The Yellow Fairy Book .......................................................................................................................................1

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

THE CAT AND THE MOUSE IN PARTNERSHIP..............................................................................3

THE SIX SWANS...................................................................................................................................5

THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH ..........................................................................................................7

STORY OF THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES ................................................................................14

THE GOLDEN CRAB..........................................................................................................................17

THE IRON STOVE...............................................................................................................................20

THE DRAGON AND HIS GRANDMOTHER....................................................................................23

THE DONKEY CABBAGE ..................................................................................................................25

THE LITTLE GREEN FROG..............................................................................................................28

THE SEVENHEADED SERPENT ....................................................................................................33

THE GRATEFUL BEASTS ..................................................................................................................35

THE GIANTS AND THE HERDBOY..............................................................................................40

THE INVISIBLE PRINCE ...................................................................................................................42

THE CROW[13]...................................................................................................................................48

HOW SIX MEN TRAVELLED THROUGH THE WIDE WORLD ....................................................50

THE WIZARD KING[14]....................................................................................................................52

THE NIXY[15].....................................................................................................................................56

THE GLASS MOUNTAIN[16] .............................................................................................................58

ALPHEGE, OR THE GREEN MONKEY...........................................................................................61

FAIRERTHANAFAIRY ................................................................................................................64

THE THREE BROTHERS[17]............................................................................................................68

THE BOY AND THE WOLVES, OR THE BROKEN PROMISE[18]..............................................69

THE GLASS AXE[19].........................................................................................................................71

THE DEAD WIFE[20]..........................................................................................................................75

IN THE LAND OF SOULS [21] ...........................................................................................................75

THE WHITE DUCK ..............................................................................................................................77

THE WITCH AND HER SERVANTS[22] ...........................................................................................79

THE MAGIC RING ...............................................................................................................................89

THE FLOWER QUEEN'S DAUGHTER[23].......................................................................................96

THE FLYING SHIP[24] ......................................................................................................................100

THE SNOWDAUGHTER AND THE FIRESON[25] ....................................................................104

THE STORY OF KING FROST [26].................................................................................................106

THE DEATH OF THE SUNHERO [27]..........................................................................................108

THE WITCH [28] ................................................................................................................................109

THE HAZELNUT CHILD [29]........................................................................................................112

THE STORY OF BIG KLAUS AND LITTLE KLAUS .....................................................................113

PRINCE RING [30] .............................................................................................................................121

THE SWINEHERD.............................................................................................................................127

HOW TO TELL A TRUE PRINCESS ................................................................................................130

THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.................................................................................................................131

THE TINDERBOX...........................................................................................................................136

THE WITCH IN THE STONE BOAT[31].........................................................................................140

THUMBELINA...................................................................................................................................143

THE NIGHTINGALE.........................................................................................................................148

HERMOD AND HADVOR [32] .........................................................................................................153

THE STEADFAST TINSOLDIER...................................................................................................157

BLOCKHEADHANS ........................................................................................................................159

A STORY ABOUT A DARNINGNEEDLE .....................................................................................162

The Editor thinks that children will readily forgive him for publishing another Fairy Book. We have had the

Blue, the Red, the Green, and here is the Yellow. If children are pleased, and they are so kind as to say that

they are pleased, the Editor does not care very much for what other people may say. Now, there is one

gentleman who seems to think that it is not quite right to print so many fairy tales, with pictures, and to

publish them in red and blue covers. He is named Mr. G. Laurence Gomme, and he is president of a learned

body called the Folk Lore Society. Once a year he makes his address to his subjects, of whom the Editor is

one, and Mr. Joseph Jacobs (who has published many delightful fairy tales with pretty pictures)[1] is another.

Fancy, then, the dismay of Mr. Jacobs, and of the Editor, when they heard their president say that he did not

think it very nice in them to publish fairy books, above all, red, green, and blue fairy books! They said that

they did not see any harm in it, and they were ready to 'put themselves on their country,' and be tried by a jury

of children. And, indeed, they still see no harm in what they have done; nay, like Father William in the poem,

Where is the harm? The truth is that the Folk Lore Societymade up of the most clever, learned, and

beautiful men and women of the countryis fond of studying the history and geography of Fairy Land. This

These people are thought to know most about fairyland and its inhabitants. But, in the Yellow Fairy Book,

and the rest, are many tales by persons who are neither savages nor rustics, such as Madame D'Aulnoy and

Herr Hans Christian Andersen. The Folk Lore Society, or its president, say that THEIR tales are not so true as

the rest, and should not be published with the rest. But WE say that all the stories which are pleasant to read

are quite true enough for us; so here they are, with pictures by Mr. Ford, and we do not think that either the

As to whether there are really any fairies or not, that is a difficult question. Professor Huxley thinks there are

none. The Editor never saw any himself, but he knows several people who have seen themin the

Highlandsand heard their music. If ever you are in Nether Lochaber, go to the Fairy Hill, and you may

hearthe music yourself, as grownup people have done, but you must goon a fine day. Again, if there are

really no fairies, why dopeople believe in them, all over the world? The ancient Greeks believed, so did the

old Egyptians, and the Hindoos, and the Red Indians, and is it likely, if there are no fairies, that so many

different peoples would have seen and heard them? The Rev. Mr. BaringGould saw several fairies when he

was a boy, and was travelling in the land of the Troubadours. For these reasons, the Editor thinks that there

are certainly fairies, but they never do anyone any harm; and, in England, they have been frightened away by

smoke and schoolmasters. As to Giants, they have died out, but real Dwarfs are common in the forests of

Africa. Probably a good many stories not perfectly true have been told about fairies, but such stories have

also been told about Napoleon, Claverhouse, Julius Caesar, and Joan of Arc, all of whom certainly existed. A

wise child will, therefore, remember that, if he grows up and becomes a member of the Folk Lore Society,

ALL the tales in this book were not offered to him as absolutely truthful, but were printed merely for his

There are Russian, German, French, Icelandic, Red Indian, and other stories here. They were translated by

Miss Cheape, Miss Alma, and Miss Thyra Alleyne, Miss Sellar, Mr. Craigie (he did the Icelandic tales), Miss

Blackley, Mrs. Dent, and Mrs. Lang, but the Red Indian stories are copied from English versions published

by the Smithsonian Bureau of Ethnology, in America. Mr. Ford did the pictures, and it is hoped that children

will find the book not less pleasing than those which have already been submitted to their consideration. The

Editor cannot say 'goodbye' without advising them, as they pursue their studies, to read The Rose and the

Ring, by the late Mr. Thackeray, with pictures by the author. This book he thinks quite indispensable in every

child's library, and parents should be urged to purchase it at the first opportunity, as without it no education is

A cat had made acquaintance with a mouse, and had spoken so much of the great love and friendship she felt

for her, that at last the Mouse consented to live in the same house with her, and to go shares in the

housekeeping. 'But we must provide for the winter or else we shall suffer hunger,' said the Cat. 'You, little

Mouse, cannot venture everywhere in case you run at last into a trap.' This good counsel was followed, and a

little pot of fat was bought. But they did not know where to put it. At length, after long consultation, the Cat

said, 'I know of no place where it could be better put than in the church. No one will trouble to take it away

from there. We will hide it in a corner, and we won't touch it till we are in want.' So the little pot was placed

in safety; but it was not long before the Cat had a great longing for it, and said to the Mouse, 'I wanted to tell

you, little Mouse, that my cousin has a little son, white with brown spots, and she wants me to be godmother

'Yes, go certainly,' replied the Mouse, 'and when you eat anything good, think of me; I should very much like

But it was all untrue. The Cat had no cousin, and had not been asked to be godmother. She went straight to

the church, slunk to the little pot of fat, began to lick it, and licked the top off. Then she took a walk on the

roofs of the town, looked at the view, stretched herself out in the sun, and licked her lips whenever she

thought of the little pot of fat. As soon as it was evening she went home again.

'Ah, here you are again!' said the Mouse; 'you must certainly have had an enjoyable day.'

'Topoff!' echoed the Mouse, 'it is indeed a wonderful and curious name. Is it in your family?'

'What is there odd about it?' said the Cat. 'It is not worse than Breadthief, as your godchild is called.'

Not long after this another great longing came over the Cat. She said to the Mouse, 'You must again be kind

enough to look after the house alone, for I have been asked a second time to stand godmother, and as this

The kind Mouse agreed, but the Cat slunk under the town wall to the church, and ate up half of the pot of fat.

'Nothing tastes better,' said she, 'than what one eats by oneself,' and she was very much pleased with her day's

'Halfgone! what a name! I have never heard it in my life. I don't believe it is in the calendar.'

Soon the Cat's mouth began to water once more after her licking business. 'All good things in threes,' she said

to the Mouse; 'I have again to stand godmother. The child is quite black, and has very white paws, but not a

single white hair on its body. This only happens once in two years, so you will let me go out?'

'Topoff! Halfgone!' repeated the Mouse, 'they are such curious names; they make me very thoughtful.'

'Oh, you sit at home in your dark grey coat and your long tail,' said the Cat, 'and you get fanciful. That comes

The Mouse had a good cleaning out while the Cat was gone, and made the house tidy; but the greedy Cat ate

'When it is all gone one can be at rest,' she said to herself, and at night she came home sleek and satisfied.

'Cleangone!' repeated the Mouse. 'I do not believe that name has been printed any more than the others.

Cleangone! What can it mean?' She shook her head, curled herself up, and went to sleep.

From this time on no one asked the Cat to stand godmother; but when the winter came and there was nothing

to be got outside, the Mouse remembered their provision and said, 'Come, Cat, we will go to our pot of fat

'Yes, indeed,' answered the Cat; ' it will taste as good to you as if you stretched your thin tongue out of the

They started off, and when they reached it they found the pot in its place, but quite empty!

'Ah,' said the Mouse,' 'now I know what has happened! It has all come out! You are a true friend to me! You

have eaten it all when you stood godmother; first the top off, then half of it gone, then'

'Cleangone' was already on the poor Mouse's tongue, and scarcely was it out than the Cat made a spring at

A king was once hunting in a great wood, and he hunted the game so eagerly that none of his courtiers could

follow him. When evening came on he stood still and looked round him, and he saw that he had quite lost

himself. He sought a way out, but could find none. Then he saw an old woman with a shaking head coming

'Oh, certainly, Sir King,' she replied, 'I can quite well do that, but on one condition, which if you do not fulfil

'I have a daughter,' said the old woman, 'who is so beautiful that she has not her equal in the world, and is

well fitted to be your wife; if you will make her ladyqueen I will show you the way out of the wood.'

The King in his anguish of mind consented, and the old woman led him to her little house where her daughter

was sitting by the fire. She received the King as if she were expecting him, and he saw that she was certainly

very beautiful; but she did not please him, and he could not look at her without a secret feeling of horror. As

soon as he had lifted the maiden on to his horse the old woman showed him the way, and the King reached

The King had already been married once, and had by his first wife seven children, six boys and one girl,

whom he loved more than anything in the world. And now, because he was afraid that their stepmother might

not treat them well and might do them harm, he put them in a lonely castle that stood in the middle of a

wood. It lay so hidden, and the way to it was so hard to find, that he himself could not have found it out had

not a wisewoman given him a reel of thread which possessed a marvellous property: when he threw it

before him it unwound itself and showed him the way. But the King went so often to his dear children that

the Queen was offended at his absence. She grew curious, and wanted to know what he had to do quite alone

in the wood. She gave his servants a great deal of money, and they betrayed the secret to her, and also told

her of the reel which alone could point out the way. She had no rest now till she had found out where the

King guarded the reel, and then she made some little white shirts, and, as she had learnt from her

And when the King had ridden off she took the little shirts and went into the wood, and the reel showed her

the way. The children, who saw someone coming in the distance, thought it was their dear father coming to

them, and sprang to meet him very joyfully. Then she threw over each one a little shirt, which when it had

touched their bodies changed them into swans, and they flew away over the forest. The Queen went home

quite satisfied, and thought she had got rid of her stepchildren; but the girl had not run to meet her with her

The next day the King came to visit his children, but he found no one but the girl.

'Alas! dear father,' she answered, 'they have gone away and left me all alone.' And she told him that looking

out of her little window she had seen her brothers flying over the wood in the shape of swans, and she

showed him the feathers which they had let fall in the yard, and which she had collected. The King mourned,

but he did not think that the Queen had done the wicked deed, and as he was afraid the maiden would also be

taken from him, he wanted to take her with him. But she was afraid of the stepmother, and begged the King

to let her stay just one night more in the castle in the wood. The poor maiden thought, 'My home is no longer

here; I will go and seek my brothers.' And when night came she fled away into the forest. She ran all through

the night and the next day, till she could go no farther for weariness. Then she saw a little hut, went in, and

found a room with six little beds. She was afraid to lie down on one, so she crept under one of them, lay on

the hard floor, and was going to spend the night there. But when the sun had set she heard a noise, and saw

six swans flying in at the window. They stood on the floor and blew at one another, and blew all their feathers

off, and their swanskin came off like a shirt. Then the maiden recognised her brothers, and overjoyed she

crept out from under the bed. Her brothers were not less delighted than she to see their little sister again, but

'You cannot stay here,' they said to her. 'This is a den of robbers; if they were to come here and find you they

'No,' they answered, 'for we can only lay aside our swan skins for a quarter of an hour every evening. For this

'Oh, no,' they said, 'the conditions are too hard. You must not speak or laugh for six years, and must make in

that time six shirts for us out of starflowers. If a single word comes out of your mouth, all your labour is

vain.' And when the brothers had said this the quarter of an hour came to an end, and they flew away out of

But the maiden had determined to free her brothers even if it should cost her her life. She left the hut, went

into the forest, climbed a tree, and spent the night there. The next morning she went out, collected

starflowers, and began to sew. She could speak to no one, and she had no wish to laugh, so she sat there,

When she had lived there some time, it happened that the King of the country was hunting in the forest, and

his hunters came to the tree on which the maiden sat. They called to her and said 'Who are you?'

But she shook her head silently. As they pressed her further with questions, she threw them the golden chain

from her neck. But they did not leave off, and she threw them her girdle, and when this was no use, her

garters, and then her dress. The huntsmen would not leave her alone, but climbed the tree, lifted the maiden

down, and led her to the King. The King asked, 'Who are you? What are you doing up that tree?'

He asked her in all the languages he knew, but she remained as dumb as a fish. Because she was so beautiful,

however, the King's heart was touched, and he was seized with a great love for her. He wrapped her up in his

cloak, placed her before him on his horse. and brought her to his castle. There he had her dressed in rich

clothes, and her beauty shone out as bright as day, but not a word could be drawn from her. He set her at table

by his side, and her modest ways and behaviour pleased him so much that he said, 'I will marry this maiden

and none other in the world,' and after some days he married her. But the King had a wicked mother who was

displeased with the marriage, and said wicked things of the young Queen. 'Who knows who this girl is?' she

After a year, when the Queen had her first child, the old mother took it away from her. Then she went to the

King and said that the Queen had killed it. The King would not believe it, and would not allow any harm to

be done her. But she sat quietly sewing at the shirts and troubling herself about nothing. The next time she

had a child the wicked mother did the same thing, but the King could not make up his mind to believe her. He

said, 'She is too sweet and good to do such a thing as that. If she were not dumb and could defend herself, her

innocence would be proved.' But when the third child was taken away, and the Queen was again accused, and

could not utter a word in her own defence, the King was obliged to give her over to the law, which decreed

that she must be burnt to death. When the day came on which the sentence was to be executed, it was the last

day of the six years in which she must not speak or laugh, and now she had freed her dear brothers from the

power of the enchantment. The six shirts were done; there was only the left sleeve wanting to the last.

When she was led to the stake, she laid the shirts on her arm, and as she stood on the pile and the fire was

about to be lighted, she looked around her and saw six swans flying through the air. Then she knew that her

release was at hand and her heart danced for joy. The swans fluttered round her, and hovered low so that she

could throw the shirts over them. When they had touched them the swanskins fell off, and her brothers stood

before her living, well and beautiful. Only the youngest had a swan's wing instead of his left arm. They

embraced and kissed each other, and the Queen went to the King, who was standing by in great astonishment,

and began to speak to him, saying, 'Dearest husband, now I can speak and tell you openly that I am innocent

She told him of the old woman's deceit, and how she had taken the three children away and hidden them.

Then they were fetched, to the great joy of the King, and the wicked mother came to no good end.

But the King and the Queen with their six brothers lived many years in happiness and peace.

Very long ago, as old people have told me, there lived a terrible monster, who came out of the North, and laid

waste whole tracts of country, devouring both men and beasts; and this monster was so destructive that it was

feared that unless help came no living creature would be left on the face of the earth. It had a body like an ox,

and legs like a frog, two short forelegs, and two long ones behind, and besides that it had a tail like a

serpent, ten fathoms in length. When it moved it jumped like a frog, and with every spring it covered half a

mile of ground. Fortunately its habit, was to remain for several years in the same place, and not to move on

till the whole neighbourhood was eaten up. Nothing could hunt it, because its whole body was covered with

scales, which were harder than stone or metal; its two great eyes shone by night, and even by day, like the

brightest lamps, and anyone who had the ill luck to look into those eyes became as it were bewitched, and

was obliged to rush of his own accord into the monster's jaws. In this way the Dragon was able to feed upon

both men and beasts without the least trouble to itself, as it needed not to move from the spot where it was

lying. All the neighbouring kings had offered rich rewards to anyone who should be able to destroy the

monster, either by force or enchantment, and many had tried their luck, but all had miserably failed. Once a

great forest in which the Dragon lay had been set on fire; the forest was burnt down, but the fire did not do

the monster the least harm. However, there was a tradition amongst the wise men of the country that the

Dragon might be overcome by one who possessed King Solomon's signetring, upon which a secret writing

was engraved. This inscription would enable anyone who was wise enough to interpret it to find out how the

Dragon could be destroyed. Only no one knew where the ring was hidden, nor was there any sorcerer or

At last a young man, with a good heart and plenty of courage, set out to search for the ring. He took his way

towards the sunrising, because he knew that all the wisdom of old time comes from the East. After some

years he met with a famous Eastern magician, and asked for his advice in the matter. The magician answered:

'Mortal men have but little wisdom, and can give you no help, but the birds of the air would be better guides

to you if you could learn their language. I can help you to understand it if you will stay with me a few days.'

The youth thankfully accepted the magician's offer, and said, 'I cannot now offer you any reward for your

kindness, but should my undertaking succeed your trouble shall be richly repaid.'

Then the magician brewed a powerful potion out of nine sorts of herbs which he had gathered himself all

alone by moonlight, and he gave the youth nine spoonfuls of it daily for three days, which made him able to

At parting the magician said to him. 'If you ever find Solomon's ring and get possession of it, then come back

to me, that I may explain the inscription on the ring to you, for there is no one else in the world who can do

From that time the youth never felt lonely as he walked along; he always had company, because he

understood the language of birds; and in this way he learned many things which mere human knowledge

could never have taught him. But time went on, and he heard nothing about the ring. It happened one

evening, when he was hot and tired with walking, and had sat down under a tree in a forest to eat his supper,

that he saw two gailyplumaged birds, that were strange to him, sitting at the top of the tree talking to one

'I know that wandering fool under the tree there, who has come so far without finding what he seeks. He is

The other bird answered, 'He will have to seek help from the Witchmaiden,[3] who will doubtless be able to

put him on the right track. If she has not got the ring herself, she knows well enough who has it.'

'But where is he to find the Witchmaiden?' said the first bird. 'She has no settled dwelling, but is here today

The other replied, 'I do not know, certainly, where she is at present, but in three nights from now she will

come to the spring to wash her face, as she does every month when the moon is full, in order that she may

'Well,' said the first bird, 'the spring is not far from here. Shall we go and see how it is she does it?'

The youth immediately resolved to follow the birds to the spring, only two things made him uneasy: first, lest

he might be asleep when the birds went, and secondly, lest he might lose sight of them, since he had not

wings to carry him along so swiftly. He was too tired to keep awake all night, yet his anxiety prevented him

from sleeping soundly, and when with the earliest dawn he looked up to the treetop, he was glad to see his

feathered companions still asleep with their heads under their wings. He ate his breakfast, and waited until the

birds should start, but they did not leave the place all day. They hopped about from one tree to another

looking for food, all day long until the evening, when they went back to their old perch to sleep. The next day

the same thing happened, but on the third morning one bird said to the other, 'Today we must go to the

spring to see the Witchmaiden wash her face.' They remained on the tree till noon; then they flew away and

went towards the south. The young man's heart beat with anxiety lest he should lose sight of his guides, but

he managed to keep the birds in view until they again perched upon a tree. The young man ran after them

until he was quite exhausted and out of breath, and after three short rests the birds at length reached a small

open space in the forest, on the edge of which they placed themselves on the top of a high tree. When the

youth had overtaken them, he saw that there was a clear spring in the middle of the space. He sat down at the

foot of the tree upon which the birds were perched, and listened attentively to what they were saying to each

'The sun is not down yet,' said the first bird; 'we must wait yet awhile till the moon rises and the maiden

comes to the spring. Do you think she will see that young man sitting under the tree?'

'Nothing is likely to escape her eyes, certainly not a young man, said the other bird. 'Will the youth have the

The evening light had quite faded, and the full moon was already shining down upon the forest, when the

young man heard a slight rustling sound. After a few moments there came out of the forest a maiden, gliding

over the grass so lightly that her feet seemed scarcely to touch the ground, and stood beside the spring. The

youth could not turn away his eyes from the maiden, for he had never in his life seen a woman so beautiful.

Without seeming to notice anything, she went to the spring, looked up to the full moon, then knelt down and

bathed her face nine times, then looked up to the moon again and walked nine times round the well, and as

Then she dried her face with her long hair, and was about to go away, when her eye suddenly fell upon the

spot where the young man was sitting, and she turned towards the tree. The youth rose and stood waiting.

Then the maiden said, 'You ought to have a heavy punishment because you have presumed to watch my

secret doings in the moonlight. But I will forgive you this time, because you are a stranger and knew no

better. But you must tell me truly who you are and how you came to this place, where no mortal has ever set

The youth answered humbly: 'Forgive me, beautiful maiden, if I have unintentionally offended you. I chanced

to come here after long wandering, and found a good place to sleep under this tree. At your coming I did not

know what to do, but stayed where I was, because I thought my silent watching could not offend you.'

The maiden answered kindly, 'Come and spend this night with us. You will sleep better on a pillow than on

The youth hesitated for a little, but presently he heard the birds saying from the top of the tree, 'Go where she

calls you, but take care to give no blood, or you will sell your soul.' So the youth went with her, and soon

they reached a beautiful garden, where stood a splendid house, which glittered in the moonlight as if it was all

built out of gold and silver. When the youth entered he found many splendid chambers, each one finer than

the last. Hundreds of tapers burnt upon golden candlesticks, and shed a light like the brightest day. At length

they reached a chamber where a table was spread with the most costly dishes. At the table were placed two

chairs, one of silver, the other of gold. The maiden seated herself upon the golden chair, and offered the silver

one to her companion. They were served by maidens dressed in white, whose feet made no sound as they

moved about, and not a word was spoken during the meal. Afterwards the youth and the Witchmaiden

conversed pleasantly together, until a woman, dressed in red, came in to remind them that it was bedtime.

The youth was now shown into another room, containing a silken bed with down cushions, where he slept

delightfully, yet he seemed to hear a voice near his bed which repeated to him, 'Remember to give no blood!'

The next morning the maiden asked him whether he would not like to stay with her always in this beautiful

place, and as he did not answer immediately, she continued: 'You see how I always remain young and

beautiful, and I am under no one's orders, but can do just what I like, so that I have never thought of marrying

before. But from the moment I saw you I took a fancy to you, so if you agree, we might be married and might

The youth could not but be tempted with the beautiful maiden's offer, but he remembered how the birds had

called her the witch, and their warning always sounded in his ears. Therefore he answered cautiously, 'Do not

be angry, dear maiden, if I do not decide immediately on this important matter. Give me a few days to

'Why not?' answered the maiden. 'Take some weeks to consider if you like, and take counsel with your own

heart.' And to make the time pass pleasantly, she took the youth over every part of her beautiful dwelling, and

showed him all her splendid treasures. But these treasures were all produced by enchantment, for the maiden

could make anything she wished appear by the help of King Solomon's signet ring; only none of these things

remained fixed; they passed away like the wind without leaving a trace behind. But the youth did not know

One day the maiden took him into a secret chamber, where a little gold box was standing on a silver table.

Pointing to the box, she said, 'Here is my greatest treasure, whose like is not to be found in the whole world.

It is a precious gold ring. When you marry me, I will give you this ring as a marriage gift, and it will make

you the happiest of mortal men. But in order that our love may last for ever, you must give me for the ring

When the youth heard these words a cold shudder ran over him, for he remembered that his soul was at stake.

He was cunning enough, however, to conceal his feelings and to make no direct answer, but he only asked the

She answered, 'No mortal is able entirely to understand the power of this ring, because no one thoroughly

understands the secret signs engraved upon it. But even with my halfknowledge I can work great wonders.

If I put the ring upon the little finger of my left hand, then I can fly like a bird through the air wherever I wish

to go. If I put it on the third finger of my left hand I am invisible, and I can see everything that passes around

me, though no one can see me. If I put the ring upon the middle finger of my left hand, then neither fire nor

water nor any sharp weapon can hurt me. If I put it on the forefinger of my left hand, then I can with its help

produce whatever I wish. I can in a single moment build houses or anything I desire. Finally, as long as I

wear the ring on the thumb of my left hand, that hand is so strong that it can break down rocks and walls.

Besides these, the ring has other secret signs which, as I said, no one can understand. No doubt it contains

secrets of great importance. The ring formerly belonged to King Solomon, the wisest of kings, during whose

reign the wisest men lived. But it is not known whether this ring was ever made by mortal hands: it is

When the youth heard all this he determined to try and get possession of the ring, though he did not quite

believe in all its wonderful gifts. He wished the maiden would let him have it in his hand, but he did not quite

like to ask her to do so, and after a while she put it back into the box. A few days after they were again

speaking of the magic ring, and the youth said, 'I do not think it possible that the ring can have all the power

Then the maiden opened the box and took the ring out, and it glittered as she held it like the clearest sunbeam.

She put it on the middle finger of her left hand, and told the youth to take a knife and try as hard as he could

to cut her with it, for he would not be able to hurt her. He was unwilling at first, but the maiden insisted. Then

he tried, at first only in play, and then seriously, to strike her with the knife, but an invisible wall of iron

seemed to be between them, and the maiden stood before him laughing and unhurt. Then she put the ring on

her third finger, and in an instant she had vanished from his eyes. Presently she was beside him again

The youth pretended to have forgotten what to do, and asked what finger he must put the ring on so that no

She took the knife and tried to strike the youth, and he even tried to cut himself with it, but found it

impossible. Then he asked the maiden to show him how to split stones and rocks with the help of the ring. So

she led him into a courtyard where stood a great boulderstone. 'Now,' she said, 'put the ring upon the thumb

of your left hand, and you will see how strong that hand has become. The youth did so, and found to his

astonishment that with a single blow of his fist the stone flew into a thousand pieces. Then the youth

bethought him that he who does not use his luck when he has it is a fool, and that this was a chance which

once lost might never return. So while they stood laughing at the shattered stone he placed the ring, as if in

'Now,' said the maiden, 'you are invisible to me until you take the ring off again.'

But the youth had no mind to do that; on the contrary, he went farther off, then put the ring on the little finger

When the maiden saw him flying away she thought at first that he was still in play, and cried, 'Come back,

friend, for now you see I have told you the truth.' But the young man never came back.

Then the maiden saw she was deceived, and bitterly repented that she had ever trusted him with the ring.

The young man never halted in his flight until he reached the dwelling of the wise magician who had taught

him the speech of birds. The magician was delighted to find that his search had been successful, and at once

set to work to interpret the secret signs engraved upon the ring, but it took him seven weeks to make them out

clearly. Then he gave the youth the following instructions how to overcome the Dragon of the North: 'You

must have an iron horse cast, which must have little wheels under each foot. You must also be armed with a

spear two fathoms long, which you will be able to wield by means of the magic ring upon your left thumb.

The spear must be as thick in the middle as a large tree, and both its ends must be sharp. In the middle of the

spear you must have two strong chains ten fathoms in length. As soon as the Dragon has made himself fast to

the spear, which you must thrust through his jaws, you must spring quickly from the iron horse and fasten the

ends of the chains firmly to the ground with iron stakes, so that he cannot get away from them. After two or

three days the monster's strength will be so far exhausted that you will be able to come near him. Then you

can put Solomon's ring upon your left thumb and give him the finishing stroke, but keep the ring on your

third finger until you have come close to him, so that the monster cannot see you, else he might strike you

dead with his long tail. But when all is done, take care you do not lose the ring, and that no one takes it from

The young man thanked the magician for his directions, and promised, should they succeed, to reward him.

But the magician answered, 'I have profited so much by the wisdom the ring has taught me that I desire no

other reward.' Then they parted, and the youth quickly flew home through the air. After remaining in his own

home for some weeks, he heard people say that the terrible Dragon of the North was not far off, and might

shortly be expected in the country. The King announced publicly that he would give his daughter in marriage,

as well as a large part of his kingdom, to whosoever should free the country from the monster. The youth then

went to the King and told him that he had good hopes of subduing the Dragon, if the King would grant him

all he desired for the purpose. The King willingly agreed, and the iron horse, the great spear, and the chains

were all prepared as the youth requested. When all was ready, it was found that the iron horse was so heavy

that a hundred men could not move it from the spot, so the youth found there was nothing for it but to move it

with his own strength by means of the magic ring. The Dragon was now so near that in a couple of springs he

would be over the frontier. The youth now began to consider how he should act, for if he had to push the iron

horse from behind he could not ride upon it as the sorcerer had said he must. But a raven unexpectedly gave

him this advice: 'Ride upon the horse, and push the spear against the ground, as if you were pushing off a

boat from the land.' The youth did so, and found that in this way he could easily move forwards. The Dragon

had his monstrous jaws wide open, all ready for his expected prey. A few paces nearer, and man and horse

would have been swallowed up by them! The youth trembled with horror, and his blood ran cold, yet he did

not lose his courage; but, holding the iron spear upright in his hand, he brought it down with all his might

right through the monster's lower jaw. Then quick as lightning he sprang from his horse before the Dragon

had time to shut his mouth. A fearful clap like thunder, which could be heard for miles around, now warned

him that the Dragon's jaws had closed upon the spear. When the youth turned round he saw the point of the

spear sticking up high above the Dragon's upper jaw, and knew that the other end must be fastened firmly to

the ground; but the Dragon had got his teeth fixed in the iron horse, which was now useless. The youth now

hastened to fasten down the chains to the ground by means of the enormous iron pegs which he had provided.

The death struggle of the monster lasted three days and three nights; in his writhing he beat his tail so

violently against the ground, that at ten miles' distance the earth trembled as if with an earthquake. When he

at length lost power to move his tail, the youth with the help of the ring took up a stone which twenty

ordinary men could not have moved, and beat the Dragon so hard about the head with it that very soon the

You can fancy how great was the rejoicing when the news was spread abroad that the terrible monster was

dead. His conqueror was received into the city with as much pomp as if he had been the mightiest of kings.

The old King did not need to urge his daughter to marry the slayer of the Dragon; he found her already

willing to bestow her hand upon this hero, who had done all alone what whole armies had tried in vain to do.

In a few days a magnificent wedding was celebrated, at which the rejoicings lasted four whole weeks, for all

the neighbouring kings had met together to thank the man who had freed the world from their common

enemy. But everyone forgot amid the general joy that they ought to have buried the Dragon's monstrous

body, for it began now to have such a bad smell that no one could live in the neighbourhood, and before long

the whole air was poisoned, and a pestilence broke out which destroyed many hundreds of people. In this

distress, the King's soninlaw resolved to seek help once more from the Eastern magician, to whom he at

once travelled through the air like a bird by the help of the ring. But there is a proverb which says that

illgotten gains never prosper, and the Prince found that the stolen ring brought him illluck after all. The

Witchmaiden had never rested night nor day until she had found out where the ring was. As soon as she had

discovered by means of magical arts that the Prince in the form of a bird was on his way to the Eastern

magician, she changed herself into an eagle and watched in the air until the bird she was waiting for came in

sight, for she knew him at once by the ring which was hung round his neck by a ribbon. Then the eagle

pounced upon the bird, and the moment she seized him in her talons she tore the ring from his neck before the

man in bird's shape had time to prevent her. Then the eagle flew down to the earth with her prey, and the two

'Now, villain, you are in my power!' cried the Witchmaiden. 'I favoured you with my love, and you repaid

me with treachery and theft. You stole my most precious jewel from me, and do you expect to live happily as

the King's soninlaw? Now the tables are turned; you are in my power, and I will be revenged on you for

'Forgive me! forgive me!' cried the Prince; 'I know too well how deeply I have wronged you, and most

The maiden answered, 'Your prayers and your repentance come too late, and if I were to spare you everyone

would think me a fool. You have doubly wronged me; first you scorned my love, and then you stole my ring,

With these words she put the ring upon her left thumb, lifted the young man with one hand, and walked away

with him under her arm. This time she did not take him to a splendid palace, but to a deep cave in a rock,

where there were chains hanging from the wall. The maiden now chained the young man's hands and feet so

that he could not escape; then she said in an angry voice, 'Here you shall remain chained up until you die. I

will bring you every day enough food to prevent you dying of hunger, but you need never hope for freedom

The old King and his daughter waited anxiously for many weeks for the Prince's return, but no news of him

arrived. The King's daughter often dreamed that her husband was going through some great suffering: she

therefore begged her father to summon all the enchanters and magicians, that they might try to find out where

the Prince was and how he could be set free. But the magicians, with all their arts, could find out nothing,

except that he was still living and undergoing great suffering; but none could tell where he was to be found.

At last a celebrated magician from Finland was brought before the King, who had found out that the King's

soninlaw was imprisoned in the East, not by men, but by some more powerful being. The King now sent

messengers to the East to look for his soninlaw, and they by good luck met with the old magician who had

interpreted the signs on King Solomon's ring, and thus was possessed of more wisdom than anyone else in the

world. The magician soon found out what he wished to know, and pointed out the place where the Prince was

imprisoned, but said: 'He is kept there by enchantment, and cannot be set free without my help. I will

So they all set out, guided by birds, and after some days came to the cave where the unfortunate Prince had

been chained up for nearly seven years. He recognised the magician immediately, but the old man did not

know him, he had grown so thin. However, he undid the chains by the help of magic, and took care of the

Prince until he recovered and became strong enough to travel. When he reached home he found that the old

King had died that morning, so that he was now raised to the throne. And now after his long suffering came

prosperity, which lasted to the end of his life; but he never got back the magic ring, nor has it ever again been

Now, if YOU had been the Prince, would you not rather have stayed with the pretty witchmaiden?

Many years ago there lived an Emperor who was so fond of new clothes that he spent all his money on them

in order to be beautifully dressed. He did not care about his soldiers, he did not care about the theatre; he only

liked to go out walking to show off his new clothes. He had a coat for every hour of the day; and just as they

say of a king, 'He is in the councilchamber,' they always said here, 'The Emperor is in the wardrobe.'

In the great city in which he lived there was always something going on; every day many strangers came

there. One day two impostors arrived who gave themselves out as weavers, and said that they knew how to

manufacture the most beautiful cloth imaginable. Not only were the texture and pattern uncommonly

beautiful, but the clothes which were made of the stuff possessed this wonderful property that they were

invisible to anyone who was not fit for his office, or who was unpardonably stupid.

'Those must indeed be splendid clothes,' thought the Emperor. 'If I had them on I could find out which men in

my kingdom are unfit for the offices they hold; I could distinguish the wise from the stupid! Yes, this cloth

must be woven for me at once.' And he gave both the impostors much money, so that they might begin their

They placed two weavinglooms, and began to do as if they were working, but they had not the least thing on

the looms. They also demanded the finest silk and the best gold, which they put in their pockets, and worked

'I should like very much to know how far they have got on with the cloth,' thought the Emperor. But he

remembered when he thought about it that whoever was stupid or not fit for his office would not be able to

see it. Now he certainly believed that he had nothing to fear for himself, but he wanted first to send somebody

else in order to see how he stood with regard to his office. Everybody in the whole town knew what a

wonderful power the cloth had, and they were all curious to see how bad or how stupid their neighbour was.

'I will send my old and honoured minister to the weavers,' thought the Emperor. 'He can judge best what the

cloth is like, for he has intellect, and no one understands his office better than he.'

Now the good old minister went into the hall where the two impostors sat working at the empty

weavinglooms. 'Dear me!' thought the old minister, opening his eyes wide, 'I can see nothing!' But he did

Both the impostors begged him to be so kind as to step closer, and asked him if it were not a beautiful texture

and lovely colours. They pointed to the empty loom, and the poor old minister went forward rubbing his eyes;

'Dear, dear!' thought he, 'can I be stupid? I have never thought that, and nobody must know it! Can I be not fit

'Oh, it is lovely, most lovely!' answered the old minister, looking through his spectacles. 'What a texture!

'Now we are delighted at that,' said both the weavers, and thereupon they named the colours and explained

The old minister paid great attention, so that he could tell the same to the Emperor when he came back to

The impostors now wanted more money, more silk, and more gold to use in their weaving. They put it all in

their own pockets, and there came no threads on the loom, but they went on as they had done before, working

at the empty loom. The Emperor soon sent another worthy statesman to see how the weaving was getting on,

and whether the cloth would soon be finished. It was the same with him as the first one; he looked and

'Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?' asked the two impostors, and they pointed to and described the splendid

'Stupid I am not!' thought the man, 'so it must be my good office for which I am not fitted. It is strange,

certainly, but no one must be allowed to notice it.' And so he praised the cloth which he did not see, and

expressed to them his delight at the beautiful colours and the splendid texture. 'Yes, it is quite beautiful,' he

Now the Emperor wanted to see it himself while it was still on the loom. With a great crowd of select

followers, amongst whom were both the worthy statesmen who had already been there before, he went to the

cunning impostors, who were now weaving with all their might, but without fibre or thread.

'Is it not splendid!' said both the old statesmen who had already been there. 'See, your Majesty, what a

texture! What colours!' And then they pointed to the empty loom, for they believed that the others could see

'What!' thought the Emperor, 'I can see nothing! This is indeed horrible! Am I stupid? Am I not fit to be

Emperor? That were the most dreadful thing that could happen to me. Oh, it is very beautiful,' he said. 'It has

my gracious approval.' And then he nodded pleasantly, and examined the empty loom, for he would not say

His whole Court round him looked and looked, and saw no more than the others; but they said like the

Emperor, 'Oh! it is beautiful!' And they advised him to wear these new and magnificent clothes for the first

time at the great procession which was soon to take place. 'Splendid! Lovely! Most beautiful!' went from

mouth to mouth; everyone seemed delighted over them, and the Emperor gave to the impostors the title of

Throughout the whole of the night before the morning on which the procession was to take place, the

impostors were up and were working by the light of over sixteen candles. The people could see that they were

very busy making the Emperor's new clothes ready. They pretended they were taking the cloth from the

loom, cut with huge scissors in the air, sewed with needles without thread, and then said at last, 'Now the

The Emperor came himself with his most distinguished knights, and each impostor held up his arm just as if

he were holding something, and said, 'See! here are the breeches! Here is the coat! Here the cloak!' and so on.

'Spun clothes are so comfortable that one would imagine one had nothing on at all; but that is the beauty of

'Yes,' said all the knights, but they could see nothing, for there was nothing there.

'Will it please your Majesty graciously to take off your clothes,' said the impostors, 'then we will put on the

The Emperor took off all his clothes, and the impostors placed themselves before him as if they were putting

on each part of his new clothes which was ready, and the Emperor turned and bent himself in front of the

'How beautifully they fit! How well they sit!' said everybody. 'What material! What colours! It is a gorgeous

'They are waiting outside with the canopy which your Majesty is wont to have borne over you in the

'Look, I am ready,' said the Emperor. 'Doesn't it sit well!' And he turned himself again to the mirror to see if

The chamberlains who were used to carry the train put their hands near the floor as if they were lifting up the

train; then they did as if they were holding something in the air. They would not have it noticed that they

So the Emperor went along in the procession under the splendid canopy, and all the people in the streets and

at the windows said, 'How matchless are the Emperor's new clothes! That train fastened to his dress, how

No one wished it to be noticed that he could see nothing, for then he would have been unfit for his office, or

else very stupid. None of the Emperor's clothes had met with such approval as these had.

'Just listen to the innocent child!' said the father, and each one whispered to his neighbour what the child had

This struck the Emperor, for it seemed to him as if they were right; but he thought to himself, 'I must go on

with the procession now. And the chamberlains walked along still more uprightly, holding up the train which

Once upon a time there was a fisherman who had a wife and three children. Every morning he used to go out

fishing, and whatever fish he caught he sold to the King. One day, among the other fishes, he caught a golden

crab. When he came home he put all the fishes together into a great dish, but he kept the Crab separate

because it shone so beautifully, and placed it upon a high shelf in the cupboard. Now while the old woman,

his wife, was cleaning the fish, and had tucked up her gown so that her feet were visible, she suddenly heard

She turned round in surprise, and then she saw the little creature, the Golden Crab.

'What! You can speak, can you, you ridiculous crab?' she said, for she was not quite pleased at the Crab's

When her husband came home and they sat down to dinner, they presently heard the Crab's little voice

saying, 'Give me some too.' They were all very much surprised, but they gave him something to eat. When

the old man came to take away the plate which had contained the Crab's dinner, he found it full of gold, and

One day the Crab said to the fisherman's wife, 'Go to the King and tell him I wish to marry his younger

The old woman went accordingly, and laid the matter before the King, who laughed a little at the notion of

his daughter marrying a crab, but did not decline the proposal altogether, because he was a prudent monarch,

and knew that the Crab was likely to be a prince in disguise. He said, therefore, to the fisherman's wife, 'Go,

old woman, and tell the Crab I will give him my daughter if by tomorrow morning he can build a wall in

front of my castle much higher than my tower, upon which all the flowers of the world must grow and

Then the Crab gave her a golden rod, and said, 'Go and strike with this rod three times upon the ground on the

The next morning, when the King awoke, what do you think he saw? The wall stood there before his eyes,

Then the old woman went back to the King and said to him, 'Your Majesty's orders have been fulfilled.'

'That is all very well,' said the King, 'but I cannot give away my daughter until there stands in front of my

palace a garden in which there are three fountains, of which the first must play gold, the second diamonds,

So the old woman had to strike again three times upon the ground with the rod, and the next morning the

garden was there. The King now gave his consent, and the wedding was fixed for the very next day.

Then the Crab said to the old fisherman, 'Now take this rod; go and knock with it on a certain mountain; then

a black man[6] will come out and ask you what you wish for. Answer him thus: ''Your master, the King, has

sent me to tell you that you must send him his golden garment that is like the sun.'' Make him give you,

besides, the queenly robes of gold and precious stones which are like the flowery meadows, and bring them

The old man went and did his errand. When he had brought the precious robes, the Crab put on the golden

garment and then crept upon the golden cushion, and in this way the fisherman carried him to the castle,

where the Crab presented the other garment to his bride. Now the ceremony took place, and when the married

pair were alone together the Crab made himself known to his young wife, and told her how he was the son of

the greatest king in the world, and how he was enchanted, so that he became a crab by day and was a man

only at night; and he could also change himself into an eagle as often as he wished. No sooner had he said

this than he shook himself, and immediately became a handsome youth, but the next morning he was forced

to creep back again into his crabshell. And the same thing happened every day. But the Princess's affection

for the Crab, and the polite attention with which she behaved to him, surprised the royal family very much.

They suspected some secret, but though they spied and spied, they could not discover it. Thus a year passed

away, and the Princess had a son, whom she called Benjamin. But her mother still thought the whole matter

very strange. At last she said to the King that he ought to ask his daughter whether she would not like to have

another husband instead of the Crab? But when the daughter was questioned she only answered:

Then the King said to her, 'I will appoint a tournament in your honour, and I will invite all the princes in the

In the evening the Princess told this to the Crab, who said to her, 'Take this rod, go to the garden gate and

knock with it, then a black man will come out and say to you, ''Why have you called me, and what do you

require of me?'' Answer him thus: 'Your master the King has sent me hither to tell you to send him his golden

The following evening the Prince dressed himself for the tournament. Before he went he said to his wife,

'Now mind you do not say when you see me that I am the Crab. For if you do this evil will come of it. Place

yourself at the window with your sisters; I will ride by and throw you the silver apple. Take it in your hand,

but if they ask you who I am, say that you do not know.' So saying, he kissed her, repeated his warning once

The Princess went with her sisters to the window and looked on at the tournament. Presently her husband

rode by and threw the apple up to her. She caught it in her hand and went with it to her room, and byandby

her husband came back to her. But her father was much surprised that she did not seem to care about any of

The Crab then gave his wife the same directions as before, only this time the apple which she received from

the black man was of gold. But before the Prince went to the tournament he said to his wife, 'Now I know you

But she swore to him that she would not tell who he was. He then repeated his warning and went away.

In the evening, while the Princess, with her mother and sisters, was standing at the window, the Prince

Then her mother flew into a passion, gave her a box on the ear, and cried out, 'Does not even that prince

Her mother was still more angry because she had not been told sooner, ran into her daughter's room where the

crabshell was still lying, took it up and threw it into the fire. Then the poor Princess cried bitterly, but it was

Now we must leave the Princess and turn to the other persons in the story. One day an old man went to a

stream to dip in a crust of bread which he was going to eat, when a dog came out of the water, snatched the

bread from his hand, and ran away. The old man ran after him, but the dog reached a door, pushed it open,

and ran in, the old man following him. He did not overtake the dog, but found himself above a staircase,

which he descended. Then he saw before him a stately palace, and, entering, he found in a large hall a table

set for twelve persons. He hid himself in the hall behind a great picture, that he might see what would happen.

At noon he heard a great noise, so that he trembled with fear. When he took courage to look out from behind

the picture, he saw twelve eagles flying in. At this sight his fear became still greater. The eagles flew to the

basin of a fountain that was there and bathed themselves, when suddenly they were changed into twelve

handsome youths. Now they seated themselves at the table, and one of them took up a goblet filled with wine,

and said, 'A health to my father!' And another said, 'A health to my mother!' and so the healths went round.

And so saying he wept bitterly. Then the youths rose from the table, went back to the great stone fountain,

Then the old man went away too, returned to the light of day, and went home. Soon after he heard that the

Princess was ill, and that the only thing that did her good was having stories told to her. He therefore went to

the royal castle, obtained an audience of the Princess, and told her about the strange things he bad seen in the

underground palace. No sooner had he finished than the Princess asked him whether he could find the way to

And now she desired him to guide her thither at once. The old man did so, and when they came to the palace

he hid her behind the great picture and advised her to keep quite still, and he placed himself behind the

picture also. Presently the eagles came flying in, and changed themselves into young men, and in a moment

the Princess recognised her husband amongst them all, and tried to come out of her hidingplace; but the old

man held her back. The youths seated themselves at the table; and now the Prince said again, while he took

Then the Princess could restrain herself no longer, but ran forward and threw her arms round her husband.

'Do you remember how I told you that day that you would betray me? Now you see that I spoke the truth. But

all that bad time is past. Now listen to me: I must still remain enchanted for three months. Will you stay here

So the Princess stayed with him, and said to the old man, 'Go back to the castle and tell my parents that I am

Her parents were very much vexed when the old man came back and told them this, but as soon as the three

months of the Prince's enchantment were over, he ceased to be an eagle and became once more a man, and

they returned home together. And then they lived happily, and we who hear the story are happier still.

Once upon a time when wishes came true there was a king's son who was enchanted by an old witch, so that

he was obliged to sit in a large iron stove in a wood. There he lived for many years, and no one could free

him. At last a king's daughter came into the wood; she had lost her way, and could not find her father's

kingdom again. She had been wandering round and round for nine days, and she came at last to the iron case.

A voice came from within and asked her, 'Where do you come from, and where do you want to go?' She

answered, 'I have lost my way to my father's kingdom, and I shall never get home again.' Then the voice from

the iron stove said, 'I will help you to find your home again, and that in a very short time, if you will promise

to do what I ask you. I am a greater prince than you are a princess, and I will marry you.' Then she grew

frightened, and thought, 'What can a young lassie do with an iron stove?' But as she wanted very much to go

He said, 'You must come again, and bring a knife with you to scrape a hole in the iron.'

Then he gave her someone for a guide, who walked near her and said nothing, but he brought her in two

hours to her house. There was great joy in the castle when the Princess came back, and the old King fell on

her neck and kissed her. But she was very much troubled, and said, 'Dear father, listen to what has befallen

me! I should never have come home again out of the great wild wood if I had not come to an iron stove, to

whom I have had to promise that I will go back to free him and marry him!' The old King was so frightened

that he nearly fainted, for she was his only daughter. So they consulted together, and determined that the

miller's daughter, who was very beautiful, should take her place. They took her there, gave her a knife, and

said she must scrape at the iron stove. She scraped for twentyfour hours, but did not make the least

impression. When the day broke, a voice called from the iron stove, 'It seems to me that it is day outside.'

Then she answered, 'It seems so to me; I think I hear my father's mill rattling.'

'So you are a miller's daughter! Then go away at once, and tell the King's daughter to come.'

Then she went away, and told the old King that the thing inside the iron stove would not have her, but wanted

the Princess. The old King was frightened, and his daughter wept. But they had a swineherd's daughter who

was even more beautiful than the miller's daughter, and they gave her a piece of gold to go to the iron stove

instead of the Princess. Then she was taken out, and had to scrape for fourandtwenty hours, but she could

make no impression. As soon as the day broke the voice from the stove called out, 'It seems to be daylight

outside.' Then she answered, ' It seems so to me too; I think I hear my father blowing his horn.' 'So you are a

swineherd's daughter! Go away at once, and let the King's daughter come. And say to her that what I foretell

shall come to pass, and if she does not come everything in the kingdom shall fall into ruin, and not one stone

shall be left upon another.' When the Princess heard this she began to cry, but it was no good; she had to keep

her word. She took leave of her father, put a knife in her belt, and went to the iron stove in the wood. As soon

as she reached it she began to scrape, and the iron gave way and before two hours had passed she had made a

little hole. Then she peeped in and saw such a beautiful youth all shining with gold and precious stones that

she fell in love with him on the spot. So she scraped away harder than ever, and made the hole so large that

he could get out. Then he said, 'You are mine, and I am thine; you are my bride and have set me free!' He

wanted to take her with him to his kingdom, but she begged him just to let her go once more to her father;

and the Prince let her go, but told her not to say more than three words to her father, then to come back again.

So she went home, but alas! she said MORE THAN THREE WORDS; and immediately the iron stove

vanished and went away over a mountain of glass and sharp swords. But the Prince was free, and was no

longer shut up in it. Then she said goodbye to her father, and took a little money with her, and went again

into the great wood to look for the iron stove; but she could not find it. She sought it for nine days, and then

her hunger became so great that she did not know how she could live any longer. And when it was evening

she climbed a little tree and wished that the night would not come, because she was afraid of the wild beasts.

When midnight came she saw afar off a little light, and thought, 'Ah! if only I could reach that!' Then she got

down from the tree and went towards the light. She came to a little old house with a great deal of grass

growing round, and stood in front of a little heap of wood. She thought, 'Alas! what am I coming to?' and

peeped through the window; but she saw nothing inside except big and little toads, and a table beautifully

spread with roast meats and wine, and all the dishes and drinkingcups were of silver. Then she took heart

And a little toad came forward and let her in. When she entered they all bid her welcome, and made her sit

down. They asked her how she came there and what she wanted. Then she told everything that had happened

to her, and how, because she had exceeded her permission only to speak three words, the stove had

disappeared with the Prince; and how she had searched a very long time, and must wander over mountain and

And the little toad went and brought out a great chest. Then they gave her food and drink, and led her to a

beautifully made bed of silk and samite, on which she lay down and slept soundly. When the day dawned she

arose, and the old toad gave her three things out of the huge chest to take with her. She would have need of

them, for she had to cross a high glass mountain, three cutting swords, and a great lake. When she had passed

these she would find her lover again. So she was given three large needles, a ploughwheel, and three nuts,

which she was to take great care of. She set out with these things, and when she came to the glass mountain

which was so slippery she stuck the three needles behind her feet and then in front, and so got over it, and

Then she reached the three cutting swords, and got on her ploughwheel and rolled over them. At last she

came to a great lake, and, when she had crossed that, arrived at a beautiful castle. She went in and gave

herself out as a servant, a poor maid who would gladly be engaged. But she knew that the Prince whom she

had freed from the iron stove in the great wood was in the castle. So she was taken on as a kitchenmaid for

very small wages. Now the Prince was about to marry another princess, for he thought she was dead long

In the evening, when she had washed up and was ready, she felt in her pocket and found the three nuts which

the old toad had given her. She cracked one and was going to eat the kernel, when behold! there was a

beautiful royal dress inside it! When the bride heard of this, she came and begged for the dress, and wanted to

buy it, saying that it was not a dress for a servingmaid. Then she said she would not sell it unless she was

granted one favournamely, to sleep by the Prince's door. The bride granted her this, because the dress was

so beautiful and she had so few like it. When it was evening she said to her bridegroom, 'That stupid maid

'If you are contented, I am,' he said. But she gave him a glass of wine in which she had poured a

sleepingdraught. Then they both went to his room, but he slept so soundly that she could not wake him. The

maid wept all night long, and said, 'I freed you in the wild wood out of the iron stove; I have sought you, and

have crossed a glassy mountain, three sharp swords, and a great lake before I found you, and will you not

hear me now?' The servants outside heard how she cried the whole night, and they told their master in the

When she had washed up the next evening she bit the second nut, and there was a still more beautiful dress

inside. When the bride saw it she wanted to buy it also. But the maid did not want money, and asked that she

should sleep again by the Prince's door. The bride, however, gave him a sleepingdraught, and he slept so

soundly that he heard nothing. But the kitchenmaid wept the whole night long, and said, 'I have freed you in

a wood and from an iron stove; I sought you and have crossed a glassy mountain, three sharp swords, and a

great lake to find you, and now you will not hear me!' The servants outside heard how she cried the whole

And when she had washed up on the third night she bit the third nut, and there was a still more beautiful dress

inside that was made of pure gold. When the bride saw it she wanted to have it, but the maid would only give

it her on condition that she should sleep for the third time by the Prince's door. But the Prince took care not to

drink the sleepingdraught. When she began to weep and to say, 'Dearest sweetheart, I freed you in the

horrible wild wood, and from an iron stove,' he jumped up and said, 'You are right. You are mine, and I am

thine.' Though it was still night, he got into a carriage with her, and they took the false bride's clothes away,

so that she could not follow them. When they came to the great lake they rowed across, and when they

reached the three sharp swords they sat on the ploughwheel, and on the glassy mountain they stuck the three

needles in. So they arrived at last at the little old house, but when they stepped inside it turned into a large

castle. The toads were all freed, and were beautiful King's children, running about for joy. There they were

married, and they remained in the castle, which was much larger than that of the Princess's father's. But

because the old man did not like being left alone, they went and fetched him. So they had two kingdoms and

There was once a great war, and the King had a great many soldiers, but he gave them so little pay that they

could not live upon it. Then three of them took counsel together and determined to desert.

One of them said to the others, 'If we are caught, we shall be hanged on the gallows; how shall we set about

it?' The other said, 'Do you see that large cornfield there? If we were to hide ourselves in that, no one could

They crept into the corn, but the army did not march on, but remained encamped close around them. They sat

for two days and two nights in the corn, and grew so hungry that they nearly died; but if they were to venture

They said at last, 'What use was it our deserting? We must perish here miserably.'

Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air. It hovered near them, and asked why

They answered, 'We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay was so small. Now if we remain

here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.'

'If you will serve me for seven years,' said the dragon, I will lead you through the midst of the army so that no

one shall catch you.' 'We have no choice, and must take your offer,' said they. Then the dragon seized them in

his claws, took them through the air over the army, and set them down on the earth a long way from it.

He gave them a little whip, saying, 'Whip and slash with this, and as much money as you want will jump up

before you. You can then live as great lords, keep horses, and drive about in carriages. But after seven years

you are mine.' Then he put a book before them, which he made all three of them sign. 'I will then give you a

riddle,' he said; 'if you guess it, you shall be free and out of my power.' The dragon then flew away, and they

journeyed on with their little whip. They had as much money as they wanted, wore grand clothes, and made

their way into the world. Wherever they went they lived in merrymaking and splendour, drove about with

The time passed quickly away, and when the seven years were nearly ended two of them grew terribly

anxious and frightened, but the third made light of it, saying, 'Don't be afraid, brothers, I wasn't born

They went into a field, sat down, and the two pulled long faces. An old woman passed by, and asked them

why they were so sad. 'Alas! what have you to do with it? You cannot help us.' 'Who knows?' she answered.

Then they told her that they had become the servants of the Dragon for seven long years, and how he had

given them money as plentifully as blackberries; but as they had signed their names they were his, unless

when the seven years had passed they could guess a riddle. The old woman said, 'If you would help

yourselves, one of you must go into the wood, and there he will come upon a tumbledown building of rocks

The two melancholy ones thought, 'That won't save us!' and they remained where they were. But the third and

merry one jumped up and went into the wood till he found the rock hut. In the hut sat a very old woman, who

was the Dragon's grandmother. She asked him how he came, and what was his business there. He told her all

that happened, and because she was pleased with him she took compassion on him, and said she would help

She lifted up a large stone which lay over the cellar, saying, 'Hide yourself there; you can hear all that is

spoken in this room. Only sit still and don't stir. When the Dragon comes, I will ask him what the riddle is,

At midnight the Dragon flew in, and asked for his supper. His grandmother laid the table, and brought out

food and drink till he was satisfied, and they ate and drank together. Then in the course of the conversation

'I haven't had much luck today,' he said, 'but I have a tight hold on three soldiers.'

'They are mine,' answered the Dragon scornfully, 'for I shall only give them one riddle which they will never

'I will tell you this. In the North Sea lies a dead seacat that shall be their roast meat; and the rib of a

whalethat shall be their silver spoon; and the hollow foot of a dead horsethat shall be their wineglass.'

When the Dragon had gone to bed, his old grandmother pulled up the stone and let out the soldier.

Then he went by another way through the window secretly, and in all haste back to his comrades. He told

them how the Dragon had been outwitted by his grandmother, and how he had heard from his own lips the

Then they were all delighted and in high spirits, took out their whip, and cracked so much money that it came

jumping up from the ground. When the seven years had quite gone, the Fiend came with his book, and,

pointing at the signatures, said, 'I will take you underground with me; you shall have a meal there. If you can

tell me what you will get for your roast meat, you shall be free, and shall also keep the whip.'

Then said the first soldier, 'In the North Sea lies a dead sea cat; that shall be the roast meat.'

The Dragon was much annoyed, and hummed and hawed a good deal, and asked the second, 'But what shall

The Dragonmade a face, and growled again three times, 'Hum, hum, hum,' and said to the third, 'Do you

Then the Dragon flew away with a loud shriek, and had no more power over them. But the three soldiers took

the little whip, whipped as much money as they wanted, and lived happily to their lives end.

There was once a young Hunter who went boldly into the forest. He had a merry and light heart, and as he

went whistling along there came an ugly old woman, who said to him, 'Goodday, dear hunter! You are very

merry and contented, but I suffer hunger and thirst, so give me a trifle.' The Hunter was sorry for the poor old

woman, and he felt in his pocket and gave her all he could spare. He was going on then, but the old woman

stopped him and said, 'Listen, dear hunter, to what I say. Because of your kind heart I will make you a

present. Go on your way, and in a short time you will come to a tree on which sit nine birds who have a cloak

in their claws and are quarrelling over it. Then take aim with your gun and shoot in the middle of them; they

will let the cloak fall, but one of the birds will be hit and will drop down dead. Take the cloak with you; it is a

wishingcloak, and when you throw it on your shoulders you have only to wish yourself at a certain place,

and in the twinkling of an eye you are there. Take the heart out of the dead bird and swallow it whole, and

early every morning when you get up you will find a gold piece under your pillow.'

The Hunter thanked the wise woman, and thought to himself 'These are splendid things she has promised me,

if only they come to pass!' So he walked on about a hundred yards, and then he heard above him in the

branches such a screaming and chirping that he looked up, and there he saw a heap of birds tearing a cloth

with their beaks and feet, shrieking, tugging, and fighting, as if each wanted it for himself. 'Well,' said the

Hunter, 'this is wonderful! It is just as the old woman said'; and he took his gun on his shoulder, pulled the

trigger, and shot into the midst of them, so that their feathers flew about. Then the flock took flight with

much screaming, but one fell dead, and the cloak fluttered down. Then the Hunter did as the old woman had

told him: he cut open the bird, found its heart, swallowed it, and took the cloak home with him. The next

morning when he awoke he remembered the promise, and wanted to see if it had come true. But when he

lifted up his pillow, there sparkled the gold piece, and the next morning he found another, and so on every

time he got up. He collected a heap of gold, but at last he thought to himself, 'What good is all my gold to me

if I stay at home? I will travel and look a bit about me in the world.' So he took leave of his parents, slung his

It happened that one day he went through a thick wood, and when he came to the end of it there lay in the

plain before him a large castle. At one of the windows in it stood an old woman with a most beautiful maiden

by her side, looking out. But the old woman was a witch, and she said to the girl, 'There comes one out of the

wood who has a wonderful treasure in his body which we must manage to possess ourselves of, darling

daughter; we have more right to it than he. He has a bird's heart in him, and so every morning there lies a

She told her how they could get hold of it, and how she was to coax it from him, and at last threatened her

When the Hunter came nearer he saw the maiden, and said to himself, 'I have travelled so far now that I will

rest, and turn into this beautiful castle; money I have in plenty.' But the real reason was that he had caught

He went into the house, and was kindly received and hospitably entertained. It was not long before he was so

much in love with the witchmaiden that he thought of nothing else, and only looked in her eyes, and

whatever she wanted, that he gladly did. Then the old witch said, 'Now we must have the birdheart; he will

not feel when it is gone.' She prepared a drink, and when it was ready she poured it in a goblet and gave it to

'Drink to me now, my dearest,' she said. Then he took the goblet, and when he had swallowed the drink the

birdheart came out of his mouth. The maiden had to get hold of it secretly and then swallow it herself, for

the old witch wanted to have it. Thenceforward he found no more gold under his pillow, and it lay under the

maiden's; but he was so much in love and so much bewitched that he thought of nothing except spending all

Then the old witch said, 'We have the birdheart, but we must also get the wishingcloak from him.'

The old witch grew angry, and said, 'Such a cloak is a wonderful thing, it is seldom to be had in the world,

and have it I must and will.' She beat the maiden, and said that if she did not obey it would go ill with her.

So she did her mother's bidding, and, standing one day by the window, she looked away into the far distance

'Alas, my love,' she replied, ' over there lies the granite mountain where the costly precious stones grow. I

have a great longing to go there, so that when I think of it I am very sad. For who can fetch them? Only the

'If you have no other trouble,' said the Hunter, 'that one I can easily remove from your heart.'

So he wrapped her round in his cloak and wished themselves to the granite mountain, and in an instant there

they were, sitting on it! The precious stones sparkled so brightly on all sides that it was a pleasure to see

them, and they collected the most beautiful and costly together. But now the old witch had through her

He said to the maiden, 'We will sit down for a little while and rest; I am so tired that I can hardly stand on my

So they sat down, and he laid his head on her lap and fell asleep. As soon as he was sound asleep she

unfastened the cloak from his shoulders, threw it on her own, left the granite and stones, and wished herself

But when the Hunter had finished his sleep and awoke, he found that his love had betrayed him and left him

alone on the wild mountain. 'Oh,' said he, 'why is faithlessness so great in the world?' and he sat down in

But the mountain belonged to fierce and huge giants, who lived on it and traded there, and he had not sat long

before he saw three of them striding towards him. So he lay down as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.

The giants came up, and the first pushed him with his foot, and said, 'What sort of an earthworm is that?'

But the third said contemptuously, 'It is not worth the trouble! Let him live; he cannot remain here, and if he

Talking thus they went away. But the Hunter had listened to their talk, and as soon as they had gone he rose

and climbed to the summit. When he had sat there a little while a cloud swept by, and, seizing him, carried

him away. It travelled for a time in the sky, and then it sank down and hovered over a large vegetable garden

surrounded by walls, so that he came safely to the ground amidst cabbages and vegetables. The Hunter then

looked about him, saying, 'If only I had something to eat! I am so hungry, and it will go badly with me in the

future, for I see here not an apple or pear or fruit of any kindnothing but vegetables everywhere.' At last he

thought, 'At a pinch I can eat a salad; it does not taste particularly nice, but it will refresh me.' So he looked

about for a good head and ate it, but no sooner had he swallowed a couple of mouthfuls than he felt very

strange, and found himself wonderfully changed. Four legs began to grow on him, a thick head, and two long

ears, and he saw with horror that he had changed into a donkey. But as he was still very hungry and this juicy

salad tasted very good to his present nature, he went on eating with a still greater appetite. At last he got hold

of another kind of cabbage, but scarcely had swallowed it when he felt another change, and he once more

The Hunter now lay down and slept off his weariness. When he awoke the next morning he broke off a head

of the bad and a head of the good cabbage, thinking, 'This will help me to regain my own, and to punish

faithlessness.' Then he put the heads in his pockets, climbed the wall, and started off to seek the castle of his

love. When he had wandered about for a couple of days he found it quite easily. He then browned his face

quickly, so that his own mother would not have known him, and went into the castle, where he begged for a

He answered, 'I am a messenger of the King, and have been sent to seek the finest salad that grows under the

sun. I have been so lucky as to find it, and am bringing it with me; but the heat of the sun is so great that the

tender cabbage threatens to grow soft, and I do not know if I shall be able to bring it any farther.'

When the old witch heard of the fine salad she wanted to eat it, and said, 'Dear countryman, just let me taste

'Why not?' he answered; 'I have brought two heads with me, and will give you one.'

So saying, he opened his sack and gave her the bad one. The witch suspected no evil, and her mouth watered

to taste the new dish, so that she went into the kitchen to prepare it herself. When it was ready she could not

wait till it was served at the table, but she immediately took a couple of leaves and put them in her mouth. No

sooner, however, had she swallowed them than she lost human form, and ran into the courtyard in the shape

Now the servant came into the kitchen, and when she saw the salad standing there ready cooked she was

about to carry it up, but on the way, according to her old habit, she tasted it and ate a couple of leaves.

Immediately the charm worked, and she became a donkey, and ran out to join the old witch, and the dish with

the salad in it fell to the ground. In the meantime, the messenger was sitting with the lovely maiden, and as no

one came with the salad, and she wanted very much to taste it, she said, 'I don't know where the salad is.'

Then thought the Hunter, 'The cabbage must have already begun to work.' And he said, 'I will go to the

When he came there he saw the two donkeys running about in the courtyard, but the salad was lying on the

'That's all right,' said he; 'two have had their share!' And lifting the remaining leaves up, he laid them on the

'I am bringing you the delicious food my own self,' he said, 'so that you need not wait any longer.'

Then she ate, and, as the others had done, she at once lost her human form, and ran as a donkey into the yard.

When the Hunter had washed his face, so that the changed ones might know him, he went into the yard,

He tied them all three with a rope, and drove them away till he came to a mill. He knocked at the window,

'I have three tiresome animals,' he answered, 'which I don't want to keep any longer. If you will take them,

give them food and stabling, and do as I tell you with them, I will pay you as much as you want.'

Then the Hunter said that to the old donkey, which was the witch, three beatings and one meal; to the

younger one, which was the servant, one beating and three meals; and to the youngest one, which was the

maiden, no beating and three meals; for he could not find it in his heart to let the maiden be beaten.

Then he went back into the castle, and he found there all that he wanted. After a couple of days the miller

came and said that he must tell him that the old donkey which was to have three beatings and only one meal

had died. 'The two others,' he added, 'are certainly not dead, and get their three meals every day, but they are

Then the Hunter took pity on them, laid aside his anger, and told the miller to drive them back again. And

when they came he gave them some of the good cabbage to eat, so that they became human again. Then the

beautiful maiden fell on her knees before him, saying, 'Oh, my dearest, forgive me the ill I have done you!

My mother compelled me to do it; it was against my will, for I love you dearly. Your wishingcloak is

hanging in a cupboard, and as for the birdheart I will make a drink and give it back to you.'

But he changed his mind, and said, 'Keep it; it makes no difference, for I will take you to be my own dear true

In a part of the world whose name I forget lived once upon a time two kings, called Peridor and Diamantino.

They were cousins as well as neighbours, and both were under the protection of the fairies; though it is only

Now it often happens that as princes can generally manage to get their own way it is harder for them to be

good than it is for common people. So it was with Peridor and Diamantino; but of the two, the fairies

declared that Diamantino was much the worst; indeed, he behaved so badly to his wife Aglantino, that the

fairies would not allow him to live any longer; and he died, leaving behind him a little daughter. As she was

an only child, of course this little girl was the heiress of the kingdom, but, being still only a baby, her mother,

the widow of Diamantino, was proclaimed regent. The Queendowager was wise and good, and tried her best

to make her people happy. The only thing she had to vex her was the absence of her daughter; for the fairies,

for reasons of their own, determined to bring up the little Princess Serpentine among themselves.

As to the other King, he was really fond of his wife, Queen Constance, but he often grieved her by his

thoughtless ways, and in order to punish him for his carelessness, the fairies caused her to die quite suddenly.

When she was gone the King felt how much he had loved her, and his grief was so great (though he never

neglected his duties) that his subjects called him Peridor the Sorrowful. It seems hardly possible that any man

should live like Peridor for fifteen years plunged in such depth of grief, and most likely he would have died

The one comfort the poor King had was his son, Prince Saphir, who was only three years old at the time of

his mother's death, and great care was given to his education. By the time he was fifteen Saphir had learnt

everything that a prince should know, and he was, besides, charming and agreeable.

It was about this time that the fairies suddenly took fright lest his love for his father should interfere with the

plans they had made for the young prince. So, to prevent this, they placed in a pretty little room of which

Saphir was very fond a little mirror in a black frame, such as were often brought from Venice. The Prince did

not notice for some days that there was anything new in the room, but at last he perceived it, and went up to

look at it more closely. What was his surprise to see reflected in the mirror, not his own face, but that of a

young girl as lovely as the morning! And, better still, every movement of the girl, just growing out of

As might have been expected, the young Prince lost his heart completely to the beautiful image, and it was

impossible to get him out of the room, so busy was he in watching the lovely unknown. Certainly it was very

delightful to be able to see her whom he loved at any moment he chose, but his spirits sometimes sank when

The magic mirror had been for about a year in the Prince's possession, when one day a new subject of

disquiet seized upon him. As usual, he was engaged in looking at the girl, when suddenly he thought he saw a

second mirror reflected in the first, exactly like his own, and with the same power. And in this he was

perfectly right. The young girl had only possessed it for a short time, and neglected all her duties for the sake

of the mirror. Now it was not difficult for Saphir to guess the reason of the change in her, nor why the new

mirror was consulted so often; but try as he would he could never see the face of the person who was

reflected in it, for the young girl's figure always came between. All he knew was that the face was that of a

man, and this was quite enough to make him madly jealous. This was the doing of the fairies, and we must

When these things happened Saphir was about eighteen years old, and fifteen years had passed away since

the death of his mother. King Peridor had grown more and more unhappy as time went on, and at last he fell

so ill that it seemed as if his days were numbered. He was so much beloved by his subjects that this sad news

During his whole illness the King never spoke of anything but the Queen, his sorrow at having grieved her,

and his hope of one day seeing her again. All the doctors and all the watercures in the kingdom had been

tried, and nothing would do him any good. At last he persuaded them to let him lie quietly in his room, where

Perhaps the worst pain he had to bear was a sort of weight on his chest, which made it very hard for him to

breathe. So he commanded his servants to leave the windows open in order that he might get more air. One

day, when he had been left alone for a few minutes, a bird with brilliant plumage came and fluttered round

the window, and finally rested on the sill. His feathers were skyblue and gold, his feet and his beak of such

glittering rubies that no one could bear to look at them, his eyes made the brightest diamonds look dull, and

on his head he wore a crown. I cannot tell you what the crown was made of, but I am quite certain that it was

still more splendid than all the rest. As to his voice I can say nothing about that, for the bird never sang at all.

In fact, he did nothing but gaze steadily at the King, and as he gazed, the King felt his strength come back to

him. In a little while the bird flew into the room, still with his eyes fixed on the King, and at every glance the

strength of the sick man became greater, till he was once more as well as he used to be before the Queen died.

Filled with joy at his cure, he tried to seize the bird to whom he owed it all, but, swifter than a swallow, it

managed to avoid him. In vain he described the bird to his attendants, who rushed at his first call; in vain they

sought the wonderful creature both on horse and foot, and summoned the fowlers to their aid: the bird could

nowhere be found. The love the people bore King Peridor was so strong, and the reward he promised was so

large, that in the twinkling of an eye every man, woman, and child had fled into the fields, and the towns

All this bustle, however, ended in nothing but confusion, and, what was worse, the King soon fell back into

the same condition as he was in before. Prince Saphir, who loved his father very dearly, was so unhappy at

this that he persuaded himself that he might succeed where the others had failed, and at once prepared himself

for a more distant search. In spite of the opposition he met with, he rode away, followed by his household,

trusting to chance to help him. He had formed no plan, and there was no reason that he should choose one

path more than another. His only idea was to make straight for those spots which were the favourite haunts of

birds. But in vain he examined all the hedges and all the thickets; in vain he questioned everyone he met

At last he came to one of the largest forests in all the world, composed entirely of cedars. But in spite of the

deep shadows cast by the widespreading branches of the trees, the grass underneath was soft and green, and

covered with the rarest flowers. It seemed to Saphir that this was exactly the place where the birds would

choose to live, and he determined not to quit the wood until he had examined it from end to end. And he did

more. He ordered some nets to be prepared and painted of the same colours as the bird's plumage, thinking

that we are all easily caught by what is like ourselves. In this he had to help him not only the fowlers by

profession, but also his attendants, who excelled in this art. For a man is not a courtier unless he can do

After searching as usual for nearly a whole day Prince Saphir began to feel overcome with thirst. He was too

tired to go any farther, when happily he discovered a little way off a bubbling fountain of the clearest water.

Being an experienced traveller, he drew from his pocket a little cup (without which no one should ever take a

journey), and was just about to dip it in the water, when a lovely little green frog, much prettier than frogs

generally are, jumped into the cup. Far from admiring its beauty, Saphir shook it impatiently off; but it was

no good, for quick as lightning the frog jumped back again. Saphir, who was raging with thirst, was just

about to shake it off anew, when the little creature fixed upon him the most beautiful eyes in the world, and

said, 'I am a friend of the bird you are seeking, and when you have quenched your thirst listen to me.'

So the Prince drank his fill, and then, by the command of the Little Green Frog, he lay down on the grass to

'Now,' she began, 'be sure you do exactly in every respect what I tell you. First you must call together your

attendants, and order them to remain in a little hamlet close by until you want them. Then go, quite alone,

down a road that you will find on your right hand, looking southwards. This road is planted all the way with

cedars of Lebanon; and after going down it a long way you will come at last to a magnificent castle. And

now,' she went on, 'attend carefully to what I am going to say. Take this tiny grain of sand, and put it into the

ground as close as you can to the gate of the castle. It has the virtue both of opening the gate and also of

sending to sleep all the inhabitants. Then go at once to the stable, and pay no heed to anything except what I

tell you. Choose the handsomest of all the horses, leap quickly on its back, and come to me as fast as you can.

Farewell, Prince; I wish you good luck,' and with these words the Little Frog plunged into the water and

The Prince, who felt more hopeful than he had done since he left home, did precisely as he had been ordered.

He left his attendants in the hamlet, found the road the frog had described to him, and followed it all alone,

and at last he arrived at the gate of the castle, which was even more splendid than he had expected, for it was

built of crystal, and all its ornaments were of massive gold. However, he had no thoughts to spare for its

beauty, and quickly buried his grain of sand in the earth. In one instant the gates flew open, and all the

dwellers inside fell sound asleep. Saphir flew straight to the stable, and already had his hand on the finest

horse it contained, when his eye was caught by a suit of magnificent harness hanging up close by. It occurred

to him directly that the harness belonged to the horse, and without ever thinking of harm (for indeed he who

steals a horse can hardly be blamed for taking his saddle), he hastily placed it on the animal's back. Suddenly

the people in the castle became broad awake, and rushed to the stable. They flung themselves on the Prince,

seized him, and dragged him before their lord; but, luckily for the Prince, who could only find very lame

excuses for his conduct, the lord of the castle took a fancy to his face, and let him depart without further

Very sad, and very much ashamed of himself poor Saphir crept back to the fountain, where the Frog was

'Whom do you take me for?' she exclaimed angrily. 'Do you really believe that it was just for the pleasure of

But the Prince was so deeply grieved, and apologised so very humbly, that after some time the heart of the

good little Frog was softened, and she gave him another tiny little grain, but instead of being sand it was now

a grain of gold. She directed him to do just as he had done before, with only this difference, that instead of

going to the stable which had been the ruin of his hopes, he was to enter right into the castle itself, and to

glide as fast as he could down the passages till he came to a room filled with perfume, where he would find a

beautiful maiden asleep on a bed. He was to wake the maiden instantly and carry her off, and to be sure not to

The Prince obeyed the Frog's orders one by one, and all went well for this second time also. The gate opened,

the inhabitants fell sound asleep, and he walked down the passage till he found the girl on her bed, exactly as

he had been told he would. He woke her, and begged her firmly, but politely, to follow him quickly. After a

little persuasion the maiden consented, but only on condition that she was allowed first to put on her dress.

This sounded so reasonable and natural that it did not enter the Prince's head to refuse her request.

But the maiden's hand had hardly touched the dress when the palace suddenly awoke from its sleep, and the

Prince was seized and bound. He was so vexed with his own folly, and so taken aback at the disaster, that he

did not attempt to explain his conduct, and things would have gone badly with him if his friends the fairies

had not softened the hearts of his captors, so that they once more allowed him to leave quietly. However,

what troubled him most was the idea of having to meet the Frog who had been his benefactress. How was he

ever to appear before her with this tale? Still, after a long struggle with himself, he made up his mind that

there was nothing else to be done, and that he deserved whatever she might say to him. And she said a great

deal, for she had worked herself into a terrible passion; but the Prince humbly implored her pardon, and

ventured to point out that it would have been very hard to refuse the young lady's reasonable request. 'You

But poor Saphir was so unhappy, and begged so hard for forgiveness, that at last the Frog's anger gave way,

and she held up to him a tiny diamond stone. 'Go back,' she said, 'to the castle, and bury this little diamond

close to the door. But be careful not to return to the stable or to the bedroom; they have proved too fatal to

you. Walk straight to the garden and enter through a portico, into a small green wood, in the midst of which is

a tree with a trunk of gold and leaves of emeralds. Perched on this tree you will see the beautiful bird you

have been seeking so long. You must cut the branch on which it is sitting, and bring it back to me without

delay. But I warn you solemnly that if you disobey my directions, as you have done twice before, you have

With these words she jumped into the water, and the Prince, who had taken her threats much to heart, took his

departure, firmly resolved not to deserve them. He found it all just as he had been told: the portico, the wood,

the magnificent tree, and the beautiful bird, which was sleeping soundly on one of the branches. He speedily

lopped off the branch, and though he noticed a splendid golden cage hanging close by, which would have

been very useful for the bird to travel in, he left it alone, and came back to the fountain, holding his breath

and walking on tiptoe all the way, for fear lest he should awake his prize. But what was his surprise, when

instead of finding the fountain in the spot where he had left it, he saw in its place a little rustic palace built in

the best taste, and standing in the doorway a charming maiden, at whose sight his mind seemed to give way.

The maiden blushed and answered: 'Ah, my lord, it is long since I first beheld your face, but I did not think

'Oh, madam,' replied he, 'you can never guess the days and the hours I have passed lost in admiration of you.'

And after these words they each related all the strange things that had happened, and the more they talked the

more they felt convinced of the truth of the images they had seen in their mirrors. After some time spent in

the most tender conversation, the Prince could not restrain himself from asking the lovely unknown by what

lucky chance she was wandering in the forest; where the fountain had gone; and if she knew anything of the

Frog to whom he owed all his happiness, and to whom he must give up the bird, which, somehow or other,

'Ah, my lord,' she replied, with rather an awkward air, 'as to the Frog, she stands before you. Let me tell you

my story; it is not a long one. I know neither my country nor my parents, and the only thing I can say for

certain is that I am called Serpentine. The fairies, who have taken care of me ever since I was born, wished

me to be in ignorance as to my family, but they have looked after my education, and have bestowed on me

endless kindness. I have always lived in seclusion, and for the last two years I have wished for nothing better.

I had a mirror'here shyness and embarrassment choked her wordsbut regaining her selfcontrol, she

added, 'You know that fairies insist on being obeyed without questioning. It was they who changed the little

house you saw before you into the fountain for which you are now asking, and, having turned me into a frog,

they ordered me to say to the first person who came to the fountain exactly what I repeated to you. But, my

lord, when you stood before me, it was agony to my heart, filled as it was with thoughts of you, to appear to

your eyes under so monstrous a form. However, there was no help for it, and, painful as it was, I had to

submit. I desired your success with all my soul, not only for your own sake, but also for my own, because I

could not get back my proper shape till you had become master of the beautiful bird, though I am quite

On this Saphir explained about the state of his father's health, and all that has been told before.

On hearing this story Serpentine grew very sad, and her lovely eyes filled with tears.

'Ah, my lord,' she said, 'you know nothing of me but what you have seen in the mirror; and I, who cannot

In vain Saphir declared that love made them equal; Serpentine would only reply: 'I love you too much to

allow you to marry beneath your rank. I shall be very unhappy, of course, but I shall never alter my mind. If I

do not find from the fairies that my birth is worthy of you, then, whatever be my feelings, I will never accept

The conversation was at this point, and bid fair to last some time longer, when one of the fairies appeared in

her ivory car, accompanied by a beautiful woman past her early youth. At this moment the bird suddenly

awakened, and, flying on to Saphir's shoulder (which it never afterwards left), began fondling him as well as

a bird can do. The fairy told Serpentine that she was quite satisfied with her conduct, and made herself very

agreeable to Saphir, whom she presented to the lady she had brought with her, explaining that the lady was no

Then they all fell into each other's arms, till the fairy mounted her chariot, placed Aglantine by her side, and

Saphir and Serpentine on the front seat. She also sent a message to the Prince's attendants that they might

travel slowly back to the Court of King Peridor, and that the beautiful bird had really been found. This matter

being comfortably arranged, she started off her chariot. But in spite of the swiftness with which they flew

through the air, the time passed even quicker for Saphir and Serpentine, who had so much to think about.

They were still quite confused with the pleasure of seeing each other, when the chariot arrived at King

Peridor's palace. He had had himself carried to a room on the roof, where his nurses thought that he would die

at any moment. Directly the chariot drew within sight of the castle the beautiful bird took flight, and, making

straight for the dying King, at once cured him of his sickness. Then she resumed her natural shape, and he

found that the bird was no other than the Queen Constance, whom he had long believed to be dead. Peridor

was rejoiced to embrace his wife and his son once more, and with the help of the fairies began to make

preparations for the marriage of Saphir and Serpentine, who turned out to be the daughter of Aglantine and

Diamantino, and as much a princess as he was a prince. The people of the kingdom were delighted, and

Once upon a time there was a king who determined to take a long voyage. He assembled his fleet and all the

seamen, and set out. They went straight on night and day, until they came to an island which was covered

with large trees, and under every tree lay a lion. As soon as the King had landed his men, the lions all rose up

together and tried to devour them. After a long battle they managed to overcome the wild beasts, but the

greater number of the men were killed. Those who remained alive now went on through the forest and found

on the other side of it a beautiful garden, in which all the plants of the world flourished together.

There were also in the garden three springs: the first flowed with silver, the second with gold, and the third

with pearls. The men unbuckled their knapsacks and filled them with those precious things. In the middle of

the garden they found a large lake, and when they reached the edge of it the Lake began to speak, and said to

them, 'What men are you, and what brings you here? Are you come to visit our king?' But they were too

Then the Lake said, 'You do well to be afraid, for it is at your peril that you are come hither. Our king, who

has seven heads, is now asleep, but in a few minutes he will wake up and come to me to take his bath! Woe to

anyone who meets him in the garden, for it is impossible to escape from him. This is what you must do if you

wish to save your lives. Take off your clothes and spread them on the path which leads from here to the

castle. The King will then glide over something soft, which he likes very much, and he will be so pleased

with that that he will not devour you. He will give you some punishment, but then he will let you go.'

The men did as the Lake advised them, and waited for a time. At noon the earth began to quake, and opened

in many places, and out of the openings appeared lions, tigers, and other wild beasts, which surrounded the

castle, and thousands and thousands of beasts came out of the castle following their king, the Sevenheaded

Serpent. The Serpent glided over the clothes which were spread for him, came to the Lake, and asked it who

had strewed those soft things on the path? The Lake answered that it had been done by people who had come

to do him homage. The King commanded that the men should be brought before him. They came humbly on

their knees, and in a few words told him their story. Then he spoke to them with a mighty and terrible voice,

and said, 'Because you have dared to come here, I lay upon you the punishment. Every year you must bring

me from among your people twelve youths and twelve maidens, that I may devour them. If you do not do

Then he desired one of his beasts to show the men the way out of the garden, and dismissed them. They then

left the island and went back to their own country, where they related what had happened to them. Soon the

time came round when the king of the beasts would expect the youths and maidens to be brought to him. The

King therefore issued a proclamation inviting twelve youths and twelve maidens to offer themselves up to

save their country; and immediately many young people, far more than enough, hastened to do so. A new

ship was built, and set with black sails, and in it the youths and maidens who were appointed for the king of

the beasts embarked and set out for his country. When they arrived there they went at once to the Lake, and

this time the lions did not stir, nor did the springs flow, and neither did the Lake speak. So they waited then,

and it was not long before the earth quaked even more terribly than the first time. The Sevenheaded Serpent

came without his train of beasts, saw his prey waiting for him, and devoured it at one mouthful. Then the

ship's crew returned home, and the same thing happened yearly until many years had passed.

Now the King of this unhappy country was growing old, and so was the Queen, and they had no children.

One day the Queen was sitting at the window weeping bitterly because she was childless, and knew that the

crown would therefore pass to strangers after the King's death. Suddenly a little old woman appeared before

her, holding an apple in her hand, and said, 'Why do you weep, my Queen, and what makes you so unhappy?'

'Alas, good mother,' answered the Queen, 'I am unhappy because I have no children.'

'Is that what vexes you?' said the old woman. 'Listen to me. I am a nun from the Spinning Convent,[10] and

my mother when she died left me this apple. Whoever eats this apple shall have a child.'

The Queen gave money to the old woman, and bought the apple from her. Then she peeled it, ate it, and

threw the rind out of the window, and it so happened that a mare that was running loose in the court below ate

up the rind. After a time the Queen had a little boy, and the mare also had a male foal. The boy and the foal

grew up together and loved each other like brothers. In course of time the King died, and so did the Queen,

and their son, who was now nineteen years old, was left alone. One day, when he and his horse were talking

together, the Horse said to him, 'Listen to me, for I love you and wish for your good and that of the country.

If you go on every year sending twelve youths and twelve maidens to the King of the Beasts, your country

will very soon be ruined. Mount upon my back: I will take you to a woman who can direct you how to kill the

Then the youth mounted his horse, who carried him far away to a mountain which was hollow, for in its side

was a great underground cavern. In the cavern sat an old woman spinning. This was the cloister of the nuns,

and the old woman was the Abbess. They all spent their time in spinning, and that is why the convent has this

name. All round the walls of the cavern there were beds cut out of the solid rock, upon which the nuns slept,

and in the middle a light was burning. It was the duty of the nuns to watch the light in turns, that it might

As soon as the King's son saw the old Abbess spinning he threw himself at her feet and entreated her to tell

She made the youth rise, embraced him, and said, 'Know, my son, that it is I who sent the nun to your mother

and caused you to be born, and with you the horse, with whose help you will be able to free the world from

the monster. I will tell you what you have to do. Load your horse with cotton, and go by a secret passage

which I will show you, which is hidden from the wild beasts, to the Serpent's palace. You will find the King

asleep upon his bed, which is all hung round with bells, and over his bed you will see a sword hanging. With

this sword only it is possible to kill the Serpent, because even if its blade breaks a new one will grow again

for every head the monster has. Thus you will be able to cut off all his seven heads. And this you must also

do in order to deceive the King: you must slip into his bedchamber very softly, and stop up all the bells

which are round his bed with cotton. Then take down the sword gently, and quickly give the monster a blow

on his tail with it. This will make him waken up, and if he catches sight of you he will seize you. But you

must quickly cut off his first head, and then wait till the next one comes up. Then strike it off also, and so go

The old Abbess then gave the Prince her blessing, and he set out upon his enterprise, arrived at the Serpent's

castle by following the secret passage which she had shown him, and by carefully attending to all her

directions he happily succeeded in killing the monster. As soon as the wild beasts heard of their king's death,

they all hastened to the castle, but the youth had long since mounted his horse and was already far out of their

reach. They pursued him as fast as they could, but they found it impossible to overtake him, and he reached

There was once upon a time a man and woman who had three finelooking sons, but they were so poor that

they had hardly enough food for themselves, let alone their children. So the sons determined to set out into

the world and to try their luck. Before starting their mother gave them each a loaf of bread and her blessing,

and having taken a tender farewell of her and their father the three set forth on their travels.

The youngest of the three brothers, whose name was Ferko, was a beautiful youth, with a splendid figure,

blue eyes, fair hair, and a complexion like milk and roses. His two brothers were as jealous of him as they

could be, for they thought that with his good looks he would be sure to be more fortunate than they would

One day all the three were sitting resting under a tree, for the sun was hot and they were tired of walking.

Ferko fell fast asleep, but the other two remained awake, and the eldest said to the second brother, 'What do

you say to doing our brother Ferko some harm? He is so beautiful that everyone takes a fancy to him, which

is more than they do to us. If we could only get him out of the way we might succeed better.'

'I quite agree with you,' answered the second brother, 'and my advice is to eat up his loaf of bread, and then to

refuse to give him a bit of ours until he has promised to let us put out his eyes or break his legs.'

His eldest brother was delighted with this proposal, and the two wicked wretches seized Ferko's loaf and ate

When he did awake he felt very hungry and turned to eat his bread, but his brothers cried out, 'You ate your

loaf in your sleep, you glutton, and you may starve as long as you like, but you won't get a scrap of ours.'

Ferko was at a loss to understand how he could have eaten in his sleep, but he said nothing, and fasted all that

day and the next night. But on the following morning he was so hungry that he burst into tears, and implored

his brothers to give him a little bit of their bread. Then the cruel creatures laughed, and repeated what they

had said the day before; but when Ferko continued to beg and beseech them, the eldest said at last, 'If you

will let us put out one of your eyes and break one of your legs, then we will give you a bit of our bread.'

At these words poor Ferko wept more bitterly than before, and bore the torments of hunger till the sun was

high in the heavens; then he could stand it no longer, and he consented to allow his left eye to be put out and

his left leg to be broken. When this was done he stretched out his hand eagerly for the piece of bread, but his

brothers gave him such a tiny scrap that the starving youth finished it in a moment and besought them for a

But the more Ferko wept and told his brothers that he was dying of hunger, the more they laughed and

scolded him for his greed. So he endured the pangs of starvation all that day, but when night came his

endurance gave way, and he let his right eye be put out and his right leg broken for a second piece of bread.

After his brothers had thus successfully maimed and disfigured him for life, they left him groaning on the

Poor Ferko ate up the scrap of bread they had left him and wept bitterly, but no one heard him or came to his

help. Night came on, and the poor blind youth had no eyes to close, and could only crawl along the ground,

not knowing in the least where he was going. But when the sun was once more high in the heavens, Ferko felt

the blazing heat scorch him, and sought for some cool shady place to rest his aching limbs. He climbed to the

top of a hill and lay down in the grass, and as he thought under the shadow of a big tree. But it was no tree he

leant against, but a gallows on which two ravens were seated. The one was saying to the other as the weary

youth lay down, 'Is there anything the least wonderful or remarkable about this neighbourhood?'

'I should just think there was,' replied the other; 'many things that don't exist anywhere else in the world.

There is a lake down there below us, and anyone who bathes in it, though he were at death's door, becomes

sound and well on the spot, and those who wash their eyes with the dew on this hill become as sharpsighted

'Well,' answered the first raven, 'my eyes are in no want of this healing bath, for, Heaven be praised, they are

as good as ever they were; but my wing has been very feeble and weak ever since it was shot by an arrow

many years ago, so let us fly at once to the lake that I may be restored to health and strength again.' And so

Their words rejoiced Ferko's heart, and he waited impatiently till evening should come and he could rub the

At last it began to grow dusk, and the sun sank behind the mountains; gradually it became cooler on the hill,

and the grass grew wet with dew. Then Ferko buried his face in the ground till his eyes were damp with

dewdrops, and in a moment he saw clearer than he had ever done in his life before. The moon was shining

brightly, and lighted him to the lake where he could bathe his poor broken legs.

Then Ferko crawled to the edge of the lake and dipped his limbs in the water. No sooner had he done so than

his legs felt as sound and strong as they had been before, and Ferko thanked the kind fate that had led him to

the hill where he had overheard the ravens' conversation. He filled a bottle with the healing water, and then

He had not gone far before he met a wolf, who was limping disconsolately along on three legs, and who on

'My good friend,' said the youth, 'be of good cheer, for I can soon heal your leg,' and with these words he

poured some of the precious water over the wolf's paw, and in a minute the animal was springing about sound

and well on all fours. The grateful creature thanked his benefactor warmly, and promised Ferko to do him a

Ferko continued his way till he came to a ploughed field. Here he noticed a little mouse creeping wearily

Ferko felt so sorry for the little beast that he spoke to it in the most friendly manner, and washed its small

paws with the healing water. In a moment the mouse was sound and whole, and after thanking the kind

Ferko again proceeded on his journey, but he hadn't gone far before a queen bee flew against him, trailing

one wing behind her, which had been cruelly torn in two by a big bird. Ferko was no less willing to help her

than he had been to help the wolf and the mouse, so he poured some healing drops over the wounded wing.

On the spot the queen bee was cured, and turning to Ferko she said, 'I am most grateful for your kindness, and

Then Ferko wandered on for many a long day, and at length reached a strange kingdom. Here, he thought to

himself, he might as well go straight to the palace and offer his services to the King of the country, for he had

So he went to the royal palace, and as he entered the door the first people he saw were his two brothers who

had so shamefully illtreated him. They had managed to obtain places in the King's service, and when they

recognised Ferko with his eyes and legs sound and well they were frightened to death, for they feared he

No sooner had Ferko entered the palace than all eyes were turned on the handsome youth, and the King's

daughter herself was lost in admiration, for she had never seen anyone so handsome in her life before. His

brothers noticed this, and envy and jealousy were added to their fear, so much so that they determined once

more to destroy him. They went to the King and told him that Ferko was a wicked magician, who had come

Then the King had Ferko brought before him, and said, 'You are accused of being a magician who wishes to

rob me of my daughter, and I condemn you to death; but if you can fulfil three tasks which I shall set you to

do your life shall be spared, on condition you leave the country; but if you cannot perform what I demand you

And turning to the two wicked brothers he said, 'Suggest something for him to do; no matter how difficult, he

They did not think long, but replied, 'Let him build your Majesty in one day a more beautiful palace than this,

The King was pleased with this proposal, and commanded Ferko to set to work on the following day. The

two brothers were delighted, for they thought they had now got rid of Ferko for ever. The poor youth himself

was heartbroken, and cursed the hour he had crossed the boundary of the King's domain. As he was

wandering disconsolately about the meadows round the palace, wondering how he could escape being put to

death, a little bee flew past, and settling on his shoulder whispered in his ear, 'What is troubling you, my kind

benefactor? Can I be of any help to you? I am the bee whose wing you healed, and would like to show my

Ferko recognised the queen bee, and said, 'Alas! how could you help me? for I have been set to do a task

which no one in the whole world could do, let him be ever such a genius! Tomorrow I must build a palace

'Is that all?' answered the bee, 'then you may comfort yourself; for before the sun goes down tomorrow night

a palace shall be built unlike any that King has dwelt in before. Just stay here till I come again and tell you

that it is finished.' Having said this she flew merrily away, and Ferko, reassured by her words, lay down on

Early on the following day the whole town was on its feet, and everyone wondered how and where the

stranger would build the wonderful palace. The Princess alone was silent and sorrowful, and had cried all

night till her pillow was wet, so much did she take the fate of the beautiful youth to heart.

Ferko spent the whole day in the meadows waiting the return of the bee. And when evening was come the

queen bee flew by, and perching on his shoulder she said, 'The wonderful palace is ready. Be of good cheer,

and lead the King to the hill just outside the city walls.' And humming gaily she flew away again.

Ferko went at once to the King and told him the palace was finished. The whole court went out to see the

wonder, and their astonishment was great at the sight which met their eyes. A splendid palace reared itself on

the hill just outside the walls of the city, made of the most exquisite flowers that ever grew in mortal garden.

The roof was all of crimson roses, the windows of lilies, the walls of white carnations, the floors of glowing

auriculas and violets, the doors of gorgeous tulips and narcissi with sunflowers for knockers, and all round

hyacinths and other sweetsmelling flowers bloomed in masses, so that the air was perfumed far and near and

This splendid palace had been built by the grateful queen bee, who had summoned all the other bees in the

The King's amazement knew no bounds, and the Princess's eyes beamed with delight as she turned them from

the wonderful building on the delighted Ferko. But the two brothers had grown quite green with envy, and

The King, although he had been surprised and astonished at the way his commands had been carried out, was

very vexed that the stranger should escape with his life, and turning to the two brothers he said, 'He has

certainly accomplished the first task, with the aid no doubt of his diabolical magic; but what shall we give

him to do now? Let us make it as difficult as possible, and if he fails he shall die.'

Then the eldest brother replied, 'The corn has all been cut, but it has not yet been put into barns; let the knave

collect all the grain in the kingdom into one big heap before tomorrow night, and if as much as a stalk of

The Princess grew white with terror when she heard these words; but Ferko felt much more cheerful than he

had done the first time, and wandered out into the meadows again, wondering how he was to get out of the

difficulty. But he could think of no way of escape. The sun sank to rest and night came on, when a little

mouse started out of the grass at Ferko's feet, and said to him, 'I'm delighted to see you, my kind benefactor;

but why are you looking so sad? Can I be of any help to you, and thus repay your great kindness to me?'

Then Ferko recognised the mouse whose front paws he had healed, and replied, 'Alas I how can you help me

in a matter that is beyond any human power! Before tomorrow night all the grain in the kingdom has to be

gathered into one big heap, and if as much as a stalk of corn is wanting I must pay for it with my life.'

'Is that all?' answered the mouse; 'that needn't distress you much. Just trust in me, and before the sun sets

again you shall hear that your task is done.' And with these words the little creature scampered away into the

Ferko, who never doubted that the mouse would be as good as its word, lay down comforted on the soft grass

and slept soundly till next morning. The day passed slowly, and with the evening came the little mouse and

said, 'Now there is not a single stalk of corn left in any field; they are all collected in one big heap on the hill

Then Ferko went joyfully to the King and told him that all he demanded had been done. And the whole Court

went out to see the wonder, and were no less astonished than they had been the first time. For in a heap

higher than the King's palace lay all the grain of the country, and not a single stalk of corn had been left

behind in any of the fields. And how had all this been done? The little mouse had summoned every other

mouse in the land to its help, and together they had collected all the grain in the kingdom.

The King could not hide his amazement, but at the same time his wrath increased, and he was more ready

than ever to believe the two brothers, who kept on repeating that Ferko was nothing more nor less than a

wicked magician. Only the beautiful Princess rejoiced over Ferko's success, and looked on him with friendly

The more the cruel King gazed on the wonder before him, the more angry he became, for he could not, in the

face of his promise, put the stranger to death. He turned once more to the two brothers and said, 'His

diabolical magic has helped him again, but now what third task shall we set him to do? No matter how

The eldest answered quickly, 'Let him drive all the wolves of the kingdom on to this hill before tomorrow

night. If he does this he may go free; if not he shall be hung as you have said.'

At these words the Princess burst into tears, and when the King saw this he ordered her to be shut up in a high

tower and carefully guarded till the dangerous magician should either have left the kingdom or been hung on

Ferko wandered out into the fields again, and sat down on the stump of a tree wondering what he should do

next. Suddenly a big wolf ran up to him, and standing still said, 'I'm very glad to see you again, my kind

benefactor. What are you thinking about all alone by yourself? If I can help you in any way only say the

Ferko at once recognised the wolf whose broken leg he had healed, and told him what he had to do the

following day if he wished to escape with his life. 'But how in the world,' he added, 'am I to collect all the

'If that's all you want done,' answered the wolf, 'you needn't worry yourself. I'll undertake the task, and you'll

hear from me again before sunset tomorrow. Keep your spirits up.' And with these words he trotted quickly

Then the youth rejoiced greatly, for now he felt that his life was safe; but he grew very sad when he thought

of the beautiful Princess, and that he would never see her again if he left the country. He lay down once more

All the next day he spent wandering about the fields, and toward evening the wolf came running to him in a

great hurry and said, 'I have collected together all the wolves in the kingdom, and they are waiting for you in

the wood. Go quickly to the King, and tell him to go to the hill that he may see the wonder you have done

with his own eyes. Then return at once to me and get on my back, and I will help you to drive all the wolves

Then Ferko went straight to the palace and told the King that he was ready to perform the third task if he

would come to the hill and see it done. Ferko himself returned to the fields, and mounting on the wolf's back

Quick as lightning the wolf flew round the wood, and in a minute many hundred wolves rose up before him,

increasing in number every moment, till they could be counted by thousands. He drove them all before him

on to the hill, where the King and his whole Court and Ferko's two brothers were standing. Only the lovely

The wicked brothers stamped and foamed with rage when they saw the failure of their wicked designs. But

the King was overcome by a sudden terror when he saw the enormous pack of wolves approaching nearer and

nearer, and calling out to Ferko he said, 'Enough, enough, we don't want any more.'

But the wolf on whose back Ferko sat, said to its rider, 'Go on! go on!' and at the same moment many more

The King in his terror called out, 'Stop a moment; I will give you half my kingdom if you will drive all the

wolves away.' But Ferko pretended not to hear, and drove some more thousands before him, so that everyone

Then the King raised his voice again and called out, 'Stop! you shall have my whole kingdom, if you will

But the wolf kept on encouraging Ferko, and said, 'Go on! go on!' So he led the wolves on, till at last they fell

on the King and on the wicked brothers, and ate them and the whole Court up in a moment.

Then Ferko went straight to the palace and set the Princess free, and on the same day he married her and was

crowned King of the country. And the wolves all went peacefully back to their own homes, and Ferko and his

bride lived for many years in peace and happiness together, and were much beloved by great and small in the

There was once upon a time a poor boy who had neither father nor mother. In order to gain a living he looked

after the sheep of a great Lord. Day and night he spent out in the open fields, and only when it was very wet

and stormy did he take refuge in a little hut on the edge of a big forest. Now one night, when he was sitting

on the grass beside his flocks, he heard not very far from him the sound as of some one crying. He rose up

and followed the direction of the noise. To his dismay and astonishment he found a Giant lying at the

entrance of the wood; he was about to run off as fast as his legs could carry him, when the Giant called out:

'Don't be afraid, I won't harm you. On the contrary, I will reward you handsomely if you will bind up my

foot. I hurt it when I was trying to root up an oaktree.' The Herdboy took off his shirt, and bound up the

Giant's wounded foot with it. Then the Giant rose up and said, 'Now come and I will reward you. We are

going to celebrate a marriage today, and I promise you we shall have plenty of fun. Come and enjoy

yourself, but in order that my brothers mayn't see you, put this band round your waist and then you'll be

invisible.' With these words he handed the Herdboy a belt, and walking on in front he led him to a fountain

where hundreds of Giants and Giantesses were assembled preparing to hold a wedding. They danced and

played different games till midnight; then one of the Giants tore up a plant by its roots, and all the Giants and

Giantesses made themselves so thin that they disappeared into the earth through the hole made by the

uprooting of the plant. The wounded Giant remained behind to the last and called out, 'Herdboy, where are

you?' 'Here I am, close to you,' was the reply. 'Touch me,' said the Giant, 'so that you too may come with us

under ground.' The Herdboy did as he was told, and before he could have believed it possible he found

himself in a big hall, where even the walls were made of pure gold. Then to his astonishment he saw that the

hall was furnished with the tables and chairs that belonged to his master. In a few minutes the company began

The banquet was a very gorgeous one, and the poor youth fell to and ate and drank lustily. When he had eaten

and drunk as much as he could he thought to himself, 'Why shouldn't I put a loaf of bread in my pocket? I

shall be glad of it tomorrow.' So he seized a loaf when no one was looking and stowed it away under his

tunic. No sooner had he done so than the wounded Giant limped up to him and whispered softly, 'Herdboy,

where are you?' 'Here I am,' replied the youth. 'Then hold on to me,' said the Giant, 'so that I may lead you up

above again.' So the Herdboy held on to the Giant, and in a few moments he found himself on the earth once

more, but the Giant had vanished. The Herdboy returned to his sheep, and took off the invisible belt which

The next morning the lad felt hungry, and thought he would cut off a piece of the loaf he had carried away

from the Giants' wedding feast, and eat it. But although he tried with all his might, he couldn't cut off the

smallest piece. Then in despair he bit the loaf, and what was his astonishment when a piece of gold fell out of

his mouth and rolled at his feet. He bit the bread a second and third time, and each time a piece of gold fell

out of his mouth; but the bread remained untouched. The Herdboy was very much delighted over his stroke

of good fortune, and, hiding the magic loaf in his bag, he hurried off to the nearest village to buy himself

Now the Lord whose sheep the Herdboy looked after had a very lovely daughter, who always smiled and

nodded to the youth when she walked with her father in his fields. For a long time the Herdboy had made up

his mind to prepare a surprise for this beautiful creature on her birthday. So when the day approached he put

on his invisible belt, took a sack of gold pieces with him, and slipping into her room in the middle of the

night, he placed the bag of gold beside her bed and returned to his sheep. The girl's joy was great, and so was

her parents' next day when they found the sack full of gold pieces. The Herdboy was so pleased to think

what pleasure he had given that the next night he placed another bag of gold beside the girl's bed. And this he

continued to do for seven nights, and the girl and her parents made up their minds that it must be a good Fairy

who brought the gold every night. But one night they determined to watch, and see from their hiding place

On the eighth night a fearful storm of wind and rain came on while the Herdboy was on his way to bring the

beautiful girl another bag of gold. Then for the first time he noticed, just as he reached his master's house,

that he had forgotten the belt which made him invisible. He didn't like the idea of going back to his hut in the

wind and wet, so he just stepped as he was into the girl's room, laid the sack of gold beside her, and was

turning to leave the room, when his master confronted him and said, 'You young rogue, so you were going to

steal the gold that a good Fairy brings every night, were you?' The Herdboy was so taken aback by his

words, that he stood trembling before him, and did not dare to explain his presence. Then his master spoke.

'As you have hitherto always behaved well in my service I will not send you to prison; but leave your place

instantly and never let me see your face again.' So the Herdboy went back to his hut, and taking his loaf and

belt with him, he went to the nearest town. There he bought himself some fine clothes, and a beautiful coach

with four horses, hired two servants, and drove back to his master. You may imagine how astonished he was

to see his Herdboy returning to him in this manner! Then the youth told him of the piece of good luck that

had befallen him, and asked him for the hand of his beautiful daughter. This was readily granted, and the two

Once upon a time there lived a Fairy who had power over the earth, the sea, fire, and the air; and this Fairy

had four sons. The eldest, who was quick and lively, with a vivid imagination, she made Lord of Fire, which

was in her opinion the noblest of all the elements. To the second son, whose wisdom and prudence made

amends for his being rather dull, she gave the government of the earth. The third was wild and savage, and of

monstrous stature; and the Fairy, his mother, who was ashamed of his defects, hoped to hide them by creating

him King of the Seas. The youngest, who was the slave of his passions and of a very uncertain temper,

Being the youngest, he was naturally his mother's favourite; but this did not blind her to his weaknesses, and

she foresaw that some day he would suffer much pain through falling in love. So she thought the best thing

she could do was to bring him up with a horror of women; and, to her great delight, she saw this dislike only

increased as he grew older. From his earliest childhood he heard nothing but stories of princes who had fallen

into all sorts of troubles through love; and she drew such terrible pictures of poor little Cupid that the young

All the time that this wise mother could spare from filling her son with hatred for all womenkind she passed

in giving him a love of the pleasures of the chase, which henceforth became his chief joy. For his amusement

she had made a new forest, planted with the most splendid trees, and turned loose in it every animal that

could be found in any of the four quarters of the globe. In the midst of this forest she built a palace which had

not its equal for beauty in the whole world, and then she considered that she had done enough to make any

Now it is all very well to abuse the God of Love, but a man cannot struggle against his fate. In his secret heart

the Prince got tired of his mother's constant talk on this subject; and when one day she quitted the palace to

attend to some business, begging him never to go beyond the grounds, he at once jumped at the chance of

Left to himself the Prince soon forgot the wise counsels of his mother, and feeling very much bored with his

own company, he ordered some of the spirits of the air to carry him to the court of a neighbouring sovereign.

This kingdom was situated in the Island of Roses, where the climate is so delicious that the grass is always

green and the flowers always sweet. The waves, instead of beating on the rocks, seemed to die gently on the

shore; clusters of golden bushes covered the land, and the vines were bent low with grapes.

The King of this island had a daughter named Rosalie, who was more lovely than any girl in the whole world.

No sooner had the eyes of the Prince of the Air rested on her than he forgot all the terrible woes which had

been prophesied to him ever since he was born, for in one single moment the plans of years are often upset.

He instantly began to think how best to make himself happy, and the shortest way that occurred to him was to

It is easy to imagine the feelings of the King when he found that his daughter had vanished. He wept her loss

night and day, and his only comfort was to talk over it with a young and unknown prince, who had just

arrived at the Court. Alas! he did not know what a deep interest the stranger had in Rosalie, for he too had

One day the King, more sorrowful than usual, was walking sadly along the seashore, when after a long

silence the unknown Prince, who was his only companion, suddenly spoke. 'There is no evil without a

remedy,' he said to the unhappy father; 'and if you will promise me your daughter in marriage, I will

'You are trying to soothe me by vain promises,' answered the King. 'Did I not see her caught up into the air, in

spite of cries which would have softened the heart of any one but the barbarian who has robbed me of her?

The unfortunate girl is pining away in some unknown land, where perhaps no foot of man has ever trod, and I

shall see her no more. But go, generous stranger; bring back Rosalie if you can, and live happy with her ever

Although the stranger's name and rank were unknown to Rosalie's father, he was really the son of the King of

the Golden Isle, which had for capital a city that extended from one sea to another. The walls, washed by the

quiet waters, were covered with gold, which made one think of the yellow sands. Above them was a rampart

The King of this beautiful island had one son, for whom a life of adventure had been foretold at his birth.

This so frightened his father and mother that in order to comfort them a Fairy, who happened to be present at

the time, produced a little pebble which she told them to keep for the Prince till he grew up, as by putting it in

his mouth he would become invisible, as long as he did not try to speak, for if he did the stone would lose all

its virtue. In this way the good fairy hoped that the Prince would be protected against all dangers.

No sooner did the Prince begin to grow out of boyhood than he longed to see if the other countries of the

world were as splendid as the one in which he lived. So, under pretence of visiting some small islands that

belonged to his father, he set out. But a frightful storm drove his ship on to unknown shores, where most of

his followers were put to death by the savages, and the Prince himself only managed to escape by making use

of his magic pebble. By this means he passed through the midst of them unseen, and wandered on till he

The first land he sighted was the Island of Roses, and he went at once to the court of the King, Rosalie's

father. The moment his eyes beheld the Princess, he fell in love with her like everyone else.

He had already spent several months in this condition when the Prince of the Air whirled her away, to the

grief and despair of every man on the island. But sad though everybody was, the Prince of the Golden Isle

was perfectly inconsolable, and he passed both days and nights in bemoaning his loss.

'Alas!' he cried; 'shall I never see my lovely Princess again?' Who knows where she may be, and what fairy

may have her in his keeping? I am only a man, but I am strong in my love, and I will seek the whole world

He travelled many weary days without hearing a single word of the lost Princess, till one morning, as he was

walking through a thick forest, he suddenly perceived a magnificent palace standing at the end of a pine

avenue, and his heart bounded to think that he might be gazing on Rosalie's prison. He hastened his steps, and

quickly arrived at the gate of the palace, which was formed of a single agate. The gate swung open to let him

through, and he next passed successively three courts, surrounded by deep ditches filled with running water,

with birds of brilliant plumage flying about the banks. Everything around was rare and beautiful, but the

Prince scarcely raised his eyes to all these wonders. He thought only of the Princess and where he should find

her, but in vain he opened every door and searched in every corner; he neither saw Rosalie nor anyone else.

At last there was no place left for him to search but a little wood, which contained in the centre a sort of hall

built entirely of orangetrees, with four small rooms opening out of the corners. Three of these were empty

except for statues and wonderful things, but in the fourth the Invisible Prince caught sight of Rosalie. His joy

at beholding her again was, however, somewhat lessened by seeing that the Prince of the Air was kneeling at

her feet, and pleading his own cause. But it was in vain that he implored her to listen; she only shook her

head. 'No,' was all she would say; 'you snatched me from my father whom I loved, and all the splendour in

the world can never console me. Go! I can never feel anything towards you but hate and contempt.' With

Unknown to herself the Invisible Prince had followed her, but fearing to be discovered by the Princess in the

presence of others, he made up his mind to wait quietly till dark; and employed the long hours in writing a

poem to the Princess, which he laid on the bed beside her. This done, he thought of nothing but how best to

deliver Rosalie, and he resolved to take advantage of a visit which the Prince of the Air paid every year to his

One day Rosalie was sitting alone in her room thinking of her troubles when she suddenly saw a pen get up

from off the desk and begin to write all by itself on a sheet of white paper. As she did not know that it was

guided by an invisible hand she was very much astonished, and the moment that the pen had ceased to move

she instantly went over to the table, where she found some lovely verses, telling her that another shared her

distresses, whatever they might be, and loved her with all his heart; and that he would never rest until he had

delivered her from the hands of the man she hated. Thus encouraged, she told him all her story, and of the

arrival of a young stranger in her father's palace, whose looks had so charmed her that since that day she had

thought of no one else. At these words the Prince could contain himself no longer. He took the pebble from

When they had got over the first rapture of meeting they began to make plans to escape from the power of the

Prince of the Air. But this did not prove easy, for the magic stone would only serve for one person at a time,

and in order to save Rosalie the Prince of the Golden Isle would have to expose himself to the fury of his

'No, Prince,' she said; 'since you are here this island no longer feels a prison. Besides, you are under the

protection of a Fairy, who always visits your father's court at this season. Go instantly and seek her, and when

she is found implore the gift of another stone with similar powers. Once you have that, there will be no

The Prince of the Air returned a few days later from his mother's palace, but the Invisible Prince had already

set out. He had, however, entirely forgotten the road by which he had come, and lost himself for so long in

the forest, that when at last he reached home the Fairy had already left, and, in spite of all his grief, there was

nothing for it but to wait till the Fairy's next visit, and allow Rosalie to suffer three months longer. This

thought drove him to despair, and he had almost made up his mind to return to the place of her captivity,

when one day, as he was strolling along an alley in the woods, he saw a huge oak open its trunk, and out of it

step two Princes in earnest conversation. As our hero had the magic stone in his mouth they imagined

'What!' said one, 'are you always going to allow yourself to be tormented by a passion which can never end

'What is the use,' replied the other, 'of being Prince of the Gnomes, and having a mother who is queen over all

the four elements, if I cannot win the love of the Princess Argentine? From the moment that I first saw her,

sitting in the forest surrounded by flowers, I have never ceased to think of her night and day, and, although I

love her, I am quite convinced that she will never care for me. You know that I have in my palace the

cabinets of the years. In the first, great mirrors reflect the past; in the second, we contemplate the present; in

the third, the future can be read. It was here that I fled after I had gazed on the Princess Argentine, but instead

of love I only saw scorn and contempt. Think how great must be my devotion, when, in spite of my fate, I

Now the Prince of the Golden Isle was enchanted with this conversation, for the Princess Argentine was his

sister, and he hoped, by means of her influence over the Prince of the Gnomes, to obtain from his brother the

release of Rosalie. So he joyfully returned to his father's palace, where he found his friend the Fairy, who at

once presented him with a magic pebble like his own. As may be imagined, he lost no time in setting out to

deliver Rosalie, and travelled so fast that he soon arrived at the forest, in the midst of which she lay a captive.

But though he found the palace he did not find Rosalie. He hunted high and low, but there was no sign of her,

and his despair was so great that he was ready, a thousand times over, to take his own life. At last he

remembered the conversation of the two Princes about the cabinets of the years, and that if he could manage

to reach the oak tree, he would be certain to discover what had become of Rosalie. Happily, he soon found

out the secret of the passage and entered the cabinet of the present, where he saw reflected in the mirrors the

unfortunate Rosalie sitting on the floor weeping bitterly, and surrounded with genii, who never left her night

This sight only increased the misery of the Prince, for he did not know where the castle was, nor how to set

about finding it. However, he resolved to seek the whole world through till he came to the right place. He

began by setting sail in a favourable wind, but his bad luck followed him even on the sea. He had scarcely

lost sight of the land when a violent storm arose, and after several hours of beating about, the vessel was

driven on to some rocks, on which it dashed itself to bits. The Prince was fortunate enough to be able to lay

hold of a floating spar, and contrived to keep himself afloat; and, after a long struggle with the winds and

waves, he was cast upon a strange island. But what was his surprise, on reaching the shore, to hear sounds of

the most heartrending distress, mingled with the sweetest songs which had ever charmed him! His curiosity

was instantly roused, and he advanced cautiously till he saw two huge dragons guarding the gate of a wood.

They were terrible indeed to look upon. Their bodies were covered with glittering scales; their curly tails

extended far over the land; flames darted from their mouths and noses, and their eyes would have made the

bravest shudder; but as the Prince was invisible and they did not see him, he slipped past them into the wood.

He found himself at once in a labyrinth, and wandered about for a long time without meeting anyone; in fact,

the only sight he saw was a circle of human hands, sticking out of the ground above the wrist, each with a

bracelet of gold, on which a name was written. The farther he advanced in the labyrinth the more curious he

became, till he was stopped by two corpses lying in the midst of a cypress alley, each with a scarlet cord

round his neck and a bracelet on his arm on which were engraved their own names, and those of two

The invisible Prince recognised these dead men as Kings of two large islands near his own home, but the

names of the Princesses were unknown to him. He grieved for their unhappy fate, and at once proceeded to

bury them; but no sooner had he laid them in their graves, than their hands started up through the earth and

The Prince went on his way, thinking about this strange adventure, when suddenly at the turn of the walk he

perceived a tall man whose face was the picture of misery, holding in his hands a silken cord of the exact

colour of those round the necks of the dead men. A few steps further this man came up with another as

miserable to the full as he himself; they silently embraced, and then without a word passed the cords round

their throats, and fell dead side by side. In vain the Prince rushed to their assistance and strove to undo the

cord. He could not loosen it; so he buried them like the others and continued his path.

He felt, however, that great prudence was necessary, or he himself might become the victim of some

enchantment; and he was thankful to slip past the dragons, and enter a beautiful park, with clear streams and

sweet flowers, and a crowd of men and maidens. But he could not forget the terrible things he had seen, and

hoped eagerly for a clue to the mystery. Noticing two young people talking together, he drew near thinking

'You swear,' said the Prince, 'that you will love me till you die, but I fear your faithless heart, and I feel that I

shall soon have to seek the Fairy Despair, ruler of half this island. She carries off the lovers who have been

cast away by their mistresses, and wish to have done with life. She places them in a labyrinth where they are

condemned to walk for ever, with a bracelet on their arms and a cord round their necks, unless they meet

another as miserable as themselves. Then the cord is pulled and they lie where they fall, till they are buried by

the first passer by. Terrible as this death would be,' added the Prince, 'it would be sweeter than life if I had

The sight of all these happy lovers only made the Prince grieve the more, and he wandered along the seashore

spending his days; but one day he was sitting on a rock bewailing his fate, and the impossibility of leaving

the island, when all in a moment the sea appeared to raise itself nearly to the skies, and the caves echoed with

hideous screams. As he looked a woman rose from the depths of the sea, flying madly before a furious giant.

The cries she uttered softened the heart of the Prince; he took the stone from his mouth, and drawing his

sword he rushed after the giant, so as to give the lady time to escape. But hardly had he come within reach of

the enemy, than the giant touched him with a ring that he held in his hand, and the Prince remained

immovable where he stood. The giant then hastily rejoined his prey, and, seizing her in his arms, he plunged

her into the sea. Then he sent some tritons to bind chains about the Prince of the Golden Isle, and he too felt

himself borne to the depths of the ocean, and without the hope of ever again seeing the Princess.

Now the giant whom the invisible had so rashly attacked was the Lord of the Sea, and the third son of the

Queen of the Elements, and he had touched the youth with a magic ring which enabled a mortal to live under

water. So the Prince of the Golden Isle found, when bound in chains by the tritons, he was carried through the

homes of strange monsters and past immense seaweed forests, till he reached a vast sandy space, surrounded

'Rash mortal,' said he, when the Prince was dragged before him, 'you have deserved death, but you shall live

only to suffer more cruelly. Go, and add to the number of those whom it is my pleasure to torture.'

At these words the unhappy Prince found himself tied to a rock; but he was not alone in his misfortunes, for

all round him were chained Princes and Princesses, whom the giant had led captive. Indeed, it was his chief

As his hands were fastened, it was impossible for the Prince of the Golden Isle to make use of his magic

stone, and he passed his nights and days dreaming of Rosalie. But at last the time came when the giant took it

into his head to amuse himself by arranging fights between some of his captives. Lots were drawn, and one

fell upon our Prince, whose chains were immediately loosened. The moment he was set free, he snatched up

The astonishment of the giant at the sudden disappearance of the Prince may well be imagined. He ordered all

the passages to be watched, but it was too late, for the Prince had already glided between two rocks. He

wandered for a long while through the forests, where he met nothing but fearful monsters; he climbed rock

after rock, steered his way from tree to tree, till at length he arrived at the edge of the sea, at the foot of a

mountain that he remembered to have seen in the cabinet of the present, where Rosalie was held captive.

Filled with joy, he made his way to the top of the mountain which pierced the clouds, and there he found a

palace. He entered, and in the middle of a long gallery he discovered a crystal room, in the midst of which sat

Rosalie, guarded night and day by genii. There was no door anywhere, nor any window. At this sight the

Prince became more puzzled than ever, for he did not know how he was to warn Rosalie of his return. Yet it

One day, as Rosalie was walking up and down her room, she was surprised to see that the crystal which

served for a wall had grown cloudy, as if some one had breathed on it, and, what was more, wherever she

moved the brightness of the crystal always became clouded. This was enough to cause the Princess to suspect

that her lover had returned. In order to set the Prince of the Air's mind at rest she began by being very

gracious to him, so that when she begged that her captivity might be a little lightened she should not be

refused. At first the only favour she asked was to be allowed to walk for one hour every day up and down the

long gallery. This was granted, and the Invisible Prince speedily took the opportunity of handing her the

stone, which she at once slipped into her mouth. No words can paint the fury of her captor at her

disappearance. He ordered the spirits of the air to fly through all space, and to bring back Rosalie wherever

she might be. They instantly flew off to obey his commands, and spread themselves over the whole earth.

Meantime Rosalie and the Invisible Prince had reached, hand in hand, a door of the gallery which led through

a terrace into the gardens. In silence they glided along, and thought themselves already safe, when a furious

monster dashed itself by accident against Rosalie and the Invisible Prince, and in her fright she let go his

hand. No one can speak as long as he is invisible, and besides, they knew that the spirits were all around

them, and at the slightest sound they would be recognised; so all they could do was to feel about in the hope

But, alas! the joy of liberty lasted but a short time. The Princess, having wandered in vain up and down the

forest, stopped at last on the edge of a fountain. As she walked she wrote on the trees: 'If ever the Prince, my

lover, comes this way, let him know that it is here I dwell, and that I sit daily on the edge of this fountain,

These words were read by one of the genii, who repeated them to his master. The Prince of the Air, in his turn

making himself invisible, was led to the fountain, and waited for Rosalie. When she drew near he held out his

hand, which she grasped eagerly, taking it for that of her lover; and, seizing his opportunity, the Prince passed

a cord round her arms, and throwing off his invisibility cried to his spirits to drag her into the lowest pit.

It was at this moment that the Invisible Prince appeared, and at the sight of the Prince of the Genii mounting

into the air, holding a silken cord, he guessed instantly that he was carrying off Rosalie.

He felt so overwhelmed by despair that he thought for an instant of putting an end to his life. 'Can I survive

my misfortunes?' he cried. 'I fancied I had come to an end of my troubles, and now they are worse than ever.

What will become of me? Never can I discover the place where this monster will hide Rosalie.'

The unhappy youth had determined to let himself die, and indeed his sorrow alone was enough to kill him,

when the thought that by means of the cabinets of the years he might find out where the Princess was

imprisoned, gave him a little ray of comfort. So he continued to walk on through the forest, and after some

hours he arrived at the gate of a temple, guarded by two huge lions. Being invisible, he was able to enter

unharmed. In the middle of the temple was an altar, on which lay a book, and behind the altar hung a great

curtain. The Prince approached the altar and opened the book, which contained the names of all the lovers in

the world: and in it he read that Rosalie had been carried off by the Prince of the Air to an abyss which had

Now, as the Prince had not the smallest idea where this fountain was to be found, it might be thought that he

was not much nearer Rosalie than before. This was not, however, the view taken by the Prince.

'Though every step that I take may perhaps lead me further from her,' he said to himself, 'I am still thankful to

On leaving the temple the Invisible Prince saw six paths lying before him, each of which led through the

wood. He was hesitating which to choose, when he suddenly beheld two people coming towards him, down

the track which lay most to his right. They turned out to be the Prince Gnome and his friend, and the sudden

desire to get some news of his sister, Princess Argentine, caused the Invisible Prince to follow them and to

'Do you think,' the Prince Gnome was saying, 'do you think that I would not break my chains if I could? I

know that the Princess Argentine will never love me, yet each day I feel her dearer still. And as if this were

not enough, I have the horror of feeling that she probably loves another. So I have resolved to put myself out

of my pain by means of the Golden Fountain. A single drop of its water falling on the sand around will trace

the name of my rival in her heart. I dread the test, and yet this very dread convinces me of my misfortune.'

It may be imagined that after listening to these words the Invisible Prince followed Prince Gnome like his

shadow, and after walking some time they arrived at the Golden Fountain. The unhappy lover stooped down

with a sigh, and dipping his finger in the water let fall a drop on the sand. It instantly wrote the name of

Prince Flame, his brother. The shock of this discovery was so real, that Prince Gnome sank fainting into the

Meanwhile the Invisible Prince was turning over in his mind how he could best deliver Rosalie. As, since he

had been touched by the Giant's ring, he had the power to live in the water as well as on land, he at once

dived into the fountain. He perceived in one corner a door leading into the mountain, and at the foot of the

mountain was a high rock on which was fixed an iron ring with a cord attached. The Prince promptly guessed

that the cord was used to chain the Princess, and drew his sword and cut it. In a moment he felt the Princess's

hand in his, for she had always kept her magic pebble in her mouth, in spite of the prayers and entreaties of

So hand in hand the invisible Prince and Rosalie crossed the mountain; but as the Princess had no power of

living under water, she could not pass the Golden Fountain. Speechless and invisible they clung together on

the brink, trembling at the frightful tempest the Prince of the Air had raised in his fury. The storm had already

lasted many days when tremendous heat began to make itself felt. The lightning flashed, the thunder rattled,

fire bolts fell from heaven, burning up the forests and even the fields of corn. In one instant the very streams

were dried up, and the Prince, seizing his opportunity, carried the Princess over the Golden Fountain.

It took them a long time still to reach the Golden Isle, but at last they got there, and we may be quite sure they

Once upon a time there were three Princesses who were all three young and beautiful; but the youngest,

although she was not fairer than the other two, was the most loveable of them all.

About half a mile from the palace in which they lived there stood a castle, which was uninhabited and almost

a ruin, but the garden which surrounded it was a mass of blooming flowers, and in this garden the youngest

One day when she was pacing to and fro under the lime trees, a black crow hopped out of a rosebush in

front of her. The poor beast was all torn and bleeding, and the kind little Princess was quite unhappy about it.

'I am not really a black crow, but an enchanted Prince, who has been doomed to spend his youth in misery. If

you only liked, Princess, you could save me. But you would have to say goodbye to all your own people and

come and be my constant companion in this ruined castle. There is one habitable room in it, in which there is

a golden bed; there you will have to live all by yourself, and don't forget that whatever you may see or hear in

the night you must not scream out, for if you give as much as a single cry my sufferings will be doubled.'

The goodnatured Princess at once left her home and her family and hurried to the ruined castle, and took

When night approached she lay down, but though she shut her eyes tight sleep would not come. At midnight

she heard to her great horror some one coming along the passage, and in a minute her door was flung wide

open and a troop of strange beings entered the room. They at once proceeded to light a fire in the huge

fireplace; then they placed a great cauldron of boiling water on it. When they had done this, they approached

the bed on which the trembling girl lay, and, screaming and yelling all the time, they dragged her towards the

cauldron. She nearly died with fright, but she never uttered a sound. Then of a sudden the cock crew, and all

At the same moment the crow appeared and hopped all round the room with joy. It thanked the Princess most

heartily for her goodness, and said that its sufferings had already been greatly lessened.

Now one of the Princess's elder sisters, who was very inquisitive, had found out about everything, and went

to pay her youngest sister a visit in the ruined castle. She implored her so urgently to let her spend the night

with her in the golden bed, that at last the goodnatured little Princess consented. But at midnight, when the

odd folk appeared, the elder sister screamed with terror, and from this time on the youngest Princess insisted

So she lived in solitude all the daytime, and at night she would have been frightened, had she not been so

brave; but every day the crow came and thanked her for her endurance, and assured her that his sufferings

And so two years passed away, when one day the crow came to the Princess and said: 'In another year I shall

be freed from the spell I am under at present, because then the seven years will be over. But before I can

resume my natural form, and take possession of the belongings of my forefathers, you must go out into the

The young Princess consented at once, and for a whole year she served as a maid; but in spite of her youth

and beauty she was very badly treated, and suffered many things. One evening, when she was spinning flax,

and had worked her little white hands weary, she heard a rustling beside her and a cry of joy. Then she saw a

handsome youth standing beside her; who knelt down at her feet and kissed the little weary white hands.

'I am the Prince,' he said, 'who you in your goodness, when I was wandering about in the shape of a black

crow, freed from the most awful torments. Come now to my castle with me, and let us live there happily

So they went to the castle where they had both endured so much. But when they reached it, it was difficult to

believe that it was the same, for it had all been rebuilt and done up again. And there they lived for a hundred

There was once upon a time a man who understood all sorts of arts; he served in the war, and bore himself

bravely and well; but when the war was over, he got his discharge, and set out on his travels with three

farthings of his pay in his pocket. 'Wait,' he said; 'that does not please me; only let me find the right people,

and the King shall yet give me all the treasures of his kingdom.' He strode angrily into the forest, and there he

saw a man standing who had uprooted six trees as if they were straws. He said to him, 'Will you be my

'Yes,' he answered; 'but first of all I will take this little bundle of sticks home to my mother,' and he took one

of the trees and wound it round the other five, raised the bundle on his shoulders and bore it off. Then he

came back and went with his master, who said, 'We two ought to be able to travel through the wide world!'

And when they had gone a little way they came upon a hunter, who was on his knees, his gun on his shoulder,

He answered, 'Two miles from this place sits a fly on a branch of an oak; I want to shoot out its left eye.'

'Oh, go with me,' said the man; 'if we three are together we shall easily travel through the wide world.'

The hunter agreed and went with him, and they came to seven windmills whose sails were going round quite

fast, and yet there was not a breath of wind, nor was a leaf moving. The man said, 'I don't know what is

turning those windmills; there is not the slightest breeze blowing.' So he walked on with his servants, and

when they had gone two miles they saw a man sitting on a tree, holding one of his nostrils and blowing out of

He replied, 'Two miles from this place are standing seven windmills; see, I am blowing to drive them round.'

'Oh, go with me,' said the man; 'if we four are together we shall easily travel through the wide world.'

So the blower got down and went with him, and after a time they saw a man who was standing on one leg,

and had unstrapped the other and laid it near him. Then said the master, 'You have made yourself very

'I am a runner,' answered he; 'and so that I shall not go too quickly, I have unstrapped one leg; when I run

'Oh, go with me; if we five are together, we shall easily travel through the wide world.' So he went with him,

and, not long afterwards, they met a man who wore a little hat, but he had it slouched over one ear.

'Manners, manners!' said the master to him; 'don't hang your hat over one ear; you look like a madman!'

'I dare not,' said the other, 'for if I were to put my hat on straight, there would come such a frost that the very

'Oh, go with me,' said the master; 'if we six are together, we shall easily travel through the wide world.

Now the Six came to a town in which the King had proclaimed that whoever should run with his daughter in

a race, and win, should become her husband; but if he lost, he must lose his head. This was reported to the

man who declared he would compete, 'but,' he said, 'I shall let my servant run for me.'

The King replied, 'Then both your heads must be staked, and your head and his must be guaranteed for the

When this was agreed upon and settled, the man strapped on the runner's other leg, saying to him, 'Now be

nimble, and see that we win!' It was arranged that whoever should first bring water out of a stream a long way

off, should be the victor. Then the runner got a pitcher, and the King's daughter another, and they began to

run at the same time; but in a moment, when the King's daughter was only just a little way off, no spectator

could see the runner, and it seemed as if the wind had whistled past. In a short time he reached the stream,

filled his pitcher with water, and turned round again. But, half way home, a great drowsiness came over him;

he put down his pitcher, lay down, and fell asleep. He had, however, put a horse's skull which was lying on

the ground, for his pillow, so that he should not be too comfortable and might soon wake up.

In the meantime the King's daughter, who could also run well, as well as an ordinary man could, reached the

stream, and hastened back with her pitcher full of water. When she saw the runner lying there asleep, she was

delighted, and said, 'My enemy is given into my hands!' She emptied his pitcher and ran on.

Everything now would have been lost, if by good luck the hunter had not been standing on the castle tower

'Ah,' said he, 'the King's daughter shall not overreach us;' and, loading his gun, he shot so cleverly, that he

shot away the horse's skull from under the runner's head, without its hurting him. Then the runner awoke,

jumped up, and saw that his pitcher was empty and the King's daughter far ahead. But he did not lose

courage, and ran back to the stream with his pitcher, filled it once more with water, and was home ten

'Look,' said he, 'I have only just exercised my legs; that was nothing of a run.'

But the King was angry, and his daughter even more so, that she should be carried away by a common,

discharged soldier. They consulted together how they could destroy both him and his companions.

'Then,' said the King to her, 'I have found a way. Don't be frightened; they shall not come home again.' He

said to them, 'You must now make merry together, and eat and drink,' and he led them into a room which had

a floor of iron; the doors were also of iron, and the windows were barred with iron. In the room was a table

spread with delicious food. The King said to them, 'Go in and enjoy yourselves,' and as soon as they were

inside he had the doors shut and bolted. Then he made the cook come, and ordered him to keep up a large fire

under the room until the iron was redhot. The cook did so, and the Six sitting round the table felt it grow

very warm, and they thought this was because of their good fare; but when the heat became still greater and

they wanted to go out, but found the doors and windows fastened, then they knew that the King meant them

'But he shall not succeed,' cried he of the little hat, 'I will make a frost come which shall make the fire

ashamed and die out!' So he put his hat on straight, and at once there came such a frost that all the heat

disappeared and the food on the dishes began to freeze. When a couple of hours had passed, and the King

thought they must be quite dead from the heat, he had the doors opened and went in himself to see.

But when the doors were opened, there stood all Six, alive and well, saying they were glad they could come

out to warm themselves, for the great cold in the room had frozen all the food hard in the dishes. Then the

King went angrily to the cook, and scolded him, and asked him why he had not done what he was told.

But the cook answered, 'There is heat enough there; see for yourself.' Then the King saw a huge fire burning

under the iron room, and understood that he could do no harm to the Six in this way. The King now began

again to think how he could free himself from his unwelcome guests. He commanded the master to come

before him, and said, 'If you will take gold, and give up your right to my daughter, you shall have as much as

'Oh, yes, your Majesty,' answered he, 'give me as much as my servant can carry, and I will give up your

The King was delighted, and the man said, 'I will come and fetch it in fourteen days.'

Then he called all the tailors in the kingdom together, and made them sit down for fourteen days sewing at a

sack. When it was finished, he made the strong man who had uprooted the trees take the sack on his shoulder

and go with him to the King. Then the King said, 'What a powerful fellow that is, carrying that bale of linen

as large as a house on his shoulder!' and he was much frightened, and thought 'What a lot of gold he will

make away with!' Then he had a ton of gold brought, which sixteen of the strongest men had to carry; but the

strong man seized it with one hand, put it in the sack, saying, 'Why don't you bring me more? That scarcely

covers the bottom!' Then the King had to send again and again to fetch his treasures, which the strong man

'Bring more,' he cried, 'these crumbs don't fill it.' So seven thousand waggons of the gold of the whole

kingdom were driven up; these the strong man shoved into the sack, oxen and all.

'I will no longer be particular,' he said, 'and will take what comes, so that the sack shall be full.'

When everything was put in and there was not yet enough, he said, 'I will make an end of this; it is easy to

fasten a sack when it is not full.' Then he threw it on his back and went with his companions.

Now, when the King saw how a single man was carrying away the wealth of the whole country he was very

angry, and made his cavalry mount and pursue the Six, and bring back the strong man with the sack. Two

regiments soon overtook them, and called to them, 'You are prisoners! lay down the sack of gold or you shall

'What do you say?' said the blower, 'we are prisoners? Before that, you shall dance in the air!' And he held

one nostril and blew with the other at the two regiments; they were separated and blown away in the blue sky

over the mountains, one this way, and the other that. A sergeantmajor cried for mercy, saying he had nine

wounds, and was a brave fellow, and did not deserve this disgrace. So the blower let him off, and he came

down without hurt. Then he said to him, 'Now go home to the King, and say that if he sends any more cavalry

When the King received the message, he said, 'Let the fellows go; they are bewitched.' Then the Six brought

the treasure home, shared it among themselves, and lived contentedly till the end of their days.

In very ancient times there lived a King, whose power lay not only in the vast extent of his dominions, but

also in the magic secrets of which he was master. After spending the greater part of his early youth in

pleasure, he met a Princess of such remarkable beauty that he at once asked her hand in marriage, and, having

After a year's time a son was born, worthy in every way of such distinguished parents, and much admired by

the whole Court. As soon as the Queen thought him strong enough for a journey she set out with him secretly

to visit her Fairy godmother. I said secretly, because the Fairy had warned the Queen that the King was a

magician; and as from time immemorial there had been a standing feud between the Fairies and the Wizards,

The Fairy godmother, who took the deepest interest in all the Queen's concerns, and who was much pleased

with the little Prince, endowed him with the power of pleasing everybody from his cradle, as well as with a

wonderful ease in learning everything which could help to make him a perfectly accomplished Prince.

Accordingly, to the delight of his teachers, he made the most rapid progress in his education, constantly

surpassing everyone's expectations. Before he was many years old, however, he had the great sorrow of

losing his mother, whose last words were to advise him never to undertake anything of importance without

The Prince's grief at the death of his mother was great, but it was nothing compared to that of the King, his

father, who was quite inconsolable for the loss of his dear wife. Neither time nor reason seemed to lighten his

sorrow, and the sight of all the familiar faces and things about him only served to remind him of his loss. He

therefore resolved to travel for change, and by means of his magic art was able to visit every country he came

to see under different shapes, returning every few weeks to the place where he had left a few followers.

Having travelled from land to land in this fashion without finding anything to rivet his attention, it occurred

to him to take the form of an eagle, and in this shape he flew across many countries and arrived at length in a

new and lovely spot, where the air seemed filled with the scent of jessamine and orange flowers with which

the ground was thickly planted. Attracted by the sweet perfume he flew lower, and perceived some large and

beautiful gardens filled with the rarest flowers, and with fountains throwing up their clear waters into the air

in a hundred different shapes. A wide stream flowed through the garden, and on it floated richly ornamented

barges and gondolas filled with people dressed in the most elegant manner and covered with jewels.

In one of these barges sat the Queen of that country with her only daughter, a maiden more beautiful than the

Day Star, and attended by the ladies of the Court. No more exquisitely lovely mortal was ever seen than this

Princess, and it needed all an eagle's strength of sight to prevent the King being hopelessly dazzled. He

perched on the top of a large orange tree, whence he was able to survey the scene and to gaze at pleasure on

Now, an eagle with a King's heart in his breast is apt to be bold, and accordingly he instantly made up his

mind to carry off the lovely damsel, feeling sure that having once seen her he could not live without her.

He waited till he saw her in the act of stepping ashore, when, suddenly swooping down, he carried her off

before her equerry in attendance had advanced to offer her his hand. The Princess, on finding herself in an

eagle's talons, uttered the most heartbreaking shrieks and cries; but her captor, though touched by her

distress, would not abandon his lovely prey, and continued to fly through the air too fast to allow of his

At length, when he thought they had reached a safe distance, he began to lower his flight, and gradually

descending to earth, deposited his burden in a flowery meadow. He then entreated her pardon for his

violence, and told her that he was about to carry her to a great kingdom over which he ruled, and where he

For some time the Princess remained speechless; but recovering herself a little, she burst into a flood of tears.

The King, much moved, said, 'Adorable Princess, dry your tears. I implore you. My only wish is to make you

'If you speak truth, my lord,' replied the Princess, 'restore to me the liberty you have deprived me of.

The King retorted that her opposition filled him with despair, but that he hoped to carry her to a place where

all around would respect her, and where every pleasure would surround her. So saying, he seized her once

more, and in spite of all her cries he rapidly bore her off to the neighbourhood of his capital. Here he gently

placed her on a lawn, and as he did so she saw a magnificent palace spring up at her feet. The architecture

was imposing, and in the interior the rooms were handsome and furnished in the best possible taste.

The Princess, who expected to be quite alone, was pleased at finding herself surrounded by a number of

pretty girls, all anxious to wait on her, whilst a brilliantlycoloured parrot said the most agreeable things in

On arriving at this palace the King had resumed his own form, and though no longer young, he might well

have pleased any other than this Princess, who had been so prejudiced against him by his violence that she

could only regard him with feelings of hatred, which she was at no pains to conceal. The King hoped,

however, that time might not only soften her anger, but accustom her to his sight. He took the precaution of

surrounding the palace with a dense cloud, and then hastened to his Court, where his prolonged absence was

The Prince and all the courtiers were delighted to see their beloved King again, but they had to submit

themselves to more frequent absences than ever on his part. He made business a pretext for shutting himself

up in his study, but it was really in order to spend the time with the Princess, who remained inflexible.

Not being able to imagine what could be the cause of so much obstinacy the King began to fear, lest, in spite

of all his precautions, she might have heard of the charms of the Prince his son, whose goodness, youth and

beauty, made him adored at Court. This idea made him horribly uneasy, and he resolved to remove the cause

of his fears by sending the Prince on his travels escorted by a magnificent retinue.

The Prince, after visiting several Courts, arrived at the one where the lost Princess was still deeply mourned.

The King and Queen received him most graciously, and some festivities were revived to do him honour.

One day when the Prince was visiting the Queen in her own apartments he was much struck by a most

beautiful portrait. He eagerly inquired whose it was, and the Queen, with many tears, told him it was all that

was left her of her beloved daughter, who had suddenly been carried off, she knew neither where nor how.

The Prince was deeply moved, and vowed that he would search the world for the Princess, and take no rest

till he had found and restored her to her mother's arms. The Queen assured him of her eternal gratitude, and

promised, should he succeed, to give him her daughter in marriage, together with all the estates she herself

The Prince, far more attracted by the thoughts of possessing the Princess than her promised dower, set forth

in his quest after taking leave of the King and Queen, the latter giving him a miniature of her daughter which

she was in the habit of wearing. His first act was to seek the Fairy under whose protection he had been

placed, and he implored her to give him all the assistance of her art and counsel in this important matter.

After listening attentively to the whole adventure, the Fairy asked for time to consult her books. After due

consideration she informed the Prince that the object of his search was not far distant, but that it was too

difficult for him to attempt to enter the enchanted palace where she was, as the King his father had

surrounded it with a thick cloud, and that the only expedient she could think of would be to gain possession

of the Princess's parrot. This, she added, did not appear impossible, as it often flew about to some distance in

Having told the Prince all this, the Fairy went out in hopes of seeing the parrot, and soon returned with the

bird in her hand. She promptly shut it up in a cage, and, touching the Prince with her wand, transformed him

into an exactly similar parrot; after which, she instructed him how to reach the Princess.

The Prince reached the palace in safety, but was so dazzled at first by the Princess's beauty, which far

surpassed his expectations, that he was quite dumb for a time. The Princess was surprised and anxious, and

fearing the parrot, who was her greatest comfort, had fallen ill, she took him in her hand and caressed him.

This soon reassured the Prince, and encouraged him to play his part well, and he began to say a thousand

Presently the King appeared, and the parrot noticed with joy how much he was disliked. As soon as the King

left, the Princess retired to her dressingroom, the parrot flew after her and overheard her lamentations at the

continued persecutions of the King, who had pressed her to consent to their marriage. The parrot said so

many clever and tender things to comfort her that she began to doubt whether this could indeed be her own

When he saw her welldisposed towards him, he exclaimed: 'Madam, I have a most important secret to

confide to you, and I beg you not to be alarmed by what I am about to say. I am here on behalf of the Queen

your mother, with the object of delivering your Highness; to prove which, behold this portrait which she gave

me herself.' So saying he drew forth the miniature from under his wing. The Princess's surprise was great, but

after what she had seen and heard it was impossible not to indulge in hope, for she had recognised the

The parrot, finding she was not much alarmed, told her who he was, all that her mother had promised him and

the help he had already received from a Fairy who had assured him that she would give him means to

When he found her listening attentively to him, he implored the Princess to allow him to resume his natural

shape. She did not speak, so he drew a feather from his wing, and she beheld before her a Prince of such

surpassing beauty that it was impossible not to hope that she might owe her liberty to so charming a person.

Meantime the Fairy had prepared a chariot, to which she harnessed two powerful eagles; then placing the

cage, with the parrot in it, she charged the bird to conduct it to the window of the Princess's dressingroom.

This was done in a few minutes, and the Princess, stepping into the chariot with the Prince, was delighted to

As they rose through the air the Princess remarked a figure mounted on an eagle's back flying in front of the

chariot. She was rather alarmed, but the Prince reassured her, telling her it was the good Fairy to whom she

That same morning the King woke suddenly from a troubled sleep. He had dreamt that the Princess was being

carried off from him, and, transforming himself into an eagle, he flew to the palace. When he failed to find

her he flew into a terrible rage, and hastened home to consult his books, by which means he discovered that it

was his son who had deprived him of this precious treasure. Immediately he took the shape of a harpy, and,

filled with rage, was determined to devour his son, and even the Princess too, if only he could overtake them.

He set out at full speed; but he started too late, and was further delayed by a strong wind which the Fairy

You may imagine the rapture with which the Queen received the daughter she had given up for lost, as well

as the amiable Prince who had rescued her. The Fairy entered with them, and warned the Queen that the

Wizard King would shortly arrive, infuriated by his loss, and that nothing could preserve the Prince and

The Queen hastened to inform the King her husband, and the wedding took place on the spot.

As the ceremony was completed the Wizard King arrived. His despair at being so late bewildered him so

entirely that he appeared in his natural form and attempted to sprinkle some black liquid over the bride and

bridegroom, which was intended to kill them, but the Fairy stretched out her wand and the liquid dropped on

the Magician himself. He fell down senseless, and the Princess's father, deeply offended at the cruel revenge

Now as magicians lose all their power as soon as they are in prison, the King felt himself much embarrassed

at being thus at the mercy of those he had so greatly offended. The Prince implored and obtained his father's

No sooner was this done than the Wizard King was seen in the air under the form of some unknown bird,

exclaiming as he flew off that he would never forgive either his son or the Fairy the cruel wrong they had

Everyone entreated the Fairy to settle in the kingdom where she now was, to which she consented. She built

herself a magnificent palace, to which she transported her books and fairy secrets, and where she enjoyed the

sight of the perfect happiness she had helped to bestow on the entire royal family.

There was once upon a time a miller who was very well off, and had as much money and as many goods as

he knew what to do with. But sorrow comes in the night, and the miller all of a sudden became so poor that at

last he could hardly call the mill in which he sat his own. He wandered about all day full of despair and

misery, and when he lay down at night he could get no rest, but lay awake all night sunk in sorrowful

One morning he rose up before dawn and went outside, for he thought his heart would be lighter in the open

air. As he wandered up and down on the banks of the millpond he heard a rustling in the water, and when he

He realised at once that this could be none other than the nixy of the millpond, and in his terror he didn't

know if he should fly away or remain where he was. While he hesitated the nixy spoke, called him by his

When the miller heard how friendly her tone was, he plucked up heart and told her how rich and prosperous

he had been all his life up till now, when he didn't know what he was to do for want and misery.

Then the nixy spoke comforting words to him, and promised that she would make him richer and more

prosperous than he had ever been in his life before, if he would give her in return the youngest thing in his

The miller thought she must mean one of his puppies or kittens, so promised the nixy at once what she asked,

and returned to his mill full of hope. On the threshold he was greeted by a servant with the news that his wife

The poor miller was much horrified by these tidings, and went in to his wife with a heavy heart to tell her and

his relations of the fatal bargain he had just struck with the nixy. 'I would gladly give up all the good fortune

she promised me,' he said, 'if I could only save my child.' But no one could think of any advice to give him,

So the boy throve and grew big, and in the meantime all prospered with the miller, and in a few years he was

richer than he had ever been before. But all the same he did not enjoy his good fortune, for he could not

forget his compact with the nixy, and he knew that sooner or later she would demand his fulfilment of it. But

year after year went by, and the boy grew up and became a great hunter, and the lord of the land took him

into his service, for he was as smart and bold a hunter as you would wish to see. In a short time he married a

One day when he was out hunting a hare sprang up at his feet, and ran for some way in front of him in the

open field. The hunter pursued it hotly for some time, and at last shot it dead. Then he proceeded to skin it,

never noticing that he was close to the millpond, which from childhood up he had been taught to avoid. He

soon finished the skinning, and went to the water to wash the blood off his hands. He had hardly dipped them

in the pond when the nixy rose up in the water, and seizing him in her wet arms she dragged him down with

When the hunter did not come home in the evening his wife grew very anxious, and when his game bag was

found close to the millpond she guessed at once what had befallen him. She was nearly beside herself with

grief, and roamed round and round the pond calling on her husband without ceasing. At last, worn out with

sorrow and fatigue, she fell asleep and dreamt that she was wandering along a flowery meadow, when she

came to a hut where she found an old witch, who promised to restore her husband to her.

When she awoke next morning she determined to set out and find the witch; so she wandered on for many a

day, and at last she reached the flowery meadow and found the hut where the old witch lived. The poor wife

told her all that had happened and how she had been told in a dream of the witch's power to help her.

The witch counselled her to go to the pond the first time there was a full moon, and to comb her black hair

with a golden comb, and then to place the comb on the bank. The hunter's wife gave the witch a handsome

Time dragged heavily till the time of the full moon, but it passed at last, and as soon as it rose the young wife

went to the pond, combed her black hair with a golden comb, and when she had finished, placed the comb on

the bank; then she watched the water impatiently. Soon she heard a rushing sound, and a big wave rose

suddenly and swept the comb off the bank, and a minute after the head of her husband rose from the pond and

gazed sadly at her. But immediately another wave came, and the head sank back into the water without

having said a word. The pond lay still and motionless, glittering in the moonshine, and the hunter's wife was

In despair she wandered about for days and nights, and at last, worn out by fatigue, she sank once more into a

deep sleep, and dreamt exactly the same dream about the old witch. So next morning she went again to the

flowery meadow and sought the witch in her hut, and told her of her grief. The old woman counselled her to

go to the millpond the next full moon and play upon a golden flute, and then to lay the flute on the bank.

As soon as the next moon was full the hunter's wife went to the millpond, played on a golden flute, and

when she had finished placed it on the bank. Then a rushing sound was heard, and a wave swept the flute off

the bank, and soon the head of the hunter appeared and rose up higher and higher till he was half out of the

water. Then he gazed sadly at his wife and stretched out his arms towards her. But another rushing wave

arose and dragged him under once more. The hunter's wife, who had stood on the bank full of joy and hope,

But for her comfort she dreamt the same dream a third time, and betook herself once more to the old witch's

hut in the flowery meadow. This time the old woman told her to go the next full moon to the millpond, and

to spin there with a golden spinning wheel, and then to leave the spinningwheel on the bank.

The hunter's wife did as she was advised, and the first night the moon was full she sat and spun with a golden

spinningwheel, and then left the wheel on the bank. In a few minutes a rushing sound was heard in the

waters, and a wave swept the spinningwheel from the bank. Immediately the head of the hunter rose up

from the pond, getting higher and higher each moment, till at length he stepped on to the bank and fell on his

But the waters of the pond rose up suddenly, overflowed the bank where the couple stood, and dragged them

under the flood. In her despair the young wife called on the old witch to help her, and in a moment the hunter

was turned into a frog and his wife into a toad. But they were not able to remain together, for the water tore

them apart, and when the flood was over they both resumed their own shapes again, but the hunter and the

hunter's wife found themselves each in a strange country, and neither knew what had become of the other.

The hunter determined to become a shepherd, and his wife too became a shepherdess. So they herded their

Now it happened once that the shepherd came to the country where the shepherdess lived. The

neighbourhood pleased him, and he saw that the pasture was rich and suitable for his flocks. So he brought

his sheep there, and herded them as before. The shepherd and shepherdess became great friends, but they did

But one evening when the moon was full they sat together watching their flocks, and the shepherd played

upon his flute. Then the shepherdess thought of that evening when she had sat at the full moon by the

millpond and had played on the golden flute; the recollection was too much for her, and she burst into tears.

The shepherd asked her why she was crying, and left her no peace till she told him all her story. Then the

scales fell from the shepherd's eyes, and he recognised his wife, and she him. So they returned joyfully to

Once upon a time there was a Glass Mountain at the top of which stood a castle made of pure gold, and in

Anyone who picked an apple gained admittance into the golden castle, and there in a silver room sat an

enchanted Princess of surpassing fairness and beauty. She was as rich too as she was beautiful, for the cellars

of the castle were full of precious stones, and great chests of the finest gold stood round the walls of all the

Many knights had come from afar to try their luck, but it was in vain they attempted to climb the mountain.

In spite of having their horses shod with sharp nails, no one managed to get more than halfway up, and then

they all fell back right down to the bottom of the steep slippery hill. Sometimes they broke an arm,

The beautiful Princess sat at her window and watched the bold knights trying to reach her on their splendid

horses. The sight of her always gave men fresh courage, and they flocked from the four quarters of the globe

to attempt the work of rescuing her. But all in vain, and for seven years the Princess had sat now and waited

A heap of corpses both of riders and horses lay round the mountain, and many dying men lay groaning there

unable to go any farther with their wounded limbs. The whole neighbourhood had the appearance of a vast

churchyard. In three more days the seven years would be at an end, when a knight in golden armour and

Sticking his spurs into his horse he made a rush at the mountain, and got up halfway, then he calmly turned

his horse's head and came down again without a slip or stumble. The following day he started in the same

way; the horse trod on the glass as if it had been level earth, and sparks of fire flew from its hoofs. All the

other knights gazed in astonishment, for he had almost gained the summit, and in another moment he would

have reached the appletree; but of a sudden a huge eagle rose up and spread its mighty wings, hitting as it

The beast shied, opened its wide nostrils and tossed its mane, then rearing high up in the air, its hind feet

slipped and it fell with its rider down the steep mountain side. Nothing was left of either of them except their

And now there was only one more day before the close of the seven years. Then there arrived on the scene a

mere schoolboya merry, happyhearted youth, but at the same time strong and wellgrown. He saw how

many knights had broken their necks in vain, but undaunted he approached the steep mountain on foot and

For long he had heard his parents speak of the beautiful Princess who sat in the golden castle at the top of the

Glass Mountain. He listened to all he heard, and determined that he too would try his luck. But first he went

to the forest and caught a lynx, and cutting off the creature's sharp claws, he fastened them on to his own

The sun was nearly going down, and the youth had not got more than halfway up. He could hardly draw

breath he was so worn out, and his mouth was parched by thirst. A huge black cloud passed over his head, but

in vain did he beg and beseech her to let a drop of water fall on him. He opened his mouth, but the black

His feet were torn and bleeding, and he could only hold on now with his hands. Evening closed in, and he

strained his eyes to see if he could behold the top of the mountain. Then he gazed beneath him, and what a

sight met his eyes! A yawning abyss, with certain and terrible death at the bottom, reeking with halfdecayed

bodies of horses and riders! And this had been the end of all the other brave men who like himself had

It was almost pitch dark now, and only the stars lit up the Glass Mountain. The poor boy still clung on as if

glued to the glass by his bloodstained hands. He made no struggle to get higher, for all his strength had left

him, and seeing no hope he calmly awaited death. Then all of a sudden he fell into a deep sleep, and forgetful

of his dangerous position, he slumbered sweetly. But all the same, although he slept, he had stuck his sharp

Now the golden appletree was guarded by the eagle which had overthrown the golden knight and his horse.

Every night it flew round the Glass Mountain keeping a careful lookout, and no sooner had the moon

emerged from the clouds than the bird rose up from the appletree, and circling round in the air, caught sight

Greedy for carrion, and sure that this must be a fresh corpse, the bird swooped down upon the boy. But he

was awake now, and perceiving the eagle, he determined by its help to save himself.

The eagle dug its sharp claws into the tender flesh of the youth, but he bore the pain without a sound, and

seized the bird's two feet with his hands. The creature in terror lifted him high up into the air and began to

circle round the tower of the castle. The youth held on bravely. He saw the glittering palace, which by the

pale rays of the moon looked like a dim lamp; and he saw the high windows, and round one of them a

balcony in which the beautiful Princess sat lost in sad thoughts. Then the boy saw that he was close to the

appletree, and drawing a small knife from his belt, he cut off both the eagle's feet. The bird rose up in the air

in its agony and vanished into the clouds, and the youth fell on to the broad branches of the appletree.

Then he drew out the claws of the eagle's feet that had remained in his flesh, and put the peel of one of the

golden apples on the wound, and in one moment it was healed and well again. He pulled several of the

beautiful apples and put them in his pocket; then he entered the castle. The door was guarded by a great

At the same moment a gate opened, and the youth perceived a courtyard full of flowers and beautiful trees,

As soon as she saw the youth, she ran towards him and greeted him as her husband and master. She gave him

all her treasures, and the youth became a rich and mighty ruler. But he never returned to the earth, for only

the mighty eagle, who had been the guardian of the Princess and of the castle, could have carried on his

wings the enormous treasure down to the world. But as the eagle had lost its feet it died, and its body was

One day when the youth was strolling about in the palace garden with the Princess, his wife, he looked down

over the edge of the Glass Mountain and saw to his astonishment a great number of people gathered there. He

blew his silver whistle, and the swallow who acted as messenger in the golden castle flew past.

'Fly down and ask what the matter is,' he said to the little bird, who sped off like lightning and soon returned

'The blood of the eagle has restored all the people below to life. All those who have perished on this

mountain are awakening up today, as it were from a sleep, and are mounting their horses, and the whole

Many years ago there lived a King, who was twice married. His first wife, a good and beautiful woman, died

at the birth of her little son, and the King her husband was so overwhelmed with grief at her loss that his only

When the time for the young Prince's christening came the King chose as godmother a neighbouring Princess,

so celebrated for her wisdom and goodness that she was commonly called 'the Good Queen.' She named the

Time wipes away the greatest griefs, and after two or three years the King married again. His second wife

was a Princess of undeniable beauty, but by no means of so amiable a disposition as the first Queen. In due

time a second Prince was born, and the Queen was devoured with rage at the thought that Prince Alphege

came between her son and the throne. She took care however to conceal her jealous feelings from the King.

At length she could control herself no longer, so she sent a trusty servant to her old and faithful friend the

Fairy of the Mountain, to beg her to devise some means by which she might get rid of her stepson.

The Fairy replied that, much as she desired to be agreeable to the Queen in every way, it was impossible for

her to attempt anything against the young Prince, who was under the protection of some greater Power than

The 'Good Queen' on her side watched carefully over her godson. She was obliged to do so from a distance,

her own country being a remote one, but she was well informed of all that went on and knew all about the

Queen's wicked designs. She therefore sent the Prince a large and splendid ruby, with injunctions to wear it

night and day as it would protect him from all attacks, but added that the talisman only retained its power as

long as the Prince remained within his father's dominions. The Wicked Queen knowing this made every

attempt to get the Prince out of the country, but her efforts failed, till one day accident did what she was

The King had an only sister who was deeply attached to him, and who was married to the sovereign of a

distant country. She had always kept up a close correspondence with her brother, and the accounts she heard

of Prince Alphege made her long to become acquainted with so charming a nephew. She entreated the King

to allow the Prince to visit her, and after some hesitation which was overruled by his wife, he finally

Prince Alphege was at this time fourteen years old, and the handsomest and most engaging youth imaginable.

In his infancy he had been placed in the charge of one of the great ladies of the Court, who, according to the

prevailing custom, acted first as his head nurse and then as his governess. When he outgrew her care her

husband was appointed as his tutor and governor, so that he had never been separated from this excellent

couple, who loved him as tenderly as they did their only daughter Zayda, and were warmly loved by him in

When the Prince set forth on his travels it was but natural that this devoted couple should accompany him,

For some time he travelled through his father's dominions and all went well; but soon after passing the

frontier they had to cross a desert plain under a burning sun. They were glad to take shelter under a group of

trees near, and here the Prince complained of burning thirst. Luckily a tiny stream ran close by and some

water was soon procured, but no sooner had he tasted it than he sprang from his carriage and disappeared in a

moment. In vain did his anxious followers seek for him, he was nowhere to be found.

As they were hunting and shouting through the trees a black monkey suddenly appeared on a point of rock

and said: 'Poor sorrowing people, you are seeking your Prince in vain. Return to your own country and know

that he will not be restored to you till you have for some time failed to recognise him.'

With these words he vanished, leaving the courtiers sadly perplexed; but as all their efforts to find the Prince

were useless they had no choice but to go home, bringing with them the sad news, which so greatly distressed

The Queen, whose ambition was boundless, was delighted to see the crown on her son's head and to have the

power in her own hands. Her hard rule made her very unpopular, and it was commonly believed that she had

made away with Prince Alphege. Indeed, had the King her son not been deservedly beloved a revolution

Meantime the former governess of the unfortunate Alphege, who had lost her husband soon after the King's

death, retired to her own house with her daughter, who grew up a lovely and most loveable girl, and both

The young King was devoted to hunting, and often indulged in his favourite pastime, attended by the noblest

One day, after a long morning's chase he stopped to rest near a brook in the shade of a little wood, where a

splendid tent had been prepared for him. Whilst at luncheon he suddenly spied a little monkey of the brightest

green sitting on a tree and gazing so tenderly at him that he felt quite moved. He forbade his courtiers to

frighten it, and the monkey, noticing how much attention was being paid him, sprang from bough to bough,

and at length gradually approached the King, who offered him some food. The monkey took it very daintily

and finally came to the table. The King took him on his knees, and, delighted with his capture, brought him

home with him. He would trust no one else with its care, and the whole Court soon talked of nothing but the

One morning, as Prince Alphege's governess and her daughter were alone together, the little monkey sprang

in through an open window. He had escaped from the palace, and his manners were so gentle and caressing

that Zayda and her mother soon got over the first fright he had given them. He had spent some time with

them and quite won their hearts by his insinuating ways, when the King discovered where he was and sent to

fetch him back. But the monkey made such piteous cries, and seemed so unhappy when anyone attempted to

catch him, that the two ladies begged the King to leave him a little longer with them, to which he consented.

One evening, as they sat by the fountain in the garden, the little monkey kept gazing at Zayda with such sad

and loving eyes that she and her mother could not think what to make of it, and they were still more surprised

Next day both mother and daughter were sitting in a jessamine bower in the garden, and they began to talk of

the green monkey and his strange ways. The mother said, 'My dear child, I can no longer hide my feelings

from you. I cannot get the thought out of my mind that the green monkey is no other than our beloved Prince

Alphege, transformed in this strange fashion. I know the idea sounds wild, but I cannot get it out of my heart,

As she spoke she glanced up, and there sat the little monkey, whose tears and gestures seemed to confirm her

The following night the elder lady dreamt that she saw the Good Queen, who said, 'Do not weep any longer

but follow my directions. Go into your garden and lift up the little marble slab at the foot of the great myrtle

tree. You will find beneath it a crystal vase filled with a bright green liquid. Take it with you and place the

thing which is at present most in your thoughts into a bath filled with roses and rub it well with the green

At these words the sleeper awoke, and lost no time in rising and hurrying to the garden, where she found all

as the Good Queen had described. Then she hastened to rouse her daughter and together they prepared the

bath, for they would not let their women know what they were about. Zayda gathered quantities of roses, and

when all was ready they put the monkey into a large jasper bath, where the mother rubbed him all over with

Their suspense was not long, for suddenly the monkey skin dropped off, and there stood Prince Alphege, the

handsomest and most charming of men. The joy of such a meeting was beyond words. After a time the ladies

begged the Prince to relate his adventures, and he told them of all his sufferings in the desert when he was

first transformed. His only comfort had been in visits from the Good Queen, who had at length put him in the

Several days were spent in these interesting conversations, but at length Zayda's mother began to think of the

The Queen on her side was feeling very anxious. She had felt sure from the first that her son's pet monkey

was no other than Prince Alphege, and she longed to put an end to him. Her suspicions were confirmed by the

'I am informed,' she cried, 'that some illdisposed people have raised up an impostor in the hopes of

The King, who was very brave, assured the Queen that he would soon punish the conspirators. He made

careful inquiries into the matter, and thought it hardly probable that a quiet widow and a young girl would

He determined to go and see them, and to find out the truth for himself; so one night, without saying anything

to the Queen or his ministers, he set out for the palace where the two ladies lived, attended only by a small

The two ladies were at the moment deep in conversation with Prince Alphege, and hearing a knocking so late

at night begged him to keep out of sight for a time. What was their surprise when the door was opened to see

'I know,' said the King, 'that you are plotting against my crown and person, and I have come to have an

As she was about to answer Prince Alphege, who had heard all, came forward and said, 'It is from me you

must ask an explanation, brother.' He spoke with such grace and dignity that everyone gazed at him with

At length the King, recovering from his astonishment at recognising the brother who had been lost some

years before, exclaimed, 'Yes, you are indeed my brother, and now that I have found you, take the throne to

which I have no longer a right.' So saying, he respectfully kissed the Prince's hand.

Alphege threw himself into his arms, and the brothers hastened to the royal palace, where in the presence of

the entire court he received the crown from his brother's hand. To clear away any possible doubt, he showed

the ruby which the Good Queen had given him in his childhood. As they were gazing at it, it suddenly split

King Alphege lost no time in marrying his dear and lovely Zayda, and his joy was complete when the Good

Queen appeared at his wedding. She assured him that the Fairy of the Mountain had henceforth lost all power

over him, and after spending some time with the young couple, and bestowing the most costly presents on

King Alphege insisted on his brother sharing his throne, and they all lived to a good old age, universally

Once there lived a King who had no children for many years after his marriage. At length heaven granted him

a daughter of such remarkable beauty that he could think of no name so appropriate for her as

It never occurred to the goodnatured monarch that such a name was certain to call down the hatred and

jealousy of the fairies in a body on the child, but this was what happened. No sooner had they heard of this

presumptuous name than they resolved to gain possession of her who bore it, and either to torment her

The eldest of their tribe was entrusted to carry out their revenge. This Fairy was named Lagree; she was so

old that she only had one eye and one tooth left, and even these poor remains she had to keep all night in a

strengthening liquid. She was also so spiteful that she gladly devoted all her time to carrying out all the mean

With her large experience, added to her native spite, she found but little difficulty in carrying off

FairerthanaFairy. The poor child, who was only seven years old, nearly died of fear on finding herself in

the power of this hideous creature. However, when after an hour's journey underground she found herself in a

splendid palace with lovely gardens, she felt a little reassured, and was further cheered when she discovered

The old Fairy led her to a pretty room which she said should be hers, at the same time giving her the strictest

orders never to let out the fire which was burning brightly in the grate. She then gave two glass bottles into

the Princess's charge, desiring her to take the greatest care of them, and having enforced her orders with the

most awful threats in case of disobedience, she vanished, leaving the little girl at liberty to explore the palace

and grounds and a good deal relieved at having only two apparently easy tasks set her.

Several years passed, during which time the Princess grew accustomed to her lonely life, obeyed the Fairy's

One day, whilst passing near a fountain in the garden, she noticed that the sun's rays fell on the water in such

a manner as to produce a brilliant rainbow. She stood still to admire it, when, to her great surprise, she heard

a voice addressing her which seemed to come from the centre of its rays. The voice was that of a young man,

and its sweetness of tone and the agreeable things it uttered, led one to infer that its owner must be equally

The beautiful Rainbow informed FairerthanaFairy that he was young, the son of a powerful king, and that

the Fairy, Lagree, who owed his parents a grudge, had revenged herself by depriving him of his natural shape

for some years; that she had imprisoned him in the palace, where he had found his confinement hard to bear

for some time, but now, he owned, he no longer sighed for freedom since he had seen and learned to love

He added many other tender speeches to this declaration, and the Princess, to whom such remarks were a new

The Prince could only appear or speak under the form of a Rainbow, and it was therefore necessary that the

FairerthanaFairy lost no moment in which she could meet her lover, and they enjoyed many long and

interesting interviews. One day, however, their conversation became so absorbing and time passed so quickly

that the Princess forgot to attend to the fire, and it went out. Lagree, on her return, soon found out the neglect,

and seemed only too pleased to have the opportunity of showing her spite to her lovely prisoner. She ordered

FairerthanaFairy to start next day at dawn to ask Locrinos for fire with which to relight the one she had

Now this Locrinos was a cruel monster who devoured everyone he came across, and especially enjoyed a

chance of catching and eating any young girls. Our heroine obeyed with great sweetness, and without having

been able to take leave of her lover she set off to go to Locrinos as to certain death. As she was crossing a

wood a bird sang to her to pick up a shining pebble which she would find in a fountain close by, and to use it

when needed. She took the bird's advice, and in due time arrived at the house of Locrinos. Luckily she only

found his wife at home, who was much struck by the Princess's youth and beauty and sweet gentle manners,

She readily let FairerthanaFairy have the fire, and in return for the stone she gave her another, which, she

said, might prove useful some day. Then she sent her away without doing her any harm.

Lagree was as much surprised as displeased at the happy result of this expedition, and Fairerthana Fairy

waited anxiously for an opportunity of meeting Prince Rainbow and telling him her adventures. She found,

however, that he had already been told all about them by a Fairy who protected him, and to whom he was

The dread of fresh dangers to his beloved Princess made him devise some more convenient way of meeting

than by the garden fountain, and FairerthanaFairy carried out his plan daily with entire success. Every

morning she placed a large basin full of water on her windowsill, and as soon as the sun's rays fell on the

water the Rainbow appeared as clearly as it had ever done in the fountain. By this means they were able to

meet without losing sight of the fire or of the two bottles in which the old Fairy kept her eye and her tooth at

One day Prince Rainbow appeared in the depths of woe. He had just heard that he was to be banished from

this lovely spot, but he had no idea where he was to go. The poor young couple were in despair, and only

parted with the last ray of sunshine, and in hopes of meeting next morning. Alas! next day was dark and

gloomy, and it was only late in the afternoon that the sun broke through the clouds for a few minutes.

FairerthanaFairy eagerly ran to the window, but in her haste she upset the basin, and spilt all the water

with which she had carefully filled it overnight. No other water was at hand except that in the two bottles. It

was the only chance of seeing her lover before they were separated, and she did not hesitate to break the

bottle and pour their contents into the basin, when the Rainbow appeared at once. Their farewells were full of

tenderness; the Prince made the most ardent and sincere protestations, and promised to neglect nothing which

might help to deliver his dear FairerthanaFairy from her captivity, and implored her to consent to their

marriage as soon as they should both be free. The Princess, on her side, vowed to have no other husband, and

They were not allowed much time for their adieus; the Rainbow vanished, and the Princess, resolved to run

all risks, started off at once, taking nothing with her but her dog, her cat, a sprig of myrtle, and the stone

When Lagree became aware of her prisoner's flight she was furious, and set off at full speed in pursuit. She

overtook her just as the poor girl, overcome by fatigue, had lain down to rest in a cave which the stone had

formed itself into to shelter her. The little dog who was watching her mistress promptly flew at Lagree and bit

her so severely that she stumbled against a corner of the cave and broke off her only tooth. Before she had

recovered from the pain and rage this caused her, the Princess had time to escape, and was some way on her

road. Fear gave her strength for some time, but at last she could go no further, and sank down to rest. As she

did so, the sprig of myrtle she carried touched the ground, and immediately a green and shady bower sprang

But Lagree had not given up her pursuit, and arrived just as FairerthanaFairy had fallen fast asleep. This

time she made sure of catching her victim, but the cat spied her out, and, springing from one of the boughs of

the arbour she flew at Lagree's face and tore out her only eye, thus delivering the Princess for ever from her

One might have thought that all would now be well, but no sooner had Lagree been put to fight than our

heroine was overwhelmed with hunger and thirst. She felt as though she should certainly expire, and it was

with some difficulty that she dragged herself as far as a pretty little green and white house, which stood at no

great distance. Here she was received by a beautiful lady dressed in green and white to match the house,

She greeted the fainting Princess most kindly, gave her an excellent supper, and after a long night's rest in a

delightful bed told her that after many troubles she should finally attain her desire.

As the green and white lady took leave of the Princess she gave her a nut, desiring her only to open it in the

After a long and tiring journey FairerthanaFairy was once more received in a house, and by a lady

exactly like the one she had quitted. Here again she received a present with the same injunctions, but instead

of a nut this lady gave her a golden pomegranate. The mournful Princess had to continue her weary way, and

after many troubles and hardships she again found rest and shelter in a third house exactly similar to the two

These houses belonged to three sisters, all endowed with fairy gifts, and all so alike in mind and person that

they wished their houses and garments to be equally alike. Their occupation consisted in helping those in

misfortune, and they were as gentle and benevolent as Lagree had been cruel and spiteful.

The third Fairy comforted the poor traveller, begged her not to lose heart, and assured her that her troubles

She accompanied her advice by the gift of a crystal smellingbottle, with strict orders only to open it in case

of urgent need. Fairerthan aFairy thanked her warmly, and resumed her way cheered by pleasant

After a time her road led through a wood, full of soft airs and sweet odours, and before she had gone a

hundred yards she saw a wonderful silver Castle suspended by strong silver chains to four of the largest trees.

It was so perfectly hung that a gentle breeze rocked it sufficiently to send you pleasantly to sleep.

FairerthanaFairy felt a strong desire to enter this Castle, but besides being hung a little above the ground

there seemed to be neither doors nor windows. She had no doubt (though really I cannot think why) that the

moment had come in which to use the nut which had been given her. She opened it, and out came a

diminutive hall porter at whose belt hung a tiny chain, at the end of which was a golden key half as long as

The Princess climbed up one of the silver chains, holding in her hand the little porter who, in spite of his

minute size, opened a secret door with his golden key and let her in. She entered a magnificent room which

appeared to occupy the entire Castle, and which was lighted by gold and jewelled stars in the ceiling. In the

midst of this room stood a couch, draped with curtains of all the colours of the rainbow, and suspended by

golden cords so that it swayed with the Castle in a manner which rocked its occupant delightfully to sleep.

On this elegant couch lay Prince Rainbow, looking more beautiful than ever, and sunk in profound slumber,

FairythanaFairy, who now saw him for the first time in his real shape, hardly dared to gaze at him,

fearing lest his appearance might not be in keeping with the voice and language which had won her heart. At

the same time she could not help feeling rather hurt at the apparent indifference with which she was received.

She related all the dangers and difficulties she had gone through, and though she repeated the story twenty

times in a loud clear voice, the Prince slept on and took no heed. She then had recourse to the golden

pomegranate, and on opening it found that all the seeds were as many little violins which flew up in the

The Prince was not completely roused, but he opened his eyes a little and looked all the handsomer.

Impatient at not being recognised, FairerthanaFairy now drew out her third present, and on opening the

crystal scentbottle a little syren flew out, who silenced the violins and then sang close to the Prince's ear the

story of all his lady love had suffered in her search for him. She added some gentle reproaches to her tale, but

before she had got far he was wide awake, and transported with joy threw himself at the Princess's feet. At

the same moment the walls of the room expanded and opened out, revealing a golden throne covered with

jewels. A magnificent Court now began to assemble, and at the same time several elegant carriages filled

with ladies in magnificent dresses drove up. In the first and most splendid of these carriages sat Prince

Rainbow's mother. She fondly embraced her son, after which she informed him that his father had been dead

for some years, that the anger of the Fairies was at length appeased, and that he might return in peace to reign

The Court received the new King with joyful acclamations which would have delighted him at any other

time, but all his thoughts were full of FairerthanaFairy. He was just about to present her to his mother and

the Court, feeling sure that her charms would win all hearts, when the three green and white sisters appeared.

They declared the secret of FairythanaFairy's royal birth, and the Queen taking the two lovers in her

Here they were received with tumultuous joy. The wedding was celebrated without delay, and succeeding

years diminished neither the virtues, beauty, nor the mutual affection of King Rainbow and his Queen,

There was once upon a time a witch, who in the shape of a hawk used every night to break the windows of a

certain village church. In the same village there lived three brothers, who were all determined to kill the

mischievous hawk. But in vain did the two eldest mount guard in the church with their guns; as soon as the

bird appeared high above their heads, sleep overpowered them, and they only awoke to hear the windows

Then the youngest brother took his turn of guarding the windows, and to prevent his being overcome by sleep

he placed a lot of thorns under his chin, so that if he felt drowsy and nodded his head, they would prick him

The moon was already risen, and it was as light as day, when suddenly he heard a fearful noise, and at the

His eyelids closed, and his head sank on his shoulders, but the thorns ran into him and were so painful that he

awoke at once. He saw the hawk swooping down upon the church, and in a moment he had seized his gun

and shot at the bird. The hawk fell heavily under a big stone, severely wounded in its right wing. The youth

ran to look at it, and saw that a huge abyss had opened below the stone. He went at once to fetch his brothers,

and with their help dragged a lot of pinewood and ropes to the spot. They fastened some of the burning

pinewood to the end of the rope, and let it slowly down to the bottom of the abyss. At first it was quite dark,

and the flaming torch only lit up dirty grey stone walls. But the youngest brother determined to explore the

abyss, and letting himself down by the rope he soon reached the bottom. Here he found a lovely meadow full

In the middle of the meadow stood a huge stone castle, with an iron gate leading to it, which was wide open.

Everything in the castle seemed to be made of copper, and the only inhabitant he could discover was a lovely

girl, who was combing her golden hair; and he noticed that whenever one of her hairs fell on the ground it

rang out like pure metal. The youth looked at her more closely, and saw that her skin was smooth and fair,

her blue eyes bright and sparkling, and her hair as golden as the sun. He fell in love with her on the spot, and

The lovely girl accepted his proposal gladly; but at the same time she warned him that she could never come

up to the world above till her mother, the old witch, was dead. And she went on to tell him that the only way

in which the old creature could be killed was with the sword that hung up in the castle; but the sword was so

Then the youth went into a room in the castle where everything was made of silver, and here he found

another beautiful girl, the sister of his bride. She was combing her silver hair, and every hair that fell on the

ground rang out like pure metal. The second girl handed him the sword, but though he tried with all his

strength he could not lift it. At last a third sister came to him and gave him a drop of something to drink,

which she said would give him the needful strength. He drank one drop, but still he could not lift the sword;

then he drank a second, and the sword began to move; but only after he had drunk a third drop was he able to

Then he hid himself in the castle and awaited the old witch's arrival. At last as it was beginning to grow dark

she appeared. She swooped down upon a big appletree, and after shaking some golden apples from it, she

pounced down upon the earth. As soon as her feet touched the ground she became transformed from a hawk

into a woman. This was the moment the youth was waiting for, and he swung his mighty sword in the air

with all his strength and the witch's head fell off, and her blood spurted up on the walls.

Without fear of any further danger, he packed up all the treasures of the castle into great chests, and gave his

brothers a signal to pull them up out of the abyss. First the treasures were attached to the rope and then the

three lovely girls. And now everything was up above and only he himself remained below. But as he was a

little suspicious of his brothers, he fastened a heavy stone on to the rope and let them pull it up. At first they

heaved with a will, but when the stone was half way up they let it drop suddenly, and it fell to the bottom

'So that's what would have happened to my bones had I trusted myself to them,' said the youth sadly; and he

began to cry bitterly, not because of the treasures, but because of the lovely girl with her swanlike neck and

For a long time he wandered sadly all through the beautiful underworld, and one day he met a magician who

asked him the cause of his tears. The youth told him all that had befallen him, and the magician said:

'Do not grieve, young man! If you will guard the children who are hidden in the golden appletree, I will

bring you at once up to the earth. Another magician who lives in this land always eats my children up. It is in

vain that I have hidden them under the earth and locked them into the castle. Now I have hidden them in the

The youth climbed up the tree, and picked some of the beautiful golden apples, which he ate for his supper.

At midnight the wind began to rise, and a rustling sound was heard at the foot of the tree. The youth looked

down and beheld a long thick serpent beginning to crawl up the tree. It wound itself round the stem and

gradually got higher and higher. It stretched its huge head, in which the eyes glittered fiercely, among the

branches, searching for the nest in which the little children lay. They trembled with terror when they saw the

Then the youth swung his mighty sword in the air, and with one blow cut off the serpent's head. He cut up the

The father of the rescued children was so delighted over the death of his enemy that he told the youth to get

With what joy did he hurry now to his brothers' house! He burst into a room where they were all assembled,

but no one knew who he was. Only his bride, who was serving as cook to her sisters, recognised her lover at

His brothers, who had quite believed he was dead, yielded him up his treasures at once, and flew into the

woods in terror. But the good youth forgave them all they had done, and divided his treasures with them.

Then he built himself a big castle with golden windows, and there he lived happily with his goldenhaired

Once upon a time an Indian hunter built himself a house in the middle of a great forest, far away from all his

tribe; for his heart was gentle and kind, and he was weary of the treachery and cruel deeds of those who had

been his friends. So he left them, and took his wife and three children, and they journeyed on until they found

a spot near to a clear stream, where they began to cut down trees, and to make ready their wigwam. For many

years they lived peacefully and happily in this sheltered place, never leaving it except to hunt the wild

animals, which served them both for food and clothes. At last, however, the strong man felt sick, and before

So he gathered his family round him, and said his last words to them. 'You, my wife, the companion of my

days, will follow me ere many moons have waned to the island of the blest. But for you, O my children,

whose lives are but newly begun, the wickedness, unkindness, and ingratitude from which I fled are before

you. Yet I shall go hence in peace, my children, if you will promise always to love each other, and never to

Scarcely eight moons had passed when, just as he had said, the wife went forth, and followed her husband;

but before leaving her children she bade the two elder ones think of their promise never to forsake the

younger, for he was a child, and weak. And while the snow lay thick upon the ground, they tended him and

cherished him; but when the earth showed green again, the heart of the young man stirred within him, and he

Therefore he opened all his heart to his sister, who answered: 'My brother, I understand your longing for our

fellowmen, whom here we cannot see. But remember our father's words. Shall we not seek our own

But he would not listen, and, making no reply, he took his bow and arrows and left the hut. The snows fell

and melted, yet he never returned; and at last the heart of the girl grew cold and hard, and her little boy

became a burden in her eyes, till one day she spoke thus to him: 'See, there is food for many days to come.

Stay here within the shelter of the hut. I go to seek our brother, and when I have found him I shall return

But when, after hard journeying, she reached the village where her brother dwelt, and saw that he had a wife

and was happy, and when she, too, was sought by a young brave, then she also forgot the boy alone in the

Now as soon as the little boy had eaten all the food which his sister had left him, he went out into the woods,

and gathered berries and dug up roots, and while the sun shone he was contented and had his fill. But when

the snows began and the wind howled, then his stomach felt empty and his limbs cold, and he hid in trees all

the night, and only crept out to eat what the wolves had left behind. And byandby, having no other friends,

he sought their company, and sat by while they devoured their prey, and they grew to know him, and gave

But at last the snows melted, and the ice upon the great lake, and as the wolves went down to the shore, the

boy went after them. And it happened one day that his big brother was fishing in his canoe near the shore, and

And when he had so sung he howled as wolves howl. Then the heart of the elder sunk, and he hastened

towards him, crying, 'Brother, little brother, come to me;' but he, being half a wolf, only continued his song.

And the louder the elder called him, 'Brother, little brother, come to me,' the swifter he fled after his brothers

the wolves, and the heavier grew his skin, till, with a long howl, he vanished into the depths of the forest.

So, with shame and anguish in his soul, the elder brother went back to his village, and, with his sister,

There was once upon a time a King and Queen who had everything they could possibly wish for in this world

except a child. At last, after twelve years, the Queen gave birth to a son; but she did not live long to enjoy her

happiness, for on the following day she died. But before her death she called her husband to her and said,

'Never let the child put his feet on the ground, for as soon as he does so he will fall into the power of a wicked

Fairy, who will do him much harm.' And these were the last words the poor Queen spoke.

The boy throve and grew big, and when he was too heavy for his nurse to carry, a chair was made for him on

little wheels, in which he could wander through the palace gardens without help; at other times he was carried

about on a litter, and he was always carefully watched and guarded for fear he should at any time put his feet

But as this sort of life was bad for his health, the doctors ordered him horse exercise, and he soon became a

firstrate rider, and used to go out for long excursions on horseback, accompanied always by his father's

Every day he rode through the neighbouring fields and woods, and always returned home in the evening safe

and well. In this way many years passed, and the Prince grew to manhood, and hardly anyone remembered

the Queen's warning, though precautions were still taken, more from use and wont than for any other reason.

One day the Prince and his suite went out for a ride in a wood where his father sometimes held a hunt. Their

way led through a stream whose banks were overgrown with thick brushwood. Just as the horsemen were

about to ford the river, a hare, startled by the sound of the horses' hoofs, started up from the grass and ran

towards the thicket. The young Prince pursued the little creature, and had almost overtaken it, when the girth

of his saddle suddenly broke in two and he fell heavily to the ground. No sooner had his foot touched the

They sought for him far and near, but all in vain, and they were forced to recognise the power of the evil

Fairy, against which the Queen had warned them on her deathbed. The old King was much grieved when

they brought him the news of his son's disappearance, but as he could do nothing to free him from his fate, he

gave himself up to an old age of grief and loneliness, cherishing at the same time the hope that some lucky

Hardly had the Prince touched the ground than he felt himself violently seized by an unseen power, and

hurried away he knew not whither. A whole new world stretched out before him, quite unlike the one he had

left. A splendid castle surrounded by a huge lake was the abode of the Fairy, and the only approach to it was

over a bridge of clouds. On the other side of the lake high mountains rose up, and dark woods stretched along

No sooner had the Fairy reached her own domain than she made herself visible, and turning to the Prince she

told him that unless he obeyed all her commands down to the minutest detail he would be severely punished.

Then she gave him an axe made of glass, and bade him cross the bridge of clouds and go into the wood

beyond and cut down all the trees there before sunset. At the same time she cautioned him with many angry

The Prince listened to her words meekly, and when she had finished took up the glass axe and set out for the

forest. At every step he seemed to sink into the clouds, but fear gave wings to his feet, and he crossed the lake

But no sooner had he struck the first blow with his axe than it broke into a thousand pieces against the tree.

The poor youth was so terrified he did not know what to do, for he was in mortal dread of the punishment the

wicked old Fairy would inflict on him. He wandered to and fro in the wood, not knowing where he was

going, and at last, worn out by fatigue and misery, he sank on the ground and fell fast asleep.

He did not know how long he had slept when a sudden sound awoke him, and opening his eyes he saw a

black girl standing beside him. Mindful of the Fairy's warning he did not dare to address her, but she on her

part greeted him in the most friendly manner, and asked him at once if he were under the power of the wicked

Then the black girl told him that she too was in the power of the Fairy, who had doomed her to wander about

in her present guise until some youth should take pity on her and bear her in safety to the other side of the

river which they saw in the distance, and on the other side of which the Fairy's domain and power ended.

The girl's words so inspired the Prince with confidence that he told her all his tale of woe, and ended up by

asking her advice as to how he was to escape the punishment the Fairy would be sure to inflict on him when

she discovered that he had not cut down the trees in the wood and that he had broken her axe.

'You must know,' answered the black girl, 'that the Fairy in whose power we both are is my own mother, but

you must not betray this secret, for it would cost me my life. If you will only promise to try and free me I will

stand by you, and will accomplish for you all the tasks which my mother sets you.'

The Prince promised joyfully all she asked; then having once more warned him not to betray her confidence,

she handed him a draught to drink which very soon sunk his senses in a deep slumber.

His astonishment was great when he awoke to find the glass axe whole and unbroken at his side, and all the

He made all haste across the bridge of clouds, and told the Fairy that her commands were obeyed. She was

much amazed when she heard that all the wood was cut down, and saw the axe unbroken in his hand, and

since she could not believe that he had done all this by himself, she questioned him narrowly if he had seen or

spoken to the black girl. But the Prince lied manfully, and swore he had never looked up from his work for a

moment. Seeing she could get nothing more out of him, she gave him a little bread and water, and showing

Morning had hardly dawned when the Fairy awoke the Prince, and giving him the glass axe again she told

him to cut up all the wood he had felled the day before, and to put it in bundles ready for firewood; at the

same time she warned him once more against approaching or speaking a word to the black girl if he met her

Although his task was no easier than that of the day before, the youth set out much more cheerfully, because

he knew he could count an the help of the black girl. With quicker and lighter step he crossed the bridge of

clouds, and hardly had he reached the other side than his friend stood before him and greeted him cheerfully.

When she heard what the Fairy demanded this time, she answered smilingly, 'Never fear,' and handed him

When he awoke everything, was done. All the trees of the wood were cut up into firewood and arranged in

He returned to the castle as quickly as he could, and told the Fairy that her commands were obeyed. She was

even more amazed than she had been before, and asked him again if he had either seen or spoken to the black

girl; but the Prince knew better than to betray his word, and once more lied freely.

On the following day the Fairy set him a third task to do, even harder than the other two. She told him he

must build a castle on the other side of the lake, made of nothing but gold, silver, and precious stones, and

unless he could accomplish this within an hour, the most frightful doom awaited him.

The Prince heard her words without anxiety, so entirely did he rely on the help of his black friend. Full of

hope he hurried across the bridge, and recognised at once the spot where the castle was to stand, for spades,

hammers, axes, and every other building implement lay scattered on the ground ready for the workman's

hand, but of gold, silver, and precious stones there was not a sign. But before the Prince had time to feel

despondent the black girl beckoned to him in the distance from behind a rock, where she had hidden herself

for fear her mother should catch sight of her. Full of joy the youth hurried towards her, and begged her aid

But this time the Fairy had watched the Prince's movements from her window, and she saw him hiding

himself behind the rock with her daughter. She uttered a piercing shriek so that the mountains reechoed with

the sound of it, and the terrified pair had hardly dared to look out from their hidingplace when the enraged

woman, with her dress and hair flying in the wind, hurried over the bridge of clouds. The Prince at once gave

himself up for lost, but the girl told him to be of good courage and to follow her as quickly as he could. But

before they left their shelter she broke off a little bit of the rock, spoke some magic words over it, and threw it

in the direction her mother was coming from. In a moment a glittering palace arose before the eyes of the

Fairy which blinded her with its dazzling splendour, and with its many doors and passages prevented her for

In the meantime the black girl hurried on with the Prince, hastening to reach the river, where once on the

other side they would for ever be out of the wicked Fairy's power. But before they had accomplished half the

way they heard again the rustle of her garments and her muttered curses pursuing them closely.

The Prince was terrified; he dared not look back, and he felt his strength giving way. But before he had time

to despair the girl uttered some more magic words, and immediately she herself was changed into a pond, and

When the Fairy saw this her rage knew no bounds, and she used all her magic wits to make the pond

disappear; she caused a hill of sand to arise at her feet, meaning it to dry up the water at once. But the sand

hill only drove the pond a little farther away, and its waters seemed to increase instead of diminishing. When

the old woman saw that the powers of her magic were of so little avail, she had recourse to cunning. She

threw a lot of gold nuts into the pond, hoping in this way to catch the duck, but all her efforts were fruitless,

Then a new idea struck the wicked old woman, and hiding herself behind the rock which had sheltered the

fugitives, she waited behind it, watching carefully for the moment when the Prince and her daughter should

She had not to wait long, for as soon as the girl thought her mother was safely out of the way, she changed

herself and the Prince once more into their human shape, and set out cheerfully for the river.

But they had not gone many steps when the wicked Fairy hurried after them, a drawn dagger in her hand, and

was close upon them, when suddenly, instead of the Prince and her daughter, she found herself in front of a

Breathless with rage and passion, she tried to plunge her dagger into the monk's heart, but it fell shattered in

pieces at her feet. In her desperation she determined to pull down the church, and thus to destroy her two

victims for ever. She stamped three times on the ground, and the earth trembled, and both the church and the

monk began to shake. As soon as the Fairy saw this she retreated to some distance from the building, so as

not to be hurt herself by its fall. But once more her scheme was doomed to failure, for hardly had she gone a

yard from the church than both it and the monk disappeared, and she found herself in a wood black as night,

Then her wrath gave place to terror, for she feared every moment to be torn in pieces by the beasts who one

and all seemed to defy her power. She thought it wisest to make her way as best she could out of the forest,

and then to pursue the fugitives once more and accomplish their destruction either by force or cunning.

In the meantime the Prince and the black girl had again assumed their natural forms, and were hurrying on as

fast as they could to reach the river. But when they got there they found that there was no way in which they

could cross it, and the girl's magic art seemed no longer to have any power. Then turning to the Prince she

said, 'The hour for my deliverance has not yet come, but as you promised to do all you could to free me, you

must do exactly as I bid you now. Take this bow and arrow and kill every beast you see with them, and be

With these words she disappeared, and hardly had she done so than a huge wild boar started out of the thicket

near and made straight for the Prince. But the youth did not lose his presence of mind, and drawing his bow

he pierced the beast with his arrow right through the skull. The creature fell heavily on the ground, and out of

its side sprang a little hare, which ran like the wind along the river bank. The Prince drew his bow once more,

and the hare lay dead at his feet; but at the same moment a dove rose up in the air, and circled round the

Prince's head in the most confiding manner. But mindful of the black girl's commands, he dared not spare the

little creature's life, and taking another arrow from his quiver he laid it as dead as the boar and the hare. But

when he went to look at the body of the bird he found instead of the dove a round white egg lying on the

While he was gazing on it and wondering what it could mean, he heard the sweeping of wings above him,

and looking up he saw a huge vulture with open claws swooping down upon him. In a moment he seized the

egg and flung it at the bird with all his might, and lo and behold! instead of the ugly monster the most

But while all this was going on the wicked old Fairy had managed to make her way out of the wood, and was

now using the last resource in her power to overtake her daughter and the Prince. As soon as she was in the

open again she mounted her chariot, which was drawn by a fiery dragon, and flew through the air in it. But

just as she got to the river she saw the two lovers in each other's arms swimming through the water as easily

Quick as lightning, and forgetful of every danger, she flew down upon them. But the waters seized her chariot

and sunk it in the lowest depths, and the waves bore the wicked old woman down the stream till she was

caught in some thorn bushes, where she made a good meal for all the little fishes that were swimming about.

And so at last the Prince and his lovely Bride were free. They hurried as quickly as they could to the old

King, who received them with joy and gladness. On the following day a most gorgeous wedding feast was

held, and as far as we know the Prince and his bride lived happily for ever afterwards.

Once upon a time there were a man and his wife who lived in the forest, very far from the rest of the tribe.

Very often they spent the day in hunting together, but after a while the wife found that she had so many

things to do that she was obliged to stay at home; so he went alone, though he found that when his wife was

not with him he never had any luck. One day, when he was away hunting, the woman fell ill, and in a few

Her husband grieved bitterly, and buried her in the house where she had passed her life; but as the time went

on he felt so lonely without her that he made a wooden doll about her height and size for company, and

dressed it in her clothes. He seated it in front of the fire, and tried to think he had his wife back again. The

next day he went out to hunt, and when he came home the first thing he did was to go up to the doll and brush

off some of the ashes from the fire which had fallen on its face. But he was very busy now, for he had to cook

and mend, besides getting food, for there was no one to help him. And so a whole year passed away.

At the end of that time he came back from hunting one night and found some wood by the door and a fire

within. The next night there was not only wood and fire, but a piece of meat in the kettle, nearly ready for

eating. He searched all about to see who could have done this, but could find no one. The next time he went

to hunt he took care not to go far, and came in quite early. And while he was still a long way off he saw a

woman going into the house with wood on her shoulders. So he made haste, and opened the door quickly, and

Then she spoke to him and said, 'The Great Spirit felt sorry for you, because you would not be comforted, so

he let me come back to you, but you must not stretch out your hand to touch me till we have seen the rest of

So the man listened to her words, and the woman dwelt there, and brought the wood and kindled the fire, till

one day her husband said to her, 'It is now two years since you died. Let us now go back to our tribe. Then

And with that he prepared food for the journey, a string of deer's flesh for her to carry, and one for himself;

and so they started. Now the camp of the tribe was distant six days' journey, and when they were yet one

day's journey off it began to snow, and they felt weary and longed for rest. Therefore they made a fire,

Then the heart of the man was greatly stirred, and he stretched out his arms to his wife, but she waved her

But he would not listen to her, and caught her to him, and behold! he was clasping the wooden doll. And

when he saw it was the doll he pushed it from him in his misery and rushed away to the camp, and told them

all his story. And some doubted, and they went back with him to the place where he and his wife had stopped

to rest, and there lay the doll, and besides, they saw in the snow the steps of two people, and the foot of one

was like the foot of the doll. And the man grieved sore all the days of his life.

Far away, in North America, where the Red Indians dwell, there lived a long time ago a beautiful maiden,

who was lovelier than any other girl in the whole tribe. Many of the young braves sought her in marriage, but

she would listen to one onlya handsome chief, who had taken her fancy some years before. So they were to

be married, and great rejoicings were made, and the two looked forward to a long life of happiness together,

when the very night before the wedding feast a sudden illness seized the girl, and, without a word to her

The heart of her lover had been set upon her, and the thought of her remained with him night and day. He put

aside his bow, and went neither to fight nor to hunt, but from sunrise to sunset he sat by the place where she

was laid, thinking of his happiness that was buried there. At last, after many days, a light seemed to come to

him out of the darkness. He remembered having heard from the old, old people of the tribe, that there was a

path that led to the Land of Soulsthat if you sought carefully you could find it.

So the next morning he got up early, and put some food in his pouch and slung an extra skin over his

shoulders, for he knew not how long his journey would take, nor what sort of country he would have to go

through. Only one thing he knew, that if the path was there, he would find it. At first he was puzzled, as there

seemed no reason he should go in one direction more than another. Then all at once he thought he had heard

one of the old men say that the Land of Souls lay to the south, and so, filled with new hope and courage, he

set his face southwards. For many, many miles the country looked the same as it did round his own home.

The forests, the hills, and the rivers all seemed exactly like the ones he had left. The only thing that was

different was the snow, which had lain thick upon the hills and trees when he started, but grew less and less

the farther he went south, till it disappeared altogether. Soon the trees put forth their buds, and flowers sprang

up under his feet, and instead of thick clouds there was blue sky over his head, and everywhere the birds were

The thought that he should soon behold his lost bride made his heart beat for joy, and he sped along lightly

and swiftly. Now his way led through a dark wood, and then over some steep cliffs, and on the top of these he

found a hut or wigwam. An old man clothed in skins, and holding a staff in his hand, stood in the doorway;

and he said to the young chief who was beginning to tell his story, 'I was waiting for you, wherefore you have

come I know. It is but a short while since she whom you seek was here. Rest in my hut, as she also rested,

On hearing these words, the young man entered the hut, but his heart was too eager within him to suffer him

to rest, and when he arose, the old man rose too, and stood with him at the door. 'Look,' he said, 'at the water

which lies far out yonder, and the plains which stretch beyond. That is the Land of Souls, but no man enters it

without leaving his body behind him. So, lay down your body here; your bow and arrows, your skin and your

Then he turned away, and the young chief, light as air, seemed hardly to touch the ground; and as he flew

along the scents grew sweeter and the flowers more beautiful, while the animals rubbed their noses against

him, instead of hiding as he approached, and birds circled round him, and fishes lifted up their heads and

looked as he went by. Very soon he noticed with wonder, that neither rocks nor trees barred his path. He

passed through them without knowing it, for indeed, they were not rocks and trees at all, but only the souls of

So he went on with winged feet till he came to the shores of a great lake, with a lovely island in the middle of

it; while on the bank of the lake was a canoe of glittering stone, and in the canoe were two shining paddles.

The chief jumped straight into the canoe, and seizing the paddles pushed off from the shore, when to his joy

and wonder he saw following him in another canoe exactly like his own the maiden for whose sake he had

made this long journey. But they could not touch each other, for between them rolled great waves, which

looked as if they would sink the boats, yet never did. And the young man and the maiden shrank with fear,

for down in the depths of the water they saw the bones of those who had died before, and in the waves

themselves men and women were struggling, and but few passed over. Only the children had no fear, and

reached the other side in safety. Still, though the chief and the young girl quailed in terror at these horrible

sights and sounds, no harm came to them, for their lives had been free from evil, and the Master of Life had

said that no evil should happen unto them. So they reached unhurt the shore of the Happy Island, and

wandered through the flowery fields and by the banks of rushing streams, and they knew not hunger nor

thirst; neither cold nor heat. The air fed them and the sun warmed them, and they forgot the dead, for they

saw no graves, and the young man's thoughts turned not to wars, neither to the hunting of animals. And

gladly would these two have walked thus for ever, but in the murmur of the wind he heard the Master of Life

saying to him, 'Return whither you came, for I have work for you to do, and your people need you, and for

many years you shall rule over them. At the gate my messenger awaits you, and you shall take again your

body which you left behind, and he will show you what you are to do. Listen to him, and have patience, and

in time to come you shall rejoin her whom you must now leave, for she is accepted, and will remain ever

Once upon a time a great and powerful King married a lovely Princess. No couple were ever so happy; but

before their honeymoon was over they were forced to part, for the King had to go on a warlike expedition to a

far country, and leave his young wife alone at home. Bitter were the tears she shed, while her husband sought

in vain to soothe her with words of comfort and counsel, warning her, above all things, never to leave the

castle, to hold no intercourse with strangers, to beware of evil counsellors, and especially to be on her guard

against strange women. And the Queen promised faithfully to obey her royal lord and master in these four

So when the King set out on his expedition she shut herself up with her ladies in her own apartments, and

spent her time in spinning and weaving, and in thinking of her royal husband. Often she was very sad and

lonely, and it happened that one day while she was seated at the window, letting salt tears drop on her work,

an old woman, a kind, homelylooking old body, stepped up to the window, and, leaning upon her crutch,

'Why are you sad and cast down, fair Queen? You should not mope all day in your rooms, but should come

out into the green garden, and hear the birds sing with joy among the trees, and see the butterflies fluttering

above the flowers, and hear the bees and insects hum, and watch the sunbeams chase the dewdrops through

the roseleaves and in the lilycups. All the brightness outside would help to drive away your cares, O

For long the Queen resisted her coaxing words, remembering the promise she had given the King, her

husband; but at last she thought to herself: After all, what harm would it do if I were to go into the garden for

a short time and enjoy myself among the trees and flowers, and the singing birds and fluttering butterflies and

humming insects, and look at the dewdrops hiding from the sunbeams in the hearts of the roses and lilies,

and wander about in the sunshine, instead of remaining all day in this room? For she had no idea that the

kindlooking old woman leaning on her crutch was in reality a wicked witch, who envied the Queen her

good fortune, and was determined to ruin her. And so, in all ignorance, the Queen followed her out into the

garden and listened to her smooth, flattering words. Now, in the middle of the garden there was a pond of

'The day is so warm, and the sun's rays so scorching, that the water in the pond looks very cool and inviting.

'No, I think not,' answered the Queen; but the next moment she regretted her words, and thought to herself:

Why shouldn't I bathe in that cool, fresh water? No harm could come of it. And, so saying, she slipped off her

robes and stepped into the water. But scarcely had her tender feet touched the cool ripples when she felt a

great shove on her shoulders, and the wicked witch had pushed her into the deep water, exclaiming:

And the witch herself assumed the form of the Queen, and decked herself out in the royal robes, and sat

among the Court ladies, awaiting the King's return. And suddenly the tramp of horses' hoofs was heard, and

the barking of dogs, and the witch hastened forward to meet the royal carriages, and, throwing her arms round

the King's neck, kissed him. And in his great joy the King did not know that the woman he held in his arms

In the meantime, outside the palace walls, the poor White Duck swam up and down the pond; and near it laid

three eggs, out of which there came one morning two little fluffy ducklings and a little ugly drake. And the

White Duck brought the little creatures up, and they paddled after her in the pond, and caught goldfish, and

hopped upon the bank and waddled about, ruffling their feathers and saying 'Quack, quack' as they strutted

about on the green banks of the pond. But their mother used to warn them not to stray too far, telling them

that a wicked witch lived in the castle beyond the garden, adding, 'She has ruined me, and she will do her best

to ruin you.' But the young ones did not listen to their mother, and, playing about the garden one day, they

strayed close up to the castle windows. The witch at once recognised them by their smell, and ground her

teeth with anger; but she hid her feelings, and, pretending to be very kind she called them to her and joked

with them, and led them into a beautiful room, where she gave them food to eat, and showed them a soft

cushion on which they might sleep. Then she left them and went down into the palace kitchens, where she

told the servants to sharpen the knives, and to make a great fire ready, and hang a large kettleful of water over

In the meantime the two little ducklings had fallen asleep, and the little drake lay between them, covered up

by their wings, to be kept warm under their feathers. But the little drake could not go to sleep, and as he lay

'They are not asleep yet,' muttered the witch to herself; and she walked up and down in the passage, and then

'Just the same answer,' muttered the witch; 'I think I'll go in and see.' So she opened the door gently, and

The next morning the White Duck wandered round the pond in a distracted manner, looking for her little

ones; she called and she searched, but could find no trace of them. And in her heart she had a foreboding that

evil had befallen them, and she fluttered up out of the water and flew to the palace. And there, laid out on the

marble floor of the court, dead and stone cold, were her three children. The White Duck threw herself upon

The King heard the sad complaint of the White Duck, and called to the witch: 'Wife, what a wonder is this?

But the witch answered, 'My dear husband, what do you mean? There is nothing wonderful in a duck's

quacking. Here, servants! Chase that duck out of the courtyard.' But though the servants chased and chevied,

they could not get rid of the duck; for she circled round and round, and always came back to the spot where

And as the King heard her words he began to suspect that he had been deceived, and he called out to the

servants, 'Catch that duck, and bring it here.' But, though they ran to and fro, the duck always fled past them,

and would not let herself be caught. So the King himself stepped down amongst them, and instantly the duck

fluttered down into his hands. And as he stroked her wings she was changed into a beautiful woman, and he

recognised his dear wife. And she told him that a bottle would be found in her nest in the garden, containing

some drops from the spring of healing. And it was brought to her; and the ducklings and little drake were

sprinkled with the water, and from the little dead bodies three lovely children arose. And the King and Queen

were overjoyed when they saw their children, and they all lived happily together in the beautiful palace. But

Long time ago there lived a King who had three sons; the eldest was called Szabo, the second Warza, and the

One beautiful spring morning the King was walking through his gardens with these three sons, gazing with

admiration at the various fruittrees, some of which were a mass of blossom, whilst others were bowed to the

ground laden with rich fruit. During their wanderings they came unperceived on a piece of waste land where

three splendid trees grew. The King looked on them for a moment, and then, shaking his head sadly, he

The sons, who could not understand why he did this, asked him the reason of his dejection, and the King told

'These three trees, which I cannot see without sorrow, were planted by me on this spot when I was a youth of

twenty. A celebrated magician, who had given the seed to my father, promised him that they would grow into

the three finest trees the world had ever seen. My father did not live to see his words come true; but on his

deathbed he bade me transplant them here, and to look after them with the greatest care, which I accordingly

did. At last, after the lapse of five long years, I noticed some blossoms on the branches, and a few days later

'I gave my headgardener the strictest orders to watch the trees carefully, for the magician had warned my

father that if one unripe fruit were plucked from the tree, all the rest would become rotten at once. When it

'Every day I gazed on the lovely fruit, which became gradually more and more temptinglooking, and it was

'One night I dreamt that the fruit was perfectly ripe; I ate some of it, and it was more delicious than anything I

had ever tasted in real life. As soon as I awoke I sent for the gardener and asked him if the fruit on the three

'But instead of replying, the gardener threw himself at my feet and swore that he was innocent. He said that

he had watched by the trees all night, but in spite of it, and as if by magic, the beautiful trees had been robbed

'Grieved as I was over the theft, I did not punish the gardener, of whose fidelity I was well assured, but I

determined to pluck off all the fruit in the following year before it was ripe, as I had not much belief in the

'I carried out my intention, and had all the fruit picked off the tree, but when I tasted one of the apples it was

bitter and unpleasant, and the next morning the rest of the fruit had all rotted away.

'After this I had the beautiful fruit of these trees carefully guarded by my most faithful servants; but every

year, on this very night, the fruit was plucked and stolen by an invisible hand, and next morning not a single

apple remained on the trees. For some time past I have given up even having the trees watched.'

When the King had finished his story, Szabo, his eldest son, said to him: 'Forgive me, father, if I say I think

you are mistaken. I am sure there are many men in your kingdom who could protect these trees from the

cunning arts of a thieving magician; I myself, who as your eldest son claim the first right to do so, will mount

The King consented, and as soon as evening drew on Szabo climbed up on to one of the trees, determined to

protect the fruit even if it cost him his life. So he kept watch half the night; but a little after midnight he was

overcome by an irresistible drowsiness, and fell fast asleep. He did not awake till it was bright daylight, and

The following year Warza, the second brother, tried his luck, but with the same result. Then it came to the

Iwanich was not the least discouraged by the failure of his elder brothers, though they were both much older

and stronger than he was, and when night came climbed up the tree as they had done, The moon had risen,

and with her soft light lit up the whole neighbourhood, so that the observant Prince could distinguish the

At midnight a gentle west wind shook the tree, and at the same moment a snowwhite swanlike bird sank

down gently on his breast. The Prince hastily seized the bird's wings in his hands, when, lo! to his

astonishment he found he was holding in his arms not a bird but the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

'You need not fear Militza,' said the beautiful girl, looking at the Prince with friendly eyes. 'An evil magician

has not robbed you of your fruit, but he stole the seed from my mother, and thereby caused her death. When

she was dying she bade me take the fruit, which you have no right to possess, from the trees every year as

soon as it was ripe. This I would have done tonight too, if you had not seized me with such force, and so

Iwanich, who had been prepared to meet a terrible magician and not a lovely girl, fell desperately in love with

her. They spent the rest of the night in pleasant conversation, and when Militza wished to go away he begged

'I would gladly stay with you longer,' said Militza, 'but a wicked witch once cut off a lock of my hair when I

was asleep, which has put me in her power, and if morning were still to find me here she would do me some

Having said these words, she drew a sparkling diamond ring from her finger, which she handed to the Prince,

saying: 'Keep this ring in memory of Militza, and think of her sometimes if you never see her again. But if

your love is really true, come and find me in my own kingdom. I may not show you the way there, but this

'If you have love and courage enough to undertake this journey, whenever you come to a crossroad always

look at this diamond before you settle which way you are going to take. If it sparkles as brightly as ever go

Then Militza bent over the Prince and kissed him on his forehead, and before he had time to say a word she

Morning broke, and the Prince, still full of the wonderful apparition, left his perch and returned to the palace

like one in a dream, without even knowing if the fruit had been taken or not; for his whole mind was

As soon as the headgardener saw the Prince going towards the palace he ran to the trees, and when he saw

them laden with ripe fruit he hastened to tell the King the joyful news. The King was beside himself for joy,

and hurried at once to the garden and made the gardener pick him some of the fruit. He tasted it, and found

the apple quite as luscious as it had been in his dream. He went at once to his son Iwanich, and after

embracing him tenderly and heaping praises on him, he asked him how he had succeeded in protecting the

This question placed Iwanich in a dilemma. But as he did not want the real story to be known, he said that

about midnight a huge wasp had flown through the branches, and buzzed incessantly round him. He had

warded it off with his sword, and at dawn, when he was becoming quite worn out, the wasp had vanished as

The King, who never doubted the truth of this tale, bade his son go to rest at once and recover from the

fatigues of the night; but he himself went and ordered many feasts to be held in honour of the preservation of

The whole capital was in a stir, and everyone shared in the King's joy; the Prince alone took no part in the

While the King was at a banquet, Iwanich took some purses of gold, and mounting the quickest horse in the

royal stable, he sped off like the wind without a single soul being any the wiser.

It was only on the next day that they missed him; the King was very distressed at his disappearance, and sent

searchparties all over the kingdom to look for him, but in vain; and after six months they gave him up as

dead, and in another six months they had forgotten all about him. But in the meantime the Prince, with the

help of his ring, had had a most successful journey, and no evil had befallen him.

At the end of three months he came to the entrance of a huge forest, which looked as if it had never been

trodden by human foot before, and which seemed to stretch out indefinitely. The Prince was about to enter

the wood by a little path he had discovered, when he heard a voice shouting to him: 'Hold, youth! Whither are

Iwanich turned round, and saw a tall, gauntlooking man, clad in miserable rags, leaning on a crooked staff

and seated at the foot of an oak tree, which was so much the same colour as himself that it was little wonder

'Through the wood?' said the old man in amazement. 'It's easily seen that you have heard nothing of this

forest, that you rush so blindly to meet your doom. Well, listen to me before you ride any further; let me tell

you that this wood hides in its depths a countless number of the fiercest tigers, hyenas, wolves, bears, and

snakes, and all sorts of other monsters. If I were to cut you and your horse up into tiny morsels and throw

them to the beasts, there wouldn't be one bit for each hundred of them. Take my advice, therefore, and if you

The Prince was rather taken aback by the old man's words, and considered for a minute what he should do;

then looking at his ring, and perceiving that it sparkled as brightly as ever, he called out: 'If this wood held

even more terrible things than it does, I cannot help myself, for I must go through it.'

Here he spurred his horse and rode on; but the old beggar screamed so loudly after him that the Prince turned

'I am really sorry for you,' said the beggar, 'but if you are quite determined to brave the dangers of the forest,

let me at least give you a piece of advice which will help you against these monsters.

'Take this bagful of breadcrumbs and this live hare. I will make you a present of them both, as I am anxious

to save your life; but you must leave your horse behind you, for it would stumble over the fallen trees or get

entangled in the briers and thorns. When you have gone about a hundred yards into the wood the wild beasts

will surround you. Then you must instantly seize your bag, and scatter the breadcrumbs among them. They

will rush to eat them up greedily, and when you have scattered the last crumb you must lose no time in

throwing the hare to them; as soon as the hare feels itself on the ground it will run away as quickly as

possible, and the wild beasts will turn to pursue it. In this way you will be able to get through the wood

Iwanich thanked the old man for his counsel, dismounted from his horse, and, taking the bag and the hare in

his arms, he entered the forest. He had hardly lost sight of his gaunt grey friend when he heard growls and

snarls in the thicket close to him, and before he had time to think he found himself surrounded by the most

dreadfullooking creatures. On one side he saw the glittering eye of a cruel tiger, on the other the gleaming

teeth of a great shewolf; here a huge bear growled fiercely, and there a horrible snake coiled itself in the

But Iwanich did not forget the old man's advice, and quickly put his hand into the bag and took out as many

breadcrumbs as he could hold in his hand at a time. He threw them to the beasts, but soon the bag grew

lighter and lighter, and the Prince began to feel a little frightened. And now the last crumb was gone, and the

hungry beasts thronged round him, greedy for fresh prey. Then he seized the hare and threw it to them.

No sooner did the little creature feel itself on the ground than it lay back its ears and flew through the wood

like an arrow from a bow, closely pursued by the wild beasts, and the Prince was left alone. He looked at his

ring, and when he saw that it sparkled as brightly as ever he went straight on through the forest.

He hadn't gone very far when he saw a most extraordinary looking man coming towards him. He was not

more than three feet high, his legs were quite crooked, and all his body was covered with prickles like a

hedgehog. Two lions walked with him, fastened to his side by the two ends of his long beard.

He stopped the Prince and asked him in a harsh voice: 'Are you the man who has just fed my bodyguard?'

Iwanich was so startled that he could hardly reply, but the little man continued: 'I am most grateful to you for

'All I ask,' replied Iwanich, 'is, that I should be allowed to go through this wood in safety.'

'Most certainly,' answered the little man; 'and for greater security I will give you one of my lions as a

protector. But when you leave this wood and come near a palace which does not belong to my domain, let the

lion go, in order that he may not fall into the hands of an enemy and be killed.'

With these words he loosened the lion from his beard and bade the beast guard the youth carefully.

With this new protector Iwanich wandered on through the forest, and though he came upon a great many

more wolves, hyenas, leopards, and other wild beasts, they always kept at a respectful distance when they

Iwanich hurried through the wood as quickly as his legs would carry him, but, nevertheless, hour after hour

went by and not a trace of a green field or a human habitation met his eyes. At length, towards evening, the

mass of trees grew more transparent, and through the interlaced branches a wide plain was visible.

At the exit of the wood the lion stood still, and the Prince took leave of him, having first thanked him warmly

for his kind protection. It had become quite dark, and Iwanich was forced to wait for daylight before

He made himself a bed of grass and leaves, lit a fire of dry branches, and slept soundly till the next morning.

Then he got up and walked towards a beautiful white palace which he saw gleaming in the distance. In about

After wandering through many marble halls, he came to a huge staircase made of porphyry, leading down to

The Prince burst into a shout of joy when he suddenly perceived Militza in the centre of a group of girls who

As soon as Militza saw the Prince she ran up to him and embraced him tenderly; and after he had told her all

his adventures, they went into the palace, where a sumptuous meal awaited them. Then the Princess called

Preparations were at once made for the wedding, which was held soon after with great pomp and

Three months of great happiness followed, when Militza received one day an invitation to visit her mother's

Although the Princess was very unhappy at leaving her husband, she did not like to refuse the invitation, and,

promising to return in seven days at the latest, she took a tender farewell of the Prince, and said: 'Before I go I

will hand you over all the keys of the castle. Go everywhere and do anything you like; only one thing I beg

and beseech you, do not open the little iron door in the north tower, which is closed with seven locks and

Iwanich promised what she asked, and Militza departed, repeating her promise to return in seven days.

When the Prince found himself alone he began to be tormented by pangs of curiosity as to what the room in

the tower contained. For two days he resisted the temptation to go and look, but on the third he could stand it

no longer, and taking a torch in his hand he hurried to the tower, and unfastened one lock after the other of

What an unexpected sight met his gaze! The Prince perceived a small room black with smoke, lit up feebly

by a fire from which issued long blue flames. Over the fire hung a huge cauldron full of boiling pitch, and

fastened into the cauldron by iron chains stood a wretched man screaming with agony.

Iwanich was much horrified at the sight before him, and asked the man what terrible crime he had committed

'I will tell you everything,' said the man in the cauldron; 'but first relieve my torments a little, I implore you.'

'With a little water,' replied the man; 'only sprinkle a few drops over me and I shall feel better.'

The Prince, moved by pity, without thinking what he was doing, ran to the courtyard of the castle, and filled a

In a moment a most fearful crash was heard, as if all the pillars of the palace were giving way, and the palace

itself, with towers and doors, windows and the cauldron, whirled round the bewildered Prince's head. This

continued for a few minutes, and then everything vanished into thin air, and Iwanich found himself suddenly

The Prince, who now realised what his heedlessness had done, cursed too late his spirit of curiosity. In his

despair he wandered on over the heath, never looking where he put his feet, and full of sorrowful thoughts. At

last he saw a light in the distance, which came from a miserablelooking little hut.

The owner of it was none other than the kindhearted gaunt grey beggar who had given the Prince the bag of

breadcrumbs and the hare. Without recognising Iwanich, he opened the door when he knocked and gave

On the following morning the Prince asked his host if he could get him any work to do, as he was quite

'My son,' replied the old man, 'all this country round here is uninhabited; I myself have to wander to distant

villages for my living, and even then I do not very often find enough to satisfy my hunger. But if you would

like to take service with the old witch Corva, go straight up the little stream which flows below my hut for

about three hours, and you will come to a sandhill on the lefthand side; that is where she lives.'

After walking for about three hours the Prince came upon a drearylooking grey stone wall; this was the back

of the building and did not attract him; but when he came upon the front of the house he found it even less

inviting, for the old witch had surrounded her dwelling with a fence of spikes, on every one of which a man's

skull was stuck. In this horrible enclosure stood a small black house, which had only two grated windows, all

Iwanich opened the door, and found himself in a smokebegrimed kitchen, in the presence of a hideous old

woman who was warming her skinny hands at a fire. The Prince offered to become her servant, and the old

hag told him she was badly in want of one, and he seemed to be just the person to suit her.

When Iwanich asked what his work, and how much his wages would be, the witch bade him follow her, and

led the way through a narrow damp passage into a vault, which served as a stable. Here he perceived two

'You see before you,' said the old woman, 'a mare and her foal; you have nothing to do but to lead them out to

the fields every day, and to see that neither of them runs away from you. If you look after them both for a

whole year I will give you anything you like to ask; but if, on the other hand, you let either of the animals

escape you, your last hour is come, and your head shall be stuck on the last spike of my fence. The other

spikes, as you see, are already adorned, and the skulls are all those of different servants I have had who have

Iwanich, who thought he could not be much worse off than he was already, agreed to the witch's proposal.

At daybreak nest morning he drove his horses to the field, and brought them back in the evening without their

ever having attempted to break away from him. The witch stood at her door and received him kindly, and set

Early every morning he led the horses out to the fields, and brought them home safe and sound in the

One day, while he was watching the horses, he came to the banks of a river, and saw a big fish, which

through some mischance had been cast on the land, struggling hard to get back into the water.

Iwanich, who felt sorry for the poor creature, seized it in his arms and flung it into the stream. But no sooner

did the fish find itself in the water again, than, to the Prince's amazement, it swam up to the bank and said:

'I desire nothing,' answered the Prince. 'I am quite content to have been able to be of some service to you.'

'You must do me the favour,' replied the fish, 'to take a scale from my body, and keep it carefully. If you

should ever need my help, throw it into the river, and I will come to your aid at once.'

Iwanich bowed, loosened a scale from the body of the grateful beast, put it carefully away, and returned

A short time after this, when he was going early one morning to the usual grazing place with his horses, he

noticed a flock of birds assembled together making a great noise and flying wildly backwards and forwards.

Full of curiosity, Iwanich hurried up to the spot, and saw that a large number of ravens had attacked an eagle,

and although the eagle was big and powerful and was making a brave fight, it was overpowered at last by

But the Prince, who was sorry for the poor bird, seized the branch of a tree and hit out at the ravens with it;

terrified at this unexpected onslaught they flew away, leaving many of their number dead or wounded on the

As soon as the eagle saw itself free from its tormentors it plucked a feather from its wing, and, handing it to

the Prince, said: 'Here, my kind benefactor, take this feather as a proof of my gratitude; should you ever be in

need of my help blow this feather into the air, and I will help you as much as is in my power.'

Iwanich thanked the bird, and placing the feather beside the scale he drove the horses home.

Another day he had wandered farther than usual, and came close to a farmyard; the place pleased the Prince,

and as there was plenty of good grass for the horses he determined to spend the day there. Just as he was

sitting down under a tree he heard a cry close to him, and saw a fox which had been caught in a trap placed

In vain did the poor beast try to free itself; then the goodnatured Prince came once more to the rescue, and

The fox thanked him heartily, tore two hairs out of his bushy tail, and said: 'Should you ever stand in need of

my help throw these two hairs into the fire, and in a moment I shall be at your side ready to obey you.'

Iwanich put the fox's hairs with the scale and the feather, and as it was getting dark he hastened home with

In the meantime his service was drawing near to an end, and in three more days the year was up, and he

On the first evening of these last three days, when he came home and was eating his supper, he noticed the

The Prince followed her secretly to see what she was going to do. He crouched down in the doorway and

heard the wicked witch telling the horses to wait next morning till Iwanich was asleep, and then to go and

hide themselves in the river, and to stay there till she told them to return; and if they didn't do as she told

When Iwanich heard all this he went back to his room, determined that nothing should induce him to fall

asleep next day. On the following morning he led the mare and foal to the fields as usual, but bound a cord

But after a few hours, by the magic arts of the old witch, he was overpowered by sleep, and the mare and foal

escaped and did as they had been told to do. The Prince did not awake till late in the evening; and when he

did, he found, to his horror, that the horses had disappeared. Filled with despair, he cursed the moment when

he had entered the service of the cruel witch, and already he saw his head sticking up on the sharp spike

Then he suddenly remembered the fish's scale, which, with the eagle's feather and the fox's hairs, he always

carried about with him. He drew the scale from his pocket, and hurrying to the river he threw it in. In a

minute the grateful fish swam towards the bank on which Iwanich was standing, and said: 'What do you

The Prince replied: 'I had to look after a mare and foal, and they have run away from me and have hidden

themselves in the river; if you wish to save my life drive them back to the land.'

'Wait a moment,' answered the fish, 'and I and my friends will soon drive them out of the water.' With these

Almost immediately a rushing hissing sound was heard in the waters, the waves dashed against the banks, the

foam was tossed into the air, and the two horses leapt suddenly on to the dry land, trembling and shaking with

Iwanich sprang at once on to the mare's back, seized the foal by its bridle, and hastened home in the highest

When the witch saw the Prince bringing the horses home she could hardly conceal her wrath, and as soon as

she had placed Iwanich's supper before him she stole away again to the stables. The Prince followed her, and

heard her scolding the beasts harshly for not having hidden themselves better. She bade them wait next

morning till Iwanich was asleep and then to hide themselves in the clouds, and to remain there till she called.

The next morning, after Iwanich had led his horses to the fields, he fell once more into a magic sleep. The

horses at once ran away and hid themselves in the clouds, which hung down from the mountains in soft

When the Prince awoke and found that both the mare and the foal had disappeared, he bethought him at once

In a moment the bird swooped down beside him and asked: 'What do you wish me to do?'

'My mare and foal,' replied the Prince, 'have run away from me, and have hidden themselves in the clouds; if

'Wait a minute,' answered the eagle; 'with the help of my friends I will soon drive them back to you.'

With these words the bird flew up into the air and disappeared among the clouds.

Almost directly Iwanich saw his two horses being driven towards him by a host of eagles of all sizes. He

caught the mare and foal, and having thanked the eagle he drove them cheerfully home again.

The old witch was more disgusted than ever when she saw him appearing, and having set his supper before

him she stole into the stables, and Iwanich heard her abusing the horses for not having hidden themselves

better in the clouds. Then she bade them hide themselves next morning, as soon as Iwanich was asleep, in the

King's henhouse, which stood on a lonely part of the heath, and to remain there till she called. If they failed

On the following morning the Prince drove his horses as usual to the fields. After he had been overpowered

by sleep, as on the former days, the mare and foal ran away and hid themselves in the royal hen house.

When the Prince awoke and found the horses gone he determined to appeal to the fox; so, lighting a fire, he

threw the two hairs into it, and in a few moments the fox stood beside him and asked: 'In what way can I

'Hardly an hour's walk from here,' answered the fox, and offered to show the Prince the way to it.

While they were walking along the fox asked him what he wanted to do at the royal henhouse. The Prince

told him of the misfortune that had befallen him, and of the necessity of recovering the mare and foal.

'That is no easy matter,' replied the fox. 'But wait a moment. I have an idea. Stand at the door of the

henhouse, and wait there for your horses. In the meantime I will slip in among the hens through a hole in the

wall and give them a good chase, so that the noise they make will arouse the royal henwives, and they will

come to see what is the matter. When they see the horses they will at once imagine them to be the cause of

the disturbance, and will drive them out. Then you must lay hands on the mare and foal and catch them.

All turned out exactly as the sly fox had foreseen. The Prince swung himself on the mare, seized the foal by

While he was riding over the heath in the highest of spirits the mare suddenly said to her rider: 'You are the

first person who has ever succeeded in outwitting the old witch Corva, and now you may ask what reward

you like for your service. If you promise never to betray me I will give you a piece of advice which you will

The Prince promised never to betray her confidence, and the mare continued: 'Ask nothing else as a reward

than my foal, for it has not its like in the world, and is not to be bought for love or money; for it can go from

one end of the earth to another in a few minutes. Of course the cunning Corva will do her best to dissuade

you from taking the foal, and will tell you that it is both idle and sickly; but do not believe her, and stick to

Iwanich longed to possess such an animal, and promised the mare to follow her advice.

This time Corva received him in the most friendly manner, and set a sumptuous repast before him. As soon as

The witch pretended to be much astonished at his request, and said that he deserved something much better

than the foal, for the beast was lazy and nervous, blind in one eye, and, in short, was quite worthless.

But the Prince knew what he wanted, and when the old witch saw that he had made up his mind to have the

foal, she said, 'I am obliged to keep my promise and to hand you over the foal; and as I know who you are

and what you want, I will tell you in what way the animal will be useful to you. The man in the cauldron of

boiling pitch, whom you set free, is a mighty magician; through your curiosity and thoughtlessness Militza

came into his power, and he has transported her and her castle and belongings into a distant country.

'You are the only person who can kill him; and in consequence he fears you to such an extent that he has set

'When you have reached him, beware of speaking a single word to him, or you will fall into the power of his

Iwanich thanked the old witch, mounted his foal, put spurs to its sides, and they flew like lightning through

Already it was growing dark, when Iwanich perceived some figures in the distance; they soon came up to

them, and then the Prince saw that it was the magician and his friends who were driving through the air in a

When the magician found himself face to face with Iwanich, without hope of escape, he turned to him with

But the Prince, without saying a word, seized him at once by his beard and dashed him to the ground. At the

same moment the foal sprang on the top of the magician and kicked and stamped on him with his hoofs till he

Then Iwanich found himself once more in the palace of his bride, and Militza herself flew into his arms.

From this time forward they lived in undisturbed peace and happiness till the end of their lives.

Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had one son called Martin. Now when the old man's time had

come, he stretched himself out on his bed and died. Though all his life long he had toiled and moiled, he only

left his widow and son two hundred florins. The old woman determined to put by the money for a rainy day;

but alas! the rainy day was close at hand, for their meal was all consumed, and who is prepared to face

starvation with two hundred florins at their disposal? So the old woman counted out a hundred of her florins,

and giving them to Martin, told him to go into the town and lay in a store of meal for a year.

So Martin started off for the town. When he reached the meatmarket he found the whole place in turmoil,

and a great noise of angry voices and barking of dogs. Mixing in the crowd, he noticed a staghound which

the butchers had caught and tied to a post, and which was being flogged in a merciless manner. Overcome

'We have every right to beat him,' they replied; 'he has just devoured a newlykilled pig.'

'If you choose to buy him,' answered the butchers derisively; 'but for such a treasure we won't take a penny

'A hundred!' exclaimed Martin. 'Well, so be it, if you will not take less;' and, taking the money out of his

'Schurka, the dog,' replied Martin, pointing to his new possession. Whereupon his mother became very angry,

and abused him roundly. He ought to be ashamed of himself, when there was scarcely a handful of meal in

the house, to have spent the money on a useless brute like that. On the following day she sent him back to the

town, saying, 'Here, take our last hundred florins, and buy provisions with them. I have just emptied the last

grains of meal out of the chest, and baked a bannock; but it won't last over tomorrow.'

Just as Martin was entering the town he met a roughlooking peasant who was dragging a cat after him by a

'Surely for a hundred florins you'll sell it?' said Martin. 'See! here is the money;' and, so saying, he handed

him the hundred florins, which the peasant pocketed, and Martin took possession of the cat, which was called

'You useless ne'erdoweel!' exclaimed his mother in a great passion. 'Leave the house at once, and go and

beg your bread among strangers;' and as Martin did not dare to contradict her, he called Schurka and Waska

and started off with them to the nearest village in search of work. On the way he met a rich peasant, who

'Come along with me, then. But I must tell you I engage my labourers without wages. If you serve me

So Martin consented, and for a year he worked diligently, and served his master faithfully, not sparing

himself in any way. When the day of reckoning had come the peasant led him into a barn, and pointing to two

Martin examined the contents of the sacks, and seeing that one was full of silver and the other of sand, he said

'There must be some trick about this; I had better take the sand.' And throwing the sack over his shoulders he

started out into the world, in search of fresh work. On and on he walked, and at last he reached a great

gloomy wood. In the middle of the wood he came upon a meadow, where a fire was burning, and in the midst

of the fire, surrounded by flames, was a lovely damsel, more beautiful than anything that Martin had ever

'Martin, if you would win happiness, save my life. Extinguish the flames with the sand that you earned in

'Truly,' thought Martin to himself, 'it would be more sensible to save a fellowbeing's life with this sand than

to drag it about on one's back, seeing what a weight it is.' And forthwith he lowered the sack from his

shoulders and emptied its contents on the flames, and instantly the fire was extinguished; but at the same

moment lo! and behold the lovely damsel turned into a Serpent, and, darting upon him, coiled itself round his

'Do not be afraid of me, Martin; I love you, and will go with you through the world. But first you must follow

me boldly into my Father's Kingdom, underneath the earth; and when we get there, remember thishe will

offer you gold and silver, and dazzling gems, but do not touch them. Ask him, instead, for the ring which he

wears on his little finger, for in that ring lies a magic power; you have only to throw it from one hand to the

other, and at once twelve young men will appear, who will do your bidding, no matter how difficult, in a

So they started on their way, and after much wandering they reached a spot where a great rock rose straight

up in the middle of the road. Instantly the Serpent uncoiled itself from his neck, and, as it touched the damp

earth, it resumed the shape of the lovely damsel. Pointing to the rock, she showed him an opening just big

enough for a man to wriggle through. Passing into it, they entered a long underground passage, which led out

on to a wide field, above which spread a blue sky. In the middle of the field stood a magnificent castle, built

out of porphyry, with a roof of gold and with glittering battlements. And his beautiful guide told him that this

was the palace in which her father lived and reigned over his kingdom in the Underworld.

Together they entered the palace, and were received by the King with great kindness. Turning to his daughter,

'My child, I had almost given up the hope of ever seeing you again. Where have you been all these years?'

'My father,' she replied, 'I owe my life to this youth, who saved me from a terrible death.'

Upon which the King turned to Martin with a gracious smile, saying: 'I will reward your courage by granting

you whatever your heart desires. Take as much gold, silver, and precious stones as you choose.'

'I thank you, mighty King, for your gracious offer,' answered Martin,' 'but I do not covet either gold, silver, or

precious stones; yet if you will grant me a favour, give me, I beg, the ring from off the little finger of your

royal hand. Every time my eye falls on it I shall think of your gracious Majesty, and when I marry I shall

So the King took the ring from his finger and gave it to Martin, saying: 'Take it, good youth; but with it I

make one condition you are never to confide to anyone that this is a magic ring. If you do, you will

Martin took the ring, and, having thanked the King, he set out on the same road by which he had come down

into the Underworld. When he had regained the upper air he started for his old home, and having found his

mother still living in the old house where he had left her, they settled down together very happily. So

uneventful was their life that it almost seemed as if it would go on in this way always, without let or

hindrance. But one day it suddenly came into his mind that he would like to get married, and, moreover, that

he would choose a very grand wifea King's daughter, in short. But as he did not trust himself as a wooer,

'You must go to the King,' he said to her, 'and demand the hand of his lovely daughter in marriage for me.'

'What are you thinking of, my son?' answered the old woman, aghast at the idea. 'Why cannot you marry

someone in your own rank? That would be far more fitting than to send a poor old woman like me awooing

to the King's Court for the hand of a Princess. Why, it is as much as our heads are worth. Neither my life nor

'Never fear, little mother,' answered Martin. 'Trust me; all will be well. But see that you do not come back

And so, obedient to her son's behest, the old woman hobbled off to the palace, and, without being hindered,

reached the courtyard, and began to mount the flight of steps leading to the royal presence chamber. At the

head of the landing rows of courtiers were collected in magnificent attire, who stared at the queer old figure,

and called to her, and explained to her, with every kind of sign, that it was strictly forbidden to mount those

steps. But their stern words and forbidding gestures made no impression whatever on the old woman, and she

resolutely continued to climb the stairs, bent on carrying out her son's orders. Upon this some of the courtiers

seized her by the arms, and held her back by sheer force, at which she set up such a yell that the King himself

heard it, and stepped out on to the balcony to see what was the matter. When he beheld the old woman

flinging her arms wildly about, and heard her scream that she would not leave the place till she had laid her

case before the King, he ordered that she should be brought into his presence. And forthwith she was

conducted into the golden presence chamber, where, leaning back amongst cushions of royal purple, the King

sat, surrounded by his counsellors and courtiers. Courtesying low, the old woman stood silent before him.

'I have come,' replied Martin's mother'and your Majesty must not be angry with meI have come

But Martin's mother answered boldly: 'If the King will only listen patiently to me, and give me a

straightforward answer, he will see that I am not out of my mind. You, O King, have a lovely daughter to

give in marriage. I have a sona wooeras clever a youth and as good a soninlaw as you will find in

your whole kingdom. There is nothing that he cannot do. Now tell me, O King, plump and plain, will you

give your daughter to my son as wife?' The King listened to the end of the old woman's strange request, but

every moment his face grew blacker, and his features sterner; till all at once he thought to himself, 'Is it worth

while that I, the King, should be angry with this poor old fool?' And all the courtiers and counsellors were

amazed when they saw the hard lines round his mouth and the frown on his brow grow smooth, and heard the

'If your son is as wonderfully clever as you say, and if there is nothing in the world that he cannot do, let him

build a magnificent castle, just opposite my palace windows, in four and twenty hours. The palace must be

joined together by a bridge of pure crystal. On each side of the bridge there must be growing trees, having

golden and silver apples, and with birds of Paradise among the branches. At the right of the bridge there must

be a church, with five golden cupolas; in this church your son shall be wedded to my daughter, and we will

keep the wedding festivities in the new castle. But if he fails to execute this my royal command, then, as a

just but mild monarch, I shall give orders that you and he are taken, and first dipped in tar and then in

feathers, and you shall be executed in the marketplace for the entertainment of my courtiers.'

And a smile played round the King's lips as he finished speaking, and his courtiers and counsellors shook

with laughter when they thought of the old woman's folly, and praised the King's wise device, and said to

each other, 'What a joke it will be when we see the pair of them tarred and feathered! The son is just as able

to grow a beard on the palm of his hand as to execute such a task in twentyfour hours.'

'Is that really your royal will, O King? Must I take this order to my poor son?'

'Yes, old dame; such is my command. If your son carries out my order, he shall be rewarded with my

On her way home the poor old woman shed bitter tears, and when she saw Martin she told him what the King

'Didn't I tell you, my son, that you should marry someone of your own rank? It would have been better for us

this day if you had. As I told you, my going to Court has been as much as our lives are worth, and now we

will both be tarred and feathered, and burnt in the public marketplace. It is terrible!' and she moaned and

'Never fear, little mother,' answered Martin; 'trust me, and you will see all will be well. You may go to sleep

And, stepping to the front of the hut, Martin threw his ring from the palm of one hand into the other, upon

which twelve youths instantly appeared, and demanded what he wanted them to do. Then he told them the

King's commands, and they answered that by next morning all should be accomplished exactly as the King

Next morning when the King awoke, and looked out of his window, to his amazement he beheld a

magnificent castle, just opposite his own palace, and joined to it a bridge of pure crystal.

At each side of the bridge trees were growing, from whose branches hung golden and silver apples, among

which birds of Paradise perched. At the right, gleaming in the sun, were the five golden cupolas of a splendid

church, whose bells rang out, as if they would summon people from all corners of the earth to come and

behold the wonder. Now, though the King would much rather have seen his future soninlaw tarred,

feathered, and burnt at the stake, he remembered his royal oath, and had to make the best of a bad business.

So he took heart of grace, and made Martin a Duke, and gave his daughter a rich dowry, and prepared the

grandest weddingfeast that had ever been seen, so that to this day the old people in the country still talk of

After the wedding Martin and his royal bride went to dwell in the magnificent new palace, and here Martin

lived in the greatest comfort and luxury, such luxury as he had never imagined. But though he was as happy

as the day was long, and as merry as a grig, the King's daughter fretted all day, thinking of the indignity that

had been done her in making her marry Martin, the poor widow's son, instead of a rich young Prince from a

foreign country. So unhappy was she that she spent all her time wondering how she should get rid of her

undesirable husband. And first she determined to learn the secret of his power, and, with flattering, caressing

words, she tried to coax him to tell her how he was so clever that there was nothing in the world that he could

not do. At first he would tell her nothing; but once, when he was in a yielding mood, she approached him

with a winning smile on her lovely face, and, speaking flattering words to him, she gave him a potion to

drink, with a sweet, strong taste. And when he had drunk it Martin's lips were unsealed, and he told her that

all his power lay in the magic ring that he wore on his finger, and he described to her how to use it, and, still

speaking, he fell into a deep sleep. And when she saw that the potion had worked, and that he was sound

asleep, the Princess took the magic ring from his finger, and, going into the courtyard, she threw it from the

On the instant the twelve youths appeared, and asked her what she commanded them to do. Then she told

them that by the next morning they were to do away with the castle, and the bridge, and the church, and put in

their stead the humble hut in which Martin used to live with his mother, and that while he slept her husband

was to be carried to his old lowly room; and that they were to bear her away to the utmost ends of the earth,

where an old King lived who would make her welcome in his palace, and surround her with the state that

'You shall be obeyed,' answered the twelve youths at the same moment. And lo and behold! the following

morning, when the King awoke and looked out of his window he beheld to his amazement that the palace,

bridge, church, and trees had all vanished, and there was nothing in their place but a bare, miserablelooking

Immediately the King sent for his soninlaw, and commanded him to explain what had happened. But

Martin looked at his royal fatherinlaw, and answered never a word. Then the King was very angry, and,

calling a council together, he charged Martin with having been guilty of witchcraft, and of having deceived

the King, and having made away with the Princess; and he was condemned to imprisonment in a high stone

Then, in the hour of his dire necessity, his old friends Schurka (the dog) and Waska (the cat) remembered

how Martin had once saved them from a cruel death; and they took counsel together as to how they should

help him. And Schurka growled, and was of opinion that he would like to tear everyone in pieces; but Waska

purred meditatively, and scratched the back of her ear with a velvet paw, and remained lost in thought. At the

end of a few minutes she had made up her mind, and, turning to Schurka, said: 'Let us go together into the

town, and the moment we meet a baker you must make a rush between his legs and upset the tray from off his

head; I will lay hold of the rolls, and will carry them off to our master.' No sooner said than done. Together

the two faithful creatures trotted off into the town, and very soon they met a baker bearing a tray on his head,

At that moment Schurka made a rush between his legsthe baker stumbled, the tray was upset, the rolls fell

to the ground, and, while the man angrily pursued Schurka, Waska managed to drag the rolls out of sight

behind a bush. And when a moment later Schurka joined her, they set off at full tilt to the stone tower where

Martin was a prisoner, taking the rolls with them. Waska, being very agile, climbed up by the outside to the

'Scarcely alivealmost starved to death,' answered Martin in a weak voice. 'I little thought it would come to

'Never fear, dear master. Schurka and I will look after you,' said Waska. And in another moment she had

climbed down and brought him back a roll, and then another, and another, till she had brought him the whole

trayload. Upon which she said: 'Dear master, Schurka and I are going off to a distant kingdom at the utmost

ends of the earth to fetch you back your magic ring. You must be careful that the rolls last till our return.'

And Waska took leave of her beloved master, and set off with Schurka on their journey. On and on they

travelled, looking always to right and left for traces of the Princess, following up every track, making

inquiries of every cat and dog they met, listening to the talk of every wayfarer they passed; and at last they

heard that the kingdom at the utmost ends of the earth where the twelve youths had borne the Princess was

not very far off. And at last one day they reached that distant kingdom, and, going at once to the palace, they

began to make friends with all the dogs and cats in the place, and to question them about the Princess and the

magic ring; but no one could tell them much about either. Now one day it chanced that Waska had gone down

to the palace cellar to hunt for mice and rats, and seeing an especially fat, wellfed mouse, she pounced upon

it, buried her claws in its soft fur, and was just going to gobble it up, when she was stopped by the pleading

tones of the little creature, saying, 'If you will only spare my life I may be of great service to you. I will do

everything in my power for you; for I am the King of the Mice, and if I perish the whole race will die out.'

'So be it,' said Waska. 'I will spare your life; but in return you must do something for me. In this castle there

lives a Princess, the wicked wife of my dear master. She has stolen away his magic ring. You must get it

away from her at whatever cost; do you hear? Till you have done this I won't take my claws out of your fur.'

'Good!' replied the mouse; 'I will do what you ask.' And, so saying, he summoned all the mice in his kingdom

together. A countless number of mice, small and big, brown and grey, assembled, and formed a circle round

their king, who was a prisoner under Waska's claws. Turning to them he said: 'Dear and faithful subjects, who

ever among you will steal the magic ring from the strange Princess will release me from a cruel death; and I

Instantly a tiny mouse stepped forward and said: 'I often creep about the Princess's bedroom at night, and I

have noticed that she has a ring which she treasures as the apple of her eye. All day she wears it on her finger,

and at night she keeps it in her mouth. I will undertake, sire, to steal away the ring for you.'

And the tiny mouse tripped away into the bedroom of the Princess, and waited for nightfall; then, when the

Princess had fallen asleep, it crept up on to her bed, and gnawed a hole in the pillow, through which it

dragged one by one little down feathers, and threw them under the Princess's nose. And the fluff flew into the

Princess's nose, and into her mouth, and starting up she sneezed and coughed, and the ring fell out of her

mouth on to the coverlet. In a flash the tiny mouse had seized it, and brought it to Waska as a ransom for the

King of the Mice. Thereupon Waska and Schurka started off, and travelled night and day till they reached the

stone tower where Martin was imprisoned; and the cat climbed up the window, and called out to him:

'Ah! Waska, my faithful little cat, is that you?' replied a weak voice. 'I am dying of hunger. For three days I

'Be of good heart, dear master,' replied Waska; 'from this day forth you will know nothing but happiness and

prosperity. If this were a moment to trouble you with riddles, I would make you guess what Schurka and I

At these words Martin's joy knew no bounds, and he stroked her fondly, and she rubbed up against him and

purred happily, while below Schurka bounded in the air, and barked joyfully. Then Martin took the ring, and

threw it from one hand into the other, and instantly the twelve youths appeared and asked what they were to

'Fetch me first something to eat and drink, as quickly as possible; and after that bring musicians hither, and

Now when the people in the town and palace heard music coming from the tower they were filled with

amazement, and came to the King with the news that witchcraft must be going on in Martin's Tower, for,

instead of dying of starvation, he was seemingly making merry to the sound of music, and to the clatter of

plates, and glass, and knives and forks; and the music was so enchantingly sweet that all the passersby stood

still to listen to it. On this the King sent at once a messenger to the Starvation Tower, and he was so

astonished with what he saw that he remained rooted to the spot. Then the King sent his chief counsellors,

and they too were transfixed with wonder. At last the King came himself, and he likewise was spellbound by

Then Martin summoned the twelve youths, spoke to them, saying, 'Build up my castle again, and join it to the

King's Palace with a crystal bridge; do not forget the trees with the golden and silver apples, and with the

birds of Paradise in the branches; and put back the church with the five cupolas, and let the bells ring out,

summoning the people from the four corners of the kingdom. And one thing more: bring back my faithless

And it was all done as he commanded, and, leaving the Starvation Tower, he took the King, his

fatherinlaw, by the arm, and led him into the new palace, where the Princess sat in fear and trembling,

awaiting her death. And Martin spoke to the King, saying, 'King and royal father, I have suffered much at the

Then the mild King answered: 'Beloved Prince and soninlaw, if you love me, let your anger be turned to

And Martin's heart was softened and he forgave his wife, and they lived happily together ever after. And his

old mother came and lived with him, and he never parted with Schurka and Waska; and I need hardly tell you

A young Prince was riding one day through a meadow that stretched for miles in front of him, when he came

to a deep open ditch. He was turning aside to avoid it, when he heard the sound of someone crying in the

ditch. He dismounted from his horse, and stepped along in the direction the sound came from. To his

astonishment he found an old woman, who begged him to help her out of the ditch. The Prince bent down and

lifted her out of her living grave, asking her at the same time how she had managed to get there.

'My son,' answered the old woman, 'I am a very poor woman, and soon after midnight I set out for the

neighbouring town in order to sell my eggs in the market on the following morning; but I lost my way in the

dark, and fell into this deep ditch, where I might have remained for ever but for your kindness.'

Then the Prince said to her, 'You can hardly walk; I will put you on my horse and lead you home. Where do

'Over there, at the edge of the forest in the little hut you see in the distance,' replied the old woman.

The Prince lifted her on to his horse, and soon they reached the hut, where the old woman got down, and

turning to the Prince said, 'Just wait a moment, and I will give you something.' And she disappeared into her

hut, but returned very soon and said, 'You are a mighty Prince, but at the same time you have a kind heart,

which deserves to be rewarded. Would you like to have the most beautiful woman in the world for your

So the old woman continued, 'The most beautiful woman in the whole world is the daughter of the Queen of

the Flowers, who has been captured by a dragon. If you wish to marry her, you must first set her free, and this

I will help you to do. I will give you this little bell: if you ring it once, the King of the Eagles will appear; if

you ring it twice, the King of the Foxes will come to you; and if you ring it three times, you will see the King

of the Fishes by your side. These will help you if you are in any difficulty. Now farewell, and heaven prosper

your undertaking.' She handed him the little bell, and there disappeared hut and all, as though the earth had

Then it dawned on the Prince that he had been speaking to a good fairy, and putting the little bell carefully in

his pocket, he rode home and told his father that he meant to set the daughter of the Flower Queen free, and

intended setting out on the following day into the wide world in search of the maid.

So the next morning the Prince mounted his fine horse and left his home. He had roamed round the world for

a whole year, and his horse had died of exhaustion, while he himself had suffered much from want and

misery, but still he had come on no trace of her he was in search of. At last one day he came to a hut, in front

of which sat a very old man. The Prince asked him, 'Do you not know where the Dragon lives who keeps the

'No, I do not,' answered the old man. 'But if you go straight along this road for a year, you will reach a hut

The Prince thanked him for his information, and continued his journey for a whole year along the same road,

and at the end of it came to the little hut, where he found a very old man. He asked him the same question,

and the old man answered, 'No, I do not know where the Dragon lives. But go straight along this road for

another year, and you will come to a hut in which my father lives. I know he can tell you.'

And so the Prince wandered on for another year, always on the same road, and at last reached the hut where

he found the third old man. He put the same question to him as he had put to his son and grandson; but this

time the old man answered, 'The Dragon lives up there on the mountain, and he has just begun his year of

sleep. For one whole year he is always awake, and the next he sleeps. But if you wish to see the Flower

Queen's daughter go up the second mountain: the Dragon's old mother lives there, and she has a ball every

So the Prince went up the second mountain, where he found a castle all made of gold with diamond windows.

He opened the big gate leading into the courtyard, and was just going to walk in, when seven dragons rushed

The Prince replied, 'I have heard so much of the beauty and kindness of the Dragon's Mother, and would like

This flattering speech pleased the dragons, and the eldest of them said, 'Well, you may come with me, and I

They entered the castle and walked through twelve splendid halls, all made of gold and diamonds. In the

twelfth room they found the Mother Dragon seated on a diamond throne. She was the ugliest woman under

the sun, and, added to it all, she had three heads. Her appearance was a great shock to the Prince, and so was

her voice, which was like the croaking of many ravens. She asked him, 'Why have you come here?'

The Prince answered at once, 'I have heard so much of your beauty and kindness, that I would very much like

'Very well,' said the Mother Dragon; 'but if you wish to enter my service, you must first lead my mare out to

the meadow and look after her for three days; but if you don't bring her home safely every evening, we will

But no sooner had they reached the grass than she vanished. The Prince sought for her in vain, and at last in

despair sat down on a big stone and contemplated his sad fate. As he sat thus lost in thought, he noticed an

eagle flying over his head. Then he suddenly bethought him of his little bell, and taking it out of his pocket he

rang it once. In a moment he heard a rustling sound in the air beside him, and the King of the Eagles sank at

'I know what you want of me,' the bird said. 'You are looking for the Mother Dragon's mare who is galloping

about among the clouds. I will summon all the eagles of the air together, and order them to catch the mare

and bring her to you.' And with these words the King of the Eagles flew away. Towards evening the Prince

heard a mighty rushing sound in the air, and when he looked up he saw thousands of eagles driving the mare

before them. They sank at his feet on to the ground and gave the mare over to him. Then the Prince rode

home to the old Mother Dragon, who was full of wonder when she saw him, and said, 'You have succeeded

today in looking after my mare, and as a reward you shall come to my ball tonight.' She gave him at the

same time a cloak made of copper, and led him to a big room where several young hedragons and

shedragons were dancing together. Here, too, was the Flower Queen's beautiful daughter. Her dress was

woven out of the most lovely flowers in the world, and her complexion was like lilies and roses. As the

Prince was dancing with her he managed to whisper in her ear, 'I have come to set you free!'

Then the beautiful girl said to him, 'If you succeed in bringing the mare back safely the third day, ask the

The ball came to an end at midnight, and early next morning the Prince again led the Mother Dragon's mare

out into the meadow. But again she vanished before his eyes. Then he took out his little bell and rang it twice.

In a moment the King of the Foxes stood before him and said: 'I know already what you want, and will

summon all the foxes of the world together to find the mare who has hidden herself in a hill.'

With these words the King of the Foxes disappeared, and in the evening many thousand foxes brought the

Then he rode home to the MotherDragon, from whom he received this time a cloak made of silver, and

The Flower Queen's daughter was delighted to see him safe and sound, and when they were dancing together

she whispered in his ear: 'If you succeed again tomorrow, wait for me with the foal in the meadow. After the

On the third day the Prince led the mare to the meadow again; but once more she vanished before his eyes.

In a moment the King of the Fishes appeared, and said to him: 'I know quite well what you want me to do,

and I will summon all the fishes of the sea together, and tell them to bring you back the mare, who is hiding

Towards evening the mare was returned to him, and when he led her home to the Mother Dragon she said to

'You are a brave youth, and I will make you my bodyservant. But what shall I give you as a reward to begin

The Prince begged for a foal of the mare, which the Mother Dragon at once gave him, and over and above, a

cloak made of gold, for she had fallen in love with him because he had praised her beauty.

So in the evening he appeared at the ball in his golden cloak; but before the entertainment was over he

slipped away, and went straight to the stables, where he mounted his foal and rode out into the meadow to

wait for the Flower Queen's daughter. Towards midnight the beautiful girl appeared, and placing her in front

of him on his horse, the Prince and she flew like the wind till they reached the Flower Queen's dwelling. But

the dragons had noticed their flight, and woke their brother out of his year's sleep. He flew into a terrible rage

when he heard what had happened, and determined to lay siege to the Flower Queen's palace; but the Queen

caused a forest of flowers as high as the sky to grow up round her dwelling, through which no one could

When the Flower Queen heard that her daughter wanted to marry the Prince, she said to him: 'I will give my

consent to your marriage gladly, but my daughter can only stay with you in summer. In winter, when

everything is dead and the ground covered with snow, she must come and live with me in my palace

underground.' The Prince consented to this, and led his beautiful bride home, where the wedding was held

with great pomp and magnificence. The young couple lived happily together till winter came, when the

Flower Queen's daughter departed and went home to her mother. In summer she returned to her husband, and

their life of joy and happiness began again, and lasted till the approach of winter, when the Flower Queen's

daughter went back again to her mother. This coming and going continued all her life long, and in spite of it

Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had three sons; the two elder were clever, but the third was a

regular dunce. The clever sons were very fond of their mother, gave her good clothes, and always spoke

pleasantly to her; but the youngest was always getting in her way, and she had no patience with him. Now,

one day it was announced in the village that the King had issued a decree, offering his daughter, the Princess,

in marriage to whoever should build a ship that could fly. Immediately the two elder brothers determined to

try their luck, and asked their parents' blessing. So the old mother smartened up their clothes, and gave them a

store of provisions for their journey, not forgetting to add a bottle of brandy. When they had gone the poor

'What would become of a dolt like you?' she answered. 'Why, you would be eaten up by wolves.'

Seeing that she could do nothing with him, the mother gave him a crust of bread and a bottle of water, and

So the Simpleton set off on his way. When he had gone a short distance he met a little old manikin. They

'I am off to the King's Court,' he answered. 'He has promised to give his daughter to whoever can make a

'Well, if that is the case,' said the manikin, 'sit down beside me; we can rest for a little and have something to

Now, the poor Simpleton was ashamed to show what was in it. However, he thought it best not to make a

fuss, so he opened the satchel, and could scarcely believe his own eyes, for, instead of the hard crust, he saw

two beautiful fresh rolls and some cold meat. He shared them with the manikin, who licked his lips and said:

'Now, go into that wood, and stop in front of the first tree, bow three times, and then strike the tree with your

axe, fall on your knees on the ground, with your face on the earth, and remain there till you are raised up.

You will then find a ship at your side, step into it and fly to the King's Palace. If you meet anyone on the way,

The Simpleton thanked the manikin very kindly, bade him farewell, and went into the road. When he got to

the first tree he stopped in front of it, did everything just as he had been told, and, kneeling on the ground

with his face to the earth, fell asleep. After a little time he was aroused; he awoke and, rubbing his eyes, saw

And the ship rose and rose, and in another minute was flying through the air, when the Simpleton, who was

on the look out, cast his eyes down to the earth and saw a man beneath him on the road, who was kneeling

So the man was only too glad, and got in beside him; and the ship flew, and flew, and flew through the air,

till again from his outlook the Simpleton saw a man on the road below, who was hopping on one leg, while

'I can't help it,' replied the man. 'I walk so fast that unless I tied up one leg I should be at the end of the earth

'Come with us on my ship,' he answered; and the man made no objections, but joined them; and the ship flew

on, and on, and on, till suddenly the Simpleton, looking down on the road below, beheld a man aiming with a

'Hallo!' he shouted to him, 'what are you aiming at? As far as eye can see, there is no bird in sight.'

'What would be the good of my taking a near shot?' replied the man; 'I can hit beast or bird at a hundred

'Come into the ship with us,' answered the Simpleton; and the man was only too glad to join them, and he got

in; and the ship flew on, farther and farther, till again the Simpleton from his outlook saw a man on the road

below, carrying on his back a basket full of bread. And he waved to him, calling out:

And so the glutton joined the party, and the ship mounted again into the air, and flew up and onward, till the

Simpleton from his outlook saw a man walking by the shore of a great lake, and evidently looking for

'Do you call that enough?' answered the other. 'Why, I should drink it up in one gulp.'

And so the mighty drinker was added to the company; and the ship flew farther, and even farther, till again

the Simpleton looked out, and this time he saw a man dragging a bundle of wood, walking through the forest

'If you throw it upon the ground,' said the man, 'it will be changed into an army of soldiers.'

And so he too joined them; and away the ship flew on, and on, and on, and once more the Simpleton looked

'Ah! but this is quite a peculiar straw. If you strew it about even in the hottest summer the air at once becomes

At last the ship, with its strange crew, arrived at the King's Court. The King was having his dinner, but he at

once despatched one of his courtiers to find out what the huge, strange new bird could be that had come

flying through the air. The courtier peeped into the ship, and, seeing what it was, instantly went back to the

King and told him that it was a flying ship, and that it was manned by a few peasants.

Then the King remembered his royal oath; but he made up his mind that he would never consent to let the

Princess marry a poor peasant. So he thought and thought, and then said to himself:

'I will give him some impossible tasks to perform; that will be the best way of getting rid of him.' And he

there and then decided to despatch one of his courtiers to the Simpleton, with the command that he was to

fetch the King the healing water from the world's end before he had finished his dinner.

But while the King was still instructing the courtier exactly what he was to say, the first man of the ship's

company, the one with the miraculous power of hearing, had overheard the King's words, and hastily reported

'Alas, alas!' he cried; 'what am I to do now? It would take me quite a year, possibly my whole life, to find the

'Tell his Majesty,' said the Simpleton, 'that his orders shall be obeyed; 'and forthwith the swift runner

unbound the foot that was strung up behind his ear and started off, and in less than no time had reached the

'Dear me,' he thought to himself, 'that's rather tiring! I'll just rest for a few minutes; it will be some little time

yet before the King has got to dessert.' So he threw himself down on the grass, and, as the sun was very

In the meantime all the ship's crew were anxiously awaiting him; the King's dinner would soon be finished,

and their comrade had not yet returned. So the man with the marvellous quick hearing lay down and, putting

'That's a nice sort of fellow!' he suddenly exclaimed. 'He's lying on the ground, snoring hard!'

At this the marksman seized his gun, took aim, and fired in the direction of the world's end, in order to

awaken the sluggard. And a moment later the swift runner reappeared, and, stepping on board the ship,

handed the healing water to the Simpleton. So while the King was still sitting at table finishing his dinner

What was to be done now? The King determined to think of a still more impossible task. So he told another

courtier to go to the Simpleton with the command that he and his comrades were instantly to eat up twelve

oxen and twelve tons of bread. Once more the sharpeared comrade overheard the King's words while he was

'Alas, alas!' he sighed; 'what in the world shall I do? Why, it would take us a year, possibly our whole lives,

'Never fear,' said the glutton. 'It will scarcely be enough for me, I'm so hungry.'

So when the courtier arrived with the royal message he was told to take back word to the King that his orders

should be obeyed. Then twelve roasted oxen and twelve tons of bread were brought alongside of the ship, and

Next, the King ordered that forty casks of wine, containing forty gallons each, were to be drunk up on the

spot by the Simpleton and his party. When these words were overheard by the sharpeared comrade and

'Alas, alas!' he exclaimed; 'what is to be done? It would take us a year, possibly our whole lives, to drink so

'Never fear,' said his thirsty comrade. 'I'll drink it all up at a gulp, see if I don't.' And sure enough, when the

forty casks of wine containing forty gallons each were brought alongside of the ship, they disappeared down

Then the King took counsel with himself and sent an order to the Simpleton that he was to have a bath, in a

bathroom at the royal palace, and after that the betrothal should take place. Now the bathroom was built of

iron, and the King gave orders that it was to be heated to such a pitch that it would suffocate the Simpleton.

And so when the poor silly youth entered the room, he discovered that the iron walls were red hot. But,

fortunately, his comrade with the straw on his back had entered behind him, and when the door was shut upon

them he scattered the straw about, and suddenly the redhot walls cooled down, and it became so very cold

that the Simpleton could scarcely bear to take a bath, and all the water in the room froze. So the Simpleton

climbed up upon the stove, and, wrapping himself up in the bath blankets, lay there the whole night. And in

the morning when they opened the door there he lay sound and safe, singing cheerfully to himself.

Now when this strange tale was told to the King he became quite sad, not knowing what he should do to get

rid of so undesirable a soninlaw, when suddenly a brilliant idea occurred to him.

'Tell the rascal to raise me an army, now at this instant!' he exclaimed to one of his courtiers. 'Inform him at

once of this, my royal will.' And to himself he added, 'I think I shall do for him this time.'

As on former occasions, the quickeared comrade had overheard the King's command and repeated it to the

'Not at all,' replied one of his comrades (the one who had dragged the bundle of wood through the forest).

In the meantime the courtier, who had run all the way from the palace, reached the ship panting and

'Good!' remarked the Simpleton. 'I will raise an army for the King,' and he drew himself up. 'But if, after that,

the King refuses to accept me as his soninlaw, I will wage war against him, and carry the Princess off by

During the night the Simpleton and his comrade went, together into a big field, not forgetting to take the

bundle of wood with them, which the man spread out in all directionsand in a moment a mighty army

stood upon the spot, regiment on regiment of foot and horse soldiers; the bugles sounded and the drums beat,

the chargers neighed, and their riders put their lances in rest, and the soldiers presented arms.

In the morning when the King awoke he was startled by these warlike sounds, the bugles and the drums, and

the clatter of the horses, and the shouts of the soldiers. And, stepping to the window, he saw the lances gleam

in the sunlight and the armour and weapons glitter. And the proud monarch said to himself, 'I am powerless

in comparison with this man.' So he sent him royal robes and costly jewels, and commanded him to come to

the palace to be married to the Princess. And his soninlaw put on the royal robes, and he looked so grand

and stately that it was impossible to recognise the poor Simpleton, so changed was he; and the Princess fell in

Never before had so grand a wedding been seen, and there was so much food and wine that even the glutton

There was once upon a time a man and his wife, and they had no children, which was a great grief to them.

One winter's day, when the sun was shining brightly, the couple were standing outside their cottage, and the

woman was looking at all the little icicles which hung from the roof. She sighed, and turning to her husband

said, 'I wish I had as many children as there are icicles hanging there.' 'Nothing would please me more either,'

replied her husband. Then a tiny icicle detached itself from the roof, and dropped into the woman's mouth,

who swallowed it with a smile, and said, 'Perhaps I shall give birth to a snow child now!' Her husband

But after a short time the woman gave birth to a little girl, who was as white as snow and as cold as ice. If

they brought the child anywhere near the fire, it screamed loudly till they put it back into some cool place.

The little maid throve wonderfully, and in a few months she could run about and speak. But she was not

altogether easy to bring up, and gave her parents much trouble and anxiety, for all summer she insisted on

spending in the cellar, and in the winter she would sleep outside in the snow, and the colder it was the happier

she seemed to be. Her father and mother called her simply 'Our Snowdaughter,' and this name stuck to her

One day her parents sat by the fire, talking over the extraordinary behaviour of their daughter, who was

disporting herself in the snowstorm that raged outside. The woman sighed deeply and said, 'I wish I had given

birth to a Fireson!' As she said these words, a spark from the big wood fire flew into the woman's lap, and

she said with a laugh, 'Now perhaps I shall give birth to a Fireson!' The man laughed at his wife's words,

and thought it was a good joke. But he ceased to think it a joke when his wife shortly afterwards gave birth to

a boy, who screamed lustily till he was put quite close to the fire, and who nearly yelled himself into a fit if

the Snowdaughter came anywhere near him. The Snowdaughter herself avoided him as much as she could,

and always crept into a corner as far away from him as possible. The parents called the boy simply 'Our

Fireson,' a name which stuck to him all his life. They had a great deal of trouble and worry with him too; but

he throve and grew very quickly, and before he was a year old he could run about and talk. He was as red as

fire, and as hot to touch, and he always sat on the hearth quite close to the fire, and complained of the cold; if

his sister were in the room he almost crept into the flames, while the girl on her part always complained of

the great heat if her brother were anywhere near. In summer the boy always lay out in the sun, while the girl

hid herself in the cellar: so it happened that the brother and sister came very little into contact with each

Just as the girl grew up into a beautiful woman, her father and mother both died one after the other. Then the

Fireson, who had grown up in the meantime into a fine, strong young man, said to his sister, 'I am going out

'I shall go with you,' she answered, 'for, except you, I have no one in the world, and I have a feeling that if we

The Fireson said, 'I love you with all my heart, but at the same time I always freeze if you are near me, and

you nearly die of heat if I approach you! How shall we travel about together without being odious the one to

'Don't worry about that,' replied the girl, 'for I've thought it all over, and have settled on a plan which will

make us each able to bear with the other! See, I have had a fur cloak made for each of us, and if we put them

on I shall not feel the heat so much nor you the cold.' So they put on the fur cloaks, and set out cheerfully on

their way, and for the first time in their lives quite happy in each other's company.

For a long time the Fireson and the Snowdaughter wandered through the world, and when at the beginning

of winter they came to a big wood they determined to stay there till spring. The Fireson built himself a hut

where he always kept up a huge fire, while his sister with very few clothes on stayed outside night and day.

Now it happened one day that the King of the land held a hunt in this wood, and saw the Snowdaughter

wandering about in the open air. He wondered very much who the beautiful girl clad in such garments could

be, and he stopped and spoke to her. He soon learnt that she could not stand heat, and that her brother could

not endure cold. The King was so charmed by the Snowdaughter, that he asked her to be his wife. The girl

consented, and the wedding was held with much state. The King had a huge house of ice made for his wife

underground, so that even in summer it did not melt. But for his brotherinlaw he had a house built with

huge ovens all round it, that were kept heated all day and night. The Fireson was delighted, but the perpetual

heat in which he lived made his body so hot, that it was dangerous to go too close to him.

One day the King gave a great feast, and asked his brotherin law among the other guests. The Fireson did

not appear till everyone had assembled, and when he did, everyone fled outside to the open air, so intense

was the heat he gave forth. Then the King was very angry and said, 'If I had known what a lot of trouble you

would have been, I would never have taken you into my house.' Then the Fireson replied with a laugh,

'Don't be angry, dear brother! I love heat and my sister loves coldcome here and let me embrace you, and

then I'll go home at once.' And before the King had time to reply, the Fireson seized him in a tight embrace.

The King screamed aloud in agony, and when his wife, the Snowdaughter, who had taken refuge from her

brother in the next room, hurried to him, the King lay dead on the ground burnt to a cinder. When the

Snowdaughter saw this she turned on her brother and flew at him. Then a fight began, the like of which had

never been seen on earth. When the people, attracted by the noise, hurried to the spot, they saw the

Snowdaughter melting into water and the Fireson burn to a cinder. And so ended the unhappy brother and

There was once upon a time a peasantwoman who had a daughter and a stepdaughter. The daughter had

her own way in everything, and whatever she did was right in her mother's eyes; but the poor stepdaughter

had a hard time. Let her do what she would, she was always blamed, and got small thanks for all the trouble

she took; nothing was right, everything wrong; and yet, if the truth were known, the girl was worth her

weight in goldshe was so unselfish and goodhearted. But her stepmother did not like her, and the poor

girl's days were spent in weeping; for it was impossible to live peacefully with the woman. The wicked shrew

was determined to get rid of the girl by fair means or foul, and kept saying to her father: 'Send her away, old

man; send her awayanywhere so that my eyes sha'n't be plagued any longer by the sight of her, or my ears

tormented by the sound of her voice. Send her out into the fields, and let the cutting frost do for her.'

In vain did the poor old father weep and implore her pity; she was firm, and he dared not gainsay her. So he

placed his daughter in a sledge, not even daring to give her a horsecloth to keep herself warm with, and

drove her out on to the bare, open fields, where he kissed her and left her, driving home as fast as he could,

Deserted by her father, the poor girl sat down under a firtree at the edge of the forest and began to weep

silently. Suddenly she heard a faint sound: it was King Frost springing from tree to tree, and cracking his

fingers as he went. At length he reached the firtree beneath which she was sitting, and with a crisp crackling

'Well, maiden,' he snapped out, 'do you know who I am? I am King Frost, king of the rednoses.'

'All hail to you, great King!' answered the girl, in a gentle, trembling voice. 'Have you come to take me?'

Then King Frost stooped down, and bent over the girl, and the crackling sound grew louder, and the air

And though her breath was almost frozen on her lips, she whispered gently, 'Quite warm, King Frost.'

Then King Frost gnashed his teeth, and cracked his fingers, and his eyes sparkled, and the crackling, crisp

And the poor girl was so stiff and numb that she could just gasp, 'Still warm, O King!'

Now her gentle, courteous words and her uncomplaining ways touched King Frost, and he had pity on her,

and he wrapped her up in furs, and covered her with blankets, and he fetched a great box, in which were

beautiful jewels and a rich robe embroidered in gold and silver. And she put it on, and looked more lovely

than ever, and King Frost stepped with her into his sledge, with six white horses.

In the meantime the wicked stepmother was waiting at home for news of the girl's death, and preparing

pancakes for the funeral feast. And she said to her husband: 'Old man, you had better go out into the fields

and find your daughter's body and bury her.' Just as the old man was leaving the house the little dog under the

'Hold your tongue, you foolish beast!' scolded the woman. 'There's a pancake for you, but you must say:

Then the old woman tried to coax the doggie with more pancakes and to terrify it with blows, but he barked

on, always repeating the same words. And suddenly the door creaked and flew open, and a great heavy chest

was pushed in, and behind it came the stepdaughter, radiant and beautiful, in a dress all glittering with silver

and gold. For a moment the stepmother's eyes were dazzled. Then she called to her husband: 'Old man, yoke

the horses at once into the sledge, and take my daughter to the same field and leave her on the same spot

exactly; 'and so the old man took the girl and left her beneath the same tree where he had parted from his

daughter. In a few minutes King Frost came past, and, looking at the girl, he said:

'What a blind old fool you must be to ask such a question!' she answered angrily. 'Can't you see that my hands

Then King Frost sprang to and fro in front of her, questioning her, and getting only rude, rough words in

reply, till at last he got very angry, and cracked his fingers, and gnashed his teeth, and froze her to death.

But in the hut her mother was waiting for her return, and as she grew impatient she said to her husband: 'Get

out the horses, old man, to go and fetch her home; but see that you are careful not to upset the sledge and lose

'Don't tell such wicked lies!' scolded the woman. 'There's a cake for you; now say:

At that moment the door flew open, and she rushed out to meet her daughter, and as she took her frozen body

Many, many thousand years ago there lived a mighty King whom heaven had blessed with a clever and

beautiful son. When he was only ten years old the boy was cleverer than all the King's counsellors put

together, and when he was twenty he was the greatest hero in the whole kingdom. His father could not make

enough of his son, and always had him clothed in golden garments which shone and sparkled like the sun;

and his mother gave him a white horse, which never slept, and which flew like the wind. All the people in the

land loved him dearly, and called him the SunHero, for they did not think his like existed under the sun.

Now it happened one night that both his parents had the same extraordinary dream. They dreamt that a girl all

dressed in red had come to them and said: 'If you wish that your son should really become the SunHero in

deed and not only in name, let him go out into the world and search for the Tree of the Sun, and when he has

When the King and Queen had each related their dreams to the other, they were much amazed that they

should both have dreamt exactly the same about their son, and the King said to his wife, 'This is clearly a sign

from heaven that we should send our son out into the world in order that he may come home the great

The Queen consented with many tears, and the King at once bade his son set forth in search of the Tree of the

Sun, from which he was to pluck a golden apple. The Prince was delighted at the prospect, and set out on his

For a long time he wandered all through the world, and it was not till the ninetyninth day after he started

that he found an old man who was able to tell him where the Tree of the Sun grew. He followed his

directions, and rode on his way, and after another ninetynine days he arrived at a golden castle, which stood

in the middle of a vast wilderness. He knocked at the door, which was opened noiselessly and by invisible

hands. Finding no one about, the Prince rode on, and came to a great meadow, where the SunTree grew.

When he reached the tree he put out his hand to pick a golden apple; but all of a sudden the tree grew higher,

so that he could not reach its fruit. Then he heard some one behind him laughing. Turning round, he saw the

'Do you really imagine, brave son of the earth, that you can pluck an apple so easily from the Tree of the

Sun? Before you can do that, you have a difficult task before you. You must guard the tree for nine days and

nine nights from the ravages of two wild black wolves, who will try to harm it. Do you think you can

'Yes,' answered the SunHero, 'I will guard the Tree of the Sun nine days and nine nights.'

Then the girl continued: 'Remember, though, if you do not succeed the Sun will kill you. Now begin your

With these words the Red Girl went back into the golden castle. She had hardly left him when the two black

wolves appeared: but the SunHero beat them off with his sword, and they retired, only, however, to

reappear in a very short time. The SunHero chased them away once more, but he had hardly sat down to rest

when the two black wolves were on the scene again. This went on for seven days and nights, when the white

horse, who had never done such a thing before, turned to the SunHero and said in a human voice: 'Listen to

what I am going to say. A Fairy gave me to your mother in order that I might be of service to you; so let me

tell you, that if you go to sleep and let the wolves harm the tree, the Sun will surely kill you. The Fairy,

foreseeing this, put everyone in the world under a spell, which prevents their obeying the Sun's command to

take your life. But all the same, she has forgotten one person, who will certainly kill you if you fall asleep and

Then the SunHero strove with all his might and kept the black wolves at bay, and conquered his desire to

sleep; but on the eighth night his strength failed him, and he fell fast asleep. When he awoke a woman in

black stood beside him, who said: 'You have fulfilled your task very badly, for you have let the two black

wolves damage the Tree of the Sun. I am the mother of the Sun, and I command you to ride away from here

at once, and I pronounce sentence of death upon you, for you proudly let yourself be called the SunHero

The youth mounted his horse sadly, and rode home. The people all thronged round him on his return, anxious

to hear his adventures, but he told them nothing, and only to his mother did he confide what had befallen him.

But the old Queen laughed, and said to her son: 'Don't worry, my child; you see, the Fairy has protected you

After a time the Prince forgot all about his adventure, and married a beautiful Princess, with whom he lived

very happily for some time. But one day when he was out hunting he felt very thirsty, and coming to a stream

he stooped down to drink from it, and this caused his death, for a crab came swimming up, and with its claws

tore out his tongue. He was carried home in a dying condition, and as he lay on his deathbed the black

woman appeared and said: 'So the Sun has, after all, found someone, who was not under the Fairy's spell,

who has caused your death. And a similar fate will overtake everyone under the Sun who wrongfully assumes

Once upon a time there was a peasant whose wife died, leaving him with two childrentwinsa boy and a

girl. For some years the poor man lived on alone with the children, caring for them as best he could; but

everything in the house seemed to go wrong without a woman to look after it, and at last he made up his mind

to marry again, feeling that a wife would bring peace and order to his household and take care of his

motherless children. So he married, and in the following years several children were born to him; but peace

and order did not come to the household. For the stepmother was very cruel to the twins, and beat them, and

halfstarved them, and constantly drove them out of the house; for her one idea was to get them out of the

way. All day she thought of nothing but how she should get rid of them; and at last an evil idea came into her

head, and she determined to send them out into the great gloomy wood where a wicked witch lived. And so

'You have been such good children that I am going to send you to visit my granny, who lives in a dear little

hut in the wood. You will have to wait upon her and serve her, but you will be well rewarded, for she will

So the children left the house together; and the little sister, who was very wise for her years, said to the

'We will first go and see our own dear grandmother, and tell her where our stepmother is sending us.'

'You poor motherless children! How I pity you; and yet I can do nothing to help you! Your stepmother is

not sending you to her granny, but to a wicked witch who lives in that great gloomy wood. Now listen to me,

children. You must be civil and kind to everyone, and never say a cross word to anyone, and never touch a

crumb belonging to anyone else. Who knows if, after all, help may not be sent to you?'

And she gave her grandchildren a bottle of milk and a piece of ham and a loaf of bread, and they set out for

the great gloomy wood. When they reached it they saw in front of them, in the thickest of the trees, a queer

little hut, and when they looked into it, there lay the witch, with her head on the threshold of the door, with

one foot in one corner and the other in the other corner, and her knees cocked up, almost touching the ceiling.

And they answered civilly, though they were so terrified that they hid behind one another, and said:

'Goodmorning, granny; our stepmother has sent us to wait upon you, and serve you.'

'See that you do it well, then,' growled the witch. 'If I am pleased with you, I'll reward you; but if I am not, I'll

put you in a pan and fry you in the oventhat's what I'll do with you, my pretty dears! You have been gently

And, so saying, she set the girl down to spin yarn, and she gave the boy a sieve in which to carry water from

the well, and she herself went out into the wood. Now, as the girl was sitting at her distaff, weeping bitterly

because she could not spin, she heard the sound of hundreds of little feet, and from every hole and corner in

And the girl gave them the bread that her grandmother had given her. Then the mice told her that the witch

had a cat, and the cat was very fond of ham; if she would give the cat her ham, it would show her the way out

of the wood, and in the meantime they would spin the yarn for her. So the girl set out to look for the cat, and,

as she was hunting about, she met her brother, in great trouble because he could not carry water from the well

in a sieve, as it came pouring out as fast as he put it in. And as she was trying to comfort him they heard a

rustling of wings, and a flight of wrens alighted on the ground beside them. And the wrens said:

Then the twins crumbled their bread on the ground, and the wrens pecked it, and chirruped and chirped. And

when they had eaten the last crumb they told the boy to fill up the holes of the sieve with clay, and then to

draw water from the well. So he did what they said, and carried the sieve full of water into the hut without

spilling a drop. When they entered the hut the cat was curled up on the floor. So they stroked her, and fed her

Then the cat thanked them for the ham, and gave them a pocket handkerchief and a comb, and told them

that when the witch pursued them, as she certainly would, all they had to do was to throw the handkerchief on

the ground and run as fast as they could. As soon as the handkerchief touched the ground a deep, broad river

would spring up, which would hinder the witch's progress. If she managed to get across it, they must throw

the comb behind them and run for their lives, for where the comb fell a dense forest would start up, which

The cat had scarcely finished speaking when the witch returned to see if the children had fulfilled their tasks.

'Well, you have done well enough for today,' she grumbled; 'but tomorrow you'll have something more

difficult to do, and if you don't do it well, you pampered brats, straight into the oven you go.'

Halfdead with fright, and trembling in every limb, the poor children lay down to sleep on a heap of straw in

the corner of the hut; but they dared not close their eyes, and scarcely ventured to breathe. In the morning the

witch gave the girl two pieces of linen to weave before night, and the boy a pile of wood to cut into chips.

Then the witch left them to their tasks, and went out into the wood. As soon as she had gone out of sight the

children took the comb and the handkerchief, and, taking one another by the hand, they started and ran, and

ran, and ran. And first they met the watchdog, who was going to leap on them and tear them to pieces; but

they threw the remains of their bread to him, and he ate them and wagged his tail. Then they were hindered

by the birchtrees, whose branches almost put their eyes out. But the little sister tied the twigs together with a

piece of ribbon, and they got past safely, and, after running through the wood, came out on to the open fields.

In the meantime in the hut the cat was busy weaving the linen and tangling the threads as it wove. And the

witch returned to see how the children were getting on; and she crept up to the window, and whispered:

When the witch saw that the children had escaped her, she was furious, and, hitting the cat with a porringer,

she said: 'Why did you let the children leave the hut? Why did you not scratch their eyes out?'

But the cat curled up its tail and put its back up, and answered: 'I have served you all these years and you

never even threw me a bone, but the dear children gave me their own piece of ham.'

Then the witch was furious with the watchdog and with the birchtrees, because they had let the children

'I have served you all these years and you never gave me so much as a hard crust, but the dear children gave

And the birch rustled its leaves, and said: 'I have served you longer than I can say, and you never tied a bit of

twine even round my branches; and the dear children bound them up with their brightest ribbons.'

So the witch saw there was no help to be got from her old servants, and that the best thing she could do was

to mount on her broom and set off in pursuit of the children. And as the children ran they heard the sound of

the broom sweeping the ground close behind them, so instantly they threw the handkerchief down over their

When the witch came up to it, it took her a long time before she found a place which she could ford over on

her broomstick; but at last she got across, and continued the chase faster than before. And as the children

ran they heard a sound, and the little sister put her ear to the ground, and heard the broom sweeping the earth

close behind them; so, quick as thought, she threw the comb down on the ground, and in an instant, as the cat

had said, a dense forest sprung up, in which the roots and branches were so closely intertwined, that it was

impossible to force a way through it. So when the witch came up to it on her broom she found that there was

But the twins ran straight on till they reached their own home. Then they told their father all that they had

suffered, and he was so angry with their stepmother that he drove her out of the house, and never let her

return; but he and the children lived happily together; and he took care of them himself, and never let a

There was once upon a time a couple who had no children, and they prayed Heaven every day to send them a

child, though it were no bigger than a hazelnut. At last Heaven heard their prayer and sent them a child

exactly the size of a hazelnut, and it never grew an inch. The parents were very devoted to the little creature,

and nursed and tended it carefully. Their tiny son too was as clever as he could be, and so sharp and sensible

When the Hazelnut child was fifteen years old, and was sitting one day in an eggshell on the table beside

his mother, she turned to him and said, 'You are now fifteen years old, and nothing can be done with you.

Then his mother burst out laughing and said, 'What an idea! You a messenger! Why, your little feet would

But the Hazelnut child replied, 'Nevertheless I mean to be a messenger! Just send me a message and you'll

So his mother said, 'Very well, go to your aunt in the neighbouring village, and fetch me a comb.' The

Hazelnut child jumped quickly out of the eggshell and ran out into the street. Here he found a man on

horseback who was just setting out for the neighbouring village. He crept up the horse's leg, sat down under

the saddle, and then began to pinch the horse and to prick it with a pin. The horse plunged and reared and

then set off at a hard gallop, which it continued in spite of its rider's efforts to stop it. When they reached the

village, the Hazelnut child left off pricking the horse, and the poor tired creature pursued its way at a snail's

pace. The Hazelnut child took advantage of this, and crept down the horse's leg; then he ran to his aunt and

asked her for a comb. On the way home he met another rider, and did the return journey in exactly the same

way. When he handed his mother the comb that his aunt had given him, she was much amazed and asked

'Ah! mother,' he replied, 'you see I was quite right when I said I knew a messenger was the profession for me.'

His father too possessed a horse which he often used to take out into the fields to graze. One day he took the

Hazelnut child with him. At midday the father turned to his small son and said, 'Stay here and look after the

horse. I must go home and give your mother a message, but I shall be back soon.'

When his father had gone, a robber passed by and saw the horse grazing without any one watching it, for of

course he could not see the Hazelnut child hidden in the grass. So he mounted the horse and rode away. But

the Hazelnut child, who was the most active little creature, climbed up the horse's tail and began to bite it on

the back, enraging the creature to such an extent that it paid no attention to the direction the robber tried to

make it go in, but galloped straight home. The father was much astonished when he saw a stranger riding his

horse, but the Hazelnut child climbed down quickly and told him all that had happened, and his father had

One autumn when the Hazelnut child was twenty years old he said to his parents: 'Farewell, my dear father

and mother. I am going to set out into the world, and as soon as I have become rich I will return home to you.'

The parents laughed at the little man's words, but did not believe him for a moment. In the evening the

Hazelnut child crept on to the roof, where some storks had built their nest. The storks were fast asleep, and

he climbed on to the back of the fatherstork and bound a silk cord round the joint of one of its wings, then

The next morning the storks flew towards the south, for winter was approaching. The Hazelnut child flew

through the air on the stork's back, and when he wanted to rest he bound his silk cord on to the joint of the

bird's other wing, so that it could not fly any farther. In this way he reached the country of the black people,

where the storks took up their abode close to the capital. When the people saw the Hazelnut child they were

much astonished, and took him with the stork to the King of the country. The King was delighted with the

little creature and kept him always beside him, and he soon grew so fond of the little man that he gave him a

diamond four times as big as himself. The Hazelnut child fastened the diamond firmly under the stork's neck

with a ribbon, and when he saw that the other storks were getting ready for their northern flight, he untied the

silk cord from his stork's wings, and away they went, getting nearer home every minute. At length the

Hazelnut child came to his native village; then he undid the ribbon from the stork's neck and the diamond

fell to the ground; he covered it first with sand and stones, and then ran to get his parents, so that they might

So the Hazelnut child and his parents lived in happiness and prosperity after this till they died.

In a certain village there lived two people who had both the same name. Both were called Klaus, but one

owned four horses and the other only one. In order to distinguish the one from the other, the one who had

four horses was called Big Klaus, and the one who had only one horse, Little Klaus. Now you shall hear what

The whole week through Little Klaus had to plough for Big Klaus, and lend him his one horse; then Big

Klaus lent him his four horses, but only once a week, and that was on Sunday. Hurrah! how loudly Little

Klaus cracked his whip over all the five horses! for they were indeed as good as his on this one day. The sun

shone brightly, and all the bells in the churchtowers were pealing; the people were dressed in their best

clothes, and were going to church, with their hymn books under their arms, to hear the minister preach. They

saw Little Klaus ploughing with the five horses; but he was so happy that he kept on cracking his whip, and

But as soon as someone else was going by Little Klaus forgot that he must not say it, and called out 'Geeup,

'Now you had better stop that,' said Big Klaus, 'for if you say it once more I will give your horse such a crack

'I really won't say it again!' said Little Klaus. But as soon as more people passed by, and nodded him

goodmorning, he became so happy in thinking how well it looked to have five horses ploughing his field

'I'll see to your horses!' said Big Klaus; and, seizing an iron bar, he struck Little Klaus' one horse such a blow

'Alas! Now I have no horse!' said Little Klaus, beginning to cry. Then he flayed the skin off his horse, dried

it, and put it in a sack, which he threw over his shoulder, and went into the town to sell it. He had a long way

to go, and had to pass through a great dark forest. A dreadful storm came on, in which he lost his way, and

before he could get on to the right road night came on, and it was impossible to reach the town that evening.

Right in front of him was a large farmhouse. The windowshutters were closed, but the light came through

the chinks. 'I should very much like to be allowed to spend the night there,' thought Little Klaus; and he went

and knocked at the door. The farmer's wife opened it, but when she heard what he wanted she told him to go

'Well, I must lie down outside,' said Little Klaus; and the farmer's wife shut the door in his face. Close by

stood a large haystack, and between it and the house a little outhouse, covered with a flat thatched roof.

'I can lie down there,' thought Little Klaus, looking at the roof; 'it will make a splendid bed, if only the stork

won't fly down and bite my legs.' For a live stork was standing on the roof, where it had its nest. So Little

Klaus crept up into the outhouse, where he lay down, and made himself comfortable for the night. The

wooden shutters over the windows were not shut at the top, and he could just see into the room.

There stood a large table, spread with wine and roast meat and a beautiful fish. The farmer's wife and the

sexton sat at the table, but there was no one else. She was filling up his glass, while he stuck his fork into the

'If one could only get some of that!' thought Little Klaus, stretching his head towards the window. Ah, what

Then he heard someone riding along the road towards the house. It was the farmer coming home. He was a

very worthy man; but he had one great peculiaritynamely, that he could not bear to see a sexton. If he saw

one he was made quite mad. That was why the sexton had gone to say goodday to the farmer's wife when he

knew that her husband was not at home, and the good woman therefore put in front of him the best food she

had. But when they heard the farmer coming they were frightened, and the farmer's wife begged the sexton to

creep into a great empty chest. He did so, as he knew the poor man could not bear to see a sexton. The wife

hastily hid all the beautiful food and the wine in her oven; for if her husband had seen it, he would have been

'Oh, dear! oh, dear!' groaned Little Klaus up in the shed, when he saw the good food disappearing.

'Is anybody up there?' asked the farmer, catching sight of Little Klaus. 'Why are you lying there? Come with

Then Little Klaus told him how he had lost his way, and begged to be allowed to spend the night there.

The wife received them both very kindly, spread a long table, and gave them a large plate of porridge. The

farmer was hungry, and ate with a good appetite; but Little Klaus could not help thinking of the delicious

dishes of fish and roast meats and cakes which he knew were in the oven. Under the table at his feet he had

laid the sack with the horseskin in it, for, as we know, he was going to the town to sell it. The porridge did

not taste good to him, so he trod upon his sack, and the dry skin in the sack squeaked loudly.

'Hush!' said Little Klaus to his sack, at the same time treading on it again so that it squeaked even louder than

'Oh, it is a wizard!' said Little Klaus. 'He says we should not eat porridge, for he has conjured the whole oven

'Goodness me!' said the farmer; and opening the oven he saw all the delicious, tempting dishes his wife had

hidden there, but which he now believed the wizard in the sack had conjured up for them. The wife could say

nothing, but she put the food at once on the table, and they ate the fish, the roast meat, and the cakes. Little

'He says,' replied Little Klans, 'that he has also conjured up for us three bottles of wine; they are standing in

The wife had to fetch the wine which she had hidden, and the farmer drank and grew very merry. He would

'Can he conjure up the Devil?' asked the farmer. 'I should like to see him very much, for I feel just now in

'Yes,' said Little Klaus; 'my wizard can do everything that I ask. Isn't that true?' he asked, treading on the sack

so that it squeaked. 'Do you hear? He says ''Yes;'' but that the Devil looks so ugly that we should not like to

'I say!' said the farmer, 'he must be ugly! You must know that I can't bear to look at a sexton! But it doesn't

matter. I know that it is the Devil, and I sha'n't mind! I feel up to it now. But he must not come too near me!'

'I must ask my wizard,' said Little Klaus, treading on the sack and putting his ear to it.

'He says you can open the chest in the corner there, and you will see the Devil squatting inside it; but you

'Will you help me to hold him?' begged the farmer, going towards the chest where his wife had hidden the

real sexton, who was sitting inside in a terrible fright. The farmer opened the lid a little way, and saw him

'Ugh!' he shrieked, springing back. 'Yes, now I have seen him; he looked just like our sexton. Oh, it was

'You MUST sell me the wizard,' said the farmer. 'Ask anything you like! I will pay you down a bushelful of

'No, I really can't,' said Little Klans. 'Just think how many things I can get from this wizard!'

'Well!' said Little Klaus at last, 'as you have been so good as to give me shelter tonight, I will sell him. You

'That you shall,' said the farmer. 'But you must take the chest with you. I won't keep it another hour in the

Little Klaus gave the farmer his sack with the dry skin, and got instead a good bushelful of money. The

farmer also gave him a wheelbarrow to carry away his money and the chest. 'Farewell,' said Little Klaus; and

On the other side of the wood was a large deep river. The water flowed so rapidly that you could scarcely

A great new bridge had been built over it, on the middle of which Little Klaus stopped, and said aloud so that

'Now, what am I to do with this stupid chest? It is as heavy as if it were filled with stones! I shall only be

tired, dragging it along; I will throw it into the river. If it swims home to me, well and good; and if it doesn't,

Then he took the chest with one hand and lifted it up a little, as if he were going to throw it into the water.

'No, don't do that!' called out the sexton in the chest. 'Let me get out first!'

'Oh, oh!' said Little Klaus, pretending that he was afraid. 'He is still in there! I must throw him quickly into

'Oh! no, no!' cried the sexton. 'I will give you a whole bushelful of money if you will let me go!'

'Ah, that's quite another thing!' said Little Klaus, opening the chest. The sexton crept out very quickly, pushed

the empty chest into the water and went to his house, where he gave Little Klaus a bushel of money. One he

'Well, I have got a good price for the horse!' said he to himself when he shook all his money out in a heap in

his room. 'This will put Big Klaus in a rage when he hears how rich I have become through my one horse; but

'Now what can he want with it?' thought Big Klaus; and he smeared some tar at the bottom, so that of

whatever was measured a little should remain in it. And this is just what happened; for when he got his

'That's certainly a good price!' said Big Klaus; and running home in great haste, he took an axe, knocked all

All the shoemakers and tanners came running to ask him what he wanted for them. 'A bushel of money for

'Skins! skins! Who will buy skins?' he cried again, and to all who asked him what they cost, he answered, 'A

'He is making game of us,' they said; and the shoemakers seized their yard measures and the tanners their

leathern aprons and they gave Big Klaus a good beating. 'Skins! skins!' they cried mockingly; yes, we will tan

YOUR skin for you! Out of the town with him!' they shouted; and Big Klaus had to hurry off as quickly as he

'Aha!' said he when he came home, 'Little Klaus shall pay dearly for this. I will kill him!'

Little Klaus' grandmother had just died. Though she had been very unkind to him, he was very much

distressed, and he took the dead woman and laid her in his warm bed to try if he could not bring her back to

life. There she lay the whole night, while he sat in the corner and slept on a chair, which he had often done

before. And in the night as he sat there the door opened, and Big Klaus came in with his axe. He knew quite

well where Little Klaus's bed stood, and going up to it he struck the grandmother on the head just where he

thought Little Klaus would be. 'There!' said he. 'Now you won't get the best of me again!' And he went home.

'What a very wicked man!' thought Little Klaus. 'He was going to kill me! It was a good thing for my

Then he dressed his grandmother in her Sunday clothes, borrowed a horse from his neighbour, harnessed the

cart to it, sat his grandmother on the back seat so that she could not fall out when he drove, and away they

went. When the sun rose they were in front of a large inn. Little Klaus got down, and went in to get

something to drink. The host was very rich. He was a very worthy but hottempered man.

'Yes,' said Little Klaus. 'I am going to the town with my grandmother. She is sitting outside in the cart; I

cannot bring her in. Will you not give her a glass of mead? But you will have to speak loud, for she is very

'Oh yes, certainly I will!' said the host; and, pouring out a large glass of mead, he took it out to the dead

'Here is a glass of mead from your son,' said the host. But the dead woman did not answer a word, and sat

still. 'Don't you hear?' cried the host as loud as he could. 'Here is a glass of mead from your son!'

Then he shouted the same thing again, and yet again, but she never moved in her place; and at last he grew

angry, threw the glass in her face, so that she fell back into the cart, for she was not tied in her place.

'Hullo!' cried Little Klaus, running out of the door, and seizing the host by the throat. 'You have killed my

'Oh, what a misfortune!' cried the host, wringing his hands. 'It all comes from my hot temper! Dear Little

Klaus! I will give you a bushel of money, and will bury your grandmother as if she were my own; only don't

tell about it, or I shall have my head cut off, and that would be very uncomfortable.'

So Little Klaus got a bushel of money, and the host buried his grandmother as if she had been his own.

Now when Little Klaus again reached home with so much money he sent his boy to Big Klaus to borrow his

'Well, now, where did you get all this money?' asked he, opening his eyes at the heap.

'You killed my grandmothernot me,' said Little Klaus. 'I sold her, and got a bushel of money for her.'

'That is indeed a good price!' said Big Klaus; and, hurrying home, he took an axe and killed his grandmother,

laid her in the cart, and drove off to the apothecary's, and asked whether he wanted to buy a dead body.

'It is my grandmother,' said Big Klaus. 'I killed her in order to get a bushel of money.'

'You are mad!' said the apothecary. 'Don't mention such things, or you will lose your head!' And he began to

tell him what a dreadful thing he had done, and what a wicked man he was, and that he ought to be punished;

till Big Klaus was so frightened that he jumped into the cart and drove home as hard as he could. The

'You shall pay for this!' said Big Klaus as he drove home. 'You shall pay for this dearly, Little Klaus!'

So as soon as he got home he took the largest sack he could find, and went to Little Klaus and said: 'You have

fooled me again! First I killed my horses, then my grandmother! It is all your fault; but you sha'n't do it

again!' And he seized Little Klaus, pushed him in the sack, threw it over his shoulder, crying out 'Now I am

He had to go a long way before he came to the river, and Little Klaus was not very light. The road passed by

the church; the organ was sounding, and the people were singing most beautifully.

Big Klaus put down the sack with Little Klaus in it by the churchdoor, and thought that he might as well go

in and hear a psalm before going on farther. Little Klaus could not get out, and everybody was in church; so

'Oh, dear! oh, dear!' groaned Little Klaus in the sack, twisting and turning himself. But he could not undo the

There came by an old, old shepherd, with snowwhite hair and a long staff in his hand. He was driving a herd

'Open the sack,' called out Little Klaus; 'creep in here instead of me, and you will die in a moment!'

'I will gladly do that,' said the cattledriver; and he opened the sack, and Little Klaus struggled out at once.

'You will take care of the cattle, won't you?' asked the old man, creeping into the sack, which Little Klaus

fastened up and then went on with the cows and oxen. Soon after Big Klaus came out of the church, and

taking up the sack on his shoulders it seemed to him as if it had become lighter; for the old cattledriver was

'How easy he is to carry now! That must be because I heard part of the service.'

So he went to the river, which was deep and broad, threw in the sack with the old driver, and called after it,

Then he went home; but when he came to the crossroads, there he met Little Klaus, who was driving his

'They are seacattle!' said Little Klaus. 'I will tell you the whole story, and I thank you for having drowned

me, because now I am on dry land and really rich! How frightened I was when I was in the sack! How the

wind whistled in my ears as you threw me from the bridge into the cold water! I sank at once to the bottom;

but I did not hurt myself for underneath was growing the most beautiful soft grass. I fell on this, and

immediately the sack opened; the loveliest maiden in snowwhite garments, with a green garland round her

wet hair, took me by the hand, and said! ''Are you Little Klaus? Here are some cattle for you to begin with,

and a mile farther down the road there is another herd, which I will give you as a present!'' Now I saw that the

river was a great highroad for the seapeople. Along it they travel underneath from the sea to the land till

the river ends. It was so beautiful, full of flowers and fresh grass; the fishes which were swimming in the

water shot past my ears as the birds do here in the air. What lovely people there were, and what fine cattle

'But why did you come up to us again?' asked Big Klaus. 'I should not have done so, if it is so beautiful down

'Oh!' said Little Klaus, 'that was just so politic of me. You heard what I told you, that the seamaiden said to

me a mile farther along the roadand by the road she meant the river, for she can go by no other

waythere was another herd of cattle waiting for me. But I know what windings the river makes, now here,

now there, so that it is a long way round. Therefore it makes it much shorter if one comes on the land and

drives across the field to the river. Thus I have spared myself quite half a mile, and have come much quicker

'Oh, you're a lucky fellow!' said Big Klaus. 'Do you think I should also get some cattle if I went to the bottom

'Oh, yes! I think so,' said Little Klaus. 'But I can't carry you in a sack to the river; you are too heavy for me! If

you like to go there yourself and then creep into the sack, I will throw you in with the greatest of pleasure.'

'Thank you,' said Big Klaus; 'but if I don't get any seacattle when I come there, you will have a good hiding,

'Oh, no! Don't be so hard on me!' Then they went to the river. When the cattle, which were thirsty, caught

'Look how they are running!' said Little Klaus. 'They want to go to the bottom again!'

And so he crept into the large sack, which was lying on the back of one of the oxen. 'Put a stone in, for I am

'It goes all right!' said Little Klaus; but still he laid a big stone in the sack, fastened it up tight, and then

pushed it in. Plump! there was Big Klaus in the water, and he sank like lead to the bottom.

'I doubt if he will find any cattle!' said Little Klaus as he drove his own home.

They had one daughter, who was called Ingiborg, and one son, whose name was Ring. He was less fond of

adventures than men of rank usually were in those days, and was not famous for strength or feats of arms.

When he was twelve years old, one fine winter day he rode into the forest along with his men to enjoy

himself. They went on a long way, until they caught sight of a hind with a gold ring on its horns. The Prince

was eager to catch it, if possible, so they gave chase and rode on without stopping until all the horses began to

founder beneath them. At last the Prince's horse gave way too, and then there came over them a darkness so

black that they could no longer see the hind. By this time they were far away from any house, and thought it

was high time to be making their way home again, but they found they had got lost now. At first they all kept

together, but soon each began to think that he knew the right way best; so they separated, and all went in

The Prince, too, had got lost like the rest, and wandered on for a time until he came to a little clearing in the

forest not far from the sea, where he saw a woman sitting on a chair and a big barrel standing beside her. The

Prince went up to her and saluted her politely, and she received him very graciously. He looked down into the

barrel then, and saw lying at the bottom an unusually beautiful gold ring, which pleased him so much that he

could not take his eyes off it. The woman saw this, and said that he might have it if he would take the trouble

to get it; for which the Prince thanked her, and said it was at least worth trying. So he leaned over into the

barrel, which did not seem very deep, and thought he would easily reach the ring; but the more he stretched

down after it the deeper grew the barrel. As he was thus bending down into it the woman suddenly rose up

and pushed him in head first, saying that now he could take up his quarters there. Then she fixed the top on

The Prince thought himself in a bad plight now, as he felt the barrel floating out from the land and tossing

How many days he spent thus he could not tell, but at last he felt that the barrel was knocking against rocks,

at which he was a little cheered, thinking it was probably land and not merely a reef in the sea. Being

something of a swimmer, he at last made up his mind to kick the bottom out of the barrel, and having done so

he was able to get on shore, for the rocks by the sea were smooth and level; but overhead there were high

cliffs. It seemed difficult to get up these, but he went along the foot of them for a little, till at last he tried to

Having got to the top, he looked round about him and saw that he was on an island, which was covered with

forest, with apples growing, and altogether pleasant as far as the land was concerned. After he had been there

several days, he one day heard a great noise in the forest, which made him terribly afraid, so that he ran to

hide himself among the trees. Then he saw a Giant approaching, dragging a sledge loaded with wood, and

making straight for him, so that he could see nothing for it but to lie down just where he was. When the Giant

came across him, he stood still and looked at the Prince for a little; then he took him up in his arms and

carried him home to his house, and was exceedingly kind to him. He gave him to his wife, saying he had

found this child in the wood, and she could have it to help her in the house. The old woman was greatly

pleased, and began to fondle the Prince with the utmost delight. He stayed there with them, and was very

willing and obedient to them in everything, while they grew kinder to him every day.

One day the Giant took him round and showed him all his rooms except the parlour; this made the Prince

curious to have a look into it, thinking there must be some very rare treasure there. So one day, when the

Giant had gone into the forest, he tried to get into the parlour, and managed to get the door open halfway.

Then he saw that some living creature moved inside and ran along the floor towards him and said something,

which made him so frightened that he sprang back from the door and shut it again. As soon as the fright

began to pass off he tried it again, for he thought it would be interesting to hear what it said; but things went

just as before with him. He then got angry with himself, and, summoning up all his courage, tried it a third

time, and opened the door of the room and stood firm. Then he saw that it was a big Dog, which spoke to him

The Prince went away rather afraid, thinking with himself that it was no great treasure after all; but all the

It is not said how long the Prince stayed with the Giant, but one day the latter came to him and said he would

now take him over to the mainland out of the island, for he himself had no long time to live. He also thanked

him for his good service, and told him to choose someone of his possessions, for he would get whatever he

wanted. Ring thanked him heartily, and said there was no need to pay him for his services, they were so little

worth; but if he did wish to give him anything he would choose what was in the parlour. The Giant was taken

Upon this he went to get the Dog, which came running with signs of great delight; but the Prince was so

After this the Giant accompanied him down to the sea, where he saw a stone boat which was just big enough

to hold the two of them and the Dog. On reaching the mainland the Giant took a friendly farewell of Ring,

and told him he might take possession of all that was in the island after he and his wife died, which would

happen within two weeks from that time. The Prince thanked him for this and for all his other kindnesses, and

the Giant returned home, while Ring went up some distance from the sea; but he did not know what land he

had come to, and was afraid to speak to the Dog. After he had walked on in silence for a time the Dog spoke

'You had best call me SnatiSnati,' said the Dog. 'Now we are coming to a King's seat, and you must ask the

The Prince now began to be less afraid of the Dog. They came to the King and asked him to keep them all the

winter, to which he agreed. When the King's men saw the Dog they began to laugh at it, and make as if they

would tease it; but when the Prince saw this he advised them not to do it, or they might have the worst of it.

After Ring had been with the King for some days the latter began to think there was a great deal in him, and

esteemed him more than the others. The King, however, had a counsellor called Red, who became very

jealous when he saw how much the King esteemed Ring; and one day he talked to him, and said he could not

understand why he had so good an opinion of this stranger, who had not yet shown himself superior to other

men in anything. The King replied that it was only a short time since he had come there. Red then asked him

to send them both to cut down wood next morning, and see which of them could do most work. SnatiSnati

heard this and told it to Ring, advising him to ask the King for two axes, so that he might have one in reserve

if the first one got broken. Next morning the King asked Ring and Red to go and cut down trees for him, and

both agreed. Ring got the two axes, and each went his own way; but when the Prince had got out into the

wood Snati took one of the axes and began to hew along with him. In the evening the King came to look over

their day's work, as Red had proposed, and found that Ring's woodheap was more than twice as big.

'I suspected,' said the King, 'that Ring was not quite useless; never have I seen such a day's work.'

Ring was now in far greater esteem with the King than before, and Red was all the more discontented. One

day he came to the King and said, 'If Ring is such a mighty man, I think you might ask him to kill the wild

oxen in the wood here, and flay them the same day, and bring you the horns and the hides in the evening.'

'Don't you think that a desperate errand?' said the King, 'seeing they are so dangerous, and no one has ever yet

Red answered that he had only one life to lose, and it would be interesting to see how brave he was; besides,

the King would have good reason to ennoble him if he overcame them. The King at last allowed himself,

though rather unwillingly, to be won over by Red's persistency, and one day asked Ring to go and kill the

oxen that were in the wood for him, and bring their horns and hides to him in the evening. Not knowing how

dangerous the oxen were, Ring was quite ready, and went off at once, to the great delight of Red, who was

As soon as Ring came in sight of the oxen they came bellowing to meet him; one of them was tremendously

'We can do nothing else,' said Snati, 'than attack them, if it is to go well; you will go against the little one, and

With this Snati leapt at the big one, and was not long in bringing him down. Meanwhile the Prince went

against the other with fear and trembling, and by the time Snati came to help him the ox had nearly got him

Each of them then began to flay their own ox, but Ring was only half through by the time Snati had finished

his. In the evening, after they had finished this task, the Prince thought himself unfit to carry all the horns and

both the hides, so Snati told him to lay them all on his back until they got to the Palace gate.

The Prince agreed, and laid everything on the Dog except the skin of the smaller ox, which he staggered

along with himself. At the Palace gate he left everything lying, went before the King, and asked him to come

that length with him, and there handed over to him the hides and horns of the oxen. The King was greatly

surprised at his valour, and said he knew no one like him, and thanked him heartily for what he had done.

After this the King set Ring next to himself, and all esteemed him highly, and held him to be a great hero; nor

could Red any longer say anything against him, though he grew still more determined to destroy him. One

day a good idea came into his head. He came to the King and said he had something to say to him.

Red said that he had just remembered the gold cloak, gold chessboard, and bright gold piece that the King

Red, however, went on to say that, since Ring was such a mighty man that he could do everything, it had

occurred to him to advise the King to ask him to search for these treasures, and come back with them before

The King replied that he thought it altogether unbecoming to propose such a thing to Ring, seeing that he

could not tell him where the things were; but Red pretended not to hear the King's excuses, and went on

talking about it until the King gave in to him. One day, a month or so before Christmas, the King spoke to

'It is this,' said the King: 'that you find for me my gold cloak, my gold chessboard, and my bright gold piece,

that were stolen from me about a year ago. If you can bring them to me before Christmas I will give you my

Ring now left the King, and was very silent, for he saw he was in a great difficulty: but, on the other hand, he

thought it was excellent to have such a chance of winning the King's daughter. Snati noticed that his master

was at a loss, and said to him that he should not disregard what the King had asked him to do; but he would

have to act upon his advice, otherwise he would get into great difficulties. The Prince assented to this, and

After he had taken leave of the King, and was setting out on the search, Snati said to him, 'Now you must first

of all go about the neighbourhood, and gather as much salt as ever you can.' The Prince did so, and gathered

so much salt that he could hardly carry it; but Snati said, 'Throw it on my back,' which he accordingly did,

and the Dog then ran on before the Prince, until they came to the foot of a steep cliff.

'Hold fast by my tail,' said Snati; and in this way he pulled Ring up on the lowest shelf of the rock. The Prince

began to get giddy, but up went Snati on to the second shelf. Ring was nearly swooning by this time, but

Snati made a third effort and reached the top of the cliff, where the Prince fell down in a faint. After a little,

however, he recovered again, and they went a short distance along a level plain, until they came to a cave.

This was on Christmas Eve. They went up above the cave, and found a window in it, through which they

looked, and saw four trolls lying asleep beside the fire, over which a large porridgepot was hanging.

Ring did so, and soon the trolls wakened up. The old hag, who was the most frightful of them all, went first to

'How comes this?' she said; 'the porridge is salt! I got the milk by witchcraft yesterday out of four kingdoms,

All the others then came to taste the porridge, and thought it nice, but after they had finished it the old hag

grew so thirsty that she could stand it no longer, and asked her daughter to go out and bring her some water

'Well, then, take it, you brat,' said the old hag, 'and be off with you, and make haste with the water.'

The girl took the gold and ran out with it, and it was so bright that it shone all over the plain. As soon as she

came to the river she lay down to take a drink of the water, but meanwhile the two of them had got down off

The old hag began now to long for the water, and said that the girl would be running about with the gold

piece all over the plain, so she asked her son to go and get her a drop of water.

'Well, then, take it,' said the old hag, 'and be off with you, but you must make haste with the water.'

He put on the cloak, and when he came outside it shone so bright that he could see to go with it. On reaching

the river he went to take a drink like his sister, but at that moment Ring and Snati sprang upon him, took the

The old hag could stand the thirst no longer, and asked her husband to go for a drink for her; the brats, she

said, were of course running about and playing themselves, just as she had expected they would, little

'I think you may just as well do that,' said he, 'since you won't grant me such a little favour.'

'Take it, then, you utter disgrace!' said the old hag, 'since you are just like these two brats.'

The old troll now went out with the gold chessboard, and down to the river, and was about to take a drink,

when Ring and Snati came upon him, took the chessboard from him, and threw him into the river. Before

they had got back again, however, and up on top of the cave, they saw the poor old fellow's ghost come

marching up from the river. Snati immediately sprang upon him, and Ring assisted in the attack, and after a

hard struggle they mastered him a second time. When they got back again to the window they saw that the

'Now we must go in at once,' said Snati, 'and try to master her there, for if she once gets out we shall have no

chance with her. She is the worst witch that ever lived, and no iron can cut her. One of us must pour boiling

In they went then, and no sooner did the hag see them than she said, 'So you have come, Prince Ring; you

Snati saw that she was about to attack them, and sprang at her with a redhot iron from the fire, while Ring

kept pouring boiling porridge on her without stopping, and in this way they at last got her killed. Then they

burned the old troll and her to ashes, and explored the cave, where they found plenty of gold and treasures.

The most valuable of these they carried with them as far as the cliff, and left them there. Then they hastened

home to the King with his three treasures, where they arrived late on Christmas night, and Ring handed them

The King was beside himself with joy, and was astonished at how clever a man Ring was in all kinds of feats,

so that he esteemed him still more highly than before, and betrothed his daughter to him; and the feast for this

was to last all through Christmastide. Ring thanked the King courteously for this and all his other kindnesses,

and as soon as he had finished eating and drinking in the hall went off to sleep in his own room. Snati,

however, asked permission to sleep in the Prince's bed for that night, while the Prince should sleep where the

Dog usually lay. Ring said he was welcome to do so, and that he deserved more from him than that came to.

So Snati went up into the Prince's bed, but after a time he came back, and told Ring he could go there himself

Now the story comes back to Red, who came into the hall and showed the King his right arm wanting the

hand, and said that now he could see what kind of a man his intended soninlaw was, for he had done this to

him without any cause whatever. The King became very angry, and said he would soon find out the truth

about it, and if Ring had cut off his hand without good cause he should be hanged; but if it was otherwise,

then Red should die. So the King sent for Ring and asked him for what reason he had done this. Snati,

however, had just told Ring what had happened during the night, and in reply he asked the King to go with

him and he would show him something. The King went with him to his sleepingroom, and saw lying on the

'This hand,' said Ring, 'came over the partition during the night, and was about to run me through in my bed,

The King answered that in that case he could not blame him for protecting his own life, and that Red was

The first night that they went to bed together Snati asked Ring to allow him to lie at their feet, and this Ring

allowed him to do. During the night he heard a howling and outcry beside them, struck a light in a hurry and

saw an ugly dog's skin lying near him, and a beautiful Prince in the bed. Ring instantly took the skin and

burned it, and then shook the Prince, who was lying unconscious, until he woke up. The bridegroom then

asked his name; he replied that he was called Ring, and was a King's son. In his youth he had lost his mother,

and in her place his father had married a witch, who had laid a spell on him that he should turn into a dog,

and never be released from the spell unless a Prince of the same name as himself allowed him to sleep at his

feet the first night after his marriage. He added further, 'As soon as she knew that you were my namesake she

tried to get you destroyed, so that you might not free me from the spell. She was the hind that you and your

companions chased; she was the woman that you found in the clearing with the barrel, and the old hag that

After the feasting was over the two namesakes, along with other men, went to the cliff and brought all the

treasure home to the Palace. Then they went to the island and removed all that was valuable from it. Ring

gave to his namesake, whom he had freed from the spell, his sister Ingiborg and his father's kingdom to look

after, but he himself stayed with his fatherinlaw the King, and had half the kingdom while he lived and the

There was once a poor Prince. He possessed a kingdom which, though small, was yet large enough for him to

Now it was certainly a little audacious of him to venture to say to the Emperor's daughter, 'Will you marry

me?' But he did venture to say so, for his name was known far and wide. There were hundreds of princesses

On the grave of the Prince's father grew a rosetree, a very beautiful rosetree. It only bloomed every five

years, and then bore but a single rose, but oh, such a rose! Its scent was so sweet that when you smelt it you

forgot all your cares and troubles. And he had also a nightingale which could sing as if all the beautiful

melodies in the world were shut up in its little throat. This rose and this nightingale the Princess was to have,

The Emperor had them brought to him in the great hall, where the Princess was playing 'Here comes a duke

ariding' with her ladiesinwaiting. And when she caught sight of the big caskets which contained the

'If only it were a little pussy cat!' she said. But the rosetree with the beautiful rose came out.

'Let us see first what is in the other casket before we begin to be angry,' thought the Emperor, and there came

out the nightingale. It sang so beautifully that one could scarcely utter a cross word against it.

'Superbe! charmant!' said the ladiesinwaiting, for they all chattered French, each one worse than the other.

'How much the bird reminds me of the musical snuffbox of the late Empress!' said an old courtier. 'Ah, yes,

'Then let the bird fly away,' said the Princess; and she would not on any account allow the Prince to come.

'But he was nothing daunted. He painted his face brown and black, drew his cap well over his face, and

knocked at the door. 'Goodday, Emperor,' he said. 'Can I get a place here as servant in the castle?'

'Yes,' said the Emperor, 'but there are so many who ask for a place that I don't know whether there will be one

for you; but, still, I will think of you. Stay, it has just occurred to me that I want someone to look after the

And the Prince got the situation of Imperial Swineherd. He had a wretched little room close to the pigsties;

here he had to stay, but the whole day he sat working, and when evening was come he had made a pretty little

pot. All round it were little bells, and when the pot boiled they jingled most beautifully and played the old

But the most wonderful thing was, that when one held one's finger in the steam of the pot, then at once one

could smell what dinner was ready in any fireplace in the town. That was indeed something quite different

Now the Princess came walking past with all her ladiesin waiting, and when she heard the tune she stood

still and her face beamed with joy, for she also could play 'Where is Augustus dear?'

'Why, that is what I play!' she said. 'He must be a most accomplished Swineherd! Listen! Go down and ask

And one of the ladiesinwaiting had to go down; but she put on wooden clogs. 'What will you take for the

'He is disobliging!' said the Princess, and went away. But she had only gone a few steps when the bells rang

'Listen!' said the Princess. 'Ask him whether he will take ten kisses from my ladiesinwaiting.'

'No, thank you,' said the Swineherd. 'Ten kisses from the Princess, or else I keep my pot.'

'That is very tiresome!' said the Princess. 'But you must put yourselves in front of me, so that no one can see.'

And the ladiesinwaiting placed themselves in front and then spread out their dresses; so the Swineherd got

What happiness that was! The whole night and the whole day the pot was made to boil; there was not a

fireplace in the whole town where they did not know what was being cooked, whether it was at the

'We know who is going to have soup and pancakes; we know who is going to have porridge and

The Swineherdthat is to say, the Prince (though they did not know he was anything but a true

Swineherd)let no day pass without making something, and one day he made a rattle which, when it was

turned round, played all the waltzes, galops, and polkas which had ever been known since the world began.

'But that is superbe!' said the Princess as she passed by. 'I have never heard a more beautiful composition.

Listen! Go down and ask him what this instrument costs; but I won't kiss him again.'

'He wants a hundred kisses from the Princess,' said the ladyinwaiting who had gone down to ask him.

'I believe he is mad!' said the Princess, and then she went on; but she had only gone a few steps when she

'One ought to encourage art,' she said. 'I am the Emperor's daughter! Tell him he shall have, as before, ten

'That's nonsense,' said the Princess; 'and if I can kiss him, you can too. Besides, remember that I give you

'Put yourselves in front of us,' she said then; and so all the ladiesinwaiting put themselves in front, and he

'What can that commotion be by the pigsties?' asked the Emperor, who was standing on the balcony. He

rubbed his eyes and put on his spectacles. 'Why those are the ladiesinwaiting playing their games; I must

So he took off his shoes, which were shoes though he had trodden them down into slippers. What a hurry he

As soon as he came into the yard he walked very softly, and the ladiesinwaiting were so busy counting the

kisses and seeing fair play that they never noticed the Emperor. He stood on tiptoe.

'What is that?' he said, when he saw the kissing; and then he threw one of his slippers at their heads just as the

'Be off with you!' said the Emperor, for he was very angry. And the Princess and the Swineherd were driven

Then she stood still and wept; the Swineherd was scolding, and the rain was streaming down.

And the Swineherd went behind a tree, washed the black and brown off his face, threw away his old clothes,

and then stepped forward in his splendid dress, looking so beautiful that the Princess was obliged to courtesy.

'I now come to this. I despise you!' he said. 'You would have nothing to do with a noble Prince; you did not

understand the rose or the nightingale, but you could kiss the Swineherd for the sake of a toy. This is what

you get for it!' And he went into his kingdom and shut the door in her face, and she had to stay outside

There was once upon a time a Prince who wanted to marry a Princess, but she must be a true Princess. So he

travelled through the whole world to find one, but there was always something against each. There were

plenty of Princesses, but he could not find out if they were true Princesses. In every case there was some little

defect, which showed the genuine article was not yet found. So he came home again in very low spirits, for

he had wanted very much to have a true Princess. One night there was a dreadful storm; it thundered and

lightened and the rain streamed down in torrents. It was fearful! There was a knocking heard at the Palace

There stood a Princess outside the gate; but oh, in what a sad plight she was from the rain and the storm! The

water was running down from her hair and her dress into the points of her shoes and out at the heels again.

'Well, we shall soon find that!' thought the old Queen. But she said nothing, and went into the sleepingroom,

took off all the bedclothes, and laid a pea on the bottom of the bed. Then she put twenty mattresses on top of

the pea, and twenty eiderdown quilts on the top of the mattresses. And this was the bed in which the

'Oh, very badly!' said the Princess. 'I scarcely closed my eyes all night! I am sure I don't know what was in

the bed. I laid on something so hard that my whole body is black and blue. It is dreadful!'

Now they perceived that she was a true Princess, because she had felt the pea through the twenty mattresses

So the Prince married her, for now he knew that at last he had got hold of a true Princess. And the pea was

put into the Royal Museum, where it is still to be seen if no one has stolen it. Now this is a true story.

There were once a Scotsman and an Englishman and an Irishman serving in the army together, who took it

into their heads to run away on the first opportunity they could get. The chance came and they took it. They

went on travelling for two days through a great forest, without food or drink, and without coming across a

single house, and every night they had to climb up into the trees through fear of the wild beasts that were in

the wood. On the second morning the Scotsman saw from the top of his tree a great castle far away. He said

to himself that he would certainly die if he stayed in the forest without anything to eat but the roots of grass,

which would not keep him alive very long. As soon, then, as he got down out of the tree he set off towards

the castle, without so much as telling his companions that he had seen it at all; perhaps the hunger and want

they had suffered had changed their nature so much that the one did not care what became of the other if he

could save himself. He travelled on most of the day, so that it was quite late when he reached the castle, and

to his great disappointment found nothing but closed doors and no smoke rising from the chimneys. He

thought there was nothing for it but to die after all, and had lain down beside the wall, when he heard a

window being opened high above him. At this he looked up, and saw the most beautiful woman he had ever

Accordingly he went in to where she was, and she opened a large room for him, where he saw a number of

men lying asleep. She then set food before him, and after that showed him to the room where the others were.

He lay down on one of the beds and fell sound asleep. And now we must go back to the two that he left

When nightfall and the time of the wild beasts came upon these, the Englishman happened to climb up into

the very same tree on which the Scotsman was when he got a sight of the castle; and as soon as the day began

to dawn and the Englishman looked to the four quarters of heaven, what did he see but the castle too! Off he

went without saying a word to the Irishman, and everything happened to him just as it had done to the

The poor Irishman was now left all alone, and did not know where the others had gone to, so he just stayed

where he was, very sad and miserable. When night came he climbed up into the same tree as the Englishman

had been on the night before. As soon as day came he also saw the castle, and set out towards it; but when he

reached it he could see no signs of fire or living being about it. Before long, however, he heard the window

opened above his head, looked up, and beheld the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He asked if she

would give him food and drink, and she answered kindly and heartily that she would, if he would only come

inside. This he did very willingly, and she set before him food and drink that he had never seen the like of

before. In the room there was a bed, with diamond rings hanging at every loop of the curtains, and everything

that was in the room besides astonished him so much that he actually forgot that he was hungry. When she

saw that he was not eating at all, she asked him what he wanted yet, to which he replied that he would neither

eat nor drink until he knew who she was, or where she came from, or who had put her there.

'I shall tell you that,' said she. 'I am an enchanted Princess, and my father has promised that the man who

releases me from the spell shall have the third of his kingdom while he is alive, and the whole of it after he is

dead, and marry me as well. If ever I saw a man who looked likely to do this, you are the one. I have been

here for sixteen years now, and no one who ever came to the castle has asked me who I was, except yourself.

Every other man that has come, so long as I have been here, lies asleep in the big room down there.'

'Tell me, then,' said the Irishman, 'what is the spell that has been laid on you, and how you can be freed from

'There is a little room there,' said the Princess, 'and if I could get a man to stay in it from ten o'clock till

Thereupon she brought him a pipe and tobacco, and he went into the room; but before long he heard a

The next moment the door came flying in, and those outside along with it. They knocked him down, and

kicked him, and knelt on his body till it came to midnight; but as soon as the cock crew they all disappeared.

The Irishman was little more than alive by this time. As soon as daylight appeared the Princess came, and

found him lying full length on the floor, unable to speak a word. She took a bottle, rubbed him from head to

foot with something from it, and thereupon he was as sound as ever; but after what he had got that night he

was very unwilling to try it a second time. The Princess, however, entreated him to stay, saying that the next

When it was getting near midnight he heard them ordering him to open the door, and there were three of them

for every one that there had been the previous evening. He did not make the slightest movement to go out to

them or to open the door, but before long they broke it up, and were in on top of him. They laid hold of him,

and kept throwing him between them up to the ceiling, or jumping above him, until the cock crew, when they

all disappeared. When day came the Princess went to the room to see if he was still alive, and taking the

bottle put it to his nostrils, which soon brought him to himself. The first thing he said then was that he was a

fool to go on getting himself killed for anyone he ever saw, and was determined to be off and stay there no

longer, When the Princess learned his intention she entreated him to stay, reminding him that another night

would free her from the spell. 'Besides,' she said, 'if there is a single spark of life in you when the day comes,

With all this the Irishman decided to stay; but that night there were three at him for every one that was there

the two nights before, and it looked very unlikely that he would be alive in the morning after all that he got.

When morning dawned, and the Princess came to see if he was still alive, she found him lying on the floor as

if dead. She tried to see if there was breath in him, but could not quite make it out. Then she put her hand on

his pulse, and found a faint movement in it. Accordingly she poured what was in the bottle on him, and

before long he rose up on his feet, and was as well as ever he was. So that business was finished, and the

The Princess then told the Irishman that she must go away for the present, but would return for him in a few

days in a carriage drawn by four grey horses. He told her to 'be aisy,' and not speak like that to him. 'I have

paid dear for you for the last three nights,' he said, 'if I have to part with you now;' but in the twinkling of an

eye she had disappeared. He did not know what to do with himself when he saw that she was gone, but before

she went she had given him a little rod, with which he could, when he pleased, waken the men who had been

After being thus left alone, he went in and stretched himself on three chairs that were in the room, when what

'My mistress,' answered the lad'the Princess that was under the spell and is now free.'

By this the Irishman knew that she had sent the lad to wait on him. The lad also told him that his mistress

wished him to be ready next morning at nine o'clock, when she would come for him with the carriage, as she

had promised. He was greatly pleased at this, and next morning, when the time was drawing near, went out

into the garden; but the little fairhaired lad took a big pin out of his pocket, and stuck it into the back of the

Before long the Princess came with the carriage and four horses, and asked the lad whether his master was

awake. He said that he wasn't. 'It is bad for him,' said she, 'when the night is not long enough for him to sleep.

Tell him that if he doesn't meet me at this time tomorrow it is not likely that he will ever see me again all his

As soon as she was gone the lad took the pin out of his master's coat, who instantly awoke. The first word he

'Yes,' said he, 'and she bade me tell you that if you don't meet her at nine o'clock tomorrow you will never

He was very sorry when he heard this, and could not understand why the sleep should have fallen upon him

just when she was coming. He decided, however, to go early to bed that night, in order to rise in time nest

morning, and so he did. When it was getting near nine o'clock he went out to the garden to wait till she came,

and the fairhaired lad along with him; but as soon as the lad got the chance he stuck the pin into his master's

coat again and he fell asleep as before. Precisely at nine o'clock came the Princess in the carriage with four

horses, and asked the lad if his master had got up yet; but he said 'No, he was asleep, just as he was the day

before.' 'Dear! dear!' said the Princess, 'I am sorry for him. Was the sleep he had last night not enough for

him? Tell him that he will never see me here again; and here is a sword that you will give him in my name,

With this she went off, and as soon as she had gone the lad took the pin out of his master's coat. He awoke

instantly, and the first word he said was, 'Have you seen her?' The lad said that he had, and there was the

sword she had left for him. The Irishman was ready to kill the lad out of sheer vexation, but when he gave a

Being thus left all alone, he thought of going into the room where all the men were lying asleep, and there

among the rest he found his two comrades who had deserted along with him. Then he remembered what the

Princess had told himthat he had only to touch them with the rod she had given him and they would all

awake; and the first he touched were his own comrades. They started to their feet at once, and he gave them

as much silver and gold as they could carry when they went away. There was plenty to do before he got all

the others wakened, for the two doors of the castle were crowded with them all the day long.

The loss of the Princess, however, kept rankling in his mind day and night, till finally he thought he would go

about the world to see if he could find anyone to give him news of her. So he took the best horse in the stable

and set out. Three years he spent travelling through forests and wildernesses, but could find no one able to tell

him anything of the Princess. At last he fell into so great despair that he thought he would put an end to his

own life, and for this purpose laid hold of the sword that she had given him by the hands of the fairhaired

lad; but on drawing it from its sheath he noticed that there was some writing on one side of the blade. He

looked at this, and read there, 'You will find me in the Blue Mountains.' This made him take heart again, and

he gave up the idea of killing himself, thinking that he would go on in hope of meeting some one who could

tell him where the Blue Mountains were. After he had gone a long way without thinking where he was going,

he saw at last a light far away, and made straight for it. On reaching it he found it came from a little house,

and as soon as the man inside heard the noise of the horse's feet he came out to see who was there. Seeing a

'I have lived here,' said he, 'for three hundred years, and all that time I have not seen a single human being but

'I have been going about for the last three years,' said the Irishman, 'to see if I could find anyone who can tell

'Come in,' said the old man, 'and stay with me all night. I have a book which contains the history of the world,

which I shall go through tonight, and if there is such a place as the Blue Mountains in it we shall find it out.'

The Irishman stayed there all night, and as soon as morning came rose to go. The old man said he had not

gone to sleep all night for going through the book, but there was not a word about the Blue Mountains in it.

'But I'll tell you what,' he said, 'if there is such a place on earth at all, I have a brother who lives nine hundred

miles from here, and he is sure to know where they are, if anyone in this world does.' The Irishman answered

that he could never go these nine hundred miles, for his horse was giving in already. 'That doesn't matter,'

said the old man; 'I can do better than that. I have only to blow my whistle and you will be at my brother's

So he blew the whistle, and the Irishman did not know where on earth he was until he found himself at the

other old man's door, who also told him that it was three hundred years since he had seen anyone, and asked

'I am going to see if I can find anyone that can tell me where the Blue Mountains are,' he said.

'If you will stay with me tonight,' said the old man, 'I have a book of the history of the world, and I shall

He stayed there all night, but there was not a word in the book about the Blue Mountains. Seeing that he was

rather cast down, the old man told him that he had a brother nine hundred miles away, and that if information

could be got about them from anyone it would be from him; 'and I will enable you,' he said, 'to reach the

place where he lives before night.' So he blew his whistle, and the Irishman landed at the brother's house

before nightfall. When the old man saw him he said he had not seen a single man for three hundred years, and

'I never heard the name before; but if they do exist I shall find them out. I am master of all the birds in the

world, and have only to blow my whistle and every one will come to me. I shall then ask each of them to tell

where it came from, and if there is any way of finding out the Blue Mountains that is it.'

So he blew his whistle, and when he blew it then all the birds of the world began to gather. The old man

questioned each of them as to where they had come from, but there was not one of them that had come from

the Blue Mountains. After he had run over them all, however, he missed a big Eagle that was wanting, and

wondered that it had not come. Soon afterwards he saw something big coming towards him, darkening the

sky. It kept coming nearer and growing bigger, and what was this after all but the Eagle? When she arrived

'I couldn't help it,' she said; 'I had more than twenty times further to come than any bird that has come here

'They are making ready this very day,' said the Eagle, 'for the marriage of the daughter of the King of the

Blue Mountains. For three years now she has refused to marry anyone whatsoever, until she should give up

all hope of the coming of the man who released her from the spell. Now she can wait no longer, for three

The Irishman knew that it was for himself she had been waiting so long, but he was unable to make any better

of it, for he had no hope of reaching the Blue Mountains all his life. The old man noticed how sad he grew,

and asked the Eagle what she would take for carrying this man on her back to the Blue Mountains.

'I must have threescore cattle killed,' said she, 'and cut up into quarters, and every time I look over my

As soon as the Irishman and the old man heard her demand they went out hunting, and before evening they

had killed threescore cattle. They made quarters of them, as the Eagle told them, and then the old man asked

her to lie down, till they would get it all heaped up on her back. First of all, though, they had to get a ladder

of fourteen steps, to enable them to get on to the Eagle's back, and there they piled up the meat as well as they

could. Then the old man told the Irishman to mount, and to remember to throw a quarter of beef to her every

time she looked round. He went up, and the old man gave the Eagle the word to be off, which she instantly

obeyed; and every time she turned her head the Irishman threw a quarter of beef into her mouth.

As they came near the borders of the kingdom of the Blue Mountains, however, the beef was done, and, when

the Eagle looked over her shoulder, what was the Irishman at but throwing the stone between her tail and her

neck! At this she turned a complete somersault, and threw the Irishman off into the sea, where he fell into the

bay that was right in front of the King's Palace. Fortunately the points of his toes just touched the bottom, and

When he went up into the town all the streets were gleaming with light, and the wedding of the Princess was

just about to begin. He went into the first house he came to, and this happened to be the house of the King's

henwife. He asked the old woman what was causing all the noise and light in the town.

'The Princess,' said she, 'is going to be married tonight against her will, for she has been expecting every day

The old woman went, and soon returned along with the Princess. She and the Irishman recognised each other,

A soldier came marching along the high roadleft, right! A left, right! He had his knapsack on his back and

An old Witch met him on the road. She was very ugly to look at: her underlip hung down to her breast.

'Good evening, Soldier!' she said. 'What a fine sword and knapsack you have! You are something like a

'Do you see that great tree there?' said the Witch, pointing to a tree beside them. 'It is hollow within. You

must climb up to the top, and then you will see a hole through which you can let yourself down into the tree. I

will tie a rope round your waist, so that I may be able to pull you up again when you call.'

'Get money!' answered the Witch. 'Listen! When you reach the bottom of the tree you will find yourself in a

large hall; it is light there, for there are more than three hundred lamps burning. Then you will see three

doors, which you can openthe keys are in the locks. If you go into the first room, you will see a great chest

in the middle of the floor with a dog sitting upon it; he has eyes as large as saucers, but you needn't trouble

about him. I will give you my bluecheck apron, which you must spread out on the floor, and then go back

quickly and fetch the dog and set him upon it; open the chest and take as much money as you like. It is

copper there. If you would rather have silver, you must go into the next room, where there is a dog with eyes

as large as millwheels. But don't take any notice of him; just set him upon my apron, and help yourself to

the money. If you prefer gold, you can get that too, if you go into the third room, and as much as you like to

carry. But the dog that guards the chest there has eyes as large as the Round Tower at Copenhagen! He is a

savage dog, I can tell you; but you needn't be afraid of him either. Only, put him on my apron and he won't

'Come, this is not bad!' said the Soldier. 'But what am I to give you, old Witch; for surely you are not going to

'Yes, I am!' replied the Witch. 'Not a single farthing will I take! For me you shall bring nothing but an old

Then the Soldier climbed up the tree, let himself down through the hole, and found himself standing, as the

Witch had said, underground in the large hall, where the three hundred lamps were burning.

Well, he opened the first door. Ugh! there sat the dog with eyes as big as saucers glaring at him.

'You are a fine fellow!' said the Soldier, and put him on the Witch's apron, took as much copper as his

pockets could hold; then he shut the chest, put the dog on it again, and went into the second room. Sure

'You had better not look at me so hard!' said the Soldier. 'Your eyes will come out of their sockets!'

And then he set the dog on the apron. When he saw all the silver in the chest, he threw away the copper he

Then he went into the third room. Horrors! the dog there had two eyes, each as large as the Round Tower at

'Good evening!' said the Soldier and saluted, for he had never seen a dog like this before. But when he had

examined him more closely, he thought to himself: 'Now then, I've had enough of this!' and put him down on

the floor, and opened the chest. Heavens! what a heap of gold there was! With all that he could buy up the

whole town, and all the sugar pigs, all the tin soldiers, whips and rockinghorses in the whole world. Now he

threw away all the silver with which he had filled his pockets and knapsack, and filled them with gold

insteadyes, all his pockets, his knapsack, cap and boots even, so that he could hardly walk. Now he was

rich indeed. He put the dog back upon the chest, shut the door, and then called up through the tree:

'Botheration!' said the Soldier, 'I had clean forgotten it!' And then he went back and fetched it.

The Witch pulled him up, and there he stood again on the high road, with pockets, knapsack, cap and boots

'That doesn't matter to you,' replied the Witch. 'You have got your money, give me my tinderbox.'

'We'll see!' said the Soldier. 'Tell me at once what you want to do with it, or I will draw my sword, and cut off

The Soldier immediately cut off her head. That was the end of her! But he tied up all his gold in her apron,

slung it like a bundle over his shoulder, put the tinderbox in his pocket, and set out towards the town.

It was a splendid town! He turned into the finest inn, ordered the best chamber and his favourite dinner; for

It certainly occurred to the servant who had to clean his boots that they were astonishingly old boots for such

a rich lord. But that was because he had not yet bought new ones; next day he appeared in respectable boots

and fine clothes. Now, instead of a common soldier he had become a noble lord, and the people told him

about all the grand doings of the town and the King, and what a beautiful Princess his daughter was.

'She is never to be seen at all!' they told him; 'she lives in a great copper castle, surrounded by many walls

and towers! No one except the King may go in or out, for it is prophesied that she will marry a common

'I should very much like to see her,' thought the Soldier; but he could not get permission.

Now he lived very gaily, went to the theatre, drove in the King's garden, and gave the poor a great deal of

money, which was very nice of him; he had experienced in former times how hard it is not to have a farthing

in the world. Now he was rich, wore fine clothes, and made many friends, who all said that he was an

excellent man, a real nobleman. And the Soldier liked that. But as he was always spending money, and never

made any more, at last the day came when he had nothing left but two shillings, and he had to leave the

beautiful rooms in which he had been living, and go into a little attic under the roof, and clean his own boots,

and mend them with a darningneedle. None of his friends came to visit him there, for there were too many

It was a dark evening, and he could not even buy a light. But all at once it flashed across him that there was a

little end of tinder in the tinderbox, which he had taken from the hollow tree into which the Witch had

helped him down. He found the box with the tinder in it; but just as he was kindling a light, and had struck a

spark out of the tinderbox, the door burst open, and the dog with eyes as large as saucers, which he had seen

'What's the meaning of this?' exclaimed the Soldier. 'This is a pretty kind of tinderbox, if I can get whatever

I want like this. Get me money!' he cried to the dog, and hey, presto! he was off and back again, holding a

Now the Soldier knew what a capital tinderbox this was. If he rubbed once, the dog that sat on the chest of

copper appeared; if he rubbed twice, there came the dog that watched over the silver chest; and if he rubbed

three times, the one that guarded the gold appeared. Now, the Soldier went down again to his beautiful

rooms, and appeared once more in splendid clothes. All his friends immediately recognised him again, and

One day he thought to himself: 'It is very strange that no one can get to see the Princess. They all say she is

very pretty, but what's the use of that if she has to sit for ever in the great copper castle with all the towers?

Can I not manage to see her somehow? Where is my tinderbox?' and so he struck a spark, and, presto! there

'It is the middle of the night, I know,' said the Soldier; 'but I should very much like to see the Princess for a

The dog was already outside the door, and before the Soldier could look round, in he came with the Princess.

She was lying asleep on the dog's back, and was so beautiful that anyone could see she was a real Princess.

The Soldier really could not refrain from kissing herhe was such a thorough Soldier. Then the dog ran

back with the Princess. But when it was morning, and the King and Queen were drinking tea, the Princess

said that the night before she had had such a strange dream about a dog and a Soldier: she had ridden on the

'That is certainly a fine story,' said the Queen. But the next night one of the ladiesinwaiting was to watch at

the Princess's bed, to see if it was only a dream, or if it had actually happened.

The Soldier had an overpowering longing to see the Princess again, and so the dog came in the middle of the

night and fetched her, running as fast as he could. But the ladyinwaiting slipped on indiarubber shoes and

followed them. When she saw them disappear into a large house, she thought to herself: 'Now I know where

it is; 'and made a great cross on the door with a piece of chalk. Then she went home and lay down, and the

dog came back also, with the Princess. But when he saw that a cross had been made on the door of the house

where the Soldier lived, he took a piece of chalk also, and made crosses on all the doors in the town; and that

was very clever, for now the ladyinwaiting could not find the right house, as there were crosses on all the

Early next morning the King, Queen, ladiesinwaiting, and officers came out to see where the Princess had

'No, there it is, my dear!' said the Queen, when she likewise saw a door with a cross.

'But here is one, and there is another!' they all exclaimed; wherever they looked there was a cross on the door.

But the Queen was an extremely clever woman, who could do a great deal more than just drive in a coach.

She took her great golden scissors, cut up a piece of silk, and made a pretty little bag of it. This she filled with

the finest buckwheat grains, and tied it round the Princess' neck; this done, she cut a little hole in the bag, so

In the night the dog came again, took the Princess on his back and ran away with her to the Soldier, who was

very much in love with her, and would have liked to have been a Prince, so that he might have had her for his

The dog did not notice how the grains were strewn right from the castle to the Soldier's window, where he ran

In the morning the King and the Queen saw plainly where their daughter had been, and they took the Soldier

There he sat. Oh, how dark and dull it was there! And they told him: 'Tomorrow you are to be hanged.'

Hearing that did not exactly cheer him, and he had left his tinderbox in the inn.

Next morning he could see through the iron grating in front of his little window how the people were

hurrying out of the town to see him hanged. He heard the drums and saw the soldiers marching; all the people

were running to and fro. Just below his window was a shoemaker's apprentice, with leather apron and shoes;

he was skipping along so merrily that one of his shoes flew off and fell against the wall, just where the

'Oh, shoemaker's boy, you needn't be in such a hurry!' said the Soldier to him. 'There's nothing going on till I

arrive. But if you will run back to the house where I lived, and fetch me my tinderbox, I will give you four

The shoemaker's boy was very willing to earn four shillings, and fetched the tinderbox, gave it to the

Outside the town a great scaffold had been erected, and all round were standing the soldiers, and hundreds of

thousands of people. The King and Queen were sitting on a magnificent throne opposite the judges and the

The Soldier was already standing on the top of the ladder; but when they wanted to put the rope round his

neck, he said that the fulfilment of one innocent request was always granted to a poor criminal before he

underwent his punishment. He would so much like to smoke a small pipe of tobacco; it would be his last pipe

The King could not refuse him this, and so he took out his tinderbox, and rubbed it once, twice, three times.

And lo, and behold I there stood all three dogsthe one with eyes as large as saucers, the second with eyes

as large as millwheels, and the third with eyes each as large as the Round Tower of Copenhagen.

'Help me now, so that I may not be hanged!' cried the Soldier. And thereupon the dogs fell upon the judges

and the whole council, seized some by the legs, others by the nose, and threw them so high into the air that

'I won't stand this!' said the King; but the largest dog seized him too, and the Queen as well, and threw them

up after the others. This frightened the soldiers, and all the people cried: 'Good Soldier, you shall be our

Then they put the Soldier into the King's coach, and the three dogs danced in front, crying 'Hurrah!' And the

The Princess came out of the copper castle, and became Queen; and that pleased her very much.

The wedding festivities lasted for eight days, and the dogs sat at table and made eyes at everyone.

There were once a King and a Queen, and they had a son called Sigurd, who was very strong and active, and

goodlooking. When the King came to be bowed down with the weight of years he spoke to his son, and said

that now it was time for him to look out for a fitting match for himself, for he did not know how long he

Sigurd was not averse to this, and asked his father where he thought it best to look for a wife. The King

answered that in a certain country there was a King who had a beautiful daughter, and he thought it would be

most desirable if Sigurd could get her. So the two parted, and Sigurd prepared for the journey, and went to

He came to the King and asked his daughter's hand, which he readily granted him, but only on the condition

that he should remain there as long as he could, for the King himself was not strong and not very able to

govern his kingdom. Sigurd accepted this condition, but added that he would have to get leave to go home

again to his own country when he heard news of his father's death. After that Sigurd married the Princess, and

helped his fatherin law to govern the kingdom. He and the Princess loved each other dearly, and after a

year a son came to them, who was two years old when word came to Sigurd that his father was dead. Sigurd

now prepared to return home with his wife and child, and went on board ship to go by sea.

They had sailed for several days, when the breeze suddenly fell, and there came a dead calm, at a time when

they needed only one day's voyage to reach home. Sigurd and his Queen were one day on deck, when most of

the others on the ship had fallen asleep. There they sat and talked for a while, and had their little son along

with them. After a time Sigurd became so heavy with sleep that he could no longer keep awake, so he went

A good while after Sigurd had gone below the Queen saw something black on the sea, which seemed to be

coming nearer. As it approached she could make out that it was a boat, and could see the figure of some one

sitting in it and rowing it. At last the boat came alongside the ship, and now the Queen saw that it was a stone

boat, out of which there came up on board the ship a fearfully ugly Witch. The Queen was more frightened

than words can describe, and could neither speak a word nor move from the place so as to awaken the King

or the sailors. The Witch came right up to the Queen, took the child from her and laid it on the deck; then she

took the Queen, and stripped her of all her fine clothes, which she proceeded to put on herself, and looked

then like a human being. Last of all she took the Queen, put her into the boat, and said

'This spell I lay upon you, that you slacken not your course until you come to my brother in the Underworld.'

The Queen sat stunned and motionless, but the boat at once shot away from the ship with her, and before long

When the boat could no longer be seen the child began to cry, and though the Witch tried to quiet it she could

not manage it; so she went below to where the King was sleeping with the child on her arm, and awakened

him, scolding him for leaving them alone on deck, while he and all the crew were asleep. It was great

Sigurd was greatly surprised to hear his Queen scold him so much, for she had never said an angry word to

him before; but he thought it was quite excusable in this case, and tried to quiet the child along with her, but

it was no use. Then he went and wakened the sailors, and bade them hoist the sails, for a breeze had sprung

They soon reached the land which Sigurd was to rule over, and found all the people sorrowful for the old

King's death, but they became glad when they got Sigurd back to the Court, and made him King over them.

The King's son, however, hardly ever stopped crying from the time he had been taken from his mother on the

deck of the ship, although he had always been such a good child before, so that at last the King had to get a

nurse for himone of the maids of the Court. As soon as the child got into her charge he stopped crying, and

After the seavoyage it seemed to the King that the Queen had altered very much in many ways, and not for

the better. He thought her much more haughty and stubborn and difficult to deal with than she used to be.

Before long others began to notice this as well as the King. In the Court there were two young fellows, one of

eighteen years old, the other of nineteen, who were very fond of playing chess, and often sat long inside

playing at it. Their room was next the Queen's, and often during the day they heard the Queen talking.

One day they paid more attention than usual when they heard her talk, and put their ears close to a crack in

the wall between the rooms, and heard the Queen say quite plainly, 'When I yawn a little, then I am a nice

little maiden; when I yawn halfway, then I am half a troll; and when I yawn fully, then I am a troll

As she said this she yawned tremendously, and in a moment had put on the appearance of a fearfully ugly

troll. Then there came up through the floor of the room a threeheaded Giant with a trough full of meat, who

saluted her as his sister and set down the trough before her. She began to eat out of it, and never stopped till

she had finished it. The young fellows saw all this going on, but did not hear the two of them say anything to

each other. They were astonished though at how greedily the Queen devoured the meat, and how much she

ate of it, and were no longer surprised that she took so little when she sat at table with the King. As soon as

she had finished it the Giant disappeared with the trough by the same way as he had come, and the Queen

Now we must go back to the King's son after he had been put in charge of the nurse. One evening, after she

had lit a candle and was holding the child, several planks sprang up in the floor of the room, and out at the

opening came a beautiful woman dressed in white, with an iron belt round her waist, to which was fastened

an iron chain that went down into the ground. The woman came up to the nurse, took the child from her, and

pressed it to her breast; then she gave it back to the nurse and returned by the same way as she had come, and

the floor closed over her again. Although the woman had not spoken a single word to her, the nurse was very

Next evening the same thing happened again, just as before, but as the woman was going away she said in a

sad tone, 'Two are gone, and one only is left,' and then disappeared as before. The nurse was still more

frightened when she heard the woman say this, and thought that perhaps some danger was hanging over the

child, though she had no illopinion of the unknown woman, who, indeed, had behaved towards the child as

if it were her own. The most mysterious thing was the woman saying 'and only one is left;' but the nurse

guessed that this must mean that only one day was left, since she had come for two days already.

At last the nurse made up her mind to go to the King, and told him the whole story, and asked him to be

present in person next day about the time when the woman usually came. The King promised to do so, and

came to the nurse's room a little before the time, and sat down on a chair with his drawn sword in his hand.

Soon after the planks in the floor sprang up as before, and the woman came up, dressed in white, with the

iron belt and chain. The King saw at once that it was his own Queen, and immediately hewed asunder the

iron chain that was fastened to the belt. This was followed by such noises and crashings down in the earth

that all the King's Palace shook, so that no one expected anything else than to see every bit of it shaken to

pieces. At last, however, the noises and shaking stopped, and they began to come to themselves again.

The King and Queen embraced each other, and she told him the whole storyhow the Witch came to the

ship when they were all asleep and sent her off in the boat. After she had gone so far that she could not see

the ship, she sailed on through darkness until she landed beside a threeheaded Giant. The Giant wished her

to marry him, but she refused; whereupon he shut her up by herself, and told her she would never get free

until she consented. After a time she began to plan how to get her freedom, and at last told him that she

would consent if he would allow her to visit her son on earth three days on end. This he agreed to, but put on

her this iron belt and chain, the other end of which he fastened round his own waist, and the great noises that

were heard when the King cut the chain must have been caused by the Giant's falling down the underground

passage when the chain gave way so suddenly. The Giant's dwelling, indeed, was right under the Palace, and

The King now understood how the Queen he had had for some time past had been so illtempered. He at

once had a sack drawn over her head and made her be stoned to death, and after that torn in pieces by

untamed horses. The two young fellows also told now what they had heard and seen in the Queen's room, for

before this they had been afraid to say anything about it, on account of the Queen's power.

The real Queen was now restored to all her dignity, and was beloved by all. The nurse was married to a

There was once a woman who wanted to have quite a tiny, little child, but she did not know where to get one

from. So one day she went to an old Witch and said to her: 'I should so much like to have a tiny, little child;

'Oh, we have just got one ready!' said the Witch. 'Here is a barleycorn for you, but it's not the kind the

farmer sows in his field, or feeds the cocks and hens with, I can tell you. Put it in a flowerpot, and then you

'Oh, thank you!' said the woman, and gave the Witch a shilling, for that was what it cost. Then she went home

and planted the barleycorn; immediately there grew out of it a large and beautiful flower, which looked like

'What a beautiful flower!' exclaimed the woman, and she kissed the red and yellow petals; but as she kissed

them the flower burst open. It was a real tulip, such as one can see any day; but in the middle of the blossom,

on the green velvety petals, sat a little girl, quite tiny, trim, and pretty. She was scarcely half a thumb in

height; so they called her Thumbelina. An elegant polished walnutshell served Thumbelina as a cradle, the

blue petals of a violet were her mattress, and a roseleaf her coverlid. There she lay at night, but in the

daytime she used to play about on the table; here the woman had put a bowl, surrounded by a ring of

flowers, with their stalks in water, in the middle of which floated a great tulip pedal, and on this Thumbelina

sat, and sailed from one side of the bowl to the other, rowing herself with two white horsehairs for oars. It

was such a pretty sight! She could sing, too, with a voice more soft and sweet than had ever been heard

One night, when she was lying in her pretty little bed, an old toad crept in through a broken pane in the

window. She was very ugly, clumsy, and clammy; she hopped on to the table where Thumbelina lay asleep

'This would make a beautiful wife for my son,' said the toad, taking up the walnutshell, with Thumbelina

There flowed a great wide stream, with slippery and marshy banks; here the toad lived with her son. Ugh!

how ugly and clammy he was, just like his mother! 'Croak, croak, croak!' was all he could say when he saw

'Don't talk so load, or you'll wake her,' said the old toad. 'She might escape us even now; she is as light as a

feather. We will put her at once on a broad waterlily leaf in the stream. That will be quite an island for her;

she is so small and light. She can't run away from us there, whilst we are preparing the guestchamber under

Outside in the brook grew many waterlilies, with broad green leaves, which looked as if they were

The leaf farthest away was the largest, and to this the old toad swam with Thumbelina in her walnutshell.

The tiny Thumbelina woke up very early in the morning, and when she saw where she was she began to cry

bitterly; for on every side of the great green leaf was water, and she could not get to the land.

The old toad was down under the marsh, decorating her room with rushes and yellow marigold leaves, to

make it very grand for her new daughterinlaw; then she swam out with her ugly son to the leaf where

Thumbelina lay. She wanted to fetch the pretty cradle to put it into her room before Thumbelina herself came

there. The old toad bowed low in the water before her, and said: 'Here is my son; you shall marry him, and

'Croak, croak, croak!' was all that the son could say. Then they took the neat little cradle and swam away with

it; but Thumbelina sat alone on the great green leaf and wept, for she did not want to live with the clammy

toad, or marry her ugly son. The little fishes swimming about under the water had seen the toad quite plainly,

and heard what she had said; so they put up their heads to see the little girl. When they saw her, they thought

her so pretty that they were very sorry she should go down with the ugly toad to live. No; that must not

happen. They assembled in the water round the green stalk which supported the leaf on which she was sitting,

and nibbled the stem in two. Away floated the leaf down the stream, bearing Thumbelina far beyond the

On she sailed past several towns, and the little birds sitting in the bushes saw her, and sang, 'What a pretty

little girl!' The leaf floated farther and farther away; thus Thumbelina left her native land.

A beautiful little white butterfly fluttered above her, and at last settled on the leaf. Thumbelina pleased him,

and she, too, was delighted, for now the toads could not reach her, and it was so beautiful where she was

travelling; the sun shone on the water and made it sparkle like the brightest silver. She took off her sash, and

tied one end round the butterfly; the other end she fastened to the leaf, so that now it glided along with her

A great cockchafer came flying past; he caught sight of Thumbelina, and in a moment had put his arms round

her slender waist, and had flown off with her to a tree. The green leaf floated away down the stream, and the

butterfly with it, for he was fastened to the leaf and could not get loose from it. Oh, dear! how terrified poor

little Thumbelina was when the cockchafer flew off with her to the tree! But she was especially distressed on

the beautiful white butterfly's account, as she had tied him fast, so that if he could not get away he must

starve to death. But the cockchafer did not trouble himself about that; he sat down with her on a large green

leaf, gave her the honey out of the flowers to eat, and told her that she was very pretty, although she wasn't in

the least like a cockchafer. Later on, all the other cockchafers who lived in the same tree came to pay calls;

they examined Thumbelina closely, and remarked, 'Why, she has only two legs! How very miserable!'

'How ugly she is!' said all the lady chafersand yet Thumbelina was really very pretty.

The cockchafer who had stolen her knew this very well; but when he heard all the ladies saying she was ugly,

he began to think so too, and would not keep her; she might go wherever she liked. So he flew down from the

tree with her and put her on a daisy. There she sat and wept, because she was so ugly that the cockchafer

would have nothing to do with her; and yet she was the most beautiful creature imaginable, so soft and

The whole summer poor little Thumbelina lived alone in the great wood. She plaited a bed for herself of

blades of grass, and hung it up under a cloverleaf, so that she was protected from the rain; she gathered

honey from the flowers for food, and drank the dew on the leaves every morning. Thus the summer and

autumn passed, but then came winterthe long, cold winter. All the birds who had sung so sweetly about her

had flown away; the trees shed their leaves, the flowers died; the great cloverleaf under which she had lived

curled up, and nothing remained of it but the withered stalk. She was terribly cold, for her clothes were

ragged, and she herself was so small and thin. Poor little Thumbelina! she would surely be frozen to death. It

began to snow, and every snowflake that fell on her was to her as a whole shovelful thrown on one of us, for

we are so big, and she was only an inch high. She wrapt herself round in a dead leaf, but it was torn in the

Just outside the wood where she was now living lay a great cornfield. But the corn had been gone a long

time; only the dry, bare stubble was left standing in the frozen ground. This made a forest for her to wander

about in. All at once she came across the door of a fieldmouse, who had a little hole under a cornstalk.

There the mouse lived warm and snug, with a storeroom full of corn, a splendid kitchen and diningroom.

Poor little Thumbelina went up to the door and begged for a little piece of barley, for she had not had

'Poor little creature!' said the fieldmouse, for she was a kind hearted old thing at the bottom. 'Come into

As Thumbelina pleased her, she said: 'As far as I am concerned you may spend the winter with me; but you

must keep my room clean and tidy, and tell me stories, for I like that very much.'

And Thumbelina did all that the kind old fieldmouse asked, and did it remarkably well too.

'Now I am expecting a visitor,' said the fieldmouse; 'my neighbour comes to call on me once a week. He is

in better circumstances than I am, has great, big rooms, and wears a fine blackvelvet coat. If you could only

marry him, you would be well provided for. But he is blind. You must tell him all the prettiest stories you

But Thumbelina did not trouble her head about him, for he was only a mole. He came and paid them a visit in

'His house is twenty times larger than mine; he possesses great knowledge, but he cannot bear the sun and the

Thumbelina had to sing to him, so she sang 'Ladybird, lady bird, fly away home!' and other songs so

prettily that the mole fell in love with her; but he did not say anything, he was a very cautious man. A short

time before he had dug a long passage through the ground from his own house to that of his neighbour; in this

he gave the fieldmouse and Thumbelina permission to walk as often as they liked. But he begged them not

to be afraid of the dead bird that lay in the passage: it was a real bird with beak and feathers, and must have

died a little time ago, and now laid buried just where he had made his tunnel. The mole took a piece of rotten

wood in his mouth, for that glows like fire in the dark, and went in front, lighting them through the long dark

passage. When they came to the place where the dead bird lay, the mole put his broad nose against the ceiling

and pushed a hole through, so that the daylight could shine down. In the middle of the path lay a dead

swallow, his pretty wings pressed close to his sides, his claws and head drawn under his feathers; the poor

bird had evidently died of cold. Thumbelina was very sorry, for she was very fond of all little birds; they had

sung and twittered so beautifully to her all through the summer. But the mole kicked him with his bandy legs

'Now he can't sing any more! It must be very miserable to be a little bird! I'm thankful that none of my little

'Yes, you speak like a sensible man,' said the fieldmouse. 'What has a bird, in spite of all his singing, in the

wintertime? He must starve and freeze, and that must be very pleasant for him, I must say!'

Thumbelina did not say anything; but when the other two had passed on she bent down to the bird, brushed

aside the feathers from his head, and kissed his closed eyes gently. 'Perhaps it was he that sang to me so

prettily in the summer,' she thought. 'How much pleasure he did give me, dear little bird!'

The mole closed up the hole again which let in the light, and then escorted the ladies home. But Thumbelina

could not sleep that night; so she got out of bed, and plaited a great big blanket of straw, and carried it off,

and spread it over the dead bird, and piled upon it thistledown as soft as cottonwool, which she had found

in the fieldmouse's room, so that the poor little thing should lie warmly buried.

'Farewell, pretty little bird!' she said. 'Farewell, and thank you for your beautiful songs in the summer, when

the trees were green, and the sun shone down warmly on us!' Then she laid her head against the bird's heart.

But the bird was not dead: he had been frozen, but now that she had warmed him, he was coming to life

In autumn the swallows fly away to foreign lands; but there are some who are late in starting, and then they

get so cold that they drop down as if dead, and the snow comes and covers them over.

Thumbelina trembled, she was so frightened; for the bird was very large in comparison with herselfonly an

inch high. But she took courage, piled up the down more closely over the poor swallow, fetched her own

Next night she crept out again to him. There he was alive, but very weak; he could only open his eyes for a

moment and look at Thumbelina, who was standing in front of him with a piece of rotten wood in her hand,

'Thank you, pretty little child!' said the swallow to her. 'I am so beautifully warm! Soon I shall regain my

'Oh!' she said, 'it is very cold outside; it is snowing and freezing! stay in your warm bed; I will take care of

Then she brought him water in a petal, which he drank, after which he related to her how he had torn one of

his wings on a bramble, so that he could not fly as fast as the other swallows, who had flown far away to

warmer lands. So at last he had dropped down exhausted, and then he could remember no more. The whole

winter he remained down there, and Thumbelina looked after him and nursed him tenderly. Neither the mole

nor the fieldmouse learnt anything of this, for they could not bear the poor swallow.

When the spring came, and the sun warmed the earth again, the swallow said farewell to Thumbelina, who

opened the hole in the roof for him which the mole had made. The sun shone brightly down upon her, and the

swallow asked her if she would go with him; she could sit upon his back. Thumbelina wanted very much to

fly far away into the green wood, but she knew that the old fieldmouse would be sad if she ran away. 'No, I

'Farewell, dear good little girl!' said the swallow, and flew off into the sunshine. Thumbelina gazed after him

'Tweet, tweet!' sang the bird, and flew into the green wood. Thumbelina was very unhappy. She was not

allowed to go out into the warm sunshine. The corn which had been sowed in the field over the fieldmouse's

home grew up high into the air, and made a thick forest for the poor little girl, who was only an inch high.

'Now you are to be a bride, Thumbelina!' said the fieldmouse, 'for our neighbour has proposed for you!

What a piece of fortune for a poor child like you! Now you must set to work at your linen for your dowry, for

nothing must be lacking if you are to become the wife of our neighbour, the mole!'

Thumbelina had to spin all day long, and every evening the mole visited her, and told her that when the

summer was over the sun would not shine so hot; now it was burning the earth as hard as a stone. Yes, when

But she was not at all pleased about it, for she did not like the stupid mole. Every morning when the sun was

rising, and every evening when it was setting, she would steal out of the housedoor, and when the breeze

parted the ears of corn so that she could see the blue sky through them, she thought how bright and beautiful

it must be outside, and longed to see her dear swallow again. But he never came; no doubt he had flown away

'In four weeks you will be married!' said the fieldmouse; 'don't be obstinate, or I shall bite you with my

sharp white teeth! You will get a fine husband! The King himself has not such a velvet coat. His storeroom

Well, the weddingday arrived. The mole had come to fetch Thumbelina to live with him deep down under

the ground, never to come out into the warm sun again, for that was what he didn't like. The poor little girl

'Farewell, bright sun!' she cried, stretching out her arms towards it, and taking another step outside the house;

for now the corn had been reaped, and only the dry stubble was left standing. 'Farewell, farewell!' she said,

and put her arms round a little red flower that grew there. 'Give my love to the dear swallow when you see

'Tweet, tweet!' sounded in her ear all at once. She looked up. There was the swallow flying past! As soon as

he saw Thumbelina, he was very glad. She told him how unwilling she was to marry the ugly mole, as then

she had to live underground where the sun never shone, and she could not help bursting into tears.

'The cold winter is coming now,' said the swallow. 'I must fly away to warmer lands: will you come with me?

You can sit on my back, and we will fly far away from the ugly mole and his dark house, over the mountains,

to the warm countries where the sun shines more brightly than here, where it is always summer, and there are

always beautiful flowers. Do come with me, dear little Thumbelina, who saved my life when I lay frozen in

'Yes, I will go with you,' said Thumbelina, and got on the swallow's back, with her feet on one of his

outstretched wings. Up he flew into the air, over woods and seas, over the great mountains where the snow is

always lying. And if she was cold she crept under his warm feathers, only keeping her little head out to

admire all the beautiful things in the world beneath. At last they came to warm lands; there the sun was

brighter, the sky seemed twice as high, and in the hedges hung the finest green and purple grapes; in the

woods grew oranges and lemons: the air was scented with myrtle and mint, and on the roads were pretty little

children running about and playing with great gorgeous butterflies. But the swallow flew on farther, and it

became more and more beautiful. Under the most splendid green trees besides a blue lake stood a glittering

whitemarble castle. Vines hung about the high pillars; there were many swallows' nests, and in one of these

'Here is my house!' said he. 'But it won't do for you to live with me; I am not tidy enough to please you. Find

a home for yourself in one of the lovely flowers that grow down there; now I will set you down, and you can

There lay a great white marble column which had fallen to the ground and broken into three pieces, but

between these grew the most beautiful white flowers. The swallow flew down with Thumbelina, and set her

upon one of the broad leaves. But there, to her astonishment, she found a tiny little man sitting in the middle

of the flower, as white and transparent as if he were made of glass; he had the prettiest golden crown on his

head, and the most beautiful wings on his shoulders; he himself was no bigger than Thumbelina. He was the

spirit of the flower. In each blossom there dwelt a tiny man or woman; but this one was the King over the

The little Prince was very much frightened at the swallow, for in comparison with one so tiny as himself he

seemed a giant. But when he saw Thumbelina, he was delighted, for she was the most beautiful girl he had

ever seen. So he took his golden crown from off his head and put it on hers, asking her her name, and if she

would be his wife, and then she would be Queen of all the flowers. Yes! he was a different kind of husband to

the son of the toad and the mole with the blackvelvet coat. So she said 'Yes' to the noble Prince. And out of

each flower came a lady and gentleman, each so tiny and pretty that it was a pleasure to see them. Each

brought Thumbelina a present, but the best of all was a beautiful pair of wings which were fastened on to her

back, and now she too could fly from flower to flower. They all wished her joy, and the swallow sat above in

his nest and sang the wedding march, and that he did as well as he could; but he was sad, because he was very

'You shall not be called Thumbelina!' said the spirit of the flower to her; 'that is an ugly name, and you are

'Farewell, farewell!' said the little swallow with a heavy heart, and flew away to farther lands, far, far away,

right back to Denmark. There he had a little nest above a window, where his wife lived, who can tell

fairystories. 'Tweet, tweet!' he sang to her. And that is the way we learnt the whole story.

In China, as I daresay you know, the Emperor is a Chinaman, and all his courtiers are also Chinamen. The

story I am going to tell you happened many years ago, but it is worth while for you to listen to it, before it is

The Emperor's Palace was the most splendid in the world, all made of priceless porcelain, but so brittle and

delicate that you had to take great care how you touched it. In the garden were the most beautiful flowers, and

on the loveliest of them were tied silver bells which tinkled, so that if you passed you could not help looking

at the flowers. Everything in the Emperor's garden was admirably arranged with a view to effect; and the

garden was so large that even the gardener himself did not know where it ended. If you ever got beyond it,

you came to a stately forest with great trees and deep lakes in it. The forest sloped down to the sea, which

was a clear blue. Large ships could sail under the boughs of the trees, and in these trees there lived a

Nightingale. She sang so beautifully that even the poor fisherman who had so much to do stood and listened

when he came at night to cast his nets. 'How beautiful it is!' he said; but he had to attend to his work, and

forgot about the bird. But when she sang the next night and the fisherman came there again, he said the same

From all the countries round came travellers to the Emperor's town, who were astonished at the Palace and

the garden. But when they heard the Nightingale they all said, 'This is the finest thing after all!'

The travellers told all about it when they went home, and learned scholars wrote many books upon the town,

the Palace, and the garden. But they did not forget the Nightingale; she was praised the most, and all the poets

The books were circulated throughout the world, and some of them reached the Emperor. He sat in his golden

chair, and read and read. He nodded his head every moment, for he liked reading the brilliant accounts of the

town, the Palace, and the garden. 'But the Nightingale is better than all,' he saw written.

'What is that?' said the Emperor. 'I don't know anything about the Nightingale! Is there such a bird in my

empire, and so near as in my garden? I have never heard it! Fancy reading for the first time about it in a

And he called his First Lord to him. He was so proud that if anyone of lower rank than his own ventured to

speak to him or ask him anything, he would say nothing but 'P!' and that does not mean anything.

'Here is a most remarkable bird which is called a Nightingale!' said the Emperor. 'They say it is the most

glorious thing in my kingdom. Why has no one ever said anything to me about it?'

'I have never before heard it mentioned!' said the First Lord. 'I will look for it and find it!'

But where was it to be found? The First Lord ran up and down stairs, through the halls and corridors; but

none of those he met had ever heard of the Nightingale. And the First Lord ran again to the Emperor, and told

him that it must be an invention on the part of those who had written the books.

'Your Irmperial Majesty cannot really believe all that is written! There are some inventions called the Black

'But the book in which I read this,' said the Emperor, 'is sent me by His Great Majesty the Emperor of Japan;

so it cannot be untrue, and I will hear the Nightingale! She must be here this evening! She has my gracious

permission to appear, and if she does not, the whole Court shall be trampled under foot after supper!'

'Tsing pe!' said the First Lord; and he ran up and down stairs, through the halls and corridors, and half the

Court ran with him, for they did not want to be trampled under foot. Everyone was asking after the wonderful

At last they met a poor little girl in the kitchen, who said, 'Oh! I know the Nightingale well. How she sings! I

have permission to carry the scraps over from the Court meals to my poor sick mother, and when I am going

home at night, tired and weary, and rest for a little in the wood, then I hear the Nightingale singing! It brings

'Little kitchenmaid!' said the First Lord, 'I will give you a place in the kitchen, and you shall have leave to see

the Emperor at dinner, if you can lead us to the Nightingale, for she is invited to come to Court this evening.'

And so they all went into the wood where the Nightingale was wont to sing, and half the Court went too.

'Oh!' said the Courtiers, 'now we have found her! What a wonderful power for such a small beast to have! I

'No; that is a cow mooing!' said the little kitchenmaid. 'We are still a long way off!'

Then the frogs began to croak in the marsh. 'Splendid!' said the Chinese chaplain. 'Now we hear her; it sounds

'No, no; those are frogs!' said the little kitchenmaid. 'But I think we shall soon hear her now!'

'There she is!' cried the little girl. 'Listen! She is sitting there!' And she pointed to a little darkgrey bird up in

'Is it possible!' said the First Lord. 'I should never have thought it! How ordinary she looks! She must surely

'Little Nightingale,' called out the little kitchenmaid, 'our Gracious Emperor wants you to sing before him!'

'With the greatest of pleasure!' said the Nightingale; and she sang so gloriously that it was a pleasure to listen.

'It sounds like glass bells!' said the First Lord. 'And look how her little throat works! It is wonderful that we

'Shall I sing once more for the Emperor?' asked the Nightingale, thinking that the Emperor was there.

'My esteemed little Nightingale,' said the First Lord, 'I have the great pleasure to invite you to Court this

evening, where His Gracious Imperial Highness will be enchanted with your charming song!'

'It sounds best in the green wood,' said the Nightingale; but still, she came gladly when she heard that the

At the Palace everything was splendidly prepared. The porcelain walls and floors glittered in the light of

many thousand gold lamps; the most gorgeous flowers which tinkled out well were placed in the corridors.

There was such a hurrying and draught that all the bells jingled so much that one could not hear oneself

speak. In the centre of the great hall where the Emperor sat was a golden perch, on which the Nightingale sat.

The whole Court was there, and the little kitchenmaid was allowed to stand behind the door, now that she was

a Courtcook. Everyone was dressed in his best, and everyone was looking towards the little grey bird to

The Nightingale sang so gloriously that the tears came into the Emperor's eyes and ran down his cheeks.

Then the Nightingale sang even more beautifully; it went straight to all hearts. The Emperor was so delighted

that he said she should wear his gold slipper round her neck. But the Nightingale thanked him, and said she

had had enough reward already. 'I have seen tears in the Emperor's eyesthat is a great reward. An

Emperor's tears have such power!' Then she sang again with her gloriously sweet voice.

'That is the most charming coquetry I have ever seen!' said all the ladies round. And they all took to holding

water in their mouths that they might gurgle whenever anyone spoke to them. Then they thought themselves

nightingales. Yes, the lackeys and chambermaids announced that they were pleased; which means a great

deal, for they are the most difficult people of all to satisfy. In short, the Nightingale was a real success.

She had to stay at Court now; she had her own cage, and permission to walk out twice in the day and once at

She was given twelve servants, who each held a silken string which was fastened round her leg. There was

The whole town was talking about the wonderful bird, and when two people met each other one would say

'Nightin,' and the other 'Gale,' and then they would both sigh and understand one another.

Yes, and eleven grocer's children were called after her, but not one of them could sing a note.

One day the Emperor received a large parcel on which was written 'The Nightingale.'

But it was not a book, but a little mechanical toy, which lay in a boxan artificial nightingale which was like

the real one, only that it was set all over with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. When it was wound up, it

could sing the piece the real bird sang, and moved its tail up and down, and glittered with silver and gold.

Round its neck was a little collar on which was written, 'The Nightingale of the Emperor of Japan is nothing

'This is magnificent!' they all said, and the man who had brought the clockwork bird received on the spot the

And so they sang together, but their voices did not blend, for the real Nightingale sang in her way and the

'It is not its fault!' said the bandmaster; 'it keeps very good time and is quite after my style!'

Then the artificial bird had to sing alone. It gave just as much pleasure as the real one, and then it was so

much prettier to look at; it sparkled like bracelets and necklaces. Threeandthirty times it sang the same

piece without being tired. People would like to have heard it again, but the Emperor thought that the living

Nightingale should sing nowbut where was she? No one had noticed that she had flown out of the open

And all the Court scolded, and said that the Nightingale was very ungrateful. 'But we have still the best bird!'

they said and the artificial bird had to sing again, and that was the thirtyfourth time they had heard the same

piece. But they did not yet know it by heart; it was much too difficult. And the bandmaster praised the bird

tremendously; yes, he assured them it was better than a real nightingale, not only because of its beautiful

plumage and diamonds, but inside as well. 'For see, my Lords and Ladies and your Imperial Majesty, with the

real Nightingale one can never tell what will come out, but all is known about the artificial bird! You can

explain it, you can open it and show people where the waltzes lie, how they go, and how one follows the

'That's just what we think!' said everyone; and the bandmaster received permission to show the bird to the

people the next Sunday. They should hear it sing, commanded the Emperor. And they heard it, and they were

as pleased as if they had been intoxicated with tea, after the Chinese fashion, and they all said 'Oh!' and held

up their forefingers and nodded time. But the poor fishermen who had heard the real Nightingale said: 'This

one sings well enough, the tunes glide out; but there is something wanting I don't know what!'

The artificial bird was put on silken cushions by the Emperor's bed, all the presents which it received, gold

and precious stones, lay round it, and it was given the title of Imperial Nightsinger, First from the left. For

the Emperor counted that side as the more distinguished, being the side on which the heart is; the Emperor's

And the bandmaster wrote a work of twentyfive volumes about the artificial bird. It was so learned, long,

and so full of the hardest Chinese words that everyone said they had read it and understood it; for once they

had been very stupid about a book, and had been trampled under foot in consequence. So a whole year

passed. The Emperor, the Court, and all the Chinese knew every note of the artificial bird's song by heart. Bat

they liked it all the better for this; they could even sing with it, and they did. The street boys sang

But one evening, when the artificial bird was singing its best, and the Emperor lay in bed listening to it,

something in the bird went crack. Something snapped! Whirrr! all the wheels ran down and then the music

ceased. The Emperor sprang up, and had his physician summoned, but what could HE do! Then the

clockmaker came, and, after a great deal of talking and examining, he put the bird somewhat in order, but he

said that it must be very seldom used as the works were nearly worn out, and it was impossible to put in new

ones. Here was a calamity! Only once a year was the artificial bird allowed to sing, and even that was almost

too much for it. But then the bandmaster made a little speech full of hard words, saying that it was just as

good as before. And so, of course, it WAS just as good as before. So five years passed, and then a great

sorrow came to the nation. The Chinese look upon their Emperor as everything, and now he was ill, and not

Already a new Emperor had been chosen, and the people stood outside in the street and asked the First Lord

Cold and pale lay the Emperor in his splendid great bed; the whole Court believed him dead, and one after the

other left him to pay their respects to the new Emperor. Everywhere in the halls and corridors cloth was laid

down so that no footstep could be heard, and everything was stillvery, very still. And nothing came to

The Emperor longed for something to come and relieve the monotony of this deathlike stillness. If only

someone would speak to him! If only someone would sing to him. Music would carry his thoughts away, and

would break the spell lying on him. The moon was streaming in at the open window; but that, too, was silent,

'Music! music!' cried the Emperor. 'You little bright golden bird, sing! do sing! I gave you gold and jewels; I

have hung my gold slipper round your neck with my own handsing! do sing!' But the bird was silent.

There was no one to wind it up, and so it could not sing. And all was silent, so terribly silent!

All at once there came in at the window the most glorious burst of song. It was the little living Nightingale,

who, sitting outside on a bough, had heard the need of her Emperor and had come to sing to him of comfort

and hope. And as she sang the blood flowed quicker and quicker in the Emperor's weak limbs, and life began

'Thank you, thank you!' said the Emperor. 'You divine little bird! I know you. I chased you from my

'You have done that already!' said the Nightingale. 'I brought tears to your eyes the first time I sang. I shall

never forget that. They are jewels that rejoice a singer's heart. But now sleep and get strong again; I will sing

The sun was shining through the window when he awoke, strong and well. None of his servants had come

back yet, for they thought he was dead. But the Nightingale sat and sang to him.

'You must always stay with me!' said the Emperor. 'You shall sing whenever you like, and I will break the

'Don't do that!' said the Nightingale. 'He did his work as long as he could. Keep him as you have done! I

cannot build my nest in the Palace and live here; but let me come whenever I like. I will sit in the evening on

the bough outside the window, and I will sing you something that will make you feel happy and grateful. I

will sing of joy, and of sorrow; I will sing of the evil and the good which lies hidden from you. The little

singingbird flies all around, to the poor fisherman's hut, to the farmer's cottage, to all those who are far away

from you and your Court. I love your heart more than your crown, though that has about it a brightness as of

something holy. Now I will sing to you again; but you must promise me one thing'

'Anything!' said the Emperor, standing up in his Imperial robes, which he had himself put on, and fastening

'One thing I beg of you! Don't tell anyone that you have a little bird who tells you everything. It will be much

Once upon a time there were a King and a Queen who had an only daughter, called Hadvor, who was fair and

beautiful, and being an only child, was heir to the kingdom. The King and Queen had also a foster son,

named Hermod, who was just about the same age as Hadvor, and was goodlooking, as well as clever at most

things. Hermod and Hadvor often played together while they were children, and liked each other so much that

As time went on the Queen fell sick, and suspecting that it was her last illness, sent for the King to come to

her. When he came she told him that she had no long time to live, and therefore wished to ask one thing of

him, which was, that if he married another wife he should promise to take no other one than the Queen of

Time went past, and the King, growing tired of living alone, fitted out his ship and sailed out to sea. As he

sailed there came upon him so thick a mist that he altogether lost his bearings, but after long trouble he found

land. There he laid his ship to, and went on shore all alone. After walking for some time he came to a forest,

into which he went a little way and stopped. Then he heard sweet music from a harp, and went in the

direction of the sound until he came to a clearing, and there he saw three women, one of whom sat on a

golden chair, and was beautifully and grandly dressed; she held a harp in her hands, and was very sorrowful.

The second was also finely dressed, but younger in appearance, and also sat on a chair, but it was not so

grand as the first one's. The third stood beside them, and was very pretty to look at; she had a green cloak

over her other clothes, and it was easy to see that she was maid to the other two.

After the King had looked at them for a little he went forward and saluted them. The one that sat on the

golden chair asked him who he was and where he was going; and he told her all the story how he was a

king, and had lost his queen, and was now on his way to Hetland the Good, to ask the Queen of that country

in marriage. She answered that fortune had contrived this wonderfully, for pirates had plundered Hetland and

killed the King, and she had fled from the land in terror, and had come hither after great trouble, and she was

the very person he was looking for, and the others were her daughter and maid. The King immediately asked

her hand; she gladly received his proposal and accepted him at once. Thereafter they all set out, and made

their way to the ship; and after that nothing is told of their voyage until the King reached his own country.

There he made a great feast, and celebrated his marriage with this woman; and after that things are quiet for a

Hermod and Hadvor took but little notice of the Queen and her daughter, but, on the other hand, Hadvor and

the Queen's maid, whose name was Olof, were very friendly, and Olof came often to visit Hadvor in her

castle. Before long the King went out to war, and no sooner was he away than the Queen came to talk with

Hermod, and said that she wanted him to marry her daughter. Hermod told her straight and plain that he

would not do so, at which the Queen grew terribly angry, and said that in that case neither should he have

Hadvor, for she would now lay this spell on him, that he should go to a desert island and there be a lion by

day and a man by night. He should also think always of Hadvor, which would cause him all the more sorrow,

and from this spell he should never be freed until Hadvor burned the lion's skin, and that would not happen

As soon as the Queen had finished her speech Hermod replied that he also laid a spell on her, and that was,

that as soon as he was freed from her enchantments she should become a rat and her daughter a mouse, and

After this Hermod disappeared, and no one knew what had become of him; the Queen caused search to be

made for him, but he could nowhere be found. One time, when Olof was in the castle beside Hadvor, she

asked the Princess if she knew where Hermod had gone to. At this Hadvor became very sad, and said that she

'I shall tell you then,' said Olof, 'for I know all about it. Hermod has disappeared through the wicked devices

of the Queen, for she is a witch, and so is her daughter, though they have put on these beautiful forms.

Because Hermod would not fall in with the Queen's plans, and marry her daughter, she has laid a spell on

him, to go on an island and be a lion by day and a man by night, and never be freed from this until you burn

the lion's skin. Besides,' said Olof, 'she has looked out a match for you; she has a brother in the Underworld, a

threeheaded Giant, whom she means to turn into a beautiful prince and get him married to you. This is no

new thing for the Queen; she took me away from my parents' house and compelled me to serve her; but she

has never done me any harm, for the green cloak I wear protects me against all mischief.

Hadvor now became still sadder than before at the thought of the marriage destined for her, and entreated

'I think,' said Olof, 'that your wooer will come up through the floor of the castle to you, and so you must be

prepared when you hear the noise of his coming and the floor begins to open, and have at hand blazing pitch,

About this time the King came home from his expedition, and thought it a great blow that no one knew what

had become of Hermod; but the Queen consoled him as best she could, and after a time the King thought less

Hadvor remained in her castle, and had made preparations to receive her wooer when he came. One night, not

long after, a loud noise and rumbling was heard under the castle. Hadvor at once guessed what it was, and

told her maids to be ready to help her. The noise and thundering grew louder and louder, until the floor began

to open, whereupon Hadvor made them take the caldron of pitch and pour plenty of it into the opening. With

Next morning the Queen rose early, and went out to the Palace gate, and there she found her brother the Giant

lying dead. She went up to him and said, 'I pronounce this spell, that you become a beautiful prince, and that

Hadvor shall be unable to say anything against the charges that I shall bring against her.'

The body of the dead Giant now became that of a beautiful prince, and the Queen went in again.

'I don't think,' said she to the King, 'that your daughter is as good as she is said to be. My brother came and

asked her hand, and she has had him put to death. I have just found his dead body lying at the Palace gate.'

The King went along with the Queen to see the body, and thought it all very strange; so beautiful a youth, he

said, would have been a worthy match for Hadvor, and he would readily have agreed to their marriage. The

Queen asked leave to decide what Hadvor's punishment should be, which the King was very willing to allow,

so as to escape from punishing his own daughter. The Queen's decision was that the King should make a big

Olof knew all the plans of the Queen, and went to tell the Princess what had been done, whereupon Hadvor

'First and foremost,' said Olof, 'you must get a wide cloak to wear over your other clothes, when you are put

into the mound. The Giant's ghost will walk after you are both left together in there, and he will have two

dogs along with him. He will ask you to cut pieces out of his legs to give to the dogs, but that you must not

promise to do unless he tells you where Hermod has gone to, and tells you how to find him. He will then let

you stand on his shoulders, so as to get out of the mound; but he means to cheat you all the same, and will

catch you by the cloak to pull you back again; but you must take care to have the cloak loose on your

The mound was all ready now, and the Giant laid in it, and into it Hadvor also had to go without being

allowed to make any defence. After they were both left there everything happened just as Olof had said. The

prince became a Giant again, and asked Hadvor to cut the pieces out of his legs for the dogs; but she refused

until he told her that Hermod was in a desert island, which she could not reach unless she took the skin off the

soles of his feet and made shoes out of that; with these shoes she could travel both on land and sea. This

Hadvor now did, and the Giant then let her get up on his shoulders to get out of the mound. As she sprang out

he caught hold of her cloak; but she had taken care to let it lie loose on her shoulders, and so escaped.

She now made her way down to the sea, to where she knew there was the shortest distance over to the island

in which Hermod was. This strait she easily crossed, for the shoes kept her up. On reaching the island she

found a sandy beach all along by the sea, and high cliffs above. Nor could she see any way to get up these,

and so, being both sad at heart and tired with the long journey, she lay down and fell asleep. As she slept she

dreamed that a tall woman came to her and said, 'I know that you are Princess Hadvor, and are searching for

Hermod. He is on this island; but it will be hard for you to get to him if you have no one to help you, for you

cannot climb the cliffs by your own strength. I have therefore let down a rope, by which you will be able to

climb up; and as the island is so large that you might not find Hermod's dwellingplace so easily, I lay down

this clew beside you. You need only hold the end of the thread, and the clew will run on before and show you

the way. I also lay this belt beside you, to put on when you awaken; it will keep you from growing faint with

The woman now disappeared, and Hadvor woke, and saw that all her dream had been true. The rope hung

down from the cliff, and the clew and belt lay beside her. The belt she put on, the rope enabled her to climb

up the cliff, and the clew led her on till she came to the mouth of a cave, which was not very big. She went

When evening came she heard the noise of footsteps outside, and became aware that the lion had come to the

mouth of the cave, and shook itself there, after which she heard a man coming towards the couch. She was

sure this was Hermod, because she heard him speaking to himself about his own condition, and calling to

mind Hadvor and other things in the old days. Hadvor made no sign, but waited till he had fallen asleep, and

then crept out and burned the lion's skin, which he had left outside. Then she went back into the cave and

In the morning they talked over their plans, and were most at a loss to know how to get out of the island.

Hadvor told Hermod her dream, and said she suspected there was some one in the island who would be able

to help them. Hermod said he knew of a Witch there, who was very ready to help anyone, and that the only

plan was to go to her. So they went to the Witch's cave, and found her there with her fifteen young sons, and

'There are other things easier than that,' said she, 'for the Giant that was buried will be waiting for you, and

will attack you on the way, as he has turned himself into a big whale. I shall lend you a boat, however, and if

you meet the whale and think your lives are in danger, then you can name me by name.'

They thanked her greatly for her help and advice, and set out from the island, but on the way they saw a huge

fish coming towards them, with great splashing and dashing of waves. They were sure of what it was, and

thought they had as good reason as ever they would have to call on the Witch, and so they did. The next

minute they saw coming after them another huge whale, followed by fifteen smaller ones. All of these swam

past the boat and went on to meet the whale. There was a fierce battle then, and the sea became so stormy that

it was not very easy to keep the boat from being filled by the waves. After this fight had gone on for some

time, they saw that the sea was dyed with blood; the big whale and the fifteen smaller ones disappeared, and

Now the story goes back to the King's hall, where strange things had happened in the meantime. The Queen

and her daughter had disappeared, but a rat and a mouse were always fighting with each other there. Ever so

many people had tried to drive them away, but no one could manage it. Thus some time went on, while the

King was almost beside himself with sorrow and care for the loss of his Queen, and because these monsters

One evening, however, while they all sat dull and downhearted, in came Hermod with a sword by his side,

and saluted the King, who received him with the greatest joy, as if he had come back from the dead. Before

Hermod sat down, however, he went to where the rat and the mouse were fighting, and cut them in two with

his sword. All were astonished then by seeing two witches lying dead on the floor of the hall.

Hermod now told the whole story to the King, who was very glad to be rid of such vile creatures. Next he

asked for the hand of Hadvor, which the King readily gave him, and being now an old man, gave the

There were once upon a time fiveand twenty tinsoldiersall brothers, as they were made out of the same

old tin spoon. Their uniform was red and blue, and they shouldered their guns and looked straight in front of

them. The first words that they heard in this world, when the lid of the box in which they lay was taken off,

were: 'Hurrah, tinsoldiers!' This was exclaimed by a little boy, clapping his hands; they had been given to

him because it was his birthday, and now he began setting them out on the table. Each soldier was exactly

like the other in shape, except just one, who had been made last when the tin had run short; but there he stood

as firmly on his one leg as the others did on two, and he is the one that became famous.

There were many other playthings on the table on which they were being set out, but the nicest of all was a

pretty little castle made of cardboard, with windows through which you could see into the rooms. In front of

the castle stood some little trees surrounding a tiny mirror which looked like a lake. Wax swans were floating

about and reflecting themselves in it. That was all very pretty; but the most beautiful thing was a little lady,

who stood in the open doorway. She was cut out of paper, but she had on a dress of the finest muslin, with a

scarf of narrow blue ribbon round her shoulders, fastened in the middle with a glittering rose made of gold

paper, which was as large as her head. The little lady was stretching out both her arms, for she was a Dancer,

and was lifting up one leg so high in the air that the Tinsoldier couldn't find it anywhere, and thought that

'That's the wife for me!' he thought; 'but she is so grand, and lives in a castle, whilst I have only a box with

fourandtwenty others. This is no place for her! But I must make her acquaintance.' Then he stretched

himself out behind a snuffbox that lay on the table; from thence he could watch the dainty little lady, who

When the night came all the other tinsoldiers went into their box, and the people of the house went to bed.

Then the toys began to play at visiting, dancing, and fighting. The tinsoldiers rattled in their box, for they

wanted to be out too, but they could not raise the lid. The nutcrackers played at leapfrog, and the

slatepencil ran about the slate; there was such a noise that the canary woke up and began to talk to them, in

poetry too! The only two who did not stir from their places were the Tinsoldier and the little Dancer. She

remained on tiptoe, with both arms outstretched; he stood steadfastly on his one leg, never moving his eyes

The clock struck twelve, and crack! off flew the lid of the snuff box; but there was no snuff inside, only a

'Hullo, Tinsoldier!' said the imp. 'Don't look at things that aren't intended for the likes of you!'

When it was morning, and the children had got up, the Tinsoldier was put in the window; and whether it

was the wind or the little black imp, I don't know, but all at once the window flew open and out fell the little

Tinsoldier, head over heels, from the third storey window! That was a terrible fall, I can tell you! He

landed on his head with his leg in the air, his gun being wedged between two pavingstones.

The nurserymaid and the little boy came down at once to look for him, but, though they were so near him

that they almost trod on him, they did not notice him. If the Tinsoldier had only called out 'Here I am!' they

must have found him; but he did not think it fitting for him to cry out, because he had on his uniform.

Soon it began to drizzle; then the drops came faster, and there was a regular downpour. When it was over,

'Just look!' cried one. 'Here is a Tinsoldier! He shall sail up and down in a boat!'

So they made a little boat out of newspaper, put the Tinsoldier in it, and made him sail up and down the

gutter; both the boys ran along beside him, clapping their hands. What great waves there were in the gutter,

and what a swift current! The paperboat tossed up and down, and in the middle of the stream it went so

quick that the Tinsoldier trembled; but he remained steadfast, showed no emotion, looked straight in front of

him, shouldering his gun. All at once the boat passed under a long tunnel that was as dark as his box had

'Where can I be coming now?' he wondered. 'Oh, dear! This is the black imp's fault! Ah, if only the little lady

were sitting beside me in the boat, it might be twice as dark for all I should care!'

The boat sped on, and the rat behind it. Ugh! how he showed his teeth, as he cried to the chips of wood and

straw: 'Hold him, hold him! he has not paid the toll! He has not shown his passport!'

But the current became swifter and stronger. The Tinsoldier could already see daylight where the tunnel

ended; but in his ears there sounded a roaring enough to frighten any brave man. Only think! at the end of the

tunnel the gutter discharged itself into a great canal; that would be just as dangerous for him as it would be

Now he was so near to it that he could not hold on any longer. On went the boat, the poor Tinsoldier

keeping himself as stiff as he could: no one should say of him afterwards that he had flinched. The boat

whirled three, four times round, and became filled to the brim with water: it began to sink! The Tinsoldier

was standing up to his neck in water, and deeper and deeper sank the boat, and softer and softer grew the

paper; now the water was over his head. He was thinking of the pretty little Dancer, whose face he should

The paper came in two, and the soldier fellbut at that moment he was swallowed by a great fish.

Oh! how dark it was inside, even darker than in the tunnel, and it was really very close quarters! But there the

Up and down swam the fish, then he made the most dreadful contortions, and became suddenly quite still.

Then it was as if a flash of lightning had passed through him; the daylight streamed in, and a voice

exclaimed, 'Why, here is the little Tinsoldier!' The fish had been caught, taken to market, sold, and brought

into the kitchen, where the cook had cut it open with a great knife. She took up the soldier between her finger

and thumb, and carried him into the room, where everyone wanted to see the hero who had been found inside

a fish; but the Tinsoldier was not at all proud. They put him on the table, andno, but what strange things

do happen in this world!the Tinsoldier was in the same room in which he had been before! He saw the

same children, and the same toys on the table; and there was the same grand castle with the pretty little

Dancer. She was still standing on one leg with the other high in the air; she too was steadfast. That touched

the Tinsoldier, he was nearly going to shed tintears; but that would not have been fitting for a soldier. He

All at once one of the little boys took up the Tinsoldier, and threw him into the stove, giving no reasons; but

There the Tinsoldier lay, and felt a heat that was truly terrible; but whether he was suffering from actual

fire, or from the ardour of his passion, he did not know. All his colour had disappeared; whether this had

happened on his travels or whether it was the result of trouble, who can say? He looked at the little lady, she

looked at him, and he felt that he was melting; but he remained steadfast, with his gun at his shoulder.

Suddenly a door opened, the draught caught up the little Dancer, and off she flew like a sylph to the

Tinsoldier in the stove, burst into flamesand that was the end of her! Then the Tinsoldier melted down

into a little lump, and when next morning the maid was taking out the ashes, she found him in the shape of a

heart. There was nothing left of the little Dancer but her gilt rose, burnt as black as a cinder.

Far away in the country lay an old manorhouse where lived an old squire who had two sons. They thought

themselves so clever, that if they had known only half of what they did know, it would have been quite

enough. They both wanted to marry the King's daughter, for she had proclaimed that she would have for her

Both prepared for the wooing a whole week, which was the longest time allowed them; but, after all, it was

quite long enough, for they both had preparatory knowledge, and everyone knows how useful that is. One

knew the whole Latin dictionary and also three years' issue of the daily paper of the town off by heart, so that

he could repeat it all backwards or forwards as you pleased. The other had worked at the laws of corporation,

and knew by heart what every member of the corporation ought to know, so that he thought he could quite

well speak on State matters and give his opinion. He understood, besides this, how to embroider braces with

Their old father gave each of them a fine horse; the one who knew the dictionary and the daily paper by heart

had a black horse, while the other who was so clever at corporation law had a milk white one. Then they

oiled the corners of their mouths so that they might be able to speak more fluently. All the servants stood in

the courtyard and saw them mount their steeds, and here by chance came the third brother; for the squire had

three sons, but nobody counted him with his brothers, for he was not so learned as they were, and he was

'Oh, oh!' said BlockheadHans. 'Where are you off to? You are in your Sundaybest clothes!'

'We are going to Court, to woo the Princess! Don't you know what is known throughout all the country side?'

'Hurrah! I'll go to!' cried BlockheadHans; and the brothers laughed at him and rode off.

'Dear father!' cried BlockheadHans, 'I must have a horse too. What a desire for marriage has seized me! If

'Stop that nonsense!' said the old man. 'I will not give you a horse. YOU can't speak; YOU don't know how to

'Well,' said BlockheadHans, 'if I can't have a horse, I will take the goat which is mine; he can carry me!'

And he did so. He sat astride on the goat, struck his heels into its side, and went rattling down the highroad

'Hoppetty hop! what a ride!' Here I come!' shouted Blockhead Hans, singing so that the echoes were roused

far and near. But his brothers were riding slowly in front. They were not speaking, but they were thinking

over all the good things they were going to say, for everything had to be thought out.

'Hullo!' bawled BlockheadHans, 'here I am! Just look what I found on the road!'and he showed them a

'Slap! bang! here I am again! Look what I have just found! You don't find such things every day on the road!'

'Blockhead!' said they, 'that is an old wooden shoe without the top! Are you going to send that, too, to the

'Of course I shall!' returned BlockheadHans; and the brothers laughed and rode on a good way.

'Slap! bang! here I am!' cried BlockheadHans; 'better and betterit is really famous!'

'Oh,' said BlockheadHans, 'it is really too good! How pleased the Princess will be!'

'Of course it is!' said BlockheadHans, 'and it is the best kind! Look how it runs through one's fingers!' and,

But the brothers rode on so fast that dust and sparks flew all around, and they reached the gate of the town a

good hour before BlockheadHans. Here came the suitors numbered according to their arrival, and they were

ranged in rows, six in each row, and they were so tightly packed that they could not move their arms. This

was a very good thing, for otherwise they would have torn each other in pieces, merely because the one was

All the country people were standing round the King's throne, and were crowded together in thick masses

almost out of the windows to see the Princess receive the suitors; and as each one came into the room all his

At last she came to the row in which the brother who knew the dictionary by heart was, but he did not know it

any longer; he had quite forgotten it in the rank and file. And the floor creaked, and the ceiling was all made

of glass mirrors, so that he saw himself standing on his head, and by each window were standing three

reporters and an editor; and each of them was writing down what was said, to publish it in the paper that

came out and was sold at the street corners for a penny. It was fearful, and they had made up the fire so hot

'Of course it is! My father is roasting young chickens today!' said the Princess.

'Ahem!' There he stood like an idiot. He was not prepared for such a speech; he did not know what to say,

'With the greatest of pleasure!' said the Princess; 'but have you anything you can roast them in? for I have

'Oh, rather!' said BlockheadHans. 'Here is a cooking implement with tin rings,' and he drew out the old

'That is quite a meal!' said the Princess; 'but where shall we get the soup from?'

'I've got that in my pocket!' said BlockheadHans. 'I have so much that I can quite well throw some away!'

'I like you!' said the Princess. 'You can answer, and you can speak, and I will marry you; but do you know

that every word which we are saying and have said has been taken down and will be in the paper tomorrow?

By each window do you see there are standing three reporters and an old editor, and this old editor is the

worst, for he doesn't understand anything!' but she only said this to tease BlockheadHans. And the reporters

'Ah! are those the great people?' said BlockheadHans. 'Then I will give the editor the best!' So saying, he

'That was neatly done!' said the Princess. 'I couldn't have done it; but I will soon learn how to!'

BlockheadHans became King, got a wife and a crown, and sat on the throne; and this we have still damp

from the newspaper of the editor and the reportersand they are not to be believed for a moment.

There was once a Darningneedle who thought herself so fine that she believed she was an

embroideryneedle. 'Take great care to hold me tight!' said the Darningneedle to the Fingers who were

holding her. 'Don't let me fall! If I once fall on the ground I shall never be found again, I am so fine!'

'Look, I am coming with my train!' said the Darningneedle as she drew a long thread after her; but there was

The Fingers were using the needle on the cook's shoe. The upper leather was unstitched and had to be sewn

'This is common work!' said the Darningneedle. 'I shall never get through it. I am breaking! I am breaking!'

And in fact she did break. 'Didn't I tell you so!' said the Darningneedle. 'I am too fine!'

'Now she is good for nothing!' said the Fingers; but they had to hold her tight while the cook dropped some

'Now I am a breastpin!' said the Darningneedle. 'I always knew I should be promoted. When one is

something, one will become something!' And she laughed to herself; you can never see when a

Darningneedle is laughing. Then she sat up as proudly as if she were in a State coach, and looked all round

'May I be allowed to ask if you are gold?' she said to her neighbour, the Pin. 'You have a very nice

appearance, and a peculiar head; but it is too small! You must take pains to make it grow, for it is not

everyone who has a head of sealingwax.' And so saying the Darningneedle raised herself up so proudly

that she fell out of the dress, right into the sink which the cook was rinsing out.

'Now I am off on my travels!' said the Darningneedle. 'I do hope I sha'n't get lost!' She did indeed get lost.

'I am too fine for this world!' said she as she lay in the gutter; 'but I know who I am, and that is always a little

All kinds of things swam over hershavings, bits of straw, and scraps of old newspapers.

'Just look how they sail along!' said the Darningneedle. 'They don't know what is underneath them! Here I

am sticking fast! There goes a shaving thinking of nothing in the world but of itself, a mere chip! There goes

a strawwell, how it does twist and twirl, to be sure! Don't think so much about yourself, or you will be

knocked against a stone. There floats a bit of newspaper. What is written on it is long ago forgotten, and yet

how proud it is! I am sitting patient and quiet. I know who I am, and that is enough for me!'

One day something thick lay near her which glittered so brightly that the Darningneedle thought it must be a

diamond. But it was a bit of bottleglass, and because it sparkled the Darningneedle spoke to it, and gave

'Yes, something of that kind!' And each believed that the other was something very costly; and they both said

'I have come from a lady's workbox,' said Darningneedle, 'and this lady was a cook; she had five fingers on

each hand; anything so proud as these fingers I have never seen! And yet they were only there to take me out

'Of noble birth!' said the Darningneedle; 'no indeed, but proud! They were five brothers, all called ''Fingers.''

They held themselves proudly one against the other, although they were of different sizes. The outside one,

the Thumb, was short and fat; he was outside the rank, and had only one bend in his back, and could only

make one bow; but he said that if he were cut off from a man that he was no longer any use as a soldier.

Dipinto everything, the second finger, dipped into sweet things as well as sour things, pointed to the sun

and the moon, and guided the pen when they wrote. Longman, the third, looked at the others over his

shoulder. Goldband, the fourth, had a gold sash round his waist; and little Playman did nothing at all, and was

At that moment more water came into the gutter; it streamed over the edges and washed the bit of

'Ah! now he has been promoted!' said the Darningneedle. 'I remain here; I am too fine. But that is my pride,

which is a sign of respectability!' And she sat there very proudly, thinking lofty thoughts.

'I really believe I must have been born a sunbeam, I am so fine! It seems to me as if the sunbeams were

always looking under the water for me. Ah, I am so fine that my own mother cannot find me! If I had my old

eye which broke off, I believe I could weep; but I can'tit is not fine to weep!'

One day two streeturchins were playing and wading in the gutter, picking up old nails, pennies, and such

'Oh, oh!' cried out one, as he pricked himself with the Darningneedle; 'he is a fine fellow though!'

'I am not a fellow; I am a young lady!' said the Darningneedle; but no one heard. The sealingwax had

gone, and she had become quite black; but black makes one look very slim, and so she thought she was even

'Here comes an eggshell sailing along!' said the boys, and they stuck the Darningneedle into the eggshell.

'The walls white and I blackwhat a pretty contrast it makes!' said the Darningneedle. 'Now I can be seen

'It is a good thing to be steeled against seasickness; here one has indeed an advantage over man! Now my

'Oh! how it presses!' said the Darningneedle. 'I shall indeed be seasick now. I am breaking!' But she did

not break, although the wagonwheel went over her; she lay there at full length, and there she may lie.