 Preface of the Red Fairy Book This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Darla Ely The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Preface In a second gleaning of the fields of Fairyland, we cannot expect to find a second Perot. But there are good stories enough left, and it is hoped that some in the Red Fairy Book may have the attraction of being less familiar than many of the old friends. The tales have been translated, or in the case of those from Madame de Olnoy's long stories, adapted by Mrs. Hunt from the Norse, Miss Minnie Wright from French Sources, by Miss May Seller, Miss Farquaharson, and Miss Blackley from the German. While the story of Sigurd is condensed by the editor from Mr. William Morris' prose version of the Valsungo Saga, the editor has to thank his friend, M. Charles Morellis, for permission to reproduce his versions of the Pied Piper, of Drake's Tale, and of Little Golden Hood from the French, and M. Henry Carnoy for the same privilege in regard to the six sillies from La Tradition. Lady Frances Balfour has kindly copied an old version of Jack and the Beanstalk, and Monsieur Smith and Elder have permitted the publication of two of Mr. Ralston's versions from the Russian. Andrew Lang End of Preface Chapter 1 of The Red Fairy Book This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Darla Ely The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Chapter 1 The Twelve Dancing Princesses Once upon a time there lived in the village of Montenise-sur-Roch a little cowboy, without either father or mother. His real name was Michael, but he was always called the Stargazer, because when he drove his cows over the commons to seek for pasture, he went along with his head in the air, gaping at nothing. As he had a white skin, blue eyes, and hair that curled all over his head, the village girls used to cry after him. Well, Stargazer, what are you doing? And Michael would answer, oh, nothing, and go on his way, without even turning to look at them. The fact was, he thought them very ugly, with their sun-burnt necks, their great red hands, their coarse petticoats, and their wooden shoes. He had heard that somewhere in the world there were girls whose necks were white and whose hands were small, who were always dressed in the finest silks and laces, and were called princesses. And while his companions round the fire saw nothing in the flames but common, everyday fancies, he dreamed that he had the happiness to marry a princess. One morning, about the middle of August, just at midday, when the sun was hottest, Michael ate his dinner of a piece of dry bread and went to sleep under an oak. And while he slept, he dreamt that there appeared before him a beautiful lady dressed in a robe of cloth of gold, who said to him, go to the castle of Belail, and there you shall marry a princess. That evening, the little cowboy who had been thinking a great deal about the advice of the lady in the golden dress told his dream to the farm people. But, as was natural, they only laughed at the stargazer. The next day, at the same hour, he went to sleep again under the same tree. The lady appeared to him a second time and said, go to the castle of Belail, and you shall marry a princess. In the evening, Michael told his friends that he had dreamed the same dream again, but they only laughed at him more than before. Never mind, he thought to himself, if the lady appears to me a third time, I will do as she tells me. The following day, to the great astonishment of all the village, about two o'clock in the afternoon, a voice was heard singing, Raleo, Raleo, how the cattle go! It was the little cowboy driving his herd back to the buyer. The farmer began to scold him furiously, but he answered quietly, I am going away. Made his clothes into a bundle, said goodbye to all his friends, and boldly set out to seek his fortunes. There was great excitement through all the village, and on the top of the hill the people stood holding their sides with laughing as they watched the stargazer trudging bravely along the valley with his bundle at the end of his stick. It was enough to make anyone laugh, certainly. It was well known for full twenty miles round that there lived in the castle of Belael twelve princesses of wonderful beauty, and as proud as they were beautiful, and who were besides so very sensitive and of such truly royal blood that they would have felt at once the presence of a pea in their beds, even if the mattresses had been laid over it. It was whispered about that they led exactly the lives that princesses ought to lead, sleeping far into the morning, and never getting up till midday. They had twelve beds all in the same room, but what was very extraordinary was the fact that though they were locked in by triple bolts, every morning their satin shoes were found worn into holes. When they were asked what they had been doing all night, they always answered that they had been asleep, and indeed no noise was ever heard in the room, and that their shoes could not wear themselves out alone. At last the Duke of Belael ordered the trumpet to be sounded and a proclamation to be made that whoever could discover how his daughters wore out their shoes should choose one of them for his wife. On hearing the proclamation a number of princesses arrived at the castle to try their luck. They watched all night behind the open door of the princesses, but when the morning came they had all disappeared and no one could tell what had become of them. When he reached the castle, Michael went straight to the gardener and offered his services. Now it happened that the garden boy had just been sent away, and though the stargazer did not look very sturdy, the gardener agreed to take him in, as he thought that his pretty face and golden curls would please the princesses. The first thing he was told was that when the princesses got up he was to present each one with a bouquet, and Michael thought that if he had nothing more unpleasant to do than that he should get on very well. Accordingly he placed himself behind the door of the princess's room with the twelve bouquets and a basket. He gave one to each of the sisters, and they took them without even daining to look at the lad, except Lena, the youngest, who fixed her large black eyes as soft as velvet on him, and exclaimed, Oh, how pretty he is, our new flower boy! The rest all burst out laughing, and the eldest pointed out that a princess ought never to lower herself by looking at a garden boy. Now Michael knew quite well what had happened to all the princesses, but notwithstanding the beautiful eyes of the princess Lena inspired him with a violent longing to try his fate. Unhappily he did not dare to come forward being afraid that he should only be jeered at or even turned away from the castle on account of his impudence. Nevertheless the stargazer had another dream. The lady in the golden dress appeared to him once more, holding in one hand two young laurel trees, a cherry laurel, and a rose laurel, and in the other hand a little golden rake, a little golden bucket, and a silken towel. She thus addressed him, plant these two laurels in two large pots, rake them over with the rake, water them with the bucket, and wipe them with the towel. When they have grown as tall as a girl of fifteen, say to each of them, My beautiful laurel, with the golden rake I have raked you, with the golden bucket I have watered you, with the silken towel I have wiped you, then after that ask anything you choose, and the laurels will give it to you. Michael thanked the lady in the golden dress, and when he woke he found the two laurel bushes beside him, so he carefully obeyed the orders he had been given by the lady. The trees grew very fast, and when they were as tall as a girl of fifteen, he said to the cherry laurel, My cherry laurel, with the golden rake I have raked thee, with the golden bucket I have watered thee, with the silken towel I have wiped thee, teach me how to become invisible. Then there instantly appeared on the laurel a pretty white flower, which Michael gathered and stuck into his buttonhole. That evening, when the princesses went upstairs to bed, he followed them barefoot so that he might make no noise, and hid himself under one of the twelve beds, so as not to take up much room. The princesses began at once to open their wardrobes and boxes. They took out of them the most magnificent dresses, which they put on before their mirrors, and when they had finished turned themselves all round to admire their appearances. Michael could see nothing from his hiding place, but he could hear everything, and he listened to the princesses laughing and jumping with pleasure. At last, the eldest said, Be quick, my sisters, our partners will be impatient. At the end of an hour, when the stargazer heard no more noise, he peeped out and saw the twelve sisters in splendid garments, with their satin shoes on their feet, and in their hands the bouquets he had brought them. Are you ready? asked the eldest. Yes, replied the other eleven and chorus, and they took their places one by one behind her. Then the eldest princess clapped her hands three times and a trap door opened. All the princesses disappeared down a secret staircase, and Michael hastily followed them. As he was following on the steps of the princess Lina, he carelessly trod on her dress. There is somebody behind me, cried the princess. They are holding my dress. You foolish thing, said her eldest sister. You are always afraid of something. It is only a nail which caught you. They went down, down, down, to let last they came to a passage with the door at one end, which was only fastened with the latch. The eldest princess opened it, and they found themselves immediately in a lovely little wood where the leaves were spangled with drops of silver which shone in the brilliant light of the moon. They next crossed another wood where the leaves were sprinkled with gold, and after that another still where the leaves glittered with diamonds. At last the stargazer perceived a large lake, and on the shores of the lake twelve little boats with awnings in which proceeded twelve princes who, grasping their oars, awaited the princesses. Each princess entered one of the boats, and Michael slipped into that which held the youngest. The boats glided along rapidly, but Lina's, from being heavier, was always behind the rest. We never went so slowly before, said the princess. What can be the reason? I don't know, answered the prince. I assure you I am rowing as hard as I can. On the other side of the lake the garden boy saw a beautiful castle, splendidly illuminated, once came the lively music of fiddles, kettle-drums, and trumpets. In a moment they touched land, and the company jumped out of the boats, and the princes, after having securely fastened their barks, gave their arms to the princesses and conducted them to the castle. Michael followed and entered the ballroom in their train. Everywhere were mirrors, lights, flowers, and mass cangings. The stargazer was quite bewildered at the magnificence of the site. He placed himself out of the way in a corner, admiring the grace and beauty of the princesses. Their loveliness was of every kind. Some were fair, and some were dark. Some had chestnut hair, or curls darker still, and some had golden locks. Never were so many beautiful princesses seen together at one time, but the one whom the cowboy thought the most beautiful and the most fascinating was the little princess with the velvet eyes. With what eagerness she danced, leaning on her partner's shoulder she swept by like a whirlwind. Her cheeks flushed, her eyes sparkled, and it was plain that she loved dancing better than anything else. The poor boy envied those handsome young men with whom she danced so gracefully, but he did not know how little reason he had to be jealous of them. The young men were really the princes who, to the number of fifty at least, had tried to steal the princess's secret. The princesses had made them drink something of a filter, which froze the heart and left nothing but the love of dancing. They danced on till the shoes of the princesses were worn into holes. When the cock crowed the third time, the fiddle stopped, and a delicious supper was served by Negro boys, consisting of sugared orange flowers, crystallized rose leaves, powdered violets, crackles, wafers, and other dishes, which are, as everyone knows, the favorite food of princesses. After supper, the dancers all went back to their boats, and this time the stargazer entered that of the eldest princess. They crossed again the wood with the diamond-spangled leaves, the wood with the gold-sprinkled leaves, and the wood whose leaves glittered with drops of silver. And as a proof of what he had seen, the boy broke a small branch from a tree in the last wood. Lena turned as she heard the noise made by the breaking of the branch. "'What was that noise?' she said. "'It was nothing,' replied her eldest sister. It was only the screech of the barn owl that roosts in one of the turrets of the castle. While she was speaking, Michael managed to slip in front, and running up the staircase he reached the princess's room first. He flung open the window, and sliding down the vine, which climbed up the wall, found himself in the garden just as the sun was beginning to rise, and he began to work. That day, when he made up the bouquets, Michael hid the branch with the silver drops and the nose-gay intended for the youngest princess. When Lena discovered it, she was much surprised. However, she said nothing to her sisters. But as she met the boy by accident while she was walking under the shade of the alms, she suddenly stopped as if to speak to him. Then, altering her mind, went on her way. The same evening the twelve sisters ran again to the ball, and the stargazer again followed them and crossed the lake in Lena's boat. This time it was the prince who complained that the boat seemed very heavy. It is the heat," replied the princess. I, too, have been feeling very warm. During the ball she looked everywhere for the gardener's boy, but she never saw him. As they came back, Michael gathered a branch from the wood with the gold-spangled leaves, and now it was the eldest princess that it made in breaking. It is nothing," said Lena, only the cry of the owl which roosts in the turrets of the castle. As soon as she got up she found the branch at her bouquet. When the sisters went down she stayed a little behind and said to the cowboy, Where does this branch come from? Your royal highness knows well enough," answered Michael. So you have followed us? Yes, princess. How did you manage it? We never saw you. I hid myself," replied the stargazer quietly. The princess was silent a moment and then said, You know our secret. Keep it. Here is the reward of your discretion and she flung the boy a purse of gold. I do not sell my silence," answered Michael, and he went away without picking up the purse. For three nights neither saw nor heard anything extraordinary. On the fourth she heard a rustling among the diamond-spangled leaves of the wood. That day there was a branch of the trees in her bouquet. She took the stargazer aside and said to him in a harsh voice, You know what price my father has promised to pay for our secret. I know, princess," answered Michael. Don't you mean to tell him? That is not my intention. Are you afraid? I am afraid, princess. What makes you so discreet, then? But Michael was silent. Lena's sisters had seen her talking to the little garden boy and jiggered at her for it. What prevents you from marrying him? asked the eldest. You would become a gardener, too. It is a charming profession. You could live in a cottage at the end of the park and help your husband to drop water from the well and when we get up you could bring us our bouquets. The princess Lena was very angry and when the stargazer presented her bouquet she received it in a disdainful manner. Michael behaved most respectfully. He never raised his eyes to her but nearly all day she felt him at her side without ever seeing him. One day she made up her mind to tell everything to her eldest sister. What? said she. This rogue knows our secret and you never told me and must lose no time in getting rid of him. But how? Why, by having him taken to the tower with the dungeons, of course. For this was the way that in old times beautiful princesses got rid of people who knew too much. But the astonishing part of it was that the youngest sister did not seem at all to relish this method of stopping the mouth of the gardener's boy, who, after all, had said nothing to their father. It was agreed that the question should be submitted to the other ten sisters. All were on the side of the eldest. Then the youngest sister declared that if they laid a finger on the little garden boy she would herself go and tell their father the secret of the holes in their shoes. At last it was decided that Michael should be put to the test, that they would take him to the ball and at the end of supper would give him the filter which was to enchant him like the rest. They sent for the stargazer and asked him how he had contrived to learn their secret, but still he remained silent. Then, in commanding tones, the eldest sister gave him the order they had agreed upon. He only answered, I will obey. He had really been present, invisible, at the council of princesses and had heard all, but he had made up his mind to drink of the filter and sacrifice himself for the happiness of her he loved. Not wishing, however, to cut a poor figure at the ball by the side of the other dancers he went at once to the laurels and said, My lovely rose laurel, with the golden rake I have raked thee, with the golden bucket I have watered thee, with the silken towel I have dried thee, dress me like a prince. A beautiful pink flower appeared. Michael gathered it off in a moment closed in velvet, which was as black as the eyes of the little princess, with a cap to match. A diamond agrette and a blossom of the rose laurel in his buttonhole. Thus dressed, he presented himself that evening before the Duke of Balaille and obtained leave to try and discover his daughter's secret. He looked so distinguished that hardly anyone would have known who he was. The little princess went upstairs to bed. Michael followed them and waited behind the open door till they gave the signal for departure. This time he did not cross in Lena's boat. He gave his arm to the eldest sister, danced with each in turn and was so graceful that everyone was delighted with him. At last the time came for him to dance with the little princess. She found him the best partner in the world, but he did not dare to speak when he was taking her back to her place he said to him in a mocking voice. Here you are at the summit of your wishes. You are being treated like a prince. Don't be afraid, replied the stargazer gently. You shall never be a gardener's wife. The little princess stared at him with a frightened face and he left her without waiting for an answer. When the satin slippers were worn through the fiddle stopped and the fairies set the table. Michael was placed next to the eldest sister and opposite to the youngest. They gave him the most exquisite dishes to eat and the most delicate wines to drink and in order to turn his head more completely compliments and flattery were heaped on him from every side. But he took care not to be intoxicated either by the wine or the compliments. At last the eldest sister made a sign and one of the black pages brought in a large golden cup. The enchanted castle has no more secrets for you, she said to the stargazer. Let us drink to your triumph. He cast a lingering glance at the little princess and without hesitation lifted the cup. Don't drink! suddenly cried out the little princess I would rather marry a gardener and she burst into tears. The prince of the cup behind him sprang over the table and fell at Lena's feet. The rest of the princess fell likewise at the knees of the princesses each of whom chose a husband and raised him to her side. The charm was broken. The twelve couples embarked in the boats which crossed back many times in order to carry over the other princess. When they all went through the three woods and when they had passed the door of the underground passage the noise was heard as if the enchanted castle was crumbling to the earth. They went straight to the room of the Duke of Valleil who had just awoke. Michael held in his hand the golden cup and he revealed the secret of the holes in the shoes. Choose, then! said the Duke whichever you prefer. My choice is already made replied the garden boy and he offered his hand The princess Lena did not become a gardener's wife. On the contrary, it was the stargazer who became a prince but before the marriage ceremony the princess insisted that her lovers should tell her how he came to discover the secret. So he showed her the two laurels which had helped him and she, like a prudent girl thinking they gave him too much advantage over his wife cut them off at the root and this is why the country girls go about singing Nous n'irons plus au bois les laurels sont coupés and dancing in summer by the light of the moon. End of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 of the Red Fairy Book This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Darla Ely The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang Chapter 2 The Princess May Blossom Once upon a time there lived a king and a queen whose children had all died first one and then another until at last only one little daughter remained and the queen was at her wits end to know where to find a really good nurse who would take care of her and bring her up a herald was sent who blew a trumpet at every street corner and commanded all the best nurses to appear before the queen that she might choose one for the little princess so on the appointed day the whole palace was crowded with nurses who came from the four corners of the world to offer themselves until the queen declared that if she was ever to see the half of them they must be brought out to her one as she sat in a shady wood near the palace this was accordingly done and the nurses after they had made their curtsy to the king and queen ranged themselves in a line before her that she might choose most of them were fair and fat and charming but there was one who was dark-skinned and ugly and spoke a strange language which nobody could understand the queen wondered how she dared herself and she was told to go away and she certainly would not do upon which she muttered something and passed on but hid herself in a hollow tree from which she could see all that happened the queen without giving her another thought chose a pretty rosy-faced nurse but no sooner was her choice made than a snake which was hidden in the grass bit that very nurse on her foot so that she fell down as if dead the queen was very much vexed by this accident but she soon selected another who was just stepping forward when an eagle flew by and dropped a large tortoise upon her head which was cracked in pieces like an egg shell at this the queen was much horrified nevertheless she chose a third time but with no better fortune for the nurse moving quickly ran into the branch of a tree and blinded herself with a thorn then the queen in dismay cried there must be some malignant influence at work and that she would choose no more that day and she had just risen to return to the palace when she heard peals of malicious laughter behind her and turning round saw the ugly stranger whom she had dismissed who was making very merry over the disasters and mocking everyone but especially the queen this annoyed her majesty very much and she was about to order that she should be arrested because she was a witch with two blows from a wand summoned a chariot of fire drawn by winged dragons and was whirled off through the air uttering threats and cries when the king saw this he cried alas now we are ruined indeed for that was no other than the fairy caribose who has had a grudge against me ever since I was a boy and put sulfur into her porridge one day for fun then the queen began to cry if I had only known who it was she said I would have done my best to make friends with her now I suppose all is lost the king was sorry to have frightened her so much and proposed that they should go and hold a council as to what was best to be done to advert the misfortunes which caribose certainly meant to bring upon a little princess so all the counselors were summoned to the palace and when they had shut every door and window and stuffed up every keyhole that they might not be overheard they talked the affair over and decided that every fairy for a thousand leagues round should be invited to the christening of the princess and that the time of the ceremony should be kept a profound secret in case the fairy caribose should take it into her head to attend it the queen and her ladies set to work to prepare presents that were invited for each one a blue velvet cloak a petticoat of apricot satin a pair of high healed shoes some sharp needles and a pair of golden scissors of all the fairies the queen knew only five were able to come on the day appointed but they began immediately to bestow gifts upon the princess one promised that she should be perfectly beautiful the second that she should understand everything no matter what the first time it was explained to her the third that she should sing like a nightingale the fourth that she should succeed in everything she undertook and the fifth was opening her mouth to speak when a tremendous rumbling was heard in the chimney and caribose all covered with soot came rolling down crying I say that she shall be the unluckiest the unlucky until she is twenty years old then the queen and all the fairies began to beg and beseech her to think better of it and not be so unkind to the poor little princess who had never done her any harm but the ugly old fairy only grunted and made no answer so the last fairy who had not yet given her gift tried to mend matters by promising the princess a long and happy life after the fatal time was over at this caribose laughed maliciously and climbed away up the chimney leaving them all in great consternation and especially the queen however she entertained the fairies splendidly and gave them beautiful ribbons of which they were very fond in addition to the other presence when they were going away the oldest fairy said that they were of opinion that it would be best to shut the princess up in some place with her waiting women so that she might not see anyone else until she was twenty years old so the king had a tower built on purpose it had no windows so it was lighted with wax candles and the only way into it was by an underground passage which had iron doors only twenty feet apart and guards were posted everywhere the princess had been named by the king this spring itself and she grew up tall and beautiful and everything she did and said was charming every time the king and queen came to see her they were more delighted with her than before but though she was weary of the tower and often begged them to take her away they always refused the princess as nurse who had never left her sometimes told her about the world for herself. Yet she always understood exactly, thanks to the second fairy's gift. Often the king said to the queen, We were cleverer than caribose after all. Our may-blossom will be happy in spite of her predictions. And the queen laughed until she was tired at the idea of having outwitted the old fairy. They had caused the princess's portrait to be painted and sent to all the neighboring courts, for in four days she would have completed her twentieth year, and it was time to decide whom she should marry. All the town was rejoicing at the thought of the princess's approaching freedom, and when the news came that King Merlin was sending his ambassador to ask her in marriage for his son, they were still more delighted. The nurse, who kept the princess informed of everything that went forward in the town, did not fail to repeat the news that she was so nearly concerned her, and gave such a description of the splendor in which the ambassador, fan for a maid, would enter the town that the princess was wild to see the procession for herself. What an unhappy creature I am! she cried. To be shut up in this dismal tower is if I had committed some crime. I have never seen the sun, or the stars, or a horse, or a monkey, or a lion, except in pictures. And though the king and queen tell me I am to be set free when I am twenty, I believe they only say it to keep me amused when they never mean to let me out at all. And then she began to cry, and her nurse, and the nurse's daughter, and the cradle rocker, and the nursery maid, who all loved her dearly, cried too for company, so that nothing could be heard but sobs and sighs. It was a scene of woe. When the princess saw that they all pitied her, she made up her mind to have her own way. So she declared that she would starve herself to death if they did not find some means of letting her see fan for a maid's grand entry into the town. If you really love me, she said, you will manage it, somehow or other, and the king and queen need never know anything about it. Then the nurse and all the others cried harder than ever and said everything they could think of to turn the princess from her idea. But the more they said, the more determined she was. And at last they consented to make a tiny hole in the tower on the side that looked towards the city gates. After scratching and scraping all day and all night, they presently made a hole through which they could, with great difficulty, push a very slender needle, and out of this the princess looked at the daylight for the first time. She was so dazzled and delighted by what she saw, that there she stayed, never taking her eyes away from the people for a single minute until presently the ambassador's possession appeared in sight. At the head of it rode Fan Farnad himself upon a white horse which pranced and caracold to the sound of the trumpets. Nothing could have been more splendid than the ambassador's tire. His coat was nearly hidden under an embroidery of pearls and diamonds. His boots were solid gold and from his helmet floated scarlet plumes. At the sight of him the princess lost her wits entirely and determined that Fan Farnad and nobody else would she marry. It is quite impossible, she said, that his master should be half as handsome and delightful. I am not ambitious, and having spent all my life in this tedious tower, anything, even a house in the country, will seem a delightful change. I am sure that bread and water shared with Fan Farnad will please me far better than roast chicken and sweet meats with anybody else. So she went on talk, talk, talking, until her waiting women wondered where she got it all from. But when they tried to stop her and represented that her high rank made it perfectly impossible that she should do any such thing, she would not listen, and ordered them to be silent. As soon as the ambassador arrived at the palace, the queen started to fetch her daughter. All the streets were spread with carpets, and the windows were full of ladies who were waiting to see the princess and to carried baskets of flowers and sweet meats to shower upon her as she passed. They had hardly begun to get the princess ready when a dwarf arrived, mounted upon an elephant. He came from the five fairies, and brought for the princess a crown, a scepter, and a robe of gold and brocade, with a petticoat marvelously embroidered with butterfly's wings. They also sent a casket of jewels, so splendid that no one had ever seen anything like it before, and the queen was perfectly dazzled when she opened it. But the princess scarcely gave a glance to any of these treasures, for she thought of nothing but fan for a nod. The dwarf was rewarded with a gold piece, and decorated with so many ribbons that it was hardly possible to see him at all. The princess sent to each of the fairies a new spinning wheel, with a distaff of cedar wood, and the queen said she must look through her treasures and find something very charming to send them also. When the princess was arrayed in all the gorgeous things the dwarf had brought, she was more beautiful than ever. And as she walked along the streets the people cried, how pretty she is! How pretty she is! The procession consisted of the queen, the princess, five dozen other princesses, her cousins, and ten dozen who came from the neighboring kingdoms. And as they proceeded at a stately pace the sky began to grow dark. Then suddenly the thunder growled, and rain and hail fell in torrents. The queen put her royal mantle over her head, and all the princesses did the same with their trains. Mayblasm was just about to follow their example when a terrific croaking as of an immense army of crows, rooks, ravens, screech owls, and all birds of ill-olmen was heard. And at the same instant a huge owl skimmed up to the princess and threw over her a scarf woven of spider's webs and embroidered with bat's wings. And then peels of mocking laughter rang through the air, and they guessed that this was another of the fairy caribose's unpleasant jokes. The queen was terrified at such an evil omen and tried to pull the black scarf from the princess's shoulders, but it really seemed as if it must be nailed on, it clung so closely. Ah! cried the queen. Can nothing appease this enemy of ours? What good was it that I sent her more than fifty pounds of sweetmeats, and as much again of the best sugar, not to mention two asthalia hams? She is as angry as ever. While she lamented in this way, and everybody was as wet as if they had been dragged through a river, the princess still thought of nothing but the ambassador. And just at this moment he appeared before her with the king, and there was a great blowing of trumpets, and all the people shouted louder than ever. Fam for a nod was not generally at a loss for something to say, but when he saw the princess, she was so much more beautiful and majestic than he had expected, that he could only stammer out a few words and entirely forgot the harangue which she had been learning for months, and knew well enough to have repeated it in his sleep. To gain time to remember at least part of it, he made several low bows to the princess, who on her side dropped half a dozen curtsies without stopping to think, and then said to relieve his evident embarrassment. Sir Ambassador, I'm sure that everything you intend to say is charming, since it is you who mean to say it, but let us make haste into the palace, as it is pouring cats and dogs, and the wicked fairy Karabose will be amused to see us all stand dripping here. When we are once under shelter we can laugh at her. Upon this the ambassador found his tongue, and replied gallantly that the fairy had evidently foreseen the flames that would be kindled by the bright eyes of the princess, and had sent this deluge to extinguish them. Then he offered his hand to conduct the princess, and she said softly, as you could not possibly guess how much I like you, Sir Fan Farnad. I am obliged to tell you plainly that, since I saw you enter the town on your beautiful prancing horse, I have been sorry that you came to speak for another instead of for yourself. So if you think about it as I do, I will marry you instead of your master. Of course I know you are not a prince, but I shall be just as fond of you as if you were, and we can go and live in some cozy little corner of the world and be as happy as the days are long. The ambassador thought he must be dreaming, and could hardly believe what the lovely princess said. He dared not answer, but only squeezed the princess's hand until he really hurt her little finger, but she did not cry out. When they reached the palace, the king kissed his daughter on both cheeks and said, My little lambkin, are you willing to marry the great king Merlin's son, for this ambassador has come on his behalf to fetch you? If you please, sire, said the princess, dropping a curtsy. I consent also, said the queen, so let the banquet be prepared. This was done with all speed, and everybody feasted except Mayblossom and Fanfarnad, who looked at one another and forgot everything else. After the banquet came a ball, and after that again a ballet. And at last they were also tired that everyone fell asleep just where he sat. Only the lovers were as wide awake as mice, and the princess, seeing that there was nothing to fear, said to Fanfarnad, Let us be quick and run away, for we shall never have a better chance than this. And she took the king's dagger which was in a diamond sheath, and the queen's neck handkerchief, and gave her hand to Fanfarnad, who carried a lantern, and they ran out together into the muddy street and down to the seashore. Here they got into a little boat in which the poor old boatman was sleeping, and when he woke up and saw the lovely princess with all her diamonds and her spider's web scarf, he did not know what to think, and obeyed her instantly when she commanded him to set out. They could see neither moon nor stars, but in the queen's neck handkerchief there was a car-buncle which glowed with fifty torches. Fanfarnad asked the princess where she would like to go, but she only answered that she did not care where she went as long as he was with her. But princess, said he, I dare not take you back to King Merlin's court. He would think hanging too good for me. Oh, in that case, she answered, we better go to Squirrel Island. It is lonely enough and too far off for anyone to follow us there. So she ordered the old boatman to steer for Squirrel Island. Meanwhile the day was breaking, and the king and queen and all the courtiers began to wake up and rub their eyes and think it was time to finish the preparations for the wedding, and the queen asked for her neck handkerchief that she might look smart. Then there was a scurrying, hither and thither, and a hunting everywhere. They looked into every place from the wardrobes to the stoves, and the queen herself ran about from the garret to the cellar, but the handkerchief was nowhere to be found. By this time the king had missed his dagger, and the search began all over again. They opened boxes and chests of which the keys had been lost for a hundred years, and found numbers of curious things, but not the dagger, and the king tore his beard, and the queen tore her hair, for the handkerchief and the dagger were the most valuable things in the kingdom. When the king saw that the search was hopeless, he said, never mind, let us make haste and get the wedding over before anything else is lost, and then he asked where the princess was. Upon this her nurse came forward and said, Sire, I have been seeking her these two hours, but she is nowhere to be found. This was more than the queen could bear. She gave a shriek of alarm and fainted away, and they had to pour two barrels of odour cologne over her before she recovered. When she came to herself, everybody was looking for the princess in the greatest terror and confusion, but as she did not appear, the king said to his page, Go and find the ambassador of Fan Farnad, who is doubtless asleep in some corner, and tell him the sad news. So the page haunted hither and thither, but Fan Farnad was no more to be found than the princess, the dagger, or the knuck handkerchief. Then the king summoned his counselors and his guards, and accompanied by the queen, went into his great hall, as he had not had time to prepare his speech beforehand. The king ordered that the silence should be kept for three hours, and at the end of that time he spoke as follows, Listen, great and noble men. My dear daughter, Mayblassam, is lost. Whether she has been stolen away or has simply disappeared, I cannot tell. The queen's knuck handkerchief and my sword, which are worth their weight in gold, are also missing, and what is worst of all, the ambassador, Fan Farnad, is nowhere to be found. I greatly fear that the king, his master, when he receives no tidings from him, will come to seek him among us, and will accuse us of having made mincemeat of him. Perhaps I could bear even that, if I had any money, but I assure you that the expenses of the wedding have completely ruined me. Advise me, then, my dear subjects. What had I better do to recover my daughter, Fan Farnad, and the other things? This was the most eloquent speech the king had been known to make, and when everybody had done admiring it, the prime minister had made answer. Sire, we are all very sorry to see you so sorry. We would give everything we value in the world to take away the cause of your sorrow. But this seems to be another of the tricks of the fairy caribose. The princess's twenty unlucky years were not quite over, and really, if the truth must be told, I noticed that Fan Farnad and the princess appeared to admire one another greatly. Perhaps this may give some clue to the mystery of their disappearance. Here the queen interrupted him, saying, Take care what you say, sir. Believe me, the princess may blossom was far too well brought up to think of falling in love with an ambassador. At this the nurse came forward, and falling on her knees confessed how they had made the little needle hole in the tower, and how the princess had declared when she saw the ambassador that she would marry him and nobody else. Then the queen was very angry and gave the nurse and the cradle rocker and the nursery maid such a scolding that they shook in their shoes. But the admiral cocked hat interrupted her, crying, Let us be off after this good-for-nothing Fan Farnad, for without a doubt he has run away with our princess. Then there was a great clapping of hands and everybody shouted, By all means let us be after him. So while some embarked upon the sea, the others ran from kingdom to kingdom, beating drums and blowing trumpets, and wherever a crowd collected they cried. Whoever wants a beautiful doll, sweet meets of all kinds, a little pair of scissors, a golden robe, and a satin cap is only to say where Fan Farnad has hidden the princess may blossom. But the answer everywhere was, You must go farther, we have not seen them. However, those who went by sea were more fortunate, for after sailing about for some time they noticed a light before them which burned at night like a great fire. At first they dared not go near it, not knowing what it might be, but by and by it remained stationary over Squirrel Island. Four, as you have guessed already, the light was the glowing of the carbuncle. The princess and Fan Farnad on landing upon the island had given the boatman a hundred gold pieces, and made him promise solemnly to tell no one where he had taken them. But the first thing that happened was that as he rode away he got into the midst of the fleet, and before he could escape the admiral had seen him and sent a boat after him. When he was searched they found the gold pieces in his pocket, and as they were quite new coins struck in honor of the princess's wedding. The admiral felt certain that the boatman must have been paid by the princess to aid her in her flight. But he would not answer any questions, and pretended to be deaf and dumb. Then the admiral said, Oh, deaf and dumb is he, lash him to the mast and give him a taste of the catanine tails. I don't know anything better than that for curing the deaf and dumb. And when the old boatman saw that he was in earnest he told all he knew about the cavalier and the lady whom he had landed upon Squirrel Island. And the admiral knew it must be the princess and Fan Farnad. So he gave the order for the fleet to surround the island. Meanwhile the princess may blossom, who was by this time terribly sleepy, had found a grassy bank in the shade, and throwing herself down, had already fallen into a profound slumber. When Fan Farnad, who happened to be hungry and not sleepy, came and woke her saying, Very crossly, Pray, madam, how long do you mean to stay here? I see nothing to eat, and though you may be very charming the sight of you does not prevent me from famishing. What? Fan Farnad, said the princess, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. Is it possible that when I am here with you you can want anything else? You ought to be thinking all the time how happy you are. Happy, cried he, say, rather unhappy. I wish with all my heart that you were back in your dark tower again. Darling, don't be cross, said the princess. I will go and see if I can find some wild fruit for you. I wish you might find a wolf to eat you up, growled Fan Farnad. The princess, in great dismay, ran hither and thither all about the wood, tearing her dress and herding her pretty white hands with the thorns and brambles. But she could find nothing good to eat. And at last she had to go back sorrowfully to Fan Farnad. When he saw that she came empty-handed he got up and left her, grumbling to himself. The next day they searched again, but with no better success. Alas! said the princess, if only I could find something for you to eat. I should not mind being hungry myself. No, I should not mind that either, answered Fan Farnad. Is it possible, said she, that he would not care if I died of hunger? Oh, Fan Farnad, you said you loved me. That was when we were in quite another place, and I was not hungry, said he. It makes a great difference in one's ideas to be dying of hunger and thirst on a desert island. At this the princess was dreadfully vexed, and she sat down under a white rose-bush and began to cry bitterly. Happy roses! she thought to herself. They have only to blossom in the sunshine and be admired, and there is nobody to be unkind to them. And the tears ran down her cheeks and splashed onto the rose-tree roots. Presently she was surprised to see the whole bush rustling and shaking, and a soft little voice from the prettiest rosebud said, Poor princess, look in the trunk of that tree, and you will find a honeycomb, but don't be foolish enough to share it with Fan Farnad. May Blossom ran to the tree, and sure enough there was the honey. Without losing a moment she ran with it to Fan Farnad, crying gaily, See, here is a honeycomb that I have found. I might have eaten it up all by myself, but I had rather share it with you. But without looking at her or thinking her, he snatched the honeycomb out of her hands and ate it all up every bit without offering her a morsel. Indeed, when she humbly asked for some, he said mockingly that it was too sweet for her, and would spoil her teeth. May Blossom, more downcast than ever, went sadly away and sat down under an oak tree, and her tears and sighs were so piteous that the oak fanned her with his rustling leaves and said, Take courage, pretty princess, all is not lost yet. Take this pitcher of milk and drink it up, and whatever you do, don't leave a drop for Fan Farnad. The princess, quite astonished, looked round, and saw a big pitcher full of milk, but before she could raise it to her lips the thought of how thirsty Fan Farnad must be, after eating at least fifteen pounds of honey, made her run back to him and say, Here is a pitcher of milk, drink some, for you must be thirsty, I am sure, but pray, save a little for me, as I am dying of hunger and thirst. But he seized the pitcher and drank all it contained at a single drought, and then broke it to Adams on the nearest stone, saying with a malicious smile, As you have not eaten anything you cannot be thirsty. Ah, cried the princess, I am well punished for disappointing the king and queen, and running away with this ambassador about whom I knew nothing. And so, saying, she wandered away into the thickest part of the wood, and sat down under a thorn-tree, where a nightingale was singing. Presently she heard him say, Search under the bush, princess, you will find some sugar, almonds, and some tarts there, but don't be silly enough to offer Fan Farnad any. And this time the princess, who was fainting with hunger, took the nightingale's advice, and ate what she found all by herself. But Fan Farnad, seeing that she had found something good, and was not going to share it with him, ran after her on such a fury that she hastily drew out the queen's car-bunkle, which had the property of rendering people invisible if they were in danger. And when she was safely hidden from him, she reproached him gently for his unkindness. Meanwhile, Admiral Cocktatt had dispatched Jack the Chatterer of the Straw Boots, courier and ordinary to the Prime Minister, to tell the king that the princess and the ambassador had landed on Squirrel Island, but that not knowing the country he had not pursued them for fear of being captured by concealed enemies. Their majesties were overjoyed at the news, and the king sent for a great book, each leaf of which was eight L's long. It was the work of a very clever fairy, and contained a description of the whole earth. He very soon found that Squirrel Island was uninhabited. Go, said he, to Jack the Chatterer. Tell the admiral from me to land at once. I am surprised that his not having done so sooner. As soon as this message reached the fleet, every preparation was made for war, and the noise was so great that it reached the ears of the princess, who at once flew to protect her lover. As he was not very brave, he accepted her aid gladly. You stand behind me, said she, and I will hold the car-buncle, which will make us invisible, and with the king's dagger I can protect you from the enemy. So when the soldiers landed they could see nothing. But the princess touched them, one after another, with the dagger, and they fell insensible upon the sand, so that at last the admiral, seeing that there was some enchantment, hastily gave orders for our retreat to be sounded, and got his men back into their boats in great confusion. Fan Ferenade, being once more left with the princess, began to think that if he could get rid of her and possess himself of the car-buncle and the dagger, he would be able to make his escape. So as they walked back over the cliffs, he gave the princess a great push, hoping she would fall into the sea. But she stepped aside so quickly that he only succeeded in overbalancing himself, and over he went, and sank to the bottom of the sea like a lump of lead, and was never heard of any more. While the princess was still looking after him in horror, her attention was attracted by a rushing noise over her head, and looking up she saw two chariots approaching rapidly from opposite directions. One was bright and glittering, and drawn by swans and peacocks, while the fairy who sat in it was beautiful as a sunbeam. But the other was drawn by bats and ravens, and contained a frightful little dwarf who was dressed in a snakeskin, and wore a great toad upon her head for a hood. The chariots met with a frightful crash in mid-air, and the princess looked on in breathless anxiety, while a furious battle took place between the lovely fairy with her golden lance, and the hideous little dwarf and her rusty pike. But very soon it was evident that the beauty had the best of it, and the dwarf turned her bat's heads and flickered away in great confusion, while the fairy came down to where the princess stood and said, smiling, You see, princess, I have completely routed that malicious old caribose. Will you believe it? She actually wanted to claim authority over you forever, because you came out of the tower four days before the twenty years were ended. However, I think I have settled her pretensions, and I hope you will be very happy, and enjoy the freedom I have won for you. The princess thanked her heartily, and then the fairy dispatched one of her peacocks to her palace to bring a gorgeous robe for Mayblossom, who certainly needed it, for her own was torn to shreds by the thorns and briars. Another peacock was sent to the admiral to tell him that he could now land in perfect safety, which he at once did, bringing all his men with him, even to Jack the Chatterer, who, happening to pass the spit upon which the admiral's dinner was roasting, snatched it up and brought it with him. Admiral Cocktatt was immensely surprised when he came upon the golden chariot, and still more so to see two lovely ladies walking under the trees a little farther away. When he reached them, of course he recognized the princess, and he went down on his knees and kissed her hand quite joyfully. Then she presented him to the fairy, and told him how caribose had been finally routed, and he thanked and congratulated the fairy, who was most gracious to him. While they were talking, she cried suddenly, I declare I smell a savory dinner. Why, yes, madam, here it is, said Jack the Chatterer, holding up the spit, where all the pheasants and partridges were frizzling. Will your highness please to taste any of them? By all means, said the fairy, especially as the princess will certainly be glad of a good meal. So the admiral sent back to his ship for everything that was needful, and they feasted merrily under the trees. By the time they had finished, the peacock had come back with a robe for the princess, in which the fairy arrayed her. It was of green and gold brocade, embroidered with pearls and rubies, and her long golden hair was tied back with strings of diamonds and emeralds, and crowned with flowers. The fairy made her mount beside her in the golden chariot, and took her on board the admiral's ship, where she bade her farewell, sending many messages of friendship to the queen, and bidding the princess tell her that she was the fifth fairy who had attended the christening. Then salutes were fired, the fleet weighed anchor, and very soon they reached the port. Here the king and queen were waiting, and they received the princess with such joy and kindness that she could not get a word in endwise to say how sorry she was for having run away with such a very poor spirited ambassador. But, after all, it must have been Alcarabose's fault, just at this lucky moment who should arrive but king Merlin's son, who had become uneasy at not receiving any news from his ambassador, and so had started himself with a magnificent escort of a thousand horsemen and thirty bodyguards in gold and scarlet uniforms to see what could have happened. As he was a hundred times handsomer and braver than the ambassador, the princess found she could like him very much. So the wedding was held at once, with so much splendor and rejoicing that all the previous misfortunes were quite forgotten. The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lange Chapter 3 Soria Moria Castle There was once upon a time a couple of folks who had a son called Helver. Ever since he had been a little boy, he had been unwilling to do any work and had just sat raking about among the ashes. His parents sent him away to learn several things, but Helver stayed nowhere, for when he had been gone two or three days he always ran away from his master, hurried off home, and sat down in the chimney corner to grub among the ashes again. One day, however, a sea captain came and asked Helver if he hadn't a fancy to come with him and go to sea, and behold, foreign lands, and Helver had a fancy for that, so he was not long in getting ready. How long they sailed I have no idea, but after a long, long time there was a terrible storm, and when it was over and all had become calm again they knew not where they were, for they had been driven away to a strange coast of which none of them had any knowledge. As there was no wind at all, they lay there be calmed, and Helver asked the skipper to give him leave to go on shore, to look about him, for he would much rather do that than lie there and sleep. Dost thou think that thou art fit to go where people can see thee? said the skipper. Thou hast no clothes, but those rags thou art going about in. Helver still begged for leave, and at last got it, but he was to come back at once if the wind began to rise. So he went on shore, and it was a delightful country. Whether so ever he went there were wide plains with fields and meadows, but as for people there were none to be seen. The wind began to rise, but Helver thought that he had not seen enough yet, and that he would like to walk about a little longer, to try if you could not meet somebody. So after a while he came to a great highway, which was so smooth that an egg might have been rolled along it without breaking. Helver followed this, and when evening drew near he saw a big castle far away in the distance, and there were lights in it. So as he had now been walking the whole day, and had not brought anything to eat away with him, he was frightfully hungry. Nevertheless the nearer he came to the castle the more afraid he was. A fire was burning in the castle, and Helver went into the kitchen, which was more magnificent than any kitchen he had ever yet beheld. There were vessels of gold and silver, but not one human being was to be seen. When Helver had stood there for some time, and no one had come out, he went in and opened a door, and inside a princess was sitting at her wheel spinning. Nay! she cried. Can Christian folk dare to come hither? But the best thing that you can do is to go away again, for if not the troll will devour you. A troll with three heads lives here. I should have been just as well pleased if he had had four heads more, for I should have enjoyed seeing the fellow, said the youth, but I won't go away, for I have done no harm. But you must give me something to eat, for I am frightfully hungry. When Helver had eaten his fill, the princess told him to try if he could wield the sword which was hanging on the wall. But he could not wield it, nor could he even lift it up. Well, then, you must take a drink out of that bottle, which is hanging by its side, for that's what the troll does whenever he goes out and wants to use the sword, said the princess. Helver took a drought, and in a moment he was able to swing the sword about with perfect ease. And now he thought it was high time for the troll to make his appearance, and at that very moment he came, panting for breath. Helver got behind the door. Who to do? said the troll as he put his head in at the door. It smells just as if there were Christian man's blood here. Yes, and you shall learn that there is, said Helver, and cut off all his heads. The princess was so rejoiced to be free that she danced and sang, but then she remembered her sisters and said, If my sisters were but free too. Where are they? asked Helver, so she told him where they were. One of them had been taken away by a troll to his castle, which was six miles off, and the other had been carried off to a castle which was nine miles farther off still. But now, said she, you must first help me to get this dead body away from here. Helver was so strong that he cleared everything away, and made all clean and tidy very quickly. So then they ate and drank, and were happy, and next morning he sought off in the gray light of dawn. He gave himself no rest, but walked or ran the live long day. When he came inside of the castle he was again just a little afraid. It was much more splendid than the other. But here too there was not a human being to be seen. So Helver went into the kitchen, and did not linger there either, but went straight in. Nay, do Christian folk dare to come here? cried the second princess. I know not how long it is since I myself came, but during all that time I have never seen a Christian man. It will be better for you to depart at once, for a troll lives here who has six heads. No, I shall not go, said Helver, even if he had six more I would not. He will swallow you up alive, said the princess. But she spoke to no purpose, for Helver would not go. He was not afraid of the troll, but he wanted some meat and drink, for he was hungry after his journey. So she gave him as much as he would have, and then she once more tried to make him go away. No, said Helver, I will not go, for I have not done anything wrong, and I have no reason to be afraid. He won't ask any questions about that, said the princess, for he will take you without leave or right. But, as you will not go, try if you can wield that sword, which the troll uses in battle. He could not brandish the sword. So the princess said that he was to take a drought from the flask which hung by its side, and when he had done that he could wield the sword. Soon afterwards the troll came, and he was so large and stout that he was forced to go sideways to get through the door. When the troll got his first head in, he cried, Who they do? It smells of a Christian man's blood here. With that, Helver cut off the first head, and so on with all the rest. The princess was now exceedingly delighted, but then she remembered her sisters, and wished that they too were free. Helver thought that might be managed, and wanted to set off immediately, but first he had to help the princess to remove the troll's body, so it was not until morning that he set forth on his way. It was a long way to the castle, and he both walked and ran to get there in time. Late in the evening he caught sight of it, and it was very much more magnificent than either of the others. And this time he was not in the least afraid, but went into the kitchen, and then straight on inside the castle. There a princess was sitting, who was so beautiful that there was never anyone to equal her. She too said what the others had said, that no Christian folk had ever been there since she had come, and entreated him to go away again, or else the troll would swallow him up alive. The troll had nine heads, she told him. Yes, and if he had nine added to the nine, and then nine more still, I would not go away, said Halver, and went and stood by the stove. The princess begged him very prettily to go lest the troll should devour him, but Halver said, let him come when he will. So she gave him the troll's sword, and bade him take a drink from the flask to enable him to wield it. At that same moment the troll came, breathing hard, and he was ever so much bigger and stouter than either of the others, and he too was forced to go sideways to get in through the door. Who day, too, what a smell of Christian blood there is here, said he. Then Halver cut off the first head, and after that the others, but the last was the toughest of them all, and it was the hardest work that Halver had ever done to get it off, but he still believed that he would have strength enough to do it. And now all the princesses came to the castle, and were together again, and they were happier than they had ever been in their lives, and they were delighted with Halver, and he with them, and he was to choose the one he liked best, but of the three sisters the youngest loved him best. But Halver went about, and was so strange, and so mournful and quiet, that the princesses asked what it was that he longed for, and if he did not like to be with them. He said that he did like to be with them, for they had enough to live on, and he was very comfortable there, but he longed to go home, for his father and mother were alive, and he had great desire to see them again. They thought that this might easily be done. You shall go and return in perfect safety if you will follow our advice, said the princesses. So he said that he would do nothing they did not wish. Then they dressed him so splendidly that he was like a king's son, and they put a ring on his finger, and it was one which would enable him to go there and back again by wishing, but they told him that he must not throw it away, or name their names, for if he did all his magnificence would be at an end, and then he would never see them more. If I were but at home again, or if home were but here, said Halver, and no sooner had he wished this than it was granted. Halver was standing outside his father and mother's cottage before he knew what he was about. The darkness of night was coming on, and when the father and mother saw such a splendid and stately stranger walk in, they were so startled that they both began to bow in curtsy. Halver then inquired if he could stay there and have lodging for the night. No, that he certainly could not. We can give you no such accommodation, they said, for we have none of the things that are needful when a great Lord like you is to be entertained. It will be better for you to go up to the farm and is not far off. You can see the chimney pots from here, and there they have plenty of everything. Halver would not hear of that. He was absolutely determined to stay where he was, but the old folk stuck to what they had said and told him that he was to go to the farm, where he could get both meat and drink, whereas they themselves had not even a chair to offer him. No, said Halver, I will not go up there till early tomorrow morning. Let me stay here to-night. I can sit down on the hearth. They could say nothing against that, so Halver sat down on the hearth and began to rake about among the ashes, just as he had done before, when he lay their idling away his time. They chattered much about many things and told Halver of this and that, and at last he asked them if they had never had any child. Yes, they said. They had had a boy who was called Halver, but they did not know where he had gone, and they could not even say whether he were dead or alive. Could I be he? said Halver. I should know him well enough, said the old woman, rising. Our Halver was so idle and slothful that he never did anything at all, and he was so ragged that one whole ran into another all over his clothes. Such a fellow as he was could never turn into such a man as you are, sir. In a short time the old woman had to go to the fireplace to stir the fire, and when the blaze lit up Halver, as it used to do when he was at home raking up the ashes, she knew him again. Good heavens! Is that you, Halver? said she, and such great gladness fell on the old parents that there were no bounds to it, and now he had to relate everything that had befallen him, and the old woman was so delighted with him that she would take him up to the farm at once to show him to the girls who had formerly looked down on him so. She went there first, and Halver followed her. When she got there she told them how Halver had come home again, and now they should just see how magnificent he was. He looks like a prince, she said. We shall see that he is just the same ragamuffin that he was before, said the girls, tossing their heads. At that same moment Halver entered, and the girls were so astonished that they left their curdles lying in the chimney corner, and ran away in nothing but their petticoats. When they came in again they were so shame-faced that they hardly dared to look at Halver, toward whom they had always been so proud and haughty before. Hey, hey! You have always thought that you were so pretty and dainty that no one was equal to you, said Halver. But you should just see the eldest princess whom I sat free. You look like herdswomen compared with her, and the second princess is also much prettier than you. But the youngest, who is my sweetheart, is more beautiful than either sun or moon. I wish to heaven they were here, and then you would see them. Scarcely had he said this before they were standing by his side, but then he was very sorrowful, for the words which they had said to him came to his mind. Up at the farm a great feast was made ready for the princesses, and much respect paid to them, but they would not stay there. We want to go down to your parents, they said to Halver, so we will go out and look about us. He followed them out, and they came to a large pond outside the farmhouse. Very near the water there was a pretty green bank, and there the princesses said they would sit down and wile away an hour, for they thought that it would be pleasant to sit and look out over the water, they said. There they sat down, and when they had sat for a short time, the youngest princess said, I may as well comb your hair a little, Halver. So Halver laid his head down on her lap, and she combed it, and it was not long before he fell asleep. Then she took her ring from him, and put another in its place, and then she said to her sisters, hold me as I am holding you, I would that we were at Soria Moria Castle. When Halver awoke, he knew that he had lost the princesses, and began to weep and lament, and was so unhappy that he could not be comforted, in spite of all his fathers and mothers and treaties. He would not stay, but bade them farewell, saying that he would never see them more, for if he did not find the princess again, he did not think it worthwhile to live. He again had three hundred dollars, which he put into his pocket, and went on his way. When he had walked some distance, he met a man with a tolerably good horse. Halver longed to buy it, and began to bargain with the man. Well, I have not exactly been thinking of selling him, said the man, but if we could agree, perhaps. Halver inquired how much he wanted to have for the horse. I did not give much for him, and he is not worth much. He is a capital horse to ride, but good for nothing at drawing, but he will always be able to carry your bag of provisions and you too, if you walk and ride by turns. At last they agreed about the price, and Halver laid his bag on the horse, and sometimes he walked and sometimes he rode. In the evening he came to a green field, where stood a great tree, under which he seated himself. Then he left the horse loose and laid down to sleep, but before he did that he took his bag off the horse. At daybreak he sat off again, for he did not feel as if he could take any rest. So he walked and rode the whole day, through a great wood, where there were many green places which gleamed very prettily among the trees. He did not know where he was, or whether he was going, but he never lingered longer in any place than was enough to let his horse get a little food when they came to one of these green spots, while he himself took out his bag of provisions. So he walked and he rode, and it seemed to him that the wood would never come to an end, but on the evening of the second day he saw a light shining through the trees. If only there were some people up there I might warm myself and get something to eat, thought Halver. When he got to the place where the light had come from, he saw a ruched little cottage, and through a small pane of glass he saw a couple of old folks inside. They were very old and as gray-headed as a pigeon, and the old woman had such a long nose that she sat in the chimney corner and used it to stir the fire. Good evening, ah, good evening, said the old hag, but what errand have you that can bring you here? No Christian folk have been here for more than a hundred years. So Halver told her that he wanted to get to Soria Moria Castle, and inquired as she knew the way thither. No, said the old woman, that I do not, but the moon will be here presently, and I will ask her, and she will know she can easily see it, for she shines on all things. So, when the moon stood clear and bright above the treetops, the old woman went out. Moon, moon, she screamed, canst thou tell me the way to Soria Moria Castle? No, said the moon, that I can't, for when I shone there, there was a cloud before me. Wait a little longer, said the old woman to Halver. For the west wind will presently be here, and he will know it, for he breathes gently or a blows into every corner. What? Have you a horse, too? She said when she came in again. Oh, let the poor creature loosen our bit of fenced-in pasture, and don't let it stand there starving at our very door. But won't you exchange him with me? We have a pair of old boots here, with which you can go fifteen quarters of a mile at each step. You shall have them for the horse, and then you will be able to get sooner to Soria Moria Castle. Halver consented to this at once, and the old woman was so delighted with the horse that she was ready to dance. For now I, too, shall be able to ride to church, she said. Halver could take no rest, and wanted to set off immediately, but the old woman said that there was no need to hasten. Lie down on the bench and sleep a little, for we have no bed to offer you, said she, and I will watch for the coming of the west wind. Air long came the west wind, roaring so loud that the walls creaked. The old woman went out and cried, West wind! West wind! Canst thou tell me the way to Soria Moria Castle? Here is one who would go thither. Yes, I know it well, said the west wind. I am just on my way there to dry the clothes for the wedding which is to take place. If he is fleet of foot, he can go with me. Out ran Halver. You will have to make haste if you mean to go with me, said the west wind, and away it went over hill and dale, and more and morass. And Halver had enough to do to keep up with it. Well, now I have no time to stay with you any longer, said the west wind, for I must first go and tear down a bit of spruce fir before I go to the bleaching ground to dry the clothes, but just go along the side of the hill, and you will come to some girls who are standing there washing clothes, and then you will not have to walk far before you are at Soria Moria Castle. Shortly afterwards Halver came to the girls who were standing washing, and they asked him if he had seen anything of the west wind who was to come there to dry the clothes for the wedding. Yes, said Halver. He has only gone to break down a bit of spruce fir. It won't be long before he is here. And then he asked them the way to Soria Moria Castle. They put him in the right way, and when he came in front of the castle it was so full of horses and people that it swarmed with them. But Halver was so ragged and torn with following the west wind through bushes and bogs that he kept on one side who would not go among the crowd until the last day when the feast was to be held at noon. So when, as was the usage and custom, all were to drink to the bride and the young girls who were present, the cup bearer filled the cup for each and turn, both bride and bridegroom, and knights and servants, and at last, after a very long time, he came to Halver. He drank their health, and then slipped the ring which the princess had put on his finger when they were sitting by the water side into the glass, and ordered the cup bearer to carry the glass to the bride from him and greet her. Then the princess at once rose up from the table and said, Who is most worthy to have one of us, he who has delivered us from the trolls, or he who is sitting here as bridegroom? There could be but one opinion as to that, everyone thought, and when Halver heard what they said, he was not long in flinging off his beggars' rags and arraying himself as a bridegroom. Yes, he is the right one, cried the youngest princess when she caught sight of him, so she flung the other out of the window and held her wedding with Halver. End of Chapter 3 Soria Moria Castle The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Ling Chapter 4 The Death of Kashi the Deathless In a certain kingdom there lived a prince Ivan. He had three sisters. The first was the Princess Maria, the second the Princess Olga, the third the Princess Anna. When their father and mother lay at the point of death, they had thus unjoined their son. Give your sisters in marriage to the very best suitors who come to woo them, don't go keeping them by you. They died, and the prince buried them, and then, to solace his grief, he went with his sisters into the garden green to stroll. Suddenly the sky was covered by a black cloud, a terrible storm arose. Let us go home, sisters, he cried. Hardly had they got into the palace when the thunder peeled, the ceilings split open, and into the room where they were came flying a falcon bright. The falcon smote upon the ground, became a brave youth, and said, Hail, Prince Ivan! Before I came as a guest, but now I have come as a wooer, I wish to propose for your sister, the Princess Maria. If you find favor in the eyes of my sister I will not interfere with her wishes, let her marry you in God's name. The Princess Maria gave her consent, the falcon married her, and bore her away into his own realm. Days followed days, hours chased hours, a whole year goes by. One day Prince Ivan and his two sisters went out to stroll in the garden green. Again there arose a storm cloud with whirlwind and lightning. Let us go home, sisters, cries the Prince. Scarcely had they entered the palace when the thunder crashed, the roof burst into a blaze, the ceilings split in twain, and in flew an eagle. The eagle smote upon the ground and became a brave youth. Hail, Prince Ivan! Before I came as a guest, but now I have come as a wooer, and he asked for the hand of the Princess Olga. Prince Ivan replied, If you find favor in the eyes of the Princess Olga, then let her marry you, I will not interfere with her liberty of choice. The Princess Olga gave her consent and married the eagle. The eagle took her and carried her off to his own kingdom. Another year went by. Prince Ivan said to his youngest sister, Let us go out and stroll in the garden green. They strolled about for a time. Again there arose a storm cloud with whirlwind and lightning. Let us return home, sister, said he. They returned home, but they hadn't had time to sit down when the thunder crashed, the ceilings split open, and in flew a raven. The raven smote upon the floor and became a brave youth. The former youths had been handsome, but this one was handsomer still. Well, Prince Ivan, before I came as a guest, but now I have come as a wooer, give me the Princess Anna to wife. I won't interfere with my sister's freedom if you gain her affections, let her marry you. So the Princess Anna married the raven, and he bore her away into his own realm. Prince Ivan was left alone. A whole year he lived without his sisters. Then he grew weary and said, I will set out in search of my sisters. He got ready for the journey. He rode and rode, and one day he saw a whole army lying dead on the plane. He cried aloud, if there be a living man there, let him make answer. Who has slain this mighty host? There replied unto him a living man. All this mighty host has been slain by the Fair Princess Maria Marevna. Prince Ivan rode further on, and came to a white tent, and forth came to meet him the Fair Princess Maria Marevna. Hail, Prince, says she. Whither does God send you, and is it of your free will or against your will? Prince Ivan replied, not against their will, do brave youths ride. Well, if your business be not pressing, tarry awhile in my tent. Thereat was Prince Ivan glad. He spent two nights in the tent, and he found favor in the eyes of Maria Marevna, and she married him. The Fair Princess Maria Marevna carried him off into her own realm. They spent some time together, and then the Princess took it into her head to go awaring. So she handed over all the housekeeping affairs to Prince Ivan, and gave him these instructions. Go about everywhere, keep watch over everything, only do not venture to look into that closet there. He couldn't help doing so. The moment Maria Marevna had gone, he rushed to the closet, pulled open the door, and looked in. There hung Kashi the Deathless, fettered by twelve chains. Then Kashi untreated Prince Ivan, saying, Have pity upon me, and give me to drink. Ten years long have I been here in torment, neither eating nor drinking. My throat is utterly dried up. The Prince gave him a bucket full of water. He drank it up and asked for more, saying, A single bucket of water will not quench my thirst. Give me more. The Prince gave him a second bucket full. Kashi drank it up and asked for a third, and when he had swallowed the third bucket full, he regained his former strength, gave his chains a shake, and broke all twelve at once. Thanks, Prince Ivan, cried Kashi the Deathless. Now you will sooner see your own ears than Maria Marevna. And out of the window he flew in the shape of a terrible whirlwind, and he came up with the fair Princess Maria Marevna as she was going her way, laid whole of her, and carried her off home with him. But Prince Ivan wept full sore, and he arrayed himself and set out a wandering, saying to himself, Whatever happens I will go and look for Maria Marevna. One day passed, another day passed. At the dawn of the third day he saw a wondrous palace, and by the side of the palace stood an oak, and on the oak sat a falcon bright. Down flew the falcon from the oak, smote upon the ground, turned into a brave youth, and cried aloud, Ha, dear brother-in-law, how deals the Lord with you! Out came running the Princess Maria, joyfully greeting her brother Ivan. And began inquiring after his health, and telling him all about herself. The Prince spent three days with them. Then he said, I cannot abide with you. I must go in search of my wife, the fair Princess Maria Marevna. Hard will it be for you to find her, answered the falcon, at all events leave with us your silver spoon. We will look at it and remember you. So Prince Ivan left his silver spoon at the falcons, and went on his way again. On he went one day, on he went another day, and by the dawn of the third day he saw a palace still grander than the former one. And hard by the palace stood an oak, and on the oak sat an eagle. Down flew the eagle from the oak, smote upon the ground, turned into a brave youth, and cried out, Rise up, Princess Olga, hither comes our brother dear. The Princess Olga immediately ran to meet him, and began kissing him and embracing him, asking after his health, and telling him all about herself. With them Prince Ivan stopped three days. Then he said, I cannot stay here any longer. I am going to look for my wife, the fair Princess Maria Marevna. Hard will it be for you to find her, replied the eagle, leave with us a silver fork. We will look at it and remember you. He left a silver fork behind and went his way. He traveled one day, he traveled two days. At daybreak on the third day he saw a palace grander than the first two. And near the palace stood an oak, and on the oak sat a raven. Down flew the raven from the oak, smote upon the ground, turned into a brave youth, and cried aloud, Princess Anna, come forth quickly, our brother is coming. Out ran the Princess Anna, greeted him joyfully, and began kissing and embracing him, asking after his health, and telling him all about herself. Prince Ivan stayed with them three days. Then he said, Farewell, I am going to look for my wife, the fair Princess Maria Marevna. Hard will it be for you to find her, replied the raven. Anyhow, leave your silver snuff box with us. We will look at it and remember you. The Prince handed over his silver snuff box, took his leave, and went his way. One day he went, another day he went, and on the third day he came to where Maria Marevna was. She caught sight of her love, flung her arms around his neck, burst into tears, and exclaimed, Oh Prince Ivan, why did you disobey me and go looking into the closet, and letting Alcache the deathless? Forgive me, Maria Marevna, remember not the past. Much better fly with me while Alcache the deathless is out of sight. Perhaps he won't catch us. So they got ready and fled. Now Alcache was out hunting. Towards evening he was returning home, and his good steed stumbled beneath him. Why stumblest thou, sorry jade? Sentest thou some ill? Steed replied, Prince Ivan has come and carried off Maria Marevna. Is it possible to catch them? It is possible to sow wheat, to wait till it grows up, to reap it and thresh it, to grind it to flour, to make five pies of it, to eat those pies, and then to start in pursuit, and even then to be in time. Cache galloped off and caught up Prince Ivan. Now, says he, this time I will forgive you, in return for your kindness, in giving me water to drink, and a second time I will forgive you, but the third time beware, I will cut you two beds. Then he took Maria Marevna from him, and carried her off. But Prince Ivan sat down on a stone and burst into tears. He wept and wept, and then returned back again to Maria Marevna. Now, Cache the deathless happened not to be at home. Let us fly, Maria Marevna. Ah, Prince Ivan he will catch us. Suppose he does catch us, and all events we shall have spent an hour or two together. So they got ready and fled. As Cache the deathless was returning home, his good steed stumbled beneath him. Why stumbleest thou, sorry jade? Sentest thou some ill? Prince Ivan has come, and carried off Maria Marevna. Is it possible to catch them? It is possible to sow barley, to wait till it grows up, to reap it, and thresh it, to brew beer, to drink ourselves drunk on it, to sleep our fill, and then to set off in pursuit, and yet to be in time. Cache galloped off, caught up Prince Ivan. Caught up Prince Ivan. Didn't I tell you that you should not see Maria Marevna any more than your own ears? And he took her away and carried her off home with him. Prince Ivan was left there alone. He wept and wept. Then he went back again after Maria Marevna. Cache happened to be away from home at that moment. Let us fly, Maria Marevna. Ah, Prince Ivan, he is sure to catch us and hue you into pieces. Let him hue away. I cannot live without you. So they got ready and fled. Cache, the deathless, was returning home, when his good steed stumbled beneath him. Why stumbleest thou, sentest thou any ill? Prince Ivan has come, and has carried off Maria Marevna. Cache galloped off, caught Prince Ivan, chopped him into little pieces, put them into a barrel, smeared it with pitch, and bound it with iron hoops, and flung it into the blue sea. But Maria Marevna, he carried off home. At that very time the silver articles turned black, which Prince Ivan had left with his brothers-in-law. Ah, said they, the evil is accomplished, sure enough. Then the eagle hurried to the blue sea, caught hold of the barrel, and dragged it ashore. The falcon flew away for the water of life, and the raven for the water of death. Afterwards they all three met, broke open the barrel, took out the remains of Prince Ivan, washed them, and put them together in fitting order. The raven sprinkled them with the water of death. The pieces joined together, the body became whole. The falcon sprinkled it with the water of life. Prince Ivan shuddered, stood up and said, Ah, what a time I've been sleeping. You'd have gone on sleeping a good deal longer if it hadn't been for us, replied his brothers-in-law. Now, come and pay us a visit. Not so, brothers, I shall go and look for Maria Marevna. And when he had found her, he said to her, Find out from Kashi the deathless once he got so good a steed. So Maria Marevna chose a favorable moment, and began asking Kashi about it. Kashi replied, Beyond thrice nine lands in the Thirteenth Kingdom, on the other side of the Fiery River, there lives a Baba Yaga. She has so good a mare that she flies right around the world on it every day, and she has many other splendid mares. I watched her herds for her three days without losing a single mare, and in return for that the Baba Yaga gave me a foal. But how did you get across the Fiery River? Why, I'm a handkerchief of this kind. When I wave at thrice on the right hand, there springs up a very lofty bridge, and the fire cannot reach it. Maria Marevna listened to all this, and repeated it to Prince Ivan, and she carried off the handkerchief and gave it to him. So he managed to get across the Fiery River, and then went on to the Baba Yagas. Long went he on without getting anything either to eat or to drink. At last he came across an outlandish bird in its young ones, says Prince Ivan. I'll eat one of these chickens. Don't eat it, Prince Ivan, begs the outlandish bird. Sometime or other I'll do you a good turn. He went on farther and saw a hive of bees in the forest. I'll get a bit of honeycomb, says he. Don't disturb my honey, Prince Ivan, exclaims the queen bee. Sometime or other I'll do you a good turn. So he didn't disturb it, but went on. Presently there met him a lioness with her cub. Anyhow, I'll eat this lion cub, says he. I'm so hungry I feel quite unwell. Please let us alone, Prince Ivan, begs the lioness. Sometime or another I'll do you a good turn. Very well, have it your own way, says he. Hungry and faint he wandered on. Walked farther and farther, and at last came to where stood the house of Baba Yaga. Round the house were set twelve poles in a circle, and on each of eleven of these poles was stuck a human head. The twelfth alone remained unoccupied. Hail, Granny! Hail, Prince Ivan, wherefore have you on come? Is it of your own accord, or on compulsion? I have come to earn from you a heroic steed. So be it, Prince. You won't have to serve a year with me, but just three days. If you take good care of my mares, I'll give you an heroic steed. But if you don't, why, then you mustn't be annoyed at finding your head stuck on top of the last pole up there. Prince Ivan agreed to these terms. The Baba Yaga gave him food and drink, and gave him a little bit of water. He gave him a little drink, and bathed him, set about his business. But the moment he had driven the mirrors afield, they cocked up their tails, and away they tore across the meadows in all directions. Before the Prince had time to look round, they were all out of sight. Thereupon he began to weep, and to disquiet himself. And then he sat down upon a stone, and went to sleep. But when the sun was near its setting, the outlandish bird came flying up to him, and awakened him, saying, Arise, Prince Ivan, the mares are at home now. The Prince arose and returned home. There the Baba Yaga was storming and raging at her mares and shrieking, What effort did he come home for? How could we help coming home, said they. There came flying birds from every part of the world, and all but pecked our eyes out. Well, well, tomorrow don't go galloping over the meadows, but disperse amid the thick forests. Prince Ivan slept all night. In the morning the Baba Yaga says to him, Mind, Prince, if you don't take good care of the mares, if you lose merely one of them, your bold head will be stuck on that pole. He drove the mares afield. Immediately they cocked up their tails and dispersed among the thick forests. Again did the Prince sit down on the stone, weep and weep, and then go to sleep. The sun went down behind the forest. Up came running the lioness. Arise, Prince Ivan, the mares are all collected. Prince Ivan rose and went home. More than ever did the Baba Yaga storm at her mares and shriek, What ever did he come back home for? How could we help coming back? Beasts of prey came running at us from all parts of the world, and all but tore us utterly to pieces. Well, tomorrow run off into the blue sea. Again did Prince Ivan sleep through the night. Next morning the Baba Yaga sent him forth to watch the mares. If you don't take good care of them, says she, your bold head will be stuck on that pole. He drove the mares afield. Immediately they cocked up their tails, disappeared from sight, and fled into the blue sea. There they stood, up to their necks in water. Prince Ivan sat down on the stone, wept and fell asleep. But when the sun had set behind the forest, up came flying a bee, and said, Arise, Prince, the mares are all collected. But when you get home, don't let the Baba Yaga's eyes on you, but go into the stable and hide behind the manger's. There you will find a sorry colt rolling in the muck. Do you steal it? And at that of night, right away from the house. Prince Ivan arose, slipped into the stable, and lay down behind the manger's, while the Baba Yaga was storming away at her mares and shrieking, Why did ye come back? How could we help coming back? There came flying bees and countless numbers from all parts of the world, and began stinging us on all sides till the blood came. The Baba Yaga went to sleep. In the dead of the night, Prince Ivan stole the sorry colt, saddled it, jumped on its back, and galloped away to the fiery river. When he came to that river, he waved the handkerchief three times on the right hand, and suddenly, springing goodness knows whence, there hung across the river, high in the air, a splendid bridge. The prince rode across the bridge, and waved the handkerchief twice only on the left hand. There remained across the river a thin, ever so thin a bridge. When the Baba Yaga got up in the morning, the sorry colt was not to be seen. Off she set in pursuit. At full speed did she fly in her iron mortar, urging it on with the pestle, sweeping away her traces with the broom. She dashed up to the fiery river, gave a glance, and said, A capital bridge! She drove on to the bridge, but had only got halfway when the bridge broke in two, and the Baba Yaga went flop into the river. There truly did she meet with a cruel death. Prince Ivan fattened up the colt in the green meadows, and it turned into a wondrous steed. Then he rode to where Maria Marevna was. She came running out and flung herself on his neck, crying, By what means has God brought you back to life? Thus and thus, says he, now come along with me. I'm afraid, Prince Ivan, if Kashi catches us you will be cut in pieces again. No, he won't catch us. I have a splendid heroic steed now. It flies just like a bird. So they got on its back and rode away. Kashi the Deathless was returning home when his horse stumbled beneath him. What art thou stumbling for, sorry jade? Just thou sent any ill? Prince Ivan has come and carried off Maria Marevna. Can we catch them? God knows Prince Ivan has a horse now which is better than I. Well, I can't stand it, says Kashi the Deathless. I will pursue. After a time he came up with Prince Ivan, lighted on the ground, and was going to chop him up with his sharp sword. But at that moment Prince Ivan's horse smoked Kashi the Deathless full swing with its hoof and cracked his skull, and the Prince made an end of him with a club. Afterwards the Prince heaped up a pile of wood, set fire to it, burnt Kashi the Deathless on the pyre, and scattered his ashes to the wind. Then Maria Marevna mounted Kashi's horse, and Prince Ivan got on his own. And they rode away to visit first the raven, and then the eagle, and then the falcon. Wherever they went they met with a joyful greeting. Ah, Prince Ivan, why we never expected to see you again. While it wasn't for nothing that you gave yourself so much trouble, such a beauty as Maria Marevna one might search for all the world over, and never find one like her. And so they visited, and they feasted, and afterwards they went off to their own realm.