 CHAPTER 33 SNOWDROP Once upon a time in the middle of winter when the snowflakes were falling like feathers on the earth, a queen sat on a window framed in black ebony and sewed. And as she sewed and gazed out to the white landscape, she pricked her finger with the needle and three drops of blood fell on the snow outside, and because the red showed out so well against the white she thought to herself, oh, what I wouldn't give to have a child as white as snow, as red as blood and as black as ebony. And her wish was granted, for not long after a little daughter was born to her, with skin as white as snow, lips and cheeks as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony. They called her Snowdrop, and not long after her birth the queen died. After a year the king married again. His new wife was a beautiful woman, so proud and overbearing that she couldn't stand any rival to her beauty. She possessed a magic mirror, and when she used to stand before it gazing at her own reflection and ask, mirror, mirror, hanging there, who in all the lands most fair, it always replied, you are most fair, my lady queen, none fairer in the land I weaned. Then she was quite happy, for she knew the mirror always spoke the truth. But Snowdrop was growing prettier and prettier every day, and when she was seven years old she was as beautiful as she could be, and fairer even than the queen herself. One day when the latter asked her mirror the usual question, it replied, my lady queen, you are fair, tis true, but Snowdrop is fair far than you. Then the queen flew into the most awful passion, and turned every shade of green in her jealousy. From this hour she hated poor Snowdrop like poison, and every day her envy, hatred, and malice grew, for envy and jealousy are like evil weeds which spring up and choke the heart. At last she could endure Snowdrop's presence no longer, and calling a huntsman to her she said, take the child out into the wood, and never let me see her face again. You must kill her and bring me back her lungs and liver that I may know for certain she is dead. The huntsman did as he was told and led Snowdrop out into the wood, but as he was in the act of drawing out his knife to slay her she began to cry and said, oh dear huntsman, spare my life and I will promise to fly forth into the wide wood and never to return home again, and because she was so young and pretty the huntsman had pity on her and said, well run along poor child, for he thought to himself the wild beasts will soon eat her up, and his heart felt lighter because he hadn't had to do the deed himself, and as he turned away a young borough came running past so he shot it and brought its lungs and liver home to the queen as proof that Snowdrop was really dead, and the wicked woman had them stewed in salt and ate them up, thinking she had made an end of Snowdrop forever. Now when the poor child found herself alone in the big wood, the very trees around her seemed to assume strange shapes and she felt so frightened she didn't know what to do. Then she began to run over the sharp stones and through the bramble bushes and the wild beasts ran past her, but they did her no harm. She ran as far as her legs would carry her, and as evening approached she saw a little house and she stepped inside to rest. Everything was very small in the little house, but cleaner and neater than anything you can imagine. In the middle of the room there stood a little table covered with a white tablecloth and seven little plates and forks and spoons and knives and tumblers. Side by side against the wall there were seven little beds covered with snow-white counterpains. Snowdrop felt so hungry and so thirsty that she ate a bit of bread and a little porridge from each plate and drank a drop of wine out of each tumbler. Then feeling tired and sleepy she lay down on one of her beds, but it wasn't comfortable. Then she tried all the others in turn, but one was too long and another too short and it was only when she got to the seventh that she found one to suit her exactly. So she lay down upon it, said her prayers like a good child and fell fast asleep. When it got quite dark the master's little house returned. They were seven dwarfs who worked in the mines right down deep in the heart of the mountain. They lighted their seven little lamps and as soon as their eyes got accustomed to the glare they saw that someone had been in the room for all was not in the same order as they had left it. The first one said, Who's been sitting on my little chair? The second one said, Who's been eating my little loaf? The third one said, Who's been tasting my porridge? The fourth said, Who's been eating out of my little plate? The fifth said, Who's been using my little fork? The sixth said, Who's been cutting with my little knife? The seventh said, Who's been drinking out of my little tumbler? Then the first dwarf looked around and saw a little hollow in his bed. And he asked again, Who's been lying on my bed? And the others came running around and cried when they saw their bed someone his lane and ours too. But when the seventh came to his bed he started back in amazement for there he beheld Snowdrop fast asleep. Then he called the others who turned their little lamps full on the bed, and when they saw Snowdrop lying there they nearly fell down with surprise. Goodness gracious they cried! What a beautiful child! And they were so enchanted by her beauty that they did not wake her but let her sleep in the little bed. But the seventh dwarf slept with his companions one hour in each bed, and in this way he managed to pass the night. In the morning Snowdrop awoke, but when she saw the seven little dwarfs she felt very frightened, but they were so friendly and asked her what her name was in such a kind way that she replied, I am Snowdrop. Why do you come to our house? continued the dwarfs. Then she told them how her stepmother had wished her put to death and how the huntsmen had spared her life, and how she had run the whole day till she had come to their little house. The dwarfs when they had heard her sad story asked her, Will you stay and keep house for us, cook, make the beds, the washing, sew and knit? And if you give satisfaction and keep everything neat and clean you shall want for nothing. Yes, answered Snowdrop, I will gladly do all you ask. And so she took up her abode with them. Every morning the dwarfs went to the mountain to dig for gold, and in the evening when they returned home Snowdrop always had their supper ready for them. But during the day the girl was left quite alone, so the good dwarfs warned her saying, Beware of your stepmother, she will soon find you are here, and whatever you do don't let anyone into the house. Now the queen, after she thought she had eaten Snowdrop's lungs and liver, never dreamed but that she was once more the most beautiful woman in the world, so stepping before her mirror one day she said, Mirror, mirror, hanging there, who in all the lands most fair? And the mirror replied, My Lady Queen you are fair, tis true, but Snowdrop is fair far than you. Snowdrop, who dwells with the seven little men, is as fair as you, as fair again. When the queen heard these words she was nearly struck dumb with horror for the mirror always spoke the truth and she knew now that the huntsman must have deceived her and that Snowdrop was still alive. She pondered day and night how she might destroy her, for as long as she felt she had a rival in the land, her jealous heart left her no rest. And last she hid upon a plan. She stained her face and dressed herself up as an old peddler wife, so that she was quite unrecognizable. In her guise she went over the seven hills till she came to the house of the seven dwarfs. Then she knocked at the door, calling out at the same time, Find wares to sell, find wares to sell, Snowdrop peeped out the window and called out, Good day, mother, what have you to sell? Good wares, find wares, she answered, laces of every shade and description. And she held one up that was made of some gay colored silk. Surely, I can let the honest woman in, thought Snowdrop. So she unbarred the door and bought the pretty lace. Good gracious child, said the old woman, what a figure you've got. Come, I'll lace you up properly for once. Snowdrop, suspecting no evil, stood before her and let her lace her bodice up. But the old woman laced her so quickly and so tightly that it took Snowdrop's breath away and she fell down dead. Now you are no longer a fairest, said the wicked old woman, and then she hastened away. In the evening the seven dwarfs came home. And you may think what a fright they got when they saw their dear Snowdrop lying on the floor, as still and motionless as a dead person. They lifted her up tenderly. And when they saw how tightly laced she was, they cut the lace in two, and she began to breathe a little and gradually came back to life. When the dwarfs heard what had happened, they said, depend upon it, the old peddler wife was none other than the old queen. In the future you must be sure to let no one in if we are not at home. As soon as the wicked old queen got home she went straight to the mirror and said, mirror, mirror, hanging there, who in all the lands most fair? And the mirror answered as before, my lady queen, you are fair, it is true, but Snowdrop is fair far than you. Snowdrop dwells with the seven little men, is as fair as you as fair again. When she heard this she became as pale as death, because she saw it once that Snowdrop must be alive again. This time she said to herself, I will think of something that will make an end of her once and for all. And by the witchcraft which she understood so well, she made a poisonous comb. Then she dressed herself up and assumed the form of another old woman. So she went over the seven hills till she reached the house of the seven dwarfs and knocking at the door she called out, find wares for sale. Snowdrop looked out of the window and said, you must go away for I may not let anyone in. But surely you are not forbidden to look out said the old woman. And she held up the poisonous comb for her to see it pleased the girl so much that she let herself be taken in and open the door. When they had settled their bargain, the old woman said, now I'll comb your hair properly for you for once in the way. Poor Snowdrop thought no evil, but hardly had the comb touched her hair than the poison worked and she fell down unconscious. Now my fine lady you're really done for this time said the wicked woman and she made her way home as fast as she could. Fortunately it was now near evening and the seven dwarfs returned home. When they saw Snowdrop lying dead on the ground, they at once suspected that her wicked step mother had been at work again. So they searched till they found the poisonous comb and the moment they pulled it out of her head, Snowdrop came to herself again and told them what had happened. Then they warned her once more to be on her guard and to open the door to no one. As soon as the queen got home she went straight to her mirror and asked, mirror, mirror hanging there, who in all the lands most fair? And it replied as before, my lady queen you are fair to is true, but Snowdrop is fair far than you. Snowdrop who dwells with the seven little men is as fair as you as fair again. When she heard these words she literally trembled and shook with rage. Snowdrop shall die, she cried. Yes, though it cost me my own life. Then she went to a little secret chamber which no one knew of but herself and there she made a poisonous apple. Outwardly it looked beautiful, white with red cheeks so that everyone who saw it long to eat it. But anyone who might do so would certainly die on the spot. When the apple was quite finished she stained her face and dressed herself up as a peasant and so she went over the seven hills to the seven doors. She knocked at the door, as usual but Snowdrop put her head out of the window and called out, I may not let anyone in, the seven doors have forbidden me to do so. Are you afraid of being poisoned? asked the old woman. See, I will cut this apple in half. I'll eat the white cheek and you can eat the red. But the apple was so cunningly made that only the red cheek was poisonous. Snowdrop longed to eat the tempting fruit and when she saw that the peasant woman was eating it herself she couldn't resist the temptation any longer and stretching out her hand she took the poisonous half but hardly had the first bite past her lips then she fell down dead on the ground. Then the eyes of the cruel queen sparkled with glee and laughing aloud she said, as white as snow, as red as blood and as black as ebony, this time the dwarfs won't be able to bring you back to life. When she got home she asked the mirror, mirror, mirror, hanging there, who in all the lands most fair? And this time it replied, you are most fair, my lady queen, none fair in the land I wean. Then her jealous heart was at rest at last as much at rest as a jealous heart can ever be. When the little dwarfs came home in the evening they found Snowdrop lying on the ground and she neither breathed nor stirred. They lift her up and looked round everywhere to see if they could find anything poisonous about. They unlaced her bodice, combed her hair, washed her with water and wine, but all in vain the child was dead and remained dead. Then they placed her on a buyer and all the seven dwarfs sat round it, weeping and sobbing for three whole days. At last they made up their minds to bury her but she looked as blooming as a living being and her cheeks were still such a lovely color that they said, we can't hide her away in the background. So they had a coffin made of transparent glass and they laid her in it and wrote on the lid in golden letters that she was a royal princess. Then they put the coffin on top of a mountain and one of the dwarfs always remained beside it and kept watch over it and the very birds of the air came and bewailed Snowdrop's death first an owl and then a raven and last of all a little dove. Snowdrop lay a long time in the coffin and she always looked to the same just as if she were fast asleep and she remained as white as snow as red as blood and her hair as black as ebony. Now it happened one day that a prince came to the wood and passed by the dwarf's house. He saw the coffin on the hill with a beautiful Snowdrop inside it and when he had read what was written on it in golden letters he said to the dwarf give me the coffin I'll give you whatever you like for it but the dwarf said no we wouldn't part with it for all the gold in the world. Well then he replied give it to me because I can't live without Snowdrop I will cherish and love it as my dearest possession. He spoke so sadly that the good dwarfs had pity on him and the prince made his servants bear it away on their shoulders. Now it happened that as they were going down the hill they stumbled over a bush and jolted the coffin so violently that the poisonous bit of Apple Snowdrop had swallowed fell out of her throat. She gradually opened her eyes lifted up the lid of the coffin and sat up alive and well. Oh dear me where am I she cried. The prince answered joyfully you are with me and he told her all that had happened adding I love you better than anyone in the whole wide world will you come with me to my father's palace and be my wife. Snowdrop consented and went with him and the marriage was celebrated with great pomp and splendor. Now Snowdrop's wicked stepmother was one of the guests invited to the wedding feast. When she addressed herself very gorgeously for the occasion she went to the mirror and said mirror mirror hanging there who in all the lands most fair and the mirror answered my lady queen you are fair it is true but Snowdrop is fairer far than you and the wicked woman heard these words she uttered a curse and was beside herself with rage and mortification at first she didn't want to go to the wedding at all but at the same time she felt she would never be happy till she had seen the young queen. As she entered Snowdrop recognized her and nearly fainted with fear but red hot iron shoes had been prepared for the wicked old queen and she was made to get into them and dance till she fell down dead. Chapter 34 The Golden Goose There was once a man who had three sons the youngest of them was called Dullhead and was sneered and jeered at and snubbed on every possible opportunity. One day it happened that the eldest son wished to go into the forest to cut wood and before he started his mother gave him a fine rich cake and a bottle of wine so that he might be sure not to suffer from hunger or thirst. When he reached the forest he met a little old grey man who wished him good morning and said do give me a piece of that cake you have got in your pocket and let me have a draft of your wine I am so hungry and thirsty. But this clever son replied if I give you my cake and wine I shall have none left for myself you just go your own way and he left the little man standing there and went further on into the forest. There he began to cut down a tree but before long he made a false stroke with his axe and cut his own arm so badly that he was obliged to go home and have it bound up. Then the second son went to the forest and his mother gave him a good cake and a bottle of wine as she had to his elder brother. He too met the little old grey man who begged him for a morsel of cake and a draft of wine. But the second son spoke most sensibly to and said whatever I give to you I deprive myself of just go your own way will you? Not long after his punishment overtook him for no sooner had he struck a couple of blows on a tree with his axe then he cut his leg so badly that he had to be carried home. So then Dullhead said Father let me go out and cut wood. But his father answered both your brothers have injured themselves you had better leave it alone you know nothing about it. But Dullhead begged so hard to be allowed to go that at last his father said very well then go perhaps when you have hurt yourself you may learn to know better. His mother only gave him a very plain cake made with water and baked in the cinders and a bottle of sour beer. When he got to the forest he too met the little grey old man who greeted him and said give me a piece of your cake and a draft from your bottle I am so hungry and thirsty. And Dullhead replied I've only got a cinder cake and some sour beer but if you care to have that let us sit down and eat. So they sat down and when Dullhead brought out his cake he found it turned into a fine rich cake and the sour beer into excellent wine then they ate and drunk and when they had finished the little man said now I will bring you luck because you have a kind heart and are willing to share what you have with others. There stands an old tree cut it down and amongst its roots you'll find something with that the little man took leave then Dullhead fell to it once to hew down the tree and when it fell he found amongst its roots a goose whose feathers were all a pure gold. He lifted it out carried it off and took it with him to an inn where he meant to spend the night. Now the landlord at the inn had three daughters and when they saw the goose they were filled with curiosity as to what this wonderful bird could be and each long to have one of its golden feathers. The eldest thought to herself no doubt I shall soon find a good opportunity to pluck out one of its feathers and the first time Dullhead happened to leave the room she caught hold of the goose by its wing but lo and behold her fingers seemed to stick fast to the goose and she could not take her hand away. Soon after the second daughter came in and thought to pluck a golden feather for herself too but hardly had she touched her sister then she stuck fast as well. At last the third sister came with the same intentions but the other two cried out keep off for heaven's sake keep off. The younger sister could not imagine why she was to keep off and thought to herself if they are both there why should not I be there too. So she sprung to them but no sooner had she touched one of them then she stuck fast to her so they all three had to spend the night with the goose. Next morning Dullhead tucked the goose under his arm and went off without in the least troubling himself about the three girls who were hanging onto it. They just had to run after him right or left as best they could. In the middle of a field they met the parson and when he saw this procession he cried, for shame you bold girls what do you mean by running after a young fellow through the fields like that. Do you call that proper behavior? And with that he caught the youngest girl by the hand to try and draw her away but directly he touched her he hung on himself and had to run along with the rest of them. Not long after the clerk came that way and was much surprised to see the parson following the footsteps of three girls why where is your reverence going so fast cried he don't forget there is to be a christening today and he ran after him caught him by the sleeve and hung on to it himself. As the five of them trotted along in this fashion one after the other two peasants were coming from their work with their hose. On seeing them the parson called out and begged them to come and rescue him and the clerk but no sooner did they touch the clerk than they stuck on two and so there were seven of them running after dullhead and his goose. After a time they all came to a town where a king reigned whose daughter was so serious and so on that no one could ever manage to make her laugh so the king had decreed that whoever should succeed in making her laugh should marry her. When dullhead heard this he marched before the princess with his goose and his appendages and as soon as she saw these seven people continually running after each other she burst out laughing and could not stop herself. Then dullhead claimed her as his bride but the king who did not much fancy him as a son-in-law made all sorts of objections and told him he must first find a man who could drink up a whole cellar full of wine. Dullhead befought him of the little grey man who could he felt sure help him so he went off to the forest and on the very spot where he had cut down the tree he saw a man sitting with a most dismal expression of face. Dullhead asked him what he was taking so much to heart and the man answered, I don't know how I am ever to quench this terrible thirst I am suffering from. Cold water doesn't suit me at all. To be sure I've emptied a whole barrel of wine but what is one drop on a hot stone? I think I can help you said Dullhead come with me and you shall drink to your heart's content. So he took him to the king's cellar and the man sat down before the huge casks and drunk and drunk till he drunk up the whole contents of the cellar before the day closed. Then Dullhead asked once more for his bride but the king felt vexed at the idea of a stupid fellow whom people called Dullhead carrying off his daughter and he began to make fresh conditions. He required Dullhead to find a man who could eat a mountain of bread. Dullhead did not wait to consider long but went straight off to the forest and there on the same spot set a man who was drawing in a strap as tight as he could round his body and making a most woeful face the while. Said he, I've eaten up a whole oven full of loaves but what's the good of that to anyone who is as hungry as I am? I declare my stomach feels quite empty and I must draw my belt tight if I'm not to die of starvation. Dullhead was delighted and said get up and come with me and you shall have plenty to eat and he brought him to the king's court. Now the king had given orders to have all the flour in his kingdom brought together and to have a huge mountain baked of it but the man from the wood just took up his stand before the mountain and began to eat and in one day it had all vanished. For the third time Dullhead asked for his bride but again the king tried to make some evasion and demanded a ship which could sail on land or water. When you come sailing in such a ship said he, you shall have my daughter without further delay. Again Dullhead started off to the forest and there he found the little old grey man with whom he had shared his cake and who said, I have eaten and I have drunk for you and now I will give you the ship. I have done all this for you because you were kind and merciful to me. Then he gave Dullhead a ship which could sail on land or water and when the king saw it he felt he could no longer refuse him his daughter. So they celebrated the wedding with great rejoicings and after the king's death Dullhead succeeded to the kingdom and lived happily with his wife for many years after. Grimm End of chapter 34 of the Red Fairy Book There was once upon a time a couple of poor folks who lived in a wretched hut far away from everyone else in a wood. They only just managed to live from hand to mouth and had great difficulty in doing even so much as that. But they had three sons who lived in the woods and they lived in the woods and had great difficulty in doing even so much as that. But they had three sons and the youngest of them was called Cynderlad for he did nothing else but lie and poke about among the ashes. One day the eldest lad said that he would go out to earn his living. He soon got leave to do that and set out on his way into the world. He walked on and on for the whole day and when night was beginning to fall he came to a royal palace. The king was standing outside on the steps and asked where he was going. Oh I'm going to seek a place where the others said the youth. A wilted out served me and watched my seven foals ask the king. The salkans watched them for a whole day and tell me at night what they eat and drink that I shall have the princess and half my kingdom. But if the salkans not I will cut three red stripes on my back. The youth thought that it was very easy work to watch the foals and that he could do it well enough. Next morning, one day was beginning to dawn the king's master of the horse let out the seven foals and they ran away just after them just as it chanced over hill and dale through woods and bogs. When the youth had run thus for a long time he began to be tired and we had held on a little longer he was hardly weary of watching at all. And at the same moment he came to a cleft in a rock where an old woman was sitting spinning with her distif in her hand. As soon as she caught sight of the youth who was running after the foals till the perspiration stringed down his face she cried, I'm hither my handsome son and let me calm your hair for you. The lad was willing enough so he sat down in the cleft of the rock beside the old hag and he laid his head on her knees. And she calmed his hair all day while he lay there and gave himself up to idleness. When evening was drawing near the youth wanted to go I may as well just go straight home again said he for it is no use to go to the king's palace. Wait till it is dust said the old hag and then the king's foals will fly this place again and you can run home with them and no one will ever know that you have been lying here all day instead of watching the foals. So when they came back she gave the lad a bottle of water and a bit of moss and told him to show these to the king and say that this is what his seven foals ate and drank. Has the watch faithfully and well the whole day long said the king when the lad came into his presence in the evening yes that I have said the youth then you were able to tell me the foals eat and drink said the king so the youth produced the bottle of water and a bit of moss which he had got from the old woman saying here you see their meat and here you see their drink then the king knew how the his watching had been done and fell into such a rage that he ordered his people to chase the youth back to his own home at once but first they were to cut three red stripes in his back and rub salt into them. When the youth reached home again anyone can imagine what a state of mind he was in he had gone out once to seek a place he said but never would he do such a thing again. Next day the second son that he would now go out into the world to seek his fortune his father and mother said no and made him look at his brother's back but the youth would not give up his design and stuck to it and after a long long time he got leave to go and set forth on his way. When he had walked all day he too came to the king's palace and the king was standing outside on the steps and asking where he was going. When the youth applied that he was out in search of a place the king said that he might enter into his service and watch his seven foals then the king promised him the same punishment and the same reward that he had promised his brother. The youth at once consented to this and entered into the king's service for he thought he could easily watch the foals and inform the king what they ate and drank and the gray light of dawn the master of the horse let out the seven foals and off they went again over hill and dale and off went the lad after them but all went with him as he had gone with his brother when he had run after the foals for a long long time and was hot and tired he passed by a cleft in the rock where an old woman was sitting spinning with a distif and she called to him come hither, come hither my handsome son and let me comb your hair. The youth liked the thought of this let the foals run where they chose the rock by the side of the old hag so there he sat with his head on her lap taking his ease the live long day the foals came back in the evening and then he too got a bit of moss and a bottle of water from the old hag which things he was to show the king but when the king asked the youth can stuff tell me what my seven foals eat and drink the youth showed him a bit of moss and the bottle of water and said yes here may you hold their food and hear their drink and he commanded that three red stripes should be cut on the lads back that salt should be stern upon them and then he should then be instantly chased back to his own home so when the youth got home again he too related all that had happened to him and he too said that he had gone out in search of a place once but never would he do it again on the third day Sid the lad wanted to set out he had a fancy to try to watch the seven foals in a selfie set what I when all went so well with us do you suppose you were going to succeed you look like succeeding you have never done anything but lie and poke about among the ashes that day yes I will go to said Sid the lad for I have taken it into my head the two brothers laughed at him and his father and mother begged him not to go but all to no purpose and Sid the lad set out on his way so when he had walked the whole day he too came to the king's palace darkness began to fall there stood the king outside on the steps and he asked whether he was bound I'm walking about in search of a place said Sid the lad from whence do you come then inquired the king for by this time he wanted to know a little more about the men before he took any of them into his service so Sid the lad told him once he came and that he was brother to the two who would watch the seven foals for the king and then he inquired if he might be allowed to try to watch them on the following day all shame on them said the king for it enraged him to even think of them if thou art brother to those two thou art not good for much I have had enough of such fellows but as I have come here you might just give me leave to make the attempt said Sid the lad oh very well if thou art absolutely determined to have thy back flayed thou mayst have thine own way if thou wilt said the king I would much rather have the princess said Sid the lad next morning in the gray light of dawn the master of the hordes let out the seven foals again and off they set over hill and dale through woods and bogs and off with Sid the lad after them when he had run thus for a long time he too came to the cleft in the rock there the old hag was once more sitting spinning from her distaf and she cried to Sid the lad come hither come hither my handsome son and let me comb your hair for you come to me then come to me said Sid the lad as he passed by jumping and running and keeping tight hold on one of the foals tails when he got safely past the cleft in the rock the youngest foal said get on their back for we still have a long way to go Sid the lad did this and thus they journeyed onwards a long long way thus thou see anything now as the foal no Sid the lad so they journey onwards a good bit further thus thou see anything now as the foal oh no said the lad when they had gone thus for a long long way the foal again asked thus thou see anything now yes now I see something that is white Sid Sid the lad it looks like the trunk of a great thick birch tree yes that is where we are to go in said the foal when they got to the trunk the eldest foal broke it down on one side and then they saw a door where the trunk had been standing and inside this there was a small room and in the room there was scarcely anything but a small fireplace and a couple of benches but behind the door hung a great rusty sword and a small pitcher canst thou wield that sword as the foal Sid the lad tried but could not do it so he had to take a drop from the pitcher and then one more and after that still another and then he was able to wield the sword with perfect ease good said the foal and now thou must take the sword away with thee and with it thou shalt cut off the heads of all seven us on thy wedding day then we shall become princes again as we were before for we are brothers of the princess whom thou art to have when thou canst tell the king what we even drink but there is a mighty troll who has cast a spell over us when thou has cut off our heads thou must take greatest care to lay each head at the tail of the body to which it belonged before and then the spell which the troll has cast upon us will lose all its power Sid the lad promised to do this and then they went on farther when they had traveled a long long way the foal said does thou see anything no said Sid the lad so they went on a great distance further and now inquired the foal sees thou nothing now alas no said Sid the lad so they traveled onward again for many and many a mile over hill and dale now then said the foal does thou not see anything now yes said Sid the lad I see something like a bluish streak far far away that is a river said the foal and we have to cross it there was a long handsome birge over the river and when they had got to the other side of it they again traveled on a long long way and then once more the foal inquired if Sid the lad saw anything yes this time he saw something that looked black far far away and it was rather like a church tower yes said the foal we shall go in that when the foals got into the church yard they turned into men and looked like the sons of a king and their clothes were so magnificent that they shone with splendor and they went into the church and received bread and wine from the priest who was standing before the altar and Sid the lad went in too but when the priest laid his hands on the princes and read the blessing they went out of the church again they went out too but he took with him a flask of wine and some consecrated bread no sooner had the seven princes come out into the church yard then they became foals again and Sid the lad got up on the back of the youngest and they returned by the way they had gone only they went much, much faster first they went over the bridge and then passed the trunk of the birch tree and then passed the old hag who sat in the cleft of the rock spinning and they went by so fast that they could not hear what the old hag screeched after him, but heard just enough to understand that she was terribly enraged it was all but dark when they got back to the king at nightfall and he himself was standing in the courtyard waiting for them has thou watched well and faithfully the whole day, said the king to Sid the lad I have done my best, replied Sid the lad then now canst tell me what my seven foals eat and drink, asked the king so Sid the lad pulled out the consecrated wine and showed them to the king here you may behold their meat and hear their drink, said he yes, diligently and faithfully hast thou watched, said the king and thou shalt have the princess and half the kingdom so all was made ready for the wedding and the king said that it should be so stately and magnificent that everyone should hear of it and everyone inquire about it but when they sat down to the marriage feast the bridegroom arose and went to the stable for he said that he had forgotten something which he must go and look to when he got there he did what the seven foals had bitten him and cut off the heads of all the seven, first the eldest then the second and so on according to their age and he was extremely careful to lay each head at the tail of the foal to which it had belonged and when that was all done all the foals became princes again when he returned to the marriage feast with the seven princes the king was so joyful that both kissed Cinderella and clapped him on his back and his bride was still more delighted with him than she had been before half my kingdom is thine already said the king and the other half shall be thine after my death for my sons can get countries and kingdoms for themselves now that they have become princes again therefore as all may well believe there was joy and merriment at that wedding end of chapter 35 the seven foals by Wendelin January 26th 2009 chapter 36 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 the red fairy book by Andrew Lang chapter 36 the Marvelous musician there was once upon a time a time, a marvellous musician. One day he was wandering through a wood all by himself, thinking now of one thing, now of another, till there was nothing else left to think about. Then he said to himself, Time hangs very heavily on my hands when I am all alone in the wood. I must try and find a pleasant companion. So he took his fiddle out and fiddled till he walked the echoes round. After a time a wolf came through the thicket and trotted up to the musician. Oh, it's a wolf, is it? Said he. I've not the smallest wish for his society. But the wolf approached him and said, Oh my dear musician, how beautifully you play. I wish you teach me how it's done. That's easily learned, answered the fiddler. You must only do exactly as I tell you. Of course I will, replied the wolf. I can promise that you will find me a most apt pupil. So they joined company and went on their way together. And after a time they came to an old oak tree which was hollow and had a crack in the middle of the trunk. Now, said the musician, if you want to learn to fiddle, here's your chance. Lay your front paws in this crack. The wolf did as he was told, and the musician quickly seized a stone and wedged both his forepaws so firmly into the crack that he was held there, a fast prisoner. Wait there till I return, said the fiddler, and he went on his way. After a time he said to himself again, Time hangs very heavily on my hands when I'm all alone in the wood. I must try and find a companion. So he drew out his fiddle and fiddled away lustily. Presently a fox slung through the trees. Ah, and what have we here? said the musician. A fox? Well, I haven't the smallest desire for his company. The fox came straight up to him and said, My dear friend, how beautiful you play the fiddle. I would like to learn how you do it. Nothing easier, said the musician, if you'll promise to do exactly as I tell you. Certainly, answered the fox, you have only to say the word. Well, then follow me, replied the fiddler. When they had gone a bit of the way, they came to a path with high trees on each side. Here the musician halted, bent a stout hazel bow down to the ground from one side of the path and put his foot on the end of it to keep it down. Then he bent a branch down from the other side and said, Give me your left front paw, my little fox, if you really wish to learn how it's done. The fox did as he was told and the musician tied his front paw to the end of one of the branches. Now, my friend, he said, Give me your right paw. This he bound to the other branch and having carefully seen that his knots were all secure, he stepped off the ends of the branches and they sprang back, leaving the poor fox suspended in midair. Just you wait where you are till I return, saved the musician and he went on his way again. Once more he said to himself, Time hangs heavily on my hands when I'm all alone in the wood. I must try and find another companion. So he took out his fiddle and played as merrily as before. This time a little hare came running up at the sound. Oh, here comes a hare, said the musician. I've not the smallest desire for his company. How beautifully you play, dear Mr. Fidler, said the little hare. I wish I could learn how you do it. It's easily learned, answered the musician. Just do exactly as I tell you. That I will, said the hare. You will find me a most attentive pupil. They went on a bit together till they came to a thin part of the wood where they found a naspen tree growing. The musician bound a long cord round the little hare's neck, the other end of which he farsened to the tree. Now my merrily little friend, said the musician, run twenty times round the tree. The little hare obeyed, and when it had run twenty times round the tree, the cord had twisted itself twenty times round the trunk, so that the poor little beast was held a fast prisoner, and it might bite and tear as much as it liked. It couldn't free itself, and the cord only cut its tender neck. Wait there till I return, said the musician, and went on his way. In the meantime the wolf had pulled and bitten and scratched at the stone, till at last he succeeded in getting his paws out. Full of anger, he hurried after the musician, determined when he met him to tear him to pieces. When the fox saw him running by, he called out as loud as he could. Brother Wolf, come to my rescue. The musician has deceived me too. The wolf pulled the branches down, bit the cord in two, and set the fox free. So they went on their way together, both vowing vengeance on the musician. They found the poor imprisoned little hare, and having set him free also, they all set out to look for their enemy. During this time the musician had once more played his fiddle, and had been more fortunate in the result. The sounds, pierced to the ears of a poor woodman, who instantly left his work, and with his hatchet under his arm, came to listen to the music. At last I've got a proper sort of companion, said the musician, for it was a human being I wanted all along, and not a wild animal. And he began playing so unshantingly that the poor man stood there, as if bewitched, and his heart leaped for joy as he listened. And as he stood thus, the wolf and fox and little hare came up, and the woodman saw at once that they meant mischief. He lifted his glittering axe, and placed himself in front of the musician, as much as to say, If you touch a hare of his head, beware, for you will have to answer for it to me. Then the beasts were frightened, and they all three ran back into the wood, and the musician played the woodman one of his best tunes by way of things, and then continued his way. Note, grim. End of Chapter 36 The Marvelous Musician Recording by Eswa in Belgium in January 2009 This is a very old story. The Danes who used to fight with the English in King Alfred's time knew this story. They have carved on the rocks pictures of some of the things that happen in the tale, and those carvings may still be seen. Because it is so old and so beautiful the story is told here again, but it has a sad ending. Indeed it is all sad, and all about fighting and killing, as might be expected from the Danes. Once upon a time there was a king in the north who had won many wars, but now he was old. Yet he took a new wife and then another prince who wanted to have married her, came up against him with a great army. The old king went out and fought bravely, but at last his sword broke, and he was wounded and his men fled. But in the night when the battle was over his young wife came out and searched for him among the slain, and at last she found him and asked whether he might be healed. But he said no. His luck was gone, his sword was broken, and he must die. And he told her that she would have a son, and that sudden would be a great warrior, and he would avenge him on the other king, his enemy. And he bade her keep the broken pieces of the sword to make a new sword for his son, and that blade should be called Graham. Then he died, and his wife called her maid to her and said, Let us change clothes, and you shall be called by my name and I by yours, lest the enemy finds us. So this was done, and they hid in a wood, but there some strangers met them and carried them off in a ship to Denmark. And when they were brought before the king, he thought the maid looked like a queen, and the queen like a maid. So he asked the queen, How do you know in the dark of night whether the hours are wearing to the morning? And she said, I know, because when I was younger, I used to have to rise and light the fires, and I still waken at the same time. A strange queen to light the fires thought the king. Then he asked the queen, who was dressed like a maid, How do you know in the dark of night whether the hours are wearing your dawn? My father gave me a gold ring, said she, and always ere the dawning, it grows cold on my finger. A rich house where the maids were gold, said the king. Truly you are no maid but a king's daughter. And so he treated her royally, and as time went on she had a son called Sigurd, a beautiful boy and very strong. He had a tutor to be with him, and once the tutor bade him go to the king and ask for a horse. Choose a horse for yourself, said the king, and Sigurd went to the wood. There he met an old man with a white beard and said, Come, help me in horse choosing. Then the old man said, Drive all the horses into the river, and choose the one that swims across. So Sigurd drove them and only one swam across. Sigurd chose him, his name was Granny, and he came of Slepnir's breed, and was the best horse in the world, for Slepnir was the horse of Odin, the god of the north, and was as swift as the wind. But a day or two later his tutor said to Sigurd, There is a great treasure of gold hidden not far from here, and it would become you to win it. But Sigurd answered, I have heard stories of that treasure, and I know that the dragon Fafnir guards it, and he is so huge and wicked that no man dares go near him. He is no bigger than other dragons, said the tutor, and if you were as brave as your father you would not fear him. I have no coward, said Sigurd, why do you want me to fight with this dragon? Then his tutor, whose name was Regan, told him that all this great horde of red gold had once belonged to his own father, and his father had three sons. The first was Fafnir, the dragon, the second was Otter, who could put on the shape of an Otter when he liked, and the next was himself Regan, and he was a great smith and maker of swords. Now there was at that time a dwarf called Andvari, who lived in a pool beneath a waterfall, and there he had hidden a great horde of gold, and one day Otter had been fishing there and had killed a salmon and eaten it and was sleeping like an Otter on a stone. Then someone came by and threw a stone at the Otter and killed it, flayed off the skin and took it to the house of Otter's father, and he knew his son was dead, and to punish the person who had killed him he said he must have the Otter's skin filled with gold and covered all over with red gold, or it should go worse for him. Then the person who had killed Otter went down and caught the dwarf who owned all the treasure and took it from him. Only one ring was left which the dwarf wore, and even that was taken from him. Then the poor dwarf was very angry, and he prayed that the gold might never bring any but bad luck to all men who might own it, forever. Then the Otter's skin was filled with gold and covered with gold, all but one hair, and that was covered with the poor dwarf's last ring. But it brought good luck to nobody. First Fafner the dragon killed his own father, and then he went and wallowed on the gold and would let his brother have none, and no man dared go near it. When Sigurd heard the story he said to Regan, make me a good sword that I may kill this dragon. So Regan made a sword and Sigurd tried it with the blow on a lump of iron and the sword broke. Another sword he made and Sigurd broke that too. Then Sigurd went to his mother and asked for the broken pieces of his father's blade and gave them to Regan. And he hammered and wrought them into a new sword so sharp that fire seemed to burn along its edges. Sigurd tried this blade on the lump of iron and it did not break, but split the iron in two. Then he threw a lock of wool into the river and when it floated down against the sword it was cut into two pieces, so Sigurd said that sword would do. But before he went against the dragon he led an army to fight the men who had killed his father and he slew their king and took all their wealth and went home. When he had been at home a few days he rode out with Regan one morning to the heath where the dragon used to lie. Then he saw the track which the dragon had made when he went to a cliff to drink and the track was as if a great river had rolled along and left a deep valley. Then Sigurd went down into that deep place and dug many pits in it and in one of the pits he lay hidden with his sword drawn. There he waited and presently the earth began to shake with the weight of the dragon as he crawled to the water and a cloud of venom flew before him as he snored it in wards that would have been death to stand before him. But Sigurd waited till half of him had crawled over the pit and then he thrust the sword gram right into his very heart. Then the dragon lashed with his tail till stones broke and trees crashed about him. Then he spoke as he died and said, whoever their heart has slain me, this gold shall be thy ruin and the ruin of all who own it. Sigurd said, I would touch none of it if by losing it I should never die, but all men die and no brave men let's death frighten him from his desire. Die thou, Fafner. And then Fafner died. And after that Sigurd was called Fafner's Bane and Dragon Slayer. Then Sigurd rode back and met Regan and Regan asked him to roast Fafner's heart and let him taste of it. So Sigurd put the heart of Fafner on his stake and roasted it, but at chance that he touched it with his finger and it burned him, then he put his finger in his mouth and so tasted the heart of Fafner. Then immediately he understood the languages of birds and he heard the woodpeckers say, there is Sigurd roasting Fafner's heart for another when he should taste of it himself and learn all wisdom. The next bird said, there lies Regan ready to betray Sigurd who trusts him. The third bird said, let him cut off Regan's head and keep all the gold to himself. The fourth bird said, that let him do, then ride over Hinfeld to the place where Brunnhild sleeps. When Sigurd heard all this and how Regan was plotting to betray him, he cut off Regan's head with one blow of the sword-gram. Then all the birds broke out singing. We know fair maid, a fair maid in sleeping. Sigurd be not afraid. Sigurd, when thou the maid, fortune is keeping. High over Hinfeld, red fire is flaming, there doth the maiden dwell, she that should love thee well, meet for thy taming. There must she sleep till thou comes for her waking, rise up and ride for now, sure she will swear the vow, fearless of breaking. Then Sigurd remembered how the story went that somewhere, far away, there was a beautiful lady enchanted. She was under a spell that she must always sleep in a castle surrounded by flaming fire, and there she must sleep forever till there came a night who would ride through the fire and waken her. There he determined to go, but first he rode right down the horrible trail of Fafner, and Fafner had lived in a cave with iron doors. A cave dug deep down in the earth and full of gold bracelets and crowns and rings, and there, too, Sigurd found the helm of dread. A golden helmet and whoever wears it is invisible. All these he piled on the back of a good horse granny, and then he rode south to Hinfeld. Now it was night, and on the crest of the hill, Sigurd saw a red fire blazing up into the sky, and within the flame a castle and a banner on the topmost tower. Then he set the horse granny at the fire, and he leapt through it lightly, as if it had been through the heather. So Sigurd went within the castle door, and there he saw someone sleeping, clad all in armor. Then he took the helmet off the head of the sleeper, and behold, she was the most beautiful lady. And she wakened and said, ah, it is Sigurd, Sigmund's son who has broken this curse, and comes here to waken me at last. This curse came upon her when the thorn of the tree of sleep ran into her hand long ago as a punishment because she had displeased Odin the God. Long ago, too, she had vowed never to marry a man who knew fear, and dared not ride through the fence of flaming fire. For she was a warrior maid herself, and went armed into battle like a man. But now she and Sigurd loved each other and promised to be true to each other, and he gave her a ring, and it was the last ring taken from the dwarf and Vari. Then Sigurd rode away, and he came to the house of a king who had a fair daughter. Her name was Gudrun, and her mother was a witch. Now Gudrun fell in love with Sigurd, but he always was talking of Brunhild, and how beautiful she was, and how dear. So in one day, Gudrun's witch mother put poppy and forgetful drugs in a magical cup, and Bade Sigurd drank to her health, and he drank, and instantly he forgot for Brunhild, and he loved Gudrun, and they were married with great rejoicings. Now the witch, the mother of Gudrun, wanted her son Gunner to marry Brunhild, and she bade him ride out with Sigurd and go and woo her. So forth they rode to her father's house, for Brunhild has quite gone out of Sigurd's mind by reason of the witch's wine, but she remembered him and loved him still. When Brunhild's father told Gunner that she would marry none but him who could ride the flame in front of her enchanted tower, and that they rode, and Gunner said his horse set the flame, but he would not face it. Then Gunner tried Sigurd's horse, Granny, but he would not move with Gunner on his back. Then Gunner remembered witchcraft that his mother had taught him, and by his magic he made Sigurd look exactly like himself, and he looked exactly like Gunner. Then Sigurd, in the shape of Gunner, and in his mail, mounted on Granny, and Granny left the fence of fire, and Sigurd went in and found Brunhild, but he did not remember her yet, because of the forgetful medicine in the cup of the witch's wine. Now Brunhild had no help but to promise she would be his wife, the wife of Gunner, as she supposed, for Sigurd wore Gunner's shape, and she had sworn to wed whoever should ride the flames, and he gave her a ring, and she gave him back the ring that he had given her before in his own shape as Sigurd, and it was the last ring of that poor Dwarf and Vari. Then he rode out again, and he and Gunner changed shapes, and each was himself again, and they went home to the witch-queens, and Sigurd gave the dwarves ring to his wife, Gudrun, and Brunhild went to her father and said that a king had come called Gunner, and he had ridden the fire, and she must marry him. Yet I thought, she said, that no man could have done this deed but Sigurd, Fafner's bane, who was my true love, but he has forgotten me, and my promise I must keep. So Gunner and Brunhild were married, though it was not Gunner but Sigurd in Gunner's shape that had ridden the fire. And when the wedding was over and all the feast, then the magic of the witch's wine went out of Sigurd's brain, and he remembered all. He remembered how he had freed Brunhild from the spell, and how she was his own true love, and how he had forgotten and and buried another woman, and warned Brunhild to be the wife of another man. But he was brave, and he spoke not a word of it to the others to make them unhappy. Still he could not keep away the curse which is to come on everyone who had on the treasure of the Dwarf and Vari, and his fatal golden ring. And the curse soon came upon them all. For one day, when Brunhild and Gundrun were bathing, Brunhild waded farthest out into the river, and said she did that to show she was Gundrun's superior. For her husband, she said, had ridden through the flame when no other man dared face it. Then Gundrun was angry, and said that it was Sigurd, not Gunner who had ridden the flame, and had received from Brunhild that fatal ring, the Ring of the Dwarf and Vari. Then Brunhild saw the ring which Sigurd had given to Gundrun, and she knew it and knew all, and she turned his pale as a dead woman and went home. All that evening she never spoke. Next day she told Gunner, her husband, that he was a coward and a liar, for he had never ridden the flame but had sent Sigurd to do it for him, and pretended that he had done it himself. And she said he would never see her glad in his hall, never drinking wine, never playing chess, never embroidering with the golden thread, never speaking words of kindness. Then she ran all her needlework asunder and wept aloud, so that everyone in the house heard her, for her heart was broken and her pride was broken in the same hour. She had lost her true love of Sigurd, the slayer of Fafner, and she was married to a man who was a liar. Then Sigurd came and tried to comfort her, but she would not listen, and she said she wished the sword stood fast in his heart. Not long to wait, he said, till the bitter sword stands fast in my heart, and now will not live long when I am dead. But dear Brunhild lived and be comforted, and love gunner thy husband, and I will give thee all the gold, the treasure of the dragon Fafner. Brunhild said, it is too late. Then Sigurd was so grieved, and his heart so swelled in his breast, that it burst the steel rings of his shirt of mail. Sigurd went out, and Brunhild determined to slay him. She mixed Serpents Venom and Wolf's Flesh, and gave them in one dish to her husband's younger brother. And when he tasted of them, he was mad, and he went into Sigurd's chamber while he slept, and pinned him to the bed with the sword. But Sigurd woke, caught the sword grim into his hand, and threw it at the man as he fled, and the sword cut him in twain. Thus died Sigurd, Fafner's bane, whom no ten men could have slain in fair fight. Then Gundren wakened, and saw him dead, and she moaned aloud, and Brunhild heard her, and laughed. But the kind horse granny lay down and died of very grief, and then Brunhild fell a-weeping till her heart broke. So they attired Sigurd in all his golden armor, and built a great pile of wood on board his ship. And at night, laid on it the dead Sigurd and the dead Brunhild, and the good horse granny, and set fire to it, and launched the ship, and the wind board blazing out to sea, flaming into the dark. So there were Sigurd and Brunhild burned together, and the curse of the dwarf envari was fulfilled. End of Chapter 37 The Story of Sigurd Recording by Wendelin February 1st, 2009 End of The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang