diff options
Diffstat (limited to '6746.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 6746.txt | 11117 |
1 files changed, 11117 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/6746.txt b/6746.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0b315ff --- /dev/null +++ b/6746.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11117 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Grey Fairy Book, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Grey Fairy Book + +Author: Various + +Editor: Andrew Lang + +Release Date: October, 2004 [EBook #6746] +Posting Date: December 1, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREY FAIRY BOOK *** + + + + +Produced by JC Byers, Wendy Crockett, Sally Gellert, Christine Sturrock + + + + + +THE GREY FAIRY BOOK + +By Various + + +Edited by Andrew Lang + + + + +Preface + + +The tales in the Grey Fairy Book are derived from many +countries--Lithuania, various parts of Africa, Germany, France, Greece, +and other regions of the world. They have been translated and adapted by +Mrs. Dent, Mrs. Lang, Miss Eleanor Sellar, Miss Blackley, and Miss hang. +'The Three Sons of Hali' is from the last century 'Cabinet des Fees,' +a very large collection. The French author may have had some Oriental +original before him in parts; at all events he copied the Eastern method +of putting tale within tale, like the Eastern balls of carved ivory. The +stories, as usual, illustrate the method of popular fiction. A certain +number of incidents are shaken into many varying combinations, like the +fragments of coloured glass in the kaleidoscope. Probably the possible +combinations, like possible musical combinations, are not unlimited in +number, but children may be less sensitive in the matter of fairies than +Mr. John Stuart Mill was as regards music. + + +Contents + + Donkey Skin + The Goblin Pony + An Impossible Enchantment + The Story of Dschemil and Dachemila + Janni and the Draken + The Partnership of the Thief and the Liar + Fortunatus and his Purse + The Goat-faced Girl + What came of picking Flowers + The Story of Bensurdatu + The Magician's Horse + The Little Gray Man + Herr Lazarus and the Draken + The Story of the Queen of the Flowery Isles + Udea and her Seven Brothers + The White Wolf + Mohammed with the Magic Finger + Bobino + The Dog and the Sparrow + The Story of the Three Sons of Hali + The Story of the Fair Circassians + The Jackal and the Spring The Bear + The Sunchild The Daughter of Buk Ettemsuch + Laughing Eye and Weeping Eye, or the Limping Fox + The Unlooked for Prince + The Simpleton + The Street Musicians + The Twin Brothers + Cannetella + The Ogre + A Fairy's Blunder + Long, Broad, and Quickeye + Prunella + + + + + +Donkey Skin + + +There was once upon a time a king who was so much beloved by his +subjects that he thought himself the happiest monarch in the whole +world, and he had everything his heart could desire. His palace was +filled with the rarest of curiosities, and his gardens with the sweetest +flowers, while in the marble stalls of his stables stood a row of +milk-white Arabs, with big brown eyes. + +Strangers who had heard of the marvels which the king had collected, +and made long journeys to see them, were, however, surprised to find the +most splendid stall of all occupied by a donkey, with particularly large +and drooping ears. It was a very fine donkey; but still, as far as they +could tell, nothing so very remarkable as to account for the care with +which it was lodged; and they went away wondering, for they could +not know that every night, when it was asleep, bushels of gold pieces +tumbled out of its ears, which were picked up each morning by the +attendants. + +After many years of prosperity a sudden blow fell upon the king in the +death of his wife, whom he loved dearly. But before she died, the +queen, who had always thought first of his happiness, gathered all her +strength, and said to him: + +'Promise me one thing: you must marry again, I know, for the good of +your people, as well as of yourself. But do not set about it in a hurry. +Wait until you have found a woman more beautiful and better formed than +myself.' + +'Oh, do not speak to me of marrying,' sobbed the king; 'rather let me +die with you!' But the queen only smiled faintly, and turned over on her +pillow and died. + +For some months the king's grief was great; then gradually he began to +forget a little, and, besides, his counsellors were always urging him to +seek another wife. At first he refused to listen to them, but by-and-by +he allowed himself to be persuaded to think of it, only stipulating that +the bride should be more beautiful and attractive than the late queen, +according to the promise he had made her. + +Overjoyed at having obtained what they wanted, the counsellors sent +envoys far and wide to get portraits of all the most famous beauties of +every country. The artists were very busy and did their best, but, alas! +nobody could even pretend that any of the ladies could compare for a +moment with the late queen. + +At length, one day, when he had turned away discouraged from a fresh +collection of pictures, the king's eyes fell on his adopted daughter, +who had lived in the palace since she was a baby, and he saw that, if +a woman existed on the whole earth more lovely than the queen, this was +she! He at once made known what his wishes were, but the young girl, who +was not at all ambitious, and had not the faintest desire to marry him, +was filled with dismay, and begged for time to think about it. That +night, when everyone was asleep, she started in a little car drawn by a +big sheep, and went to consult her fairy godmother. + +'I know what you have come to tell me,' said the fairy, when the maiden +stepped out of the car; 'and if you don't wish to marry him, I will show +you how to avoid it. Ask him to give you a dress that exactly matches +the sky. It will be impossible for him to get one, so you will be quite +safe.' The girl thanked the fairy and returned home again. + +The next morning, when her father (as she had always called him) came +to see her, she told him that she could give him no answer until he had +presented her with a dress the colour of the sky. The king, overjoyed +at this answer, sent for all the choicest weavers and dressmakers in the +kingdom, and commanded them to make a robe the colour of the sky without +an instant's delay, or he would cut off their heads at once. Dreadfully +frightened at this threat, they all began to dye and cut and sew, and in +two days they brought back the dress, which looked as if it had been cut +straight out of the heavens! The poor girl was thunderstruck, and did +not know what to do; so in the night she harnessed her sheep again, and +went in search of her godmother. + +'The king is cleverer than I thought,' said the fairy; 'but tell him you +must have a dress of moonbeams.' + +And the next day, when the king summoned her into his presence, the girl +told him what she wanted. + +'Madam, I can refuse you nothing,' said he; and he ordered the dress to +be ready in twenty-four hours, or every man should be hanged. + +They set to work with all their might, and by dawn next day, the dress +of moonbeams was laid across her bed. The girl, though she could not +help admiring its beauty, began to cry, till the fairy, who heard her, +came to her help. + +'Well, I could not have believed it of him!' said she; 'but ask for a +dress of sunshine, and I shall be surprised indeed if he manages that!' + +The goddaughter did not feel much faith in the fairy after her two +previous failures; but not knowing what else to do, she told her father +what she was bid. + +The king made no difficulties about it, and even gave his finest +rubies and diamonds to ornament the dress, which was so dazzling, when +finished, that it could not be looked at save through smoked glasses! + +When the princess saw it, she pretended that the sight hurt her eyes, +and retired to her room, where she found the fairy awaiting her, very +much ashamed of herself. + +'There is only one thing to be done now,' cried she; 'you must demand +the skin of the ass he sets such store by. It is from that donkey he +obtains all his vast riches, and I am sure he will never give it to +you.' + +The princess was not so certain; however, she went to the king, and told +him she could never marry him till he had given her the ass's skin. + +The king was both astonished and grieved at this new request, but did +not hesitate an instant. The ass was sacrificed, and the skin laid at +the feet of the princess. + +The poor girl, seeing no escape from the fate she dreaded, wept afresh, +and tore her hair; when, suddenly, the fairy stood before her. + +'Take heart,' she said, 'all will now go well! Wrap yourself in this +skin, and leave the palace and go as far as you can. I will look after +you. Your dresses and your jewels shall follow you underground, and if +you strike the earth whenever you need anything, you will have it at +once. But go quickly: you have no time to lose.' + +So the princess clothed herself in the ass's skin, and slipped from the +palace without being seen by anyone. + +Directly she was missed there was a great hue and cry, and every corner, +possible and impossible, was searched. Then the king sent out parties +along all the roads, but the fairy threw her invisible mantle over the +girl when they approached, and none of them could see her. + +The princess walked on a long, long way, trying to find some one who +would take her in, and let her work for them; but though the cottagers, +whose houses she passed, gave her food from charity, the ass's skin was +so dirty they would not allow her to enter their houses. For her flight +had been so hurried she had had no time to clean it. + +Tired and disheartened at her ill-fortune, she was wandering, one day, +past the gate of a farmyard, situated just outside the walls of a large +town, when she heard a voice calling to her. She turned and saw the +farmer's wife standing among her turkeys, and making signs to her to +come in. + +'I want a girl to wash the dishes and feed the turkeys, and clean out +the pig-sty,' said the w omen, 'and, to judge by your dirty clothes, you +would not be too fine for the work.' + +The girl accepted her offer with joy, and she was at once set to work in +a corner of the kitchen, where all the farm servants came and made fun +of her, and the ass's skin in which she was wrapped. But by-and-by they +got so used to the sight of it that it ceased to amuse them, and she +worked so hard and so well, that her mistress grew quite fond of her. +And she was so clever at keeping sheep and herding turkeys that you +would have thought she had done nothing else during her whole life! + +One day she was sitting on the banks of a stream bewailing her wretched +lot, when she suddenly caught sight of herself in the water. Her hair +and part of her face was quite concealed by the ass's head, which was +drawn right over like a hood, and the filthy matted skin covered her +whole body. It was the first time she had seen herself as other people +saw her, and she was filled with shame at the spectacle. Then she threw +off her disguise and jumped into the water, plunging in again and again, +till she shone like ivory. When it was time to go back to the farm, she +was forced to put on the skin which disguised her, and now seemed more +dirty than ever; but, as she did so, she comforted herself with the +thought that to-morrow was a holiday, and that she would be able for +a few hours to forget that she was a farm girl, and be a princess once +more. + +So, at break of day, she stamped on the ground, as the fairy had told +her, and instantly the dress like the sky lay across her tiny bed. Her +room was so small that there was no place for the train of her dress to +spread itself out, but she pinned it up carefully when she combed her +beautiful hair and piled it up on the top of her head, as she had always +worn it. When she had done, she was so pleased with herself that +she determined never to let a chance pass of putting on her splendid +clothes, even if she had to wear them in the fields, with no one to +admire her but the sheep and turkeys. + +Now the farm was a royal farm, and, one holiday, when 'Donkey Skin' (as +they had nicknamed the princess) had locked the door of her room and +clothed herself in her dress of sunshine, the king's son rode through +the gate, and asked if he might come and rest himself a little after +hunting. Some food and milk were set before him in the garden, and when +he felt rested he got up, and began to explore the house, which was +famous throughout the whole kingdom for its age and beauty. He opened +one door after the other, admiring the old rooms, when he came to a +handle that would not turn. He stooped and peeped through the keyhole to +see what was inside, and was greatly astonished at beholding a beautiful +girl, clad in a dress so dazzling that he could hardly look at it. + +The dark gallery seemed darker than ever as he turned away, but he went +back to the kitchen and inquired who slept in the room at the end of the +passage. The scullery maid, they told him, whom everybody laughed +at, and called 'Donkey Skin;' and though he perceived there was some +strange mystery about this, he saw quite clearly there was nothing to be +gained by asking any more questions. So he rode back to the palace, his +head filled with the vision he had seen through the keyhole. + +All night long he tossed about, and awoke the next morning in a high +fever. The queen, who had no other child, and lived in a state of +perpetual anxiety about this one, at once gave him up for lost, and +indeed his sudden illness puzzled the greatest doctors, who tried the +usual remedies in vain. At last they told the queen that some secret +sorrow must be at the bottom of all this, and she threw herself on her +knees beside her son's bed, and implored him to confide his trouble to +her. If it was ambition to be king, his father would gladly resign the +cares of the crown, and suffer him to reign in his stead; or, if it +was love, everything should be sacrificed to get for him the wife he +desired, even if she were daughter of a king with whom the country was +at war at present! + +'Madam,' replied the prince, whose weakness would hardly allow him to +speak, 'do not think me so unnatural as to wish to deprive my father of +his crown. As long as he lives I shall remain the most faithful of his +subjects! And as to the princesses you speak of, I have seen none that +I should care for as a wife, though I would always obey your wishes, +whatever it might cost me.' + +'Ah! my son,' cried she, 'we will do anything in the world to save your +life----and ours too, for if you die, we shall die also.' + +'Well, then,' replied the prince, 'I will tell you the only thing that +will cure me----a cake made by the hand of "Donkey Skin."' + +'Donkey Skin?' exclaimed the queen, who thought her son had gone mad; +'and who or what is that?' + +'Madam,' answered one of the attendants present, who had been with +the prince at the farm, '"Donkey Skin" is, next to the wolf, the most +disgusting creature on the face of the earth. She is a girl who wears a +black, greasy skin, and lives at your farmer's as hen-wife.' + +'Never mind,' said the queen; 'my son seems to have eaten some of her +pastry. It is the whim of a sick man, no doubt; but send at once and let +her bake a cake.' + +The attendant bowed and ordered a page to ride with the message. + +Now it is by no means certain that 'Donkey Skin' had not caught a +glimpse of the prince, either when his eyes looked through the keyhole, +or else from her little window, which was over the road. But whether she +had actually seen him or only heard him spoken of, directly she received +the queen's command, she flung off the dirty skin, washed herself from +head to foot, and put on a skirt and bodice of shining silver. Then, +locking herself into her room, she took the richest cream, the finest +flour, and the freshest eggs on the farm, and set about making her cake. + +As she was stirring the mixture in the saucepan a ring that she +sometimes wore in secret slipped from her finger and fell into the +dough. Perhaps 'Donkey Skin' saw it, or perhaps she did not; but, any +way, she went on stirring, and soon the cake was ready to be put in the +oven. When it was nice and brown she took off her dress and put on her +dirty skin, and gave the cake to the page, asking at the same time for +news of the prince. But the page turned his head aside, and would not +even condescend to answer. + +The page rode like the wind, and as soon as he arrived at the palace +he snatched up a silver tray and hastened to present the cake to the +prince. The sick man began to eat it so fast that the doctors thought he +would choke; and, indeed, he very nearly did, for the ring was in one +of the bits which he broke off, though he managed to extract it from his +mouth without anyone seeing him. + +The moment the prince was left alone he drew the ring from under his +pillow and kissed it a thousand times. Then he set his mind to find how +he was to see the owner---for even he did not dare to confess that he +had only beheld 'Donkey Skin' through a keyhole, lest they should laugh +at this sudden passion. All this worry brought back the fever, which the +arrival of the cake had diminished for the time; and the doctors, not +knowing what else to say, informed the queen that her son was simply +dying of love. The queen, stricken with horror, rushed into the king's +presence with the news, and together they hastened to their son's +bedside. + +'My boy, my dear boy!' cried the king, 'who is it you want to marry? +We will give her to you for a bride; even if she is the humblest of our +slaves. What is there in the whole world that we would not do for you?' + +The prince, moved to tears at these words, drew the ring, which was an +emerald of the purest water, from under his pillow. + +'Ah, dear father and mother, let this be a proof that she whom I love +is no peasant girl. The finger which that ring fits has never been +thickened by hard work. But be her condition what it may, I will marry +no other.' + +The king and queen examined the tiny ring very closely, and agreed, with +their son, that the wearer could be no mere farm girl. Then the king +went out and ordered heralds and trumpeters to go through the town, +summoning every maiden to the palace. And she whom the ring fitted would +some day be queen. + +First came all the princesses, then all the duchesses' daughters, and +so on, in proper order. But not one of them could slip the ring over the +tip of her finger, to the great joy of the prince, whom excitement +was fast curing. At last, when the high-born damsels had failed, the +shopgirls and chambermaids took their turn; but with no better fortune. + +'Call in the scullions and shepherdesses,' commanded the prince; but the +sight of their fat, red fingers satisfied everybody. + +'There is not a woman left, your Highness,' said the chamberlain; but +the prince waved him aside. + +'Have you sent for "Donkey Skin," who made me the cake?' asked he, and +the courtiers began to laugh, and replied that they would not have dared +to introduce so dirty a creature into the palace. + +'Let some one go for her at once,' ordered the king. 'I commanded the +presence of every maiden, high or low, and I meant it.' + +The princess had heard the trumpets and the proclamations, and knew +quite well that her ring was at the bottom of it all. She, too, had +fallen in love with the prince in the brief glimpse she had had of him, +and trembled with fear lest someone else's finger might be as small as +her own. When, therefore, the messenger from the palace rode up to the +gate, she was nearly beside herself with delight. Hoping all the time +for such a summons, she had dressed herself with great care, putting on +the garment of moonlight, whose skirt was scattered over with emeralds. +But when they began calling to her to come down, she hastily covered +herself with her donkey-skin and announced she was ready to present +herself before his Highness. She was taken straight into the hall, where +the prince was awaiting her, but at the sight of the donkey-skin his +heart sank. Had he been mistaken after all? + +'Are you the girl,' he said, turning his eyes away as he spoke, 'are you +the girl who has a room in the furthest corner of the inner court of the +farmhouse?' + +'Yes, my lord, I am,' answered she. + +'Hold out your hand then,' continued the prince, feeling that he must +keep his word, whatever the cost, and, to the astonishment of every one +present, a little hand, white and delicate, came from beneath the black +and dirty skin. The ring slipped on with the utmost ease, and, as it did +so, the skin fell to the ground, disclosing a figure of such beauty that +the prince, weak as he was, fell on his knees before her, while the +king and queen joined their prayers to his. Indeed, their welcome was so +warm, and their caresses so bewildering, that the princess hardly knew +how to find words to reply, when the ceiling of the hall opened, and the +fairy godmother appeared, seated in a car made entirely of white lilac. +In a few words she explained the history of the princess, and how she +came to be there, and, without losing a moment, preparations of the most +magnificent kind were made for the wedding. + +The kings of every country in the earth were invited, including, of +course, the princess's adopted father (who by this time had married a +widow), and not one refused. + +But what a strange assembly it was! Each monarch travelled in the way +he thought most impressive; and some came borne in litters, others +had carriages of every shape and kind, while the rest were mounted on +elephants, tigers, and even upon eagles. So splendid a wedding had never +been seen before; and when it was over the king announced that it was +to be followed by a coronation, for he and the queen were tired of +reigning, and the young couple must take their place. The rejoicings +lasted for three whole months, then the new sovereigns settled down +to govern their kingdom, and made themselves so much beloved by their +subjects, that when they died, a hundred years later, each man mourned +them as his own father and mother. + +[From le Cabinet de Fees.] + + + + +The Goblin Pony + + +'Don't stir from the fireplace to-night,' said old Peggy, 'for the +wind is blowing so violently that the house shakes; besides, this is +Hallow-e'en, when the witches are abroad, and the goblins, who are their +servants, are wandering about in all sorts of disguises, doing harm to +the children of men.' + +'Why should I stay here?' said the eldest of the young people. 'No, +I must go and see what the daughter of old Jacob, the rope-maker, is +doing. She wouldn't close her blue eyes all night if I didn't visit her +father before the moon had gone down.' + +'I must go and catch lobsters and crabs' said the second, 'and not all +the witches and goblins in the world shall hinder me.' + +So they all determined to go on their business or pleasure, and scorned +the wise advice of old Peggy. Only the youngest child hesitated a +minute, when she said to him, 'You stay here, my little Richard, and I +will tell you beautiful stories.' + +But he wanted to pick a bunch of wild thyme and some blackberries by +moonlight, and ran out after the others. When they got outside the house +they said: 'The old woman talks of wind and storm, but never was the +weather finer or the sky more clear; see how majestically the moon +stalks through the transparent clouds!' + +Then all of a sudden they noticed a little black pony close beside them. + +'Oh, ho!' they said, 'that is old Valentine's pony; it must have escaped +from its stable, and is going down to drink at the horse-pond.' + +'My pretty little pony,' said the eldest, patting the creature with his +hand, 'you mustn't run too far; I'll take you to the pond myself.' + +With these words he jumped on the pony's back and was quickly followed +by his second brother, then by the third, and so on, till at last they +were all astride the little beast, down to the small Richard, who didn't +like to be left behind. + +On the way to the pond they met several of their companions, and they +invited them all to mount the pony, which they did, and the little +creature did not seem to mind the extra weight, but trotted merrily +along. + +The quicker it trotted the more the young people enjoyed the fun; they +dug their heels into the pony's sides and called out, 'Gallop, little +horse, you have never had such brave riders on your back before!' + +In the meantime the wind had risen again, and the waves began to howl; +but the pony did not seem to mind the noise, and instead of going to the +pond, cantered gaily towards the sea-shore. + +Richard began to regret his thyme and blackberries, and the eldest +brother seized the pony by the mane and tried to make it turn round, for +he remembered the blue eyes of Jacob the rope-maker's daughter. But he +tugged and pulled in vain, for the pony galloped straight on into the +sea, till the waves met its forefeet. As soon as it felt the water it +neighed lustily and capered about with glee, advancing quickly into the +foaming billows. When the waves had covered the children's legs they +repented their careless behaviour, and cried out: 'The cursed little +black pony is bewitched. If we had only listened to old Peggy's advice +we shouldn't have been lost.' + +The further the pony advanced, the higher rose the sea; at last the +waves covered the children's heads and they were all drowned. + +Towards morning old Peggy went out, for she was anxious about the fate +of her grandchildren. She sought them high and low, but could not +find them anywhere. She asked all the neighbours if they had seen the +children, but no one knew anything about them, except that the eldest +had not been with the blue-eyed daughter of Jacob the rope-maker. + +As she was going home, bowed with grief, she saw a little black pony +coming towards her, springing and curveting in every direction. When it +got quite near her it neighed loudly, and galloped past her so quickly +that in a moment it was out of her sight. + +[From the French, Kletke.] + + + + +An Impossible Enchantment + + +There once lived a king who was much loved by his people, and he, too, +loved them warmly. He led a very happy life, but he had the greatest +dislike to the idea of marrying, nor had he ever felt the slightest +wish to fall in love. His subjects begged him to marry, and at last he +promised to try to do so. But as, so far, he had never cared for any +woman he had seen, he made up his mind to travel in hopes of meeting +some lady he could love. + +So he arranged all the affairs of state in an orderly manner, and set +out, attended by only one equerry, who, though not very clever, had most +excellent good sense. These people indeed generally make the best fellow +travellers. + +The king explored several countries, doing all he could to fall in love, +but in vain; and at the end of two years' journeys he turned his face +towards home, with as free a heart as when he set out. + +As he was riding along through a forest he suddenly heard the most awful +miawing and shrieking of cats you can imagine. The noise drew nearer, +and nearer, and at last they saw a hundred huge Spanish cats rush +through the trees close to them. They were so closely packed together +that you could easily have covered them with a large cloak, and all +were following the same track. They were closely pursued by two enormous +apes, dressed in purple suits, with the prettiest and best made boots +you ever saw. + +The apes were mounted on superb mastiffs, and spurred them on in hot +haste, blowing shrill blasts on little toy trumpets all the time. + +The king and his equerry stood still to watch this strange hunt, which +was followed by twenty or more little dwarfs, some mounted on wolves, +and leading relays, and others with cats in leash. The dwarfs were all +dressed in purple silk liveries like the apes. + +A moment later a beautiful young woman mounted on a tiger came in sight. +She passed close to the king, riding at full speed, without taking any +notice of him; but he was at once enchanted by her, and his heart was +gone in a moment. + +To his great joy he saw that one of the dwarfs had fallen behind the +rest, and at once began to question him. + +The dwarf told him that the lady he had just seen was the Princess +Mutinosa, the daughter of the king in whose country they were at that +moment. He added that the princess was very fond of hunting, and that +she was now in pursuit of rabbits. + +The king then asked the way to the court, and having been told it, +hurried off, and reached the capital in a couple of hours. + +As soon as he arrived, he presented himself to the king and queen, and +on mentioning his own name and that of his country, was received with +open arms. Not long after, the princess returned, and hearing that the +hunt had been very successful, the king complimented her on it, but she +would not answer a word. + +Her silence rather surprised him, but he was still more astonished when +he found that she never spoke once all through supper-time. Sometimes +she seemed about to speak, but whenever this was the case her father or +mother at once took up the conversation. However, this silence did not +cool the king's affection, and when he retired to his rooms at night he +confided his feelings to his faithful equerry. But the equerry was by no +means delighted at his king's love affair, and took no pains to hide his +disappointment. + +'But why are you vexed?' asked the king. 'Surely the princess is +beautiful enough to please anyone?' + +'She is certainly very handsome,' replied the equerry, 'but to be really +happy in love something more than beauty is required. To tell the truth, +sire,' he added, 'her expression seems to me hard.' + +'That is pride and dignity,' said the king, 'and nothing can be more +becoming.' + +'Pride or hardness, as you will,' said the equerry; 'but to my mind the +choice of so many fierce creatures for her amusements seems to tell of +a fierce nature, and I also think there is something suspicious in the +care taken to prevent her speaking.' + +The equerry's remarks were full of good sense; but as opposition is only +apt to increase love in the hearts of men, and especially of kings who +hate being contradicted, this king begged, the very next day, for the +hand of the Princess Mutinosa. It was granted him on two conditions. + +The first was that the wedding should take place the very next day; and +the second, that he should not speak to the princess till she was +his wife; to all of which the king agreed, in spite of his equerry's +objections, so that the first word he heard his bride utter was the +'Yes' she spoke at their marriage. + +Once married, however, she no longer placed any check on herself, and +her ladies-in-waiting came in for plenty of rude speeches----even the +king did not escape scolding; but as he was a good-tempered man, and +very much in love, he bore it patiently. A few days after the wedding +the newly married pair set out for their kingdom without leaving many +regrets behind. + +The good equerry's fears proved only too true, as the king found out +to his cost. The young queen made her self most disagreeable to all her +court, her spite and bad temper knew no bounds, and before the end of a +month she was known far and wide as a regular vixen. + +One day, when riding out, she met a poor old woman walking along +the road, who made a curtsy and was going on, when the queen had her +stopped, and cried: 'You are a very impertinent person; don't you know +that I am the queen? And how dare you not make me a deeper curtsy?' + +'Madam,' said the old woman, 'I have never learnt how to measure +curtsies; but I had no wish to fail in proper respect.' + +'What!' screamed the queen; 'she dares to answer! Tie her to my horse's +tail and I'll just carry her at once to the best dancing-master in the +town to learn how to curtsy.' + +The old woman shrieked for mercy, but the queen would not listen, and +only mocked when she said she was protected by the fairies. At last the +poor old thing submitted to be tied up, but when the queen urged her +horse on he never stirred. In vain she spurred him, he seemed turned to +bronze. At the same moment the cord with which the old woman was tied +changed into wreaths of flowers, and she herself into a tall and stately +lady. + +Looking disdainfully at the queen, she said, 'Bad woman, unworthy of +your crown; I wished to judge for myself whether all I heard of you was +true. I have now no doubt of it, and you shall see whether the fairies +are to be laughed at.' + +So saying the fairy Placida (that was her name) blew a little gold +whistle, and a chariot appeared drawn by six splendid ostriches. In it +was seated the fairy queen, escorted by a dozen other fairies mounted on +dragons. + +All having dismounted, Placida told her adventures, and the fairy queen +approved all she had done, and proposed turning Mutinosa into bronze +like her horse. + +Placida, however, who was very kind and gentle, begged for a milder +sentence, and at last it was settled that Mutinosa should become her +slave for life unless she should have a child to take her place. + +The king was told of his wife's fate and submitted to it, which, as he +could do nothing to help it, was the only course open to him. + +The fairies then all dispersed, Placida taking her slave with her, and +on reaching her palace she said: 'You ought by rights to be scullion, +but as you have been delicately brought up the change might be too great +for you. I shall therefore only order you to sweep my rooms carefully, +and to wash and comb my little dog.' + +Mutinosa felt there was no use in disobeying, so she did as she was bid +and said nothing. + +After some time she gave birth to a most lovely little girl, and when +she was well again the fairy gave her a good lecture on her past life, +made her promise to behave better in future, and sent her back to the +king, her husband. + +Placida now gave herself up entirely to the little princess who was left +in her charge. She anxiously thought over which of the fairies she would +invite to be godmothers, so as to secure the best gift, for her adopted +child. + +At last she decided on two very kindly and cheerful fairies, and asked +them to the christening feast. Directly it was over the baby was +brought to them in a lovely crystal cradle hung with red silk curtains +embroidered with gold. + +The little thing smiled so sweetly at the fairies that they decided to +do all they could for her. They began by naming her Graziella, and then +Placida said: 'You know, dear sisters, that the commonest form of +spite or punishment amongst us consists of changing beauty to ugliness, +cleverness to stupidity, and oftener still to change a person's form +altogether. Now, as we can only each bestow one gift, I think the +best plan will be for one of you to give her beauty, the other good +understanding, whilst I will undertake that she shall never be changed +into any other form.' + +The two godmothers quite agreed, and as soon as the little princess had +received their gifts, they went home, and Placida gave herself up to the +child's education. She succeeded so well with it, and little Graziella +grew so lovely, that when she was still quite a child her fame was +spread abroad only too much, and one day Placida was surprised by +a visit from the Fairy Queen, who was attended by a very grave and +severe-looking fairy. + +The queen began at once: 'I have been much surprised by your behaviour +to Mutinosa; she had insulted our whole race, and deserved punishment. +You might forgive your own wrongs if you chose, but not those of others. +You treated her very gently whilst she was with you, and I come now to +avenge our wrongs on her daughter. You have ensured her being lovely and +clever, and not subject to change of form, but I shall place her in an +enchanted prison, which she shall never leave till she finds herself +in the arms of a lover whom she herself loves. It will be my care to +prevent anything of the kind happening.' + +The enchanted prison was a large high tower in the midst of the sea, +built of shells of all shapes and colours. The lower floor was like a +great bathroom, where the water was let in or off at will. The first +floor contained the princess's apartments, beautifully furnished. On +the second was a library, a large wardrobe-room filled with beautiful +clothes and every kind of linen, a music-room, a pantry with bins +full of the best wines, and a store-room with all manner of preserves, +bonbons, pastry and cakes, all of which remained as fresh as if just out +of the oven. + +The top of the tower was laid out like a garden, with beds of the +loveliest flowers, fine fruit trees, and shady arbours and shrubs, where +many birds sang amongst the branches. + +The fairies escorted Graziella and her governess, Bonnetta, to the +tower, and then mounted a dolphin which was waiting for them. At a +little distance from the tower the queen waved her wand and summoned two +thousand great fierce sharks, whom she ordered to keep close guard, and +not to let a soul enter the tower. + +The good governess took such pains with Graziella's education that when +she was nearly grown up she was not only most accomplished, but a very +sweet, good girl. + +One day, as the princess was standing on a balcony, she saw the most +extraordinary figure rise out of the sea. She quickly called Bonnetta to +ask her what it could be. It looked like some kind of man, with a bluish +face and long sea-green hair. He was swimming towards the tower, but the +sharks took no notice of him. + +'It must be a merman,' said Bonnetta. + +'A man, do you say?' cried Graziella; 'let us hurry down to the door and +see him nearer.' + +When they stood in the doorway the merman stopped to look at the +princess and made many signs of admiration. His voice was very hoarse +and husky, but when he found that he was not understood he took to +signs. He carried a little basket made of osiers and filled with rare +shells, which he presented to the princess. + +She took it with signs of thanks; but as it was getting dusk she +retired, and the merman plunged back into the sea. + +When they were alone, Graziella said to her governess: 'What a +dreadful-looking creature that was! Why do those odious sharks let him +come near the tower? I suppose all men are not like him?' + +'No, indeed,' replied Bonnetta. 'I suppose the sharks look on him as a +sort of relation, and so did not attack him.' + +A few days later the two ladies heard a strange sort of music, and +looking out of the window, there was the merman, his head crowned with +water plants, and blowing a great sea-shell with all his might. + +They went down to the tower door, and Graziella politely accepted some +coral and other marine curiosities he had brought her. After this he +used to come every evening, and blow his shell, or dive and play antics +under the princess's window. She contented herself with bowing to him +from the balcony, but she would not go down to the door in spite of all +his signs. + +Some days later he came with a person of his own kind, but of another +sex. Her hair was dressed with great taste, and she had a lovely voice. +This new arrival induced the ladies to go down to the door. They were +surprised to find that, after trying various languages, she at last +spoke to them in their own, and paid Graziella a very pretty compliment +on her beauty. + +The mermaid noticed that the lower floor was full of water. 'Why,' cried +she, 'that is just the place for us, for we can't live quite out of +water.' So saying, she and her brother swam in and took up a position in +the bathroom, the princess and her governess seating themselves on the +steps which ran round the room. + +'No doubt, madam,' said the mermaid, 'you have given up living on land +so as to escape from crowds of lovers; but I fear that even here you +cannot avoid them, for my brother is already dying of love for you, and +I am sure that once you are seen in our city he will have many rivals.' + +She then went on to explain how grieved her brother was not to be able +to make himself understood, adding: 'I interpret for him, having been +taught several languages by a fairy.' + +'Oh, then, you have fairies, too?' asked Graziella, with a sigh. + +'Yes, we have,' replied the mermaid; 'but if I am not mistaken you have +suffered from the fairies on earth.' + +The princess, on this, told her entire history to the mermaid, who +assured her how sorry she felt for her, but begged her not to lose +courage; adding, as she took her leave: Perhaps, some day, you may find +a way out of your difficulties.' + +The princess was delighted with this visit and with the hopes the +mermaid held out. It was something to meet someone fresh to talk to. + +'We will make acquaintance with several of these people,' she said to +her governess, 'and I dare say they are not all as hideous as the first +one we saw. Anyhow, we shan't be so dreadfully lonely.' + +'Dear me,' said Bonnetta, 'how hopeful young people are to be sure! As +for me I feel afraid of these folk. But what do you think of the lover +you have captivated?' + +'Oh, I could never love him,' cried the princess; 'I can't bear him. +But, perhaps, as his sister says they are related to the fairy Marina, +they may be of some use to us.' + +The mermaid often returned, and each time she talked of her brother's +love, and each time Graziella talked of her longing to escape from her +prison, till at length the mermaid promised to bring the fairy Marina to +see her, in hopes she might suggest something. + +Next day the fairy came with the mermaid, and the princess received her +with delight. After a little talk she begged Graziella to show her the +inside of the tower and let her see the garden on the top, for with the +help of crutches she could manage to move about, and being a fairy could +live out of water for a long time, provided she wetted her forehead now +and then. + +Graziella gladly consented, and Bonnetta stayed below with the mermaid. + +When they were in the garden the fairy said: 'Let us lose no time, but +tell me how I can be of use to you.' Graziella then told all her story +and Marina replied: 'My dear princess, I can do nothing for you as +regards dry land, for my power does not reach beyond my own element. I +can only say that if you will honour my cousin by accepting his hand, +you could then come and live amongst us. I could teach you in a moment +to swim and dive with the best of us. I can harden your skin without +spoiling its colour. My cousin is one of the best matches in the sea, +and I will bestow so many gifts on him that you will be quite happy.' + +The fairy talked so well and so long that the princess was rather +impressed, and promised to think the matter over. + +Just as they were going to leave the garden they saw a ship sailing +nearer the tower than any other had done before. On the deck lay a young +man under a splendid awning, gazing at the tower through a spy-glass; +but before they could see anything clearly the ship moved away, and the +two ladies parted, the fairy promising to return shortly. + +As soon as she was gone Graziella told her governess what she had said. +Bonnetta was not at all pleased at the turn matters were taking, for she +did not fancy being turned into a mermaid in her old age. She thought +the matter well over, and this was what she did. She was a very clever +artist, and next morning she began to paint a picture of a handsome +young man, with beautiful curly hair, a fine complexion, and lovely blue +eyes. When it was finished she showed it to Graziella, hoping it would +show her the difference there was between a fine young man and her +marine suitor. + +The princess was much struck by the picture, and asked anxiously whether +there could be any man so good looking in the world. Bonnetta assured +her that there were plenty of them; indeed, many far handsomer. + +'I can hardly believe that,' cried the princess; 'but, alas! If there +are, I don't suppose I shall ever see them or they me, so what is the +use? Oh, dear, how unhappy I am!' + +She spent the rest of the day gazing at the picture, which certainly had +the effect of spoiling all the merman's hopes or prospects. + +After some days, the fairy Marina came back to hear what was decided; +but Graziella hardly paid any attention to her, and showed such dislike +to the idea of the proposed marriage that the fairy went off in a +regular huff. + +Without knowing it, the princess had made another conquest. On board the +ship which had sailed so near was the handsomest prince in the world. He +had heard of the enchanted tower, and determined to get as near it as he +could. He had strong glasses on board, and whilst looking through them +he saw the princess quite clearly, and fell desperately in love with her +at once. He wanted to steer straight for the tower and to row off to it +in a small boat, but his entire crew fell at his feet and begged him not +to run such a risk. The captain, too, urged him not to attempt it. 'You +will only lead us all to certain death,' he said. 'Pray anchor nearer +land, and I will then seek a kind fairy I know, who has always been most +obliging to me, and who will, I am sure, try to help your Highness.' + +The prince rather unwillingly listened to reason. He landed at the +nearest point, and sent off the captain in all haste to beg the fairy's +advice and help. Meantime he had a tent pitched on the shore, and spent +all his time gazing at the tower and looking for the princess through +his spyglass. + +After a few days the captain came back, bringing the fairy with him. The +prince was delighted to see her, and paid her great attention. 'I have +heard about this matter,' she said; 'and, to lose no time, I am going to +send off a trusty pigeon to test the enchantment. If there is any weak +spot he is sure to find it out and get in. I shall bid him bring a +flower back as a sign of success; and if he does so I quite hope to get +you in too.' + +'But,' asked the prince, 'could I not send a line by the pigeon to tell +the princess of my love?' + +'Certainly,' replied the fairy, 'it would be a very good plan.' + +So the prince wrote as follows:--- + + 'Lovely Princess,---I adore you, and beg you to accept my heart, +and to believe there is nothing I will not do to end your +misfortunes.---BLONDEL. + +This note was tied round the pigeon's neck, and he flew off with it at +once. He flew fast till he got near the tower, when a fierce wind blew +so hard against him that he could not get on. But he was not to be +beaten, but flew carefully round the top of the tower till he came to +one spot which, by some mistake, had not been enchanted like the rest. +He quickly slipped into the arbour and waited for the princess. + +Before long Graziella appeared alone, and the pigeon at once fluttered +to meet her, and seemed so tame that she stopped to caress the pretty +creature. As she did so she saw it had a pink ribbon round its neck, and +tied to the ribbon was a letter. She read it over several times and then +wrote this answer:--- + +'You say you love me; but I cannot promise to love you without seeing +you. Send me your portrait by this faithful messenger. If I return it to +you, you must give up hope; but if I keep it you will know that to help +me will be to help yourself.---GRAZIELA. + +Before flying back the pigeon remembered about the flower, so, seeing +one in the princess's dress, he stole it and flew away. + +The prince was wild with joy at the pigeon's return with the note. After +an hour's rest the trusty little bird was sent back again, carrying a +miniature of the prince, which by good luck he had with him. + +On reaching the tower the pigeon found the princess in the garden. She +hastened to untie the ribbon, and on opening the miniature case what was +her surprise and delight to find it very like the picture her governess +had painted for her. She hastened to send the pigeon back, and you can +fancy the prince's joy when he found she had kept his portrait. + +'Now,' said the fairy, 'let us lose no more time. I can only make you +happy by changing you into a bird, but I will take care to give you back +your proper shape at the right time.' + +The prince was eager to start, so the fairy, touching him with her wand, +turned him into the loveliest humming-bird you ever saw, at the same +time letting him keep the power of speech. The pigeon was told to show +him the way. + +Graziella was much surprised to see a perfectly strange bird, and still +more so when it flew to her saying, 'Good-morning, sweet princess.' + +She was delighted with the pretty creature, and let him perch on her +finger, when he said, 'Kiss, kiss, little birdie,' which she gladly did, +petting and stroking him at the same time. + +After a time the princess, who had been up very early, grew tired, and +as the sun was hot she went to lie down on a mossy bank in the shade +of the arbour. She held the pretty bird near her breast, and was just +falling asleep, when the fairy contrived to restore the prince to his +own shape, so that as Graziella opened her eyes she found herself in the +arms of a lover whom she loved in return! + +At the same moment her enchantment came to an end. The tower began to +rock and to split. Bonnetta hurried up to the top so that she might at +least perish with her dear princess. Just as she reached the garden, the +kind fairy who had helped the prince arrived with the fairy Placida, in +a car of Venetian glass drawn by six eagles. + +'Come away quickly,' they cried, 'the tower is about to sink!' The +prince, princess, and Bonnetta lost no time in stepping into the car, +which rose in the air just as, with a terrible crash, the tower sank +into the depths of the sea, for the fairy Marina and the mermen had +destroyed its foundations to avenge themselves on Graziella. Luckily +their wicked plans were defeated, and the good fairies took their way to +the kingdom of Graziella's parents. + +They found that Queen Mutinosa had died some years ago, but her kind +husband lived on peaceably, ruling his country well and happily. He +received his daughter with great delight, and there were universal +rejoicings at the return of the lovely princess. + +The wedding took place the very next day, and, for many days after, +balls, dinners, tournaments, concerts and all sorts of amusements went +on all day and all night. + +All the fairies were carefully invited, and they came in great state, +and promised the young couple their protection and all sorts of good +gifts. Prince Blondel and Princess Graziella lived to a good old age, +beloved by every one, and loving each other more and more as time went +on. + + + + +The Story Of Dschemil and Dschemila + + +There was once a man whose name was Dschemil, and he had a cousin who +was called Dschemila. They had been betrothed by their parents when they +were children, and now Dschemil thought that the time had come for them +to be married, and he went two or three days' journey, to the nearest +big town, to buy furniture for the new house. + +While he was away, Dschemila and her friends set off to the neighbouring +woods to pick up sticks, and as she gathered them she found an iron +mortar lying on the ground. She placed it on her bundle of sticks, but +the mortar would not stay still, and whenever she raised the bundle to +put it on her shoulders it slipped off sideways. At length she saw the +only way to carry the mortar was to tie it in the very middle of +her bundle, and had just unfastened her sticks, when she heard her +companions' voices. + +'Dschemila, what are you doing? it is almost dark, and if you mean to +come with us you must be quick!' + +But Dschemila only replied, 'You had better go back without me, for I am +not going to leave my mortar behind, if I stay here till midnight.' + +'Do as you like,' said the girls, and started on their walk home. + +The night soon fell, and at the last ray of light the mortar suddenly +became an ogre, who threw Dschemila on his back, and carried her off +into a desert place, distant a whole month's journey from her native +town. Here he shut her into a castle, and told her not to fear, as her +life was safe. Then he went back to his wife, leaving Dschemila weeping +over the fate that she had brought upon herself. + +Meanwhile the other girls had reached home, and Dschemila's mother came +out to look for her daughter. + +'What have you done with her?' she asked anxiously. + +'We had to leave her in the wood,' they replied, 'for she had picked up +an iron mortar, and could not manage to carry it.' + +So the old woman set off at once for the forest, calling to her daughter +as she hurried along. + +'Do go home,' cried the townspeople, as they heard her; 'we will go +and look for your daughter; you are only a woman, and it is a task that +needs strong men.' + +But she answered, 'Yes, go; but I will go with you! Perhaps it will be +only her corpse that we shall find after all. She has most likely been +stung by asps, or eaten by wild beasts.' + +The men, seeing her heart was bent on it, said no more, but told one of +the girls she must come with them, and show them the place where they +had left Dschemila. They found the bundle of wood lying where she had +dropped it, but the maiden was nowhere to be seen. + +'Dschemila! Dschemila!' cried they; but nobody answered. + +'If we make a fire, perhaps she will see it,' said one of the men. And +they lit a fire, and then went, one this way, and one that, through the +forest, to look for her, whispering to each other that if she had been +killed by a lion they would be sure to find some trace of it; or if she +had fallen asleep, the sound of their voices would wake her; or if a +snake had bitten her, they would at least come on her corpse. + +All night they searched, and when morning broke and they knew no more +than before what had become of the maiden, they grew weary, and said to +the mother: 'It is no use. Let us go home, nothing has happened to your +daughter, except that she has run away with a man.' + +'Yes, I will come,' answered she, 'but I must first look in the river. +Perhaps some one has thrown her in there.' But the maiden was not in the +river. + +For four days the father and mother waited and watched for their child +to come back; then they gave up hope, and said to each other: 'What +is to be done? What are we to say to the man to whom Dschemila is +betrothed? Let us kill a goat, and bury its head in the grave, and when +the man returns we must tell him Dschemila is dead.' + +Very soon the bridegroom came back, bringing with him carpets and +soft cushions for the house of his bride. And as he entered the town +Dschemila's father met him, saying, 'Greeting to you. She is dead.' + +At these words the young man broke into loud cries, and it was some +time before he could speak. Then he turned to one of the crowd who had +gathered round him, and asked: 'Where have they buried her?' + +'Come to the churchyard with me,' answered he; and the young man went +with him, carrying with him some of the beautiful things he had brought. +These he laid on the grass and then began to weep afresh. All day he +stayed, and at nightfall he gathered up his stuffs and carried them +to his own house. But when the day dawned he took them in his arms +and returned to the grave, where he remained as long as it was light, +playing softly on his flute. And this he did daily for six months. + +One morning, a man who was wandering through the desert, having lost his +way, came upon a lonely castle. The sun was very hot, and the man was +very tired, so he said to himself, 'I will rest a little in the shadow +of this castle.' He stretched himself out comfortably, and was almost +asleep, when he heard a voice calling to him softly: + +'Are you a ghost,' it said, 'or a man?' + +He looked up, and saw a girl leaning out of a window, and he answered: + +'I am a man, and a better one, too, than your father or your +grandfather.' + +'May all good luck be with you,' said she; 'but what has brought you +into this land of ogres and horrors?' + +'Does an ogre really live in this castle?' asked he. + +'Certainly he does,' replied the girl, 'and as night is not far off he +will be here soon. So, dear friend, depart quickly, lest he return and +snap you up for supper.' + +'But I am so thirsty!' said the man. 'Be kind, and give me some drink, +or else I shall die! Surely, even in this desert there must be some +spring?' + +'Well, I have noticed that whenever the ogre brings back water he always +comes from that side; so if you follow the same direction perhaps you +may find some.' + +The man jumped up at once and was about to start, when the maiden spoke +again: 'Tell me, where are you going?' + +'Why do you want to know?' + +'I have an errand for you; but tell me first whether you go east or +west.' + +'I travel to Damascus.' + +'Then do this for me. As you pass through our village, ask for a man +called Dschemil, and say to him: "Dschemila greets you, from the castle, +which lies far away, and is rocked by the wind. In my grave lies only a +goat. So take heart."' + +And the man promised, and went his way, till he came to a spring of +water. And he drank a great draught and then lay on the bank and slept +quietly. When he woke he said to himself, 'The maiden did a good deed +when she told me where to find water. A few hours more, and I should +have been dead. So I will do her bidding, and seek out her native town +and the man for whom the message was given.' + +For a whole month he travelled, till at last he reached the town where +Dschemil dwelt, and as luck would have it, there was the young man +sitting before his door with his beard unshaven and his shaggy hair +hanging over his eyes. + +'Welcome, stranger,' said Dschemil, as the man stopped. 'Where have you +come from?' + +'I come from the west, and go towards the east,' he answered. + +'Well, stop with us awhile, and rest and eat!' said Dschemil. And the +man entered; and food was set before him, and he sat down with the +father of the maiden and her brothers, and Dschemil. Only Dschemil +himself was absent, squatting on the threshold. + +'Why do you not eat too?' asked the stranger. But one of the young men +whispered hastily: 'Leave him alone. Take no notice! It is only at night +that he ever eats.' + +So the stranger went on silently with his food. Suddenly one of +Dschemil's brothers called out and said: 'Dschemil, bring us some water!' +And the stranger remembered his message and said: + +'Is there a man here named "Dschemil"? I lost my way in the desert, and +came to a castle, and a maiden looked out of the window and...' + +'Be quiet,' they cried, fearing that Dschemil might hear. But Dschemil +had heard, and came forward and said: + +'What did you see? Tell me truly, or I will cut off your head this +instant!' + +'My lord,' replied the stranger, 'as I was wandering, hot and tired, +through the desert, I saw near me a great castle, and I said aloud, "I +will rest a little in its shadow." And a maiden looked out of a window +and said, "Are you a ghost or a man?" And I answered, "I am a man, and +a better one, too, than your father or your grandfather." And I was +thirsty and asked for water, but she had none to give me, and I felt +like to die. Then she told me that the ogre, in whose castle she dwelt, +brought in water always from the same side, and that if I too went that +way most likely I should come to it. But before I started she begged me +to go to her native town, and if I met a man called Dschemil I was to +say to him, "Dschemila greets you, from the castle which lies far +away, and is rocked by the wind. In my grave lies only a goat. So take +heart."' + +Then Dschemil turned to his family and said: 'Is this true? and is +Dschemila not dead at all, but simply stolen from her home?' + +'No, no,' replied they, 'his story is a pack of lies. Dschemila is +really dead. Everybody knows it.' + +'That I shall see for myself,' said Dschemil, and, snatching up a spade, +hastened off to the grave where the goat's head lay buried. + +And they answered, 'Then hear what really happened. When you were away, +she went with the other maidens to the forest to gather wood. And there +she found an iron mortar, which she wished to bring home; but she +could not carry it, neither would she leave it. So the maidens returned +without her, and as night was come, we all set out to look for her, but +found nothing. And we said, "The bridegroom will be here to-morrow, and +when he learns that she is lost, he will set out to seek her, and we +shall lose him too. Let us kill a goat, and bury it in her grave, and +tell him she is dead." Now you know, so do as you will. Only, if you go +to seek her, take with you this man with whom she has spoken that he may +show you the way.' 'Yes; that is the best plan,' replied Dschemil; 'so +give me food, and hand me my sword, and we will set out directly.' + +But the stranger answered: 'I am not going to waste a whole month in +leading you to the castle! If it were only a day or two's journey I +would not mind; but a month--no!' + +'Come with me then for three days,' said Dschemil, 'and put me in the +right road, and I will reward you richly.' + +'Very well,' replied the stranger, 'so let it be.' + +For three days they travelled from sunrise to sunset, then the stranger +said: 'Dschemil?' + +'Yes,' replied he. + +'Go straight on till you reach a spring, then go on a little farther, +and soon you will see the castle standing before you.' + +'So I will,' said Dschemil. + +'Farewell, then,' said the stranger, and turned back the way he had +come. + +It was six and twenty days before Dschemil caught sight of a green spot +rising out of the sandy desert, and knew that the spring was near at +last. He hastened his steps, and soon was kneeling by its side, drinking +thirstily of the bubbling water. Then he lay down on the cool grass, +and began to think. 'If the man was right, the castle must be somewhere +about. I had better sleep here to-night, and to-morrow I shall be able +to see where it is.' So he slept long and peacefully. When he awoke +the sun was high, and he jumped up and washed his face and hands in the +spring, before going on his journey. He had not walked far, when the +castle suddenly appeared before him, though a moment before not a trace +of it could be seen. 'How am I to get in?' he thought. 'I dare not +knock, lest the ogre should hear me. Perhaps it would be best for me +to climb up the wall, and wait to see what will happen. So he did, and +after sitting on the top for about an hour, a window above him opened, +and a voice said: 'Dschemil!' He looked up, and at the sight of +Dschemila, whom he had so long believed to be dead, he began to weep. + +'Dear cousin,' she whispered, 'what has brought you here?' + +'My grief at losing you.' + +'Oh! go away at once. If the ogre comes back he will kill you.' + +'I swear by your head, queen of my heart, that I have not found you only +to lose you again! If I must die, well, I must!' + +'Oh, what can I do for you?' + +'Anything you like!' + +'If I let you down a cord, can you make it fast under your arms, and +climb up?' + +'Of course I can,' said he. + +So Dschemila lowered the cord, and Dschemil tied it round him, and +climbed up to her window. Then they embraced each other tenderly, and +burst into tears of joy. + +'But what shall I do when the ogre returns?' asked she. + +'Trust to me,' he said. + +Now there was a chest in the room, where Dschemila kept her clothes. And +she made Dschemil get into it, and lie at the bottom, and told him to +keep very still. + +He was only hidden just in time, for the lid was hardly closed when +the ogre's heavy tread was heard on the stairs. He flung open the door, +bringing men's flesh for himself and lamb's flesh for the maiden. 'I +smell the smell of a man!' he thundered. 'What is he doing here?' + +'How could any one have come to this desert place?' asked the girl, and +burst into tears. + +'Do not cry,' said the ogre; 'perhaps a raven has dropped some scraps +from his claws.' + +'Ah, yes, I was forgetting,' answered she. 'One did drop some bones +about.' + +'Well, burn them to powder,' replied the ogre, 'so that I may swallow +it.' + +So the maiden took some bones and burned them, and gave them to the +ogre, saying, 'Here is the powder, swallow it.' + +And when he had swallowed the powder the ogre stretched himself out and +went to sleep. + +In a little while the man's flesh, which the maiden was cooking for the +ogre's supper, called out and said: + + 'Hist! Hist! + A man lies in the kist!' + +And the lamb's flesh answered: + + 'He is your brother, + And cousin of the other.' + +The ogre moved sleepily, and asked, 'What did the meat say, Dschemila?' + +'Only that I must be sure to add salt.' + +'Well, add salt.' + +'Yes, I have done so,' said she. + +The ogre was soon sound asleep again, when the man's flesh called out a +second time: + + 'Hist! Hist! + A man lies in the kist!' + +And the lamb's flesh answered: + + 'He is your brother, + And cousin of the other.' + +'What did it say, Dschemila?' asked the ogre. + +'Only that I must add pepper.' + +'Well, add pepper.' + +'Yes, I have done so,' said she. + +The ogre had had a long day's hunting, and could not keep himself awake. +In a moment his eyes were tight shut, and then the man's flesh called +out for the third time: + + 'Hist! Hist + A man lies in the kist,' + +And the lamb's flesh answered: + + 'He is your brother, + And cousin of the other.' + +'What did it say, Dschemila?' asked the ogre. + +'Only that it was ready, and that I had better take it off the fire.' + +'Then if it is ready, bring it to me, and I will eat it.' + +So she brought it to him, and while he was eating she supped off the +lamb's flesh herself, and managed to put some aside for her cousin. + +When the ogre had finished, and had washed his hands, he said to +Dschemila: 'Make my bed, for I am tired.' + +So she made his bed, and put a nice soft pillow for his head, and tucked +him up. + +'Father,' she said suddenly. + +'Well, what is it?' + +'Dear father, if you are really asleep, why are your eyes always open?' + +'Why do you ask that, Dschemila? Do you want to deal treacherously with +me?' + +'No, of course not, father. How could I, and what would be the use of +it?' + +'Well, why do you want to know?' + +'Because last night I woke up and saw the whole place shining in a red +light, which frightened me.' + +'That happens when I am fast asleep.' + +'And what is the good of the pin you always keep here so carefully?' + +'If I throw that pin in front of me, it turns into an iron mountain.' + +'And this darning needle?' + +'That becomes a sea.' + +'And this hatchet?' + +'That becomes a thorn hedge, which no one can pass through. But why do +you ask all these questions? I am sure you have something in your head.' + +'Oh, I just wanted to know; and how could anyone find me out here?' and +she began to cry. + +'Oh, don't cry, I was only in fun,' said the ogre. + +He was soon asleep again, and a yellow light shone through the castle. + +'Come quick!' called Dschemil from the chest; 'we must fly now while the +ogre is asleep.' + +'Not yet,' she said, 'there is a yellow light shining. I don't think he +is asleep.' + +So they waited for an hour. Then Dschemil whispered again: 'Wake up! +There is no time to lose!' + +'Let me see if he is asleep,' said she, and she peeped in, and saw a red +light shining. Then she stole back to her cousin, and asked, 'But how +are we to get out?' + +'Get the rope, and I will let you down.' + +So she fetched the rope, the hatchet, and the pin and the needles, and +said, 'Take them, and put them in the pocket of your cloak, and be sure +not to lose them.' + +Dschemil put them carefully in his pocket, and tied the rope round her, +and let her down over the wall. + +'Are you safe?' he asked. + +'Yes, quite.' + +'Then untie the rope, so that I may draw it up.' + +And Dschemila did as she was told, and in a few minutes he stood beside +her. + +Now all this time the ogre was asleep, and had heard nothing. Then his +dog came to him and said, 'O, sleeper, are you having pleasant dreams? +Dschemila has forsaken you and run away.' + +The ogre got out of bed, gave the dog a kick, then went back again, and +slept till morning. + +When it grew light, he rose, and called, 'Dschemila! Dschemila!' but he +only heard the echo of his own voice! Then he dressed himself quickly; +buckled on his sword and whistled to his dog, and followed the road +which he knew the fugitives must have taken. 'Cousin,' said Dschemila +suddenly, and turning round as she spoke. + +'What is it?' answered he. + +'The ogre is coming after us. I saw him.' + +'But where is he? I don't see him.' + +'Over there. He only looks about as tall as a needle.' + +Then they both began to run as fast as they could, while the ogre and +his dog kept drawing always nearer. A few more steps, and he would have +been by their side, when Dschemila threw the darning needle behind her. +In a moment it became an iron mountain between them and their enemy. + +'We will break it down, my dog and I,' cried the ogre in a rage, and +they dashed at the mountain till they had forced a path through, and +came ever nearer and nearer. + +'Cousin!' said Dschemila suddenly. + +'What is it?' + +'The ogre is coming after us with his dog.' + +'You go on in front then,' answered he; and they both ran on as fast as +they could, while the ogre and the dog drew always nearer and nearer. + +'They are close upon us!' cried the maiden, glancing behind, 'you must +throw the pin.' + +So Dschemil took the pin from his cloak and threw it behind him, and a +dense thicket of thorns sprang up round them, which the ogre and his dog +could not pass through. + +'I will get through it somehow, if I burrow underground,' cried he, and +very soon he and the dog were on the other side. + +'Cousin,' said Dschemila, 'they are close to us now.' + +'Go on in front, and fear nothing,' replied Dschemil. + +So she ran on a little way, and then stopped. + +'He is only a few yards away now,' she said, and Dschemil flung the +hatchet on the ground, and it turned into a lake. + +'I will drink, and my dog shall drink, till it is dry,' shrieked the +ogre, and the dog drank so much that it burst and died. But the ogre +did not stop for that, and soon the whole lake was nearly dry. Then he +exclaimed, 'Dschemila, let your head become a donkey's head, and your +hair fur!' + +But when it was done, Dschemil looked at her in horror, and said, 'She +is really a donkey, and not a woman at all!' + +And he left her, and went home. + +For two days poor Dschemila wandered about alone, weeping bitterly. +When her cousin drew near his native town, he began to think over his +conduct, and to feel ashamed of himself. + +'Perhaps by this time she has changed back to her proper shape,' he said +to himself, 'I will go and see!' + +So he made all the haste he could, and at last he saw her seated on a +rock, trying to keep off the wolves, who longed to have her for dinner. +He drove them off and said, 'Get up, dear cousin, you have had a narrow +escape.' + +Dschemila stood up and answered, 'Bravo, my friend. You persuaded me to +fly with you, and then left me helplessly to my fate.' + +'Shall I tell you the truth?' asked he. + +'Tell it.' + +'I thought you were a witch, and I was afraid of you.' + +'Did you not see me before my transformation? and did you not watch it +happen under your very eyes, when the ogre bewitched me?' + +'What shall I do?' said Dschemil. 'If I take you into the town, everyone +will laugh, and say, "Is that a new kind of toy you have got? It has +hands like a woman, feet like a woman, the body of a woman; but its head +is the head of an ass, and its hair is fur."' + +'Well, what do you mean to do with me?' asked Dschemila. 'Better take me +home to my mother by night, and tell no one anything about it.' + +'So I will,' said he. + +They waited where they were till it was nearly dark, then Dschemil +brought his cousin home. + +'Is that Dschemil?' asked the mother when he knocked softly. + +'Yes, it is.' + +'And have you found her?' + +'Yes, and I have brought her to you.' + +'Oh, where is she? let me see her!' cried the mother. + +'Here, behind me,' answered Dschemil. + +But when the poor woman caught sight of her daughter, she shrieked, and +exclaimed, 'Are you making fun of me? When did I ever give birth to an +ass?' + +'Hush!' said Dschemil, 'it is not necessary to let the whole world know! +And if you look at her body, you will see two scars on it.' + +'Mother,' sobbed Dschemila, 'do you really not know your own daughter?' + +'Yes, of course I know her.' + +'What are her two scars then?' + +'On her thigh is a scar from the bite of a dog, and on her breast is the +mark of a burn, where she pulled a lamp over her when she was little.' + +'Then look at me, and see if I am not your daughter,' said Dschemila, +throwing off her clothes and showing her two scars. + +And at the sight her mother embraced her, weeping. + +'Dear daughter,' she cried, 'what evil fate has befallen you?' + +'It was the ogre who carried me off first, and then bewitched me,' +answered Dschemila. + +'But what is to be done with you?' asked her mother. + +'Hide me away, and tell no one anything about me. And you, dear cousin, +say nothing to the neighbours, and if they should put questions, you can +make answer that I have not yet been found.' + +'So I will,' replied he. + +Then he and her mother took her upstairs and hid her in a cupboard, +where she stayed for a whole month, only going out to walk when all the +world was asleep. + +Meanwhile Dschemil had returned to his own home, where his father and +mother, his brothers and neighbours, greeted him joyfully. + +'When did you come back?' said they, 'and have you found Dschemila?' + +'No, I searched the whole world after her, and could hear nothing of +her.' + +'Did you part company with the man who started with you?' + +'Yes; after three days he got so weak and useless he could not go on. +It must be a month by now since he reached home again. I went on and +visited every castle, and looked in every house. But there were no signs +of her; and so I gave it up.' + +And they answered him: 'We told you before that it was no good. An ogre +or an ogress must have snapped her up, and how can you expect to find +her?' + +'I loved her too much to be still,' he said. + +But his friends did not understand, and soon they spoke to him again +about it. + +'We will seek for a wife for you. There are plenty of girls prettier +than Dschemila.' + +'I dare say; but I don't want them.' + +'But what will you do with all the cushions and carpets, and beautiful +things you bought for your house?' + +'They can stay in the chests.' + +'But the moths will eat them! For a few weeks, it is of no consequence, +but after a year or two they will be quite useless.' + +'And if they have to lie there ten years I will have Dschemila, and her +only, for my wife. For a month, or even two months, I will rest here +quietly. Then I will go and seek her afresh.' + +'Oh, you are quite mad! Is she the only maiden in the world? There are +plenty of others better worth having than she is.' + +'If there are I have not seen them! And why do you make all this fuss? +Every man knows his own business best. + +'Why, it is you who are making all the fuss yourself.' + +But Dschemil turned and went into the house, for he did not want to +quarrel. + +Three months later a Jew, who was travelling across the desert, came to +the castle, and laid himself down under the wall to rest. + +In the evening the ogre saw him there and said to him, 'Jew, what are +you doing here? Have you anything to sell?' + +'I have only some clothes,' answered the Jew, who was in mortal terror +of the ogre. + +'Oh, don't be afraid of me,' said the ogre, laughing. 'I shall not eat +you. Indeed, I mean to go a bit of the way with you myself.' + +'I am ready, gracious sir,' replied the Jew, rising to his feet. + +'Well, go straight on till you reach a town, and in that town you will +find a maiden called Dschemila and a young man called Dschemil. Take +this mirror and this comb with you, and say to Dschemila, "Your father, +the ogre, greets you, and begs you to look at your face in this mirror, +and it will appear as it was before, and to comb your hair with this +comb, and it will be as formerly." If you do not carry out my orders, I +will eat you the next time we meet.' + +'Oh, I will obey you punctually,' cried the Jew. + +After thirty days the Jew entered the gate of the town, and sat down in +the first street he came to, hungry, thirsty, and very tired. + +Quite by chance, Dschemil happened to pass by, and seeing a man sitting +there, full in the glare of the sun, he stopped, and said, 'Get up at +once, Jew; you will have a sunstroke if you sit in such a place.' + +'Ah, good sir,' replied the Jew, 'for a whole month I have been +travelling, and I am too tired to move.' + +'Which way did you come?' asked Dschemil. + +'From out there,' answered the Jew pointing behind him. + +'And you have been travelling for a month, you say? Well, did you see +anything remarkable?' + +'Yes, good sir; I saw a castle, and lay down to rest under its shadow. +And an ogre woke me, and told me to come to this town, where I should +find a young man called Dschemil, and a girl called Dschemila.' + +'My name is Dschemil. What does the ogre want with me?' + +'He gave me some presents for Dschemila. How can I see her?' + +'Come with me, and you shall give them into her own hands.' + +So the two went together to the house of Dschemil's uncle, and Dschemil +led the Jew into his aunt's room. + +'Aunt!' he cried, 'this Jew who is with me has come from the ogre, and +has brought with him, as presents, a mirror and a comb which the ogre +has sent her.' + +'But it may be only some wicked trick on the part of the ogre,' said +she. + +'Oh, I don't think so,' answered the young man, 'give her the things.' + +Then the maiden was called, and she came out of her hiding place, and +went up to the Jew, saying, 'Where have you come from, Jew?' + +'From your father the ogre.' + +'And what errand did he send you on?' + +'He told me I was to give you this mirror and this comb, and to say +"Look in this mirror, and comb your hair with this comb, and both will +become as they were formerly."' + +And Dschemila took the mirror and looked into it, and combed her hair +with the comb, and she had no longer an ass's head, but the face of a +beautiful maiden. + +Great was the joy of both mother and cousin at this wonderful sight, +and the news that Dschemila had returned soon spread, and the neighbours +came flocking in with greetings. + +'When did you come back?' + +'My cousin brought me.' + +'Why, he told us he could not find you!' + +'Oh, I did that on purpose,' answered Dschemil. 'I did not want everyone +to know.' + +Then he turned to his father and his mother, his brothers and his +sisters-in-law, and said, 'We must set to work at once, for the wedding +will be to-day.' + +A beautiful litter was prepared to carry the bride to her new home, but +she shrank back, saying, 'I am afraid, lest the ogre should carry me off +again.' + +'How can the ogre get at you when we are all here?' they said. 'There +are two thousand of us all told, and every man has his sword.' + +'He will manage it somehow,' answered Dschemila, 'he is a powerful +king!' + +'She is right,' said an old man. 'Take away the litter, and let her go +on foot if she is afraid.' + +'But it is absurd!' exclaimed the rest; 'how can the ogre get hold of +her?' + +'I will not go,' said Dschemila again. 'You do not know that monster; I +do.' + +And while they were disputing the bridegroom arrived. + +'Let her alone. She shall stay in her father's house. After all, I can +live here, and the wedding feast shall be made ready.' + +And so they were married at last, and died without having had a single +quarrel. + +[Marehen und Gedichte aus der Stadt Tripolis,] + + + + +Janni and the Draken + + +Once there was a man who shunned the world, and lived in the wilderness. +He owned nothing but a flock of sheep, whose milk and wool he sold, and +so procured himself bread to eat; he also carried wooden spoons, and +sold them. He had a wife and one little girl, and after a long time +his wife had another child. The evening it was born the man went to +the nearest village to fetch a nurse, and on the way he met a monk who +begged him for a night's lodging. This the man willingly granted, and +took him home with him. There being no one far nor near to baptize the +child, the man asked the monk to do him this service, and the child was +given the name of Janni. + +In the course of time Janni's parents died, and he and his sister were +left alone in the world; soon affairs went badly with them, so they +determined to wander away to seek their fortune. In packing up, the +sister found a knife which the monk had left for his godson, and this +she gave to her brother. + +Then they went on their way, taking with them the three sheep which were +all that remained of their flocks. After wandering for three days +they met a man with three dogs who proposed that they should exchange +animals, he taking the sheep, and they the dogs. The brother and sister +were quite pleased at this arrangement, and after the exchange was made +they separated, and went their different ways. + +Janni and his sister in course of time came to a great castle, in which +dwelt forty Draken, who, when they heard that Janni had come, fled forty +fathoms underground. + +So Janni found the castle deserted, and abode there with his sister, and +every day went out to hunt with the weapons the Draken had left in the +castle. + +One day, when he was away hunting, one of the Draken came up to get +provisions, not knowing that there was anyone in the castle. When he saw +Janni's sister he was terrified, but she told him not to be afraid, and +by-and-by they fell in love with each other, for every time that Janni +went to hunt the sister called the Drakos up. Thus they went on making +love to each other till at length, unknown to Janni, they got married. +Then, when it was too late, the sister repented, and was afraid of +Janni's wrath when he found it out. + +One day the Drakos came to her, and said: 'You must pretend to be ill, +and when Janni asks what ails you, and what you want, you must answer: +"Cherries," and when he inquires where these are to be found, you must +say: "There are some in a garden a day's journey from here." Then your +brother will go there, and will never come back, for there dwell three +of my brothers who will look after him well.' + +Then the sister did as the Drakos advised, and next day Janni set out to +fetch the cherries, taking his three dogs with him. When he came to the +garden where the cherries grew he jumped off his horse, drank some water +from the spring, which rose there, and fell directly into a deep sleep. +The Draken came round about to eat him, but the dogs flung themselves on +them and tore them in pieces, and scratched a grave in the ground with +their paws, and buried the Draken so that Janni might not see their dead +bodies. When Janni awoke, and saw his dogs all covered with blood, he +believed that they had caught, somewhere, a wild beast, and was angry +because they had left none of it for him. But he plucked the cherries, +and took them back to his sister. + +When the Drakos heard that Janni had come back, he fled for fear forty +fathoms underground. And the sister ate the cherries and declared +herself well again. + +The next day, when Janni was gone to hunt, the Drakos came out, and +advised the sister that she should pretend to be ill again, and when her +brother asked her what she would like, she should answer 'Quinces,' and +when he inquired where these were to be found, she should say: 'In a +garden distant about two days' journey.' Then would Janni certainly be +destroyed, for there dwelt six brothers of the Drakos, each of whom had +two heads. + +The sister did as she was advised, and next day Janni again set +off, taking his three dogs with him. When he came to the garden he +dismounted, sat down to rest a little, and fell fast asleep. First there +came three Draken round about to eat him, and when these three had been +worried by the dogs, there came three others who were worried in like +manner. Then the dogs again dug a grave and buried the dead Draken, that +their master might not see them. When Janni awoke and beheld the dogs +all covered with blood, he thought, as before, that they had killed a +wild beast, and was again angry with them for leaving him nothing. But +he took the quinces and brought them back to his sister, who, when she +had eaten them, declared herself better. The Drakos, when he heard that +Janni had come back, fled for fear forty fathoms deeper underground. + +Next day, when Janni was hunting, the Drakos went to the sister and +advised that she should again pretend to be ill, and should beg for some +pears, which grew in a garden three days' journey from the castle. From +this quest Janni would certainly never return, for there dwelt nine +brothers of the Drakos, each of whom had three heads. + +The sister did as she was told, and next day Janni, taking his three +dogs with him, went to get the pears. When he came to the garden he laid +himself down to rest, and soon fell asleep. + +Then first came three Draken to eat him, and when the dogs had worried +these, six others came and fought the dogs a long time. The noise of +this combat awoke Janni, and he slew the Draken, and knew at last why +the dogs were covered with blood. + +After that he freed all whom the Draken held prisoners, amongst others, +a king's daughter. Out of gratitude she would have taken him for her +husband; but he put her off, saying: 'For the kindness that I have been +able to do to you, you shall receive in this castle all the blind and +lame who pass this way.' The princess promised him to do so, and on his +departure gave him a ring. + +So Janni plucked the pears and took them to his sister, who, when she +had eaten them, declared she felt better. When, however, the Drakos +heard that Janni had come back yet a third time safe and sound, he fled +for fright forty fathoms deeper underground; and, next day, when Janni +was away hunting, he crept out and said to the sister: 'Now are we +indeed both lost, unless you find out from him wherein his strength +lies, and then between us we will contrive to do away with him.' + +When, therefore, Janni had come back from hunting, and sat at evening +with his sister by the fire, she begged him to tell her wherein lay +his strength, and he answered: 'It lies in my two fingers; if these are +bound together then all my strength disappears.' + +'That I will not believe,' said the sister, 'unless I see it for +myself.' + +Then he let her tie his fingers together with a thread, and immediately +he became powerless. Then the sister called up the Drakos, who, when he +had come forth, tore out Janni's eyes, gave them to his dogs to eat, and +threw him into a dry well. + +Now it happened that some travellers, going to draw water from this +well, heard Janni groaning at the bottom. They came near, and asked him +where he was, and he begged them to draw him up from the well, for he +was a poor unfortunate man. + +The travellers let a rope down and drew him up to daylight. It was not +till then that he first became aware that he was blind, and he begged +the travellers to lead him to the country of the king whose daughter he +had freed, and they would be well repaid for their trouble. + +When they had brought him there he sent to beg the princess to come to +him; but she did not recognise him till he had shown her the ring she +had given him. + +Then she remembered him, and took him with her into the castle. + +When she learnt what had befallen him she called together all the +sorceresses in the country in order that they should tell her where the +eyes were. At last she found one who declared that she knew where they +were, and that she could restore them. This sorceress then went straight +to the castle where dwelt the sister and the Drakos, and gave something +to the dogs to eat which caused the eyes to reappear. She took them with +her and put them back in Janni's head, so that he saw as well as before. + +Then he returned to the castle of the Drakos, whom he slew as well as +his sister; and, taking his dogs with him, went back to the princess and +they were immediately married. + + + + +The Partnership of the Thief and the Liar. + + +There was once upon a time a thief, who, being out of a job, was +wandering by himself up and down the seashore. As he walked he passed a +man who was standing still, looking at the waves. + +'I wonder,' said the thief, addressing the stranger, 'if you have ever +seen a stone swimming?' + +'Most certainly I have,' replied the other man, 'and, what is more, I +saw the same stone jump out of the water and fly through the air.' + +'This is capital,' replied the thief. 'You and I must go into +partnership. We shall certainly make our fortunes. Let us start together +for the palace of the king of the neighbouring country. When we get +there, I will go into his presence alone, and will tell him the most +startling thing I can invent. Then you must follow and back up my lie.' + +Having agreed to do this, they set out on their travels. After several +days' journeying, they reached the town where the king's palace was, and +here they parted for a few hours, while the thief sought an interview +with the king, and begged his majesty to give him a glass of beer. + +'That is impossible,' said the king, 'as this year there has been a +failure of all the crops, and of the hops and the vines; so we have +neither wine nor beer in the whole kingdom.' + +'How extraordinary!' answered the thief. 'I have just come from a +country where the crops were so fine that I saw twelve barrels of beer +made out of one branch of hops.' + +'I bet you three hundred florins that is not true,' answered the king. + +'And I bet you three hundred florins it is true,' replied the thief. + +Then each staked his three hundred florins, and the king said he would +decide the question by sending a servant into that country to see if it +was true. + +So the servant set out on horseback, and on the way he met a man, and +he asked him whence he came. And the man told him that he came from the +self-same country to which the servant was at that moment bound. + +'If that is the case,' said the servant, 'you can tell me how high the +hops grow in your country, and how many barrels of beer can be brewed +from one branch?' + +'I can't tell you that,' answered the man, 'but I happened to be present +when the hops were being gathered in, and I saw that it took three men +with axes three days to cut down one branch.' + +Then the servant thought that he might save himself a long journey; so +he gave the man ten florins, and told him he must repeat to the king +what he had just told him. And when they got back to the palace, they +came together into the king's presence. + +And the king asked him: 'Well, is it true about the hops?' + +'Yes, sire, it is,' answered the servant; 'and here is a man I have +brought with me from the country to confirm the tale.' + +So the king paid the thief the three hundred florins; and the partners +once more set out together in search of adventures. As they journeyed, +the thief said to his comrade: 'I will now go to another king, and will +tell him something still more startling; and you must follow and back up +my lie, and we shall get some money out of him; just see if we don't.' + +When they reached the next kingdom, the thief presented himself to +the king, and requested him to give him a cauliflower. And the +king answered: 'Owing to a blight among the vegetables we have no +cauliflower.' + +'That is strange,' answered the thief. 'I have just come from a country +where it grows so well that one head of cauliflower filled twelve +water-tubs.' + +'I don't believe it,' answered the king. + +'I bet you six hundred florins it is true,' replied the thief. + +'And I bet you six hundred florins it is not true,' answered the king. +And he sent for a servant, and ordered him to start at once for the +country whence the thief had come, to find out if his story of the +cauliflower was true. On his journey the servant met with a man. +Stopping his horse he asked him where he came from, and the man replied +that he came from the country to which the other was travelling. + +'If that is the case,' said the servant, 'you can tell me to what size +cauliflower grows in your country? Is it so large that one head fills +twelve water-tubs?' + +'I have not seen that,' answered the man. 'But I saw twelve waggons, +drawn by twelve horses, carrying one head of cauliflower to the market.' + +And the servant answered: 'Here are ten florins for you, my man, for you +have saved me a long journey. Come with me now, and tell the king what +you have just told me.' + +'All right,' said the man, and they went together to the palace; and +when the king asked the servant if he had found out the truth about +the cauliflower, the servant replied: 'Sire, all that you heard was +perfectly true; here is a man from the country who will tell you so.' + +So the king had to pay the thief the six hundred florins. And the two +partners set out once more on their travels, with their nine hundred +florins. When they reached the country of the neighbouring king, the +thief entered the royal presence, and began conversation by asking if +his majesty knew that in an adjacent kingdom there was a town with a +church steeple on which a bird had alighted, and that the steeple was +so high, and the bird's beak so long, that it had pecked the stars till +some of them fell out of the sky. + +'I don't believe it,' said the king. + +'Nevertheless I am prepared to bet twelve hundred florins that it is +true,' answered the thief. + +'And I bet twelve hundred florins that it is a lie,' replied the king. +And he straightway sent a servant into the neighbouring country to find +out the truth. + +As he rode, the servant met a man coming in the opposite direction. So +he hailed him and asked him where he came from. And the man replied +that he came out of the very town to which the man was bound. Then the +servant asked him if the story they had heard about the bird with the +long beak was true. + +'I don't know about that,' answered the man, 'as I have never seen the +bird; but I once saw twelve men shoving all their might and main with +brooms to push a monster egg into a cellar.' + +'That is capital,' answered the servant, presenting the man with ten +florins. 'Come and tell your tale to the king, and you will save me a +long journey.' + +So, when the story was repeated to the king, there was nothing for him +to do but to pay the thief the twelve hundred florins. + +Then the two partners set out again with their ill-gotten gains, which +they proceeded to divide into two equal shares; but the thief kept back +three of the florins that belonged to the liar's half of the booty. +Shortly afterwards they each married, and settled down in homes of their +own with their wives. One day the liar discovered that he had been +done out of three florins by his partner, so he went to his house and +demanded them from him. + +'Come next Saturday, and I will give them to you,' answered the thief. +But as he had no intention of giving the liar the money, when Saturday +morning came he stretched himself out stiff and stark upon the bed, and +told his wife she was to say he was dead. So the wife rubbed her eyes +with an onion, and when the liar appeared at the door, she met him in +tears, and told him that as her husband was dead he could not be paid +the three florins. + +But the liar, who knew his partner's tricks, instantly suspected the +truth, and said: 'As he has not paid me, I will pay him out with three +good lashes of my riding whip.' + +At these words the thief sprang to his feet, and, appearing at the door, +promised his partner that if he would return the following Saturday he +would pay him. So the liar went away satisfied with this promise. + +But when Saturday morning came the thief got up early and hid himself +under a truss of hay in the hay-loft. + +When the liar appeared to demand his three florins, the wife met him +with tears in her eyes, and told him that her husband was dead. + +'Where have you buried him?' asked the liar. + +'In the hay-loft,' answered the wife. + +'Then I will go there, and take away some hay in payment of his debt,' +said the liar. And proceeding to the hay-loft, he began to toss about +the hay with a pitchfork, prodding it into the trusses of hay, till, in +terror of his life, the thief crept out and promised his partner to pay +him the three florins on the following Saturday. + +When the day came he got up at sunrise, and going down into the crypt of +a neighbouring chapel, stretched himself out quite still and stiff in an +old stone coffin. But the liar, who was quite as clever as his partner, +very soon bethought him of the crypt, and set out for the chapel, +confident that he would shortly discover the hiding-place of his friend. +He had just entered the crypt, and his eyes were not yet accustomed +to the darkness, when he heard the sound of whispering at the grated +windows. Listening intently, he overheard the plotting of a band of +robbers, who had brought their treasure to the crypt, meaning to hide +it there, while they set out on fresh adventures. All the time they were +speaking they were removing the bars from the window, and in another +minute they would all have entered the crypt, and discovered the liar. +Quick as thought he wound his mantle round him and placed himself, +standing stiff and erect, in a niche in the wall, so that in the dim +light he looked just like an old stone statue. As soon as the robbers +entered the crypt, they set about the work of dividing their treasure. +Now, there were twelve robbers, but by mistake the chief of the band +divided the gold into thirteen heaps. When he saw his mistake he said +they had not time to count it all over again, but that the thirteenth +heap should belong to whoever among them could strike off the head of +the old stone statue in the niche with one stroke. With these words he +took up an axe, and approached the niche where the liar was standing. +But, just as he had waved the axe over his head ready to strike, a voice +was heard from the stone coffin saying, in sepulchral tones: 'Clear out +of this, or the dead will arise from their coffins, and the statues +will descend from the walls, and you will be driven out more dead than +alive.' And with a bound the thief jumped out of his coffin and the +liar from his niche, and the robbers were so terrified that they ran +helter-skelter out of the crypt, leaving all their gold behind them, and +vowing that they would never put foot inside the haunted place again. +So the partners divided the gold between them, and carried it to their +homes; and history tells us no more about them. + + + + +Fortunatus and His Purse + + +Once upon a time there lived in the city of Famagosta, in the island of +Cyprus, a rich man called Theodorus. He ought to have been the happiest +person in the whole world, as he had all he could wish for, and a wife +and little son whom he loved dearly; but unluckily, after a short time +he always grew tired of everything, and had to seek new pleasures. When +people are made like this the end is generally the same, and before +Fortunatus (for that was the boy's name) was ten years old, his father +had spent all his money and had not a farthing left. + +But though Theodorus had been so foolish he was not quite without +sense, and set about getting work at once. His wife, too, instead of +reproaching him sent away the servants and sold their fine horses, and +did all the work of the house herself, even washing the clothes of her +husband and child. + +Thus time passed till Fortunatus was sixteen. One day when they were +sitting at supper, the boy said to Theodorus, 'Father, why do you look +so sad. Tell me what is wrong, and perhaps I can help you.' + +'Ah, my son, I have reason enough to be sad; but for me you would now +have been enjoying every kind of pleasure, instead of being buried in +this tiny house.' + +'Oh, do not let that trouble you,' replied Fortunatus, 'it is time I +made some money for myself. To be sure I have never been taught any +trade. Still there must be something I can do. I will go and walk on the +seashore and think about it.' + +Very soon--sooner than he expected--a chance came, and Fortunatus, like +a wise boy, seized on it at once. The post offered him was that of page +to the Earl of Flanders, and as the Earl's daughter was just going to +be married, splendid festivities were held in her honour, and at some of +the tilting matches Fortunatus was lucky enough to win the prize. These +prizes, together with presents from the lords and ladies of the court, +who liked him for his pleasant ways, made Fortunatus feel quite a rich +man. + +But though his head was not turned by the notice taken of him, it +excited the envy of some of the other pages about the Court, and one of +them, called Robert, invented a plot to move Fortunatus out of his way. +So he told the young man that the Earl had taken a dislike to him and +meant to kill him; Fortunatus believed the story, and packing up his +fine clothes and money, slipped away before dawn. + +He went to a great many big towns and lived well, and as he was generous +and not wiser than most youths of his age, he very soon found himself +penniless. Like his father, he then began to think of work, and tramped +half over Brittany in search of it. Nobody seemed to want him, and he +wandered about from one place to another, till he found himself in a +dense wood, without any paths, and not much light. Here he spent two +whole days, with nothing to eat and very little water to drink, going +first in one direction and then in another, but never being able to find +his way out. During the first night he slept soundly, and was too tired +to fear either man or beast, but when darkness came on for the second +time, and growls were heard in the distance, he grew frightened and +looked about for a high tree out of reach of his enemies. Hardly had he +settled himself comfortably in one of the forked branches, when a lion +walked up to a spring that burst from a rock close to the tree, and +crouching down drank greedily. This was bad enough, but after all, lions +do not climb trees, and as long as Fortunatus stayed up on his perch, he +was quite safe. But no sooner was the lion out of sight, than his +place was taken by a bear, and bears, as Fortunatus knew very well, are +tree-climbers. His heart beat fast, and not without reason, for as the +bear turned away he looked up and saw Fortunatus! + +Now in those days every young man carried a sword slung to his belt, and +it was a fashion that came in very handily for Fortunatus. He drew his +sword, and when the bear got within a yard of him he made a fierce lunge +forward. The bear, wild with pain, tried to spring, but the bough he was +standing on broke with his weight, and he fell heavily to the ground. +Then Fortunatus descended from his tree (first taking good care to see +no other wild animals were in sight) and killed him with a single blow. +He was just thinking he would light a fire and make a hearty dinner off +bear's flesh, which is not at all bad eating, when he beheld a beautiful +lady standing by his side leaning on a wheel, and her eyes hidden by a +bandage. + +'I am Dame Fortune,' she said, 'and I have a gift for you. Shall it be +wisdom, strength, long life, riches, health, or beauty? Think well, and +tell me what you will have.' + +But Fortunatus, who had proved the truth of the proverb that 'It's ill +thinking on an empty stomach,' answered quickly, 'Good lady, let me have +riches in such plenty that I may never again be as hungry as I am now.' + +And the lady held out a purse and told him he had only to put his hand +into it, and he and his children would always find ten pieces of gold. +But when they were dead it would be a magic purse no longer. + +At this news Fortunatus was beside himself with joy, and could hardly +find words to thank the lady. But she told him that the best thing he +could do was to find his way out of the wood, and before bidding him +farewell pointed out which path he should take. He walked along it as +fast as his weakness would let him, until a welcome light at a little +distance showed him that a house was near. It turned out to be an inn, +but before entering Fortunatus thought he had better make sure of the +truth of what the lady had told him, and took out the purse and looked +inside. Sure enough there were the ten pieces of gold, shining brightly. +Then Fortunatus walked boldly up to the inn, and ordered them to get +ready a good supper at once, as he was very hungry, and to bring him the +best wine in the house. And he seemed to care so little what he spent +that everybody thought he was a great lord, and vied with each other who +should run quickest when he called. + +After a night passed in a soft bed, Fortunatus felt so much better that +he asked the landlord if he could find him some men-servants, and tell +him where any good horses were to be got. The next thing was to provide +himself with smart clothes, and then to take a big house where he +could give great feasts to the nobles and beautiful ladies who lived in +palaces round about. + +In this manner a whole year soon slipped away, and Fortunatus was so +busy amusing himself that he never once remembered his parents whom he +had left behind in Cyprus. But though he was thoughtless, he was not +bad-hearted. As soon as their existence crossed his mind, he set about +making preparations to visit them, and as he was not fond of being alone +he looked round for some one older and wiser than himself to travel with +him. It was not long before he had the good luck to come across an +old man who had left his wife and children in a far country many years +before, when he went out into the world to seek the fortune which he +never found. He agreed to accompany Fortunatus back to Cyprus, but only +on condition he should first be allowed to return for a few weeks to +his own home before venturing to set sail for an island so strange and +distant. Fortunatus agreed to his proposal, and as he was always fond of +anything new, said that he would go with him. + +The journey was long, and they had to cross many large rivers, and climb +over high mountains, and find their way through thick woods, before they +reached at length the old man's castle. His wife and children had almost +given up hopes of seeing him again, and crowded eagerly round him. +Indeed, it did not take Fortunatus five minutes to fall in love with the +youngest daughter, the most beautiful creature in the whole world, whose +name was Cassandra. + +'Give her to me for my wife,' he said to the old man, 'and let us all go +together to Famagosta.' + +So a ship was bought big enough to hold Fortunatus, the old man and his +wife, and their ten children--five of them sons and five daughters. And +the day before they sailed the wedding was celebrated with magnificent +rejoicings, and everybody thought that Fortunatus must certainly be +a prince in disguise. But when they reached Cyprus, he learned to his +sorrow that both his father and mother were dead, and for some time +he shut himself up in his house and would see nobody, full of shame at +having forgotten them all these years. Then he begged that the old man +and his wife would remain with him, and take the place of his parents. + +For twelve years Fortunatus and Cassandra and their two little boys +lived happily in Famagosta. They had a beautiful house and everything +they could possibly want, and when Cassandra's sisters married the purse +provided them each with a fortune. But at last Fortunatus grew tired of +staying at home, and thought he should like to go out and see the +world again. Cassandra shed many tears at first when he told her of his +wishes, and he had a great deal of trouble to persuade her to give her +consent. But on his promising to return at the end of two years she +agreed to let him go. Before he went away he showed her three chests +of gold, which stood in a room with an iron door, and walls twelve feet +thick. 'If anything should happen to me,' he said, 'and I should never +come back, keep one of the chests for yourself, and give the others to +our two sons.' Then he embraced them all and took ship for Alexandria. + +The wind was fair and in a few days they entered the harbour, where +Fortunatus was informed by a man whom he met on landing, that if he +wished to be well received in the town, he must begin by making a +handsome present to the Sultan. 'That is easily done,' said Fortunatus, +and went into a goldsmith's shop, where he bought a large gold cup, +which cost five thousand pounds. This gift so pleased the Sultan that he +ordered a hundred casks of spices to be given to Fortunatus; Fortunatus +put them on board his ship, and commanded the captain to return to +Cyprus and deliver them to his wife, Cassandra. He next obtained an +audience of the Sultan, and begged permission to travel through the +country, which the Sultan readily gave him, adding some letters to the +rulers of other lands which Fortunatus might wish to visit. + +Filled with delight at feeling himself free to roam through the world +once more, Fortunatus set out on his journey without losing a day. From +court to court he went, astonishing everyone by the magnificence of his +dress and the splendour of his presents. At length he grew as tired of +wandering as he had been of staying at home, and returned to Alexandria, +where he found the same ship that had brought him from Cyprus lying in +the harbour. Of course the first thing he did was to pay his respects to +the Sultan, who was eager to hear about his adventures. + +When Fortunatus had told them all, the Sultan observed: 'Well, you +have seen many wonderful things, but I have something to show you more +wonderful still;' and he led him into a room where precious stones lay +heaped against the walls. Fortunatus' eyes were quite dazzled, but the +Sultan went on without pausing and opened a door at the farther end. As +far as Fortunatus could see, the cupboard was quite bare, except for a +little red cap, such as soldiers wear in Turkey. + +'Look at this,' said the Sultan. + +'But there is nothing very valuable about it,' answered Fortunatus. +'I've seen a dozen better caps than that, this very day.' + +'Ah,' said the Sultan, 'you do not know what you are talking about. +Whoever puts this cap on his head and wishes himself in any place, will +find himself there in a moment.' + +'But who made it?' asked Fortunatus. + +'That I cannot tell you,' replied the Sultan. + +'Is it very heavy to wear?' asked Fortunatus. + +'No, quite light,' replied the Sultan, 'just feel it.' + +Fortunatus took the cap and put it on his head, and then, without +thinking, wished himself back in the ship that was starting for +Famagosta. In a second he was standing at the prow, while the anchor +was being weighed, and while the Sultan was repenting of his folly in +allowing Fortunatus to try on the cap, the vessel was making fast for +Cyprus. + +When it arrived, Fortunatus found his wife and children well, but the +two old people were dead and buried. His sons had grown tall and strong, +but unlike their father had no wish to see the world, and found their +chief pleasure in hunting and tilting. In the main, Fortunatus was +content to stay quietly at home, and if a restless fit did seize upon +him, he was able to go away for a few hours without being missed, thanks +to the cap, which he never sent back to the Sultan. + +By-and-by he grew old, and feeling that he had not many days to live, +he sent for his two sons, and showing them the purse and cap, he said to +them: 'Never part with these precious possessions. They are worth more +than all the gold and lands I leave behind me. But never tell their +secret, even to your wife or dearest friend. That purse has served me +well for forty years, and no one knows whence I got my riches.' Then +he died and was buried by his wife Cassandra, and he was mourned in +Famagosta for many years. + + + + +The Goat-faced Girl + + +There was once upon a time a peasant called Masaniello who had twelve +daughters. They were exactly like the steps of a staircase, for there +was just a year between each sister. It was all the poor man could do to +bring up such a large family, and in order to provide food for them he +used to dig in the fields all day long. In spite of his hard work he +only just succeeded in keeping the wolf from the door, and the poor +little girls often went hungry to bed. + +One day, when Masaniello was working at the foot of a high mountain, he +came upon the mouth of a cave which was so dark and gloomy that even +the sun seemed afraid to enter it. Suddenly a huge green lizard appeared +from the inside and stood before Masaniello, who nearly went out of his +mind with terror, for the beast was as big as a crocodile and quite as +fierce looking. + +But the lizard sat down beside him in the most friendly manner, and +said: 'Don't be afraid, my good man, I am not going to hurt you; on the +contrary, I am most anxious to help you.' + +When the peasant heard these words he knelt before the lizard and said: +'Dear lady, for I know not what to call you, I am in your power; but I +beg of you to be merciful, for I have twelve wretched little daughters +at home who are dependent on me.' + +'That's the very reason why I have come to you,' replied the lizard. +'Bring me your youngest daughter to-morrow morning. I promise to bring +her up as if she were my own child, and to look upon her as the apple of +my eye.' + +When Masaniello heard her words he was very unhappy, because he felt +sure, from the lizard's wanting one of his daughters, the youngest and +tenderest too, that the poor little girl would only serve as dessert for +the terrible creature's supper. At the same time he said to himself, +'If I refuse her request, she will certainly eat me up on the spot. If +I give her what she asks she does indeed take part of myself, but if I +refuse she will take the whole of me. What am I to do, and how in the +world am I to get out of the difficulty?' + +As he kept muttering to himself the lizard said, 'Make up your mind to +do as I tell you at once. I desire to have your youngest daughter, and +if you won't comply with my wish, I can only say it will be the worse +for you.' + +Seeing that there was nothing else to be done, Masaniello set off for +his home, and arrived there looking so white and wretched that his wife +asked him at once: 'What has happened to you, my dear husband? Have you +quarrelled with anyone, or has the poor donkey fallen down?' + +'Neither the one nor the other,' answered her husband,' but something +far worse than either. A terrible lizard has nearly frightened me out +of my senses, for she threatened that if I did not give her our youngest +daughter, she would make me repent it. My head is going round like a +mill-wheel, and I don't know what to do. I am indeed between the Devil +and the Deep Sea. You know how dearly I love Renzolla, and yet, if I +fail to bring her to the lizard to-morrow morning, I must say farewell +to life. Do advise me what to do.' + +When his wife had heard all he had to say, she said to him: 'How do you +know, my dear husband, that the lizard is really our enemy? May she not +be a friend in disguise? And your meeting with her may be the beginning +of better things and the end of all our misery. Therefore go and take +the child to her, for my heart tells me that you will never repent doing +so.' + +Masaniello was much comforted by her words, and next morning as soon as +it was light he took his little daughter by the hand and led her to the +cave. + +The lizard, who was awaiting the peasant's arrival, came forward to meet +him, and taking the girl by the hand, she gave the father a sack full +of gold, and said: 'Go and marry your other daughters, and give them +dowries with this gold, and be of good cheer, for Renzolla will have +both father and mother in me; it is a great piece of luck for her that +she has fallen into my hands.' + +Masaniello, quite overcome with gratitude, thanked the lizard, and +returned home to his wife. + +As soon as it was known how rich the peasant had become, suitors for the +hands of his daughters were not wanting, and very soon he married them +all off; and even then there was enough gold left to keep himself and +his wife in comfort and plenty all their days. + +As soon as the lizard was left alone with Renzolla, she changed the cave +into a beautiful palace, and led the girl inside. Here she brought her +up like a little princess, and the child wanted for nothing. She gave +her sumptuous food to eat, beautiful clothes to wear, and a thousand +servants to wait on her. + +Now, it happened, one day, that the king of the country was hunting in a +wood close to the palace, and was overtaken by the dark. Seeing a light +shining in the palace he sent one of his servants to ask if he could get +a night's lodging there. + +When the page knocked at the door the lizard changed herself into +a beautiful woman, and opened it herself. When she heard the king's +request she sent him a message to say that she would be delighted to see +him, and give him all he wanted. + +The king, on hearing this kind invitation, instantly betook himself +to the palace, where he was received in the most hospitable manner. A +hundred pages with torches came to meet him, a hundred more waited on +him at table, and another hundred waved big fans in the air to keep the +flies from him. Renzolla herself poured out the wine for him, and, so +gracefully did she do it, that his Majesty could not take his eyes off +her. + +When the meal was finished and the table cleared, the king retired +to sleep, and Renzolla drew the shoes from his feet, at the same time +drawing his heart from his breast. So desperately had he fallen in love +with her, that he called the fairy to him, and asked her for Renzolla's +hand in marriage. As the kind fairy had only the girl's welfare at +heart, she willingly gave her consent, and not her consent only, but a +wedding portion of seven thousand golden guineas. + +The king, full of delight over his good fortune, prepared to take his +departure, accompanied by Renzolla, who never so much as thanked the +fairy for all she had done for her. When the fairy saw such a base want +of gratitude she determined to punish the girl, and, cursing her, she +turned her face into a goat's head. In a moment Renzolla's pretty mouth +stretched out into a snout, with a beard a yard long at the end of it, +her cheeks sank in, and her shining plaits of hair changed into two +sharp horns. When the king turned round and saw her he thought he must +have taken leave of his senses. He burst into tears, and cried out: +'Where is the hair that bound me so tightly, where are the eyes that +pierced through my heart, and where are the lips I kissed? Am I to be +tied to a goat all my life? No, no! nothing will induce me to become the +laughing-stock of my subjects for the sake of a goat-faced girl!' + +When they reached his own country he shut Renzolla up in a little turret +chamber of his palace, with a waiting-maid, and gave each of them ten +bundles of flax to spin, telling them that their task must be finished +by the end of the week. + +The maid, obedient to the king's commands, set at once to work and +combed out the flax, wound it round the spindle, and sat spinning at her +wheel so diligently that her work was quite done by Saturday evening. +But Renzolla, who had been spoilt and petted in the fairy's house, and +was quite unaware of the change that had taken place in her appearance, +threw the flax out of the window and said: 'What is the king thinking +of that he should give me this work to do? If he wants shirts he can +buy them. It isn't even as if he had picked me out of the gutter, for he +ought to remember that I brought him seven thousand golden guineas as +my wedding portion, and that I am his wife and not his slave. He must be +mad to treat me like this.' + +All the same, when Saturday evening came, and she saw that the +waiting-maid had finished her task, she took fright lest she should +be punished for her idleness. So she hurried off to the palace of +the fairy, and confided all her woes to her. The fairy embraced her +tenderly, and gave her a sack full of spun flax, in order that she +might show it to the king, and let him see what a good worker she was. +Renzolla took the sack without one word of thanks, and returned to +the palace, leaving the kind fairy very indignant over her want of +gratitude. + +When the king saw the flax all spun, he gave Renzolla and the +waiting-maid each a little dog, and told them to look after the animals +and train them carefully. + +The waiting-maid brought hers up with the greatest possible care, and +treated it almost as if it were her son. But Renzolla said: 'I don't +know what to think. Have I come among a lot of lunatics? Does the king +imagine that I am going to comb and feed a dog with my own hands?' With +these words she opened the window and threw the poor little beast out, +and he fell on the ground as dead as a stone. + +When a few months had passed the king sent a message to say he would +like to see how the dogs were getting on. Renzolla, who felt very +uncomfortable in her mind at this request, hurried off once more to the +fairy. This time she found an old man at the door of the fairy's palace, +who said to her: 'Who are you, and what do you want?' + +When Renzolla heard his question she answered angrily: 'Don't you know +me, old Goat-beard? And how dare you address me in such a way?' + +'The pot can't call the kettle black,' answered the old man, 'for it +is not I, but you who have a goat's head. Just wait a moment, you +ungrateful wretch, and I will show you to what a pass your want of +gratitude has brought you.' + +With these words he hurried away, and returned with a mirror, which he +held up before Renzolla. At the sight of her ugly, hairy face, the girl +nearly fainted with horror, and she broke into loud sobs at seeing her +countenance so changed. + +Then the old man said: 'You must remember, Renzolla, that you are a +peasant's daughter, and that the fairy turned you into a queen; but you +were ungrateful, and never as much as thanked her for all she had done +for you. Therefore she has determined to punish you. But if you wish +to lose your long white beard, throw yourself at the fairy's feet and +implore her to forgive you. She has a tender heart, and will, perhaps, +take pity on you.' + +Renzolla, who was really sorry for her conduct, took the old man's +advice, and the fairy not only gave her back her former face, but she +dressed her in a gold embroidered dress, presented her with a beautiful +carriage, and brought her back, accompanied by a host of servants, to +her husband. When the king saw her looking as beautiful as ever, he fell +in love with her once more, and bitterly repented having caused her so +much suffering. + +So Renzolla lived happily ever afterwards, for she loved her husband, +honoured the fairy, and was grateful to the old man for having told her +the truth. + +[From the Italian. Kletke.] + + + + +What Came of Picking Flowers + + +There was once a woman who had three daughters whom she loved very much. +One day the eldest was walking in a water-meadow, when she saw a pink +growing in the stream. She stooped to pick the flower, but her hand had +scarcely touched it, when she vanished altogether. The next morning the +second sister went out into the meadow, to see if she could find any +traces of the lost girl, and as a branch of lovely roses lay trailing +across her path, she bent down to move it away, and in so doing, +could not resist plucking one of the roses. In a moment she too had +disappeared. Wondering what could have become of her two sisters, the +youngest followed in their footsteps, and fell a victim to a branch +of delicious white jessamine. So the old woman was left without any +daughters at all. + +She wept, and wept, and wept, all day and all night, and went on weeping +so long, that her son, who had been a little boy when his sisters +disappeared, grew up to be a tall youth. Then one night he asked his +mother to tell him what was the matter. + +When he had heard the whole story, he said, 'Give me your blessing, +mother, and I will go and search the world till I find them.' + +So he set forth, and after he had travelled several miles without any +adventures, he came upon three big boys fighting in the road. He stopped +and inquired what they were fighting about, and one of them answered: + +'My lord! our father left to us, when he died, a pair of boots, a key, +and a cap. Whoever puts on the boots and wishes himself in any place, +will find himself there. The key will open every door in the world, and +with the cap on your head no one can see you. Now our eldest brother +wants to have all three things for himself, and we wish to draw lots for +them.' + +'Oh, that is easily settled,' said the youth. 'I will throw this stone +as far as I can, and the one who picks it up first, shall have the three +things.' So he took the stone and flung it, and while the three brothers +were running after it, he drew hastily on the boots, and said, 'Boots, +take me to the place where I shall find my eldest sister.' + +The next moment the young man was standing on a steep mountain before +the gates of a strong castle guarded by bolts and bars and iron chains. +The key, which he had not forgotten to put in his pocket, opened the +doors one by one, and he walked through a number of halls and corridors, +till he met a beautiful and richly-dressed young lady who started back +in surprise at the sight of him, and exclaimed, 'Oh, sir, how did +you contrive _to_ get in here?' The young man replied that he was her +brother, and told her by what means he had been able to pass through the +doors. In return, she told him how happy she was, except for one thing, +and that was, her husband lay under a spell, and could never break it +till there should be put to death a man who could not die. + +They talked together for a long time, and then the lady said he had +better leave her as she expected her husband back at any moment, and he +might not like him to be there; but the young man assured her she need +not be afraid, as he had with him a cap which would make him invisible. +They were still deep in conversation when the door suddenly opened, and +a bird flew in, but he saw nothing unusual, for, at the first noise, the +youth had put on his cap. The lady jumped up and brought a large +golden basin, into which the bird flew, reappearing directly after as +a handsome man. Turning to his wife, he cried, 'I am sure someone is in +the room!' She got frightened, and declared that she was quite alone, +but her husband persisted, and in the end she had to confess the truth. + +'But if he is really your brother, why did you hide him?' asked he. +'I believe you are telling me a lie, and if he comes back I shall kill +him!' + +At this the youth took off his cap, and came forward. Then the husband +saw that he was indeed so like his wife that he doubted her word no +longer, and embraced his brother-in-law with delight. Drawing a feather +from his bird's skin, he said, 'If you are in danger and cry, "Come and +help me, King of the Birds," everything will go well with you.' + +The young man thanked him and went away, and after he had left the +castle he told the boots that they must take him to the place where his +second sister was living. As before, he found himself at the gates of +a huge castle, and within was his second sister, very happy with her +husband, who loved her dearly, but longing for the moment when he should +be set free from the spell that kept him half his life a fish. When he +arrived and had been introduced by his wife to her brother, he welcomed +him warmly, and gave him a fish-scale, saying, 'If you are in danger, +call to me, "Come and help me, King of the Fishes," and everything will +go well with you.' + +The young man thanked him and took his leave, and when he was outside +the gates he told the boots to take him to the place where his youngest +sister lived. The boots carried him to a dark cavern, with steps of iron +leading up to it. Inside she sat, weeping and sobbing, and as she had +done nothing else the whole time she had been there, the poor girl had +grown very thin. When she saw a man standing before her, she sprang to +her feet and exclaimed, 'Oh, whoever you are, save me and take me from +this horrible place!' Then he told her who he was, and how he had seen +her sisters, whose happiness was spoilt by the spell under which both +their husbands lay, and she, in turn, related her story. She had been +carried off in the water-meadow by a horrible monster, who wanted to +make her marry him by force, and had kept her a prisoner all these years +because she would not submit to his will. Every day he came to beg her +to consent to his wishes, and to remind her that there was no hope of +her being set free, as he was the most constant man in the world, and +besides that he could never die. At these words the youth remembered his +two enchanted brothers-in-law, and he advised his sister to promise to +marry the old man, if he would tell her why he could never die. Suddenly +everything began to tremble, as if it was shaken by a whirlwind, and the +old man entered, and flinging himself at the feet of the girl, he said: +'Are you still determined never to marry me? If so you will have to sit +there weeping till the end of the world, for I shall always be faithful +to my wish to marry you!' 'Well, I will marry you,' she said, 'if you +will tell me why it is that you can never die.' + +Then the old man burst into peals of laughter. 'Ah, ah, ah! You are +thinking how you would be able to kill me? Well, to do that, you would +have to find an iron casket which lies at the bottom of the sea, and has +a white dove inside, and then you would have to find the egg which +the dove laid, and bring it here, and dash it against my head.' And +he laughed again in his certainty that no one had ever got down to +the bottom of the sea, and that if they did, they would never find the +casket, or be able to open it. When he could speak once more, he said, +'Now you will be obliged to marry me, as you know my secret.' But she +begged so hard that the wedding might be put off for three days, that +he consented, and went away rejoicing at his victory. When he had +disappeared, the brother took off the cap which had kept him invisible +all this time, and told his sister not to lose heart as he hoped in +three days she would be free. Then he drew on his boots, and wished +himself at the seashore, and there he was directly. Drawing out the +fish-scale, he cried, 'Come and help me, King of the Fishes!' and +his brother-in-law swam up, and asked what he could do. The young man +related the story, and when he had finished his listener summoned all +the fishes to his presence. The last to arrive was a little sardine, who +apologised for being so late, but said she had hurt herself by knocking +her head against an iron casket that lay in the bottom of the sea. The +king ordered several of the largest and strongest of his subjects to +take the little sardine as a guide, and bring him the iron casket. They +soon returned with the box placed across their backs and laid it down +before him. Then the youth produced the key and said 'Key, open that +box!' and the key opened it, and though they were all crowding round, +ready to catch it, the white dove within flew away. + +It was useless to go after it, and for a moment the young man's heart +sank. The next minute, however, he remembered that he had still his +feather, and drew it out crying, 'Come to me, King of the Birds!' and +a rushing noise was heard, and the King of the Birds perched on his +shoulder, and asked what he could do to help him. His brother-in-law +told him the whole story, and when he had finished the King of the Birds +commanded all his subjects to hasten to his presence. In an instant +the air was dark with birds of all sizes, and at the very last came the +white dove, apologising for being so late by saying that an old friend +had arrived at his nest, and he had been obliged to give him some +dinner. The King of the Birds ordered some of them to show the young man +the white dove's nest, and when they reached it, there lay the egg which +was to break the spell and set them all free. When it was safely in his +pocket, he told the boots to carry him straight to the cavern where his +youngest sister sat awaiting him. + +Now it was already far on into the third day, which the old man had +fixed for the wedding, and when the youth reached the cavern with his +cap on his head, he found the monster there, urging the girl to keep her +word and let the marriage take place at once. At a sign from her brother +she sat down and invited the old monster to lay his head on her lap. He +did so with delight, and her brother standing behind her back passed +her the egg unseen. She took it, and dashed it straight at the horrible +head, and the monster started, and with a groan that people took for the +rumblings of an earthquake, he turned over and died. + +As the breath went out of his body the husbands of the two eldest +daughters resumed their proper shapes, and, sending for their +mother-in-law, whose sorrow was so unexpectedly turned into joy, they +had a great feast, and the youngest sister was rich to the end of her +days with the treasures she found in the cave, collected by the monster. + +[From the Portuguese.] + + + + +The Story of Bensurdatu + + +There was once a king and a queen who had three wonderfully beautiful +daughters, and their one thought, from morning till night, was how they +could make the girls happy. + +One day the princesses said to the king, 'Dear father, we want so much +to have a picnic, and eat our dinner in the country.' + +'Very well, dear children, let us have a picnic by all means,' answered +he, and gave orders that everything should be got ready. + +When luncheon was prepared it was put into a cart, and the royal family +stepped into a carriage and drove right away into the country. After +a few miles they reached a house and garden belonging to the king, and +close by was their favourite place for lunch. The drive had made them +very hungry, and they ate with a hearty appetite, till almost all the +food had disappeared. + +When they had quite done, they said to their parents: 'Now we should +like to wander about the garden a little, but when you want to go home, +just call to us.' And they ran off, laughing, down a green glade, which +led to the garden. + +But no sooner had they stepped across the fence, than a dark cloud +came down and covered them, and prevented them seeing whither they were +going. + +Meanwhile the king and queen sat lazily among the heather, and an hour +or two slipped away. The sun was dropping towards the horizon, and they +began to think it was time to go home. So they called to their daughters +and called again, but no one answered them. + +Frightened at the silence, they searched every corner of the garden, the +house, and the neighbouring wood, but no trace of the girls was to be +found anywhere. The earth seemed to have swallowed them up. The poor +parents were in despair. The queen wept all the way home, and for many +days after, and the king issued a proclamation that whoever should bring +back his lost daughters should have one of them to wife, and should, +after his death, reign in his stead. + +Now two young generals were at that time living at the court, and when +they heard the king's declaration, they said one to the other: 'Let us +go in search of them; perhaps we shall be the lucky persons.' + +And they set out, each mounted on a strong horse, taking with them a +change of raiment and some money. + +But though they inquired at every village they rode through, they could +hear nothing of the princesses, and by-and-by their money was all spent, +and they were forced to sell their horses, or give up the search. Even +this money only lasted a little while longer, and nothing but their +clothes lay between them and starvation. They sold the spare garments +that were bound on their saddles, and went in the coats they stood up +in to the inn, to beg for some food, as they were really starving. When, +however, they had to pay for what they had eaten and drank, they said to +the host: 'We have no money, and naught but the clothes we stand up in. +Take these, and give us instead some old rags, and let us stay here +and serve you.' And the innkeeper was content with the bargain, and the +generals remained, and were his servants. + +All this time the king and queen remained in their palace hungering for +their children, but not a word was heard of either of them or of the +generals who had gone to seek for them. + +Now there was living in the palace a faithful servant of the king's +called Bensurdatu, who had served him for many years, and when +Bensurdatu saw how grieved the king was, he lifted up his voice and said +to him: 'Your majesty, let me go and seek your daughters.' + +'No, no, Bensurdatu,' replied the king. 'Three daughters have I lost, +and two generals, and shall I lose you also?' + +But Bensurdatu said again: 'Let me now go, your majesty; trust me, and I +will bring you back your daughters.' + +Then the king gave way, and Bensurdatu set forth, and rode on till he +came to the inn, where he dismounted and asked for food. It was brought +by the two generals, whom he knew at once in spite of their miserable +clothes, and, much astonished, asked them how in the world they came +there. + +They told him all their adventures, and he sent for the innkeeper, and +said to him: 'Give them back their garments, and I will pay everything +that they owe you.' + +And the innkeeper did as he was bid, and when the two generals +were dressed in their proper clothes, they declared they would join +Bensurdatu, and with him seek for the king's daughters. + +The three companions rode on for many miles, and at length they came to +a wild place, without sign of a human being. It was getting dark, and +fearing to be lost on this desolate spot they pushed on their horses, +and at last saw a light in the window of a tiny hut. + +'Who comes there?' asked a voice, as they knocked at the door. + +'Oh! have pity on us, and give us a night's shelter,' replied +Bensurdatu; 'we are three tired travellers who have lost our way.' + +Then the door was opened by a very old woman who stood back, and +beckoned them to enter. 'Whence do you come, and whither do you go?' +said she. + +'Ah, good woman, we have a heavy task before us,' answered Bensurdatu, +'we are bound to carry the king's daughters back to the palace!' + +'Oh, unhappy creatures,' cried she, 'you know not what you are doing! +The king's daughters were covered by a thick cloud, and no one knows +where they may now be.' + +'Oh, tell us, if you know, my good woman,' entreated Bensurdatu, 'for +with them lies all our happiness.' + +'Even if I were to tell you,' answered she, 'you could not rescue them. +To do that you would have to go to the very bottom of a deep river, and +though certainly you would find the king's daughters there, yet the +two eldest are guarded by two giants, and the youngest is watched by a +serpent with seven heads.' + +The two generals, who stood by listening, were filled with terror at her +words, and wished to return immediately; but Bensurdatu stood firm, and +said: 'Now we have got so far we must carry the thing through. Tell us +where the river is, so that we may get there as soon as possible.' And +the old woman told them, and gave them some cheese, wine, and bread, +so that they should not set forth starving; and when they had eaten and +drunk they laid themselves down to sleep. + +The sun had only just risen above the hills next morning before they all +woke, and, taking leave of the wise woman who had helped them, they rode +on till they came to the river. + +'I am the eldest,' said one of the generals, 'and it is my right to go +down first.' + +So the others fastened a cord round him, and gave him a little bell, and +let him down into the water. But scarcely had the river closed above +his head when such dreadful rushing sounds and peals of thunder came +crashing round about him that he lost all his courage, and rang his +bell, if perchance it might be heard amidst all this clamour. Great was +his relief when the rope began slowly to pull him upwards. + +Then the other general plunged in; but he fared no better than the +first, and was soon on dry ground again. + +'Well, you are a brave pair!' said Bensurdatu, as he tied the rope round +his own waist; 'let us see what will happen to me.' And when he heard +the thunder and clamour round about him he thought to himself, 'Oh, make +as much noise as you like, it won't hurt me!' When his feet touched the +bottom he found himself in a large, brilliantly lighted hall, and in the +middle sat the eldest princess, and in front of her lay a huge giant, +fast asleep. Directly she saw Bensurdatu she nodded to him, and asked +with her eyes how he had come there. + +For answer he drew his sword, and was about to cut off the giant's head, +when she stopped him quickly, and made signs to hide himself, as the +giant was just beginning to wake. 'I smell the flesh of a man!' murmured +he, stretching his great arms. + +'Why, how in the world could any man get down here?' replied she; 'you +had better go to sleep again.' + +So he turned over and went to sleep. Then the princess signed to +Bensurdatu, who drew his sword and cut off the giant's head with such a +blow that it flew into the corner. And the heart of the princess leapt +within her, and she placed a golden crown on the head of Bensurdatu, and +called him her deliverer. + +'Now show me where your sisters are,' he said, 'that I may free them +also.' + +So the princess opened a door, and led him into another hall, wherein +sat her next sister, guarded by a giant who was fast asleep. When the +second princess saw them, she made a sign to them to hide themselves, +for the giant was showing symptoms of waking. + +'I smell man's flesh!' murmured he, sleepily. + +'Now, how could any man get down here?' asked she; 'go to sleep again.' +And as soon as he closed his eyes, Bensurdatu stole out from his corner, +and struck such a blow at his head that it flew far, far away. The +princess could not find words to thank Bensurdatu for what he had done, +and she too placed in his hand a golden crown. + +'Now show me where your youngest sister is,' said he, 'that I may free +her also.' + +'Ah! that I fear you will never be able to do,' sighed they, 'for she is +in the power of a serpent with seven heads.' + +'Take me to him,' replied Bensurdatu. 'It will be a splendid fight.' + +Then the princess opened a door, and Bensurdatu passed through, and +found himself in a hall that was even larger than the other two. And +there stood the youngest sister, chained fast to the wall, and before +her was stretched a serpent with seven heads, horrible to see. As +Bensurdatu came forward it twisted all its seven heads in his direction, +and then made a quick dart to snatch him within its grasp. But +Bensurdatu drew his sword and laid about him, till the seven heads were +rolling on the floor. Flinging down his sword he rushed to the princess +and broke her chains, and she wept for joy, and embraced him, and took +the golden crown from off her head, and placed it in his hand. + +'Now we must go back to the upper world,' said Bensurdatu, and led her +to the bottom of the river. The other princesses were waiting there, and +he tied the rope round the eldest, and rung his bell. And the generals +above heard, and drew her gently up. They then unfastened the cord and +threw it back into the river, and in a few moments the second princess +stood beside her sister. + +So now there were left only Bensurdatu and the youngest princess. 'Dear +Bensurdatu,' said she, 'do me a kindness, and let them draw you up +before me. I dread the treachery of the generals. + +'No, no,' replied Bensurdatu, 'I certainly will not leave you down here. +There is nothing to fear from my comrades.' + +'If it is your wish I will go up then; but first I swear that if you do +not follow to marry me, I shall stay single for the rest of my life.' +Then he bound the rope round her, and the generals drew her up. + +But instead of lowering the rope again into the river, envy at the +courage and success of Bensurdatu so filled the hearts of the two +generals, that they turned away and left him to perish. And, more than +that, they threatened the princesses, and forced them to promise to tell +their parents that it was the two generals who had set them free. 'And +if they should ask you about Bensurdatu, you must say you have never +seen him,' they added; and the princesses, fearing for their lives, +promised everything, and they rode back to court together. + +The king and queen were beside themselves with joy when they saw their +dear children once more. But when the generals had told their story, and +the dangers they had run, the king declared that they had gained their +reward, and that the two eldest princesses should become their wives. + +And now we must see what poor Bensurdatu was doing. + +He waited patiently a long, long time, but when the rope never came back +he knew he had been right, and that his comrades had betrayed him. 'Ah, +now I shall never reach the world again,' murmured he; but being a brave +man, and knowing that moaning his fate would profit him nothing, he rose +and began to search through the three halls, where, perhaps, he might +find something to help him. In the last one stood a dish, covered with +food, which reminded him that he was hungry, and he sat down and ate and +drank. + +Months passed away, when, one morning, as he was walking through the +halls, he noticed a purse hanging on the wall, which had never been +there before. He took it down to examine it, and nearly let it fall with +surprise when a voice came from the purse saying: 'What commands have +you?' + +'Oh, take me out of this horrible place, and up into the world again; +'and in a moment he was standing by the river bank, with the purse +tightly grasped in his hand. + +'Now let me have the most beautiful ship that ever was built, all manned +and ready for sea.' And there was the ship, with a flag floating from +its mast on which were the words, 'King with the three crowns.' Then +Bensurdatu climbed on board, and sailed away to the city where the three +princesses dwelt; and when he reached the harbour he blew trumpets and +beat drums, so that every one ran to the doors and windows. And the king +heard too, and saw the beautiful vessel, and said to himself: 'That must +indeed be a mighty monarch, for he has three crowns while I have only +one.' So he hastened to greet the stranger, and invited him to his +castle, for, thought he, 'this will be a fine husband for my youngest +daughter.' Now, the youngest princess had never married, and had turned +a deaf ear to all her wooers. + +Such a long time had passed since Bensurdatu had left the palace, that +the king never guessed for a moment that the splendidly clad stranger +before him was the man whom he had so deeply mourned as dead. 'Noble +lord,' said he, 'let us feast and make merry together, and then, if +it seem good to you, do me the honour to take my youngest daughter to +wife.' + +And Bensurdatu was glad, and they all sat down to a great feast, and +there were great rejoicings. But only the youngest daughter was sad, for +her thoughts were with Bensurdatu. After they arose from the table the +king said to her, 'Dear child, this mighty lord does you the honour to +ask your hand in marriage.' + +'Oh, father,' answered she, 'spare me, I pray you, for I desire to +remain single.' + +Then Bensurdatu turned to her, and said: 'And if I were Bensurdatu, +would you give the same answer to me?' + +And as she stood silently gazing at him, he added: 'Yes, I am +Bensurdatu; and this is my story.' + +The king and queen had their hearts stirred within them at the tale of +his adventures, and when he had ended the king stretched out his hand, +and said: 'Dear Bensurdatu, my youngest daughter shall indeed be your +wife; and when I die my crown shall be yours. As for the men who have +betrayed you, they shall leave the country and you shall see them no +more.' + +And the wedding feast was ordered, and rejoicings were held for three +days over the marriage of Bensurdatu and the youngest princess. + +[From the Sicilianische Maerchen.] + + + + +The Magician's Horse + + +Once upon a time, there was a king who had three sons. Now it happened +that one day the three princes went out hunting in a large forest at +some distance from their father's palace, and the youngest prince lost +his way, so his brothers had to return home without him. + +For four days the prince wandered through the glades of the forest, +sleeping on moss beneath the stars at night, and by day living on roots +and wild berries. At last, on the morning of the fifth day, he came to +a large open space in the middle of the forest, and here stood a stately +palace; but neither within nor without was there a trace of human life. +The prince entered the open door and wandered through the deserted rooms +without seeing a living soul. At last he came on a great hall, and in +the centre of the hall was a table spread with dainty dishes and choice +wines. The prince sat down, and satisfied his hunger and thirst, and +immediately afterwards the table disappeared from his sight. This struck +the prince as very strange; but though he continued his search through +all the rooms, upstairs and down, he could find no one to speak to. +At last, just as it was beginning to get dark, he heard steps in the +distance and he saw an old man coming towards him up the stairs. + +'What are you doing wandering about my castle?' asked the old man. + +To whom the prince replied: 'I lost my way hunting in the forest. If you +will take me into your service, I should like to stay with you, and will +serve you faithfully.' + +'Very well,' said the old man. 'You may enter my service. You will have +to keep the stove always lit, you will have to fetch the wood for it +from the forest, and you will have the charge of the black horse in +the stables. I will pay you a florin a day, and at meal times you will +always find the table in the hall spread with food and wine, and you can +eat and drink as much as you require.' + +The prince was satisfied, and he entered the old man's service, and +promised to see that there was always wood on the stove, so that the +fire should never die out. Now, though he did not know it, his new +master was a magician, and the flame of the stove was a magic fire, +and if it had gone out the magician would have lost a great part of his +power. + +One day the prince forgot, and let the fire burn so low that it very +nearly burnt out. Just as the flame was flickering the old man stormed +into the room. + +'What do you mean by letting the fire burn so low?' he growled. 'I have +only arrived in the nick of time.' And while the prince hastily threw a +log on the stove and blew on the ashes to kindle a glow, his master gave +him a severe box on the ear, and warned him that if ever it happened +again it would fare badly with him. + +One day the prince was sitting disconsolate in the stables when, to his +surprise, the black horse spoke to him. + +'Come into my stall,' it said, 'I have something to say to you. Fetch my +bridle and saddle from that cupboard and put them on me. Take the bottle +that is beside them; it contains an ointment which will make your hair +shine like pure gold; then put all the wood you can gather together on +to the stove, till it is piled quite high up.' + +So the prince did what the horse told him; he saddled and bridled the +horse, he put the ointment on his hair till it shone like gold, and he +made such a big fire in the stove that the flames sprang up and set fire +to the roof, and in a few minutes the palace was burning like a huge +bonfire. + +Then he hurried back to the stables, and the horse said to him: +'There is one thing more you must do. In the cupboard you will find a +looking-glass, a brush and a riding-whip. Bring them with you, mount +on my back, and ride as hard as you can, for now the house is burning +merrily.' + +The prince did as the horse bade him. Scarcely had he got into the +saddle than the horse was off and away, galloping at such a pace +that, in a short time, the forest and all the country belonging to the +magician lay far behind them. + +In the meantime the magician returned to his palace, which he found in +smouldering ruins. In vain he called for his servant. At last he went to +look for him in the stables, and when he discovered that the black horse +had disappeared too, he at once suspected that they had gone together; +so he mounted a roan horse that was in the next stall, and set out in +pursuit. + +As the prince rode, the quick ears of his horse heard the sound of +pursuing feet. + +'Look behind you,' he said, 'and see if the old man is following.' And +the prince turned in his saddle and saw a cloud like smoke or dust in +the distance. + +'We must hurry,' said the horse. + +After they had galloped for some time, the horse said again: 'Look +behind, and see if he is still at some distance.' + +'He is quite close,' answered the prince. + +'Then throw the looking-glass on the ground,' said the horse. So the +prince threw it; and when the magician came up, the roan horse stepped +on the mirror, and crash! his foot went through the glass, and he +stumbled and fell, cutting his feet so badly that there was nothing for +the old man to do but to go slowly back with him to the stables, and +put new shoes on his feet. Then they started once more in pursuit of +the prince, for the magician set great value on the horse, and was +determined not to lose it. + +In the meanwhile the prince had gone a great distance; but the quick +ears of the black horse detected the sound of following feet from afar. + +'Dismount,' he said to the prince; 'put your ear to the ground, and tell +me if you do not hear a sound.' + +So the prince dismounted and listened. 'I seem to hear the earth +tremble,' he said; 'I think he cannot be very far off.' + +'Mount me at once,' answered the horse, 'and I will gallop as fast as I +can.' And he set off so fast that the earth seemed to fly from under his +hoofs. + +'Look back once more,' he said, after a short time, 'and see if he is in +sight.' + +'I see a cloud and a flame,' answered the prince; 'but a long way off.' + +'We must make haste,' said the horse. And shortly after he said: 'Look +back again; he can't be far off now.' + +The prince turned in his saddle, and exclaimed: 'He is close behind us, +in a minute the flame from his horse's nostrils will reach us.' + +'Then throw the brush on the ground,' said the horse. + +And the prince threw it, and in an instant the brush was changed into +such a thick wood that even a bird could not have got through it, +and when the old man got up to it the roan horse came suddenly to a +stand-still, not able to advance a step into the thick tangle. So there +was nothing for the magician to do but to retrace his steps, to fetch an +axe, with which he cut himself a way through the wood. But it took +him some time, during which the prince and the black horse got on well +ahead. + +But once more they heard the sound of pursuing feet. 'Look back,' said +the black horse, 'and see if he is following.' + +'Yes,' answered the prince, 'this time I hear him distinctly. + +'Let us hurry on,' said the horse. And a little later he said: 'Look +back now, and see if he is in sight.' + +'Yes,' said the prince, turning round, 'I see the flame; he is close +behind us.' + +'Then you must throw down the whip,' answered the horse.' And in the +twinkling of an eye the whip was changed into a broad river. When the +old man got up to it he urged the roan horse into the water, but as the +water mounted higher and higher, the magic flame which gave the magician +all his power grew smaller and smaller, till, with a fizz, it went out, +and the old man and the roan horse sank in the river and disappeared. +When the prince looked round they were no longer to be seen. + +'Now,' said the horse, 'you may dismount; there is nothing more to fear, +for the magician is dead. Beside that brook you will find a willow wand. +Gather it, and strike the earth with it, and it will open and you will +see a door at your feet.' + +When the prince had struck the earth with the wand a door appeared, and +opened into a large vaulted stone hall. + +'Lead me into that hall,' said the horse, 'I will stay there; but you +must go through the fields till you reach a garden, in the midst of +which is a king's palace. When you get there you must ask to be taken +into the king's service. Good-bye, and don't forget me.' + +So they parted; but first the horse made the prince promise not to let +anyone in the palace see his golden hair. So he bound a scarf round +it, like a turban, and the prince set out through the fields, till he +reached a beautiful garden, and beyond the garden he saw the walls and +towers of a stately palace. At the garden gate he met the gardener, who +asked him what he wanted. + +'I want to take service with the king,' replied the prince. + +'Well, you may stay and work under me in the garden,' said the man; for +as the prince was dressed like a poor man, he could not tell that he was +a king's son. 'I need someone to weed the ground and to sweep the dead +leaves from the paths. You shall have a florin a day, a horse to help +you to cart the leaves away, and food and drink.' + +So the prince consented, and set about his work. But when his food was +given to him he only ate half of it; the rest he carried to the vaulted +hall beside the brook, and gave to the black horse. And this he did +every day, and the horse thanked him for his faithful friendship. + +One evening, as they were together, after his work in the garden was +over, the horse said to him: 'To-morrow a large company of princes and +great lords are coming to your king's palace. They are coming from far +and near, as wooers for the three princesses. They will all stand in a +row in the courtyard of the palace, and the three princesses will come +out, and each will carry a diamond apple in her hand, which she will +throw into the air. At whosesoever feet the apple falls he will be the +bridegroom of that princess. You must be close by in the garden at your +work. The apple of the youngest princess, who is much the most beautiful +of the sisters, will roll past the wooers and stop in front of you. Pick +it up at once and put it in your pocket.' + +The next day, when the wooers were all assembled in the courtyard of the +castle, everything happened just as the horse had said. The princesses +threw the apples into the air, and the diamond apple of the youngest +princess rolled past all the wooers, out on to the garden, and stopped +at the feet of the young gardener, who was busy sweeping the leaves +away. In a moment he had stooped down, picked up the apple and put it in +his pocket. As he stooped the scarf round his head slipped a little to +one side, and the princess caught sight of his golden hair, and loved +him from that moment. + +But the king was very sad, for his youngest daughter was the one he +loved best. But there was no help for it; and the next day a threefold +wedding was celebrated at the palace, and after the wedding the youngest +princess returned with her husband to the small hut in the garden where +he lived. + +Some time after this the people of a neighbouring country went to war +with the king, and he set out to battle, accompanied by the husbands of +his two eldest daughters mounted on stately steeds. But the husband of +the youngest daughter had nothing but the old broken-down horse which +helped him in his garden work; and the king, who was ashamed of this +son-in-law, refused to give him any other. + +So as he was determined not to be left behind, he went into the garden, +mounted the sorry nag, and set out. But scarcely had he ridden a few +yards before the horse stumbled and fell. So he dismounted and went down +to the brook, to where the black horse lived in the vaulted hall. And +the horse said to him: 'Saddle and bridle me, and then go into the next +room and you will find a suit of armour and a sword. Put them on, and we +will ride forth together to battle.' + +And the prince did as he was told; and when he had mounted the horse his +armour glittered in the sun, and he looked so brave and handsome, that +no one would have recognised him as the gardener who swept away the dead +leaves from the paths. The horse bore him away at a great pace, and when +they reached the battle-field they saw that the king was losing the +day, so many of his warriors had been slain. But when the warrior on +his black charger and in glittering armour appeared on the scene, hewing +right and left with his sword, the enemy were dismayed and fled in all +directions, leaving the king master of the field. Then the king and his +two sons-in-law, when they saw their deliverer, shouted, and all that +was left of the army joined in the cry: 'A god has come to our rescue!' +And they would have surrounded him, but his black horse rose in the air +and bore him out of their sight. + +Soon after this, part of the country rose in rebellion against the king, +and once more he and his two sons-in-law had to fare forth to battle. +And the son-in-law who was disguised as a gardener wanted to fight too. +So he came to the king and said: 'Dear father, let me ride with you to +fight your enemies.' + +'I don't want a blockhead like you to fight for me,' answered the king. +'Besides, I haven't got a horse fit for you. But see, there is a carter +on the road carting hay; you may take his horse.' + +So the prince took the carter's horse, but the poor beast was old and +tired, and after it had gone a few yards it stumbled and fell. So the +prince returned sadly to the garden and watched the king ride forth at +the head of the army accompanied by his two sons-in-law. When they were +out of sight the prince betook himself to the vaulted chamber by the +brook-side, and having taken counsel of the faithful black horse, he put +on the glittering suit of armour, and was borne on the back of the horse +through the air, to where the battle was being fought. And once more he +routed the king's enemies, hacking to right and left with his sword. +And again they all cried: 'A god has come to our rescue!' But when they +tried to detain him the black horse rose in the air and bore him out of +their sight. + +When the king and his sons-in-law returned home they could talk of +nothing but the hero who had fought for them, and all wondered who he +could be. + +Shortly afterwards the king of a neighbouring country declared war, and +once more the king and his sons-in-law and his subjects had to prepare +themselves for battle, and once more the prince begged to ride with +them, but the king said he had no horse to spare for him. 'But,' he +added, 'you may take the horse of the woodman who brings the wood from +the forest, it is good enough for you.' + +So the prince took the woodman's horse, but it was so old and useless +that it could not carry him beyond the castle gates. So he betook +himself once more to the vaulted hall, where the black horse had +prepared a still more magnificent suit of armour for him than the one +he had worn on the previous occasions, and when he had put it on, +and mounted on the back of the horse, he bore him straight to the +battle-field, and once more he scattered the king's enemies, fighting +single-handed in their ranks, and they fled in all directions. But it +happened that one of the enemy struck with his sword and wounded the +prince in the leg. And the king took his own pocket-handkerchief, with +his name and crown embroidered on it, and bound it round the wounded +leg. And the king would fain have compelled him to mount in a litter and +be carried straight to the palace, and two of his knights were to lead +the black charger to the royal stables. But the prince put his hand on +the mane of his faithful horse, and managed to pull himself up into +the saddle, and the horse mounted into the air with him. Then they all +shouted and cried: 'The warrior who has fought for us is a god! He must +be a god.' + +And throughout all the kingdom nothing else was spoken about, and all +the people said: 'Who can the hero be who has fought for us in so many +battles? He cannot be a man, he must be a god.' + +And the king said: 'If only I could see him once more, and if it turned +out that after all he was a man and not a god, I would reward him with +half my kingdom.' + +Now when the prince reached his home--the gardener's hut where he lived +with his wife--he was weary, and he lay down on his bed and slept. And +his wife noticed the handkerchief bound round his wounded leg, and she +wondered what it could be. Then she looked at it more closely and saw in +the corner that it was embroidered with her father's name and the royal +crown. So she ran straight to the palace and told her father. And he +and his two sons-in-law followed her back to her house, and there the +gardener lay asleep on his bed. And the scarf that he always wore bound +round his head had slipped off, and his golden hair gleamed on the +pillow. And they all recognised that this was the hero who had fought +and won so many battles for them. + +Then there was great rejoicing throughout the land, and the king +rewarded his son-in-law with half of his kingdom, and he and his wife +reigned happily over it. + + + + +The Little Gray Man + + +A nun, a countryman, and a blacksmith were once wandering through the +world together. One day they lost their way in a thick, dark forest, +and were thankful when they saw, in the distance, the walls of a house, +where they hoped they might obtain refuge for the night. When they got +close to the house they found that it was an old deserted castle, fast +falling into ruins, but with some of the rooms in it still habitable. As +they were homeless they determined to take up their abode in the castle, +and they arranged that one of them should always stay at home and +keep house, while the other two went out into the world to seek their +fortunes. + +The lot of remaining at home fell first to the nun, and when the +countryman and the blacksmith had gone out into the wood, she set to +work, tidied up the house, and prepared all the food for the day. As her +companions did not come home for their mid-day meal, she ate up her +own portion and put the rest in the oven to keep warm. Just as she was +sitting down to sew, the door opened and a little gray man came in, and, +standing before her, said: 'Oh! how cold I am!' + +The nun was very sorry for him, and said at once: 'Sit down by the fire +and warm yourself.' + +The little man did as he was told, and soon called out: 'Oh! how hungry +I am!' + +The nun answered: 'There is food in the oven, help yourself.' + +The little man did not need to be told twice, for he set to work and ate +up everything with the greatest possible despatch. When the nun saw this +she was very angry, and scolded the dwarf because he had left nothing +for her companions. + +The little man resented her words, and flew into such a passion that he +seized the nun, beat her, and threw her first against one wall and then +against the other. When he had nearly killed her he left her lying on +the floor, and hastily walked out of the house. + +In the evening the countryman and the blacksmith returned home, and when +they found, on demanding their dinner, that there was nothing left for +them, they reproached the nun bitterly, and refused to believe her when +she tried to tell them what had happened. + +The next day the countryman asked to be left in charge of the house, and +promised that, if he remained at home, no one should go hungry to bed. +So the other two went out into the forest, and the countryman having +prepared the food for the day, ate up his own portion, and put the rest +in the oven. Just as he had finished clearing away, the door opened and +the little gray man walked in, and this time he had two heads. He shook +and trembled as before, and exclaimed: 'Oh! how cold I am.' + +The countryman, who was frightened out of his wits, begged him to draw +near the fire and warm himself. + +Soon after the dwarf looked greedily round, and said: 'Oh! how hungry I +am!' + +'There is food in the oven, so you can eat,' replied the countryman. + +Then the little man fell to with both his heads, and soon finished the +last morsel. + +When the countryman scolded him for this proceeding he treated him +exactly as he had done the nun, and left the poor fellow more dead than +alive. + +Now when the blacksmith came home with the nun in the evening, and found +nothing for supper, he flew into a passion; and swore that he would stay +at home the following day, and that no one should go supperless to bed. + +When day dawned the countryman and the nun set out into the wood, and +the blacksmith prepared all the food for the day as the others had done. +Again the gray dwarf entered the house without knocking, and this time +he had three heads. When he complained of cold, the blacksmith told him +to sit near the fire; and when he said he was hungry, the blacksmith put +some food on a plate and gave it to him. The dwarf made short work of +what was provided for him, and then, looking greedily round with his six +eyes, he demanded more. When the blacksmith refused to give him another +morsel, he flew into a terrible rage, and proceeded to treat him in the +same way as he had treated his companions. + +But the blacksmith was a match for him, for he seized a huge hammer and +struck off two of the dwarf's heads with it. The little man yelled with +pain and rage, and hastily fled from the house. The blacksmith ran after +him, and pursued him for a long way; but at last they came to an iron +door, and through it the little creature vanished. The door shut behind +him, and the blacksmith had to give up the pursuit and return home. He +found that the nun and the countryman had come back in the meantime, +and they were much delighted when he placed some food before them, and +showed them the two heads he had struck off with his hammer. The three +companions determined there and then to free themselves from the power +of the gray dwarf, and the very next day they set to work to find him. + +They had to walk a long way, and to search for many hours, before they +found the iron door through which the dwarf had disappeared; and when +they had found it they had the greatest difficulty in opening it. When +at last they succeeded in forcing the lock, they entered a large hall, +in which sat a young and lovely girl, working at a table. The moment she +saw the nun, the blacksmith, and the countryman, she fell at their feet, +thanking them with tears in her eyes for having set her free. She told +them that she was a king's daughter, who had been shut up in the castle +by a mighty magician. The day before, just about noon, she had suddenly +felt the magic power over her disappear, and ever since that moment she +had eagerly awaited the arrival of her deliverers. She went on to say +that there was yet another princess shut up in the castle, who had also +fallen under the might of the magician. + +They wandered through many halls and rooms till at last they found the +second princess, who was quite as grateful as the first, and thanked the +three companions most warmly for having set her free. + +Then the princesses told their rescuers that a great treasure lay hidden +in the cellars of the castle, but that it was carefully guarded by a +fierce and terrible dog. + +Nothing daunted, they all went down below at once, and found the fierce +animal mounting guard over the treasure as the princesses had said. But +one blow from the blacksmith's hammer soon made an end of the monster, +and they found themselves in a vaulted chamber full of gold and silver +and precious stones. Beside the treasure stood a young and handsome man, +who advanced to meet, them, and thanked the nun, the blacksmith, and the +countryman, for having freed him from the magic spell he was under. He +told them that he was a king's son, who had been banished to this castle +by a wicked magician, and that he had been changed into the three-headed +dwarf. When he had lost two of his heads the magic power over the two +princesses had been removed, and when the blacksmith had killed the +horrible dog, then he too had been set free. + +To show his gratitude he begged the three companions to divide the +treasure between them, which they did; but there was so much of it that +it took a very long time. + +The princesses, too, were so grateful to their rescuers, that one +married the blacksmith, and the other the countryman. + +Then the prince claimed the nun as his bride, and they all lived happily +together till they died. + +[From the German. Kletke.] + + + + +Herr Lazarus and the Draken + + +Once upon a time there was a cobbler called Lazarus, who was very +fond of honey. One day, as he ate some while he sat at work, the flies +collected in such numbers that with one blow he killed forty. Then he +went and ordered a sword to be made for him, on which he had written +these words: 'With one blow I have slain forty.' When the sword was +ready he took it and went out into the world, and when he was two days' +journey from home he came to a spring, by which he laid himself down and +slept. + +Now in that country there dwelt Draken, one of whom came to the spring +to draw water; there he found Lazarus sleeping, and read what was +written on his sword. Then he went back to his people and told them +what he had seen, and they all advised him to make fellowship with this +powerful stranger. So the Draken returned to the spring, awoke Lazarus, +and said that if it was agreeable to him they should make fellowship +together. + +Lazarus answered that he was willing, and after a priest had blessed +the fellowship, they returned together to the other Draken, and Lazarus +dwelt among them. After some days they told him that it was their custom +to take it in turns to bring wood and water, and as he was now of their +company, he must take his turn. They went first for water and wood, but +at last it came to be Lazarus's turn to go for water. The Draken had a +great leathern bag, holding two hundred measures of water. This Lazarus +could only, with great difficulty, drag empty to the spring, and +because he could not carry it back full, he did not fill it at all, but, +instead, he dug up the ground all round the spring. + +As Lazarus remained so long away, the Draken sent one of their number +to see what had become of him, and when this one came to the spring, +Lazarus said to him: 'We will no more plague ourselves by carrying water +every day. I will bring the entire spring home at once, and so we shall +be freed from this burden.' + +But the Draken called out: 'On no account, Herr Lazarus, else we shall +all die of thirst; rather will we carry the water ourselves in turns, +and you alone shall be exempt.' + +Next it comes to be Lazarus's turn to bring the wood. Now the Draken, +when they fetched the wood, always took an entire tree on their +shoulder, and so carried it home. Because Lazarus could not imitate them +in this, he went to the forest, tied all the trees together with a thick +rope, and remained in the forest till evening. Again the Draken sent one +of them after him to see what had become of him, and when this one asked +what he was about, Lazarus answered: 'I will bring the entire forest +home at once, so that after that we may have rest.' + +But the Draken called out: 'By no means, Herr Lazarus, else we shall all +die of cold; rather will we go ourselves to bring wood, and let you be +free.' And then the Draken tore up one tree, threw it over his shoulder, +and so carried it home. + +When they had lived together some time, the Draken became weary of +Lazarus, and agreed among themselves to kill him; each Draken, in the +night while Lazarus slept, should strike him a blow with a hatchet. But +Lazarus heard of this scheme, and when the evening came, he took a +log of wood, covered it with his cloak, laid it in the place where he +usually slept, and then hid himself. In the night the Draken came, and +each one hit the log a blow with his hatchet, till it flew in pieces. + +Then they believed their object was gained, and they lay down again. + +Thereupon Lazarus took the log, threw it away, and laid himself down in +its stead. Towards dawn, he began to groan, and when the Draken heard +that, they asked what ailed him, to which he made answer: 'The gnats +have stung me horribly.' This terrified the Draken, for they believed +that Lazarus took their blows for gnat-stings, and they determined at +any price to get rid of him. Next morning, therefore, they asked him if +he had not wife or child, and said that if he would like to go and visit +them they would give him a bag of gold to take away with him. He agreed +willingly to this, but asked further that one of the Draken should go +with him to carry the bag of gold. They consented, and one was sent with +him. + +When they had come to within a short; distance of Lazarus's house, he +said to the Draken: 'Stop here, in the meantime, for I must go on in +front and tie up my children, lest they eat you.' + +So he went and tied his children with strong ropes, and said to them: +'As soon as the Draken comes in sight, call out as loud as you can, +"Drakenflesh! Drakenflesh!"' + +So, when the Draken appeared, the children cried out: 'Drakenflesh! +Drakenflesh!' and this so terrified the Draken that he let the bag fall +and fled. + +On the road he met a fox, which asked him why he seemed so frightened. +He answered that he was afraid of the children of Herr Lazarus, who had +been within a hair-breadth of eating him up. But the fox laughed, and +said: 'What! you were afraid of the children of Herr Lazarus? He had +two fowls, one of which I ate yesterday, the other I will go and fetch +now--if you do not believe me, come and see for yourself; but you must +first tie yourself on to my tail.' + +The Draken then tied himself on to the fox's tail, and went back thus +with it to Lazarus's house, in order to see what it would arrange. There +stood Lazarus with his gun raised ready to fire, who, when he saw the +fox coming along with the Draken, called out to the fox: 'Did I not tell +you to bring me all the Draken, and you bring me only one?' + +When the Draken heard that he made off to the rightabout at once, and +ran so fast that the fox was dashed in pieces against the stones. + +When Lazarus had got quit of the Draken he built himself, with their +gold, a magnificent house, in which he spent the rest of his days in +great enjoyment. + + + + +The Story of the Queen of the Flowery Isles + + +There once lived a queen who ruled over the Flowery Isles, whose +husband, to her extreme grief, died a few years after their marriage. On +being left a widow she devoted herself almost entirely to the education +of the two charming princesses, her only children. The elder of them was +so lovely that as she grew up her mother greatly feared she would excite +the jealousy of the Queen of all the Isles, who prided herself on being +the most beautiful woman in the world, and insisted on all rivals bowing +before her charms. + +In order the better to gratify her vanity she had urged the king, her +husband, to make war on all the surrounding islands, and as his +greatest wish was to please her, the only conditions he imposed on any +newly-conquered country was that each princess of every royal house +should attend his court as soon as she was fifteen years old, and do +homage to the transcendent beauty of his queen. + +The queen of the Flowery Isles, well aware of this law, was fully +determined to present her daughter to the proud queen as soon as her +fifteenth birthday was past. + +The queen herself had heard a rumour of the young princess's great +beauty, and awaited her visit with some anxiety, which soon developed +into jealousy, for when the interview took place it was impossible not +to be dazzled by such radiant charms, and she was obliged to admit that +she had never beheld anyone so exquisitely lovely. + +Of course she thought in her own mind 'excepting myself!' for nothing +could have made her believe it possible that anyone could eclipse her. + +But the outspoken admiration of the entire court soon undeceived her, +and made her so angry that she pretended illness and retired to her own +rooms, so as to avoid witnessing the princess's triumph. She also sent +word to the Queen of the Flowery Isles that she was sorry not to be well +enough to see her again, and advised her to return to her own states +with the princess, her daughter. + +This message was entrusted to one of the great ladies of the court, who +was an old friend of the Queen of the Flowery Isles, and who advised her +not to wait to take a formal leave but to go home as fast as she could. + +The queen was not slow to take the hint, and lost no time in obeying it. +Being well aware of the magic powers of the incensed queen, she warned +her daughter that she was threatened by some great danger if she left +the palace for any reason whatever during the next six months. + +The princess promised obedience, and no pains were spared to make the +time pass pleasantly for her. + +The six months were nearly at an end, and on the very last day a +splendid fete was to take place in a lovely meadow quite near the +palace. The princess, who had been able to watch all the preparations +from her window, implored her mother to let her go as far as the meadow; +and the queen, thinking all risk must be over, consented, and promised +to take her there herself. + +The whole court was delighted to see their much-loved princess at +liberty, and everyone set off in high glee to join in the fete. + +The princess, overjoyed at being once more in the open air, was walking +a little in advance of her party when suddenly the earth opened under +her feet and closed again after swallowing her up! + +The queen fainted away with terror, and the younger princess burst into +floods of tears and could hardly be dragged away from the fatal spot, +whilst the court was overwhelmed with horror at so great a calamity. + +Orders were given to bore the earth to a great depth, but in vain; not a +trace of the vanished princess was to be found. + +She sank right through the earth and found herself in a desert place +with nothing but rocks and trees and no sign of any human being. The +only living creature she saw was a very pretty little dog, who ran up to +her and at once began to caress her. She took him in her arms, and after +playing with him for a little put him down again, when he started off in +front of her, looking round from time to time as though begging her to +follow. + +She let him lead her on, and presently reached a little hill, from which +she saw a valley full of lovely fruit trees, bearing flowers and fruit +together. The ground was also covered with fruit and flowers, and in the +middle of the valley rose a fountain surrounded by a velvety lawn. + +The princess hastened to this charming spot, and sitting down on the +grass began to think over the misfortune which had befallen her, and +burst into tears as she reflected on her sad condition. + +The fruit and clear fresh water would, she knew, prevent her from dying +of hunger or thirst, but how could she escape if any wild beast appeared +and tried to devour her? + +At length, having thought over every possible evil which could happen, +the princess tried to distract her mind by playing with the little dog. +She spent the whole day near the fountain, but as night drew on she +wondered what she should do, when she noticed that the little dog was +pulling at her dress. + +She paid no heed to him at first, but as he continued to pull her +dress and then run a few steps in one particular direction, she at last +decided to follow him; he stopped before a rock with a large opening in +the centre, which he evidently wished her to enter. + +The princess did so and discovered a large and beautiful cave lit up +by the brilliancy of the stones with which it was lined, with a little +couch covered with soft moss in one corner. She lay down on it and the +dog at once nestled at her feet. Tired out with all she had gone through +she soon fell asleep. + +Next morning she was awakened very early by the songs of many birds. +The little dog woke up too, and sprang round her in his most caressing +manner. She got up and went outside, the dog as before running on in +front and turning back constantly to take her dress and draw her on. + +She let him have his way and he soon led her back to the beautiful +garden where she had spent part of the day before. Here she ate some +fruit, drank some water of the fountain, and felt as if she had made an +excellent meal. She walked about amongst the flowers, played with her +little dog, and at night returned to sleep in the cave. + +In this way the princess passed several months, and as her first terrors +died away she gradually became more resigned to her fate. The little +dog, too, was a great comfort, and her constant companion. + +One day she noticed that he seemed very sad and did not even caress her +as usual. Fearing he might be ill she carried him to a spot where she +had seen him eat some particular herbs, hoping they might do him good, +but he would not touch them. He spent all the night, too, sighing and +groaning as if in great pain. + +At last the princess fell asleep, and when she awoke her first thought +was for her little pet, but not finding him at her feet as usual, she +ran out of the cave to look for him. As she stepped out of the cave she +caught sight of an old man, who hurried away so fast that she had barely +time to see him before he disappeared. + +This was a fresh surprise and almost as great a shock as the loss of her +little dog, who had been so faithful to her ever since the first day she +had seen him. She wondered if he had strayed away or if the old man had +stolen him. + +Tormented by all kinds of thoughts and fears she wandered on, when +suddenly she felt herself wrapped in a thick cloud and carried through +the air. She made no resistance and before very long found herself, to +her great surprise, in an avenue leading to the palace in which she had +been born. No sign of the cloud anywhere. + +As the princess approached the palace she perceived that everyone was +dressed in black, and she was filled with fear as to the cause of this +mourning. She hastened on and was soon recognised and welcomed with +shouts of joy. Her sister hearing the cheers ran out and embraced the +wanderer, with tears of happiness, telling her that the shock of her +disappearance had been so terrible that their mother had only survived +it a few days. Since then the younger princess had worn the crown, which +she now resigned to her sister to whom it by right belonged. + +But the elder wished to refuse it, and would only accept the crown on +condition that her sister should share in all the power. + +The first acts of the new queen were to do honour to the memory of +her dear mother and to shower every mark of generous affection on her +sister. Then, being still very grieved at the loss of her little dog, +she had a careful search made for him in every country, and when nothing +could be heard of him she was so grieved that she offered half her +kingdom to whoever should restore him to her. + +Many gentlemen of the court, tempted by the thought of such a reward, +set off in all directions in search of the dog; but all returned +empty-handed to the queen, who, in despair announced that since life was +unbearable without her little dog, she would give her hand in marriage +to the man who brought him back. + +The prospect of such a prize quickly turned the court into a desert, +nearly every courtier starting on the quest. Whilst they were away the +queen was informed one day that a very ill-looking man wished to speak +with her. She desired him to be shown into a room where she was sitting +with her sister. + +On entering her presence he said that he was prepared to give the queen +her little dog if she on her side was ready to keep her word. + +The princess was the first to speak. She said that the queen had +no right to marry without the consent of the nation, and that on so +important an occasion the general council must be summoned. The queen +could not say anything against this statement; but she ordered an +apartment in the palace to be given to the man, and desired the council +to meet on the following day. + +Next day, accordingly, the council assembled in great state, and by the +princess's advice it was decided to offer the man a large sum of money +for the dog, and should he refuse it, to banish him from the kingdom +without seeing the queen again. The man refused the price offered and +left the hall. + +The princess informed the queen of what had passed, and the queen +approved of all, but added that as she was her own mistress she had made +up her mind to abdicate her throne, and to wander through the world till +she had found her little dog. + +The princess was much alarmed by such a resolution, and implored the +queen to change her mind. Whilst they were discussing the subject, +one of the chamberlains appeared to inform the queen that the bay was +covered with ships. The two sisters ran to the balcony, and saw a large +fleet in full sail for the port. + +In a little time they came to the conclusion that the ships must come +from a friendly nation, as every vessel was decked with gay flags, +streamers, and pennons, and the way was led by a small ship flying a +great white flag of peace. + +The queen sent a special messenger to the harbour, and was soon informed +that the fleet belonged to the Prince of the Emerald Isles, who begged +leave to land in her kingdom, and to present his humble respects to +her. The queen at once sent some of the court dignitaries to receive the +prince and bid him welcome. + +She awaited him seated on her throne, but rose on his appearance, and +went a few steps to meet him; then begged him to be seated, and for +about an hour kept him in close conversation. + +The prince was then conducted to a splendid suite of apartments, and the +next day he asked for a private audience. He was admitted to the queen's +own sitting-room, where she was sitting alone with her sister. + +After the first greetings the prince informed the queen that he had some +very strange things to tell her, which she only would know to be true. + +'Madam,' said he, 'I am a neighbour of the Queen of all the Isles; and +a small isthmus connects part of my states with hers. One day, when +hunting a stag, I had the misfortune to meet her, and not recognising +her, I did not stop to salute her with all proper ceremony. You, Madam, +know better than anyone how revengeful she is, and that she is also a +mistress of magic. I learnt both facts to my cost. The ground opened +under my feet, and I soon found myself in a far distant region +transformed into a little dog, under which shape I had the honour to +meet your Majesty. After six months, the queen's vengeance not being yet +satisfied, she further changed me into a hideous old man, and in this +form I was so afraid of being unpleasant in your eyes, Madam, that I hid +myself in the depths of the woods, where I spent three months more. At +the end of that time I was so fortunate as to meet a benevolent fairy +who delivered me from the proud queen's power, and told me all your +adventures and where to find you. I now come to offer you a heart which +has been entirely yours, Madam, since first we met in the desert.' + +A few days later a herald was sent through the kingdom to proclaim the +joyful news of the marriage of the Queen of the Flowery Isles with the +young prince. They lived happily for many years, and ruled their people +well. + +As for the bad queen, whose vanity and jealousy had caused so much +mischief, the Fairies took all her power away for a punishment. + +['Cabinet des Fees.'] + + + + +Udea and Her Seven Brothers + + +Once upon a time there was a man and his wife who had seven boys. The +children lived in the open air and grew big and strong, and the six +eldest spent part of every day hunting wild beasts. The youngest did not +care so much about sport, and he often stayed with his mother. + +One morning, however, as the whole seven were going out for a long +expedition, they said to their aunt, 'Dear aunt, if a baby sister comes +into the world to-day, wave a white handkerchief, and we will return +immediately; but if it is only a boy, just brandish a sickle, and we +will go on with what we are doing.' + +Now the baby when it arrived really proved to be a girl, but as the aunt +could not bear the boys, she thought it was a good opportunity to get +rid of them. So she waved the sickle. And when the seven brothers saw +the sign they said, 'Now we have nothing to go back for,' and plunged +deeper into the desert. + +The little girl soon grew to be a big girl, and she was called by all +her friends (though she did not know it) 'Udea, who had driven her seven +brothers into strange lands.' + +One day, when she had been quarrelling with her playmates, the oldest +among them said to her, 'It is a pity you were born, as ever since, your +brothers have been obliged to roam about the world.' + +Udea did not answer, but went home to her mother and asked her, 'Have I +really got brothers?' + +'Yes,' replied her mother, 'seven of them. But they went away the day +you were born, and I have never heard of them since.' + +Then the girl said, 'I will go and look for them till I find them.' + +'My dear child,' answered her mother, 'it is fifteen years since they +left, and no man has seen them. How will you know which way to go?' + +'Oh, I will follow them, north and south, east and west, and though I +may travel far, yet some day I will find them.' + +Then her mother said no more, but gave her a camel and some food, and a +negro and his wife to take care of her, and she fastened a cowrie shell +round the camel's neck for a charm, and bade her daughter go in peace. + +During the first day the party journeyed on without any adventures, but +the second morning the negro said to the girl, 'Get down, and let the +negress ride instead of you.' + +'Mother,' cried Udea. + +'What is it?' asked her mother. + +'Barka wants me to dismount from my camel.' + +'Leave her alone, Barka,' commanded the mother, and Barka did not dare +to persist. + +But on the following day he said again to Udea, 'Get down, and let the +negress ride instead of you,' and though Udea called to her mother she +was too far away, and the mother never heard her. Then the negro seized +her roughly and threw her on the ground, and said to his wife, 'Climb +up,' and the negress climbed up, while the girl walked by the side. She +had meant to ride all the way on her camel as her feet were bare and the +stones cut them till the blood came. But she had to walk on till night, +when they halted, and the next morning it was the same thing again. +Weary and bleeding the poor girl began to cry, and implored the negro to +let her ride, if only for a little. But he took no notice, except to bid +her walk a little faster. + +By-and-by they passed a caravan, and the negro stopped and asked the +leader if they had come across seven young men, who were thought to be +hunting somewhere about. And the man answered, 'Go straight on, and by +midday you will reach the castle where they live.' + +When he heard this, the black melted some pitch in the sun, and smeared +the girl with it, till she looked as much a negro as he did. Next he +bade his wife get down from the camel, and told Udea to mount, which she +was thankful to do. So they arrived at her brothers' castle. + +Leaving the camel kneeling at the entrance for Udea to dismount, the +negro knocked loudly at the door, which was opened by the youngest +brother, all the others being away hunting. He did not of course +recognise Udea, but he knew the negro and his wife, and welcomed them +gladly, adding, 'But who does the other negress belong to?' + +'Oh, that is your sister!' said they. + +'My sister! but she is coal black!' + +'That may be, but she is your sister for all that.' + +The young man asked no more questions, but took them into the castle, +and he himself waited outside till his brothers came home. + +As soon as they were alone, the negro whispered to Udea, 'If you dare +to tell your brothers that I made you walk, or that I smeared you with +pitch, I will kill you.' + +'Oh, I will be sure to say nothing,' replied the girl, trembling, and at +that moment the six elder brothers appeared in sight. + +'I have some good news for you,' said the youngest, hastening to meet +them; 'our sister is here!' + +'Nonsense,' they answered. 'We have no sister; you know the child that +was born was a boy.' + +'But that was not true,' replied he, 'and here she is with the negro and +his wife. Only--she too is black,' he added softly, but his brothers did +not hear him, and pushed past joyfully. + +'How are you, good old Barka?' they said to the negro; 'and how comes it +that we never knew that we had a sister till now?' and they greeted Udea +warmly, while she shed tears of relief and gladness. + +The next morning they all agreed that they would not go out hunting. And +the eldest brother took Udea on his knee, and she combed his hair and +talked to him of their home till the tears ran down his cheeks and +dropped on her bare arm. And where the tears fell a white mark was made. +Then the brother took a cloth and rubbed the place, and he saw that she +was not black at all. + +'Tell me, who painted you over like this?' cried he. + +'I am afraid to tell you,' sobbed the girl, 'the negro will kill me.' + +'Afraid! and with seven brothers!' + +'Well, I will tell you then,' she answered. 'The negro forced me to +dismount from the camel and let his wife ride instead. And the stones +cut my feet till they bled and I had to bind them. And after that, when +we heard your castle was near by, he took pitch and smeared my body with +it.' + +Then the brother rushed in wrath from the room, and seizing his sword, +cut off first the negro's head and then his wife's. He next brought in +some warm water, and washed his sister all over, till her skin was white +and shining again. + +'Ah, now we see that you are our sister!' they all said. 'What fools the +negro must have thought us, to believe for an instant that we could have +a sister who was black!' And all that day and the next they remained in +the castle. + +But on the third morning they said to their sister: 'Dear sister, you +must lock yourself into this castle, with only the cat for company. And +be very careful never to eat anything which she does not eat too. You +must be sure to give her a bit of everything. In seven days we shall be +back again.' + +'All right,' she answered, and locked herself into the castle with the +cat. + +On the eighth day the brothers came home. 'How are you?' they asked. +'You have not been anxious?' + +'No, why should I be anxious? The gates were fast locked, and in the +castle are seven doors, and the seventh is of iron. What is there to +frighten me?' + +'No one will try to hurt us,' said the brothers, 'for they fear +us greatly. But for yourself, we implore you to do nothing without +consulting the cat, who has grown up in the house, and take care never +to neglect her advice.' + +'All right,' replied Udea, 'and whatever I eat she shall have half.' + +'Capital! and if ever you are in danger the cat will come and tell +us--only elves and pigeons, which fly round your window, know where to +find us.' + +'This is the first I have heard of the pigeons,' said Udea. 'Why did you +not speak of them before?' + +We always leave them food and water for seven days,' replied the +brothers. + +'Ah,' sighed the girl, 'if I had only known, I would have given them +fresh food and fresh water; for after seven days anything becomes bad. +Would it not be better if I fed them every day?' + +'Much better,' said they, 'and we shall feel any kindnesses you +do towards the cat or the pigeons exactly as if they were shown to +ourselves.' + +'Set your minds at ease,' answered the girl, 'I will treat them as if +they were my brothers.' + +That night the brothers slept in the castle, but after breakfast next +morning they buckled on their weapons and mounted their horses, and rode +off to their hunting grounds, calling out to their sister, 'Mind you let +nobody in till we come back.' + +'Very well,' cried she, and kept the doors carefully locked for seven +days and on the eighth the brothers returned as before. Then, after +spending one evening with her, they departed as soon as they had done +breakfast. + +Directly they were out of sight Udea began to clean the house, and among +the dust she found a bean which she ate. + +'What are you eating?' asked the cat. + +'Nothing,' said she. + +'Open your mouth, and let me see.' The girl did as she was told, and +then the cat said 'Why did you not give me half?' + +'I forgot,' answered she, 'but there are plenty of beans about, you can +have as many as you like.' + +'No, that won't do. I want half of that particular bean.' + +'But how can I give it you? I tell you I have eaten it. I can roast you +a hundred others.' + +'No, I want half of that one.' + +'Oh! do as you like, only go away!' cried she. + +So the cat ran straight to the kitchen fire, and spit on it and put it +out, and when Udea came to cook the supper she had nothing to light it +with. 'Why did you put the fire out?' asked she. + +'Just to show you how nicely you would be able to cook the supper. +Didn't you tell me to do what I liked?' + +The girl left the kitchen and climbed up on the roof of the castle and +looked out. Far, far away, so far that she could hardly see it, was the +glow of a fire. 'I will go and fetch a burning coal from there and +light my fire,' thought she, and opened the door of the castle. When she +reached the place where the fire was kindled, a hideous man-eater was +crouching over it. + +'Peace be with you, grandfather,' said she. + +'The same to you,' replied the man-eater. 'What brings you here, Udea?' + +'I came to ask for a lump of burning coal, to light my fire with.' + +'Do you want a big lump or a little lump?' + +'Why, what difference does it make?' said she. + +'If you have a big lump you must give me a strip of your skin from your +ear to your thumb, and if you have a little lump, you must give me a +strip from your ear to your little finger.' + +Udea, who thought that one sounded as bad as the other, said she would +take the big lump, and when the man-eater had cut the skin, she went +home again. And as she hastened on a raven beheld the blood on the +ground, and plastered it with earth, and stayed by her till she reached +the castle. And as she entered the door he flew past, and she shrieked +from fright, for up to that moment she had not seen him. In her terror +she called after him. 'May you get the same start as you have given me!' + +'Why should you wish me harm,' asked the raven pausing in his flight, +'when I have done you a service?' + +'What service have you done me?' said she. + +'Oh, you shall soon see,' replied the raven, and with his bill he +scraped away all the earth he had smeared over the blood and then flew +away. + +In the night the man-eater got up, and followed the blood till he came +to Udea's castle. He entered through the gate which she had left open, +and went on till he reached the inside of the house. But here he was +stopped by the seven doors, six of wood and one of iron, and all fast +locked. And he called through them 'Oh Udea, what did you see your +grandfather doing?' + +'I saw him spread silk under him, and silk over him, and lay himself +down in a four-post bed.' + +When he heard that, the man-eater broke in one door, and laughed and +went away. + +And the second night he came back, and asked her again what she had seen +her grandfather doing, and she answered him as before, and he broke +in another door, and laughed and went away, and so each night till +he reached the seventh door. Then the maiden wrote a letter to her +brothers, and bound it round the neck of a pigeon, and said to it, 'Oh, +thou pigeon that served my father and my grandfather, carry this letter +to my brothers, and come back at once.' And the pigeon flew away. + +It flew and it flew and it flew till it found the brothers. The eldest +unfastened the letter from the pigeon's neck, and read what his sister +had written: 'I am in a great strait, my brothers. If you do not rescue +me to-night, to-morrow I shall be no longer living, for the man-eater +has broken open six doors, and only the iron door is left. So haste, +haste, post haste.' + +'Quick, quick! my brothers,' cried he. + +'What is the matter?' asked they. + +'If we cannot reach our sister to-night, to-morrow she will be the prey +of the man-eater.' + +And without more words they sprang on their horses, and rode like the +wind. + +The gate of the castle was thrown down, and they entered the court and +called loudly to their sister. But the poor girl was so ill with fear +and anxiety that she could not even speak. Then the brothers dismounted +and passed through the six open doors, till they stood before the iron +one, which was still shut. 'Udea, open!' they cried, 'it is only your +brothers!' And she arose and unlocked the door, and throwing herself on +the neck of the eldest burst into tears. + +'Tell us what has happened,' he said, 'and how the man-eater traced you +here.' 'It is all the cat's fault,' replied Udea. 'She put out my fire +so that I could not cook. All about a bean! I ate one and forgot to give +her any of it.' + +'But we told you so particularly,' said the eldest brother, 'never to +eat anything without sharing it with the cat.' + +'Yes, but I tell you I forgot,' answered Udea. + +'Does the man-eater come here every night?' asked the brothers. + +'Every night,' said Udea, 'and he breaks one door in and then goes +away.' + +Then all the brothers cried together, 'We will dig a great hole, and +fill it with burning wood, and spread a covering over the top; and when +the man-eater arrives we will push him into it.' So they all set to +work and prepared the great hole, and set fire to the wood, till it was +reduced to a mass of glowing charcoal. And when the man-eater came, and +called as usual, 'Udea, what did you see your grandfather doing?' she +answered, 'I saw him pull off the ass' skin and devour the ass, and he +fell in the fire, and the fire burned him up.' + +Then the man-eater was filled with rage, and he flung himself upon +the iron door and burst it in. On the other side stood Udea's seven +brothers, who said, 'Come, rest yourself a little on this mat.' And the +man-eater sat down, and he fell right into the burning pit which was +under the mat, and they heaped on more wood, till nothing was left of +him, not even a bone. Only one of his finger-nails was blown away, and +fell into an upper chamber where Udea was standing, and stuck under one +of the nails of her own fingers. And she sank lifeless to the earth. + +Meanwhile her brothers sat below waiting for her and wondering why she +did not come. 'What can have happened to her!' exclaimed the eldest +brother. 'Perhaps she has fallen into the fire, too.' So one of the +others ran upstairs and found his sister stretched on the floor. 'Udea! +Udea!' he cried, but she did not move or reply. Then he saw that she was +dead, and rushed down to his brothers in the courtyard and called out, +'Come quickly, our sister is dead!' In a moment they were all beside her +and knew that it was true, and they made a bier and laid her on it, +and placed her across a camel, and said to the camel, 'Take her to her +mother, but be careful not to halt by the way, and let no man capture +you, and see you kneel down before no man, save him who shall say +"string" [Footnote: 'Riemen.'] to you. But to him who says "string," +then kneel.' + +So the camel started, and when it had accomplished half its journey it +met three men, who ran after it in order to catch it; but they could +not. Then they cried 'Stop!' but the camel only went the faster. The +three men panted behind till one said to the others, 'Wait a minute! The +string of my sandal is broken!' The camel caught the word 'string' and +knelt down at once, and the men came up and found a dead girl lying on +a bier, with a ring on her finger. And as one of the young men took +hold of her hand to pull off the ring, he knocked out the man-eater's +finger-nail, which had stuck there, and the maiden sat up and said, 'Let +him live who gave me life, and slay him who slew me!' And when the camel +heard the maiden speak, it turned and carried her back to her brothers. + +Now the brothers were still seated in the court bewailing their sister, +and their eyes were dim with weeping so that they could hardly see. And +when the camel stood before them they said, 'Perhaps it has brought back +our sister!' and rose to give it a beating. But the camel knelt down and +the girl dismounted, and they flung themselves on her neck and wept more +than ever for gladness. + +'Tell me,' said the eldest, as soon as he could speak, 'how it all came +about, and what killed you.' + +'I was waiting in the upper chamber,' said she, 'and a nail of the +man-eater's stuck under my nail, and I fell dead upon the ground. That +is all I know.' + +'But who pulled out the nail?' asked he. + +'A man took hold of my hand and tried to pull off my ring, and the nail +jumped out and I was alive again. And when the camel heard me say "Let +him live who gave me life, slay him who slew me!" it turned and brought +me back to the castle. That is my story.' + +She was silent and the eldest brother spoke. 'Will you listen to what I +have to say, my brothers?' + +And they replied, 'How should we not hear you? Are you not our father as +well as our brother?' + +'Then this is my advice. Let us take our sister back to our father and +mother, that we may see them once more before they die.' + +And the young men agreed, and they mounted their horses and placed their +sister in a litter on the camel. So they set out. + +At the end of five days' journey they reached the old home where their +father and mother dwelt alone. And the heart of their father rejoiced, +and he said to them, 'Dear sons, why did you go away and leave your +mother and me to weep for you night and day?' + +'Dear father,' answered the son, 'let us rest a little now, and then I +will tell you everything from the beginning.' + +'All right,' replied the father, and waited patiently for three days. + +And on the morning of the fourth day the eldest brother said, 'Dear +father, would you like to hear our adventures?' + +'Certainly I should!' + +'Well, it was our aunt who was the cause of our leaving home, for +we agreed that if the baby was a sister she should wave a white +handkerchief, and if it was a brother, she should brandish a sickle, for +then there would be nothing to come back for, and we might wander far +away. Now our aunt could not bear us, and hated us to live in the same +house with her, so she brandished the sickle, and we went away. That is +all our story.' + +And that is all this story. + +[Maerchen und Gedichte aus der Stadt Tripolis. Von Hans Stumme.] + + + + +The White Wolf + + +Once upon a time there was a king who had three daughters; they were +all beautiful, but the youngest was the fairest of the three. Now +it happened that one day their father had to set out for a tour in a +distant part of his kingdom. Before he left, his youngest daughter made +him promise to bring her back a wreath of wild flowers. When the king +was ready to return to his palace, he bethought himself that he would +like to take home presents to each of his three daughters; so he went +into a jeweller's shop and bought a beautiful necklace for the +eldest princess; then he went to a rich merchant's and bought a dress +embroidered in gold and silver thread for the second princess, but in +none of the flower shops nor in the market could he find the wreath of +wild flowers that his youngest daughter had set her heart on. So he +had to set out on his homeward way without it. Now his journey led him +through a thick forest. While he was still about four miles distant +from his palace, he noticed a white wolf squatting on the roadside, and, +behold! on the head of the wolf, there was a wreath of wild flowers. + +Then the king called to the coachman, and ordered him to get down from +his seat and fetch him the wreath from the wolf's head. But the wolf +heard the order and said: 'My lord and king, I will let you have the +wreath, but I must have something in return.' + +'What do you want?' answered the king. 'I will gladly give you rich +treasure in exchange for it.' + +'I do not want rich treasure,' replied the wolf. 'Only promise to give +me the first thing that meets you on your way to your castle. In three +days I shall come and fetch it.' + +And the king thought to himself: 'I am still a good long way from home, +I am sure to meet a wild animal or a bird on the road, it will be quite +safe to promise.' So he consented, and carried the wreath away with him. +But all along the road he met no living creature till he turned into +the palace gates, where his youngest daughter was waiting to welcome him +home. + +That evening the king was very sad, remembering his promise; and when +he told the queen what had happened, she too shed bitter tears. And the +youngest princess asked them why they both looked so sad, and why they +wept. Then her father told her what a price he would have to pay for the +wreath of wild flowers he had brought home to her, for in three days a +white wolf would come and claim her and carry her away, and they would +never see her again. But the queen thought and thought, and at last she +hit upon a plan. + +There was in the palace a servant maid the same age and the same height +as the princess, and the queen dressed her up in a beautiful dress +belonging to her daughter, and determined to give her to the white wolf, +who would never know the difference. + +On the third day the wolf strode into the palace yard and up the great +stairs, to the room where the king and queen were seated. + +'I have come to claim your promise,' he said. 'Give me your youngest +daughter.' + +Then they led the servant maid up to him, and he said to her: 'You must +mount on my back, and I will take you to my castle.' And with these +words he swung her on to his back and left the palace. + +When they reached the place where he had met the king and given him the +wreath of wild flowers, he stopped, and told her to dismount that they +might rest a little. + +So they sat down by the roadside. + +'I wonder,' said the wolf, 'what your father would do if this forest +belonged to him?' + +And the girl answered: 'My father is a poor man, so he would cut down +the trees, and saw them into planks, and he would sell the planks, and +we should never be poor again; but would always have enough to eat.' + +Then the wolf knew that he had not got the real princess, and he swung +the servant-maid on to his back and carried her to the castle. And he +strode angrily into the king's chamber, and spoke. + +'Give me the real princess at once. If you deceive me again I will cause +such a storm to burst over your palace that the walls will fall in, and +you will all be buried in the ruins.' + +Then the king and the queen wept, but they saw there was no escape. +So they sent for their youngest daughter, and the king said to her: +'Dearest child, you must go with the white wolf, for I promised you to +him, and I must keep my word.' + +So the princess got ready to leave her home; but first she went to her +room to fetch her wreath of wild flowers, which she took with her. Then +the white wolf swung her on his back and bore her away. But when they +came to the place where he had rested with the servant-maid, he told her +to dismount that they might rest for a little at the roadside. Then +he turned to her and said: 'I wonder what your father would do if this +forest belonged to him?' + +And the princess answered: 'My father would cut down the trees and turn +it into a beautiful park and gardens, and he and his courtiers would +come and wander among the glades in the summer time.' + +'This is the real princess,' said the wolf to himself. But aloud he +said: 'Mount once more on my back, and I will bear you to my castle.' + +And when she was seated on his back he set out through the woods, and +he ran, and ran, and ran, till at last he stopped in front of a stately +courtyard, with massive gates. + +'This is a beautiful castle,' said the princess, as the gates swung back +and she stepped inside. 'If only I were not so far away from my father +and my mother!' + +But the wolf answered: 'At the end of a year we will pay a visit to your +father and mother.' + +And at these words the white furry skin slipped from his back, and the +princess saw that he was not a wolf at all, but a beautiful youth, tall +and stately; and he gave her his hand, and led her up the castle stairs. + +One day, at the end of half a year, he came into her room and said: 'My +dear one, you must get ready for a wedding. Your eldest sister is going +to be married, and I will take you to your father's palace. When the +wedding is over, I shall come and fetch you home. I will whistle outside +the gate, and when you hear me, pay no heed to what your father or +mother say, leave your dancing and feasting, and come to me at once; for +if I have to leave without you, you will never find your way back alone +through the forests.' + +When the princess was ready to start, she found that he had put on his +white fur skin, and was changed back into the wolf; and he swung her on +to his back, and set out with her to her father's palace, where he left +her, while he himself returned home alone. But, in the evening, he went +back to fetch her, and, standing outside the palace gate, he gave a +long, loud whistle. In the midst of her dancing the princess heard the +sound, and at once she went to him, and he swung her on his back and +bore her away to his castle. + +Again, at the end of half a year, the prince came into her room, as the +white wolf, and said: 'Dear heart, you must prepare for the wedding of +your second sister. I will take you to your father's palace to-day, and +we will remain there together till to-morrow morning.' + +So they went together to the wedding. In the evening, when the two were +alone together, he dropped his fur skin, and, ceasing to be a wolf, +became a prince again. Now they did not know that the princess's mother +was hidden in the room. When she saw the white skin lying on the floor, +she crept out of the room, and sent a servant to fetch the skin and +to burn it in the kitchen fire. The moment the flames touched the skin +there was a fearful clap of thunder heard, and the prince disappeared +out of the palace gate in a whirlwind, and returned to his palace alone. + +But the princess was heart-broken, and spent the night weeping bitterly. +Next morning she set out to find her way back to the castle, but she +wandered through the woods and forests, and she could find no path or +track to guide her. For fourteen days she roamed in the forest, sleeping +under the trees, and living upon wild berries and roots, and at last she +reached a little house. She opened the door and went in, and found the +wind seated in the room all by himself, and she spoke to the wind and +said: 'Wind, have you seen the white wolf?' + +And the wind answered: 'All day and all night I have been blowing round +the world, and I have only just come home; but I have not seen him.' + +But he gave her a pair of shoes, in which, he told her, she would be +able to walk a hundred miles with every step. Then she walked through +the air till she reached a star, and she said: 'Tell me, star, have you +seen the white wolf?' + +And the star answered: 'I have been shining all night, and I have not +seen him.' + +But the star gave her a pair of shoes, and told her that if she put them +on she would be able to walk two hundred miles at a stride. So she drew +them on, and she walked to the moon, and she said: 'Dear moon, have you +not seen the white wolf?' + +But the moon answered, 'All night long I have been sailing through the +heavens, and I have only just come home; but I did not see him.' + +But he gave her a pair of shoes, in which she would be able to cover +four hundred miles with every stride. So she went to the sun, and said: +'Dear sun, have you seen the white wolf?' + +And the sun answered, 'Yes, I have seen him, and he has chosen another +bride, for he thought you had left him, and would never return, and he +is preparing for the wedding. But I will help you. Here are a pair of +shoes. If you put these on you will be able to walk on glass or ice, and +to climb the steepest places. And here is a spinning-wheel, with which +you will be able to spin moss into silk. When you leave me you will +reach a glass mountain. Put on the shoes that I have given you and with +them you will be able to climb it quite easily. At the summit you will +find the palace of the white wolf.' + +Then the princess set out, and before long she reached the glass +mountain, and at the summit she found the white wolf's palace, as the +sun had said. + +But no one recognised her, as she had disguised herself as an old woman, +and had wound a shawl round her head. Great preparations were going on +in the palace for the wedding, which was to take place next day. +Then the princess, still disguised as an old woman, took out her +spinning-wheel, and began to spin moss into silk. And as she spun the +new bride passed by, and seeing the moss turn into silk, she said to +the old woman: 'Little mother, I wish you would give me that +spinning-wheel.' + +And the princess answered, 'I will give it to you if you will allow me +to sleep to-night on the mat outside the prince's door.' + +And the bride replied, 'Yes, you may sleep on the mat outside the door.' + +So the princess gave her the spinning-wheel. And that night, winding the +shawl all round her, so that no one could recognise her, she lay down on +the mat outside the white wolf's door. And when everyone in the palace +was asleep she began to tell the whole of her story. She told how she +had been one of three sisters, and that she had been the youngest and +the fairest of the three, and that her father had betrothed her to a +white wolf. And she told how she had gone first to the wedding of one +sister, and then with her husband to the wedding of the other sister, +and how her mother had ordered the servant to throw the white fur skin +into the kitchen fire. And then she told of her wanderings through the +forest; and of how she had sought the white wolf weeping; and how the +wind and star and moon and sun had befriended her, and had helped her to +reach his palace. And when the white wolf heard all the story, he knew +that it was his first wife, who had sought him, and had found him, after +such great dangers and difficulties. + +But he said nothing, for he waited till the next day, when many +guests--kings and princes from far countries--were coming to his +wedding. Then, when all the guests were assembled in the banqueting +hall, he spoke to them and said: 'Hearken to me, ye kings and princes, +for I have something to tell you. I had lost the key of my treasure +casket, so I ordered a new one to be made; but I have since found the +old one. Now, which of these keys is the better?' + +Then all the kings and royal guests answered: 'Certainly the old key is +better than the new one.' + +'Then,' said the wolf, 'if that is so, my former bride is better than my +new one.' + +And he sent for the new bride, and he gave her in marriage to one of +the princes who was present, and then he turned to his guests, and said: +'And here is my former bride'--and the beautiful princess was led +into the room and seated beside him on his throne. 'I thought she had +forgotten me, and that she would never return. But she has sought +me everywhere, and now we are together once more we shall never part +again.' + + + + +Mohammed with the Magic Finger + + +Once upon a time, there lived a woman who had a son and a daughter. One +morning she said to them: 'I have heard of a town where there is no such +thing as death: let us go and dwell there.' So she broke up her house, +and went away with her son and daughter. + +When she reached the city, the first thing she did was to look about and +see if there was any churchyard, and when she found none, she exclaimed, +'This is a delightful spot. We will stay here for ever.' + +By-and-by, her son grew to be a man, and he took for a wife a girl who +had been born in the town. But after a little while he grew restless, +and went away on his travels, leaving his mother, his wife, and his +sister behind him. + +He had not been gone many weeks when one evening his mother said, 'I am +not well, my head aches dreadfully.' + +'What did you say?' inquired her daughter-in-law. + +'My head feels ready to split,' replied the old woman. + +The daughter-in-law asked no more questions, but left the house, and +went in haste to some butchers in the next street. + +'I have got a woman to sell; what will you give me for her?' said she. + +The butchers answered that they must see the woman first, and they all +returned together. + +Then the butchers took the woman and told her they must kill her. + +'But why?' she asked. + +'Because,' they said, 'it is always our custom that when persons are ill +and complain of their head they should be killed at once. It is a much +better way than leaving them to die a natural death.' + +'Very well,' replied the woman. 'But leave, I pray you, my lungs and my +liver untouched, till my son comes back. Then give both to him.' + +But the men took them out at once, and gave them to the daughter-in-law, +saying: 'Put away these things till your husband returns.' And the +daughter-in-law took them, and hid them in a secret place. + +When the old woman's daughter, who had been in the woods, heard that her +mother had been killed while she was out, she was filled with fright, +and ran away as fast as she could. At last she reached a lonely spot far +from the town, where she thought she was safe, and sat down on a stone, +and wept bitterly. As she was sitting, sobbing, a man passed by. + +'What is the matter, little girl? Answer me! I will be your friend.' + +'Ah, sir, they have killed my mother; my brother is far away, and I have +nobody.' + +'Will you come with me?' asked the man. + +'Thankfully,' said she, and he led her down, down, under the earth, till +they reached a great city. Then he married her, and in course of time +she had a son. And the baby was known throughout the city as 'Mohammed +with the magic finger,' because, whenever he stuck out his little +finger, he was able to see anything that was happening for as far as two +days' distance. + +By-and-by, as the boy was growing bigger, his uncle returned from his +long journey, and went straight to his wife. + +'Where are my mother and sister?' he asked; but his wife answered: 'Have +something to eat first, and then I will tell you.' + +But he replied: 'How can I eat till I know what has become of them?' + +Then she fetched, from the upper chamber, a box full of money, which +she laid before him, saying, 'That is the price of your mother. She sold +well.' + +'What do you mean?' he gasped. + +'Oh, your mother complained one day that her head was aching, so I got +in two butchers and they agreed to take her. However, I have got her +lungs and liver hidden, till you came back, in a safe place.' + +'And my sister?' + +'Well, while the people were chopping up your mother she ran away, and I +heard no more of her.' + +'Give me my mother's liver and lungs,' said the young man. And she gave +them to him. Then he put them in his pocket, and went away, saying: 'I +can stay no longer in this horrible town. I go to seek my sister.' + +Now, one day, the little boy stretched out his finger and said to his +mother, 'My uncle is coming!' + +'Where is he?' she asked. + +'He is still two days' journey off: looking for us; but he will soon be +here.' And in two days, as the boy had foretold, the uncle had found the +hole in the earth, and arrived at the gate of the city. All his money +was spent, and not knowing where his sister lived, he began to beg of +all the people he saw. + +'Here comes my uncle,' called out the little boy. 'Where?' asked his +mother. 'Here at the house door;' and the woman ran out and embraced +him, and wept over him. When they could both speak, he said: 'My sister, +were you by when they killed my mother?' + +'I was absent when they slew her,' replied she, 'and as I could do +nothing, I ran away. But you, my brother, how did you get here?' + +'By chance,' he said, 'after I had wandered far; but I did not know +I should find you!' 'My little boy told me you were coming,' she +explained, 'when you were yet two days distant; he alone of all men has +that great gift.' + +But she did not tell him that her husband could change himself into a +serpent, a dog, or a monster, whenever he pleased. He was a very rich +man, and possessed large herds of camels, goats, sheep, cattle, horses +and asses; all the best of their kind. And the next morning, the sister +said: 'Dear brother, go and watch our sheep, and when you are thirsty, +drink their milk!' + +'Very well,' answered he, and he went. + +Soon after, she said again, 'Dear brother, go and watch our goats.' + +'But why? I like tending sheep better!' + +'Oh, it is much nicer to be a goatherd,' she said; so he took the goats +out. + +When he was gone, she said to her husband, 'You must kill my brother, +for I cannot have him living here with me.' + +'But, my dear, why should I? He has done me no harm.' + +'I wish you to kill him,' she answered, 'or if not I will leave.' + +'Oh, all right, then,' said he; 'to-morrow I will change myself into a +serpent, and hide myself in the date barrel; and when he comes to fetch +dates I will sting him in the hand.' + +'That will do very well,' said she. + +When the sun was up next day, she called to her brother, 'Go and mind +the goats.' + +'Yes, of course,' he replied; but the little boy called out: 'Uncle, I +want to come with you.' + +'Delighted,' said the uncle, and they started together. + +After they had got out of sight of the house the boy said to him, 'Dear +uncle, my father is going to kill you. He has changed himself into a +serpent, and has hidden himself in the date barrel. My mother has told +him to do it.' + +'And what am I to do?' asked the uncle. + +'I will tell you. When we bring the goats back to the house, and my +mother says to you, "I am sure you must be hungry: get a few dates out +of the cask," just say to me, "I am not feeling very well, Mohammed, you +go and get them for me."' + +So, when they reached the house the sister came out to meet them, +saying, 'Dear brother, you must certainly be hungry: go and get a few +dates.' + +But he answered, 'I am not feeling very well. Mohammed, you go and get +them for me.' + +'Of course I will,' replied the little boy, and ran at once to the cask. + +'No, no,' his mother called after him; 'come here directly! Let your +uncle fetch them himself!' + +But the boy would not listen, and crying out to her 'I would rather get +them,' thrust his hand into the date cask. + +Instead of the fruit, it struck against something cold and slimy, and he +whispered softly, 'Keep still; it is I, your son!' + +Then he picked up his dates and went away to his uncle. + +'Here they are, dear uncle; eat as many as you want.' + +And his uncle ate them. + +When he saw that the uncle did not mean to come near the cask, the +serpent crawled out and regained his proper shape. + +'I am thankful I did not kill him,' he said to his wife; 'for, after +all, he is my brother-in-law, and it would have been a great sin!' + +'Either you kill him or I leave you,' said she. + +'Well, well!' sighed the man, 'to-morrow I will do it.' + +The woman let that night go by without doing anything further, but at +daybreak she said to her brother, 'Get up, brother; it is time to take +the goats to pasture!' + +'All right,' cried he. + +'I will come with you, uncle,' called out the little boy. + +'Yes, come along,' replied he. + +But the mother ran up, saying, 'The child must not go out in this cold +or he will be ill;' to which he only answered, 'Nonsense! I am going, so +it is no use your talking! I am going! I am! I am!' + +'Then go!' she said. + +And so they started, driving the goats in front of them. + +When they reached the pasture the boy said to his uncle: 'Dear uncle, +this night my father means to kill you. While we are away he will creep +into your room and hide in the straw. Directly we get home my mother +will say to you, "Take that straw and give it to the sheep," and, if you +do, he will bite you.' + +'Then what am I to do?' asked the man. + +'Oh, do not be afraid, dear uncle! I will kill my father myself.' + +'All right,' replied the uncle. + +As they drove back the goats towards the house, the sister cried: 'Be +quick, dear brother, go and get me some straw for the sheep.' + +'Let me go,' said the boy. + +'You are not big enough; your uncle will get it,' replied she. + +'We will both get it,' answered the boy; 'come, uncle, let us go and +fetch that straw!' + +'All right,' replied the uncle, and they went to the door of the room. + +'It seems very dark,' said the boy; 'I must go and get a light;' and +when he came back with one, he set fire to the straw, and the serpent +was burnt. + +Then the mother broke into sobs and tears. 'Oh, you wretched boy! What +have you done? Your father was in that straw, and you have killed him!' + +'Now, how was I to know that my father was lying in that straw, instead +of in the kitchen?' said the boy. + +But his mother only wept the more, and sobbed out, 'From this day you +have no father. You must do without him as best you can!' + +'Why did you marry a serpent?' asked the boy. 'I thought he was a man! +How did he learn those odd tricks?' + +As the sun rose, she woke her brother, and said, 'Go and take the goats +to pasture!' + +'I will come too,' said the little boy. + +'Go then!' said his mother, and they went together. + +On the way the boy began: 'Dear uncle, this night my mother means to +kill both of us, by poisoning us with the bones of the serpent, which +she will grind to powder and sprinkle in our food.' + +'And what are we to do?' asked the uncle. + +'I will kill her, dear uncle. I do not want either a father or a mother +like that!' + +When they came home in the evening they saw the woman preparing supper, +and secretly scattering the powdered bones of the serpent on one side +of the dish. On the other, where she meant to eat herself, there was no +poison. + +And the boy whispered to his uncle, 'Dear uncle, be sure you eat from +the same side of the dish as I do!' + +'All right,' said the uncle. + +So they all three sat down to the table, but before they helped +themselves the boy said, 'I am thirsty, mother; will you get me some +milk?' + +'Very well,' said she, 'but you had better begin your supper.' + +And when she came back with the milk they were both eating busily. + +'Sit down and have something too,' said the boy, and she sat down and +helped herself from the dish, but at the very first moment she sank dead +upon the ground. + +'She has got what she meant for us,' observed the boy; 'and now we will +sell all the sheep and cattle.' + +So the sheep and cattle were sold, and the uncle and nephew took the +money and went to see the world. + +For ten days they travelled through the desert, and then they came to a +place where the road parted in two. + +'Uncle!' said the boy. + +'Well, what is it?' replied he. + +'You see these two roads? You must take one, and I the other; for the +time has come when we must part.' + +But the uncle cried, 'No, no, my boy, we will keep together always.' + +'Alas! that cannot be,' said the boy; 'so tell me which way you will +go.' + +'I will go to the west,' said the uncle. + +'One word before I leave you,' continued the boy. 'Beware of any man who +has red hair and blue eyes. Take no service under him.' + +'All right,' replied the uncle, and they parted. + +For three days the man wandered on without any food, till he was very +hungry. Then, when he was almost fainting, a stranger met him and said, +'Will you work for me?' + +'By contract?' asked the man. + +'Yes, by contract,' replied the stranger, 'and whichever of us breaks +it, shall have a strip of skin taken from his body.' + +'All right,' replied the man; 'what shall I have to do?' + +'Every day you must take the sheep out to pasture, and carry my old +mother on your shoulders, taking great care her feet shall never touch +the ground. And, besides that, you must catch, every evening, seven +singing birds for my seven sons.' + +'That is easily done,' said the man. + +Then they went back together, and the stranger said, 'Here are your +sheep; and now stoop down, and let my mother climb on your back.' + +'Very good,' answered Mohammed's uncle. + +The new shepherd did as he was told, and returned in the evening with +the old woman on his back, and the seven singing birds in his pocket, +which he gave to the seven boys, when they came to meet him. So the days +passed, each one exactly like the other. + +At last, one night, he began to weep, and cried: 'Oh, what have I done, +that I should have to perform such hateful tasks?' + +And his nephew Mohammed saw him from afar, and thought to himself, 'My +uncle is in trouble--I must go and help him;' and the next morning he +went to his master and said: 'Dear master, I must go to my uncle, and I +wish to send him here instead of myself, while I serve under his master. +And that you may know it is he and no other man, I will give him my +staff, and put my mantle on him.' + +'All right,' said the master. + +Mohammed set out on his journey, and in two days he arrived at the place +where his uncle was standing with the old woman on his back trying to +catch the birds as they flew past. And Mohammed touched him on the arm, +and spoke: 'Dear uncle, did I not warn you never to take service under +any blue-eyed red-haired man! + +'But what could I do?' asked the uncle. 'I was hungry, and he passed, +and we signed a contract.' + +'Give the contract to me!' said the young man. + +'Here it is,' replied the uncle, holding it out. + +'Now,' continued Mohammed, 'let the old woman get down from your back.' + +'Oh no, I mustn't do that!' cried he. + +But the nephew paid no attention, and went on talking: 'Do not worry +yourself about the future. I see my way out of it all. And, first, you +must take my stick and my mantle, and leave this place. After two days' +journey, straight before you, you will come to some tents which are +inhabited by shepherds. Go in there, and wait.' + +'All right!' answered the uncle. + +Then Mohammed with the Magic Finger picked up a stick and struck the old +woman with it, saying, 'Get down, and look after the sheep; I want to go +to sleep.' + +'Oh, certainly!' replied she. + +So Mohammed lay down comfortably under a tree and slept till evening. +Towards sunset he woke up and said to the old woman: 'Where are the +singing birds which you have got to catch?' + +'You never told me anything about that,' replied she. + +'Oh, didn't I?' he answered. 'Well, it is part of your business, and if +you don't do it, I shall just kill you.' + +'Of course I will catch them!' cried she in a hurry, and ran about the +bushes after the birds, till thorns pierced her foot, and she shrieked +from pain and exclaimed, 'Oh dear, how unlucky I am! and how abominably +this man is treating me!' However, at last she managed to catch the +seven birds, and brought them to Mohammed, saying, 'Here they are!' + +'Then now we will go back to the house,' said he. + +When they had gone some way he turned to her sharply: + +'Be quick and drive the sheep home, for I do not know where their fold +is.' And she drove them before her. By-and-by the young man spoke: + +'Look here, old hag; if you say anything to your son about my having +struck you, or about my not being the old shepherd, I'll kill you!' + +'Oh, no, of course I won't say anything!' + +When they got back, the son said to his mother: 'That is a good shepherd +I've got, isn't he?' + +'Oh, a splendid shepherd!' answered she. 'Why, look how fat the sheep +are, and how much milk they give!' + +'Yes, indeed!' replied the son, as he rose to get supper for his mother +and the shepherd. + +In the time of Mohammed's uncle, the shepherd had had nothing to eat but +the scraps left by the old woman; but the new shepherd was not going to +be content with that. + +'You will not touch the food till I have had as much as I want,' +whispered he. + +'Very good!' replied she. And when he had had enough, he said: + +'Now, eat!' But she wept, and cried: 'That was not written in your +contract. You were only to have what I left!' + +'If you say a word more, I will kill you!' said he. + +The next day he took the old woman on his back, and drove the sheep in +front of him till he was some distance from the house, when he let her +fall, and said: 'Quick! go and mind the sheep!' + +Then he took a ram, and killed it. He lit a fire and broiled some of its +flesh, and called to the old woman: + +'Come and eat with me!' and she came. But instead of letting her eat +quietly, he took a large lump of the meat and rammed it down her throat +with his crook, so that she died. And when he saw she was dead, he said: +'That is what you have got for tormenting my uncle!' and left her lying +where she was, while he went after the singing birds. It took him a long +time to catch them; but at length he had the whole seven hidden in the +pockets of his tunic, and then he threw the old woman's body into some +bushes, and drove the sheep before him, back to their fold. And when +they drew near the house the seven boys came to meet him, and he gave a +bird to each. + +'Why are you weeping?' asked the boys, as they took their birds. + +'Because your grandmother is dead!' And they ran and told their father. +Then the man came up and said to Mohammed: 'What was the matter? How did +she die?' + +And Mohammed answered: 'I was tending the sheep when she said to me, +"Kill me that ram; I am hungry!" So I killed it, and gave her the meat. +But she had no teeth, and it choked her.' + +'But why did you kill the ram, instead of one of the sheep?' asked the +man. + +'What was I to do?' said Mohammed. 'I had to obey orders!' + +'Well, I must see to her burial!' said the man; and the next morning +Mohammed drove out the sheep as usual, thinking to himself, 'Thank +goodness I've got rid of the old woman! Now for the boys!' + +All day long he looked after the sheep, and towards evening he began to +dig some little holes in the ground, out of which he took six scorpions. +These he put in his pockets, together with one bird which he caught. +After this he drove his flock home. + +When he approached the house the boys came out to meet him as before, +saying: 'Give me my bird!' and he put a scorpion into the hand of each, +and it stung him, and he died. But to the youngest only he gave a bird. + +As soon as he saw the boys lying dead on the ground, Mohammed lifted up +his voice and cried loudly: 'Help, help! the children are dead!' + +And the people came running fast, saying: 'What has happened? How have +they died?' + +And Mohammed answered: 'It was your own fault! The boys had been +accustomed to birds, and in this bitter cold their fingers grew stiff, +and could hold nothing, so that the birds flew away, and their spirits +flew with them. Only the youngest, who managed to keep tight hold of his +bird, is still alive.' + +And the father groaned, and said, 'I have borne enough! Bring no more +birds, lest I lose the youngest also!' + +'All right,' said Mohammed. + +As he was driving the sheep out to grass he said to his master: 'Out +there is a splendid pasture, and I will keep the sheep there for two or, +perhaps, three days, so do not be surprised at our absence.' + +'Very good!' said the man; and Mohammed started. For two days he drove +them on and on, till he reached his uncle, and said to him, 'Dear uncle, +take these sheep and look after them. I have killed the old woman and +the boys, and the flock I have brought to you!' + +Then Mohammed returned to his master; and on the way he took a stone and +beat his own head with it till it bled, and bound his hands tight, +and began to scream. The master came running and asked, 'What is the +matter?' + +And Mohammed answered: 'While the sheep were grazing, robbers came and +drove them away, and because I tried to prevent them, they struck me on +the head and bound my hands. See how bloody I am!' + +'What shall we do?' said the master; 'are the animals far off?' + +'So far that you are not likely ever to see them again,' replied +Mohammed. 'This is the fourth day since the robbers came down. How +should you be able to overtake them?' + +'Then go and herd the cows!' said the man. + +'All right!' replied Mohammed, and for two days he went. But on the +third day he drove the cows to his uncle, first cutting off their tails. +Only one cow he left behind him. + +'Take these cows, dear uncle,' said he. 'I am going to teach that man a +lesson.' + +'Well, I suppose you know your own business best,' said the uncle. 'And +certainly he almost worried me to death.' + +So Mohammed returned to his master, carrying the cows' tails tied up in +a bundle on his back. When he came to the sea-shore, he stuck all the +tails in the sand, and went and buried the one cow, whose tail he had +not cut off, up to her neck, leaving the tail projecting. After he had +got everything ready, he began to shriek and scream as before, till +his master and all the other servants came running to see what was the +matter. + +'What in the world has happened?' they cried + +'The sea has swallowed up the cows,' said Mohammed, 'and nothing remains +but their tails. But if you are quick and pull hard, perhaps you may get +them out again!' + +The master ordered each man instantly to take hold of a tail, but at +the first pull they nearly tumbled backwards, and the tails were left in +their hands. + +'Stop,' cried Mohammed, 'you are doing it all wrong. You have just +pulled off their tails, and the cows have sunk to the bottom of the +sea.' + +'See if you can do it any better,' said they; and Mohammed ran to the +cow which he had buried in the rough grass, and took hold of her tail +and dragged the animal out at once. + +'There! that is the way to do it!' said he, 'I told you you knew nothing +about it!' + +The men slunk away, much ashamed of themselves; but the master came up +to Mohammed. 'Get you gone!' he said, 'there is nothing more for you +to do! You have killed my mother, you have slain my children, you have +stolen my sheep, you have drowned my cows; I have now no work to give +you.' + +'First give me the strip of your skin which belongs to me of right, as +you have broken your contract!' + +'That a judge shall decide,' said the master; 'we will go before him.' + +'Yes, we will,' replied Mohammed. And they went before the judge. + +'What is your case?' asked the judge of the master. + +'My lord,' said the man, bowing low, 'my shepherd here has robbed me of +everything. He has killed my children and my old mother; he has stolen +my sheep, he has drowned my cows in the sea.' + +The shepherd answered: 'He must pay me what he owes me, and then I will +go.' + +'Yes, that is the law,' said the judge. + +'Very well,' returned the master, 'let him reckon up how long he has +been in my service.' + +'That won't do,' replied Mohammed, 'I want my strip of skin, as we +agreed in the contract.' + +Seeing there was no help for it, the master cut a bit of skin, and gave +it to Mohammed, who went off at once to his uncle. + +'Now we are rich, dear uncle,' cried he; 'we will sell our cows and +sheep and go to a new country. This one is no longer the place for us.' + +The sheep were soon sold, and the two comrades started on their travels. +That night they reached some Bedouin tents, where they had supper with +the Arabs. Before they lay down to sleep, Mohammed called the owner of +the tent aside. 'Your greyhound will eat my strip of leather,' he said +to the Arab. + +'No; do not fear.' + +'But supposing he does?' + +'Well, then, I will give him to you in exchange,' replied the Arab. + +Mohammed waited till everyone was fast asleep, then he rose softly, and +tearing the bit of skin in pieces, threw it down before the greyhound, +setting up wild shrieks as he did so. + +'Oh, master, said I not well that your dog would eat my thong?' + +'Be quiet, don't make such a noise, and you shall have the dog.' + +So Mohammed put a leash round his neck, and led him away. + +In the evening they arrived at the tents of some more Bedouin, and asked +for shelter. After supper Mohammed said to the owner of the tent, 'Your +ram will kill my greyhound.' + +'Oh, no, he won't.' + +'And supposing he does?' + +'Then you can take him in exchange.' + +So in the night Mohammed killed the greyhound, and laid his body across +the horns of the ram. Then he set up shrieks and yells, till he roused +the Arab, who said: 'Take the ram and go away.' + +Mohammed did not need to be told twice, and at sunset he reached another +Bedouin encampment. He was received kindly, as usual, and after supper +he said to his host: 'Your daughter will kill my ram.' + +'Be silent, she will do nothing of the sort; my daughter does not need +to steal meat, she has some every day.' + +'Very well, I will go to sleep; but if anything happens to my ram I will +call out.' + +'If my daughter touches anything belonging to my guest I will kill her,' +said the Arab, and went to his bed. + +When everybody was asleep, Mohammed got up, killed the ram, and took out +his liver, which he broiled on the fire. He placed a piece of it in the +girl's hands, and laid some more on her night-dress while she slept and +knew nothing about it. After this he began to cry out loudly. + +'What is the matter? be silent at once!' called the Arab. + +'How can I be silent, when my ram, which I loved like a child, has been +slain by your daughter?' + +'But my daughter is asleep,' said the Arab. + +'Well, go and see if she has not some of the flesh about her.' + +'If she has, you may take her in exchange for the ram;' and as they +found the flesh exactly as Mohammed had foretold, the Arab gave his +daughter a good beating, and then told her to get out of sight, for she +was now the property of this stranger. + +They wandered in the desert till, at nightfall, they came to a Bedouin +encampment, where they were hospitably bidden to enter. Before lying +down to sleep, Mohammed said to the owner of the tent: 'Your mare will +kill my wife.' + +'Certainly not.' + +'And if she does?' + +'Then you shall take the mare in exchange.' + +When everyone was asleep, Mohammed said softly to his wife: 'Maiden, I +have got such a clever plan! I am going to bring in the mare and put +it at your feet, and I will cut you, just a few little flesh wounds, so +that you may be covered with blood, and everybody will suppose you to be +dead. But remember that you must not make a sound, or we shall both be +lost.' + +This was done, and then Mohammed wept and wailed louder than ever. + +The Arab hastened to the spot and cried, 'Oh, cease making that terrible +noise! Take the mare and go; but carry off the dead girl with you. She +can lie quite easily across the mare's back.' + +Then Mohammed and his uncle picked up the girl, and, placing her on the +mare's back, led it away, being very careful to walk one on each side, +so that she might not slip down and hurt herself. After the Arab tents +could be seen no longer, the girl sat up on the saddle and looked about +her, and as they were all hungry they tied up the mare, and took out +some dates to eat. When they had finished, Mohammed said to his uncle: +'Dear uncle, the maiden shall be your wife; I give her to you. But the +money we got from the sheep and cows we will divide between us. You +shall have two-thirds and I will have one. For you will have a wife, but +I never mean to marry. And now, go in peace, for never more will you see +me. The bond of bread and salt is at an end between us.' + +So they wept, and fell on each other's necks, and asked forgiveness for +any wrongs in the past. Then they parted and went their ways. + +[Maerchen und Gedichte aus der Stadt Tripolis. Von Haus Stumme.] + + + + +Bobino + + +Once on a time there was a rich merchant, who had an only son called +Bobino. Now, as the boy was clever, and had a great desire for +knowledge, his father sent him to be under a master, from whom he +thought he would learn to speak all sorts of foreign languages. After +some years with this master, Bobino returned to his home. + +One evening, as he and his father were walking in the garden, the +sparrows in the trees above their heads began such a twittering, that +they found it impossible to hear each other speak. This annoyed the +merchant very much, so, to soothe him, Bobino said: 'Would you like me +to explain to you what the sparrows are saying to each other?' + +The merchant looked at his son in astonishment, and answered: 'What can +you mean? How can you explain what the sparrows say? Do you consider +yourself a soothsayer or a magician?' + +'I am neither a soothsayer nor a magician,' answered Bobino; 'but my +master taught me the language of all the animals.' + +'Alas! for my good money!' exclaimed the merchant. 'The master has +certainly mistaken my intention. Of course I meant you to learn the +languages that human beings talk, and not the language of animals.' + +'Have patience,' answered the son. 'My master thought it best to begin +with the language of animals, and later to learn the languages of human +beings.' + +On their way into the house the dog ran to meet them, barking furiously. + +'What can be the matter with the beast?' said the merchant. 'Why should +he bark at me like that, when he knows me quite well?' + +'Shall I explain to you what he is saying?' said Bobino. + +'Leave me in peace, and don't trouble me with your nonsense,' said the +merchant quite crossly. 'How my money has been wasted!' + +A little later, as they sat down to supper, some frogs in a neighbouring +pond set up such a croaking as had never been heard. The noise so +irritated the merchant that he quite lost his temper and exclaimed: +'This only was wanting to add the last drop to my discomfort and +disappointment.' + +'Shall I explain to you?' began Bobino. + +'Will you hold your tongue with your explanations?' shouted the +merchant. 'Go to bed, and don't let me see your face again!' + +So Bobino went to bed and slept soundly. But his father, who could not +get over his disappointment at the waste of his money, was so angry, +that he sent for two servants, and gave them orders, which they were to +carry out on the following day. + +Next morning one of the servants awakened Bobino early, and made him get +into a carriage that was waiting for him. The servant placed himself on +the seat beside him, while the other servant rode alongside the carriage +as an escort. Bobino could not understand what they were going to do +with him, or where he was being taken; but he noticed that the servant +beside him looked very sad, and his eyes were all swollen with crying. + +Curious to know the reason he said to him: 'Why are you so sad? and +where are you taking me?' + +But the servant would say nothing. At last, moved by Bobino's +entreaties, he said: 'My poor boy, I am taking you to your death, and, +what is worse, I am doing so by the order of your father.' + +'But why,' exclaimed Bobino, 'does he want me to die? What evil have I +done him, or what fault have I committed that he should wish to bring +about my death?' + +'You have done him no evil,' answered the servant 'neither have you +committed any fault; but he is half mad with anger because, in all these +years of study, you have learnt nothing but the language of animals. +He expected something quite different from you, that is why he is +determined you shall die.' + +'If that is the case, kill me at once,' said Bobino. 'What is the use of +waiting, if it must be done?' + +'I have not the heart to do it,' answered the servant. 'I would +rather think of some way of saving your life, and at the same time of +protecting ourselves from your father's anger. By good luck the dog has +followed us. We will kill it, and cut out the heart and take it back to +your father. He will believe it is yours, and you, in the meantime, will +have made your escape.' + +When they had reached the thickest part of the wood, Bobino got out of +the carriage, and having said good-bye to the servants set out on his +wanderings. + +On and on he walked, till at last, late in the evening, he came to a +house where some herdsmen lived. He knocked at the door and begged +for shelter for the night. The herdsmen, seeing how gentle a youth he +seemed, made him welcome, and bade him sit down and share their supper. + +While they were eating it, the dog in the courtyard began to bark. +Bobino walked to the window, listened attentively for a minute, and then +turning to the herdsmen said: 'Send your wives and daughters at once to +bed, and arm yourselves as best you can, because at midnight a band of +robbers will attack this house.' + +The herdsmen were quite taken aback, and thought that the youth must +have taken leave of his senses. + +'How can you know,' they said, 'that a band of robbers mean to attack +us? Who told you so?' + +'I know it from the dog's barking,' answered Bobino. 'I understand his +language, and if I had not been here, the poor beast would have wasted +his breath to no purpose. You had better follow my advice, if you wish +to save your lives and property.' + +The herdsmen were more and more astonished, but they decided to do as +Bobino advised. They sent their wives and daughters upstairs, then, +having armed themselves, they took up their position behind a hedge, +waiting for midnight. + +Just as the clock struck twelve they heard the sound of approaching +footsteps, and a band of robbers cautiously advanced towards the house. +But the herdsmen were on the look-out; they sprang on the robbers from +behind the hedge, and with blows from their cudgels soon put them to +flight. + +You may believe how grateful they were to Bobino, to whose timely +warning they owed their safety. They begged him to stay and make his +home with them; but as he wanted to see more of the world, he thanked +them warmly for their hospitality, and set out once more on his +wanderings. All day he walked, and in the evening he came to a peasant's +house. While he was wondering whether he should knock and demand shelter +for the night, he heard a great croaking of frogs in a ditch behind the +house. Stepping to the back he saw a very strange sight. Four frogs +were throwing a small bottle about from one to the other, making a great +croaking as they did so. Bobino listened for a few minutes, and then +knocked at the door of the house. It was opened by the peasant, who +asked him to come in and have some supper. + +When the meal was over, his host told him that they were in great +trouble, as his eldest daughter was so ill, that they feared she could +not recover. A great doctor, who had been passing that way some time +before, had promised to send her some medicine that would have cured +her, but the servant to whom he had entrusted the medicine had let it +drop on the way back, and now there seemed no hope for the girl. + +Then Bobino told the father of the small bottle he had seen the frogs +play with, and that he knew that was the medicine which the doctor had +sent to the girl. The peasant asked him how he could be sure of this, +and Bobino explained to him that he understood the language of animals, +and had heard what the frogs said as they tossed the bottle about. So +the peasant fetched the bottle from the ditch, and gave the medicine +to his daughter. In the morning she was much better, and the grateful +father did not know how to thank Bobino enough. But Bobino would accept +nothing from him, and having said good-bye, set out once more on his +wanderings. + +One day, soon after this, he came upon two men resting under a tree in +the heat of the day. Being tired he stretched himself on the ground at +no great distance from them, and soon they all three began to talk to +one another. In the course of conversation, Bobino asked the two men +where they were going; and they replied that they were on their way to a +neighbouring town, where, that day, a new ruler was to be chosen by the +people. + +While they were still talking, some sparrows settled on the tree under +which they were lying. Bobino was silent, and appeared to be listening +attentively. At the end of a few minutes he said to his companions, 'Do +you know what those sparrows are saying? They are saying that to-day one +of us will be chosen ruler of that town.' + +The men said nothing, but looked at each other. A few minutes later, +seeing that Bobino had fallen asleep, they stole away, and made with all +haste for the town, where the election of a new ruler was to take place. + +A great crowd was assembled in the market-place, waiting for the hour +when an eagle should be let loose from a cage, for it had been settled +that on whose-soever house the eagle alighted, the owner of that house +should become ruler of the town. At last the hour arrived; the eagle was +set free, and all eyes were strained to see where it would alight. But +circling over the heads of the crowd, it flew straight in the direction +of a young man, who was at that moment entering the town. This was none +other than Bobino, who had awakened soon after his companions had left +him, and had followed in their footsteps. All the people shouted and +proclaimed that he was their future ruler, and he was conducted by a +great crowd to the Governor's house, which was for the future to be his +home. And here he lived happily, and ruled wisely over the people. + + + + +The Dog and the Sparrow + + +There was once upon a time a sheep-dog whose master was so unkind that +he starved the poor beast, and ill-treated him in the cruellest manner. +At last the dog determined to stand this ill-usage no longer, and, one +day, he ran away from home. As he was trotting along the road he met a +sparrow, who stopped him and said: 'Brother, why do you look so sad?' + +The dog answered: 'I am sad because I am hungry, and have nothing to +eat.' + +'If that's all, dear brother,' said the sparrow, 'come to the town with +me, and I'll soon get food for you.' + +So they went together to the town, and when they came to a butcher's +shop, the sparrow said to the dog: 'You stand still and I'll peck down a +piece of meat for you.' + +First she looked all round to see that no one was watching her, and then +she set to work to peck at a piece of meat that lay on the edge of a +shelf, till at last it fell down. The dog seized it ravenously, and ran +with it to a dark corner where he gobbled it up in a very few minutes. + +When he had finished it, the sparrow said: 'Now come with me to another +shop, and I will get you a second piece, so that your hunger may be +satisfied.' When the dog had finished the second piece of meat, the +sparrow asked him: 'Brother, have you had enough now?' + +'Yes,' replied the dog, 'I've had quite enough meat, but I haven't had +any bread yet.' + +The sparrow said: 'You shall have as much bread as you like, only come +with me.' Then she led him to a baker's shop, and pecked so long at two +rolls on a shelf that at last they fell down, and the dog ate them up. + +But still his hunger was not appeased; so the sparrow took him to +another baker's shop, and got some more rolls for him. Then she asked +him: 'Well, brother, are you satisfied?' + +'Yes,' he replied; 'and now let us go for a little walk outside the +town.' + +So the two went for a stroll into the country; but the day was very hot, +and after they had gone a short distance the dog said: 'I am very tired, +and would like to go to sleep.' + +'Sleep, then,' said the sparrow, 'and I will keep watch meantime on the +branch of a tree.' + +So the dog lay down in the middle of the road, and was soon fast asleep. +While he was sleeping a carter passed by, driving a waggon drawn by +three horses, and laden with two barrels of wine. The sparrow noticed +that the man was not going out of his way to avoid the dog, but was +driving right in the middle of the road where the poor animal lay; so +she called out: 'Carter, take care what you are about, or I shall make +you suffer for it.' + +But the carter merely laughed at her words, and, cracking his whip, he +drove his waggon right over the dog, so that the heavy wheels killed +him. + +Then the sparrow called out: 'You have caused my brother's death, and +your cruelty will cost you your waggon and horses.' + +'Waggon and horses, indeed,' said the carter; 'I'd like to know how you +could rob me of them!' + +The sparrow said nothing, but crept under the cover of the waggon and +pecked so long at the bunghole of one of the barrels that at last +she got the cork away, and all the wine ran out without the carter's +noticing it. + +But at last he turned round and saw that the bottom of the cart was +wet, and when he examined it, he found that one of the barrels was quite +empty. 'Oh! what an unlucky fellow I am!' he exclaimed. + +'You'll have worse luck still,' said the sparrow, as she perched on the +head of one of the horses and pecked out its eyes. + +When the carter saw what had happened, he seized an axe and tried to hit +the sparrow with it, but the little bird flew up into the air, and the +carter only hit the blind horse on the head, so that it fell down dead. +'Oh! what an unlucky fellow I am!' he exclaimed again. + +'You'll have worse luck yet,' said the sparrow; and when the carter +drove on with his two horses she crept under the covering again, and +pecked away at the cork of the second barrel till she got it away, and +all the wine poured out on to the road. + +When the carter perceived this fresh disaster he called out once more: +'Oh! what an unlucky fellow I am!' + +But the sparrow answered: 'Your bad luck is not over yet,' and flying on +to the head of the second horse she pecked out its eyes. + +The carter jumped out of the waggon and seized his axe, with which he +meant to kill the sparrow; but the little bird flew high into the air, +and the blow fell on the poor blind horse instead, and killed it on the +spot. Then the carter exclaimed: 'Oh! what an unlucky fellow I am!' + +'You've not got to the end of your bad luck yet,' sang the sparrow; and, +perching on the head of the third horse, she pecked out its eyes. + +The carter, blind with rage, let his axe fly at the bird; but once more +she escaped the blow, which fell on the only remaining horse, and killed +it. And again the carter called out: 'Oh! what an unlucky fellow I am!' + +'You'll have worse luck yet,' said the sparrow, 'for now I mean to make +your home desolate.' + +The carter had to leave his waggon on the road, and he went home in a +towering passion. As soon as he saw his wife, he called out: 'Oh! what +bad luck I have had! all my wine is spilt, and my horses are all three +dead.' + +'My dear husband,' replied his wife, 'your bad luck pursues you, for a +wicked little sparrow has assembled all the other birds in the world, +and they are in our barn eating everything up.' + +The carter went out to the barn where he kept his corn and found it was +just as his wife had said. Thousands and thousands of birds were eating +up the grain, and in the middle of them sat the little sparrow. When he +saw his old enemy, the carter cried out: 'Oh! what an unlucky fellow I +am!' + +'Not unlucky enough yet,' answered the sparrow; 'for, mark my words, +carter, your cruel conduct will cost you your life;' and with these +words she flew into the air. + +The carter was much depressed by the loss of all his worldly goods, and +sat down at the fire plotting vengeance on the sparrow, while the little +bird sat on the window ledge and sang in mocking tones: 'Yes, carter, +your cruel conduct will cost you your life.' + +Then the carter seized his axe and threw it at the sparrow, but he +only broke the window panes, and did not do the bird a bit of harm. She +hopped in through the broken window and, perching on the mantelpiece, +she called out; 'Yes, carter, it will cost you your life.' + +The carter, quite beside himself with rage, flew at the sparrow again +with his axe, but the little creature always eluded his blows, and he +only succeeded in destroying all his furniture. At last, however, he +managed to catch the bird in his hands. Then his wife called out: 'Shall +I wring her neck?' + +'Certainly not,' replied her husband, 'that would be far too easy a +death for her; she must die in a far crueller fashion than that. I will +eat her alive;' and he suited the action to his words. But the sparrow +fluttered and struggled inside him till she got up into the man's mouth, +and then she popped out her head and said: 'Yes, carter, it will cost +you your life.' + +The carter handed his wife the axe, and said: 'Wife, kill the bird in my +mouth dead.' + +The woman struck with all her might, but she missed the bird and hit the +carter right on the top of his head, so that he fell down dead. But the +sparrow escaped out of his mouth and flew away into the air. + +[From the German, Kletke.] + + + + +The Story of the Three Sons of Hali + + +Till his eighteenth birthday the young Neangir lived happily in a +village about forty miles from Constantinople, believing that Mohammed +and Zinebi his wife, who had brought him up, were his real parents. + +Neangir was quite content with his lot, though he was neither rich nor +great, and unlike most young men of his age had no desire to leave +his home. He was therefore completely taken by surprise when one day +Mohammed told him with many sighs that the time had now come for him to +go to Constantinople, and fix on a profession for himself. The choice +would be left to him, but he would probably prefer either to be a +soldier or one of the doctors learned in the law, who explain the Koran +to the ignorant people. 'You know the holy book nearly by heart,' ended +the old man, 'so that in a very short time you would be fitted to teach +others. But write to us and tell us how you pass your life, and we, on +our side, will promise never to forget you.' + +So saying, Mohammed gave Neangir four piastres to start him in the great +city, and obtained leave for him to join a caravan which was about to +set off for Constantinople. + +The journey took some days, as caravans go very slowly, but at last +the walls and towers of the capital appeared in the distance. When the +caravan halted the travellers went their different ways, and Neangir was +left, feeling very strange and rather lonely. He had plenty of courage +and made friends very easily; still, not only was it the first time he +had left the village where he had been brought up, but no one had ever +spoken to him of Constantinople, and he did not so much as know the name +of a single street or of a creature who lived in it. + +Wondering what he was to do next, Neangir stood still for a moment to +look about him, when suddenly a pleasant-looking man came up, and bowing +politely, asked if the youth would do him the honour of staying in +his house till he had made some plans for himself. Neangir, not seeing +anything else he could do, accepted the stranger's offer and followed +him home. + +They entered a large room, where a girl of about twelve years old was +laying three places at the table. + +'Zelida,' said the stranger, 'was I not quite right when I told you that +I should bring back a friend to sup with us?' + +'My father,' replied the girl, 'you are always right in what you say, +and what is better still, you never mislead others.' As she spoke, an +old slave placed on the table a dish called pillau, made of rice and +meat, which is a great favourite among people in the East, and setting +down glasses of sherbet before each person, left the room quietly. + +During the meal the host talked a great deal upon all sorts of subjects; +but Neangir did nothing but look at Zelida, as far as he could without +being positively rude. + +The girl blushed and grew uncomfortable, and at last turned to her +father. 'The stranger's eyes never wander from me,' she said in a low +and hesitating voice. 'If Hassan should hear of it, jealousy will make +him mad.' + +'No, no,' replied the father, 'you are certainly not for this young man. +Did I not tell you before that I intend him for your sister Argentine. +I will at once take measures to fix his heart upon her,' and he rose +and opened a cupboard, from which he took some fruits and a jug of +wine, which he put on the table, together with a small silver and +mother-of-pearl box. + +'Taste this wine,' he said to the young man, pouring some into a glass. + +'Give me a little, too,' cried Zelida. + +'Certainly not,' answered her father, 'you and Hassan both had as much +as was good for you the other day.' + +'Then drink some yourself,' replied she, 'or this young man will think +we mean to poison him.' + +'Well, if you wish, I will do so,' said the father; 'this elixir is not +dangerous at my age, as it is at yours.' + +When Neangir had emptied his glass, his host opened the mother-of-pearl +box and held it out to him. Neangir was beside himself with delight at +the picture of a young maiden more beautiful than anything he had ever +dreamed of. He stood speechless before it, while his breast swelled with +a feeling quite new to him. + +His two companions watched him with amusement, until at last Neangir +roused himself. 'Explain to me, I pray you,' he said, 'the meaning of +these mysteries. Why did you ask me here? Why did you force me to drink +this dangerous liquid which has set fire to my blood? Why have you shown +me this picture which has almost deprived me of reason?' + +'I will answer some of your questions,' replied his host, 'but all, +I may not. The picture that you hold in your hand is that of Zelida's +sister. It has filled your heart with love for her; therefore, go and +seek her. When you find her, you will find yourself.' + +'But where shall I find her?' cried Neangir, kissing the charming +miniature on which his eyes were fixed. + +'I am unable to tell you more,' replied his host cautiously. + +'But I can' interrupted Zelida eagerly. 'To-morrow you must go to the +Jewish bazaar, and buy a watch from the second shop on the right hand. +And at midnight--' + +But what was to happen at midnight Neangir did not hear, for Zelida's +father hastily laid his hand over her mouth, crying: 'Oh, be silent, +child! Would you draw down on you by imprudence the fate of your unhappy +sisters?' Hardly had he uttered the words, when a thick black vapour +rose about him, proceeding from the precious bottle, which his rapid +movement had overturned. The old slave rushed in and shrieked loudly, +while Neangir, upset by this strange adventure, left the house. + +He passed the rest of the night on the steps of a mosque, and with +the first streaks of dawn he took his picture out of the folds of his +turban. Then, remembering Zelida's words, he inquired the way to the +bazaar, and went straight to the shop she had described. + +In answer to Neangir's request to be shown some watches, the merchant +produced several and pointed out the one which he considered the best. +The price was three gold pieces, which Neangir readily agreed to give +him; but the man made a difficulty about handing over the watch unless +he knew where his customer lived. + +'That is more than I know myself,' replied Neangir. 'I only arrived in +the town yesterday and cannot find the way to the house where I went +first.' + +'Well,' said the merchant, 'come with me, and I will take you to a good +Mussulman, where you will have everything you desire at a small charge.' + +Neangir consented, and the two walked together through several streets +till they reached the house recommended by the Jewish merchant. By his +advice the young man paid in advance the last gold piece that remained +to him for his food and lodging. + +As soon as Neangir had dined he shut himself up in his room, and +thrusting his hand into the folds of his turban, drew out his beloved +portrait. As he did so, he touched a sealed letter which had apparently +been hidden there without his knowledge, and seeing it was written +by his foster-mother, Zinebi, he tore it eagerly open. Judge of his +surprise when he read these words: + +'My dearest Child,--This letter, which you will some day find in your +turban, is to inform you that you are not really our son. We believe +your father to have been a great lord in some distant land, and inside +this packet is a letter from him, threatening to be avenged on us if you +are not restored to him at once. We shall always love you, but do not +seek us or even write to us. It will be useless.' + +In the same wrapper was a roll of paper with a few words as follows, +traced in a hand unknown to Neangir: + +'Traitors, you are no doubt in league with those magicians who have +stolen the two daughters of the unfortunate Siroco, and have taken from +them the talisman given them by their father. You have kept my son from +me, but I have found out your hiding-place and swear by the Holy Prophet +to punish your crime. The stroke of my scimitar is swifter than the +lightning.' + +The unhappy Neangir on reading these two letters--of which he understood +absolutely nothing--felt sadder and more lonely than ever. It soon +dawned on him that he must be the son of the man who had written to +Mohammed and his wife, but he did not know where to look for him, and +indeed thought much more about the people who had brought him up and +whom he was never to see again. + +To shake off these gloomy feelings, so as to be able to make some plans +for the future, Neangir left the house and walked briskly about the +city till darkness had fallen. He then retraced his steps and was just +crossing the threshold when he saw something at his feet sparkling in +the moonlight. He picked it up, and discovered it to be a gold watch +shining with precious stones. He gazed up and down the street to see +if there was anyone about to whom it might belong, but there was not +a creature visible. So he put it in his sash, by the side of a silver +watch which he had bought from the Jew that morning. + +The possession of this piece of good fortune cheered Neangir up a +little, 'for,' thought he, 'I can sell these jewels for at least a +thousand sequins, and that will certainly last me till I have found my +father.' And consoled by this reflection he laid both watches beside him +and prepared to sleep. + +In the middle of the night he awoke suddenly and heard a soft voice +speaking, which seemed to come from one of the watches. + +'Aurora, my sister,' it whispered gently. 'Did they remember to wind you +up at midnight?' + +'No, dear Argentine,' was the reply. 'And you?' + +'They forgot me, too,' answered the first voice, 'and it is now +one o'clock, so that we shall not be able to leave our prison till +to-morrow--if we are not forgotten again--then.' + +'We have nothing now to do here,' said Aurora. 'We must resign ourselves +to our fate--let us go.' + +Filled with astonishment Neangir sat up in bed, and beheld by the light +of the moon the two watches slide to the ground and roll out of the +room past the cats' quarters. He rushed towards the door and on to the +staircase, but the watches slipped downstairs without his seeing them, +and into the street. He tried to unlock the door and follow them, but +the key refused to turn, so he gave up the chase and went back to bed. + +The next day all his sorrows returned with tenfold force. He felt +himself lonelier and poorer than ever, and in a fit of despair he thrust +his turban on his head, stuck his sword in his belt, and left the house +determined to seek an explanation from the merchant who had sold him the +silver watch. + +When Neangir reached the bazaar he found the man he sought was absent +from his shop, and his place filled by another Jew. + +'It is my brother you want,' said he; 'we keep the shop in turn, and in +turn go into the city to do our business.' + +'Ah! what business?' cried Neangir in a fury. 'You are the brother of a +scoundrel who sold me yesterday a watch that ran away in the night. But +I will find it somehow, or else you shall pay for it, as you are his +brother!' + +'What is that you say?' asked the Jew, around whom a crowd had rapidly +gathered. 'A watch that ran away. If it had been a cask of wine, your +story might be true, but a watch--! That is hardly possible!' + +'The Cadi shall say whether it is possible or not,' replied Neangir, who +at that moment perceived the other Jew enter the bazaar. Darting up, +he seized him by the arm and dragged him to the Cadi's house; but not +before the man whom he had found in the shop contrived to whisper to his +brother, in a tone loud enough for Neangir to hear, 'Confess nothing, or +we shall both be lost.' + +When the Cadi was informed of what had taken place he ordered the crowd +to be dispersed by blows, after the Turkish manner, and then asked +Neangir to state his complaint. After hearing the young man's story, +which seemed to him most extraordinary, he turned to question the Jewish +merchant, who instead of answering raised his eyes to heaven and fell +down in a dead faint. + +The judge took no notice of the swooning man, but told Neangir that his +tale was so singular he really could not believe it, and that he should +have the merchant carried back to his own house. This so enraged Neangir +that he forgot the respect due to the Cadi, and exclaimed at the top of +his voice, 'Recover this fellow from his fainting fit, and force him +to confess the truth,' giving the Jew as he spoke a blow with his sword +which caused him to utter a piercing scream. + +'You see for yourself,' said the Jew to the Cadi, 'that this young man +is out of his mind. I forgive him his blow, but do not, I pray you, +leave me in his power.' + +At that moment the Bassa chanced to pass the Cadi's house, and hearing a +great noise, entered to inquire the cause. When the matter was explained +he looked attentively at Neangir, and asked him gently how all these +marvels could possibly have happened. + +'My lord,' replied Neangir, 'I swear I have spoken the truth, and +perhaps you will believe me when I tell you that I myself have been the +victim of spells wrought by people of this kind, who should be rooted +out from the earth. For three years I was changed into a three-legged +pot, and only returned to man's shape when one day a turban was laid +upon my lid.' + +At these words the Bassa rent his robe for joy, and embracing Neangir, +he cried, 'Oh, my son, my son, have I found you at last? Do you not come +from the house of Mohammed and Zinebi?' + +'Yes, my lord,' replied Neangir, 'it was they who took care of me during +my misfortune, and taught me by their example to be less worthy of +belonging to you.' + +'Blessed be the Prophet,' said the Bassa, 'who has restored one of my +sons to me, at the time I least expected it! You know,' he continued, +addressing the Cadi, 'that during the first years of my marriage I had +three sons by the beautiful Zambac. When he was three years old a holy +dervish gave the eldest a string of the finest coral, saying "Keep this +treasure carefully, and be faithful to the Prophet, and you will be +happy." To the second, who now stands before you, he presented a copper +plate on which the name of Mahomet was engraved in seven languages, +telling him never to part from his turban, which was the sign of a true +believer, and he would taste the greatest of all joys; while on the +right arm of the third the dervish clasped a bracelet with the prayer +that his right hand should be pure and the left spotless, so that he +might never know sorrow. + +'My eldest son neglected the counsel of the dervish and terrible +troubles fell on him, as also on the youngest. To preserve the second +from similar misfortunes I brought him up in a lonely place, under the +care of a faithful servant named Gouloucou, while I was fighting the +enemies of our Holy Faith. On my return from the wars I hastened to +embrace my son, but both he and Gouloucou had vanished, and it is only +a few months since that I learned that the boy was living with a man +called Mohammed, whom I suspected of having stolen him. Tell me, my son, +how it came about that you fell into his hands.' + +'My lord,' replied Neangir, 'I can remember little of the early years +of my life, save that I dwelt in a castle by the seashore with an old +servant. I must have been about twelve years old when one day as we were +out walking we met a man whose face was like that of this Jew, coming +dancing towards us. Suddenly I felt myself growing faint. I tried to +raise my hands to my head, but they had become stiff and hard. In a +word, I had been changed into a copper pot, and my arms formed the +handle. What happened to my companion I know not, but I was conscious +that someone had picked me up, and was carrying me quickly away. + +'After some days, or so it seemed to me, I was placed on the ground near +a thick hedge, and when I heard my captor snoring beside me I resolved +to make my escape. So I pushed my way among the thorns as well as I +could, and walked on steadily for about an hour. + +'You cannot imagine, my lord, how awkward it is to walk with three legs, +especially when your knees are as stiff as mine were. At length after +much difficulty I reached a market-garden, and hid myself deep down +among the cabbages, where I passed a quiet night. + +'The next morning, at sunrise, I felt some one stooping over me and +examining me closely. "What have you got there, Zinebi?" said the voice +of a man a little way off. + +'"The most beautiful pot in the whole world," answered the woman beside +me, "and who would have dreamed of finding it among my cabbages!" + +'Mohammed lifted me from the ground and looked at me with admiration. +That pleased me, for everyone likes to be admired, even if he is only +a pot! And I was taken into the house and filled with water, and put on +the fire to boil. + +'For three years I led a quiet and useful life, being scrubbed bright +every day by Zinebi, then a young and beautiful woman. + +'One morning Zinebi set me on the fire, with a fine fillet of beef +inside me to cook for dinner. Being afraid that some of the steam would +escape through the lid, and that the taste of her stew would be spoilt, +she looked about for something to put over the cover, but could see +nothing handy but her husband's turban. She tied it firmly round the +lid, and then left the room. For the first time during three years I +began to feel the fire burning the soles of my feet, and moved away +a little--doing this with a great deal more ease than I had felt when +making my escape to Mohammed's garden. I was somehow aware, too, that I +was growing taller; in fact in a few minutes I was a man again. + +'After the third hour of prayer Mohammed and Zinebi both returned, +and you can guess their surprise at finding a young man in the kitchen +instead of a copper pot! I told them my story, which at first they +refused to believe, but in the end I succeeded in persuading them that +I was speaking the truth. For two years more I lived with them, and was +treated like their own son, till the day when they sent me to this city +to seek my fortune. And now, my lords, here are the two letters which +I found in my turban. Perhaps they may be another proof in favour of my +story.' + +Whilst Neangir was speaking, the blood from the Jew's wound had +gradually ceased to flow; and at this moment there appeared in the +doorway a lovely Jewess, about twenty-two years old, her hair and her +dress all disordered, as if she had been flying from some great danger. +In one hand she held two crutches of white wood, and was followed by +two men. The first man Neangir knew to be the brother of the Jew he +had struck with his sword, while in the second the young man thought +he recognised the person who was standing by when he was changed into a +pot. Both of these men had a wide linen band round their thighs and held +stout sticks. + +The Jewess approached the wounded man and laid the two crutches near +him; then, fixing her eyes on him, she burst into tears. + +'Unhappy Izouf,' she murmured, 'why do you suffer yourself to be led +into such dangerous adventures? Look at the consequences, not only to +yourself, but to your two brothers,' turning as she spoke to the men who +had come in with her, and who had sunk down on the mat at the feet of +the Jew. + +The Bassa and his companions were struck both with the beauty of +the Jewess and also with her words, and begged her to give them an +explanation. + +'My lords,' she said, 'my name is Sumi, and I am the daughter of Moizes, +one of our most famous rabbis. I am the victim of my love for Izaf,' +pointing to the man who had entered last, 'and in spite of his +ingratitude, I cannot tear him from my heart. Cruel enemy of my life,' +she continued turning to Izaf, 'tell these gentlemen your story and that +of your brothers, and try to gain your pardon by repentance.' + +'We all three were born at the same time,' said the Jew, obeying the +command of Sumi at a sign from the Cadi, 'and are the sons of the famous +Nathan Ben-Sadi, who gave us the names of Izif, Izouf, and Izaf. From +our earliest years we were taught the secrets of magic, and as we were +all born under the same stars we shared the same happiness and the same +troubles. + +'Our mother died before I can remember, and when we were fifteen our +father was seized with a dangerous illness which no spells could cure. +Feeling death draw near, he called us to his bedside and took leave of +us in these words: + +'"My sons, I have no riches to bequeath to you; my only wealth was those +secrets of magic which you know. Some stones you already have, engraved +with mystic signs, and long ago I taught you how to make others. But you +still lack the most precious of all talismans--the three rings belonging +to the daughters of Siroco. Try to get possession of them, but take heed +on beholding these young girls that you do not fall under the power of +their beauty. Their religion is different from yours, and further, they +are the betrothed brides of the sons of the Bassa of the Sea. And to +preserve you from a love which can bring you nothing but sorrow, I +counsel you in time of peril to seek out the daughter of Moizes the +Rabbi, who cherishes a hidden passion for Izaf, and possesses the Book +of Spells, which her father himself wrote with the sacred ink that was +used for the Talmud." So saying, our father fell back on his cushions +and died, leaving us burning with desire for the three rings of the +daughters of Siroco. + +'No sooner were our sad duties finished than we began to make inquiries +where these young ladies were to be found, and we learned after much +trouble that Siroco, their father, had fought in many wars, and that his +daughters, whose beauty was famous throughout all the land, were named +Aurora, Argentine, and Zelida.' + +At the second of these names, both the Bassa and his son gave a start of +surprise, but they said nothing and Izaf went on with his story. + +'The first thing to be done was to put on a disguise, and it was in +the dress of foreign merchants that we at length approached the young +ladies, taking care to carry with us a collection of fine stones which +we had hired for the occasion. But alas! it was to no purpose that +Nathan Ben-Sadi had warned us to close our hearts against their charms! +The peerless Aurora was clothed in a garment of golden hue, studded all +over with flashing jewels; the fair-haired Argentine wore a dress of +silver, and the young Zelida, loveliest of them all, the costume of a +Persian lady. + +'Among other curiosities that we had brought with us, was a flask +containing an elixir which had the quality of exciting love in the +breasts of any man or woman who drank of it. This had been given me by +the fair Sumi, who had used it herself and was full of wrath because I +refused to drink it likewise, and so return her passion. I showed this +liquid to the three maidens who were engaged in examining the precious +stones, and choosing those that pleased them best; and I was in the act +of pouring some in a crystal cup, when Zelida's eyes fell on a paper +wrapped round the flask containing these words. "Beware lest you +drink this water with any other man than him who will one day be your +husband." "Ah, traitor!" she exclaimed, "what snare have you laid for +me?" and glancing where her finger pointed I recognised the writing of +Sumi. + +'By this time my two brothers had already got possession of the rings +of Aurora and Argentine in exchange for some merchandise which they +coveted, and no sooner had the magic circles left their hands than the +two sisters vanished completely, and in their place nothing was to be +seen but a watch of gold and one of silver. At this instant the old +slave whom we had bribed to let us enter the house, rushed into the room +announcing the return of Zelida's father. My brothers, trembling with +fright, hid the watches in their turbans, and while the slave was +attending to Zelida, who had sunk fainting to the ground, we managed to +make our escape. + +'Fearing to be traced by the enraged Siroco, we did not dare to go back +to the house where we lodged, but took refuge with Sumi. + +'"Unhappy wretches!" cried she, "is it thus that you have followed the +counsels of your father? This very morning I consulted my magic books, +and saw you in the act of abandoning your hearts to the fatal passion +which will one day be your ruin. No, do not think I will tamely bear +this insult! It was I who wrote the letter which stopped Zelida in the +act of drinking the elixir of love! As for you," she went on, turning to +my brothers, "you do not yet know what those two watches will cost you! +But you can learn it now, and the knowledge of the truth will only serve +to render your lives still more miserable." + +'As she spoke she held out the sacred book written by Moizes, and +pointed to the following lines: + +'"If at midnight the watches are wound with the key of gold and the key +of silver, they will resume their proper shapes during the first hour +of the day. They will always remain under the care of a woman, and will +come back to her wherever they may be. And the woman appointed to guard +them is the daughter of Moizes." + +'My brothers were full of rage when they saw themselves outwitted, but +there was no help for it. The watches were delivered up to Sumi and +they went their way, while I remained behind curious to see what would +happen. + +'As night wore on Sumi wound up both watches, and when midnight struck +Aurora and her sister made their appearance. They knew nothing of what +had occurred and supposed they had just awakened from sleep, but when +Sumi's story made them understand their terrible fate, they both sobbed +with despair and were only consoled when Sumi promised never to forsake +them. Then one o'clock sounded, and they became watches again. + +'All night long I was a prey to vague fears, and I felt as if something +unseen was pushing me on--in what direction I did not know. At dawn I +rose and went out, meeting Izif in the street suffering from the same +dread as myself. We agreed that Constantinople was no place for us any +longer, and calling to Izouf to accompany us, we left the city together, +but soon determined to travel separately, so that we might not be so +easily recognised by the spies of Siroco. + +'A few days later I found myself at the door of an old castle near the +sea, before which a tall slave was pacing to and fro. The gift of one or +two worthless jewels loosened his tongue, and he informed me that he was +in the service of the son of the Bassa of the Sea, at that time making +war in distant countries. The youth, he told me, had been destined from +his boyhood to marry the daughter of Siroco, whose sisters were to be +the brides of his brothers, and went on to speak of the talisman that +his charge possessed. But I could think of nothing but the beautiful +Zelida, and my passion, which I thought I had conquered, awoke in full +force. + +'In order to remove this dangerous rival from my path, I resolved to +kidnap him, and to this end I began to act a madman, and to sing and +dance loudly, crying to the slave to fetch the boy and let him see my +tricks. He consented, and both were so diverted with my antics that they +laughed till the tears ran down their cheeks, and even tried to imitate +me. Then I declared I felt thirsty and begged the slave to fetch me +some water, and while he was absent I advised the youth to take off his +turban, so as to cool his head. He complied gladly, and in the twinkling +of an eye was changed into a pot. A cry from the slave warned me that +I had no time to lose if I would save my life, so I snatched up the pot +and fled with it like the wind. + +'You have heard, my lords, what became of the pot, so I will only say +now that when I awoke it had disappeared; but I was partly consoled for +its loss by finding my two brothers fast asleep not far from me. "How +did you get here?" I inquired, "and what has happened to you since we +parted?" + +'"Alas!" replied Izouf, "we were passing a wayside inn from which came +sounds of songs and laughter, and fools that we were--we entered and sat +down. Circassian girls of great beauty were dancing for the amusement of +several men, who not only received us politely, but placed us near the +two loveliest maidens. Our happiness was complete, and time flew unknown +to us, when one of the Circassians leaned forward and said to her +sister, 'Their brother danced, and they must dance too.' What they meant +by these words I know not, but perhaps you can tell us?" + +'"I understand quite well," I replied. "They were thinking of the day +that I stole the son of the Bassa, and had danced before him." + +'"Perhaps you are right," continued Izouf, "for the two ladies took our +hands and danced with us till we were quite exhausted, and when at last +we sat down a second time to table we drank more wine than was good for +us. Indeed, our heads grew so confused, that when the men jumped up +and threatened to kill us, we could make no resistance and suffered +ourselves to be robbed of everything we had about us, including the +most precious possession of all, the two talismans of the daughters of +Siroco." + +'Not knowing what else to do, we all three returned to Constantinople +to ask the advice of Sumi, and found that she was already aware of +our misfortunes, having read about them in the book of Moizes. The +kind-hearted creature wept bitterly at our story, but, being poor +herself, could give us little help. At last I proposed that every +morning we should sell the silver watch into which Argentine was +changed, as it would return to Sumi every evening unless it was wound +up with the silver key--which was not at all likely. Sumi consented, +but only on the condition that we would never sell the watch without +ascertaining the house where it was to be found, so that she might also +take Aurora thither, and thus Argentine would not be alone if by any +chance she was wound up at the mystic hour. For some weeks now we have +lived by this means, and the two daughters of Siroco have never failed +to return to Sumi each night. Yesterday Izouf sold the silver watch to +this young man, and in the evening placed the gold watch on the steps +by order of Sumi, just before his customer entered the house; from which +both watches came back early this morning.' + +'If I had only known!' cried Neangir. 'If I had had more presence of +mind, I should have seen the lovely Argentine, and if her portrait is so +fair, what must the original be!' + +'It was not your fault,' replied the Cadi, 'you are no magician; and who +could guess that the watch must be wound at such an hour? But I shall +give orders that the merchant is to hand it over to you, and this +evening you will certainly not forget.' + +'It is impossible to let you have it to-day,' answered Izouf, 'for it is +already sold.' + +'If that is so,' said the Cadi, 'you must return the three gold pieces +which the young man paid.' + +The Jew, delighted to get off so easily, put his hand in his pocket, +when Neangir stopped him. + +'No, no,' he exclaimed, 'it is not money I want, but the adorable +Argentine; without her everything is valueless.' + +'My dear Cadi,' said the Bassa, 'he is right. The treasure that my son +has lost is absolutely priceless.' + +'My lord,' replied the Cadi, 'your wisdom is greater than mine. Give +judgment I pray you in the matter.' + +So the Bassa desired them all to accompany him to his house, and +commanded his slaves not to lose sight of the three Jewish brothers. + +When they arrived at the door of his dwelling, he noticed two women +sitting on a bench close by, thickly veiled and beautifully dressed. +Their wide satin trousers were embroidered in silver, and their muslin +robes were of the finest texture. In the hand of one was a bag of pink +silk tied with green ribbons, containing something that seemed to move. + +At the approach of the Bassa both ladies rose, and came towards him. +Then the one who held the bag addressed him saying, 'Noble lord, buy, I +pray you, this bag, without asking to see what it contains.' + +'How much do you want for it?' asked the Bassa. + +'Three hundred sequins,' replied the unknown. + +At these words the Bassa laughed contemptuously, and passed on without +speaking. + +'You will not repent of your bargain,' went on the woman. 'Perhaps if we +come back to-morrow you will be glad to give us the four hundred sequins +we shall then ask. And the next day the price will be five hundred.' + +'Come away,' said her companion, taking hold of her sleeve. 'Do not +let us stay here any longer. It may cry, and then our secret will be +discovered.' And so saying, the two young women disappeared. + +The Jews were left in the front hall under the care of the slaves, +and Neangir and Sumi followed the Bassa inside the house, which was +magnificently furnished. At one end of a large, brilliantly-lighted +room a lady of about thirty-five years old reclined on a couch, still +beautiful in spite of the sad expression of her face. + +'Incomparable Zambac,' said the Bassa, going up to her, 'give me your +thanks, for here is the lost son for whom you have shed so many tears,' +but before his mother could clasp him in her arms Neangir had flung +himself at her feet. + +'Let the whole house rejoice with me,' continued the Bassa, 'and let +my two sons Ibrahim and Hassan be told, that they may embrace their +brother.' + +'Alas! my lord!' said Zambac, 'do you forget that this is the hour when +Hassan weeps on his hand, and Ibrahim gathers up his coral beads?' + +'Let the command of the Prophet be obeyed,' replied the Bassa; 'then we +will wait till the evening.' + +'Forgive me, noble lord,' interrupted Sumi, 'but what is this mystery? +With the help of the Book of Spells perhaps I may be of some use in the +matter.' + +'Sumi,' answered the Bassa, 'I owe you already the happiness of my life; +come with me then, and the sight of my unhappy sons will tell you of our +trouble better than any words of mine.' + +The Bassa rose from his divan and drew aside the hangings leading to +a large hall, closely followed by Neangir and Sumi. There they saw two +young men, one about seventeen, and the other nineteen years of age. +The younger was seated before a table, his forehead resting on his right +hand, which he was watering with his tears. He raised his head for a +moment when his father entered, and Neangir and Sumi both saw that this +hand was of ebony. + +The other young man was occupied busily in collecting coral beads which +were scattered all over the floor of the room, and as he picked them up +he placed them on the same table where his brother was sitting. He had +already gathered together ninety-eight beads, and thought they were all +there, when they suddenly rolled off the table and he had to begin his +work over again. + +'Do you see,' whispered the Bassa, 'for three hours daily one collects +these coral beads, and for the same space of time the other laments over +his hand which has become black, and I am wholly ignorant what is the +cause of either misfortune.' + +'Do not let us stay here,' said Sumi, 'our presence must add to their +grief. But permit me to fetch the Book of Spells, which I feel sure will +tell us not only the cause of their malady but also its cure.' + +The Bassa readily agreed to Sumi's proposal, but Neangir objected +strongly. 'If Sumi leaves us,' he said to his father, 'I shall not see +my beloved Argentine when she returns to-night with the fair Aurora. And +life is an eternity till I behold her.' + +'Be comforted,' replied Sumi. 'I will be back before sunset; and I leave +you my adored Izaf as a pledge.' + +Scarcely had the Jewess left Neangir, when the old female slave entered +the hall where the three Jews still remained carefully guarded, followed +by a man whose splendid dress prevented Neangir from recognising at +first as the person in whose house he had dined two days before. But the +woman he knew at once to be the nurse of Zelida. + +He started eagerly forward, but before he had time to speak the slave +turned to the soldier she was conducting. 'My lord,' she said, 'those +are the men; I have tracked them from the house of the Cadi to this +palace. They are the same; I am not mistaken, strike and avenge +yourself.' + +As he listened the face of the stranger grew scarlet with anger. He +drew his sword and in another moment would have rushed on the Jews, when +Neangir and the slaves of the Bassa seized hold of him. + +'What are you doing?' cried Neangir. 'How dare you attack those whom the +Bassa has taken under his protection?' + +'Ah, my son,' replied the soldier, 'the Bassa would withdraw his +protection if he knew that these wretches have robbed me of all I have +dearest in the world. He knows them as little as he knows you.' + +'But he knows me very well,' replied Neangir, 'for he has recognised me +as his son. Come with me now into his presence.' + +The stranger bowed and passed through the curtain held back by Neangir, +whose surprise was great at seeing his father spring forward and clasp +the soldier in his arms. + +'What! is it you, my dear Siroco?' cried he. 'I believed you had been +slain in that awful battle when the followers of the Prophet were put to +flight. But why do your eyes kindle with the flames they shot forth on +that fearful day? Calm yourself and tell me what I can do to help you. +See, I have found my son, let that be a good omen for your happiness +also.' + +'I did not guess,' answered Siroco, 'that the son you have so long +mourned had come back to you. Some days since the Prophet appeared to +me in a dream, floating in a circle of light, and he said to me, "Go +to-morrow at sunset to the Galata Gate, and there you will find a young +man whom you must bring home with you. He is the second son of your old +friend the Bassa of the Sea, and that you may make no mistake, put your +fingers in his turban and you will feel the plaque on which my name is +engraved in seven different languages."' + +'I did as I was bid,' went on Siroco, 'and so charmed was I with his +face and manner that I caused him to fall in love with Argentine, whose +portrait I gave him. But at the moment when I was rejoicing in the +happiness before me, and looking forward to the pleasure of restoring +you your son, some drops of the elixir of love were spilt on the table, +and caused a thick vapour to arise, which hid everything. When it had +cleared away he was gone. This morning my old slave informed me that she +had discovered the traitors who had stolen my daughters from me, and I +hastened hither to avenge them. But I place myself in your hands, and +will follow your counsel.' + +'Fate will favour us, I am sure,' said the Bassa, 'for this very night I +expect to secure both the silver and the gold watch. So send at once and +pray Zelida to join us.' + +A rustling of silken stuffs drew their eyes to the door, and Ibrahim and +Hassan, whose daily penance had by this time been performed, entered +to embrace their brother. Neangir and Hassan, who had also drunk of the +elixir of love, could think of nothing but the beautiful ladies who had +captured their hearts, while the spirits of Ibrahim had been cheered by +the news that the daughter of Moizes hoped to find in the Book of Spells +some charm to deliver him from collecting the magic beads. + +It was some hours later that Sumi returned, bringing with her the sacred +book. + +'See,' she said, beckoning to Hassan, 'your destiny is written here.' +And Hassan stooped and read these words in Hebrew. 'His right hand has +become black as ebony from touching the fat of an impure animal, and +will remain so till the last of its race is drowned in the sea.' + +'Alas!' sighed the unfortunate youth. 'It now comes back to my memory. +One day the slave of Zambac was making a cake. She warned me not to +touch, as the cake was mixed with lard, but I did not heed her, and in +an instant my hand became the ebony that it now is.' + +'Holy dervish!' exclaimed the Bassa, 'how true were your words! My son +has neglected the advice you gave him on presenting him the bracelet, +and he has been severely punished. But tell me, O wise Sumi, where I can +find the last of the accursed race who has brought this doom on my son?' + +'It is written here,' replied Sumi, turning over some leaves. 'The +little black pig is in the pink bag carried by the two Circassians.' + +When he read this the Bassa sank on his cushions in despair. + +'Ah,' he said, 'that is the bag that was offered me this morning for +three hundred sequins. Those must be the women who caused Izif and +Izouf to dance, and took from them the two talismans of the daughters of +Siroco. They only can break the spell that has been cast on us. Let them +be found and I will gladly give them the half of my possessions. Idiot +that I was to send them away!' + +While the Bassa was bewailing his folly, Ibrahim in his turn had opened +the book, and blushed deeply as he read the words: 'The chaplet of beads +has been defiled by the game of "Odd and Even." Its owner has tried to +cheat by concealing one of the numbers. Let the faithless Moslem seek +for ever the missing bead.' + +'O heaven,' cried Ibrahim, 'that unhappy day rises up before me. I had +cut the thread of the chaplet, while playing with Aurora. Holding the +ninety-nine beads in my hand she guessed "Odd," and in order that she +might lose I let one bead fall from my hand. Since then I have sought it +daily, but it never has been found.' + +'Holy dervish!' cried the Bassa, 'how true were your words! From the +time that the sacred chaplet was no longer complete, my son has borne +the penalty. But may not the Book of Spells teach us how to deliver +Ibrahim also?' + +'Listen,' said Sumi, 'this is what I find: "The coral bead lies in the +fifth fold of the dress of yellow brocade."' 'Ah, what good fortune!' +exclaimed the Bassa; 'we shall shortly see the beautiful Aurora, and +Ibrahim shall at once search in the fifth fold of her yellow brocade. +For it is she no doubt of whom the book speaks.' + +As the Jewess closed the Book of Moizes, Zelida appeared, accompanied +by a whole train of slaves and her old nurse. At her entrance Hassan, +beside himself with joy, flung himself on his knees and kissed her hand. + +'My lord,' he said to the Bassa, 'pardon me these transports. No elixir +of love was needed to inflame my heart! Let the marriage rite make us +speedily one.' + +'My son, are you mad?' asked the Bassa. 'As long as the misfortunes of +your brothers last, shall you alone be happy? And whoever heard of a +bridegroom with a black hand? Wait yet a little longer, till the black +pig is drowned in the sea.' + +'Yes! dear Hassan,' said Zelida, 'our happiness will be increased +tenfold when my sisters have regained their proper shapes. And here is +the elixir which I have brought with me, so that their joy may equal +ours.' And she held out the flask to the Bassa, who had it closed in his +presence. + +Zambac was filled with joy at the sight of Zelida, and embraced her +with delight. Then she led the way into the garden, and invited all her +friends to seat themselves under the thick overhanging branches of +a splendid jessamine tree. No sooner, however, were they comfortably +settled, than they were astonished to hear a man's voice, speaking +angrily on the other side of the wall. + +'Ungrateful girls!' it said, 'is this the way you treat me? Let me hide +myself for ever! This cave is no longer dark enough or deep enough for +me.' + +A burst of laughter was the only answer, and the voice continued, 'What +have I done to earn such contempt? Was this what you promised me when +I managed to get for you the talismans of beauty? Is this the reward I +have a right to expect when I have bestowed on you the little black pig, +who is certain to bring you good luck?' + +At these words the curiosity of the listeners passed all bounds, and the +Bassa commanded his slaves instantly to tear down the wall. It was done, +but the man was nowhere to be seen, and there were only two girls of +extraordinary beauty, who seemed quite at their ease, and came dancing +gaily on to the terrace. With them was an old slave in whom the Bassa +recognised Gouloucou, the former guardian of Neangir. + +Gouloucou shrank with fear when he saw the Bassa, as he expected nothing +less than death at his hands for allowing Neangir to be snatched away. +But the Bassa made him signs of forgiveness, and asked him how he had +escaped death when he had thrown himself from the cliff. Gouloucou +explained that he had been picked up by a dervish who had cured his +wounds, and had then given him as slave to the two young ladies now +before the company, and in their service he had remained ever since. + +'But,' said the Bassa, 'where is the little black pig of which the voice +spoke just now?' + +'My lord,' answered one of the ladies, 'when at your command the wall +was thrown down, the man whom you heard speaking was so frightened at +the noise that he caught up the pig and ran away.' + +'Let him be pursued instantly,' cried the Bassa; but the ladies smiled. + +'Do not be alarmed, my lord,' said one, 'he is sure to return. Only give +orders that the entrance to the cave shall be guarded, so that when he +is once in he shall not get out again.' + +By this time night was falling and they all went back to the palace, +where coffee and fruits were served in a splendid gallery, near the +women's apartments. The Bassa then ordered the three Jews to be brought +before him, so that he might see whether these were the two damsels who +had forced them to dance at the inn, but to his great vexation it was +found that when their guards had gone to knock down the wall the Jews +had escaped. + +At this news the Jewess Sumi turned pale, but glancing at the Book of +Spells her face brightened, and she said half aloud, 'There is no cause +for disquiet; they will capture the dervish,' while Hassan lamented +loudly that as soon as fortune appeared on one side she fled on the +other! + +On hearing this reflection one of the Bassa's pages broke into a laugh. +'This fortune comes to us dancing my lord,' said he, 'and the other +leaves us on crutches. Do not be afraid. She will not go very far.' + +The Bassa, shocked at his impertinent interference, desired him to leave +the room and not to come back till he was sent for. + +'My lord shall be obeyed,' said the page, 'but when I return, it shall +be in such good company that you will welcome me gladly.' So saying, he +went out. + +When they were alone, Neangir turned to the fair strangers and implored +their help. 'My brothers and myself,' he cried, 'are filled with love +for three peerless maidens, two of whom are under a cruel spell. If +their fate happened to be in your hands, would you not do all in your +power to restore them to happiness and liberty?' + +But the young man's appeal only stirred the two ladies to anger. 'What,' +exclaimed one, 'are the sorrows of lovers to us? Fate has deprived us of +our lovers, and if it depends on us the whole world shall suffer as much +as we do!' + +This unexpected reply was heard with amazement by all present, and the +Bassa entreated the speaker to tell them her story. Having obtained +permission of her sister, she began: + + + + +The Story of the Fair Circassians + + +'We were born in Circassia of poor people, and my sister's name is +Tezila and mine Dely. Having nothing but our beauty to help us in life, +we were carefully trained in all the accomplishments that give pleasure. +We were both quick to learn, and from our childhood could play all sorts +of instruments, could sing, and above all could dance. We were besides, +lively and merry, as in spite of our misfortunes we are to this day. + +'We were easily pleased and quite content with our lives at home, when +one morning the officials who had been sent to find wives for the +Sultan saw us, and were struck with our beauty. We had always expected +something of the sort, and were resigned to our lot, when we chanced to +see two young men enter our house. The elder, who was about twenty years +of age, had black hair and very bright eyes. The other could not have +been more than fifteen, and was so fair that he might easily have passed +for a girl. + +'They knocked at the door with a timid air and begged our parents to +give them shelter, as they had lost their way. After some hesitation +their request was granted, and they were invited into the room in which +we were. And if our parents' hearts were touched by their beauty, our +own were not any harder, so that our departure for the palace, which had +been arranged for the next day, suddenly became intolerable to us. + +'Night came, and I awoke from my sleep to find the younger of the two +strangers sitting at my bedside and felt him take my hand. + +'"Fear nothing, lovely Dely," he whispered, "from one who never knew +love till he saw you. My name," he went on, "is Prince Delicate, and +I am the son of the king of the Isle of Black Marble. My friend, who +travels with me, is one of the richest nobles of my country, and the +secrets which he knows are the envy of the Sultan himself. And we left +our native country because my father wished me to marry a lady of great +beauty, but with one eye a trifle smaller than the other." + +'My vanity was flattered at so speedy a conquest, and I was charmed with +the way the young man had declared his passion. I turned my eyes slowly +on him, and the look I gave him caused him almost to lose his senses. +He fell fainting forward, and I was unable to move till Tezila, who had +hastily put on a dress, ran to my assistance together with Thelamis, the +young noble of whom the Prince had spoken. + +'As soon as we were all ourselves again we began to bewail our fate, and +the journey that we were to take that very day to Constantinople. But we +felt a little comforted when Thelamis assured us that he and the prince +would follow in our steps, and would somehow contrive to speak to us. +Then they kissed our hands, and left the house by a side-way. + +'A few moments later our parents came to tell us that the escort had +arrived, and having taken farewell of them we mounted the camels, +and took our seats in a kind of box that was fixed to the side of the +animal. These boxes were large enough for us to sleep in comfortably, +and as there was a window in the upper part, we were able to see the +country through which we passed. + +'For several days we journeyed on, feeling sad and anxious as to what +might become of us, when one day as I was looking out of the window of +our room, I heard my name called, and beheld a beautifully dressed girl +jumping out of the box on the other side of our camel. One glance told +me that it was the prince, and my heart bounded with joy. It was, he +said, Thelamis's idea to disguise him like this, and that he himself +had assumed the character of a slave-dealer who was taking this peerless +maiden as a present to the Sultan. Thelamis had also persuaded the +officer in charge of the caravan to let him hire the vacant box, so it +was easy for the prince to scramble out of his own window and approach +ours. + +This ingenious trick enchanted us, but our agreeable conversation was +soon interrupted by the attendants, who perceived that the camel was +walking in a crooked manner and came to find out what was wrong. Luckily +they were slow in their movements, and the prince had just time to +get back to his own box and restore the balance, before the trick was +discovered. + +'But neither the prince nor his friend had any intention of allowing +us to enter the Sultan's palace, though it was difficult to know how we +were to escape, and what was to become of us when once we had escaped. +At length, one day as we were drawing near Constantinople, we learned +from the prince that Thelamis had made acquaintance with a holy dervish +whom he had met on the road, and had informed him that we were his +sisters, who were being sold as slaves against his will. The good man +was interested in the story, and readily agreed to find us shelter if +we could manage to elude the watchfulness of our guards. The risk was +great, but it was our only chance. + +'That night, when the whole caravan was fast asleep, we raised the upper +part of our boxes and by the help of Thelamis climbed silently out. We +next went back some distance along the way we had come, then, striking +into another road, reached at last the retreat prepared for us by the +dervish. Here we found food and rest, and I need not say what happiness +it was to be free once more. + +'The dervish soon became a slave to our beauty, and the day after our +escape he proposed that we should allow him to conduct us to an inn +situated at a short distance, where we should find two Jews, owners of +precious talismans which did not really belong to them. "Try," said the +dervish, "by some means to get possession of them." + +'The inn, though not on the direct road to Constantinople, was a +favourite one with merchants, owing to the excellence of the food, and +on our arrival we discovered at least six or eight other people who had +stopped for refreshment. They greeted us politely, and we sat down to +table together. + +'In a short time the two men described by the dervish entered the room, +and at a sign from him my sister made room at her side for one, while I +did the same for the other. + +'Now the dervish had happened to mention that "their brother had +danced." At the moment we paid no attention to this remark, but it came +back to our minds now, and we determined that they should dance also. +To accomplish this we used all our arts and very soon bent them to our +wills, so that they could refuse us nothing. At the end of the day we +remained possessors of the talismans and had left them to their fate, +while the prince and Thelamis fell more in love with us than ever, and +declared that we were more lovely than any women in the world. + +'The sun had set before we quitted the inn, and we had made no plans +as to where we should go next, so we readily consented to the prince's +proposal that we should embark without delay for the Isle of Black +Marble. What a place it was! Rocks blacker than jet towered above its +shores and shed thick darkness over the country. Our sailors had not +been there before and were nearly as frightened as ourselves, but thanks +to Thelamis, who undertook to be our pilot, we landed safely on the +beach. + +'When we had left the coast behind us, with its walls of jet, we entered +a lovely country where the fields were greener, the streams clearer, and +the sun brighter than anywhere else. The people crowded round to welcome +their prince, whom they loved dearly, but they told him that the king +was still full of rage at his son's refusal to marry his cousin the +Princess Okimpare, and also at his flight. Indeed, they all begged him +not to visit the capital, as his life would hardly be safe. So, much as +I should have enjoyed seeing the home of my beloved prince, I implored +him to listen to this wise advice and to let us all go to Thelamis's +palace in the middle of a vast forest. + +'To my sister and myself, who had been brought up in a cottage, this +house of Thelamis's seemed like fairyland. It was built of pink marble, +so highly polished that the flowers and streams surrounding it were +reflected as in a mirror. One set of rooms was furnished especially for +me in yellow silk and silver, to suit my black hair. Fresh dresses were +provided for us every day, and we had slaves to wait on us. Ah, why +could not this happiness have lasted for ever! + +'The peace of our lives was troubled by Thelamis's jealousy of my +sister, as he could not endure to see her on friendly terms with the +prince, though knowing full well that his heart was mine. Every day we +had scenes of tender reproaches and of explanations, but Tezila's +tears never failed to bring Thelamis to his knees, with prayers for +forgiveness. + +'We had been living in this way for some months when one day the news +came that the king had fallen dangerously ill. I begged the prince to +hurry at once to the Court, both to see his father and also to show +himself to the senators and nobles, but as his love for me was greater +than his desire of a crown, he hesitated as if foreseeing all that +afterwards happened. At last Tezila spoke to him so seriously in +Thelamis's presence, that he determined to go, but promised that he +would return before night. + +'Night came but no prince, and Tezila, who had been the cause of his +departure, showed such signs of uneasiness that Thelamis's jealousy was +at once awakened. As for me, I cannot tell what I suffered. Not being +able to sleep I rose from my bed and wandered into the forest, along the +road which he had taken so many hours before. Suddenly I heard in the +distance the sound of a horse's hoofs, and in a few moments the prince +had flung himself down and was by my side. "Ah, how I adore you!" he +exclaimed; "Thelamis's love will never equal mine." The words were +hardly out of his mouth when I heard a slight noise behind, and before +we could turn round both our heads were rolling in front of us, while +the voice of Thelamis cried: + +'"Perjured wretches, answer me; and you, faithless Tezila, tell me why +you have betrayed me like this?" + +'Then I understood what had happened, and that, in his rage, he had +mistaken me for my sister. + +'"Alas," replied my head in weak tones, "I am not Tezila, but Dely, +whose life you have destroyed, as well as that of your friend." At this +Thelamis paused and seemed to reflect for an instant. + +'"Be not frightened," he said more quietly, "I can make you whole +again," and laying a magic powder on our tongues he placed our heads +on our necks. In the twinkling of an eye our heads were joined to our +bodies without leaving so much as a scar; only that, blinded with rage +as he still was, Thelamis had placed my head on the prince's body, and +his on mine! + +'I cannot describe to you how odd we both felt at this strange +transformation. We both instinctively put up our hands--he to feel his +hair, which was, of course, dressed like a woman's, and I to raise the +turban which pressed heavily on my forehead. But we did not know what +had happened to us, for the night was still dark. + +'At this point Tezila appeared, followed by a troop of slaves bearing +flowers. It was only by the light of their torches that we understood +what had occurred. Indeed the first thought of both of us was that we +must have changed clothes. + +'Now in spite of what we may say, we all prefer our own bodies to those +of anybody else, so notwithstanding our love for each other, at first +we could not help feeling a little cross with Thelamis. However, so deep +was the prince's passion for me, that very soon he began to congratulate +himself on the change. "My happiness is perfect," he said; "my heart, +beautiful Dely, has always been yours, and now I have your head also." + +'But though the prince made the best of it, Thelamis was much ashamed +of his stupidity. "I have," he said hesitatingly, "two other pastilles +which have the same magic properties as those I used before. Let me cut +off your heads again, and that will put matters straight." The proposal +sounded tempting, but was a little risky, and after consulting together +we decided to let things remain as they were. "Do not blame me then," +continued Thelamis, "if you will not accept my offer. But take the two +pastilles, and if it ever happens that you are decapitated a second +time, make use of them in the way I have shown you, and each will get +back his own head." So saying he presented us with the pastilles, and we +all returned to the castle. + +'However, the troubles caused by the unfortunate exchange were only just +beginning. My head, without thinking what it was doing, led the prince's +body to my apartments. But my women, only looking at the dress, declared +I had mistaken the corridor, and called some slaves to conduct me to his +highness's rooms. This was bad enough, but when--as it was still night +my servants began to undress me, I nearly fainted from surprise and +confusion, and no doubt the prince's head was suffering in the same +manner at the other end of the castle! + +'By the next morning--you will easily guess that we slept but little--we +had grown partly accustomed to our strange situation, and when we looked +in the mirror, the prince had become brown-skinned and black-haired, +while my head was covered with his curly golden locks. And after that +first day, everyone in the palace had become so accustomed to the change +that they thought no more about it. + +'Some weeks after this, we heard that the king of the Isle of Black +Marble was dead. The prince's head, which once was mine, was full of +ambitious desires, and he longed to ride straight to the capital and +proclaim himself king. But then came the question as to whether the +nobles would recognise the prince with a girl's body, and indeed, when +we came to think of it, which was prince and which was girl? + +'At last, after much argument, my head carried the day and we set out; +but only to find that the king had declared the Princess Okimpare his +successor. The greater part of the senators and nobles openly professed +that they would much have preferred the rightful heir, but as they could +not recognise him either in the prince or me, they chose to consider us +as impostors and threw us into prison. + +'A few days later Tezila and Thelamis, who had followed us to the +capital, came to tell us that the new queen had accused us of high +treason, and had herself been present at our trial--which was conducted +without us. They had been in mortal terror as to what would be our +sentence, but by a piece of extraordinary luck we had been condemned to +be beheaded. + +'I told my sister that I did not see exactly where the luck came in, but +Thelamis interrupted me rudely: + +'"What!" he cried, "of course I shall make use of the pastilles, and--" +but here the officers arrived to lead us to the great square where the +execution was to take place--for Okimpare was determined there should be +no delay. + +'The square was crowded with people of all ages and all ranks, and in +the middle a platform had been erected on which was the scaffold, with +the executioner, in a black mask, standing by. At a sign from him I +mounted first, and in a moment my head was rolling at his feet. With a +bound my sister and Thelamis were beside me, and like lightning Thelamis +seized the sabre from the headsman, and cut off the head of the prince. +And before the multitude had recovered from their astonishment at these +strange proceedings, our bodies were joined to our right heads, and the +pastilles placed on our tongues. Then Thelamis led the prince to the +edge of the platform and presented him to the people, saying, "Behold +your lawful king." + +'Shouts of joy rent the air at the sound of Thelamis's words, and the +noise reached Okimpare in the palace. Smitten with despair at the news, +she fell down unconscious on her balcony, and was lifted up by the +slaves and taken back to her own house. + +'Meanwhile our happiness was all turned to sorrow. I had rushed up +to the prince to embrace him fondly, when he suddenly grew pale and +staggered. + +'"I die faithful to you," he murmured, turning his eyes towards me, "and +I die a king!" and leaning his head on my shoulder he expired quietly, +for one of the arteries in his neck had been cut through. + +'Not knowing what I did I staggered towards the sabre which was lying +near me, with the intention of following my beloved prince as speedily +as possible. And when Thelamis seized my hand (but only just in time), +in my madness I turned the sabre upon him, and he fell struck through +the heart at my feet.' + + The whole company were listening to the story with breathless +attention, when it became plain that Dely could go no further, while +Tezila had flung herself on a heap of cushions and hidden her face. +Zambac ordered her women to give them all the attention possible, and +desired they should be carried into her own rooms. + +When the two sisters were in this condition, Ibrahim, who was a very +prudent young man, suggested to his parents that, as the two Circassians +were both unconscious, it would be an excellent opportunity to search +them and see if the talismans belonging to the daughters of Siroco were +concealed about their persons. But the Bassa, shocked at the notion of +treating his guests in so inhospitable a manner, refused to do anything +of the kind, adding that the next day he hoped to persuade them to give +the talismans up of their own free will. + +By this time it was nearly midnight and Neangir, who was standing near +the Jewess Sumi, drew out the portrait of Argentine, and heard with +delight that she was even more beautiful than her picture. Everyone +was waiting on tip-toe for the appearance of the two watches, who were +expected when the clock struck twelve to come in search of Sumi, and +that there might be no delay the Bassa ordered all the doors to be flung +wide open. It was done, and there entered not the longed-for watches, +but the page who had been sent away in disgrace. + +Then the Bassa arose in wrath. 'Azemi,' he said, 'did I not order you to +stand no more in my presence?' + +'My lord,' replied Azemi, modestly, 'I was hidden outside the door, +listening to the tale of the two Circassians. And as I know you are fond +of stories, give me also leave to tell you one. I promise you it shall +not be long.' + +'Speak on,' replied the Bassa, 'but take heed what you say.' + +'My lord,' began Azemi, 'this morning I was walking in the town when +I noticed a man going in the same direction followed by a slave. He +entered a baker's shop, where he bought some bread which he gave to the +slave to carry. I watched him and saw that he purchased many other kinds +of provisions at other places, and when the slave could carry no +more his master commanded him to return home and have supper ready at +midnight. + +'When left alone the man went up the street, and turning into a +jeweller's shop, brought out a watch that as far as I could see was made +of silver. He walked on a few steps, then stooped and picked up a gold +watch which lay at his feet. At this point I ran up and told him that +if he did not give me half its price I would report him to the Cadi; he +agreed, and conducting me to his house produced four hundred sequins, +which he said was my share, and having got what I wanted I went away. + +'As it was the hour for attending on my lord I returned home and +accompanied you to the Cadi, where I heard the story of the three +Jews and learned the importance of the two watches I had left at the +stranger's. I hastened to his house, but he had gone out, and I could +only find the slave, whom I told that I was the bearer of important news +for his master. Believing me to be one of his friends, he begged me to +wait, and showed me into a room where I saw the two watches lying on +the table. I put them in my pocket, leaving the four hundred sequins +in place of the gold watch and three gold pieces which I knew to be the +price of the other. As you know the watches never remain with the person +who buys them, this man may think himself very lucky to get back +his money. I have wound them both up, and at this instant Aurora and +Argentine are locked safely into my own room.' + +Everybody was so delighted to hear this news that Azemi was nearly +stifled with their embraces, and Neangir could hardly be prevented from +running to break in the door, though he did not even know where the page +slept. + +But the page begged to have the honour of fetching the ladies himself, +and soon returned leading them by the hand. + +For some minutes all was a happy confusion, and Ibrahim took advantage +of it to fall on his knees before Aurora, and search in the fifth fold +of her dress for the missing coral bead. The Book of Spells had told the +truth; there it was, and as the chaplet was now complete the young man's +days of seeking were over. + +In the midst of the general rejoicing Hassan alone bore a gloomy face. + +'Alas!' he said, 'everyone is happy but the miserable being you see +before you. I have lost the only consolation in my grief, which was to +feel that I had a brother in misfortune!' + +'Be comforted,' replied the Bassa; 'sooner or later the dervish who +stole the pink bag is sure to be found.' + +Supper was then served, and after they had all eaten of rare fruits +which seemed to them the most delicious in the whole world, the Bassa +ordered the flask containing the elixir of love to be brought and the +young people to drink of it. Then their eyes shone with a new fire, and +they swore to be true to each other till death. + +This ceremony was scarcely over when the clock struck one, and in an +instant Aurora and Argentine had vanished, and in the place where they +stood lay two watches. Silence fell upon all the company--they had +forgotten the enchantment; then the voice of Azemi was heard asking if +he might be allowed to take charge of the watches till the next day, +pledging his head to end their enchantment. With the consent of Sumi, +this was granted, and the Bassa gave Azemi a purse containing a thousand +sequins, as a reward for the services he had already rendered to them. +After this everybody went to his own apartment. + +Azemi had never possessed so much money before, and never closed his +eyes for joy the whole night long. Very early he got up and went into +the garden, thinking how he could break the enchantment of the daughters +of Siroco. Suddenly the soft tones of a woman fell on his ear, and +peeping through the bushes he saw Tezila, who was arranging flowers in +her sister's hair. The rustling of the leaves caused Dely to start; she +jumped up as if to fly, but Azemi implored her to remain and begged her +to tell him what happened to them after the death of their lovers, and +how they had come to find the dervish. + +'The punishment decreed to us by the Queen Okimpare,' answered Dely, +'was that we were to dance and sing in the midst of our sorrow, at a +great fete which was to be held that very day for all her people. This +cruel command nearly turned our brains, and we swore a solemn oath to +make all lovers as wretched as we were ourselves. In this design we +succeeded so well that in a short time the ladies of the capital came in +a body to Okimpare, and prayed her to banish us from the kingdom, before +their lives were made miserable for ever. She consented, and commanded +us to be placed on board a ship, with our slave Gouloucou. + +'On the shore we saw an old man who was busily engaged in drowning +some little black pigs, talking to them all the while, as if they could +understand him. + +'"Accursed race," said he, "it is you who have caused all the +misfortunes of him to whom I gave the magic bracelet. Perish all of +you!" + +'We drew near from curiosity, and recognised in him the dervish who had +sheltered us on our first escape from the caravan. + +'When the old man discovered who we were he was beside himself with +pleasure, and offered us a refuge in the cave where he lived. We gladly +accepted his offer, and to the cave we all went, taking with us the last +little pig, which he gave us as a present. + +'"The Bassa of the Sea," he added, "will pay you anything you like to +ask for it." + +'Without asking why it was so precious I took the pig and placed it in +my work bag, where it has been ever since. Only yesterday we offered +it to the Bassa, who laughed at us, and this so enraged us against the +dervish that we cut off his beard when he was asleep, and now he dare +not show himself.' + +'Ah,' exclaimed the page, 'it is not fitting that such beauty should +waste itself in making other people miserable. Forget the unhappy past +and think only of the future. And accept, I pray you, this watch, to +mark the brighter hours in store.' So saying he laid the watch upon her +knee. Then he turned to Tezila. 'And you fair maiden, permit me to offer +you this other watch. True it is only of silver, but it is all I have +left to give. And I feel quite sure that you must have somewhere a +silver seal, that will be exactly the thing to go with it.' + +'Why, so you have,' cried Dely; 'fasten your silver seal to your watch, +and I will hang my gold one on to mine.' + +The seals were produced, and, as Azemi had guessed, they were the +talismans which the two Circassians had taken from Izif and Izouf, +mounted in gold and silver. As quick as lightning the watches slid +from the hands of Tezila and her sister, and Aurora and Argentine stood +before them, each with her talisman on her finger. + +At first they seemed rather confused themselves at the change which had +taken place, and the sunlight which they had not seen for so long, but +when gradually they understood that their enchantment had come to an +end, they could find no words to express their happiness. + +The Circassians could with difficulty be comforted for the loss of the +talismans, but Aurora and Argentine entreated them to dry their tears, +as their father, Siroco, who was governor of Alexandria, would not +fail to reward them in any manner they wished. This promise was soon +confirmed by Siroco himself, who came into the garden with the Bassa and +his two sons, and was speedily joined by the ladies of the family. Only +Hassan was absent. It was the hour in which he was condemned to bewail +his ebony hand. + +To the surprise of all a noise was at this moment heard in a corner of +the terrace, and Hassan himself appeared surrounded by slaves, clapping +his hands and shouting with joy. 'I was weeping as usual,' cried he, +'when all at once the tears refused to come to my eyes, and on looking +down at my hand I saw that its blackness had vanished. And now, lovely +Zelida, nothing prevents me any longer from offering you the hand, when +the heart has been yours always.' + +But though Hassan never thought of asking or caring what had caused his +cure, the others were by no means so indifferent. It was quite clear +that the little black pig must be dead--but how, and when? To this the +slaves answered that they had seen that morning a man pursued by three +others, and that he had taken refuge in the cavern which they had been +left to guard. Then, in obedience to orders, they had rolled a stone +over the entrance. + +Piercing shrieks interrupted their story, and a man, whom the +Circassians saw to be the old dervish, rushed round the corner of the +terrace with the three Jews behind him. When the fugitive beheld so many +people collected together, he turned down another path, but the slaves +captured all four and brought them before their master. + +What was the surprise of the Bassa when he beheld in the old dervish the +man who had given the chaplet, the copper plaque, and the bracelet to +his three sons. 'Fear nothing, holy father,' he said, 'you are safe with +me. But tell us, how came you here?' + +'My lord,' explained the dervish, 'when my beard was cut off during my +sleep by the two Circassians, I was ashamed to appear before the eyes +of men, and fled, bearing with me the pink silk bag. In the night these +three men fell in with me, and we passed some time in conversation, but +at dawn, when it was light enough to see each other's faces, one of them +exclaimed that I was the dervish travelling with the two Circassians who +had stolen the talismans from the Jews. I jumped up and tried to fly +to my cave, but they were too quick for me, and just as we reached your +garden they snatched the bag which contained the little black pig and +flung it into the sea. By this act, which delivers your son, I would +pray you to forgive them for any wrongs they may have done you--nay +more, that you will recompense them for it.' The Bassa granted the holy +man's request, and seeing that the two Jews had fallen victims to the +charms of the Circassian ladies, gave his consent to their union, which +was fixed to take place at the same time as that of Izaf with the wise +Sumi. The Cadi was sent for, and the Jews exchanged the hats of their +race for the turbans of the followers of the Prophet. Then, after so +many misfortunes, the Bassa's three sons entreated their father to delay +their happiness no longer, and the six marriages were performed by the +Cadi at the hour of noon. + +[Cabinet des Fees.] + + + + +The Jackal and the Spring + + +Once upon a time all the streams and rivers ran so dry that the animals +did not know how to get water. After a very long search, which had been +quite in vain, they found a tiny spring, which only wanted to be dug +deeper so as to yield plenty of water. So the beasts said to each other, +'Let us dig a well, and then we shall not fear to die of thirst;' and +they all consented except the jackal, who hated work of any kind, and +generally got somebody to do it for him. + +When they had finished their well, they held a council as to who should +be made the guardian of the well, so that the jackal might not come near +it, for, they said, 'he would not work, therefore he shall not drink.' + +After some talk it was decided that the rabbit should be left in charge; +then all the other beasts went back to their homes. + +When they were out of sight the jackal arrived. 'Good morning! Good +morning, rabbit!' and the rabbit politely said, 'Good morning!' Then the +jackal unfastened the little bag that hung at his side, and pulled out +of it a piece of honeycomb which he began to eat, and turning to the +rabbit he remarked: + +'As you see, rabbit, I am not thirsty in the least, and this is nicer +than any water.' + +'Give me a bit,' asked the rabbit. So the jackal handed him a very +little morsel. + +'Oh, how good it is!' cried the rabbit; 'give me a little more, dear +friend!' + +But the jackal answered, 'If you really want me to give you some more, +you must have your paws tied behind you, and lie on your back, so that I +can pour it into your mouth.' + +The rabbit did as he was bid, and when he was tied tight and popped on +his back, the jackal ran to the spring and drank as much as he wanted. +When he had quite finished he returned to his den. + +In the evening the animals all came back, and when they saw the rabbit +lying with his paws tied, they said to him: 'Rabbit, how did you let +yourself be taken in like this?' + +'It was all the fault of the jackal,' replied the rabbit; 'he tied me +up like this, and told me he would give me something nice to eat. It was +all a trick just to get at our water.' + +'Rabbit, you are no better than an idiot to have let the jackal drink +our water when he would not help to find it. Who shall be our next +watchman? We must have somebody a little sharper than you!' and the +little hare called out, 'I will be the watchman.' + +The following morning the animals all went their various ways, leaving +the little hare to guard the spring. When they were out of sight the +jackal came back. 'Good morning! good morning, little hare,' and the +little hare politely said, 'Good morning.' + +'Can you give me a pinch of snuff?' said the jackal. + +'I am so sorry, but I have none,' answered the little hare. + +The jackal then came and sat down by the little hare, and unfastened his +little bag, pulling out of it a piece of honeycomb. He licked his lips +and exclaimed, 'Oh, little hare, if you only knew how good it is!' + +'What is it?' asked the little hare. + +'It is something that moistens my throat so deliciously,' answered the +jackal, 'that after I have eaten it I don't feel thirsty any more, while +I am sure that all you other beasts are for ever wanting water.' + +'Give me a bit, dear friend,' asked the little hare. + +'Not so fast,' replied the jackal. 'If you really wish to enjoy what +you are eating, you must have your paws tied behind you, and lie on your +back, so that I can pour it into your mouth.' + +'You can tie them, only be quick,' said the little hare, and when he was +tied tight and popped on his back, the jackal went quietly down to the +well, and drank as much as he wanted. When he had quite finished he +returned to his den. + +In the evening the animals all came back; and when they saw the little +hare with his paws tied, they said to him: 'Little hare, how did you let +yourself be taken in like this? Didn't you boast you were very sharp? +You undertook to guard our water; now show us how much is left for us to +drink!' + +'It is all the fault of the jackal,' replied the little hare. 'He told +me he would give me something nice to eat if I would just let him tie my +hands behind my back.' + +Then the animals said, 'Who can we trust to mount guard now?' And the +panther answered, 'Let it be the tortoise.' + +The following morning the animals all went their various ways, leaving +the tortoise to guard the spring. When they were out of sight the jackal +came back. 'Good morning, tortoise; good morning.' + +But the tortoise took no notice. + +'Good morning, tortoise; good morning.' But still the tortoise pretended +not to hear. + +Then the jackal said to himself, 'Well, to-day I have only got to manage +a bigger idiot than before. I shall just kick him on one side, and then +go and have a drink.' So he went up to the tortoise and said to him in a +soft voice, 'Tortoise! tortoise!' but the tortoise took no notice. Then +the jackal kicked him out of the way, and went to the well and began to +drink, but scarcely had he touched the water, than the tortoise seized +him by the leg. The jackal shrieked out: 'Oh, you will break my leg!' +but the tortoise only held on the tighter. The jackal then took his bag +and tried to make the tortoise smell the honeycomb he had inside; but +the tortoise turned away his head and smelt nothing. At last the jackal +said to the tortoise, 'I should like to give you my bag and everything +in it,' but the only answer the tortoise made was to grasp the jackal's +leg tighter still. + +So matters stood when the other animals came back. The moment he saw +them, the jackal gave a violent tug, and managed to free his leg, and +then took to his heels as fast as he could. And the animals all said to +the tortoise: + +'Well done, tortoise, you have proved your courage; now we can drink +from our well in peace, as you have got the better of that thieving +jackal!' + +[Contes Populaires des Bassoutos, recueillis et traduits par E. +Jacottet. Paris: Leroux, editeur.] + + + + +The Bear + + +Once on a time there was a king who had an only daughter. He was so +proud and so fond of her, that he was in constant terror that something +would happen to her if she went outside the palace, and thus, owing to +his great love for her, he forced her to lead the life of a prisoner, +shut up within her own rooms. + +The princess did not like this at all, and one day she complained about +it very bitterly to her nurse. Now, the nurse was a witch, though the +king did not know it. For some time she listened and tried to soothe the +princess; but when she saw that she would not be comforted, she said to +her: 'Your father loves you very dearly, as you know. Whatever you were +to ask from him he would give you. The one thing he will not grant you +is permission to leave the palace. Now, do as I tell you. Go to your +father and ask him to give you a wooden wheel-barrow, and a bear's skin. +When you have got them bring them to me, and I will touch them with my +magic wand. The wheel-barrow will then move of itself, and will take +you at full speed wherever you want to go, and the bear's skin will make +such a covering for you, that no one will recognise you.' + +So the princess did as the witch advised her. The king, when he heard +her strange request, was greatly astonished, and asked her what she +meant to do with a wheel-barrow and a bear's skin. And the princess +answered, 'You never let me leave the house--at least you might grant me +this request' So the king granted it, and the princess went back to her +nurse, taking the barrow and the bear's skin with her. + +As soon as the witch saw them, she touched them with her magic wand, +and in a moment the barrow began to move about in all directions. The +princess next put on the bear's skin, which so completely changed her +appearance, that no one could have known that she was a girl and not a +bear. In this strange attire she seated herself on the barrow, and in +a few minutes she found herself far away from the palace, and moving +rapidly through a great forest. Here she stopped the barrow with a sign +that the witch had shown her, and hid herself and it in a thick grove of +flowering shrubs. + +Now it happened that the prince of that country was hunting with his +dogs in the forest. Suddenly he caught sight of the bear hiding among +the shrubs, and calling his dogs, hounded them on to attack it. But the +girl, seeing what peril she was in, cried, 'Call off your dogs, or they +will kill me. What harm have I ever done to you?' At these words, coming +from a bear, the prince was so startled that for a moment he stood +stock-still, then he said quite gently, 'Will you come with me? I will +take you to my home.' + +'I will come gladly,' replied the bear; and seating herself on the +barrow it at once began to move in the direction of the prince's palace. +You may imagine the surprise of the prince's mother when she saw her son +return accompanied by a bear, who at once set about doing the house-work +better than any servant that the queen had ever seen. + +Now it happened that there were great festivities going on in the palace +of a neighbouring prince, and at dinner, one day, the prince said to his +mother: 'This evening there is to be a great ball, to which I must go.' + +And his mother answered, 'Go and dance, and enjoy yourself.' + +Suddenly a voice came from under the table, where the bear had rolled +itself, as was its wont: 'Let me come to the ball; I, too, would like to +dance.' + +But the only answer the prince made was to give the bear a kick, and to +drive it out of the room. + +In the evening the prince set off for the ball. As soon as he had +started, the bear came to the queen and implored to be allowed to go to +the ball, saying that she would hide herself so well that no one would +know she was there. The kind-hearted queen could not refuse her. + +Then the bear ran to her barrow, threw off her bear's skin, and touched +it with the magic wand that the witch had given her. In a moment the +skin was changed into an exquisite ball dress woven out of moon-beams, +and the wheel-barrow was changed into a carriage drawn by two prancing +steeds. Stepping into the carriage the princess drove to the grand +entrance of the palace. When she entered the ball-room, in her wondrous +dress of moon-beams, she looked so lovely, so different from all the +other guests, that everyone wondered who she was, and no one could tell +where she had come from. + +From the moment he saw her, the prince fell desperately in love with +her, and all the evening he would dance with no one else but the +beautiful stranger. + +When the ball was over, the princess drove away in her carriage at full +speed, for she wished to get home in time to change her ball dress into +the bear's skin, and the carriage into the wheel-barrow, before anyone +discovered who she was. + +The prince, putting spurs into his horse, rode after her, for he was +determined not to let her out of his sight. But suddenly a thick mist +arose and hid her from him. When he reached his home he could talk to +his mother of nothing else but the beautiful stranger with whom he had +danced so often, and with whom he was so much in love. And the bear +beneath the table smiled to itself, and muttered: 'I am the beautiful +stranger; oh, how I have taken you in!' + +The next evening there was a second ball, and, as you may believe, the +prince was determined not to miss it, for he thought he would once more +see the lovely girl, and dance with her and talk to her, and make her +talk to him, for at the first ball she had never opened her lips. + +And, sure enough, as the music struck up the first dance, the beautiful +stranger entered the room, looking even more radiant than the night +before, for this time her dress was woven out of the rays of the sun. +All evening the prince danced with her, but she never spoke a word. + +When the ball was over he tried once more to follow her carriage, that +he might know whence she came, but suddenly a great waterspout fell from +the sky, and the blinding sheets of rain hid her from his sight. + +When he reached his home he told his mother that he had again seen the +lovely girl, and that this time she had been even more beautiful than +the night before. And again the bear smiled beneath the table, and +muttered: 'I have taken him in a second time, and he has no idea that I +am the beautiful girl with whom he is so much in love.' + +On the next evening, the prince returned to the palace for the third +ball. And the princess went too, and this time she had changed her +bear's skin into a dress woven out of the star-light, studded all over +with gems, and she looked so dazzling and so beautiful, that everyone +wondered at her, and said that no one so beautiful had ever been seen +before. And the prince danced with her, and, though he could not induce +her to speak, he succeeded in slipping a ring on her finger. + +When the ball was over, he followed her carriage, and rode at such a +pace that for long he kept it in sight. Then suddenly a terrible wind +arose between him and the carriage, and he could not overtake it. + +When he reached his home he said to his mother, 'I do not know what is +to become of me; I think I shall go mad, I am so much in love with that +girl, and I have no means of finding out who she is. I danced with her +and I gave her a ring, and yet I do not know her name, nor where I am to +find her.' + +Then the bear laughed beneath the table and muttered to itself. + +And the prince continued: 'I am tired to death. Order some soup to be +made for me, but I don't want that bear to meddle with it. Every time I +speak of my love the brute mutters and laughs, and seems to mock at me. +I hate the sight of the creature!' + +When the soup was ready, the bear brought it to the prince; but before +handing it to him, she dropped into the plate the ring the prince had +given her the night before at the ball. The prince began to eat his soup +very slowly and languidly, for he was sad at heart, and all his thoughts +were busy, wondering how and where he could see the lovely stranger +again. Suddenly he noticed the ring at the bottom of the plate. In a +moment he recognised it, and was dumb with surprise. + +Then he saw the bear standing beside him, looking at him with gentle, +beseeching eyes, and something in the eyes of the bear made him say: +'Take off that skin, some mystery is hidden beneath it.' + +And the bear's skin dropped off, and the beautiful girl stood before +him, in the dress woven out of the star-light, and he saw that she was +the stranger with whom he had fallen so deeply in love. And now she +appeared to him a thousand times more beautiful than ever, and he led +her to his mother. And the princess told them her story, and how she had +been kept shut up by her father in his palace, and how she had wearied +of her imprisonment. And the prince's mother loved her, and rejoiced +that her son should have so good and beautiful a wife. + +So they were married, and lived happily for many years, and reigned +wisely over their kingdom. + + + + +The Sunchild + + +Once there was a woman who had no children, and this made her very +unhappy. So she spoke one day to the Sunball, saying: 'Dear Sunball, +send me only a little girl now, and when she is twelve years old you may +take her back again.' + +So soon after this the Sunball sent her a little girl, whom the woman +called Letiko, and watched over with great care till she was twelve +years old. Soon after that, while Letiko was away one day gathering +herbs, the Sunball came to her, and said: 'Letiko, when you go home, +tell your mother that she must bethink herself of what she promised me.' + +Then Letiko went straight home, and said to her mother: 'While I was +gathering herbs a fine tall gentleman came to me and charged me to tell +you that you should remember what you promised him.' + +When the woman heard that she was sore afraid, and immediately shut all +the doors and windows of the house, stopped up all the chinks and holes, +and kept Letiko hidden away, that the Sunball should not come and take +her away. But she forgot to close up the keyhole, and through it the +Sunball sent a ray into the house, which took hold of the little girl +and carried her away to him. + +One day, the Sunball having sent her to the straw shed to fetch straw, +the girl sat down on the piles of straw and bemoaned herself, saying: +'As sighs this straw under my feet so sighs my heart after my mother.' + +And this caused her to be so long away that the Sunball asked her, when +she came back: 'Eh, Letiko, where have you been so long?' + +She answered: 'My slippers are too big, and I could not go faster.' + +Then the Sunball made the slippers shorter. + +Another time he sent her to fetch water, and when she came to the +spring, she sat down and lamented, saying: 'As flows the water even so +flows my heart with longing for my mother.' + +Thus she again remained so long away that the Sunball asked her: 'Eh, +Letiko, why have you remained so long away?' + +And she answered: 'My petticoat is too long and hinders me in walking.' + +Then the Sunball cut her petticoat to make it shorter. + +Another time the Sunball sent her to bring him a pair of sandals, and +as the girl carried these in her hand she began to lament, saying: 'As +creaks the leather so creaks my heart after my little mother.' + +When she came home the Sunball asked her again: 'Eh, Letiko, why do you +come home so late?' + +'My red hood is too wide, and falls over my eyes, therefore I could not +go fast.' + +Then he made the hood narrower. + +At last, however, the Sunball became aware how sad Letiko was. He sent +her a second time to bring straw, and, slipping in after her, he heard +how she lamented for her mother. Then he went home, called two foxes to +him, and said: 'Will you take Letiko home?' + +'Yes, why not?' + +'But what will you eat and drink if you should become hungry and thirsty +by the way?' + +'We will eat her flesh and drink her blood.' + +When the Sunball heard that, he said: 'You are not suited for this +affair.' + +Then he sent them away, and called two hares to him, and said: 'Will you +take Letiko home to her mother?' + +'Yes, why not?' + +'What will you eat and drink if you should become hungry and thirsty by +the way?' + +'We will eat grass and drink from streamlets.' + +'Then take her, and bring her home.' + +Then the hares set out, taking Letiko with them, and because it was a +long way to her home they became hungry by the way. Then they said to +the little girl: 'Climb this tree, dear Letiko, and remain there till we +have finished eating.' + +So Letiko climbed the tree, and the hares went grazing. + +It was not very long, however, before a lamia came under the tree and +called out: 'Letiko, Letiko, come down and see what beautiful shoes I +have on.' + +'Oh! my shoes are much finer than yours.' + +'Come down. I am in a hurry, for my house is not yet swept.' + +'Go home and sweep it then, and come back when you are ready.' + +Then the lamia went away and swept her house, and when she was ready +she came back and called out: 'Letiko, Letiko, come down and see what a +beautiful apron I have.' + +'Oh! my apron is much finer than yours.' + +'If you will not come down I will cut down the tree and eat you.' + +'Do so, and then eat me.' + +Then the lamia hewed with all her strength at the tree, but could not +cut it down. And when she saw that, she called out: 'Letiko, Letiko, +come down, for I must feed my children.' + +'Go home then and feed them, and come back when you are ready.' + +When the lamia was gone away, Letiko called out: 'Little hares! little +hares!' + +Then said one hare to the other: 'Listen, Letiko is calling;' and they +both ran back to her as fast as they could go. Then Letiko came down +from the tree, and they went on their way. + +The lamia ran as fast as she could after them, to catch them up, and +when she came to a field where people were working she asked them: 'Have +you seen anyone pass this way?' + +They answered: 'We are planting beans.' + +'Oh! I did not ask about that; but if anyone had passed this way.' + +But the people only answered the louder: 'Are you deaf? It is beans, +beans, beans we are planting.' + +When Letiko had nearly reached her home the dog knew her, and called +out, 'Bow wow! see here comes Letiko!' + +And the mother said, 'Hush! thou beast of ill-omen! wilt thou make me +burst with misery?' + +Next the cat on the roof saw her, and called out 'Miaouw! miaouw! see +here comes Letiko!' + +And the mother said, 'Keep silence! thou beast of ill-omen! wilt thou +make me burst with misery?' + +Then the cock spied, and called out: 'Cock-a-doodle-do! see here comes +Letiko!' + +And the mother said again: 'Be quiet! thou bird of ill-omen! wilt thou +make me burst with misery?' + +The nearer Letiko and the two hares came to the house the nearer also +came the lamia, and when the hare was about to slip in by the house door +she caught it by its little tail and tore it out. + +When the hare came in the mother stood up and said to it: 'Welcome, dear +little hare; because you have brought me back Letiko I will silver your +little tail.' + +And she did so; and lived ever after with her daughter in happiness and +content. + + + + +The Daughter Of Buk Ettemsuch + + +Once upon a time there lived a man who had seven daughters. For a long +time they dwelt quite happily at home together, then one morning the +father called them all before him and said: + +'Your mother and I are going on a journey, and as we do not know how +long we may be away, you will find enough provisions in the house to +last you three years. But see you do not open the door to anyone till we +come home again.' + +'Very well, dear father,' replied the girls. + +For two years they never left the house or unlocked the door; but one +day, when they had washed their clothes, and were spreading them out on +the roof to dry, the girls looked down into the street where people were +walking to and fro, and across to the market, with its stalls of fresh +meat, vegetables, and other nice things. + +'Come here,' cried one. 'It makes me quite hungry! Why should not +we have our share? Let one of us go to the market, and buy meat and +vegetables.' + +'Oh, we mustn't do that!' said the youngest. 'You know our father +forbade us to open the door till he came home again.' + +Then the eldest sister sprang at her and struck her, the second spit at +her, the third abused her, the fourth pushed her, the fifth flung her to +the ground, and the sixth tore her clothes. Then they left her lying on +the floor, and went out with a basket. + +In about an hour they came back with the basket full of meat and +vegetables, which they put in a pot, and set on the fire, quite +forgetting that the house door stood wide open. The youngest sister, +however, took no part in all this, and when dinner was ready and the +table laid, she stole softly out to the entrance hall, and hid herself +behind a great cask which stood in one corner. + +Now, while the other sisters were enjoying their feast, a witch passed +by, and catching sight of the open door, she walked in. She went up +to the eldest girl, and said: 'Where shall I begin on you, you fat +bolster?' + +'You must begin,' answered she, 'with the hand which struck my little +sister.' + +So the witch gobbled her up, and when the last scrap had disappeared, +she came to the second and asked: 'Where shall I begin on you, my fat +bolster?' + +And the second answered, 'You must begin on my mouth, which spat on my +sister.' + +And so on to the rest; and very soon the whole six had disappeared. +And as the witch was eating the last mouthful of the last sister, the +youngest, who had been crouching, frozen with horror, behind the barrel, +ran out through the open door into the street. Without looking behind +her, she hastened on and on, as fast as her feet would carry her, till +she saw an ogre's castle standing in front of her. In a corner near the +door she spied a large pot, and she crept softly up to it and pulled the +cover over it, and went to sleep. + +By-and-by the ogre came home. 'Fee, Fo, Fum,' cried he, 'I smell the +smell of a man. What ill fate has brought him here?' And he looked +through all the rooms, and found nobody. 'Where are you?' he called. 'Do +not be afraid, I will do you no harm.' + +But the girl was still silent. + +'Come out, I tell you,' repeated the ogre. 'Your life is quite safe. If +you are an old man, you shall be my father. If you are a boy, you shall +be my son. If your years are as many as mine, you shall be my brother. +If you are an old woman, you shall be my mother. If you are a young one, +you shall be my daughter. If you are middle-aged, you shall be my wife. +So come out, and fear nothing.' + +Then the maiden came out of her hiding-place, and stood before him. + +'Fear nothing,' said the ogre again; and when he went away to hunt he +left her to look after the house. In the evening he returned, bringing +with him hares, partridges, and gazelles, for the girl's supper; for +himself he only cared for the flesh of men, which she cooked for him. +He also gave into her charge the keys of six rooms, but the key of the +seventh he kept himself. + +And time passed on, and the girl and the ogre still lived together. + +She called him 'Father,' and he called her 'Daughter,' and never once +did he speak roughly to her. + +One day the maiden said to him, 'Father, give me the key of the upper +chamber.' + +'No, my daughter,' replied the ogre. 'There is nothing there that is any +use to you.' + +'But I want the key,' she repeated again. + +However the ogre took no notice, and pretended not to hear. The girl +began to cry, and said to herself: 'To-night, when he thinks I am +asleep, I will watch and see where he hides it;' and after she and the +ogre had supped, she bade him good-night, and left the room. In a few +minutes she stole quietly back, and watched from behind a curtain. In a +little while she saw the ogre take the key from his pocket, and hide it +in a hole in the ground before he went to bed. And when all was still +she took out the key, and went back to the house. + +The next morning the ogre awoke with the first ray of light, and the +first thing he did was to look for the key. It was gone, and he guessed +at once what had become of it. + +But instead of getting into a great rage, as most ogres would have done, +he said to himself, 'If I wake the maiden up I shall only frighten her. +For to-day she shall keep the key, and when I return to-night it will be +time enough to take it from her.' So he went off to hunt. + +The moment he was safe out of the way, the girl ran upstairs and opened +the door of the room, which was quite bare. The one window was closed, +and she threw back the lattice and looked out. Beneath lay a garden +which belonged to the prince, and in the garden was an ox, who was +drawing up water from the well all by himself--for there was nobody to +be seen anywhere. The ox raised his head at the noise the girl made in +opening the lattice, and said to her, 'Good morning, O daughter of Buk +Ettemsuch! Your father is feeding you up till you are nice and fat, and +then he will put you on a spit and cook you.' + +These words so frightened the maiden that she burst into tears and ran +out of the room. All day she wept, and when the ogre came home at night, +no supper was ready for him. + +'What are you crying for?' said he. 'Where is my supper, and is it you +who have opened the upper chamber?' + +'Yes, I opened it,' answered she. + +'And what did the ox say to you?' + +'He said, "Good morning, O daughter of Buk Ettemsuch. Your father is +feeding you up till you are nice and fat, and then he will put you on a +spit and cook you."' + +'Well, to-morrow you can go to the window and say, "My father is feeding +me up till I am nice and fat, but he does not mean to eat me. If I had +one of your eyes I would use it for a mirror, and look at myself before +and behind; and your girths should be loosened, and you should be +blind--seven days and seven nights."' + +'All right,' replied the girl, and the next morning, when the ox spoke +to her, she answered him as she had been told, and he fell down straight +upon the ground, and lay there seven days and seven nights. But the +flowers in the garden withered, for there was no one to water them. + +When the prince came into his garden he found nothing but yellow stalks; +in the midst of them the ox was lying. With a blow from his sword he +killed the animal, and, turning to his attendants, he said, 'Go and +fetch another ox!' And they brought in a great beast, and he drew the +water out of the well, and the flowers revived, and the grass grew green +again. Then the prince called his attendants and went away. + +The next morning the girl heard the noise of the waterwheel, and she +opened the lattice and looked out of the window. + +'Good morning, O daughter of Buk Ettemsuch!' said the new ox. 'Your +father is feeding you up till you are nice and fat, and then he will put +you on a spit and cook you.' + +And the maiden answered: 'My father is feeding me up till I am nice and +fat, but he does not mean to eat me. If I had one of your eyes I would +use it for a mirror, and look at myself before and behind; and your +girths should be loosened, and you should be blind--seven days and seven +nights.' + +Directly she uttered these words the ox fell to the ground and lay +there, seven days and seven nights. Then he arose and began to draw the +water from the well. He had only turned the wheel once or twice, when +the prince took it into his head to visit his garden and see how the +new ox was getting on. When he entered the ox was working busily; but in +spite of that the flowers and grass were dried up. And the prince drew +his sword, and rushed at the ox to slay him, as he had done the other. +But the ox fell on his knees and said: + +'My lord, only spare my life, and let me tell you how it happened.' + +'How what happened?' asked the prince. + +'My lord, a girl looked out of that window and spoke a few words to me, +and I fell to the ground. For seven days and seven nights I lay there, +unable to move. But, O my lord, it is not given to us twice to behold +beauty such as hers.' + +'It is a lie,' said the prince. 'An ogre dwells there. Is it likely that +he keeps a maiden in his upper chamber?' + +'Why not?' replied the ox. 'But if you come here at dawn to-morrow, and +hide behind that tree, you will see for yourself.' + +'So I will,' said the prince; 'and if I find that you have not spoken +truth, I will kill you.' + +The prince left the garden, and the ox went on with his work. Next +morning the prince came early to the garden, and found the ox busy with +the waterwheel. + +'Has the girl appeared yet?' he asked. + +'Not yet; but she will not be long. Hide yourself in the branches of +that tree, and you will soon see her.' + +The prince did as he was told, and scarcely was he seated when the +maiden threw open the lattice. + +'Good morning, O daughter of Buk Ettemsuch!' said the ox. 'Your father +is feeding you up till you are nice and fat, and then he will put you on +a spit and cook you.' + +'My father is feeding me up till I am nice and fat, but he does not mean +to eat me. If I had one of your eyes I would use it for a mirror, and +look at myself before and behind; and your girths should be loosened, +and you should be blind--seven days and seven nights.' And hardly had +she spoken when the ox fell on the ground, and the maiden shut the +lattice and went away. But the prince knew that what the ox had said +was true, and that she had not her equal in the whole world. And he came +down from the tree, his heart burning with love. + +'Why has the ogre not eaten her?' thought he. 'This night I will invite +him to supper in my palace and question him about the maiden, and find +out if she is his wife.' + +So the prince ordered a great ox to be slain and roasted whole, and two +huge tanks to be made, one filled with water and the other with wine. +And towards evening he called his attendants and went to the ogre's +house to wait in the courtyard till he came back from hunting. The ogre +was surprised to see so many people assembled in front of his house; but +he bowed politely and said, 'Good morning, dear neighbours! To what do I +owe the pleasure of this visit? I have not offended you, I hope?' + +'Oh, certainly not!' answered the prince. + +'Then,' continued the ogre, 'What has brought you to my house to-day for +the first time?' + +'We should like to have supper with you,' said the prince. + +'Well, supper is ready, and you are welcome,' replied the ogre, leading +the way into the house, for he had had a good day, and there was plenty +of game in the bag over his shoulder. + +A table was quickly prepared, and the prince had already taken his +place, when he suddenly exclaimed, 'After all, Buk Ettemsuch, suppose +you come to supper with me?' + +'Where?' asked the ogre. + +'In my house. I know it is all ready.' + +'But it is so far off--why not stay here?' + +'Oh, I will come another day; but this evening I must be your host.' + +So the ogre accompanied the prince and his attendants back to the +palace. After a while the prince turned to the ogre and said: + +'It is as a wooer that I appear before you. I seek a wife from an +honourable family.' + +'But I have no daughter,' replied the ogre. + +'Oh, yes you have, I saw her at the window.' + +'Well, you can marry her if you wish,' said he. + +So the prince's heart was glad as he and his attendants rode back with +the ogre to his house. And as they parted, the prince said to his guest, +'You will not forget the bargain we have made?' + +'I am not a young man, and never break my promises,' said the ogre, and +went in and shut the door. + +Upstairs he found the maiden, waiting till he returned to have her +supper, for she did not like eating by herself. + +'I have had my supper,' said the ogre, 'for I have been spending the +evening with the prince.' + +'Where did you meet him?' asked the girl. + +'Oh, we are neighbours, and grew up together, and to-night I promised +that you should be his wife.' + +'I don't want to be any man's wife,' answered she; but this was only +pretence, for her heart too was glad. + +Next morning early came the prince, bringing with him bridal gifts, and +splendid wedding garments, to carry the maiden back to his palace. + +But before he let her go the ogre called her to him, and said, 'Be +careful, girl, never to speak to the prince; and when he speaks to you, +you must be dumb, unless he swears "by the head of Buk Ettemsuch." Then +you may speak.' + +'Very well,' answered the girl. + +They set out; and when they reached the palace, the prince led his bride +to the room he had prepared for her, and said 'Speak to me, my wife,' +but she was silent; and by-and-by he left her, thinking that perhaps she +was shy. The next day the same thing happened, and the next. + +At last he said, 'Well, if you won't speak, I shall go and get another +wife who will.' And he did. + +Now when the new wife was brought to the palace the daughter of Buk +Ettemsuch rose, and spoke to the ladies who had come to attend on the +second bride. 'Go and sit down. I will make ready the feast.' And the +ladies sat down as they were told, and waited. + +The maiden sat down too, and called out, 'Come here, firewood,' and +the firewood came. 'Come here, fire,' and the fire came and kindled the +wood. 'Come here, pot.' 'Come here, oil;' and the pot and the oil came. +'Get into the pot, oil!' said she, and the oil did it. When the oil was +boiling, the maiden dipped all her fingers in it, and they became ten +fried fishes. 'Come here, oven,' she cried next, and the oven came. +'Fire, heat the oven.' And the fire heated it. When it was hot enough, +the maiden jumped in, just as she was, with her beautiful silver and +gold dress, and all her jewels. In a minute or two she had turned into a +snow-white loaf, that made your mouth water. + +Said the loaf to the ladies, 'You can eat now; do not stand so far off;' +but they only stared at each other, speechless with surprise. + +'What are you staring at?' asked the new bride. + +'At all these wonders,' replied the ladies. + +'Do you call these wonders?' said she scornfully; 'I can do that too,' +and she jumped straight into the oven, and was burnt up in a moment. + +Then they ran to the prince and said: 'Come quickly, your wife is dead!' + +'Bury her, then!' returned he. 'But why did she do it? I am sure I said +nothing to make her throw herself into the oven.' + +Accordingly the burnt woman was buried, but the prince would not go to +the funeral as all his thoughts were still with the wife who would not +speak to him. The next night he said to her, 'Dear wife, are you afraid +that something dreadful will happen if you speak to me? If you still +persist in being dumb, I shall be forced to get another wife.' The poor +girl longed to speak, but dread of the ogre kept her silent, and the +prince did as he had said, and brought a fresh bride into the palace. +And when she and her ladies were seated in state, the maiden planted a +sharp stake in the ground, and sat herself down comfortably on it, and +began to spin. + +'What are you staring at so?' said the new bride to her ladies. 'Do you +think that is anything wonderful? Why, I can do as much myself!' + +'I am sure you can't,' said they, much too surprised to be polite. + +Then the maid sprang off the stake and left the room, and instantly the +new wife took her place. But the sharp stake ran through, and she was +dead in a moment. So they sent to the prince and said, 'Come quickly, +and bury your wife.' + +'Bury her yourselves,' he answered. 'What did she do it for? It was not +by my orders that she impaled herself on the stake.' + +So they buried her; and in the evening the prince came to the daughter +of Buk Ettemsuch, and said to her, 'Speak to me, or I shall have to take +another wife.' But she was afraid to speak to him. + +The following day the prince hid himself in the room and watched. And +soon the maiden woke, and said to the pitcher and to the water-jug, +'Quick! go down to the spring and bring me some water; I am thirsty.' + +And they went. But as they were filling themselves at the spring, the +water-jug knocked against the pitcher and broke off its spout. And the +pitcher burst into tears, and ran to the maiden, and said: 'Mistress, +beat the water-jug, for he has broken my spout!' + +'By the head of Buk Ettemsuch, I implore you not to beat me!' + +'Ah,' she replied, 'if only my husband had sworn by that oath, I could +have spoken to him from the beginning, and he need never have taken +another wife. But now he will never say it, and he will have to go on +marrying fresh ones.' + +And the prince, from his hiding-place, heard her words, and he jumped up +and ran to her and said, 'By the head of Buk Ettemsuch, speak to me.' + +So she spoke to him, and they lived happily to the end of their days, +because the girl kept the promise she had made to the ogre. + +[Maerchen und Gedichte aus der Stadt Tripolis. Von Hans Stumme.] + + + + +Laughing Eye and Weeping Eye, or the Limping Fox + +(Servian Story) + + +Once upon a time there lived a man whose right eye always smiled, and +whose left eye always cried; and this man had three sons, two of them +very clever, and the third very stupid. Now these three sons were very +curious about the peculiarity of their father's eyes, and as they could +not puzzle out the reason for themselves, they determined to ask their +father why he did not have eyes like other people. + +So the eldest of the three went one day into his father's room and put +the question straight out; but, instead of answering, the man flew into +a fearful rage, and sprang at him with a knife. The young fellow ran +away in a terrible fright, and took refuge with his brothers, who were +awaiting anxiously the result of the interview. + +'You had better go yourselves,' was all the reply they got, 'and see if +you will fare any better.' + +Upon hearing this, the second son entered his father's room, only to be +treated in the same manner as his brother; and back he came telling the +youngest, the fool of the family, that it was his turn to try his luck. + +Then the youngest son marched boldly up to his father and said to him, +'My brothers would not let me know what answer you had given to their +question. But now, do tell me why your right eye always laughs and your +left eye always weeps.' + +As before, the father grew purple with fury, and rushed forwards with +his knife. But the simpleton did not stir a step; he knew that he had +really nothing to fear from his father. + +'Ah, now I see who is my true son,' exclaimed the old man; 'the others +are mere cowards. And as you have shown me that you are brave, I will +satisfy your curiosity. My right eye laughs because I am glad to have +a son like you; my left eye weeps because a precious treasure has been +stolen from me. I had in my garden a vine that yielded a tun of wine +every hour--someone has managed to steal it, so I weep its loss.' + +The simpleton returned to his brothers and told them of their father's +loss, and they all made up their minds to set out at once in search of +the vine. They travelled together till they came to some cross roads, +and there they parted, the two elder ones taking one road, and the +simpleton the other. + +'Thank goodness we have got rid of that idiot,' exclaimed the two elder. +'Now let us have some breakfast.' And they sat down by the roadside and +began to eat. + +They had only half finished, when a lame fox came out of a wood and +begged them to give him something to eat. But they jumped up and chased +him off with their sticks, and the poor fox limped away on his three +pads. As he ran he reached the spot where the youngest son was getting +out the food he had brought with him, and the fox asked him for a crust +of bread. The simpleton had not very much for himself, but he gladly +gave half of his meal to the hungry fox. + +'Where are you going, brother?' said the fox, when he had finished his +share of the bread; and the young man told him the story of his father +and the wonderful vine. + +'Dear me, how lucky!' said the fox. 'I know what has become of it. +Follow me!' So they went on till they came to the gate of a large +garden. + +'You will find here the vine that you are seeking, but it will not be at +all easy to get it. You must listen carefully to what I am going to say. +Before you reach the vine you will have to pass twelve outposts, each +consisting of two guards. If you see these guards looking straight at +you, go on without fear, for they are asleep. But if their eyes are shut +then beware, for they are wide awake. If you once get to the vine, you +will find two shovels, one of wood and the other of iron. Be sure not to +take the iron one; it will make a noise and rouse the guards, and then +you are lost.' + +The young man got safely through the garden without any adventures till +he came to the vine which yielded a tun of wine an hour. But he thought +he should find it impossible to dig the hard earth with only a wooden +shovel, so picked up the iron one instead. The noise it made soon +awakened the guards. They seized the poor simpleton and carried him to +their master. + +'Why do you try to steal my vine?' demanded he; 'and how did you manage +to get past the guards?' + +'The vine is not yours; it belongs to my father, and if you will not +give it to me now, I will return and get it somehow.' + +'You shall have the vine if you will bring me in exchange an apple off +the golden apple-tree that flowers every twenty-four hours, and bears +fruit of gold.' So saying, he gave orders that the simpleton should be +released, and this done, the youth hurried off to consult the fox. + +'Now you see,' observed the fox, 'this comes of not following my advice. +However, I will help you to get the golden apple. It grows in a garden +that you will easily recognise from my description. Near the apple-tree +are two poles, one of gold, the other of wood. Take the wooden pole, and +you will be able to reach the apple.' + +Master Simpleton listened carefully to all that was told him, and +after crossing the garden, and escaping as before from the men who were +watching it, soon arrived at the apple-tree. But he was so dazzled by +the sight of the beautiful golden fruit, that he quite forgot all that +the fox had said. He seized the golden pole, and struck the branch a +sounding blow. The guards at once awoke, and conducted him to their +master. Then the simpleton had to tell his story. + +'I will give you the golden apple,' said the owner of the garden, 'if +you will bring me in exchange a horse which can go round the world in +four-and-twenty hours.' And the young man departed, and went to find the +fox. + +This time the fox was really angry, and no wonder. + +'If you had listened to me, you would have been home with your father +by this time. However I am willing to help you once more. Go into the +forest, and you will find the horse with two halters round his neck. One +is of gold, the other of hemp. Lead him by the hempen halter, or else +the horse will begin to neigh, and will waken the guards. Then all is +over with you.' + +So Master Simpleton searched till he found the horse, and was struck +dumb at its beauty. + +'What!' he said to himself, 'put the hempen halter on an animal like +that? Not I, indeed!' + +Then the horse neighed loudly; the guards seized our young friend and +conducted him before their master. + +'I will give you the golden horse,' said he, 'if you will bring me in +exchange a golden maiden who has never yet seen either sun or moon.' + +'But if I am to bring you the golden maiden you must lend me first the +golden steed with which to seek for her.' + +'Ah,' replied the owner of the golden horse, 'but who will undertake +that you will ever come back?' + +'I swear on the head of my father,' answered the young man, 'that I will +bring back either the maiden or the horse.' And he went away to consult +the fox. + +Now, the fox who was always patient and charitable to other people's +faults, led him to the entrance of a deep grotto, where stood a maiden +all of gold, and beautiful as the day. He placed her on his horse and +prepared to mount. + +'Are you not sorry,' said the fox, 'to give such a lovely maiden in +exchange for a horse? Yet you are bound to do it, for you have sworn by +the head of your father. But perhaps I could manage to take her place.' +So saying, the fox transformed himself into another golden maiden, so +like the first that hardly anyone could tell the difference between +them. + +The simpleton took her straight to the owner of the horse, who was +enchanted with her. + +And the young man got back his father's vine and married the real golden +maiden into the bargain. + +[Contes Populaires Slaves. Traduits par Louis Leger. Paris: Ernest +Leroux, editeur.] + + + + +The Unlooked-for Prince + +(Polish Story) + + +A long time ago there lived a king and queen who had no children, +although they both wished very much for a little son. They tried not to +let each other see how unhappy they were, and pretended to take pleasure +in hunting and hawking and all sorts of other sports; but at length the +king could bear it no longer, and declared that he must go and visit the +furthest corners of his kingdom, and that it would be many months before +he should return to his capital. + +By that time he hoped he would have so many things to think about that +he would have forgotten to trouble about the little son who never came. + +The country the king reigned over was very large, and full of high, +stony mountains and sandy deserts, so that it was not at all easy to +go from one place to another. One day the king had wandered out alone, +meaning to go only a little distance, but everything looked so alike he +could not make out the path by which he had come. He walked on and on +for hours, the sun beating hotly on his head, and his legs trembling +under him, and he might have died of thirst if he had not suddenly +stumbled on a little well, which looked as if it had been newly dug. On +the surface floated a silver cup with a golden handle, but as it bobbed +about whenever the king tried to seize it, he was too thirsty to wait +any longer and knelt down and drank his fill. + +When he had finished he began to rise from his knees, but somehow his +beard seemed to have stuck fast in the water, and with all his efforts +he could not pull it out. After two or three jerks to his head, which +only hurt him without doing any good, he called out angrily, 'Let go at +once! Who is holding me?' + +'It is I, the King Kostiei,' said a voice from the well, and looking up +through the water was a little man with green eyes and a big head. 'You +have drunk from my spring, and I shall not let you go until you promise +to give me the most precious thing your palace contains, which was not +there when you left it.' + +Now the only thing that the king much cared for in his palace was the +queen herself, and as she was weeping bitterly on a pile of cushions +in the great hall when he had ridden away, he knew that Kostiei's words +could not apply to her. So he cheerfully gave the promise asked for by +the ugly little man, and in the twinkling of an eye, man, spring, and +cup had disappeared, and the king was left kneeling on the dry sand, +wondering if it was all a dream. But as he felt much stronger and +better he made up his mind that this strange adventure must really have +happened, and he sprang on his horse and rode off with a light heart to +look for his companions. + +In a few weeks they began to set out on their return home, which they +reached one hot day, eight months after they had all left. The king was +greatly beloved by his people, and crowds lined the roads, shouting and +waving their hats as the procession passed along. On the steps of the +palace stood the queen, with a splendid golden cushion in her arms, and +on the cushion the most beautiful boy that ever was seen, wrapped about +in a cloud of lace. In a moment Kostiei's words rushed into the king's +mind, and he began to weep bitterly, to the surprise of everybody, who +had expected him nearly to die of joy at the sight of his son. But +try as he would and work as hard as he might he could never forget his +promise, and every time he let the baby out of his sight he thought that +he had seen it for the last time. + +However, years passed on and the prince grew first into a big boy, and +then into a fine young man. Kostiei made no sign, and gradually even the +anxious king thought less and less about him, and in the end forgot him +altogether. + +There was no family in the whole kingdom happier than the king and queen +and prince, until one day when the youth met a little old man as he +was hunting in a lonely part of the woods. 'How are you my unlooked-for +Prince?' he said. 'You kept them waiting a good long time!' + +'And who are you?' asked the prince. + +'You will know soon enough. When you go home give my compliments to your +father and tell him that I wish he would square accounts with me. If he +neglects to pay his debts he will bitterly repent it.' + +So saying the old man disappeared, and the prince returned to the palace +and told his father what had happened. + +The king turned pale and explained to his son the terrible story. + +'Do not grieve over it, father,' answered the prince. 'It is nothing so +dreadful after all! I will find some way to force Kostiei to give up +his rights over me. But if I do not come back in a year's time, you must +give up all hopes of ever seeing me.' + +Then the prince began to prepare for his journey. His father gave him +a complete suit of steel armour, a sword, and a horse, while his mother +hung round his neck a cross of gold. So, kissing him tenderly, with many +tears they let him go. + +He rode steadily on for three days, and at sunset on the fourth day he +found himself on the seashore. On the sand before him lay twelve white +dresses, dazzling as the snow, yet as far as his eyes could reach there +was no one in sight to whom they could belong. Curious to see what would +happen, he took up one of the garments, and leaving his horse loose, to +wander about the adjoining fields, he hid himself among some willows and +waited. In a few minutes a flock of geese which had been paddling about +in the sea approached the shore, and put on the dresses, struck the sand +with their feet and were transformed in the twinkling of an eye into +eleven beautiful young girls, who flew away as fast as they could. The +twelfth and youngest remained in the water, stretching out her long +white neck and looking about her anxiously. Suddenly, among the willows, +she perceived the king's son, and called out to him with a human voice: + +'Oh Prince, give me back my dress, and I shall be for ever grateful to +you.' + +The prince hastened to lay the dress on the sand, and walked away. When +the maiden had thrown off the goose-skin and quickly put on her proper +clothes, she came towards him and he saw that none had ever seen or told +of such beauty as hers. She blushed and held out her hand, saying to him +in a soft voice: + +'I thank you, noble Prince, for having granted my request. I am the +youngest daughter of Kostiei the immortal, who has twelve daughters and +rules over the kingdoms under the earth. Long time my father has waited +for you, and great is his anger. But trouble not yourself and fear +nothing, only do as I bid you. When you see the King Kostiei, fall +straightway upon your knees and heed neither his threats nor his cry, +but draw near to him boldly. That which will happen after, you will know +in time. Now let us go.' + +At these words she struck the ground with her foot and a gulf opened, +down which they went right into the heart of the earth. In a short time +they reached Kostiei's palace, which gives light, with a light brighter +than the sun, to the dark kingdoms below. And the prince, as he had been +bidden, entered boldly into the hall. + +Kostiei, with a shining crown upon his head, sat in the centre upon a +golden throne. His green eyes glittered like glass, his hands were +as the claws of a crab. When he caught sight of the prince he uttered +piercing yells, which shook the walls of the palace. The prince took no +notice, but continued his advance on his knees towards the throne. When +he had almost reached it, the king broke out into a laugh and said: + +'It has been very lucky for you that you have been able to make me +laugh. Stay with us in our underground empire, only first you will have +to do three things. To-night it is late. Go to sleep; to-morrow I will +tell you.' + +Early the following morning the prince received a message that Kostiei +was ready to see him. He got up and dressed, and hastened to the +presence chamber, where the little king was seated on his throne. When +the prince appeared, bowing low before him, Kostiei began: + +'Now, Prince, this is what you have to do. By to-night you must build +me a marble palace, with windows of crystal and a roof of gold. It is to +stand in the middle of a great park, full of streams and lakes. If +you are able to build it you shall be my friend. If not, off with your +head.' + +The prince listened in silence to this startling speech, and then +returning to his room set himself to think about the certain death that +awaited him. He was quite absorbed in these thoughts, when suddenly a +bee flew against the window and tapped, saying, 'Let me come in.' He +rose and opened the window, and there stood before him the youngest +princess. + +'What are you dreaming about, Prince?' + +'I was dreaming of your father, who has planned my death.' + +'Fear nothing. You may sleep in peace, and to-morrow morning when you +awake you will find the palace all ready.' + +What she said, she did. The next morning when the prince left his +room he saw before him a palace more beautiful than his fancy had +ever pictured. Kostiei for his part could hardly believe his eyes, and +pondered deeply how it had got there. + +'Well, this time you have certainly won; but you are not going to be let +off so easily. To-morrow all my twelve daughters shall stand in a row +before you, and if you cannot tell me which of them is the youngest, off +goes your head.' + +'What! Not recognise the youngest princess!' said the Prince to himself, +as he entered his room, 'a likely story!' + +'It is such a difficult matter that you will never be able to do it +without my help,' replied the bee, who was buzzing about the ceiling. +'We are all so exactly alike, that even our father scarcely knows the +difference between us.' + +'Then what must I do?' + +'This. The youngest is she who will have a ladybird on her eyelid. Be +very careful. Now good-bye.' + +Next morning King Kostiei again sent for the prince. The young +princesses were all drawn up in a row, dressed precisely in the same +manner, and with their eyes all cast down. As the prince looked at them, +he was amazed at their likeness. Twice he walked along the line, without +being able to detect the sign agreed upon. The third time his heart beat +fast at the sight of a tiny speck upon the eyelid of one of the girls. + +'This one is the youngest,' he said. + +'How in the world did you guess?' cried Kostiei in a fury. 'There is +some jugglery about it! But you are not going to escape me so easily. +In three hours you shall come here and give me another proof of your +cleverness. I shall set alight a handful of straw, and before it is +burnt up you will have turned it into a pair of boots. If not, off goes +your head.' + +So the prince returned sadly into his room, but the bee was there before +him. + +'Why do you look so melancholy, my handsome Prince?' + +'How can I help looking melancholy when your father has ordered me to +make him a pair of boots? Does he take me for a shoemaker?' + +'What do you think of doing?' + +'Not of making boots, at any rate! I am not afraid of death. One can +only die once after all.' + +'No, Prince, you shall not die. I will try to save you. And we will fly +together or die together.' + +As she spoke she spat upon the ground, and then drawing the prince after +her out of the room, she locked the door behind her and threw away the +key. Holding each other tight by the hand, they made their way up into +the sunlight, and found themselves by the side of the same sea, while +the prince's horse was still quietly feeding in the neighbouring meadow. +The moment he saw his master, the horse whinnied and galloped towards +him. Without losing an instant the prince sprang into the saddle, swung +the princess behind him, and away they went like an arrow from a bow. + +When the hour arrived which Kostiei had fixed for the prince's last +trial, and there were no signs of him, the king sent to his room to ask +why he delayed so long. The servants, finding the door locked, knocked +loudly and received for answer, 'In one moment.' It was the spittle, +which was imitating the voice of the prince. + +The answer was taken back to Kostiei. He waited; still no prince. He +sent the servants back again, and the same voice replied, 'Immediately.' + +'He is making fun of me!' shrieked Kostiei in a rage. 'Break in the +door, and bring him to me!' + +The servants hurried to do his bidding. The door was broken open. Nobody +inside; but just the spittle in fits of laughter! Kostiei was beside +himself with rage, and commanded his guards to ride after the fugitives. +If the guards returned without the fugitives, their heads should pay for +it. + +By this time the prince and princess had got a good start, and were +feeling quite happy, when suddenly they heard the sound of a gallop far +behind them. The prince sprang from the saddle, and laid his ear to the +ground. + +'They are pursuing us,' he said. + +'Then there is no time to be lost,' answered the princess; and as she +spoke she changed herself into a river, the prince into a bridge, the +horse into a crow, and divided the wide road beyond the bridge into +three little ones. When the soldiers came up to the bridge, they +paused uncertainly. How were they to know which of the three roads +the fugitives had taken? They gave it up in despair and returned in +trembling to Kostiei. + +'Idiots!' he exclaimed, in a passion. 'They were the bridge and the +river, of course! Do you mean to say you never thought of that? Go back +at once!' and off they galloped like lightning. + +But time had been lost, and the prince and princess were far on their +way. + +'I hear a horse,' cried the princess. + +The prince jumped down and laid his ear to the ground. + +'Yes,' he said, 'they are not far off now.' + +In an instant prince, princess, and horse had all disappeared, and +instead was a dense forest, crossed and recrossed by countless paths. +Kostiei's soldiers dashed hastily into the forest, believing they saw +before them the flying horse with its double burden. They seemed close +upon them, when suddenly horse, wood, everything disappeared, and they +found themselves at the place where they started. There was nothing for +it but to return to Kostiei, and tell him of this fresh disaster. + +'A horse! a horse!' cried the king. 'I will go after them myself. This +time they shall not escape.' And he galloped off, foaming with anger. + +'I think I hear someone pursuing us,' said the princess + +'Yes, so do I.' + +'And this time it is Kostiei himself. But his power only reaches as +far as the first church, and he can go no farther. Give me your golden +cross.' So the prince unfastened the cross which was his mother's gift, +and the princess hastily changed herself into a church, the prince into +a priest, and the horse into a belfry. + +It was hardly done when Kostiei came up. + +'Greeting, monk. Have you seen some travellers on horseback pass this +way?' + +'Yes, the prince and Kostiei's daughter have just gone by. They have +entered the church, and told me to give you their greetings if I met +you.' + +Then Kostiei knew that he had been hopelessly beaten, and the prince and +princess continued their journey without any more adventures. + +[Contes Populaires Slaves. Traduits par Louis Leger. Paris: Leroux, +editeur.] + + + + +The Simpleton + + +There lived, once upon a time, a man who was as rich as he could be; but +as no happiness in this world is ever quite complete, he had an only son +who was such a simpleton that he could barely add two and two together. +At last his father determined to put up with his stupidity no longer, +and giving him a purse full of gold, he sent him off to seek his fortune +in foreign lands, mindful of the adage: + + How much a fool that's sent to roam + Excels a fool that stays at home. + +Moscione, for this was the youth's name, mounted a horse, and set out +for Venice, hoping to find a ship there that would take him to Cairo. +After he had ridden for some time he saw a man standing at the foot of a +poplar tree, and said to him: 'What's your name, my friend; where do you +come from, and what can you do?' + +The man replied, 'My name is Quick-as-Thought, I come from Fleet-town, +and I can run like lightning.' + +'I should like to see you,' returned Moscione. + +'Just wait a minute, then,' said Quick-as-Thought, 'and I will soon show +you that I am speaking the truth.' + +The words were hardly out of his mouth when a young doe ran right across +the field they were standing in. + +Quick-as-Thought let her run on a short distance, in order to give her a +start, and then pursued her so quickly and so lightly that you could not +have tracked his footsteps if the field had been strewn with flour. In a +very few springs he had overtaken the doe, and had so impressed Moscione +with his fleetness of foot that he begged Quick-as-Thought to go with +him, promising at the same time to reward him handsomely. + +Quick-as-Thought agreed to his proposal, and they continued on their +journey together. They had hardly gone a mile when they met a young man, +and Moscione stopped and asked him: 'What's your name, my friend; where +do you come from, and what can you do?' + +The man thus addressed answered promptly, 'I am called Hare's-ear, I +come from Curiosity Valley, and if I lay my ear on the ground, without +moving from the spot, I can hear everything that goes on in the world, +the plots and intrigues of court and cottage, and all the plans of mice +and men.' + +'If that's the case,' replied Moscione, 'just tell me what's going on in +my own home at present.' + +The youth laid his ear to the ground and at once reported: 'An old +man is saying to his wife, "Heaven be praised that we have got rid of +Moscione, for perhaps, when he has been out in the world a little, he +may gain some common sense, and return home less of a fool than when he +set out."' + +'Enough, enough,' cried Moscione. 'You speak the truth, and I believe +you. Come with us, and your fortune's made.' + +The young man consented; and after they had gone about ten miles, they +met a third man, to whom Moscione said: 'What's your name, my brave +fellow; where were you born, and what can you do?' + +The man replied, 'I am called Hit-the-Point, I come from the city of +Perfect-aim, and I draw my bow so exactly that I can shoot a pea off a +stone.' + +'I should like to see you do it, if you've no objection,' said Moscione. + +The man at once placed a pea on a stone, and, drawing his bow, he shot +it in the middle with the greatest possible ease. + +When Moscione saw that he had spoken the truth, he immediately asked +Hit-the-Point to join his party. + +After they had all travelled together for some days, they came upon a +number of people who were digging a trench in the blazing sun. + +Moscione felt so sorry for them, that he said: 'My dear friends, how can +you endure working so hard in heat that would cook an egg in a minute?' + +But one of the workmen answered: 'We are as fresh as daisies, for we +have a young man among us who blows on our backs like the west wind.' + +'Let me see him,' said Moscione. + +The youth was called, and Moscione asked him: 'What's your name; where +do you come from, and what can you do?' + +He answered: 'I am called Blow-Blast, I come from Wind-town, and with +my mouth I can make any winds you please. If you wish a west wind I can +raise it for you in a second, but if you prefer a north wind I can blow +these houses down before your eyes.' + +'Seeing is believing,' returned the cautious Moscione. + +Blow-Blast at once began to convince him of the truth of his assertion. +First he blew so softly that it seemed like the gentle breeze at +evening, and then he turned round and raised such a mighty storm, that +he blew down a whole row of oak trees. + +When Moscione saw this he was delighted, and begged Blow-Blast to join +his company. And as they went on their way they met another man, whom +Moscione addressed as usual: 'What's your name: where do you come from, +and what can you do?' + +'I am called Strong-Back; I come from Power-borough, and I possess such +strength that I can take a mountain on my back, and it seems a feather +to me.' + +'If that's the case,' said Moscione, 'you are a clever fellow; but I +should like some proof of your strength.' + +Then Strong-Back loaded himself with great boulders of rock and trunks +of trees, so that a hundred waggons could not have taken away all that +he carried on his back. + +When Moscione saw this he prevailed on Strong-Back to join his troop, +and they all continued their journey till they came to a country called +Flower Vale. Here there reigned a king whose only daughter ran as +quickly as the wind, and so lightly that she could run over a field +of young oats without bending a single blade. The king had given out a +proclamation that anyone who could beat the princess in a race should +have her for a wife, but that all who failed in the competition should +lose their head. + +As soon as Moscione heard of the Royal Proclamation, he hastened to the +king and challenged the princess to race with him. But on the morning +appointed for the trial he sent word to the king that he was not feeling +well, and that as he could not run himself he would supply someone to +take his place. + +'It's just the same to me,' said Canetella, the princess; 'let anyone +come forward that likes, I am quite prepared to meet him.' + +At the time appointed for the race the whole place was crowded with +people anxious to see the contest, and, punctual to the moment, +Quick-as-Thought, and Canetella dressed in a short skirt and very +lightly shod, appeared at the starting-point. + +Then a silver trumpet sounded, and the two rivals started on their race, +looking for all the world like a greyhound chasing a hare. + +But Quick-as-Thought, true to his name, outran the princess, and when +the goal was reached the people all clapped their hands and shouted, +'Long live the stranger!' + +Canetella was much depressed by her defeat; but, as the race had to +be run a second time, she determined she would not be beaten again. +Accordingly she went home and sent Quick-as-Thought a magic ring, which +prevented the person who wore it, not only from running, but even from +walking, and begged that he would wear it for her sake. + +Early next morning the crowd assembled on the race-course, and Canetella +and Quick as-Thought began their trial afresh. The princess ran as +quickly as ever, but poor Quick-as-Thought was like an overloaded +donkey, and could not go a step. + +Then Hit-the-Point, who had heard all about the princess's deception +from Hare's-ear, when he saw the danger his friend was in, seized his +bow and arrow and shot the stone out of the ring Quick-as-Thought was +wearing. In a moment the youth's legs became free again, and in five +bounds he had overtaken Canetella and won the race. + +The king was much disgusted when he saw that he must acknowledge +Moscione as his future son-in-law, and summoned the wise men of his +court to ask if there was no way out of the difficulty. The council at +once decided that Canetella was far too dainty a morsel for the mouth +of such a travelling tinker, and advised the king to offer Moscione a +present of gold, which no doubt a beggar like him would prefer to all +the wives in the world. + +The king was delighted at this suggestion, and calling Moscione before +him, he asked him what sum of money he would take instead of his +promised bride. + +Moscione first consulted with his friends, and then answered: 'I demand +as much gold and precious stones as my followers can carry away.' + +The king thought he was being let off very easily, and produced coffers +of gold, sacks of silver, and chests of precious stones; but the more +Strong-Back was loaded with the treasure the straighter he stood. + +At last the treasury was quite exhausted, and the king had to send +his courtiers to his subjects to collect all the gold and silver they +possessed. But nothing was of any avail, and Strong-Back only asked for +more. + +When the king's counsellors saw the unexpected result of their advice, +they said it would be more than foolish to let some strolling thieves +take so much treasure out of the country, and urged the king to send a +troop of soldiers after them, to recover the gold and precious stones. + +So the king sent a body of armed men on foot and horse, to take back the +treasure Strong-Back was carrying away with him. + +But Hare's-ear, who had heard what the counsellors had advised the king, +told his companions just as the dust of their pursuers was visible on +the horizon. + +No sooner had Blow-Blast taken in their danger than he raised such +a mighty wind that all the king's army was blown down like so many +nine-pins, and as they were quite unable to get up again, Moscione and +his companions proceeded on their way without further let or hindrance. + +As soon as they reached his home, Moscione divided his spoil with his +companions, at which they were much delighted. He, himself, stayed with +his father, who was obliged at last to acknowledge that his son was not +quite such a fool as he looked. + +[From the Italian, Kletke.] + + + + +The Street Musicians + + +A man once possessed a donkey which had served him faithfully for many +years, but at last the poor beast grew old and feeble, and every day his +work became more of a burden. As he was no longer of any use, his master +made up his mind to shoot him; but when the donkey learnt the fate that +was in store for him, he determined not to die, but to run away to the +nearest town and there to become a street musician. + +When he had trotted along for some distance he came upon a greyhound +lying on the road, and panting for dear life. 'Well, brother,' said the +donkey, 'what's the matter with you? You look rather tired.' + +'So I am,' replied the dog, 'but because I am getting old and am growing +weaker every day, and cannot go out hunting any longer, my master wanted +to poison me; and, as life is still sweet, I have taken leave of him. +But how I am to earn my own livelihood I haven't a notion.' + +'Well,' said the donkey, 'I am on my way to the nearest big town, where +I mean to become a street musician. Why don't you take up music as a +profession and come along with me? I'll play the flute and you can play +the kettle-drum.' + +The greyhound was quite pleased at the idea, and the two set off +together. When they had gone a short distance they met a cat with a +face as long as three rainy days. 'Now, what has happened to upset your +happiness, friend puss?' inquired the donkey. + +'It's impossible to look cheerful when one feels depressed,' answered +the cat. 'I am well up in years now, and have lost most of my teeth; +consequently I prefer sitting in front of the fire to catching mice, and +so my old mistress wanted to drown me. I have no wish to die yet, so I +ran away from her; but good advice is expensive, and I don't know where +I am to go to, or what I am to do.' + +'Come to the nearest big town with us,' said the donkey, 'and try your +fortune as a street musician. I know what sweet music you make at night, +so you are sure to be a success.' + +The cat was delighted with the donkey's proposal, and they all continued +their journey together. In a short time they came to the courtyard of an +inn, where they found a cock crowing lustily. 'What in the world is the +matter with you?' asked the donkey. 'The noise you are making is enough +to break the drums of our ears.' + +'I am only prophesying good weather,' said the cock; 'for to-morrow is +a feast day, and just because it is a holiday and a number of people +are expected at the inn, the landlady has given orders for my neck to be +wrung to-night, so that I may be made into soup for to-morrow's dinner.' + +'I'll tell you what, redcap,' said the donkey; 'you had much better come +with us to the nearest town. You have got a good voice, and could join a +street band we are getting up.' The cock was much pleased with the idea, +and the party proceeded on their way. + +But the nearest big town was a long way off, and it took them more than +a day to reach it. In the evening they came to a wood, and they made up +their minds to go no further, but to spend the night there. The donkey +and the greyhound lay down under a big tree, and the cat and the cock +got up into the branches, the cock flying right up to the topmost twig, +where he thought he would be safe from all danger. Before he went to +sleep he looked round the four points of the compass, and saw a little +spark burning in the distance. He called out to his companions that he +was sure there must be a house not far off, for he could see a light +shining. + +When he heard this, the donkey said at, once: 'Then we must get up, +and go and look for the house, for this is very poor shelter.' And the +greyhound added: 'Yes; I feel I'd be all the better for a few bones and +a scrap or two of meat.' + +So they set out for the spot where the light was to be seen shining +faintly in the distance, but the nearer they approached it the brighter +it grew, till at last they came to a brilliantly lighted house. The +donkey being the biggest of the party, went to the window and looked in. + +'Well, greyhead, what do you see?' asked the cock. + +'I see a well-covered table,' replied the donkey, 'with excellent food +and drink, and several robbers are sitting round it, enjoying themselves +highly.' + +'I wish we were doing the same,' said the cock. + +'So do I,' answered the donkey. 'Can't we think of some plan for turning +out the robbers, and taking possession of the house ourselves?' + +So they consulted together what they were to do, and at last they +arranged that the donkey should stand at the window with his fore-feet +on the sill, that the greyhound should get on his back, the cat on the +dog's shoulder, and the cock on the cat's head. When they had grouped +themselves in this way, at a given signal, they all began their +different forms of music. The donkey brayed, the greyhound barked, +the cat miawed, and the cock crew. Then they all scrambled through the +window into the room, breaking the glass into a thousand pieces as they +did so. + +The robbers were all startled by the dreadful noise, and thinking that +some evil spirits at the least were entering the house, they rushed +out into the wood, their hair standing on end with terror. The four +companions, delighted with the success of their trick, sat down at the +table, and ate and drank all the food and wine that the robbers had left +behind them. + +When they had finished their meal they put out the lights, and each +animal chose a suitable sleeping-place. The donkey lay down in the +courtyard outside the house, the dog behind the door, the cat in front +of the fire, and the cock flew up on to a high shelf, and, as they were +all tired after their long day, they soon went to sleep. + +Shortly after midnight, when the robbers saw that no light was burning +in the house and that all seemed quiet, the captain of the band said: +'We were fools to let ourselves be so easily frightened away;' and, +turning to one of his men, he ordered him to go and see if all was safe. + +The man found everything in silence and darkness, and going into the +kitchen he thought he had better strike a light. He took a match, and +mistaking the fiery eyes of the cat for two glowing coals, he tried to +light his match with them. But the cat didn't see the joke, and sprang +at his face, spitting and scratching him in the most vigorous manner. +The man was terrified out of his life, and tried to run out by the back +door; but he stumbled over the greyhound, which bit him in the leg. +Yelling with pain he ran across the courtyard only to receive a kick +from the donkey's hind leg as he passed him. In the meantime the cock +had been roused from his slumbers, and feeling very cheerful he called +out, from the shelf where he was perched, 'Kikeriki!' + +Then the robber hastened back to his captain and said: 'Sir, there is a +dreadful witch in the house, who spat at me and scratched my face with +her long fingers; and before the door there stands a man with a long +knife, who cut my leg severely. In the courtyard outside lies a black +monster, who fell upon me with a huge wooden club; and that is not all, +for, sitting on the roof, is a judge, who called out: "Bring the rascal +to me." So I fled for dear life.' + +After this the robbers dared not venture into the house again, and they +abandoned it for ever. But the four street musicians were so delighted +with their lodgings that they determined to take up their abode in the +robbers' house, and, for all I know to the contrary, they may be living +there to this day. + +[From the German, Kletke.] + + + + +The Twin Brothers + + +Once there was a fisherman who had plenty of money but no children. +One day an old woman came to his wife and said: 'What use is all your +prosperity to you when you have no children?' + +'It is God's will,' answered the fisherman's wife. + +'Nay, my child, it is not God's will, but the fault of your husband; +for if he would but catch the little gold-fish you would surely have +children. To-night, when he comes home, tell him he must go back and +catch the little fish. He must then cut it in six pieces--one of these +you must eat, and your husband the second, and soon after you will have +two children. The third piece you must give to the dog, and she will +have two puppies. The fourth piece give to the mare, and she will have +two foals. The fifth piece bury on the right of the house door, and the +sixth on the left, and two cypress trees will spring up there.' + +When the fisherman came home at evening his wife told him all that +the old woman had advised, and he promised to bring home the little +gold-fish. Next morning, therefore, he went very early to the water, and +caught the little fish. Then they did as the old woman had ordered, and +in due time the fisherman's wife had two sons, so like each other that +no one could tell the difference. The dog had two puppies exactly alike, +the mare had two foals, and on each side of the front door there sprang +up two cypress trees precisely similar. + +When the two boys were grown up, they were not content to remain at +home, though they had wealth in plenty; but they wished to go out into +the world, and make a name for themselves. Their father would not allow +them both to go at once, as they were the only children he had. He said: +'First one shall travel, and when he is come back then the other may +go.' + +So the one took his horse and his dog, and went, saying to his brother: +'So long as the cypress trees are green, that is a sign that I am alive +and well; but if one begins to wither, then make haste and come to me.' +So he went forth into the world. + +One day he stopped at the house of an old woman, and as at evening he +sat before the door, he perceived in front of him a castle standing on +a hill. He asked the old woman to whom it belonged, and her answer was: +'My son, it is the castle of the Fairest in the Land!' + +'And I am come here to woo her!' + +'That, my son, many have sought to do, and have lost their lives in the +attempt; for she has cut off their heads and stuck them on the post you +see standing there.' + +'And the same will she do to me, or else I shall be victor, for +to-morrow I go there to court her.' + +Then he took his zither and played upon it so beautifully that no one in +all that land had ever heard the like, and the princess herself came to +the window to listen. + +The next morning the Fairest in the Land sent for the old woman and +asked her, 'Who is it that lives with you, and plays the zither so +well?' + +'It is a stranger, princess, who arrived yesterday evening,' answered +the old woman. + +And the princess then commanded that the stranger should be brought to +her. + +When he appeared before the princess she questioned him about his home +and his family, and about this and that; and confessed at length that +his zither-playing gave her great pleasure, and that she would take him +for her husband. The stranger replied that it was with that intent he +had come. + +The princess then said: 'You must now go to my father, and tell him you +desire to have me to wife, and when he has put the three problems before +you, then come back and tell me.' + +The stranger then went straight to the king, and told him that he wished +to wed his daughter. + +And the king answered: 'I shall be well pleased, provided you can do +what I impose upon you; if not you will lose your head. Now, listen; out +there on the ground, there lies a thick log, which measures more than +two fathoms; if you can cleave it in two with one stroke of your sword, +I will give you my daughter to wife. If you fail, then it will cost you +your head.' + +Then the stranger withdrew, and returned to the house of the old woman +sore distressed, for he could believe nothing but that next day he must +atone to the king with his head. And so full was he of the idea of how +to set about cleaving the log that he forgot even his zither. + +In the evening came the princess to the window to listen to his playing, +and behold all was still. Then she called to him: 'Why are you so cast +down this evening, that you do not play on your zither?' + +And he told her his trouble. + +But she laughed at it, and called to him: 'And you grieve over that? +Bring quickly your zither, and play something for my amusement, and +early to-morrow come to me.' + +Then the stranger took his zither and played the whole evening for the +amusement of the princess. + +Next morning she took a hair from her locks and gave it to him, saying: +'Take this hair, and wind it round your sword, then you will be able to +cleave the log in two.' + +Then the stranger went forth, and with one blow cleft the log in two. + +But the king said: 'I will impose another task upon you, before you can +wed my daughter.' + +'Speak on,' said the stranger. + +'Listen, then,' answered the king; 'you must mount a horse and ride +three miles at full gallop, holding in each hand a goblet full of water. +If you spill no drop then I shall give you my daughter to wife, but +should you not succeed then I will take your life.' + +Then the stranger returned to the house of the old woman, and again he +was so troubled as to forget his zither. + +In the evening the princess came to the window as before to listen to +the music, but again all was still; and she called to him: 'What is the +matter that you do not play on your zither?' + +Then he related all that the king had ordered him to do, and the +princess answered: 'Do not let yourself be disturbed, only play now, and +come to me to-morrow morning.' + +Then next morning he went to her, and she gave him her ring, saying: +'Throw this ring into the water and it will immediately freeze, so that +you will not spill any.' + +The stranger did as the princess bade him, and carried the water all the +way. + +Then the king said: 'Now I will give you a third task, and this shall be +the last. I have a negro who will fight with you to-morrow, and if you +are the conqueror you shall wed my daughter.' + +The stranger returned, full of joy, to the house of the old woman, and +that evening was so merry that the princess called to him; 'You seem +very cheerful this evening; what has my father told you that makes you +so glad?' + +He answered: 'Your father has told me that to-morrow I must fight with +his negro. He is only another man like myself, and I hope to subdue him, +and to gain the contest.' + +But the princess answered: 'This is the hardest of all. I myself am +the black man, for I swallow a drink that changes me into a negro of +unconquerable strength. Go to-morrow morning to the market, buy twelve +buffalo hides and wrap them round your horse; fasten this cloth round +you, and when I am let loose upon you to-morrow show it to me, that I +may hold myself back and may not kill you. Then when you fight me you +must try to hit my horse between the eyes, for when you have killed it +you have conquered me.' + +Next morning, therefore, he went to the market and bought the twelve +buffalo hides which he wrapped round his horse. Then he began to fight +with the black man, and when the combat had already lasted a long time, +and eleven hides were torn, then the stranger hit the negro's horse +between the eyes, so that it fell dead, and the black man was defeated. + +Then said the king: 'Because you have solved the three problems I take +you for my son-in-law.' + +But the stranger answered: 'I have some business to conclude first; in +fourteen days I will return and bring the bride home.' + +So he arose and went into another country, where he came to a great +town, and alighted at the house of an old woman. When he had had supper +he begged of her some water to drink, but she answered: 'My son, I have +no water; a giant has taken possession of the spring, and only lets us +draw from it once a year, when we bring him a maiden. He eats her up, +and then he lets us draw water; just now it is the lot of the king's +daughter, and to-morrow she will be led forth.' + +The next day accordingly the princess was led forth to the spring, and +bound there with a golden chain. After that all the people went away and +she was left alone. + +When they had gone the stranger went to the maiden and asked her what +ailed her that she lamented so much, and she answered that the reason +was because the giant would come and eat her up. And the stranger +promised that he would set her free if she would take him for her +husband, and the princess joyfully consented. + +When the giant appeared the stranger set his dog at him, and it took him +by the throat and throttled him till he died; so the princess was set +free. + +Now when the king heard of it he gladly consented to the marriage, and +the wedding took place with great rejoicings. The young bridegroom abode +in the palace one hundred and one weeks. Then he began to find it +too dull, and he desired to go out hunting. The king would fain have +prevented it, but in this he could not succeed. Then he begged his +son-in-law at least to take sufficient escort with him, but this, too, +the young man evaded, and took only his horse and his dog. + +He had ridden already a long way, when he saw in the distance a hut, and +rode straight towards it in order to get some water to drink. There +he found an old woman from whom he begged the water. She answered that +first he should allow her to beat his dog with her little wand, that it +might not bite her while she fetched the water. The hunter consented; +and as soon as she had touched the dog with her wand it immediately +turned to stone. Thereupon she touched the hunter and also his horse, +and both turned to stone. As soon as that had happened, the cypress +trees in front of his father's house began to wither. And when the other +brother saw this, he immediately set out in search of his twin. He came +first to the town where his brother had slain the giant, and there fate +led him to the same old woman where his brother had lodged. When she saw +him she took him for his twin brother, and said to him: 'Do not take +it amiss of me, my son, that I did not come to wish you joy on your +marriage with the king's daughter.' + +The stranger perceived what mistake she had made, but only said: 'That +does not matter, old woman,' and rode on, without further speech, to +the king's palace, where the king and the princess both took him for +his twin brother, and called out: 'Why have you tarried so long away? We +thought something evil had befallen you.' + +When night came and he slept with the princess, who still believed him +to be her husband, he laid his sword between them, and when morning came +he rose early and went out to hunt. Fate led him by the same way which +his brother had taken, and from a distance he saw him and knew that he +was turned to stone. Then he entered the hut and ordered the old woman +to disenchant his brother. But she answered: 'Let me first touch your +dog with my wand, and then I will free your brother.' + +He ordered the dog, however, to take hold of her, and bite her up to +the knee, till she cried out: 'Tell your dog to let me go and I will set +your brother free!' + +But he only answered: 'Tell me the magic words that I may disenchant him +myself;' and as she would not, he ordered his dog to bite her up to the +hip. + +Then the old woman cried out: 'I have two wands, with the green one I +turn to stone, and with the red one I bring to life again.' + +So the hunter took the red wand and disenchanted his brother, also his +brother's horse, and his dog, and ordered his own dog to eat the old +woman up altogether. + +While the brothers went on their way back to the castle of the king, the +one brother related to the other how the cypress tree had all at once +dried up and withered, how he had immediately set out in search of his +twin, and how he had come to the castle of his father-in-law, and had +claimed the princess as his wife. But the other brother became furious +on hearing this, and smote him over the forehead till he died, and +returned alone to the house of his father-in-law. + +When night came and he was in bed the princess asked him: 'What was the +matter with you last night, that you never spoke a word to me?' + +Then he cried out: 'That was not me, but my brother, and I have slain +him, because he told me by the way that he had claimed you for his +wife!' + +'Do you know the place where you slew him?' asked the princess, 'and can +you find the body?' + +'I know the place exactly.' + +'Then to-morrow we shall ride thither,' said the princess. Next morning +accordingly they set out together, and when they had come to the place, +the princess drew forth a small bottle that she had brought with her, +and sprinkled the body with some drops of the water so that immediately +he became alive again. + +When he stood up, his brother said to him: 'Forgive me, dear brother, +that I slew you in my anger.' Then they embraced and went together to +the Fairest in the Land, whom the unmarried brother took to wife. + +Then the brothers brought their parents to live with them, and all dwelt +together in joy and happiness. + + + + +Cannetella + + +There was once upon a time a king who reigned over a country called +'Bello Puojo.' He was very rich and powerful, and had everything in the +world he could desire except a child. But at last, after he had been +married for many years, and was quite an old man, his wife Renzolla +presented him with a fine daughter, whom they called Cannetella. + +She grew up into a beautiful girl, and was as tall and straight as a +young fir-tree. When she was eighteen years old her father called her to +him and said: 'You are of an age now, my daughter, to marry and settle +down; but as I love you more than anything else in the world, and desire +nothing but your happiness, I am determined to leave the choice of a +husband to yourself. Choose a man after your own heart, and you are sure +to satisfy me.' Cannetella thanked her father very much for his kindness +and consideration, but told him that she had not the slightest wish to +marry, and was quite determined to remain single. + +The king, who felt himself growing old and feeble, and longed to see an +heir to the throne before he died, was very unhappy at her words, and +begged her earnestly not to disappoint him. + +When Cannetella saw that the king had set his heart on her marriage, she +said: 'Very well, dear father, I will marry to please you, for I do not +wish to appear ungrateful for all your love and kindness; but you must +find me a husband handsomer, cleverer, and more charming than anyone +else in the world.' + +The king was overjoyed by her words, and from early in the morning +till late at night he sat at the window and looked carefully at all the +passers-by, in the hopes of finding a son-in-law among them. + +One day, seeing a very good-looking man crossing the street, the king +called his daughter and said: 'Come quickly, dear Cannetella, and look +at this man, for I think he might suit you as a husband.' + +They called the young man into the palace, and set a sumptuous feast +before him, with every sort of delicacy you can imagine. In the middle +of the meal the youth let an almond fall out of his mouth, which, +however, he picked up again very quickly and hid under the table-cloth. + +When the feast was over the stranger went away, and the king asked +Cannetella: 'Well, what did you think of the youth?' + +'I think he was a clumsy wretch,' replied Cannetella. 'Fancy a man of +his age letting an almond fall out of his mouth!' + +When the king heard her answer he returned to his watch at the window, +and shortly afterwards a very handsome young man passed by. The king +instantly called his daughter to come and see what she thought of the +new comer. + +'Call him in,' said Cannetella, 'that we may see him close.' + +Another splendid feast was prepared, and when the stranger had eaten +and drunk as much as he was able, and had taken his departure, the king +asked Cannetella how she liked him. + +'Not at all,' replied his daughter; 'what could you do with a man who +requires at least two servants to help him on with his cloak, because he +is too awkward to put it on properly himself?' + +'If that's all you have against him,' said the king, 'I see how the land +lies. You are determined not to have a husband at all; but marry someone +you shall, for I do not mean my name and house to die out.' + +'Well, then, my dear parent,' said Cannetella, 'I must tell you at once +that you had better not count upon me, for I never mean to marry unless +I can find a man with a gold head and gold teeth.' + +The king was very angry at finding his daughter so obstinate; but as he +always gave the girl her own way in everything, he issued a proclamation +to the effect that any man with a gold head and gold teeth might come +forward and claim the princess as his bride, and the kingdom of Bello +Puojo as a wedding gift. + +Now the king had a deadly enemy called Scioravante, who was a very +powerful magician. No sooner had this man heard of the proclamation than +he summoned his attendant spirits and commanded them to gild his head +and teeth. The spirits said, at first, that the task was beyond their +powers, and suggested that a pair of golden horns attached to his +forehead would both be easier to make and more comfortable to wear; but +Scioravante would allow no compromise, and insisted on having a head +and teeth made of the finest gold. When it was fixed on his shoulders he +went for a stroll in front of the palace. And the king, seeing the very +man he was in search of, called his daughter, and said: 'Just look out +of the window, and you will find exactly what you want.' + +Then, as Scioravante was hurrying past, the king shouted out to him: +'Just stop a minute, brother, and don't be in such desperate haste. If +you will step in here you shall have my daughter for a wife, and I will +send attendants with her, and as many horses and servants as you wish.' + +'A thousand thanks,' returned Scioravante; 'I shall be delighted to +marry your daughter, but it is quite unnecessary to send anyone to +accompany her. Give me a horse and I will carry off the princess in +front of my saddle, and will bring her to my own kingdom, where there is +no lack of courtiers or servants, or, indeed, of anything your daughter +can desire.' + +At first the king was very much against Cannetella's departing in this +fashion; but finally Scioravante got his way, and placing the princess +before him on his horse, he set out for his own country. + +Towards evening he dismounted, and entering a stable he placed +Cannetella in the same stall as his horse, and said to her: 'Now listen +to what I have to say. I am going to my home now, and that is a seven +years' journey from here; you must wait for me in this stable, and never +move from the spot, or let yourself be seen by a living soul. If you +disobey my commands, it will be the worse for you.' + +The princess answered meekly: 'Sir, I am your servant, and will do +exactly as you bid me; but I should like to know what I am to live on +till you come back?' + +'You can take what the horses leave,' was Scioravante's reply. + +When the magician had left her Cannetella felt very miserable, and +bitterly cursed the day she was born. She spent all her time weeping +and bemoaning the cruel fate that had driven her from a palace into a +stable, from soft down cushions to a bed of straw, and from the dainties +of her father's table to the food that the horses left. + +She led this wretched life for a few months, and during that time +she never saw who fed and watered the horses, for it was all done by +invisible hands. + +One day, when she was more than usually unhappy, she perceived a little +crack in the wall, through which she could see a beautiful garden, with +all manner of delicious fruits and flowers growing in it. The sight and +smell of such delicacies were too much for poor Cannetella, and she said +to herself, 'I will slip quietly out, and pick a few oranges and grapes, +and I don't care what happens. Who is there to tell my husband what I +do? and even if he should hear of my disobedience, he cannot make my +life more miserable than it is already.' + +So she slipped out and refreshed her poor, starved body with the fruit +she plucked in the garden. + +But a short time afterwards her husband returned unexpectedly, and +one of the horses instantly told him that Cannetella had gone into the +garden, in his absence, and had stolen some oranges and grapes. + +Scioravante was furious when he heard this, and seizing a huge knife +from his pocket he threatened to kill his wife for her disobedience. But +Cannetella threw herself at his feet and implored him to spare her +life, saying that hunger drove even the wolf from the wood. At last she +succeeded in so far softening her husband's heart that he said, 'I will +forgive you this time, and spare your life; but if you disobey me again, +and I hear, on my return, that you have as much as moved out of the +stall, I will certainly kill you. So, beware; for I am going away once +more, and shall be absent for seven years.' + +With these words he took his departure, and Cannetella burst into a +flood of tears, and, wringing her hands, she moaned: 'Why was I ever +born to such a hard fate? Oh! father, how miserable you have made your +poor daughter! But, why should I blame my father? for I have only myself +to thank for all my sufferings. I got the cursed head of gold, and it +has brought all this misery on me. I am indeed punished for not doing as +my father wished!' + +When a year had gone by, it chanced, one day, that the king's cooper +passed the stables where Cannetella was kept prisoner. She recognised +the man, and called him to come in. At first he did not know the poor +princess, and could not make out who it was that called him by name. But +when he heard Cannetella's tale of woe, he hid her in a big empty barrel +he had with him, partly because he was sorry for the poor girl, and, +even more, because he wished to gain the king's favour. Then he slung +the barrel on a mule's back, and in this way the princess was carried +to her own home. They arrived at the palace about four o'clock in the +morning, and the cooper knocked loudly at the door. When the servants +came in haste and saw only the cooper standing at the gate, they were +very indignant, and scolded him soundly for coming at such an hour and +waking them all out of their sleep. + +The king hearing the noise and the cause of it, sent for the cooper, for +he felt certain the man must have some important business, to have come +and disturbed the whole palace at such an early hour. + +The cooper asked permission to unload his mule, and Cannetella crept out +of the barrel. At first the king refused to believe that it was really +his daughter, for she had changed so terribly in a few years, and had +grown so thin and pale, that it was pitiful to see her. At last the +princess showed her father a mole she had on her right arm, and then he +saw that the poor girl was indeed his long-lost Cannetella. He kissed +her a thousand times, and instantly had the choicest food and drink set +before her. + +After she had satisfied her hunger, the king said to her: 'Who would +have thought, my dear daughter, to have found you in such a state? What, +may I ask, has brought you to this pass?' + +Cannetella replied: 'That wicked man with the gold head and teeth +treated me worse than a dog, and many a time, since I left you, have I +longed to die. But I couldn't tell you all that I have suffered, for you +would never believe me. It is enough that I am once more with you, and I +shall never leave you again, for I would rather be a slave in your house +than queen in any other.' + +In the meantime Scioravante had returned to the stables, and one of the +horses told him that Cannetella had been taken away by a cooper in a +barrel. + +When the wicked magician heard this he was beside himself with rage, +and, hastening to the kingdom of Bello Puojo, he went straight to an old +woman who lived exactly opposite the royal palace, and said to her: 'If +you will let me see the king's daughter, I will give you whatever reward +you like to ask for.' + +The woman demanded a hundred ducats of gold, and Scioravante counted +them out of his purse and gave them to her without a murmur. Then +the old woman led him to the roof of the house, where he could see +Cannetella combing out her long hair in a room in the top story of the +palace. + +The princess happened to look out of the window, and when she saw her +husband gazing at her, she got such a fright that she flew downstairs to +the king, and said: 'My lord and father, unless you shut me up instantly +in a room with seven iron doors, I am lost.' + +'If that's all,' said the king, 'it shall be done at once.' And he gave +orders for the doors to be closed on the spot. + +When Scioravante saw this he returned to the old woman, and said: 'I +will give you whatever you like if you will go into the palace, hide +under the princess's bed, and slip this little piece of paper beneath +her pillow, saying, as you do so: "May everyone in the palace, except +the princess, fall into a sound sleep."' + +The old woman demanded another hundred golden ducats, and then proceeded +to carry out the magician's wishes. No sooner had she slipped the piece +of paper under Cannetella's pillow, than all the people in the palace +fell fast asleep, and only the princess remained awake. + +Then Scioravante hurried to the seven doors and opened them one after +the other. Cannetella screamed with terror when she saw her husband, but +no one came to her help, for all in the palace lay as if they were dead. +The magician seized her in the bed on which she lay, and was going to +carry her off with him, when the little piece of paper which the old +woman had placed under her pillow fell on the floor. + +In an instant all the people in the palace woke up, and as Cannetella +was still screaming for help, they rushed to her rescue. They seized +Scioravante and put him to death; so he was caught in the trap which he +had laid for the princess--and, as is so often the case in this world, +the biter himself was bit. + +[From the Italian, Kletke.] + + + + +The Ogre + + +There lived, once upon a time, in the land of Marigliano, a poor woman +called Masella, who had six pretty daughters, all as upright as young +fir-trees, and an only son called Antonio, who was so simple as to be +almost an idiot. Hardly a day passed without his mother saying to him, +'What are you doing, you useless creature? If you weren't too stupid to +look after yourself, I would order you to leave the house and never to +let me see your face again.' + +Every day the youth committed some fresh piece of folly, till at last +Masella, losing all patience, gave him a good beating, which so startled +Antonio that he took to his heels and never stopped running till it was +dark and the stars were shining in the heavens. He wandered on for some +time, not knowing where to go, and at last he came to a cave, at the +mouth of which sat an ogre, uglier than anything you can conceive. + +He had a huge head and wrinkled brow--eyebrows that met, squinting eyes, +a flat broad nose, and a great gash of a mouth from which two huge tusks +stuck out. His skin was hairy, his arms enormous, his legs like sword +blades, and his feet as flat as ducks'. In short, he was the most +hideous and laughable object in the world. + +But Antonio, who, with all his faults, was no coward, and was moreover +a very civil-spoken lad, took off his hat, and said: 'Good-day, sir; I +hope you are pretty well. Could you kindly tell me how far it is from +here to the place where I wish to go?' + +When the ogre heard this extraordinary question he burst out laughing, +and as he liked the youth's polite manners he said to him: 'Will you +enter my service?' + +'What wages do you give?' replied Antonio. + +'If you serve me faithfully,' returned the ogre, 'I'll be bound you'll +get enough wages to satisfy you.' + +So the bargain was struck, and Antonio agreed to become the ogre's +servant. He was very well treated, in every way, and he had little or +no work to do, with the result that in a few days he became as fat as a +quail, as round as a barrel, as red as a lobster, and as impudent as a +bantam-cock. + +But, after two years, the lad got weary of this idle life, and longed +desperately to visit his home again. The ogre, who could see into +his heart and knew how unhappy he was, said to him one day: 'My dear +Antonio, I know how much you long to see your mother and sisters again, +and because I love you as the apple of my eye, I am willing to allow you +to go home for a visit. Therefore, take this donkey, so that you may not +have to go on foot; but see that you never say "Bricklebrit" to him, for +if you do you'll be sure to regret it.' + +Antonio took the beast without as much as saying thank you, and jumping +on its back he rode away in great haste; but he hadn't gone two hundred +yards when he dismounted and called out 'Bricklebrit.' + +No sooner had he pronounced the word than the donkey opened its mouth +and poured forth rubies, emeralds, diamonds and pearls, as big as +walnuts. + +Antonio gazed in amazement at the sight of such wealth, and joyfully +filling a huge sack with the precious stones, he mounted the donkey +again and rode on till he came to an inn. Here he got down, and going +straight to the landlord, he said to him: 'My good man, I must ask you +to stable this donkey for me. Be sure you give the poor beast plenty of +oats and hay, but beware of saying the word "Bricklebrit" to him, for if +you do I can promise you will regret it. Take this heavy sack, too, and +put it carefully away for me.' + +The landlord, who was no fool, on receiving this strange warning, and +seeing the precious stones sparkling through the canvas of the sack, was +most anxious to see what would happen if he used the forbidden word. So +he gave Antonio an excellent dinner, with a bottle of fine old wine, and +prepared a comfortable bed for him. As soon as he saw the poor simpleton +close his eyes and had heard his lusty snores, he hurried to the stables +and said to the donkey 'Bricklebrit,' and the animal as usual poured out +any number of precious stones. + +When the landlord saw all these treasures he longed to get possession +of so valuable an animal, and determined to steal the donkey from his +foolish guest. As soon as it was light next morning Antonio awoke, and +having rubbed his eyes and stretched himself about a hundred times he +called the landlord and said to him: 'Come here, my friend, and produce +your bill, for short reckonings make long friends.' + +When Antonio had paid his account he went to the stables and took out +his donkey, as he thought, and fastening a sack of gravel, which the +landlord had substituted for his precious stones, on the creature's +back, he set out for his home. + +No sooner had he arrived there than he called out: 'Mother, come +quickly, and bring table-cloths and sheets with you, and spread them +out on the ground, and you will soon see what wonderful treasures I have +brought you.' + +His mother hurried into the house, and opening the linen-chest where +she kept her daughters' wedding outfits, she took out table-cloths and +sheets made of the finest linen, and spread them flat and smooth on the +ground. Antonio placed the donkey on them, and called out 'Bricklebrit.' +But this time he met with no success, for the donkey took no more notice +of the magic word than he would have done if a lyre had been twanged in +his ear. Two, three, and four times did Antonio pronounce 'Bricklebrit,' +but all in vain, and he might as well have spoken to the wind. + +Disgusted and furious with the poor creature, he seized a thick stick +and began to beat it so hard that he nearly broke every bone in its +body. The miserable donkey was so distracted at such treatment that, far +from pouring out precious stones, it only tore and dirtied all the fine +linen. + +When poor Masella saw her table-cloths and sheets being destroyed, and +that instead of becoming rich she had only been made a fool of, she +seized another stick and belaboured Antonio so unmercifully with it, +that he fled before her, and never stopped till he reached the ogre's +cave. + +When his master saw the lad returning in such a sorry plight, he +understood at once what had happened to him, and making no bones about +the matter, he told Antonio what a fool he had been to allow himself +to be so imposed upon by the landlord, and to let a worthless animal be +palmed off on him instead of his magic donkey. + +Antonio listened humbly to the ogre's words, and vowed solemnly that he +would never act so foolishly again. And so a year passed, and once more +Antonio was overcome by a fit of home-sickness, and felt a great longing +to see his own people again. + +Now the ogre, although he was so hideous to look upon, had a very kind +heart, and when he saw how restless and unhappy Antonio was, he at once +gave him leave to go home on a visit. At parting he gave him a beautiful +table-cloth, and said: 'Give this to your mother; but see that you don't +lose it as you lost the donkey, and till you are safely in your own +house beware of saying "Table-cloth, open," and "Table-cloth, shut." If +you do, the misfortune be on your own head, for I have given you fair +warning.' + +Antonio set out on his journey, but hardly had he got out of sight +of the cave than he laid the table-cloth on the ground and said, +'Table-cloth, open.' In an instant the table-cloth unfolded itself and +disclosed a whole mass of precious stones and other treasures. + +When Antonio perceived this he said, 'Table-cloth, shut,' and continued +his journey. He came to the same inn again, and calling the landlord to +him, he told him to put the table-cloth carefully away, and whatever he +did not to say 'Table-cloth, open,' or 'Table-cloth, shut,' to it. + +The landlord, who was a regular rogue, answered, 'Just leave it to me, I +will look after it as if it were my own.' + +After he had given Antonio plenty to eat and drink, and had provided him +with a comfortable bed, he went straight to the table-cloth and said, +'Table-cloth, open.' It opened at once, and displayed such costly +treasures that the landlord made up his mind on the spot to steal it. + +When Antonio awoke next morning, the host handed him over a table-cloth +exactly like his own, and carrying it carefully over his arm, the +foolish youth went straight to his mother's house, and said: 'Now we +shall be rich beyond the dreams of avarice, and need never go about in +rags again, or lack the best of food.' + +With these words he spread the table-cloth on the ground and said, +'Table-cloth, open.' + +But he might repeat the injunction as often as he pleased, it was only +waste of breath, for nothing happened. When Antonio saw this he turned +to his mother and said: 'That old scoundrel of a landlord has done me +once more; but he will live to repent it, for if I ever enter his inn +again, I will make him suffer for the loss of my donkey and the other +treasures he has robbed me of.' + +Masella was in such a rage over her fresh disappointment that she could +not restrain her impatience, and, turning on Antonio, she abused him +soundly, and told him to get out of her sight at once, for she would +never acknowledge him as a son of hers again. The poor boy was very +depressed by her words, and slunk back to his master like a dog with his +tail between his legs. When the ogre saw him, he guessed at once what +had happened. He gave Antonio a good scolding, and said, 'I don't know +what prevents me smashing your head in, you useless ne'er-do-well! You +blurt everything out, and your long tongue never ceases wagging for +a moment. If you had remained silent in the inn this misfortune would +never have overtaken you, so you have only yourself to blame for your +present suffering.' + +Antonio listened to his master's words in silence, looking for all +the world like a whipped dog. When he had been three more years in the +ogre's service he had another bad fit of home-sickness, and longed very +much to see his mother and sisters again. + +So he asked for permission to go home on a visit, and it was at once +granted to him. Before he set out on his journey the ogre presented +him with a beautifully carved stick and said, 'Take this stick as a +remembrance of me; but beware of saying, "Rise up, Stick," and "Lie +down, Stick," for if you do, I can only say I wouldn't be in your shoes +for something.' + +Antonio took the stick and said, 'Don't be in the least alarmed, I'm not +such a fool as you think, and know better than most people what two and +two make.' + +'I'm glad to hear it,' replied the ogre, 'but words are women, deeds are +men. You have heard what I said, and forewarned is forearmed.' + +This time Antonio thanked his master warmly for all his kindness, and +started on his homeward journey in great spirits; but he had not gone +half a mile when he said 'Rise up, Stick.' + +The words were hardly out of his mouth when the stick rose and began to +rain down blows on poor Antonio's back with such lightning-like rapidity +that he had hardly strength to call out, 'Lie down, Stick;' but as soon +as he uttered the words the stick lay down, and ceased beating his back +black and blue. + +Although he had learnt a lesson at some cost to himself, Antonio was +full of joy, for he saw a way now of revenging himself on the wicked +landlord. Once more he arrived at the inn, and was received in the +most friendly and hospitable manner by his host. Antonio greeted him +cordially, and said: 'My friend, will you kindly take care of this stick +for me? But, whatever you do, don't say "Rise up, Stick." If you do, you +will be sorry for it, and you needn't expect any sympathy from me.' + +The landlord, thinking he was coming in for a third piece of good +fortune, gave Antonio an excellent supper; and after he had seen him +comfortably to bed, he ran to the stick, and calling to his wife to +come and see the fun, he lost no time in pronouncing the words 'Rise up, +Stick.' + +The moment he spoke the stick jumped up and beat the landlord so +unmercifully that he and his wife ran screaming to Antonio, and, waking +him up, pleaded for mercy. + +When Antonio saw how successful his trick had been, he said: 'I refuse +to help you, unless you give me all that you have stolen from me, +otherwise you will be beaten to death.' + +The landlord, who felt himself at death's door already, cried out: 'Take +back your property, only release me from this terrible stick;' and with +these words he ordered the donkey, the table-cloth, and other treasures +to be restored to their rightful owner. + +As soon as Antonio had recovered his belongings he said 'Stick, lie +down,' and it stopped beating the landlord at once. + +Then he took his donkey and table-cloth and arrived safely at his home +with them. This time the magic words had the desired effect, and the +donkey and table-cloth provided the family with treasures untold. +Antonio very soon married off his sister, made his mother rich for life, +and they all lived happily for ever after. + +[From the Italian, Kletke.] + + + + +A Fairy's Blunder + + +Once upon a time there lived a fairy whose name was Dindonette. She was +the best creature in the world, with the kindest heart; but she had +not much sense, and was always doing things, to benefit people, which +generally ended in causing pain and distress to everybody concerned. No +one knew this better than the inhabitants of an island far off in the +midst of the sea, which, according to the laws of fairyland, she had +taken under her special protection, thinking day and night of what she +could do to make the isle the pleasantest place in the whole world, as +it was the most beautiful. + +Now what happened was this: + +As the fairy went about, unseen, from house to house, she heard +everywhere children longing for the time when they would be 'grown-up,' +and able, they thought, to do as they liked; and old people talking +about the past, and sighing to be young again. + +'Is there no way of satisfying these poor things?' she thought. And +then one night an idea occurred to her. 'Oh, yes, of course! It has been +tried before; but I will manage better than the rest, with their old +Fountain of Youth, which, after all, only made people young again. I +will enchant the spring that bubbles up in the middle of the orchard, +and the children that drink of it shall at once become grown men and +women, and the old people return to the days of their childhood.' + +And without stopping to consult one single other fairy, who might have +given her good advice, off rushed Dindonette, to cast her spell over the +fountain. + +It was the only spring of fresh water in the island, and at dawn was +crowded with people of all ages, come to drink at its source. Delighted +at her plan for making them all happy, the fairy hid herself behind a +thicket of roses, and peeped out whenever footsteps came that way. +It was not long before she had ample proof of the success of her +enchantments. Almost before her eyes the children put on the size +and strength of adults, while the old men and women instantly became +helpless, tiny babies. Indeed, so pleased was she with the result of +her work, that she could no longer remain hidden, and went about telling +everybody what she had done, and enjoying their gratitude and thanks. + +But after the first outburst of delight at their wishes being granted, +people began to be a little frightened at the rapid effects of the magic +water. It was delicious to feel yourself at the height of your power and +beauty, but you would wish to keep so always! Now this was exactly what +the fairy had been in too much of a hurry to arrange, and no sooner had +the children become grown up, and the men and women become babies, than +they all rushed on to old age at an appalling rate! The fairy only found +out her mistake when it was too late to set it right. + +When the inhabitants of the island saw what had befallen them, they were +filled with despair, and did everything they could think of to escape +from such a dreadful fate. They dug wells in their places, so that they +should no longer need to drink from the magic spring; but the sandy soil +yielded no water, and the rainy season was already past. They stored up +the dew that fell, and the juice of fruits and of herbs, but all this +was as a drop in the ocean of their wants. Some threw themselves +into the sea, trusting that the current might carry them to other +shores--they had no boats--and a few, still more impatient, put +themselves to death on the spot. The rest submitted blindly to their +destiny. + +Perhaps the worst part of the enchantment was, that the change from +one age to another was so rapid that the person had no time to prepare +himself for it. It would not have mattered so much if the man who stood +up in the assembly of the nation, to give his advice as to peace or war, +had looked like a baby, as long as he spoke with the knowledge and sense +of a full-grown man. But, alas! with the outward form of an infant, he +had taken on its helplessness and foolishness, and there was no one who +could train him to better things. The end of it all was, that before a +month had passed the population had died out, and the fairy Dindonette, +ashamed and grieved at the effects of her folly, had left the island for +ever. + +Many centuries after, the fairy Selnozoura, who had fallen into bad +health, was ordered by her doctors to make the tour of the world twice +a week for change of air, and in one of these journeys she found herself +at Fountain Island. Selnozoura never made these trips alone, but always +took with her two children, of whom she was very fond--Cornichon, a boy +of fourteen, bought in his childhood at a slave-market, and Toupette, a +few months younger, who had been entrusted to the care of the fairy by +her guardian, the genius Kristopo. Cornichon and Toupette were intended +by Selnozoura to become husband and wife, as soon as they were old +enough. Meanwhile, they travelled with her in a little vessel, whose +speed through the air was just a thousand nine hundred and fifty times +greater than that of the swiftest of our ships. + +Struck with the beauty of the island, Selnozoura ran the vessel to +ground, and leaving it in the care of the dragon which lived in the hold +during the voyage, stepped on shore with her two companions. Surprised +at the sight of a large town whose streets and houses were absolutely +desolate, the fairy resolved to put her magic arts in practice to +find out the cause. While she was thus engaged, Cornichon and Toupette +wandered away by themselves, and by-and-by arrived at the fountain, +whose bubbling waters looked cool and delicious on such a hot day. +Scarcely had they each drunk a deep draught, when the fairy, who by this +time had discovered all she wished to know, hastened to the spot. + +'Oh, beware! beware!' she cried, the moment she saw them. 'If you drink +that deadly poison you will be ruined for ever!' + +'Poison?' answered Toupette. 'It is the most refreshing water I have +ever tasted, and Cornichon will say so too!' + +'Unhappy children, then I am too late! Why did you leave me? Listen, +and I will tell you what has befallen the wretched inhabitants of this +island, and what will befall you too. The power of fairies is great,' +she added, when she had finished her story, 'but they cannot destroy the +work of another fairy. Very shortly you will pass into the weakness and +silliness of extreme old age, and all I can do for you is to make it as +easy to you as possible, and to preserve you from the death that others +have suffered, from having no one to look after them. But the charm is +working already! Cornichon is taller and more manly than he was an hour +ago, and Toupette no longer looks like a little girl.' + +It was true; but this fact did not seem to render the young people as +miserable as it did Selnozoura. + +'Do not pity us,' said Cornichon. 'If we are fated to grow old so soon, +let us no longer delay our marriage. What matter if we anticipate our +decay, if we only anticipate our happiness too?' + +The fairy felt that Cornichon had reason on his side, and seeing by a +glance at Toupette's face that there was no opposition to be feared from +her, she answered, 'Let it be so, then. But not in this dreadful place. +We will return at once to Bagota, and the festivities shall be the most +brilliant ever seen.' + +They all returned to the vessel, and in a few hours the four thousand +five hundred miles that lay between the island and Bagota were passed. +Everyone was surprised to see the change which the short absence had +made in the young people, but as the fairy had promised absolute silence +about the adventure, they were none the wiser, and busied themselves in +preparing their dresses for the marriage, which was fixed for the next +night. + +Early on the following morning the genius Kristopo arrived at the Court, +on one of the visits he was in the habit of paying his ward from time to +time. Like the rest, he was astonished at the sudden improvement in the +child. He had always been fond of her, and in a moment he fell violently +in love. Hastily demanding an audience of the fairy, he laid his +proposals before her, never doubting that she would give her consent to +so brilliant a match. But Selnozoura refused to listen, and even +hinted that in his own interest Kristopo had better turn his thoughts +elsewhere. The genius pretended to agree, but, instead, he went straight +to Toupette's room, and flew away with her through the window, at the +very instant that the bridegroom was awaiting her below. + +When the fairy discovered what had happened, she was furious, and sent +messenger after messenger to the genius in his palace at Ratibouf, +commanding him to restore Toupette without delay, and threatening to +make war in case of refusal. + +Kristopo gave no direct answer to the fairy's envoys, but kept Toupette +closely guarded in a tower, where the poor girl used all her powers of +persuasion to induce him to put off their marriage. All would, however, +have been quite vain if, in the course of a few days, sorrow, joined +to the spell of the magic water, had not altered her appearance so +completely that Kristopo was quite alarmed, and declared that she needed +amusement and fresh air, and that, as his presence seemed to distress +her, she should be left her own mistress. But one thing he declined to +do, and that was to send her back to Bagota. + +In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and +Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while +Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces. But before +war was actually declared, Toupette's parents, who had been summoned +by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf. They had never seen their daughter +since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers +to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty. What was their +amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a +middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, +older than themselves. Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were +at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of +his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady +in her place. Bursting with rage, he sent instantly for all the servants +and guards of the town, and inquired who had the insolence to play him +such a trick, and what had become of their prisoner. They replied that +since Toupette had been in their charge she had never left her rooms +unveiled, and that during her walks in the surrounding gardens, her food +had been brought in and placed on her table; as she preferred to eat +alone no one had ever seen her face, or knew what she was like. + +The servants were clearly speaking the truth, and Kristopo was obliged +to believe them. 'But,' thought he, 'if they have not had a hand in +this, it must be the work of the fairy,' and in his anger he ordered the +army to be ready to march. + +On her side, Selnozoura of course knew what the genius had to expect, +but was deeply offended when she heard of the base trick which she +was believed to have invented. Her first desire was to give battle to +Kristopo at once, but with great difficulty her ministers induced her to +pause, and to send an ambassador to Kristopo to try to arrange matters. + +So the Prince Zeprady departed for the court of Ratibouf, and on his way +he met Cornichon, who was encamped with his army just outside the gates +of Bagota. The prince showed him the fairy's written order that for the +present peace must still be kept, and Cornichon, filled with longing to +see Toupette once more, begged to be allowed to accompany Zeprady on his +mission to Ratibouf. + +By this time the genius's passion for Toupette, which had caused all +these troubles, had died out, and he willingly accepted the terms of +peace offered by Zeprady, though he informed the prince that he still +believed the fairy to be guilty of the dreadful change in the girl. To +this the prince only replied that on that point he had a witness who +could prove, better than anyone else, if it was Toupette or not, and +desired that Cornichon should be sent for. + +When Toupette was told that she was to see her old lover again, her +heart leapt with joy; but soon the recollection came to her of all that +had happened, and she remembered that Cornichon would be changed as well +as she. The moment of their meeting was not all happiness, especially +on the part of Toupette, who could not forget her lost beauty, and the +genius, who was present, was at last convinced that he had not been +deceived, and went out to sign the treaty of peace, followed by his +attendants. + +'Ah, Toupette: my dear Toupette!' cried Cornichon, as soon as they were +left alone; 'now that we are once more united, let our past troubles be +forgotten.' + +'Our past troubles!' answered she, 'and what do you call our lost beauty +and the dreadful future before us? You are looking fifty years older +than when I saw you last, and I know too well that fate has treated me +no better!' + +'Ah, do not say that,' replied Cornichon, clasping her hand. 'You are +different, it is true; but every age has its graces, and surely no woman +of sixty was ever handsomer than you! If your eyes had been as bright as +of yore they would have matched badly with your faded skin. The wrinkles +which I notice on your forehead explain the increased fulness of your +cheeks, and your throat in withering is elegant in decay. Thus the +harmony shown by your features, even as they grow old, is the best proof +of their former beauty.' + +'Oh, monster!' cried Toupette, bursting into tears, 'is that all the +comfort you can give me?' + +'But, Toupette,' answered Cornichon, 'you used to declare that you did +not care for beauty, as long as you had my heart.' + +'Yes, I know,' said she, 'but how can you go on caring for a person who +is as old and plain as I?' + +'Toupette, Toupette,' replied Cornichon, 'you are only talking nonsense. +My heart is as much yours as ever it was, and nothing in the world can +make any difference.' + +At this point of the conversation the Prince Zeprady entered the room, +with the news that the genius, full of regret for his behaviour, had +given Cornichon full permission to depart for Bagota as soon as he +liked, and to take Toupette with him; adding that, though he begged they +would excuse his taking leave of them before they went, he hoped, before +long, to visit them at Bagota. + +Neither of the lovers slept that night--Cornichon from joy at returning +home, Toupette from dread of the blow to her vanity which awaited her at +Bagota. It was hopeless for Cornichon to try to console her during the +journey with the reasons he had given the day before. She only grew +worse and worse, and when they reached the palace went straight to her +old apartments, entreating the fairy to allow both herself and Cornichon +to remain concealed, and to see no one. + +For some time after their arrival the fairy was taken up with the +preparations for the rejoicings which were to celebrate the peace, and +with the reception of the genius, who was determined to do all in his +power to regain Selnozoura's lost friendship. Cornichon and Toupette +were therefore left entirely to themselves, and though this was only +what they wanted, still, they began to feel a little neglected. + +At length, one morning, they saw from the windows that the fairy and +the genius were approaching, in state, with all their courtiers in +attendance. Toupette instantly hid herself in the darkest corner of +the room, but Cornichon, forgetting that he was now no longer a boy of +fourteen, ran to meet them. In so doing he tripped and fell, bruising +one of his eyes severely. At the sight of her lover lying helpless on +the floor, Toupette hastened to his side; but her feeble legs gave way +under her, and she fell almost on top of him, knocking out three of her +loosened teeth against his forehead. The fairy, who entered the room at +this moment, burst into tears, and listened in silence to the genius, +who hinted that by-and-by everything would be put right. + +'At the last assembly of the fairies,' he said, 'when the doings of each +fairy were examined and discussed, a proposal was made to lessen, as +far as possible, the mischief caused by Dindonette by enchanting +the fountain. And it was decided that, as she had meant nothing but +kindness, she should have the power of undoing one half of the spell. Of +course she might always have destroyed the fatal fountain, which would +have been best of all; but this she never thought of. Yet, in spite of +this, her heart is so good, that I am sure that the moment she hears +that she is wanted she will fly to help. Only, before she comes, it is +for you, Madam, to make up your mind which of the two shall regain their +former strength and beauty.' + +At these words the fairy's soul sank. Both Cornichon and Toupette were +equally dear to her, and how could she favour one at the cost of the +other? As to the courtiers, none of the men were able to understand why +she hesitated a second to declare for Toupette; while the ladies were +equally strong on the side of Cornichon. + +But, however undecided the fairy might be, it was quite different with +Cornichon and Toupette. + +'Ah, my love,' exclaimed Cornichon, 'at length I shall be able to +give you the best proof of my devotion by showing you how I value the +beauties of your mind above those of your body! While the most charming +women of the court will fall victims to my youth and strength, I shall +think of nothing but how to lay them at your feet, and pay heart-felt +homage to your age and wrinkles.' + +'Not so fast,' interrupted Toupette, 'I don't see why you should have it +all. Why do you heap such humiliations upon me? But I will trust to the +justice of the fairy, who will not treat me so.' + +Then she entered her own rooms, and refused to leave them, in spite of +the prayers of Cornichon, who begged her to let him explain. + +No one at the court thought or spoke of any other subject during the few +days before the arrival of Dindonette, whom everybody expected to set +things right in a moment. But, alas! she had no idea herself what was +best to be done, and always adopted the opinion of the person she was +talking to. At length a thought struck her, which seemed the only way +of satisfying both parties, and she asked the fairy to call together all +the court and the people to hear her decision. + +'Happy is he,' she began, 'who can repair the evil he has caused, but +happier he who has never caused any.' + +As nobody contradicted this remark, she continued: + +'To me it is only allowed to undo one half of the mischief I have +wrought. I could restore you your youth,' she said to Cornichon, 'or +your beauty,' turning to Toupette. 'I will do both; and I will do +neither.' + +A murmur of curiosity arose from the crowd, while Cornichon and Toupette +trembled with astonishment. + +'No,' went on Dindonette, 'never should I have the cruelty to leave one +of you to decay, while the other enjoys the glory of youth. And as I +cannot restore you both at once to what you were, one half of each of +your bodies shall become young again, while the other half goes on +its way to decay. I will leave it to you to choose which half it shall +be--if I shall draw a line round the waist, or a line straight down the +middle of the body.' + +She looked about her proudly, expecting applause for her clever idea. +But Cornichon and Toupette were shaking with rage and disappointment, +and everyone else broke into shouts of laughter. In pity for the unhappy +lovers, Selnozoura came forward. + +'Do you not think,' she said, 'that instead of what you propose, it +would be better to let them take it in turns to enjoy their former youth +and beauty for a fixed time? I am sure you could easily manage that.' + +'What an excellent notion!' cried Dindonette. 'Oh, yes, of course that +is best! Which of you shall I touch first?' + +'Touch her,' replied Cornichon, who was always ready to give way to +Toupette. 'I know her heart too well to fear any change.' + +So the fairy bent forward and touched her with her magic ring, and in +one instant the old woman was a girl again. The whole court wept with +joy at the sight, and Toupette ran up to Cornichon, who had fallen down +in his surprise, promising to pay him long visits, and tell him of all +her balls and water parties. + +The two fairies went to their own apartments, where the genius followed +them to take his leave. + +'Oh, dear!' suddenly cried Dindonette, breaking in to the farewell +speech of the genius. 'I quite forgot to fix the time when Cornichon +should in his turn grow young. How stupid of me! And now I fear it is +too late, for I ought to have declared it before I touched Toupette with +the ring. Oh, dear! oh, dear! why did nobody warn me?' + +'You were so quick,' replied Selnozoura, who had long been aware of +the mischief the fairy had again done, 'and we can only wait now till +Cornichon shall have reached the utmost limits of his decay, when he +will drink of the water, and become a baby once more, so that Toupette +will have to spend her life as a nurse, a wife, and a caretaker.' + +After the anxiety of mind and the weakness of body to which for so long +Toupette had been a prey, it seemed as if she could not amuse herself +enough, and it was seldom indeed that she found time to visit poor +Cornichon, though she did not cease to be fond of him, or to be kind to +him. Still, she was perfectly happy without him, and this the poor man +did not fail to see, almost blind and deaf from age though he was. + +But it was left to Kristopo to undo at last the work of Dindonette, and +give Cornichon back the youth he had lost, and this the genius did all +the more gladly, as he discovered, quite by accident, that Cornichon was +in fact his son. It was on this plea that he attended the great yearly +meeting of the fairies, and prayed that, in consideration of his +services to so many of the members, this one boon might be granted +him. Such a request had never before been heard in fairyland, and +was objected to by some of the older fairies; but both Kristopo and +Selnozoura were held in such high honour that the murmurs of disgust +were set aside, and the latest victim to the enchanted fountain was +pronounced to be free of the spell. All that the genius asked in return +was that he might accompany the fairy back to Bagota, and be present +when his son assumed his proper shape. + +They made up their minds they would just tell Toupette that they +had found a husband for her, and give her a pleasant surprise at her +wedding, which was fixed for the following night. She heard the news +with astonishment, and many pangs for the grief which Cornichon would +certainly feel at his place being taken by another; but she did not +dream of disobeying the fairy, and spent the whole day wondering who the +bridegroom could be. + +At the appointed hour, a large crowd assembled at the fairy's palace, +which was decorated with the sweetest flowers, known only to fairyland. +Toupette had taken her place, but where was the bridegroom? + +'Fetch Cornichon!' said the fairy to her chamberlain. + +But Toupette interposed: 'Oh, Madam, spare him, I entreat you, this +bitter pain, and let him remain hidden and in peace.' + +'It is necessary that he should be here,' answered the fairy, 'and he +will not regret it.' + +And, as she spoke, Cornichon was led in, smiling with the foolishness of +extreme old age at the sight of the gay crowd. + +'Bring him here,' commanded the fairy, waving her hand towards Toupette, +who started back from surprise and horror. + +Selnozoura then took the hand of the poor old man, and the genius came +forward and touched him three times with his ring, when Cornichon was +transformed into a handsome young man. + +'May you live long,' the genius said, 'to enjoy happiness with your +wife, and to love your father.' + +And that was the end of the mischief wrought by the fairy Dindonette! + +[Cabinet des Fees.] + + + + +Long, Broad, and Quickeye + +(A Bohemian Story) + + +Once upon a time there lived a king who had an only son whom he loved +dearly. Now one day the king sent for his son and said to him: + +'My dearest child, my hair is grey and I am old, and soon I shall feel +no more the warmth of the sun, or look upon the trees and flowers. But +before I die I should like to see you with a good wife; therefore marry, +my son, as speedily as possible.' + +'My father,' replied the prince, 'now and always, I ask nothing better +than to do your bidding, but I know of no daughter-in-law that I could +give you.' + +On hearing these words the old king drew from his pocket a key of gold, +and gave it to his son, saying: + +'Go up the staircase, right up to the top of the tower. Look carefully +round you, and then come and tell me which you like best of all that you +see.' + +So the young man went up. He had never before been in the tower, and had +no idea what it might contain. + +The staircase wound round and round and round, till the prince was +almost giddy, and every now and then he caught sight of a large room +that opened out from the side. But he had been told to go to the top, +and to the top he went. Then he found himself in a hall, which had an +iron door at one end. This door he unlocked with his golden key, and he +passed through into a vast chamber which had a roof of blue sprinkled +with golden stars, and a carpet of green silk soft as turf. Twelve +windows framed in gold let in the light of the sun, and on every window +was painted the figure of a young girl, each more beautiful than the +last. While the prince gazed at them in surprise, not knowing which +he liked best, the girls began to lift their eyes and smile at him. He +waited, expecting them to speak, but no sound came. + +Suddenly he noticed that one of the windows was covered by a curtain of +white silk. + +He lifted it, and saw before him the image of a maiden beautiful as the +day and sad as the tomb, clothed in a white robe, having a girdle of +silver and a crown of pearls. The prince stood and gazed at her, as if +he had been turned into stone, but as he looked the sadness which, was +on her face seemed to pass into his heart, and he cried out: + +'This one shall be my wife. This one and no other.' + +As he said the words the young girl blushed and hung her head, and all +the other figures vanished. + +The young prince went quickly back to his father, and told him all he +had seen and which wife he had chosen. The old man listened to him full +of sorrow, and then he spoke: + +'You have done ill, my son, to search out that which was hidden, and you +are running to meet a great danger. This young girl has fallen into the +power of a wicked sorcerer, who lives in an iron castle. Many young men +have tried to deliver her, and none have ever come back. But what is +done is done! You have given your word, and it cannot be broken. Go, +dare your fate, and return to me safe and sound.' + +So the prince embraced his father, mounted his horse, and set forth +to seek his bride. He rode on gaily for several hours, till he found +himself in a wood where he had never been before, and soon lost his way +among its winding paths and deep valleys. He tried in vain to see where +he was: the thick trees shut out the sun, and he could not tell which +was north and which was south, so that he might know what direction to +make for. He felt in despair, and had quite given up all hope of getting +out of this horrible place, when he heard a voice calling to him. + +'Hey! hey! stop a minute!' + +The prince turned round and saw behind him a very tall man, running as +fast as his legs would carry him. + +'Wait for me,' he panted, 'and take me into your service. If you do, you +will never be sorry.' + +'Who are you?' asked the prince, 'and what can you do?' + +'Long is my name, and I can lengthen my body at will. Do you see that +nest up there on the top of that pine-tree? Well, I can get it for you +without taking the trouble of climbing the tree,' and Long stretched +himself up and up and up, till he was very soon as tall as the pine +itself. He put the nest in his pocket, and before you could wink your +eyelid he had made himself small again, and stood before the prince. + +'Yes; you know your business,' said he, 'but birds' nests are no use to +me. I am too old for them. Now if you were only able to get me out of +this wood, you would indeed be good for something.' + +'Oh, there's no difficulty about that,' replied Long, and he stretched +himself up and up and up till he was three times as tall as the tallest +tree in the forest. Then he looked all round and said, 'We must go in +this direction in order to get out of the wood,' and shortening himself +again, he took the prince's horse by the bridle, and led him along. +Very soon they got clear of the forest, and saw before them a wide plain +ending in a pile of high rocks, covered here and there with trees, and +very much like the fortifications of a town. + +As they left the wood behind, Long turned to the prince and said, 'My +lord, here comes my comrade. You should take him into your service too, +as you will find him a great help.' + +'Well, call him then, so that I can see what sort of a man he is.' + +'He is a little too far off for that,' replied Long. 'He would hardly +hear my voice, and he couldn't be here for some time yet, as he has so +much to carry. I think I had better go and bring him myself,' and this +time he stretched himself to such a height that his head was lost in the +clouds. He made two or three strides, took his friend on his back, and +set him down before the prince. The new-comer was a very fat man, and as +round as a barrel. + +'Who are you?' asked the prince, 'and what can you do?' + +'Your worship, Broad is my name, and I can make myself as wide as I +please.' + +'Let me see how you manage it.' + +'Run, my lord, as fast as you can, and hide yourself in the wood,' cried +Broad, and he began to swell himself out. + +The prince did not understand why he should run to the wood, but when he +saw Long flying towards it, he thought he had better follow his example. +He was only just in time, for Broad had so suddenly inflated himself +that he very nearly knocked over the prince and his horse too. He +covered all the space for acres round. You would have thought he was a +mountain! + +At length Broad ceased to expand, drew a deep breath that made the whole +forest tremble, and shrank into his usual size. + +'You have made me run away,' said the prince. 'But it is not every day +one meets with a man of your sort. I will take you into my service.' + +So the three companions continued their journey, and when they were +drawing near the rocks they met a man whose eyes were covered by a +bandage. + +'Your excellency,' said Long, 'this is our third comrade. You will do +well to take him into your service, and, I assure you, you will find him +worth his salt.' + +'Who are you?' asked the prince. 'And why are your eyes bandaged? You +can never see your way!' + +'It is just the contrary, my lord! It is because I see only too well +that I am forced to bandage my eyes. Even so I see as well as people who +have no bandage. When I take it off my eyes pierce through everything. +Everything I look at catches fire, or, if it cannot catch fire, it falls +into a thousand pieces. They call me Quickeye.' + +And so saying he took off his bandage and turned towards the rock. As +he fixed his eyes upon it a crack was heard, and in a few moments it +was nothing but a heap of sand. In the sand something might be detected +glittering brightly. Quickeye picked it up and brought it to the prince. +It turned out to be a lump of pure gold. + +'You are a wonderful creature,' said the prince, 'and I should be a fool +not to take you into my service. But since your eyes are so good, tell +me if I am very far from the Iron Castle, and what is happening there +just now.' + +'If you were travelling alone,' replied Quickeye, 'it would take you at +least a year to get to it; but as we are with you, we shall arrive there +to-night. Just now they are preparing supper.' + +'There is a princess in the castle. Do you see her?' + +'A wizard keeps her in a high tower, guarded by iron bars.' + +'Ah, help me to deliver her!' cried the prince. + +And they promised they would. + +Then they all set out through the grey rocks, by the breach made by +the eyes of Quickeye, and passed over great mountains and through deep +woods. And every time they met with any obstacle the three friends +contrived somehow to put it aside. As the sun was setting, the prince +beheld the towers of the Iron Castle, and before it sank beneath the +horizon he was crossing the iron bridge which led to the gates. He was +only just in time, for no sooner had the sun disappeared altogether, +than the bridge drew itself up and the gates shut themselves. + +There was no turning back now! + +The prince put up his horse in the stable, where everything looked as +if a guest was expected, and then the whole party marched straight up to +the castle. In the court, in the stables, and all over the great halls, +they saw a number of men richly dressed, but every one turned into +stone. They crossed an endless set of rooms, all opening into each +other, till they reached the dining-hall. It was brilliantly lighted; +the table was covered with wine and fruit, and was laid for four. They +waited a few minutes expecting someone to come, but as nobody did, they +sat down and began to eat and drink, for they were very hungry. + +When they had done their supper they looked about for some place to +sleep. But suddenly the door burst open, and the wizard entered the +hall. He was old and hump-backed, with a bald head and a grey beard that +fell to his knees. He wore a black robe, and instead of a belt three +iron circlets clasped his waist. He led by the hand a lady of wonderful +beauty, dressed in white, with a girdle of silver and a crown of pearls, +but her face was pale and sad as death itself. + +The prince knew her in an instant, and moved eagerly forward; but the +wizard gave him no time to speak, and said: + +'I know why you are here. Very good; you may have her if for three +nights following you can prevent her making her escape. If you fail in +this, you and your servants will all be turned into stone, like those +who have come before you.' And offering the princess a chair, he left +the hall. + +The prince could not take his eyes from the princess, she was so lovely! +He began to talk to her, but she neither answered nor smiled, and sat as +if she were made of marble. He seated himself by her, and determined +not to close his eyes that night, for fear she should escape him. And in +order that she should be doubly guarded, Long stretched himself like a +strap all round the room, Broad took his stand by the door and puffed +himself out, so that not even a mouse could slip by, and Quickeye leant +against a pillar which stood in the middle of the floor and supported +the roof. But in half a second they were all sound asleep, and they +slept sound the whole night long. + +In the morning, at the first peep of dawn, the prince awoke with a +start. But the princess was gone. He aroused his servants and implored +them to tell him what he must do. + +'Calm yourself, my lord,' said Quickeye. 'I have found her already. A +hundred miles from here there is a forest. In the middle of the forest, +an old oak, and on the top of the oak, an acorn. This acorn is the +princess. If Long will take me on his shoulders, we shall soon bring +her back.' And sure enough, in less time than it takes to walk round a +cottage, they had returned from the forest, and Long presented the acorn +to the prince. + +'Now, your excellency, throw it on the ground.' + +The prince obeyed, and was enchanted to see the princess appear at his +side. But when the sun peeped for the first time over the mountains, +the door burst open as before, and the wizard entered with a loud laugh. +Suddenly he caught sight of the princess; his face darkened, he uttered +a low growl, and one of the iron circlets gave way with a crash. He +seized the young girl by the hand and bore her away with him. + +All that day the prince wandered about the castle, studying the curious +treasures it contained, but everything looked as if life had suddenly +come to a standstill. In one place he saw a prince who had been turned +into stone in the act of brandishing a sword round which his two hands +were clasped. In another, the same doom had fallen upon a knight in the +act of running away. In a third, a serving man was standing eternally +trying to convey a piece of beef to his mouth, and all around them were +others, still preserving for evermore the attitudes they were in when +the wizard had commanded 'From henceforth be turned into marble.' In the +castle, and round the castle all was dismal and desolate. Trees there +were, but without leaves; fields there were, but no grass grew on them. +There was one river, but it never flowed and no fish lived in it. No +flowers blossomed, and no birds sang. + +Three times during the day food appeared, as if by magic, for the prince +and his servants. And it was not until supper was ended that the wizard +appeared, as on the previous evening, and delivered the princess into +the care of the prince. + +All four determined that this time they would keep awake at any cost. +But it was no use. Off they went as they had done before, and when the +prince awoke the next morning the room was again empty. + +With a pang of shame, he rushed to find Quickeye. 'Awake! Awake! +Quickeye! Do you know what has become of the princess?' + +Quickeye rubbed his eyes and answered: 'Yes, I see her. Two hundred +miles from here there is a mountain. In this mountain is a rock. In the +rock, a precious stone. This stone is the princess. Long shall take me +there, and we will be back before you can turn round.' + +So Long took him on his shoulders and they set out. At every stride they +covered twenty miles, and as they drew near Quickeye fixed his burning +eyes on the mountain; in an instant it split into a thousand pieces, +and in one of these sparkled the precious stone. They picked it up and +brought it to the prince, who flung it hastily down, and as the stone +touched the floor the princess stood before him. When the wizard came, +his eyes shot forth flames of fury. Cric-crac was heard, and another of +his iron bands broke and fell. He seized the princess by the hand and +led her off, growling louder than ever. + +All that day things went on exactly as they had done the day before. +After supper the wizard brought back the princess, and looking him +straight in the eyes he said, 'We shall see which of us two will gain +the prize after all!' + +That night they struggled their very hardest to keep awake, and even +walked about instead of sitting down. But it was quite useless. One +after another they had to give in, and for the third time the princess +slipped through their fingers. + +When morning came, it was as usual the prince who awoke the first, and +as usual, the princess being gone, he rushed to Quickeye. + +'Get up, get up, Quickeye, and tell me where is the princess?' + +Quickeye looked about for some time without answering. 'Oh, my lord, she +is far, very far. Three hundred miles away there lies a black sea. In +the middle of this sea there is a little shell, and in the middle of the +shell is fixed a gold ring. That gold ring is the princess. But do not +vex your soul; we will get her. Only to-day, Long must take Broad with +him. He will be wanted badly.' + +So Long took Quickeye on one shoulder, and Broad on the other, and they +set out. At each stride they left thirty miles behind them. When they +reached the black sea, Quickeye showed them the spot where they must +seek the shell. But though Long stretched down his hand as far as it +would go, he could not find the shell, for it lay at the bottom of the +sea. + +'Wait a moment, comrades, it will be all right. I will help you,' said +Broad. + +Then he swelled himself out so that you would have thought the world +could hardly have held him, and stooping down he drank. He drank so much +at every mouthful, that only a minute or so passed before the water had +sunk enough for Long to put his hand to the bottom. He soon found the +shell, and pulled the ring out. But time had been lost, and Long had a +double burden to carry. The dawn was breaking fast before they got back +to the castle, where the prince was waiting for them in an agony of +fear. + +Soon the first rays of the sun were seen peeping over the tops of the +mountains. The door burst open, and finding the prince standing alone +the wizard broke into peals of wicked laughter. But as he laughed a loud +crash was heard, the window fell into a thousand pieces, a gold ring +glittered in the air, and the princess stood before the enchanter. For +Quickeye, who was watching from afar, had told Long of the terrible +danger now threatening the prince, and Long, summoning all his strength +for one gigantic effort, had thrown the ring right through the window. + +The wizard shrieked and howled with rage, till the whole castle trembled +to its foundations. Then a crash was heard, the third band split in two, +and a crow flew out of the window. + +Then the princess at length broke the enchanted silence, and +blushing like a rose, gave the prince her thanks for her unlooked-for +deliverance. + +But it was not only the princess who was restored to life by the flight +of the wicked black crow. The marble figures became men once more, and +took up their occupations just as they had left them off. The horses +neighed in the stables, the flowers blossomed in the garden, the birds +flew in the air, the fish darted in the water. Everywhere you looked, +all was life, all was joy! + +And the knights who had been turned into stone came in a body to offer +their homage to the prince who had set them free. + +'Do not thank me,' he said, 'for I have done nothing. Without my +faithful servants, Long, Broad, and Quickeye, I should even have been as +one of you.' + +With these words he bade them farewell, and departed with the princess +and his faithful companions for the kingdom of his father. + +The old king, who had long since given up all hope, wept for joy at the +sight of his son, and insisted that the wedding should take place as +soon as possible. + +All the knights who had been enchanted in the Iron Castle were invited +to the ceremony, and after it had taken place, Long, Broad, and Quickeye +took leave of the young couple, saying that they were going to look for +more work. + +The prince offered them all their hearts could desire if they would only +remain with him, but they replied that an idle life would not please +them, and that they could never be happy unless they were busy, so they +went away to seek their fortunes, and for all I know are seeking still. + +[Contes populaires. Traduits par Louis Leger. Paris: Leroux, editeur.] + + + + +Prunella + + +There was once upon a time a woman who had an only daughter. When the +child was about seven years old she used to pass every day, on her way +to school, an orchard where there was a wild plum tree, with delicious +ripe plums hanging from the branches. Each morning the child would pick +one, and put it into her pocket to eat at school. For this reason she +was called Prunella. Now, the orchard belonged to a witch. One day the +witch noticed the child gathering a plum, as she passed along the road. +Prunella did it quite innocently, not knowing that she was doing wrong +in taking the fruit that hung close to the roadside. But the witch was +furious, and next day hid herself behind the hedge, and when Prunella +came past, and put out her hand to pluck the fruit, she jumped out and +seized her by the arm. + +'Ah! you little thief!' she exclaimed. 'I have caught you at last. Now +you will have to pay for your misdeeds.' + +The poor child, half dead with fright, implored the old woman to +forgive her, assuring her that she did not know she had done wrong, +and promising never to do it again. But the witch had no pity, and she +dragged Prunella into her house, where she kept her till the time should +come when she could have her revenge. + +As the years passed Prunella grew up into a very beautiful girl. Now her +beauty and goodness, instead of softening the witch's heart, aroused her +hatred and jealousy. + +One day she called Prunella to her, and said: 'Take this basket, go to +the well, and bring it back to me filled with water. If you don't I will +kill you.' + +The girl took the basket, went and let it down into the well again +and again. But her work was lost labour. Each time, as she drew up the +basket, the water streamed out of it. At last, in despair, she gave +it up, and leaning against the well she began to cry bitterly, when +suddenly she heard a voice at her side saying 'Prunella, why are you +crying?' + +Turning round she beheld a handsome youth, who looked kindly at her, as +if he were sorry for her trouble. + +'Who are you,' she asked, 'and how do you know my name?' + +'I am the son of the witch,' he replied, 'and my name is Bensiabel. I +know that she is determined that you shall die, but I promise you that +she shall not carry out her wicked plan. Will you give me a kiss, if I +fill your basket?' + +'No,' said Prunella, 'I will not give you a kiss, because you are the +son of a witch.' + +'Very well,' replied the youth sadly. 'Give me your basket and I will +fill it for you.' And he dipped it into the well, and the water stayed +in it. Then the girl returned to the house, carrying the basket filled +with water. When the witch saw it, she became white with rage, and +exclaimed 'Bensiabel must have helped you.' And Prunella looked down, +and said nothing. + +'Well, we shall see who will win in the end,' said the witch, in a great +rage. + +The following day she called the girl to her and said: 'Take this sack +of wheat. I am going out for a little; by the time I return I shall +expect you to have made it into bread. If you have not done it I will +kill you.' Having said this she left the room, closing and locking the +door behind her. + +Poor Prunella did not know what to do. It was impossible for her to +grind the wheat, prepare the dough, and bake the bread, all in the short +time that the witch would be away. At first she set to work bravely, but +when she saw how hopeless her task was, she threw herself on a chair, +and began to weep bitterly. She was roused from her despair by hearing +Bensiabel's voice at her side saying: 'Prunella, Prunella, do not weep +like that. If you will give me a kiss I will make the bread, and you +will be saved.' + +'I will not kiss the son of a witch,' replied Prunella. + +But Bensiabel took the wheat from her, and ground it, and made the +dough, and when the witch returned the bread was ready baked in the +oven. + +Turning to the girl, with fury in her voice, she said: 'Bensiabel must +have been here and helped you;' and Prunella looked down, and said +nothing. + +'We shall see who will win in the end,' said the witch, and her eyes +blazed with anger. + +Next day she called the girl to her and said: 'Go to my sister, who +lives across the mountains. She will give you a casket, which you must +bring back to me.' This she said knowing that her sister, who was a +still more cruel and wicked witch than herself, would never allow the +girl to return, but would imprison her and starve her to death. But +Prunella did not suspect anything, and set out quite cheerfully. On the +way she met Bensiabel. + +'Where are you going, Prunella?' he asked. + +'I am going to the sister of my mistress, from whom I am to fetch a +casket.' + +'Oh poor, poor girl!' said Bensiabel. 'You are being sent straight to +your death. Give me a kiss, and I will save you.' + +But again Prunella answered as before, 'I will not kiss the son of a +witch.' + +'Nevertheless, I will save your life,' said Bensiabel, 'for I love you +better than myself. Take this flagon of oil, this loaf of bread, this +piece of rope, and this broom. When you reach the witch's house, oil the +hinges of the door with the contents of the flagon, and throw the loaf +of bread to the great fierce mastiff, who will come to meet you. When +you have passed the dog, you will see in the courtyard a miserable woman +trying in vain to let down a bucket into the well with her plaited hair. +You must give her the rope. In the kitchen you will find a still more +miserable woman trying to clean the hearth with her tongue; to her you +must give the broom. You will see the casket on the top of a cupboard, +take it as quickly as you can, and leave the house without a moment's +delay. If you do all this exactly as I have told you, you will not be +killed.' + +So Prunella, having listened carefully to his instructions, did just +what he had told her. She reached the house, oiled the hinges of the +door, threw the loaf to the dog, gave the poor woman at the well the +rope, and the woman in the kitchen the broom, caught up the casket from +the top of the cupboard, and fled with it out of the house. But the +witch heard her as she ran away, and rushing to the window called out to +the woman in the kitchen: 'Kill that thief, I tell you!' + +But the woman replied: 'I will not kill her, for she has given me a +broom, whereas you forced me to clean the hearth with my tongue.' + +Then the witch called out in fury to the woman at the well: 'Take the +girl, I tell you, and fling her into the water, and drown her!' + +But the woman answered: 'No, I will not drown her, for she gave me this +rope, whereas you forced me to use my hair to let down the bucket to +draw water.' + +Then the witch shouted to the dog to seize the girl and hold her fast; +but the dog answered: 'No, I will not seize her, for she gave me a loaf +of bread, whereas you let me starve with hunger.' + +The witch was so angry that she nearly choked, as she called out: 'Door, +bang upon her, and keep her a prisoner.' + +But the door answered: 'I won't, for she has oiled my hinges, so that +they move quite easily, whereas you left them all rough and rusty.' + +And so Prunella escaped, and, with the casket under her arm, reached the +house of her mistress, who, as you may believe, was as angry as she was +surprised to see the girl standing before her, looking more beautiful +than ever. Her eyes flashed, as in furious tones she asked her, 'Did you +meet Bensiabel?' + +But Prunella looked down, and said nothing. + +'We shall see,' said the witch, 'who will win in the end. Listen, there +are three cocks in the hen-house; one is yellow, one black, and the +third is white. If one of them crows during the night you must tell me +which one it is. Woe to you if you make a mistake. I will gobble you up +in one mouthful.' + +Now Bensiabel was in the room next to the one where Prunella slept. At +midnight she awoke hearing a cock crow. + +'Which one was that?' shouted the witch. + +Then, trembling, Prunella knocked on the wall and whispered: 'Bensiabel, +Bensiabel, tell me, which cock crowed?' + +'Will you give me a kiss if I tell you?' he whispered back through the +wall. + +But she answered 'No.' + +Then he whispered back to her: 'Nevertheless, I will tell you. It was +the yellow cock that crowed.' + +The witch, who had noticed the delay in Prunella's answer, approached +her door calling angrily: 'Answer at once, or I will kill you.' + +So Prunella answered: 'It was the yellow cock that crowed.' + +And the witch stamped her foot and gnashed her teeth. + +Soon after another cock crowed. 'Tell me now which one it is,' called +the witch. And, prompted by Bensiabel, Prunella answered: 'That is the +black cock.' + +A few minutes after the crowing was heard again, and the voice of the +witch demanding 'Which one was that?' + +And again Prunella implored Bensiabel to help her. But this time he +hesitated, for he hoped that Prunella might forget that he was a witch's +son, and promise to give him a kiss. And as he hesitated he heard an +agonised cry from the girl: 'Bensiabel, Bensiabel, save me! The witch is +coming, she is close to me, I hear the gnashing of her teeth!' + +With a bound Bensiabel opened his door and flung himself against the +witch. He pulled her back with such force that she stumbled, and falling +headlong, dropped down dead at the foot of the stairs. + +Then, at last, Prunella was touched by Bensiabel's goodness and kindness +to her, and she became his wife, and they lived happily ever after. + + +End of The Grey Fairy Book. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Grey Fairy Book, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GREY FAIRY BOOK *** + +***** This file should be named 6746.txt or 6746.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/7/4/6746/ + +Produced by JC Byers, Wendy Crockett, Sally Gellert, Christine Sturrock + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |