part of the Christians full +seventy thousand knights, all as white as snow: and before them a +knight of great stature upon a white horse with a bloody cross, who +bore in one hand a white banner, and in the other a sword which seemed +to be of fire, and he made a great mortality among the Moors who were +flying. And King Bucar and the other kings were so greatly dismayed +that they never checked the reins till they had ridden into the sea; +and the company of the Cid rode after them, smiting and slaying +and giving them no respite; and they smote down so many that it +was marvelous, for the Moors did not turn their heads to defend +themselves. And when they came to the sea, so great was the press +among them to get to the ships, that more than ten thousand died in +the water. And of the six and thirty kings, twenty and two were slain. +And King Bucar and they who escaped with him hoisted sails and went +their way, and never more turned their heads. + +Alvar Fanez and his people, when they had discomfited the Moors, +spoiled the field, and the spoil thereof was so great that they could +not carry it away. And they loaded camels and horses with the noblest +things which they found, and went after the Bishop Don Hieronymo and +Gil Diaz, who, with the body of the Cid, and Dona Ximena, and the +baggage, had gone on till they were clear of the host, and then waited +for those who were gone against the Moors. And so great was the spoil +of that day, that there was no end to it: and they took up gold, and +silver, and other precious things as they rode through the camp, so +that the poorest man among the Christians, horseman or on foot, became +rich with what he won that day. + + + + + + +HERO OF SWITZERLAND + + + + +WILLIAM TELL + +ADAPTED BY H.E. MARSHALL + + + + +I + +GESSLER'S TYRANNY + + +Far away in the heart of Europe there lies a little country called +Switzerland. It seems wonderful that when great and powerful kings +and princes swept over the world, fighting and conquering, little +Switzerland should not have been conquered and swallowed up by one +or other of the great countries which lay around. But the Swiss have +always been a brave and fearless people. + +At one time one of the great princes of Europe tried to conquer +Switzerland and take away the freedom of its people. But the people +fought so bravely that instead of being conquered they conquered the +tyrants and drove them away. + +In those far-off times the greatest ruler in Europe was the Emperor, +and his empire was divided into many states, over each of which ruled +a prince or king who acknowledged the Emperor as overlord. When an +Emperor died the kings and princes met together and chose another +Emperor from among their number. + +Switzerland was one of the countries which owned the Emperor as +overlord. But the Swiss were a free people. They had no king or prince +over them, but a governor only, who was appointed by the Emperor. + +Austria was another of the states of the great empire, and at one time +a Duke of Austria was made ruler of Switzerland. Because of its great +beauty, this duke cast greedy eyes upon Switzerland and longed to +possess it for his very own. + +But the Swiss would not give up their freedom; and three cantons, as +the divisions of Switzerland are called, joined together, and swore to +stand by each other, and never to submit to Austria. + +Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden were the names of these three cantons. A +little later another canton joined the three. These four cantons lie +round a lake which is called the Lake of the four Forest Cantons. When +Albrecht, Duke of Austria was chosen Emperor he said to himself that +now truly he would be lord and master of Switzerland. So he sent two +nobles to the Swiss to talk to them, and persuade them to own him as +their king. + +Some of the people of Switzerland were persuaded to belong to Austria, +but all the people of the free cantons replied that they wished to +remain free. + +So the messengers went back to Albrecht and told him what the +people said. When he heard the message he was very angry. "The proud +peasants," he cried, "they will not yield. Then I will bend and break +them. They will be soft and yielding enough when I have done with +them." + +Months went by and the Emperor appointed no ruler over Switzerland. +At last the people, feeling that they must have a governor, sent +messengers to the Emperor, begging him to appoint a ruler, as all +the Emperors before him had done. "A governor you shall have." said +Albrecht. "Go home and await his coming. Whom I send to you, him you +must obey in all things." + +When they had gone, Albrecht smiled grimly to himself. "They will not +yield," he said, "but I will oppress them and ill-treat them until I +force them to rebel. Then I will fight against them and conquer them, +and at last Switzerland will be mine." + +A few days later Albrecht made his friends Hermann Gessler and +Beringer of Landenberg governors over the free cantons, telling them +to take soldiers with them to enforce the law and to tax the people in +order to pay the soldiers. "You will punish all wrong-doers severely," +he said, "I will endure no rebels within my empire." + +Hard and bitter days began when Gessler and Landenberg settled there. +They delighted in oppressing the people. They loaded them with taxes; +nothing could be either bought or sold but the governors claimed a +great part of the money; the slightest fault was punished with long +imprisonment and heavy fines. The people became sad and downcast, but +still they would not yield to Austria. + +Gessler lived in a great castle at Kuessnacht in Schwyz. In it were +dreadful dungeons where he imprisoned the people and tortured them +according to his wicked will. But he was not pleased to have only one +castle, and he made up his mind to build another in Uri. So he began +to build one near the little town of Altorf, which lay at the other +end of the Lake of the Forest Cantons. Gessler forced the men of Uri +to build this castle, and he meant to use it not only as a house for +himself, but as a prison for the people. + +"What will you call your castle?" asked a friend one day, as they +stood to watch the building. "I will call it the Curb of Uri," said +Gessler, with a cruel laugh, "for with it I will curb the proud spirit +of these peasants." After watching the work for some time, Gessler and +his friend rode away. "My friend," said Gessler, as he rode, "we will +go back to Kiissnacht by another way. I have heard that an insolent +peasant called Werner Stauffacher has built himself a new house. I +wish to see it. There is no end to the impudence of these peasants." +"But what will you do?" asked his friend. "Do" said Gessler, "why, +turn him out, to be sure. What need have these peasants for great +houses?" So they rode on to Stauffacher's house. "Whose house is +this?" he demanded. Stauffacher answered quietly, "My lord, this house +belongs to the Emperor, and is yours and mine in fief to hold and use +for his service." "I rule this land," said Gessler, "in the name of +the Emperor, and I will not allow peasants to build houses without +asking leave. I will have you understand that." And he rode from the +doorway. Stauffacher told his wife what had happened and she advised +him to call a secret meeting of his friends to plan to free themselves +from the governor's rule. + +Werner Stauffacher spent some days in going from village to village, +trying to find out how the peasants and common people felt, and +everywhere heard complaints and groans. Coming to Altorf, where his +friend Walter Fuerst lived, he heard in the market-place a great noise +of shouting and trampling of feet. + +Down the street a party of Austrian soldiers came marching. One of +them carried a long pole, and another a red cap with a peacock's +feather in it. Then the pole with the red cap on the top of it was +firmly planted in the ground. + +As soon as the pole was set up a herald stepped out, blew his trumpet +and cried, "Se ye this cap here set up? It is his Majesty's will and +commandment that ye do all bow the knee and bend the head as ye do +pass it by." + +This was a new insult to a free people. Stauffacher went to the house +of Walter Fuerst, where he met Arnold of Melchthal, who had suffered +much from Landenberg. Calling upon God and his saints, these three men +swore a solemn oath to protect each other and promised to meet in a +little meadow called the Ruetli, the Wednesday before Martinmas. + +Three weeks passed, and in the darkness and quiet the men stole to the +place of meeting with other friends of freedom whom they had brought. +Near Walter Fuerst stood a young man straight and tall with clear and +honest eyes. "William Tell," said Arnold, "and the best shot in all +Switzerland. I have seen him shoot an apple from a tree a hundred +paces off." + +Then they swore never to betray each other, to be true to the Emperor, +but to drive the Austrian governor, his friends, his servants, and his +soldiers out of the land. + + + + +II + +WILLIAM TELL AND HIS GREAT SHOT + + +William Tell did not live in Altorf, but in another village some +way off, called Buerglen. His wife, who was called Hedwig, was Walter +Fuerst's daughter. Tell and Hedwig had two sons, William and Walter. +Walter, the younger, was about six years old. + +William Tell loved his wife and his children very much, and they all +lived happily together in a pretty little cottage at Buerglen. + +"Hedwig," said Tell one morning, some days after the meeting mentioned +above, "I am going into Altorf to see your father." + +Hedwig looked troubled. "Do be careful, William," she said. "Must you +really go? You know the governor is there just now, and he hates you." + +"Oh, I am quite safe," said Tell; "I have done nothing for which he +could punish me. But I will keep out of his way," and he lifted his +crossbow and prepared to go. + +"Do not take your bow," said Hedwig, still feeling uneasy. "Leave it +here." + +"Why, Hedwig, how you trouble yourself for nothing," said Tell, +smiling at her. "Why should I leave my bow behind? I feel lost without +it." + +"O father, where are you going?" said Walter, running into the room at +this minute. + +"I am going to Altorf to see grandfather. Would you like to come?" + +"Oh, may I? May I, mother?" + +"Yes, dear, if you like," said Hedwig. "And you will be careful, won't +you?" she added, turning to Tell. + +"Yes, I will," he replied, and Walter, throwing his arms round her +neck, said, "It's all right, mother, I will take care of father." Then +they set off merrily together. + +It was a great thing to go to Altorf with father, and Walter was +so happy that he chattered all the way, asking questions about +everything. + +"How far can you shoot, father?" + +"Oh, a good long way." + +"As high as the sun?" asked Walter, looking up at it. + +"Oh dear, no, not nearly so high as that." + +"Well, how high? As high as the snow-mountains?" + +"Oh no." + +"Why is there always snow on the mountains, father?" asked Walter, +thinking of something else. And so he went on, asking questions +about one thing after another, until his father was quite tired of +answering. + +Walter was chattering so much that Tell forgot all about the hat upon +the pole, and, instead of going round by another way to avoid it, as +he had meant to do, he went straight through the market-place to reach +Walter Fuerst's house. + +"Father, look," said Walter, "look, how funny! there is a hat stuck up +on a pole. What is it for?" + +"Don't look, Walter," said Tell, "the hat has nothing to do with us, +don't look at it." And taking Walter by the hand, he led him hurriedly +away. + +But it was too late. The soldier, who stood beside the pole to guard +it and see that people bowed in passing, pointed his spear at Tell and +bade him stop. "Stand, in the Emperor's name," he cried. + +"Let be, friend," said Tell, "let me past." + +"Not till you obey the Emperor's command. Not till you bow to the +hat." + +"It is no command of the Emperor," said Tell. "It is Gessler's folly +and tyranny. Let me go." + +"Nay, but you must not speak of my lord the governor in such terms. +And past you shall not go until you bow to the cap. And, if you bow +not, to prison I will lead you. Such is my lord's command." + +"Why should I bow to a cap?" said Tell, his voice shaking with rage. +"Were the Emperor himself here, then would I bend the knee and bow my +head to him with all reverence. But to a hat! Never!" and he tried +to force his way past Heinz the soldier. But Heinz would not let him +pass, and kept his spear pointed at Tell. + +Hearing loud and angry voices, many people gathered to see what the +cause might be. Soon there was quite a crowd around the two. Every one +talked at once, and the noise and confusion were great. Heinz tried +to take Tell prisoner, and the people tried to take him away. "Help! +help!" shouted Heinz, hoping that some of his fellow-soldiers would +hear him and come to his aid,--"Help, help! treason, treason!" + +Then over all the noise of the shouting there sounded the tramp of +horses' hoofs and the clang and jangle of swords and armor. + +"Room for the governor. Room, I say," cried a herald. + +The shouting ceased and the crowd silently parted, as Gessler, richly +dressed, haughty and gloomy, rode through it, followed by a gay +company of his friends and soldiers. He checked his horse and, gazing +angrily round the crowd, "What is this rioting?" he asked. + +"My lord," said Heinz, stepping forward, "this scoundrel here will not +bow to the cap, according to your lordship's command." + +"Eh, what?" said Gessler, his dark face growing more dark and angry +still. "Who dares to disobey my orders?" + +"'Tis William Tell of Buerglen, my lord." + +"Tell?" said Gessler, turning in his saddle and looking at Tell as he +stood among the people, holding little Walter by the hand. + +There was silence for a few minutes while Gessler gazed at Tell in +anger. + +"I hear you are a great shot, Tell," said Gessler at last, laughing +scornfully, "they say you never miss." + +"That is quite true," said little Walter eagerly, for he was very +proud of his father's shooting. "He can hit an apple on a tree a +hundred yards off." + +"Is that your boy?" said Gessler, looking at him with an ugly smile. + +"Yes, my lord." + +"Have you other children?" + +"Another boy, my lord." + +"You are very fond of your children, Tell?" + +"Yes, my lord." + +"Which of them do you love best?" + +Tell hesitated. He looked down at little Walter with his rosy cheeks +and curly hair. Then he thought of William at home with his pretty +loving ways. "I love them both alike, my lord," he said at last. + +"Ah," said Gessler, and thought a minute. "Well, Tell," he said after +a pause. "I have heard so much of this boast of yours about hitting +apples, that I should like to see something of it. You shall shoot an +apple off your boy's head at a hundred yards' distance. That will be +easier than shooting off a tree." + +"My lord," said Tell, turning pale, "you do not mean that? It is +horrible. I will do anything rather than that." + +"You will shoot an apple off your boy's head," repeated Gessler in a +slow and scornful voice. "I want to see your wonderful skill, and I +command you to do it at once. You have your crossbow there. Do it." + +"I will die first," said Tell. + +"Very well," said Gessler, "but you need not think in that way to save +your boy. He shall die with you. Shoot, or die both of you. And, mark +you, Tell, see that you aim well, for if you miss you will pay for it +with your life." + +Tell turned pale. His voice trembled as he replied, "My lord, it was +but thoughtlessness. Forgive me this once, and I will always bow to +the cap in future." Proud and brave although he was, Tell could not +bear the thought that he might kill his own child. + +"Have done with this delay," said Gessler, growing yet more angry. +"You break the laws, and when, instead of punishing you as you +deserve, I give you a chance of escape, you grumble and think yourself +hardly used. Were peasants ever more unruly and discontented? Have +done, I say. Heinz, bring me an apple." + +The soldier hurried away. + +"Bind the boy to that tree," said Gessler, pointing to a tall +lime-tree near by. + +Two soldiers seized Walter and bound him fast to the tree. He was +not in the least afraid, but stood up against the trunk straight and +quiet. Then, when the apple was brought, Gessler rode up to him and, +bending from the saddle, himself placed the apple upon his head. + +All this time the people crowded round silent and wondering, and Tell +stood among them as if in a dream, watching everything with a look of +horror in his eyes. + +"Clear a path there," shouted Gessler, and the soldiers charged among +the people, scattering them right and left. + +When a path had been cleared, two soldiers, starting from the tree to +which Walter was bound, marched over the ground, measuring one hundred +paces, and halted. "One hundred paces, my lord," they said, turning to +Gessler. + +Gessler rode to the spot, calling out, "Come, Tell, from here you +shall shoot." + +Tell took his place. He drew an arrow from his quiver, examined it +carefully, and then, instead of fitting it to his bow, he stuck it in +his belt. Then, still carefully, he chose another arrow and fitted it +to his bow. + +A deep silence fell upon every one as Tell took one step forward. He +raised his bow. A mist was before his eyes, his arm trembled, his bow +dropped from his hand. He could not shoot. The fear that he might kill +his boy took away all his skill and courage. + +A groan broke from the people as they watched. Then from far away +under the lime-tree came Walter's voice, "Shoot, father, I am not +afraid. You cannot miss." + +Once more Tell raised his bow. The silence seemed deeper than ever. +The people of Altorf knew and loved Tell, and Fuerst, and little +Walter. And so they watched and waited with heavy hearts and anxious +faces. + +"Ping!" went the bowstring. The arrow seemed to sing through the +frosty air, and, a second later, the silence was broken by cheer after +cheer. The apple lay upon the ground pierced right through the center. + +One man sprang forward and cut the rope with which Walter was bound to +the tree; another picked up the apple and ran with it to Gessler. But +Tell stood still, his bow clutched in his hand, his body bent forward, +his eyes wild and staring, as if he were trying to follow the flight +of the arrow. Yet he saw nothing, heard nothing. + +"He has really done it!" exclaimed Gessler in astonishment, as he +turned the apple round and round in his hand. "Who would have thought +it? Right in the center, too." + +Little Walter, quite delighted, came running to his father. "Father," +he cried, "I knew you could do it. I knew you could, and I was not a +bit afraid. Was it not splendid?" and he laughed and pressed his curly +head against his father. + +Then suddenly Tell seemed to wake out of his dream, and taking Walter +in his arms he held him close, kissing him again and again. "You are +safe, my boy. You are safe," was all he said. But strong man though +he was his eyes were full of tears, and he was saying to himself, "I +might have killed him. I might have killed my own boy." + +Meanwhile Gessler sat upon his horse watching them with a cruel smile +upon his wicked face. "Tell," he said at last, "that was a fine shot, +but for what was the other arrow?" + +Tell put Walter down and, holding his hand, turned to Gessler, "It is +always an archer's custom, my lord, to have a second arrow ready," he +said. + +"Nay, nay," said Gessler, "that answer will not do, Tell. Speak the +truth." + +Tell was silent. + +"Speak, man," said Gessler, "and if you speak the truth, whatever it +may be, I promise you your life." + +"Then," said Tell, throwing his shoulders back and looking straight at +Gessler, "since you promise me my life, hear the truth, if that first +arrow had struck my child, the second one was meant for you, and be +sure I had not missed my mark a second time." + +Gessler's face grew dark with rage. For a moment or two he could not +speak. When at last he did speak, his voice was low and terrible, "You +dare," he said, "you dare to tell me this! I promised you your life +indeed. Your life you shall have, but you shall pass it in a dark and +lonely prison, where neither sun nor moon shall send the least glimmer +of light. There you shall lie, so that I may be safe from you. Ah, +my fine archer, your bows and arrows will be of little use to you +henceforth. Seize him, men, and bind him, lest he do murder even now." + +In a moment the soldiers sprang forward, and Tell was seized and +bound. + +As Gessler sat watching them, he looked round at all the angry faces +of the crowd. "Tell has too many friends here," he said to himself. +"If I imprison him in the Curb of Uri, they may find some way to help +him to escape. I will take him with me in my boat to Klissnacht. There +he can have no friends. There he will be quite safe." Then aloud he +said, "Follow me, my men. Bring him to the boat." + +As he said these words, there was a loud murmur from the crowd. "That +is against the law," cried many voices. + +"Law, law?" growled Gessler. "Who makes the law, you or I?" + +Walter Fuerst had been standing among the crowd silent and anxious. Now +he stepped forward and spoke boldly. "My lord," he said, "it has ever +been a law among the Swiss that no one shall be imprisoned out of his +own canton. If my son-in-law, William Tell, has done wrong, let him be +tried and imprisoned here, in Uri, in Altorf. If you do otherwise you +wrong our ancient freedom and rights." + +"Your freedom! your rights!" said Gessler roughly. "I tell you, you +are here to obey the laws, not to teach me how I shall rule." Then +turning his horse and calling out, "On, men, to the boat with him," he +rode towards the lake, where, at a little place called Fliielen, his +boat was waiting for him. + +But Walter clung to his father, crying bitterly. Tell could not take +him in his arms to comfort him, for his hands were tied. But he bent +over him to kiss him, saying, "Little Walter, little Walter, be brave. +Go with thy grandfather and comfort thy mother." + +So Tell was led to Gessler's boat, followed by the sorrowing people. +Their hearts were full of hot anger against the tyrant. Yet what could +they do? He was too strong for them. + +Tell was roughly pushed into the boat, where he sat closely guarded on +either side by soldiers. His bow and arrows, which had been taken from +him, were thrown upon a bench beside the steersman. + +Gessler took his seat. The boat started, and was soon out on the blue +water of the lake. As the people of Altorf watched Tell go, their +hearts sank. They had not known, until they saw him bound and a +prisoner, how much they had trusted and loved him. + + + + +III + +THE ESCAPE OF WILLIAM TELL + + +On the lakes of Switzerland storms of wind arise very quickly. The +Swiss used to dread these storms so much that they gave names to the +winds as if they were people. The south wind, which is the fiercest, +they called the Foehn. There used to be a law that when the Foehn arose, +all fires were to be put out. For the wind whistled and blew down the +wide chimneys like great bellows, till the fires flared up so fiercely +that the houses, which were built of wood, were in danger of being +burned to the ground. Now one of these fierce storms arose. + +No one noticed when Gessler's boat pushed off from the shore how dark +the sky had grown nor how keenly the wind was blowing. But before the +boat had gone very far the waves began to rise, and the wind to blow +fiercer and fiercer. + +Soon the little boat was tossing wildly on great white-crested waves. +The rowers bent to the oars and rowed with all their might. But in +spite of all they could do, the waves broke over the boat, filling +it with water. They were tossed here and there, until it seemed every +minute that they would sink. + +Pale with fear, the captain stood at the helm. He was an Austrian who +knew nothing of the Swiss lakes, and he had never before been in such +a storm. He was helpless, and he knew that very soon the boat would be +a wreck. + +Wrapped in his mantle, Gessler sat silent and still, watching the +storm. He, too, knew the danger. + +As the waves dashed over him, one of Gessler's servants staggered to +his master's feet. "My lord," he said, "you see our need and danger, +yet methinks there is one man on board who could save us." + +"Who is that?" asked Gessler. + +"William Tell, your prisoner," replied the man. "He is known to be one +of the best sailors on this lake. He knows every inch of it. If any +one can save the boat, he can." + +"Bring him here," said Gessler. + +"It seems you are a sailor as well as an archer, Tell," said Gessler, +when his prisoner had been brought before him. "Can you save the boat +and bring us to land?" + +"Yes," said Tell. + +"Unbind him, then," said Gessler to the soldier, "but mark you, Tell, +you go not free. Even although you save us, you are still my prisoner. +Do not think to have any reward." + +The rope which bound Tell's hands was cut, and he took his place at +the helm. + +The waves still dashed high, the wind still howled, but under Tell's +firm hand the boat seemed to steady itself, and the rowers bent to +their work with new courage and strength in answer to his commanding +voice. + +Tell, leaning forward, peered through the darkness and the spray. +There was one place where he knew it would be possible to land--where +a bold and desperate man at least might land. He was looking for that +place. Nearer and nearer to the shore he steered. At last he was quite +close to it. He glanced quickly round. His bow and arrows lay beside +him. He bent and seized them. Then with one great leap he sprang +ashore, and as he leaped he gave the boat a backward push with his +foot, sending it out again into the stormy waters of the lake. + +There was a wild outcry from the sailors, but Tell was free, for no +one dared to follow him. Quickly clambering up the mountain-side, he +disappeared among the trees. + +As Tell vanished, Gessler stood up and shouted in anger, but the +little boat, rocking and tossing on the waves, drifted out into the +lake, and the Austrian sailors, to whom the shore was unknown, dared +not row near to it again, lest they should be dashed to pieces upon +the rocks. Even as it was, they expected every moment that the boat +would sink, and that all would be drowned. But despair seemed to +give the sailors fresh strength, and soon the wind fell and the waves +became quieter. A few hours later, wet, weary, but safe, Gessler and +his company landed on the shore of Schwyz. + +[Illustration: WILLIAM TELL AND HIS FRIENDS.] + + + + +IV + +TELL'S SECOND SHOT + + +As soon as Gessler landed, he called for his horse, and silent and +gloomy, his heart full of bitter hate against Tell and all the Swiss, +he mounted and rode towards his castle at Kuessnacht. + +But Tell's heart, too, was full of hate and anger. That morning he had +been a gentle, peace-loving man. Now all was changed. Gessler's cruel +jest had made him hard and angry. He could not forget that he might +have killed his own boy. He seemed to see always before him Walter +bound to the tree with the apple on his head. Tell made up his mind +that Gessler should never make any one else suffer so much. There was +only one thing to do. That was to kill Gessler, and that Tell meant to +do. + +If Gessler escaped from the storm, Tell was sure that he would go +straight to his castle at Kuessnacht. There was only one road which led +from the lake to the castle, and at a place called the Hollow Way +it became very narrow, and the banks rose steep and rugged on either +side. There Tell made up his mind to wait for Gessler. There he meant +to free his country from the cruel tyrant. + +Without stopping for food or rest, Tell hurried through the woods +until he came to the Hollow Way. There he waited and watched. Many +people passed along the road. There were herds with their flocks, and +travelers of all kinds, among them a poor woman whose husband had +been put in prison by Gessler, so that now she had no home, and had to +wander about with her children begging. She stopped and spoke to Tell, +and the story she told of Gessler's cruelty made Tell's heart burn +with anger, and made him more sure than ever that the deed he meant to +do was just and right. + +The day went on, and still Gessler did not come, and still Tell +waited. At last he heard the distant tramp of feet and the sound of +voices. Surely he had come at last. But as the sounds came nearer, +Tell knew that it could not be Gessler, for he heard music and +laughter, and through the Hollow Way came a gaily dressed crowd. It +was a wedding-party. Laughing and merry, the bride and bridegroom +with their friends passed along. When they were out of sight the wind +brought back the sound of their merry voices to Tell, as he waited +upon the bank. They, at least, had for a time forgotten Gessler. + +At last, as the sun was setting, Tell heard the tramp of horses, and a +herald dashed along the road, shouting, "Room for the governor. Room, +I say." + +As Gessler came slowly on behind, Tell could hear him talking in a +loud and angry voice to a friend. "Obedience I will have," he was +saying. "I have been far too mild a ruler over this people. They grow +too proud. But I will break their pride. Let them prate of freedom, +indeed. I will crush--" The sentence was never finished. An arrow +whizzed through the air, and with a groan Gessler fell, dead. + +Tell's second arrow had found its mark. + +Immediately everything was in confusion. Gessler's soldiers crowded +round, trying to do something for their master. But it was useless. He +was dead. Tell's aim had been true. + +"Who has done this foul murder?" cried one of Gessler's friends, +looking round. + +"The shot was mine," answered Tell, from where he stood on the high +bank. "But no murder have I done. I have but freed an unoffending +people from a base and cowardly tyrant. My cause is just, let God be +the judge." + +At the sound of his voice every one turned to look at Tell, as he +stood above them calm and unafraid. + +"Seize him!" cried the man who had already spoken, as soon as he +recovered from his astonishment. "Seize him, it is Tell the archer." + +Five or six men scrambled up the steep bank as fast as they could. But +Tell slipped quietly through the bushes, and when they reached the top +he was nowhere to be found. + +The short winter's day was closing in fast, and Tell found it easy to +escape in the darkness from Gessler's soldiers. They soon gave up the +chase, and, returning to the road, took up their master's dead body +and carried it to his castle at Kuessnacht There was little sorrow +for him, for he had been a hard master. The Austrian soldiers did not +grieve, and the Swiss, wherever they heard the news, rejoiced. + +As soon as he was free of the soldiers, Tell turned and made for +Stauffacher's house. All through the night he walked, until he came +to the pretty house with its red roofs and many windows which had made +Gessler so angry. + +Now there was no light in any of the windows, and all was still and +quiet. But Tell knew in which of the rooms Stauffacher slept, and he +knocked softly upon the window until he had aroused his friend. + +"William Tell!" said Stauffacher in astonishment. "I heard from Walter +Fuerst that you were a prisoner. Thank Heaven that you are free again." + +"I am free," said Tell; "you, too, are free. Gessler is dead." + +"Gessler dead!" exclaimed Stauffacher. "Now indeed have we cause for +thankfulness. Tell me, how did it happen?" and he drew William Tell +into the house. + +Tell soon told all his story. Then Stauffacher, seeing how weary he +was, gave him food and made him rest. + +That night Tell slept well. All next day he remained hidden in +Stauffacher's house. "You must not go," said his friend, "Gessler's +soldiers will be searching for you." But when evening came Tell crept +out into the dark again, and kind friends rowed him across the +lake back to Flueelen. There, where a few days before he had been a +prisoner, he landed, now free. + +Tell went at once to Walter Fuerst's house, and soon messengers +were hurrying all through the land to gather together again the +Confederates, as those who had met on that eventful night were called. + +This time they gathered with less fear and less secrecy, for was +not the dreaded governor dead? Not one but was glad, yet some of the +Confederates blamed Tell, for they had all promised to wait until the +first of January before doing anything. "I know," said Tell, "but he +drove me to it." And every man there who had left a little boy at home +felt that he too might have done the same thing. + +Now that Tell had struck the first blow, some of the Confederates +wished to rise at once. But others said, "No, it is only a few weeks +now until New Year's Day. Let us wait." + +So they waited, and everything seemed quiet and peaceful in the land, +for the Emperor sent no governor to take Gessler's place, as he was +far away in Austria, too busy fighting and quarreling there to think +of Switzerland in the meantime. "When I have finished this war," he +said, "it will be time enough to crush these Swiss rebels." + + + + + + +HERO OF PERSIA + + + + +RUSTEM + +ADAPTED BY ALFRED J. CHURCH + + + + +I + +THE SEVEN ADVENTURES OF RUSTEM + + +King Keikobad died, and his son Kaoues sat upon his throne. At first +he was a moderate and prudent prince; but finding his riches increase, +and his armies grow more and more numerous, he began to believe that +there was no one equal to him in the whole world, and that he could +do what he would. One day as he sat drinking in one of the chambers +of his palace, and boasting after his custom, a Genius, disguised as +a minstrel, came to the King's chamberlain, and desired to be admitted +to the royal presence. "I came," he said, "from the country of the +Genii, and I am a sweet singer. Maybe the King, if he were to hear me, +would give me a post in his court." + +The chamberlain went to the King, and said, "There is a minstrel at +the gate; he has a harp in his hand, and his voice is marvelously +sweet." + +"Bring him up," said the King. + +So they brought him in, and gave him a place among the musicians, +and commanded that he should give them a trial of his powers. So the +minstrel, after playing a prelude on his harp, sang a song of the land +of the Genii. + +"There is no land in all the world" this was the substance of his +song--"like Mazanderan, the land of the Genii. All the year round the +rose blooms in its gardens and the hyacinth on its hills. It knows no +heat nor cold, only an eternal spring. The nightingales sing in its +thicket, and through its valleys wander the deer, and the water of its +stream is as the water of roses, delighting the soul with its perfume. +Of its treasures there is no end; the whole country is covered with +gold and embroidery and jewels. No man can say that he is happy unless +he has seen Mazanderan." + +When the King heard this song, he immediately conceived the thought +of marching against this wonderful country. Turning, therefore, to his +warriors, he said: "We are given over to feasting; but the brave must +not suffer himself to rest in idleness. I am wealthier and, I doubt +not, stronger than all the kings that have gone before me; it becomes +me also to surpass them in my achievements. We will conquer the land +of Genii." + +The warriors of the King were little pleased to hear such talk from +his lips. No one ventured to speak, but their hearts were full of +trouble and fear, for they had no desire to fight against the Genii. + +"We are your subjects, O King," they said, "and will do as you +desire." But when they were by themselves, and could speak openly, +they said one to another, "What a trouble is this that has come of +our prosperous fortune! Unless by good fortune the King forgets this +purpose of his, we and the whole country are lost. Jemshid, whom the +Genii and the Peris and the very birds of the air used to obey, never +ventured to talk in this fashion of Mazanderan, or to seek war against +the Genii; and Feridun, though he was the wisest of kings, and skilful +in all magical arts, never cherished such a plan." So they sat, +overwhelmed with anxiety. + +At last one of them said, "My friends, there is only one way of +escaping from this danger. Let us send a swift dromedary to Zal of the +white hair, with this message: 'Though your head be covered with dust, +do not stay to wash it, but come.' Perhaps Zal will give the King +wise advice, and, telling him that this plan of his is nothing but a +counsel of Satan, will persuade him to change his purpose. Otherwise +we are lost, small and great." + +The nobles listened to this advice, and sent a messenger to Zal, +mounted on a swift dromedary. + +When Zal heard what had happened, he said: + +"The King is self-willed. He has not yet felt either the cold or the +heat of the world. He thinks that all men, great and small, tremble +at his sword, and it must needs be that he learn better by experience. +However, I will go; I will give him the best advice that I can. If he +will be persuaded by me, it will be well; but if not, the way is open, +and Rustem shall go with his army." All night long he revolved these +matters in his heart. The next morning he went his way, and arrived at +the court of the King. + +The King received him with all honor, bade him sit by his side, and +inquired how he had borne the fatigue of his journey, and of the +welfare of Rustem, his son. Then Zal spoke: + +"I have heard, my lord, that you are forming plans against the land of +the Genii. Will it please you to listen to me? There have been mighty +kings before you, but never during all my years, which now are many, +has any one of them conceived in his heart such a design as this. This +land is inhabited by Genii that are skilful in all magical arts. They +can lay such bonds upon men that no one is able to hurt them. No sword +is keen enough to cut them through; riches and wisdom and valor are +alike powerless against them. I implore you, therefore, not to waste +your riches, and the riches of your country and the blood of your +warriors, on so hopeless an enterprise." + +The King answered, "Doubtless it is true that the kings my +predecessors never ventured to entertain such a plan. But am I not +superior to them in courage, in power and wealth? Had they such +warriors as you, and Rustem your son? Do not think to turn me from my +purpose. I will go against the country of these accursed magicians, +and verily I will not leave one single soul alive in it, for they are +an evil race. If you do not care to come with me, at least refrain +from advising me to sit idle upon my throne." + +When Zal heard this answer, he said: "You are the King, and we are +your slaves. Whatever you ordain is right and just, and it is only by +thy good pleasure that we breathe and move. I have said what was in my +heart. All that remains now is to obey, and to pray that the Ruler of +the world may prosper your counsels." + +When he had thus spoken, Zal took leave of the King, and departed for +his own country. + +The very next day the King set out with his army for the land of the +Genii, and, after marching for several days, pitched his tent at the +foot of Mount Asprus, and held a great revel all the night long with +his chiefs. The next morning he said, "Choose me two thousand men who +will break down the gates of Mazanderan with their clubs. And take +care that when you have taken the city you spare neither young nor +old, for I will rid the world of these magicians." They did as the +King commanded, and in a short space of time the city, which was +before the richest and most beautiful in the whole world, was made +into a desert. + +When the King of Mazanderan heard of these things he called a +messenger, and said: "Go to the White Genius and say to him, 'The +Persians have come with a great army and are destroying everything. +Make haste and help me, or there will be nothing left to preserve.'" + +The White Genius said, "Tell the King not to be troubled; I will see +to these Persians." + +That same night the whole army of King Kaoues was covered with a +wonderful cloud. The sky was dark as pitch, and there fell from it +such a terrible storm of hailstones that no one could stand against +them. When the next morning came, lo! the King and all that had +not fled--for many fled to their own country--or been killed by +the hailstones, were blind. Seven days they remained terrified and +helpless. On the eighth day they heard the voice, loud as a clap of +thunder, of the White Genius. + +"King," said he, "you coveted the land of Mazanderan, you entered the +city, you slew and took prisoners many of the people; but you did not +know what I could do. And now, see, you have your desire. Your lot is +of your own contriving." + +The White Genius then gave over the King and his companions to the +charge of an army of twelve thousand Genii, and commanded that they +should be kept in prison, and have just so much food given them as +should keep them alive from day to day. Kaoues, however, contrived to +send by one of his warriors a message to Zal the White-haired, telling +him of all the troubles that had come upon him. When Zal heard the +news he was cut to the heart, and sent without delay for Rustem. +"Rustem," said he, "this is no time for a man to eat and drink and +take his pleasure. The King is in the hands of Satan, and we must +deliver him. As for me, I am old and feeble; but you are of the age +for war. Saddle Raksh, your horse, and set forth without a moment's +delay. The White Genius must not escape the punishment of his misdeeds +at your hands." + +"The way is long," said Rustem; "how shall I go?" + +"There are two ways," answered Zal, "and both are difficult and +dangerous. The King went by the longer way. The other is by far the +shorter, a two-weeks' march and no more; but it is full of lions and +evil Genii, and it is surrounded by darkness. Still, I would have you +go by it. God will be your helper; and difficult as the way may be, it +will have an end, and your good horse Raksh will accomplish it. And if +it be the will of Heaven that you should fall by the hand of the White +Genius, who can change the ordering of destiny? Sooner or later we +must all depart, and death should be no trouble to him who has filled +the earth with his glory." + +"My father, I am ready to do your bidding," said Rustem. +"Nevertheless, the heroes of old cared not to go of their own accord +into the land of death; and it is only he who is weary of life that +throws himself in the way of a roaring lion. Still I go, and I ask for +no help but from the justice of God. With that on my side I will break +the charm of the magicians. The White Genius himself shall not escape +me." + +Rustem armed himself, and went on his way. + +Rustem made such speed that he accomplished two days' journey in one. +But at last, finding himself hungry and weary, and seeing that there +were herds of wild asses in the plain which he was traversing, he +thought that he would catch one of them for his meal, and rest for the +night. So pressing his knees into his horse's side, he pursued one +of them. There was no escape for the swiftest beast when Rustem was +mounted on Raksh, and in a very short time a wild ass was caught with +the lasso. Rustem struck a light with a flintstone, and making a fire +with brambles and branches of trees, roasted the ass and ate it for +his meal. This done he took the bridle from his horse, let him loose +to graze upon the plain, and prepared himself to sleep in a bed of +rushes. Now in the middle of this bed of rushes was a lion's lair, and +at the end of the first watch the lion came back, and was astonished +to see lying asleep on the rushes a man as tall as an elephant, with a +horse standing near him. The lion said to himself, "I must first tear +the horse, and then the rider will be mine whenever I please." So he +leaped at Raksh; but the horse darted at him like a flash of fire, and +struck him on the head with his fore feet. Then he seized him by the +back with his teeth, and battered him to pieces on the earth. When +Rustem awoke and saw the dead lion, which indeed was of a monstrous +size, he said to Raksh, "Wise beast, who bade you fight with a lion? +If you had fallen under his claws, how should I have carried to +Mazanderan this cuirass and helmet, this lasso, my bow and my sword?" +Then he went to sleep again; but awaking at sunrise, saddled Raksh and +went on his way. + +He had now to accomplish the most difficult part of his journey, +across a waterless desert, so hot that the very birds could not +live in it. Horse and rider were both dying of thirst, and Rustem, +dismounting, could scarcely struggle along while he supported his +steps by his spear. When he had almost given up all hope, he saw +a well-nourished ram pass by. "Where," said he to himself, "is the +reservoir from which this creature drinks?" Accordingly he followed +the ram's footsteps, holding his horse's bridle in one hand and his +sword in the other, and the ram led him to a spring. Then Rustem +lifted up his eyes to heaven and thanked God for his mercies; +afterwards he blessed the ram, saying, "No harm come to thee forever! +May the grass of the valleys and the desert be always green for thee, +and may the bow of him that would hunt thee be broken, for thou hast +saved Rustem; verily, without thee he would have been torn to pieces +by the wild beasts of the desert." + +After this he caught another wild ass, and roasted him for his meal. +Then having bathed in the spring, he lay down to sleep; but before +he lay down, he said to Raksh, his horse: "Do not seek quarrel or +friendship with any. If an enemy come, run to me; and do not fight +either with Genius or lion." + +After this he slept; and Raksh now grazed, and now galloped over the +plain. + +Now it so happened that there was a great dragon that had its bed in +this part of the desert. So mighty a beast was it, that not even a +Genius had dared to pass by that way. The dragon was astonished to see +a man asleep and a horse by his side, and began to make its way to +the horse. Raksh did as he had been bidden, and running towards his +master, stamped with his feet upon the ground. Rustem awoke, and +seeing nothing when he looked about him--for the dragon meanwhile had +disappeared--was not a little angry. He rebuked Raksh, and went to +sleep again. Then the dragon came once more out of the darkness, and +the horse ran with all speed to his master, tearing up the ground and +kicking. A second time the sleeper awoke, but as he saw nothing but +darkness round him, he was greatly enraged, and said to his faithful +horse: + +"Why do you disturb me? If it wearies you to see me asleep, yet you +cannot bring the night to an end. I said that if a lion came to attack +you, I would protect you; but I did not tell you to trouble me in this +way. Verily, if you make such a noise again, I will cut off your head +and go on foot, carrying all my arms and armor with me to Mazanderan." + +A third time Rustem slept, and a third time the dragon came. This +time Raksh, who did not venture to come near his master, fled over the +plain; he was equally afraid of the dragon and of Rustem. Still his +love for his master did not suffer him to rest. He neighed and tore +up the earth, till Rustem woke up again in a rage. But this time +God would not suffer the dragon to hide himself, and Rustem saw him +through the darkness, and, drawing his sword, rushed at him. + +But first he said, "Tell me your name; my hand must not tear your soul +from your body before I know your name." + +The dragon said, "No man can ever save himself from my claws; I have +dwelt in this desert for ages, and the very eagles have not dared to +fly across. Tell me then your name, bold man. Unhappy is the mother +that bore you." + +"I am Rustem, son of Zal of the white hair," said the hero, "and there +is nothing on earth that I fear." + +Then the dragon threw itself upon Rustem. But the horse Raksh laid +back his ears, and began to tear the dragon's back with his teeth, +just as a lion might have torn it. + +The hero stood astonished for a while; then, drawing his sword, +severed the monster's head from his body. Then, having first bathed, +he returned thanks to God, and mounting on Raksh, went his way. + +All that day he traveled across the plain, and came at sunset to the +land of the magicians. Just as the daylight was disappearing, he spied +a delightful spot for his night's encampment. There were trees and +grass, and a spring of water. And beside the spring there was a flagon +of red wine, and a roast kid, with bread and salt and confectionery +neatly arranged. Rustem dismounted, unsaddled his horse, and looked +with astonishment at the provisions thus prepared. It was the meal of +certain magicians, who had vanished when they saw him approach. + +Of this he knew nothing, but sitting down without question, filled a +cup with wine, and taking a harp which he found lying by the side of +the flagon, sang: + + "The scourge of the wicked am I, + And my days still in battle go by; + Not for me is the red wine that glows + In the reveler's cup, nor the rose + That blooms in the land of delight; + But with monsters and demons to fight." + +The music and the voice of the singer reached the ears of a witch that +was in those parts. Forthwith, by her art, she made her face as fair +as spring, and, approaching Rustem, asked him how he fared, and sat +down by his side. The hero thanked Heaven that he had thus found in +the desert such good fare and excellent company; for he did not know +that the lovely visitor was a witch. He welcomed her, and handed her +a cup of wine; but, as he handed it, he named the name of God, and at +the sound her color changed, and she became as black as charcoal. + +When Rustem saw this, quick as the wind he threw his lasso over her +head. + +"Confess who you are," he cried; "show yourself in your true shape." + +Then the witch was changed into a decrepit, wrinkled old woman. Rustem +cut her in halves with a blow of his sword. + +The next day he continued his journey with all the speed that he could +use, and came to a place where it was utterly dark. Neither sun, nor +moon, nor stars could be seen; and all that the hero could do was to +let the reins fall on his horse's neck, and ride on as chance might +direct. + +In time he came to a most delightful country, where the sun was +shining brightly, and where the ground was covered with green. Rustem +took off his cuirass of leopard-skin, and his helmet, and let Raksh +find pasture where he could in the fertile fields, and lay down to +sleep. When the keeper of the fields saw the horse straying among +them and feeding, he was filled with rage; and running up to the hero, +dealt him with his stick a great blow upon the feet. + +Rustem awoke. + +"Son of Satan," said the keeper, "why do you let your horse stray in +the cornfields?" + +Rustem leaped upon the man, and without uttering a word good or bad, +wrenched his ears from his head. + +Now the owner of this fertile country was a young warrior of renown +named Aulad. The keeper ran up to him with his ears in his hand, and +said: + +"There has come to this place a son of Satan, clad in a cuirass of +leopard-skin, with an iron helmet. I was going to drive his horse out +of the cornfields, when he leaped upon me, tore my ears from my head +without saying a single word, and then lay down to sleep again." + +Aulad was about to go hunting with his chiefs; but when he heard the +keeper's story he altered his plan, and set out to the place where +he heard that Rustem had been seen. Rustem, as soon as he saw him +approach, and a great company with him, ran to Raksh, leaped on his +back, and rode forward. Aulad said to him, "Who are you? What are you +doing here? Why did you pluck off my keeper's ears and let your horse +feed in the cornfields?" + +"If you were to hear my name," said Rustem, "it would freeze the blood +in your heart." + +So saying he drew his sword, and fastening his lasso to the bow of his +saddle, rushed as a lion rushes into the midst of a herd of oxen. With +every blow of his sword he cut off a warrior's head, till the whole +of Aulad's company was either slain or scattered. Aulad himself he did +not kill, but throwing his lasso, caught him by the neck, dragged him +from his horse, and bound his hands. "Now," said he, "if you will tell +me the truth, and, without attempting to deceive, will show me where +the White Genius dwells, and will guide me to where King Kaoues is kept +prisoner, then I will make you king of Mazanderan. But if you speak a +word of falsehood you die." + +"It is well," said Aulad; "I will do what you desire. I will show +you where the King is imprisoned. It is four hundred miles from this +place; and four hundred miles farther, a difficult and dangerous way, +is the dwelling of the White Genius. It is a cavern so deep that no +man has ever sounded it, and it lies between two mountains. Twelve +thousand Genii watch it during the night, for the White Genius is the +chief and master of all his tribe. You will find him a terrible enemy, +and, for all your strong arms and hands, your keen sword, your lance +and your club, you will scarcely be able to conquer him; and when you +have conquered him, there will still be much to be done. In the city +of the King of Mazanderan there are thousands of warriors, and not +a coward among them; and besides these, there are two hundred +war-elephants. Were you made of iron, could you venture to deal alone +with these sons of Satan?" + +Rustem smiled when he heard this, and said, "Come with me, and you +will see what a single man, who puts his trust in God, can do. And now +show me first the way to the King's prison." + +Rustem mounted on Raksh, and rode gaily forward, and Aulad ran in +front of him. For a whole day and night he ran, nor ever grew tired, +till they reached the foot of Mount Asprus, where King Kaoues had +fallen into the power of the Genii. About midnight they heard a great +beating of drums, and saw many fires blaze up. + +Rustem said to Aulad, "What mean these fires that are blazing up to +right and left of us?" + +Aulad answered, "This is the way into Mazanderan. The great Genius +Arzeng must be there." + +Then Rustem went to sleep; and when he woke in the morning he took +his lasso and fastened Aulad to the trunk of a tree. Then hanging his +grandfather's club to his saddlebow, he rode on. + +His conflict with Arzeng, the chief of the army of the Genii, was +soon finished. As he approached the camp he raised his battle-cry. +His shout was loud enough, one would have said, to split the very +mountains; and Arzeng, when he heard it, rushed out of his tent. +Rustem set spurs to his horse, and galloping up to the Genius, caught +him by the head, tore it from the body, and threw it into the midst +of the army. When the Genii saw it, and caught sight also of the great +club, they fled in the wildest confusion, fathers trampling upon their +sons in their eagerness to escape. The hero put the whole herd of them +to the sword, and then returned as fast as he could to the place where +he had left Aulad bound to the tree. He unloosed the knots of the +lasso, and bidding him lead the way to the prison-house of the King, +set spurs to Raksh, Aulad running in front as before. + +When they entered the town, Raksh neighed. His voice was as loud as +thunder, and the King heard it, and in a moment understood all that +had happened. "That is the voice of Raksh," he said to the Persians +that were with him; "our evil days are over. This was the way in which +he neighed in King Kobad's time, when he made war on the Scythians." + +The Persians said to themselves, "Our poor King has lost his senses, +or he is dreaming. There is no help for us." But they had hardly +finished speaking when the hero appeared, and did homage to the King. +Kaoues embraced him, and then said: "If you are to help me, you must +go before the Genii know of your coming. So soon as the White Genius +shall hear of the fall of Arzeng, he will assemble such an army of his +fellows as shall make all your pains and labor lost. But you must know +that you have great difficulties to overcome. First, you must cross +seven mountains, all of them occupied by troops of Genii; then you +will see before you a terrible cavern--more terrible, I have heard +say, than any other place in the world. The entrance to it is guarded +by warrior Genii, and in it dwells the White Genius himself. He is +both the terror and the hope of his army. Conquer him, and all will be +well. A wise physician tells me that the only remedy for my blindness +is to drop into my eyes three drops of the White Genius's blood. Go +and conquer, if you would save your King." + +Without any delay Rustem set forth, Raksh carrying him like the wind. +When he reached the great cavern, he said to Aulad, who had guided him +on his way as before, "The time of conflict is come. Show me the way." + +Aulad answered, "When the sun shall grow hot, the Genii will go to +sleep. That will be your time to conquer them." + +Rustem waited till the sun was at its highest, and then went forth to +battle. The Genii that were on guard fled at the sound of his voice, +and he went on without finding any to resist him till he came to the +great cavern of which the King had spoken. It was a terrible place +to see, and he stood for a while with his sword in his hand, doubting +what he should do. No one would choose such a spot for battle; and as +for escaping from it, that was beyond all hope. Long he looked into +the darkness, and at last he saw a monstrous shape, which seemed to +reach across the whole breadth of the cave. It was the White Genius +that was lying asleep. Rustem did not attempt to surprise him in his +sleep, but woke him by shouting his battle-cry. When the White Genius +saw him, he rushed at once to do battle with him. First he caught up +from the ground a stone as big as a millstone and hurled it at him. +For the first time Rustem felt a thrill of fear, so terrible was his +enemy. Nevertheless, gathering all his strength, he struck at him a +great blow with his sword and cut off one of his feet. The monster, +though having but one foot, leaped upon him like a wild elephant, and +seized him by the breast and arms, hoping to throw him to the ground, +and tore from his body great pieces of flesh, so that the whole place +was covered with blood. Rustem said to himself, "If I escape to-day +I shall live forever;" and the White Genius thought, "Even if I +do deliver myself from the claws of this dragon, I shall never see +Mazanderan again." Still he did not lose courage, but continued to +struggle against the hero with all his might. + +So the two fought together, the blood and sweat running from them in +great streams. At last Rustem caught the Genius round the body, and, +putting out all his strength, hurled him to the ground with such force +that his soul was driven out of his body. Then he plunged his poinard +into the creature's heart, and tore the liver out of his body. This +done he returned to Aulad, whom he had left bound with his lasso, +loosed him, and set out for the place where he had left the King. But +first Aulad said to him, "I have the marks of your bonds upon me; my +body is bruised with the knots of your lasso; I beseech you to respect +the promise which you made me of a reward. A hero is bound to keep his +word." + +Rustem said: "I promised that you should be King of Mazanderan, and +King you shall be. But I have much to do before my word can be kept. I +have a great battle to fight, in which I may be conquered, and I must +rid this country of the magicians with whom it is encumbered. But be +sure that, when all is done, I will not fail of the promises which I +have made." + +So Rustem returned to King Kaoues, and, dropping the blood of the White +Genius into his eyes, gave him back his sight. Seven days the King +and his nobles feasted together, Rustem having the chief place. On the +eighth day they set out to clear the country of the accursed race of +magicians. When they had done this, the King said, "The guilty have +now been punished. Let no others suffer. And now I will send a letter +to the King of Mazanderan." + +So the King wrote a letter in these words: "You see how God has +punished the wrong-doers--how he has brought to naught the Genii and +the magicians. Quit then your town, and come here to pay homage and +tribute to me. If you will not, then your life shall be as the life of +Arzeng and the White Genius." + +This letter was carried to the King by a certain chief named Ferbad. +When the King had read it, he was greatly troubled. Three days he kept +Ferbad as his guest, and then sent back by him this answer: "Shall the +water of the sea be equal to wine? Am I one to whom you can say, 'Come +down from your throne, and present yourself before me?' Make ready +to do battle with me, for verily I will bring upon the land of Persia +such destruction that no man shall be able to say what is high and +what is low." + +Ferbad hastened back to the King of Persia. "The man," he said, "is +resolved not to yield." Then the King sent to Rustem. And Rustem said, +"Send me with a letter that shall be as keen as a sword and a message +like a thunder-cloud." So the King sent for a scribe, who, making +the point of his reed as fine as an arrowhead, wrote thus: "These +are foolish words, and do not become a man of sense. Put away your +arrogance, and be obedient to my words. If you refuse, I will bring +such an army against you as shall cover your land from one sea to the +other; and the ghost of the White Genius shall call the vultures to +feast on your brains." + +The King set his seal to this letter, and Rustem departed with it, +with his club hanging to his saddlebow. When the King of Mazanderan +heard of his coming, he sent some of his nobles to meet him. When +Rustem saw them, he caught a huge tree that was by the wayside in his +hands, twisted it with all his might, and tore it up, roots and all. +Then he poised it in his hand as if it were a javelin. One of the +nobles, the strongest of them all, rode up to him, caught one of his +hands, and pressed it with all his might. Rustem only smiled; but +when in his turn he caught the noble's hand in his, he crushed all the +veins and bones, so that the man fell fainting from his horse. + +When the King heard what had been done, he called one of his warriors, +Kalahour by name, the strongest man in his dominions, and said to him, +"Go and meet this messenger; show him your prowess, and cover his face +with shame." So Kalahour rode to meet Rustem, and, taking him by the +hand, wrung it with all the strength of an elephant. The hand turned +blue with the pain, but the hero did not flinch or give any sign of +pain. But when in his turn he wrung the hand of Kalahour, the nails +dropped from it as the leaves drop from a tree. Kalahour rode back, +his hand hanging down, and said to the King, "It will be better for +you to make peace than to fight with this lion, whose strength is such +that no man can stand against him. Pay this tribute, and we will make +it good to you. Otherwise we are lost." + +At this moment Rustem rode up. The King gave him a place at his right +hand, and asked him of his welfare. Rustem, for answer, gave him +the letter of Kei-Kaoeus. When the King had read the letter, his face +became black as thunder. Then he said, "Carry back this answer to your +master: 'You are lord of Persia, and I of Mazanderan. Be content; seek +not that which is not yours. Otherwise your pride will lead you to +your fall.'" + +The King would have given Rustem royal gifts, robes of honor, and +horses, and gold. But the hero would have none of them, but went away +in anger. When he had returned to the King of Persia, he said to him, +"Fear nothing, but make ready for battle. As for the warriors of this +land of Mazanderan, they are nothing; I count them no better than a +grain of dust." + +Meanwhile the king of the magicians prepared for war. He gathered an +army, horsemen and foot-soldiers and elephants, that covered the face +of the earth, and approached the borders of Persia; and, on the other +hand, King Kaoues marshaled his men of war and went out to encounter +him. The King himself took his place in the center of the line of +battle, and in front of all stood the great Rustem. + +One of the nobles of Mazanderan came out of their line, with a great +club in his hands, and approaching the Persian army, cried in a loud +voice, "Who is ready to fight with me? He should be one who is able to +change water into dust." + +None of the Persian nobles answered him, and King Kaoues said, "Why +is it, ye men of war, that your faces are troubled, and your tongues +silent before this Genius?" + +But still the nobles made no answer. Then Rustem caught the rein of +his horse, and, putting the point of his lance over his shoulder, rode +up to the King, and said, "Will the King give me permission to fight +with this Genius?" + +The King said, "The task is worthy of you, for none of the Persians +dare to meet this warrior. Go and prosper!" + +So Rustem set spurs to Raksh, and rode against the warrior who had +challenged the Persians. + +"Hear," he said, as soon as he came near, "your name is blotted out of +the list of the living; for the moment is come when you shall suffer +the recompense of all your misdeeds." + +The warrior answered, "Boast not yourself so proudly. My sword makes +mothers childless." + +When Rustem heard this, he cried with a voice of thunder, "I am +Rustem!" and the warrior, who had no desire to fight the champion +of the world, turned his back and fled. But Rustem pursued him, and +thrust at him with his lance where the belt joins the coat of mail, +and pierced him through, for the armor could not turn the point of the +great spear. Then he lifted him out of his saddle, and raised him up +in the air, as if he were a bird which a man had run through with a +spit. This done, he dashed him down dead upon the ground, and all the +nobles of Mazanderan stood astonished at the sight. + +After this the two armies joined battle. The air grew dark, and the +flashing of the swords and clubs flew like the lightning out of +a thunder-cloud, and the mountains trembled with the cries of the +combatants. Never had any living man seen so fierce a fight before. + +For seven days the battle raged, and neither the one side nor the +other could claim the victory. On the eighth day King Kaoues bowed +himself before God, taking his crown from his head, and prayed with +his face to the ground, saying, "O Lord God, give me, I beseech thee, +the victory over the Genii who fear thee not." + +Then he set his helmet on his head, and put himself at the head of his +army. First of all Rustem began the attack, charging the center of the +enemy's army. He directed his course straight to the place where the +King of Mazanderan stood, surrounded with his chiefs and a great +host of elephants. When the King saw the shine of his lance, he lost +courage, and would have fled. But Rustem, with a cry like a lion's +roar, charged him, and struck him on the girdle with his spear. The +spear pierced the steel, and would have slain the King, but that by +his magic art he changed himself, before the eyes of all the Persian +army, into a mass of rock. Rustem stood astonished to see such a +marvel. + +When King Kaoues came up with his warriors, he said to Rustem, "What is +it? What ails you that you tarry here, doing no thing?" + +"My lord," answered Rustem, "I charged the King of Mazanderan, spear +in hand; I struck him on the girdle, but when I thought to see him +fall from his saddle, he changed himself into a rock before my eyes, +and now he feels nothing that I can do." + +Then King Kaoues commanded that they should take up the rock and put +it before his throne. But when the strongest men in the army came +to handle the rock, or sought to draw it with cords, they could do +nothing; it remained immovable. Rustem, however, without any one to +help him, lifted it from the earth, and carrying it into the camp, +threw it down before the King's tent, and said, "Give up these +cowardly tricks and the art of magic, else I will break this rock into +pieces." + +When the King of Mazanderan heard this, he made himself visible, black +as a thunder-cloud, with a helmet of steel upon his head and a coat of +mail upon his breast. Rustem laughed, and caught him by the hand, and +brought him before the King. + +"See," said he, "this lump of rock, who, for fear of the hatchet has +given himself up to me!" + +When Kaoues looked at him and observed how savage of aspect he was, +with the neck and tusks of a wild boar, he saw that he was not worthy +to sit upon a throne, and bade the executioner take him away and cut +him in pieces. This done, he sent to the enemies' camp, and commanded +that all the spoil, the King's throne, and his crown and girdle, +the horses and the armor, the swords and jewels, should be gathered +together. Then he called up his army, and distributed to them rewards +in proportion to what they had done and suffered. After this he spent +seven days in prayer, humbling himself before God, and offering up +thanksgiving. On the eighth day he seated himself on his throne, and +opened his treasures, and gave to all that had need. Thus he spent +another seven days. On the fifteenth day, he called for wine and cups +of amber and rubies, and sat for seven days on his throne, with the +wine-cup in his hand. + +He sent for Rustem, and said, "It is of your doing, by your strength +and courage, that I have recovered my throne." + +Rustem answered, "A man must do his duty. As for the honors that you +would give me, I owe them all to Aulad, who has always guided me on +the right way. He hopes to be made king of Mazanderan. Let the King, +therefore, if it please him, invest him with the crown." + +And this the King did. + +The next day Kaoues and his army set out to return to the land of +Persia. When he had reached his palace, he seated himself upon his +throne, and sending for Rustem, put him at his side. + +Rustem said, "My lord, permit me to go back to the old man Zal, my +father." + +The King commanded that they should bring splendid presents for the +hero. The presents were these: A throne of turquoise, adorned with +rams' heads; a royal crown set about with jewels; a robe of brocade of +gold, such as is worn by the King of kings; a bracelet and a chain of +gold; a hundred maidens, with faces fair as the full moon, and girdles +of gold; a hundred youths, whose hair was fragrant with musk; a +hundred horses, harnessed with gold and silver; a hundred mules with +black hair, with loads of brocade that came from the land of Room and +from Persia. After these they brought and laid at the hero's feet a +hundred purses filled with gold pieces; a cup of rubies, filled with +pure musk; another cup of turquoise, filled with attar of roses; and, +last of all, a letter written on pages of silk, in ink made of wine +and aloes and amber and the black of lamps. By this letter the King of +kings gave anew to Rustem the kingdom of the south. Then Kaoues blessed +him, and said: "May you live as long as men shall see the sun and the +moon in heaven! May the great of the earth join themselves to you! May +your own soul be full of modesty and tenderness!" + +Rustem prostrated himself on the earth, and kissed the throne; and so +took his departure. + + + + +LIST OF BEST BOOKS OF MYTHS AND LEGENDS + +ASHTON, T. _Romances of Chivalry_ + +BALDWIN, J. _The Story of Siegfried_ + +BALDWIN, J. _The Story of Roland_ + +BARING-GOULD, S. _Curious Myths of the Middle Ages_ + +BROOKS, E. _The Story of the AEneid_ + +BROOKS, E. _The Story of the Odyssey_ + +BULFINCH, T. _The Age of Chivalry_ + +BULFINCH, T. _Legends of Charlemagne_ + +BURNS, J. _Popular Tales and Legends_ + +CLODD, E. _The Birth and Growth of Myths_ + +CLODD, E. _The Childhood of Religions_ + +COOKER, F.J. _Nature Myths and Stories_ + +COX, G.W. _Tales of Ancient Greece_ + +COX, G.W. _Popular Romances of the Middle Ages_ + +CRANE, F.T. _Italian Popular Tales_ + +CROMMELIN, MARY _Famous Legends_ + +CURTIN, J. _Myths and Folk Tales of the Russians_ + +DRAKE, S.A. _North-East Legends_ + +DU MAURIER, GEORGE. _Legend of Camelot_ + +EDWARDSON, E. _The Courteous Knight_ + +EMMERSON, ELLEN RUSSELL _Indian Myths_ + +FISK, JOHN. _Myths and Myth Makers_ + +FRANCILLON, R.E. _Gods and Heroes_ + +GAYLEY, F. _Classic Myths_ + +GRINNEL, G.B. _Blackfoot Lodge Tales_ + +GUERBER, H.A. _Myths of Northern Lands_ + +GUERBER, H.A. _Myths of Greece and Rome_ + +HALL, J. _Legends of the West_ + +HAWTHORNE, NATHANIEL _Tanglewood Tales_ + +HAWTHORNE, NATHANIEL _The Wonder Book_ + +HEARN, LAFCADIO _Some Chinese Ghosts_ + +HOLBROOK, F. _The Book of Nature's Myths_ + +HULME, F.E. _Mythland_ + +HUNT, R. _Popular Romances of the West of England_ + +IRVING, WASHINGTON _The Legend of Sleepy Hollow_ + +JACOBS, JOSEPH _The Book of Wonder Voyages_ + +KENNEDY, PATRICK _Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts_ + +KINGSLEY, CHARLES. _Greek Heroes_ + +KUPLER, GRACE H._Stories of Long Ago_ + +LANG, ANDREW _Modern Mythology_ + +LANIER, SYDNEY _The Boy's King Arthur_ + +LANIER, SYDNEY _The Boy's Mabinogion_ + +LANIER, SYDNEY _The Boy's Percy_ + +LANIER, SYDNEY _The Boy's Froissart_ + +LEITZ, A.F. _Legends and Stories_ + +LOVER, SAMUEL _Legends and Stories of Ireland_ + +MABIE, H.W. _Norse Tales_ + +MABIE, H.W. (ED.) _Myths that Every Child should Know_ + +MACAULAY, LORD _Lays of Ancient Rome_ + +MACDONALD, GEORGE _The Light Princess_ + +MAGNUSSON AND MORRIS _The Saga Library_ + +MITCHELL, S.W. _Prince Little Boy_ + +NUTT, ALFRED _Folk Lore_ + +PRATT-CHADWICK, M.L. _Legends of the Red Children_ + +PYLE, HOWARD. _Story of King Arthur_ + +RALSTON, W.R.S._Russian Folk Tales_ + +SAINTINE, X.B. _Myths of the Rhine_ + +SCHRAMMEM, J. _Legends of German Heroes of the Middle Ages_ + +SCUDDER, H.E. _The Book of Legends_ + +SCUDDER, H.E. _The Children's Book_ + +SCUDDER, H.E. _The Book of Folk Stories_ + +SKINNER, C.M. _Myths and Legends_ + +SOUTHEY, R. _Chronicles of the Cid_ + +TANNER, D. _Legends from the Red Man's Forest_ + +TAPPAN, E.M. _Robin Hood: His Book_ + +WILDE, LADY _Ancient Legends_ + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOUNG FOLKS TREASURY, VOLUME 2 (OF +12)*** + + +******* This file should be named 15202.txt or 15202.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/2/0/15202 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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